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 that surprised me!
I mixed up my topics for Top Ten. Last week I did Books I Still Haven’t Read, so this week I’m doing the Freebie from Last week. I decided to post about books that surprised me. When I read a book by a favorite author or a book that has a lot of buzz, I expect a wonderful book. So these books are by new-to-me authors or debut authors that I didn’t know anything about, so I really didn’t have any expectations, and then it turned out that I loved them!
1. A Thousand Miles by Bridget Morrissey. This had a lot more heart in it than I expected.
2. Our Little World by Karen Winn. This had a great mystery and a lot of nostalgia.
3. Every Summer After by Caley Fortune. This one was so emotional, and just a special book.
4. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. When I requested this I had no idea it could be as good as it was. Quirky, different, and a bit nostalgic too. It was just amazing.
5. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. This book has some complex world-building and interesting characters and all done by a debut author.
6. A Certain Appeal by Vanessa King. I read this almost a year ago and still remember it really well. It’s cute, funny, diverse, and still has a lot of heart. (the cover is still ugly)
7. Some of It Was Real by Nan Fisher. I expected a cute light romance, but this book it had a wonderful mystery and I loved the writing.
8. Nora Goes Off Scrip by Annabel Monaghan. Hard to believe this heartwarming story is Ms. Monagah’s debut adult novel. It has heart and soul.
9. The White Girl by Tony Birch. This Australian historical novel was both easy to read and heartbreaking.
10. The Ones We Keep by Bobbie Jean Huff packed an emotional punch that had me loving this book.
Which books have surprised you? Have you read any of these books? Comment below!
I keep seeing Daughter of the Moon Goddess and thinking I should pick it up. I think I’ll definitely have to do so now!
I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
It’s always nice to be surprised by a book in a good way, especially when you’re taking a chance on an author or book you’ve never heard of before. I’m glad these worked out so well for you! I haven’t read any of them, but several of them look like ones I would enjoy.
Happy TTT (on a Friday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Thank you, Susan.
Nora Goes Off Script has been on my radar for a while. Years ago, I read a couple of YA titles by Mongahan that I enjoyed so I’m curious about her adult novel.
I love this topic! I haven’t read any of these but so many sound like books I would enjoy. I typically read pretty firmly in my comfort zone so I rarely get surprised but it’s always such fun when that happens.
How nice that you had so many pleasant surprises!
Yes! Our Little World and Every Summer After were such wonderful surprises. A Thousand Miles and Daughter of the Moon Goddess are on my tbr. And you just convinced me to add Some of It Was Real to my tbr, too. 😉
I completely agree with you regarding Every Summer After. I really loved the story. I have a Thousand Miles coming from the library soon. I’m excited! 😀
Great choice of topic! I have quite a few of these on my TBR.
So many wonderful books out there.
I really MUST get to Lessons in Chemistry soon. Great list, Wendy🙂🙂
I think you’d enjoy it. It’s different, it’s quirky and it’s just so well written and easy to read.
JSHBSVGHGSAD THIS POST IS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OK??? I LOVE IT SO MUCH 😭😭 ALSO OMG the cover of Our Little World is STUNNING AND IT SOUNDS SO GOOD??
Thank you!
Lessons in Chemistry is on my summer TBR list. I’m running out of time. Gah! Guess it will be on my fall TBR list. LOL!
It’s so good, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
It is always great to discover new authors you liked, well, not always great for the TBR!
LOL, it’s terrible for the TBR.
i’ve been meaning to read every summer after! i’m glad to see it surprised you!
It was so good! I hope you enjoy it when you get time to read it.
Wonderful list Wendy! I’ve heard great things about Every Summer After and Lessons in Chemistry. I still have Daughter of the Moon Goddess on my list from reading your great review a while back! Thank you for sharing, I’ll also be adding Our Little World to my list too!
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy them.
Lessons in Chemistry surprised me too. I’m so happy I took a leap of faith and decided to give it a go.
Me too! It was so different and enjoyable.
Loving the covers. Great list!
Thank you, Kimberly!
It seems to be a great list of books. Yeah to discovering new authors.
Yes, it’s so much fun to discover a new author!
It’s always fun to be surprised by a book! 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-from-my-past-seasonal-tbr-posts-i-still-havent-read/
It sure is!
Great list, several of these I have never heard of. Have a great week!
Thank you, Cindy. I hope you have a great week too!
I JUST finished Every Summer After last night. I was an emotional wreck. It was so so good!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it too!
Great choices Wendy! Most of these books are new to me but I certainly agree with you on Every Summer After and Lessons in Chemistry. Fun post!
Thank you, Jodie. Lessons in Chemistry and Every Summer After were both so good
Our Little World and The White Girl have crept onto my wish list. Thanks, Wendy
They were both so good. I hope you enjoy them when you get to them.
I want to read Daughter of the Moon Goddess. I need to check to make sure I have it shelved on Goodreads. 😊
The one which comes to mind for me is Have You Seen Luis Valez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It was recommended to me by a blogging buddy, but I cannot remember why now, it wasn’t for the reason I loved the book because she didn’t see that meaning in it until I pointed it out. Anyway, I’ve tried two other books by that author and they’ve been just okay. I might read a third hoping to find one with the same depth as HYSLV?, but if that one is a miss, too, I’m done. Ha ha. 😅
That is so funny! I hope the next book by Catherine Ryan Hyde is a winner.
Don’t you love when a new book surprises you in a good way? It’s the best in bookish serendipity. 🙂
I love that, Lark! “the best in bookish serendipity!”
Great list Wendy. I haven’t read any of these so there goes my TBR mountain once again 🤗📚💜
It’s only fair, Susan. You do the same to me 🙂
It’s fun to be surprised by books. I’m glad these ones did that for you.
Thank you, Deanna!
This is a great topic! I recently read White Ivy by Susie Yang and was shocked that it was a debut. Some people are just too talented.
I just added White Ivy to my TBR. Thanks!
Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a fav for me this year. Great list!
Thank you, Rae. Daughter of the Moon Goddess was so good!
Great topic, Lucy. I recently listened to The White Girl and yes, it was wonderful. It is heartbreaking, yet hopeful.
It was. Thanks so much, Carla.
I love it when books surprise you in a good way. I have Daughter of the Moon Goddess to read this week and I’m looking forward to it
I hope you enjoy it!
Lessons in Chemistry surprised me too, just by the fabulously quirky tone and the way the author drew me in so quickly. It introduced me to Bonnie Garmus and I will read whatever she writes next. A Thousand Miles looks interesting because I love road trip books. Great list, Wendy!
Thank you, Bonnie! I will definitely be first in line for the next Bonnie Garmus book too.
Great list, interesting how books can surprise you sometimes 😊
Yes! Thats what I like best about book blogging
Not read any of these. Some of the memoirs that I read do give some amazing details which I hadn’t expected.
Thank you, Rosie. I need to read more memoirs