Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
I used to be much more willing to read the hottest new books even if they weren’t from genres I typically enjoy.
What I’ve learned over time is that my tastes generally do not overlap very much with the latest hyped titles. While there are certainly exceptions to this rule, especially in the speculative fiction genre where I spend so much of my reading time, there tends to be an inverse relationship between how much fanfare is being created over a new book and how much it will appeal to me personally.
This is in no way a criticism of wildly popular stories or the people who read them. I’m sure there are many incredible books being released right now that also happen to be hyped up. They’re simply not my cup of tea, and that’s perfectly okay.
Here are some of the titles in this category that did not work for me for a wide variety of reasons but might be the ideal read for someone else.
1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
2.The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
3. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
4. Wilder Girls by Rory Power
5. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller
6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
7. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
9. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
10.The Host by Stephenie Meyer
I’m glad I read Evelyn Hugo before I had seen anything about it socially as it totally blew up xD Otherwise I probably would have avoided it…! Happy TTT 🙂
Here’s my post for this week as well!
Interesting take! Yeah, I try to avoid reading hype as much as I can now so it doesn’t colour my opinion of new titles.
I struggled with American gods too
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
Mexican Gothic and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo were really hyped books that actually worked for me lol I completely forgot to mention them this week though!
I’m glad you liked them! Good for you. 🙂
I’m another that struggled with American Gods! I thought The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was OK but not much to write home about, but I did love Where The Crawdada Sing.
The rest I’ve avoided!
Knowing your own tastes well is so important. 🙂
I forgot about Mexican Gothic! I fell for that one when I knew better. It did not work for me!
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I’d say what I liked about Crawdads, but I don’t want to contribute to the hype that makes you adverse to reading it… 😉
🙂
I forgot to add TFIOS to my list though the fact that it got film treatment is probably more the reason why I read the book. I don’t remember much, but do think I liked it more than I thought. Never read ‘Crawdads’ though I know many were GUSHING anew about that one with the adaptation. Thanks so much for visiting my list today!
You’re welcome. It’s cool we had some overlap this week.
I had loved Host as a teenager – but of course, had read it because of the Twilight hype instead!
I think that’s why a lot of readers picked that one up!
I always love posts like this to see what readers I respect thought of books I liked or didn’t like. I loved Crawdads & Fault in Our Stars and, back when it came out, we all read Bridges of Madison County and had girls nights out to the movie, lol
They are so fun!
I’m glad you liked those three titles. 🙂
Totally agree with you about The Bridges of Madison County. I didn’t understand the fascination with that one either. Happy Tuesday!
Happy Tuesday to you as well! I’m glad you get it. 🙂
We have similar books on our lists but for different reasons.
Cool. 🙂
It was the same for me with Eat. Pray. Love and Where the Crawdad Sings! Have a great week!
I agree with you about The Notebook. I remember finishing it and wondering what all that hype was about?
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/lets-hype-these-books-ten-books-deserving-more-hype/
I’m glad you get it!
I mean, if most hyped books aren’t to your taste, that would be a good reason to avoid them. I hope you have a great week and thanks for visiting me earlier.
Thanks. 🙂
I read Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid because of the hype and it was….fine? I guess? But everyone else seemed to love it so much and see it as so revolutionary but I have never felt the desire to read another TJR book, so I’ve never read Evelyn Hugo. Even though I kept being recommended it and seeing it -everywhere-.
I also found The Notebook (and pretty much the other NS novels I’ve come across) very cheesy and not particularly well written. I gave up after trying 3-4.
I thought The Host was a better book than Twilight but…..it was a low bar to get over, haha.
It’s interesting how much tastes can vary!
Oh, wow! Yours is the first list I’ve seen so far where I have heard of more than half of the books. But I have not read any of them either.
There were so many different types of books this week!
American Gods was an okay read but I’ll never re-read it. not sure it was worth the hype either. Now The Host on the other hand, i loved. although when it came to the movie i expected more from it…like chrome cars in the desert just aren’t practical. you’d go f-ing blind.
https://getlostinlit.blogspot.com/2024/10/top-ten-books-that-should-be-tv-shows.html
I didn’t know it was a movie.
Yeah, The Host was just okay for me. I read one Taylor Jenkins Reed and hated it.
Good to know. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I liked The Fault In Our Stars, but was also ugly crying on the metro because of it. I wonder if would be as good if I re-read it?
You’re welcome.
And I have no idea!
I didn’t enjoy Wilder Girls myself, but can see how some would like it more than me.
Same here. 🙂