Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want. Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
Today’s Top 10: Books I Enjoyed That Are Outside My Comfort Zone
Today’s topic is a Freebie, so I decided to do Books I Enjoyed That Are Outside My Comfort Zone
1. Killers of a Certain age by Deanna Raybourn. I don’t read many mysteries, and I don’t read many books about hired assassins! But, I just loved this book!
2. The By the Book Seris by Tamara Berry. This series is fun and cozy.
3. The Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I don’t read much fantasy, but this was highly recommended and I just loved it.
4. The Ingneue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. I don’t read many mystery/thrillers, but I just loved this book.
5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. When I got an invite to read Lessons in Chemistry I had no idea what it was about, nor did I think it would be my favorite book of 2022.
6. Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty. Although I read some Science fiction when I was a child, I haven’t read it in years and years. But, I loved this book and I want to read more science fiction next year.
7. Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout. I don’t read much literary fiction, and there is no doubt that this series is a bit odd. But, I really enjoyed it anyway.
8. I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston. I don’t read many YA books or LGBTQIA books (I’m trying to read more!) and I just loved I Kissed Shara Wheeler.
9. Beneath his Silence by Hannah Linder. I don’t usually read historical mysteries or inspirational (religious) books, but Beneath his Silence was a wonderful book.
10. All the Lost Places by Amanda Dykes. Once again, this is a historical, Christian romance, and a genre I don’t usually read. But, this book was amazing. The historical details of Venice and the stories were enthralling.
Do you enjoy Books that are out of your comfort zone? What books have surprised you?
Great topic choice! Sometimes it’s hard to venture outside our comfort zones, but it’s so rewarding when it works!
What an awesome take on this week’s Top Ten list! One thing I love about book clubs and reading challenges is that they take me outside of my comfort zone. My motivation to read them is I get to discuss the books with other people or at least share my thoughts in some way with a community . A reading challenge is how I discovered A Sprinkling of Murder, by Daryl Wood Gerber. I love cozies, but I was not interested in a paranormal theme at all. For this challenge I had to read a cozy with a paranormal theme (among other themes). It turned out to be my favorite book in the challenge and I’m now completely obsessed with fairies. That book is how my Fiona kitty got her name. I’m about to read another book that is not a cozy and is outside of my comfort zone. I’ll write more about it on my blog tomorrow (Sunday). 🙂
I haven’t read any of these books but definitely have been thinking of reading Lessons in Chemistry for sometime now (and a couple of others too)..
I have read more and more genres over the last few years, since I started blogging, so there are few genres outside my comfort zone anymore. Although I read fantasy and contemporary romance, I still consider them outside my comfort zone as they are not my go to genres.
It’s fun to read outside a comfort zone, but it’s so good to read comfort reads too
This is a great TTT prompt! I love it. It’s interesting to hear why certain books are out of your norm. I do like historical fiction and I don’t mind Christian fiction as long as it’s done well, so I’m excited about the Dykes book. I’ve heard lots of great things about it. Glad you loved it.
Happy TTT (on a Thursday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thank you, Susan.
I think I have read books in all genres so I don’t find them out of comfort zone anymore but I have a preference and i think psychological thriller are always last preference i would pick and yet I enjoy it once I start reading. So glad to see Shadow and Bone in this list. I absolutely loved world in this series.
Thank you, Yesha. Maybe I’ll be more comfortable reading outside my usual romance one day
Ooh, this is an interesting post! I hardly ever read books outside my comfort zone but it would be nice to explore other genres x
Thank you, Caroline! I’m enjoying it
Great selection! I love switching genres and reading books out of my comfort zone, although it depends on how far haha. There’s quite a few on here I want to read as well.
I hope you enjoy them! Thank you, Yvonne
This is such a great list! I loved Lessons in Chemistry too and not my typical type of book. I am planning on reading Killers of a Certain Age in the next couple of weeks and I’m so excited! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Leslie!
What a great list, it is good to read some books out of your comfort zone sometimes 😊
Thank you, Jenny!
Loved Killers of a Certain Age too. I want to get to Station Eternity and Lessons in Chemistry at some point. It’s nice when you pick up a book you wouldn’t normally read and have it work out.
It’s so much fun to discover a new book in a genre I don’t usually read
There’s definitely something to be said for reading outside of your comfort zone! Thanks for stopping by earlier.
Thank you, Lydia!
What a great idea for a list! I’ll have to try it on an upcoming freebie. Lessons in Chemistry is next on my list (I’m working on Fairy Tale right now). I’ll be checking out some of these others….. I happen to like trying new authors or genres…they’re not always a success, but you don’t know till you try, right?
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
I’ve heard Fairly Tale was excellent. I agree, you don’t know if you’ll like something unless you try
Beneath His Silence does look like a good read.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by earlier!
Thank you!
I do like reading books outside my comfort zone. They can be so surprising and fun sometimes. Love your TTT list! 😀
Thank you, Lark!
I have found that reading outside my comfort zone is one of many benefits of a Book Club. I would never have thought I would be interested in a book club either, but the lockdown encouraged some friends to get together via Zoom for fellowship, prayer, and books. It has been wonderful.
I have discovered some amazing books by being open to other genres
Excellent post, Wendy!!
Thank you, Cindy
I need to read out of my comfort zone a bit more in 2023.
But it’s soooooo comfy there! 🙂
I enjoyed your list and may add a few to my TBR pile. I will admit I read Lessons in Chemistry but it was so hyped I didn’t love it as much as many seem to. I wish I had because I love the enthusiasm others have for it.
I read Lessons in Chemistry before all the hype because it was an arc, so I didn’t know anything about it. I think it’s just fine to stay in a comfort zone, as you said, it’s comfortable in there! 🙂
What a fun topic! I haven’t read any of these but several are ones I do hope to read. I love mysteries and Deanna Raybourn’s books so definitely want to read Killers of a Certain Age. I occasionally like to read outside my comfort zone and end up glad I did because I end up loving the books I read. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy Killers of a Certain Age when you get to it.
Excellent list. I should add this concept to the Your Choice options for the Top 10 meme.
Thank you, Anne!
Great list Wendy. I’m with you on science fiction, but it has surprised me once in a way. I have Killers of a Certain Age waiting on my TBR
Oh, Killers of a Certain Age was so much fun, I hope you enjoy it too.
I just started Lessons in Chemistry and I can already understand why it made your list today. It would probably make the same list for me.
Oh good! It gets better as you get closer to the end.
I tend to stick with what I know and my favorite authors/genres and I’m good with that. My reading time is limited so I’m usually hesitant to stray into the unknown. I did read Shadow & Bone but it’s been so long that I don’t recall much of the story.
That makes a lot of sense to stick to what you know you love!
Killers of a Certain Age was SO fun! I loved that it was about older women who could kick butt. Nice list!
Yes!! I wasn’t that excited about it, and then I read it and loved it.
It’s amazing how reading outside our comfort zone can sometimes lead us to our favorite reads! Great list!
I really agree! Thank you, Amanda
I have been going out of my comfort zone a lot lately with books. Glad you have found some good ones.
Thank you, Joanna. I have been doing this more and more.
Awesome topic Wendy!🤗💜
Thank you, Susan!
Lessons in Chemistry is my favorite book this year too. No other book comes even close. I would actually reread it if I got the chance and that would definitely put it in an exclusive club.
That’s funny, Tessa.
I’m happy to see that you loved the Grisha books! 🤗
I really did!!
Good idea! 🙌
Thank you, Carol!