Top Ten Tuesday - March 13th

Hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl

This week's topic is Books That Surprised Me (in a good or bad way). 

10. The Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Jarvis-Graves

This book is hilarious and romantic and one of my favorites. I love when a book lives up to all the five star reviews!

9. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

YA is not my go-to genre, but I adored Cath, Levi, and all the fan fiction. I actually read this one again not long ago because I loved it so much and I'm for sure a full-fledged Rainbow Rowell fangirl!

8. Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

This is one of my favorite middle grade novels. Kat is absolutely adorable and I had loads of fun following her hijinks. 

7. The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This was tragic and impossible to put down. I picked it up for a reading challenge not expecting to love it. Hoping just to like it. It left me totally blown away. So. Many. Emotions. I literally sat curled in a chair and read it all in one sitting because I couldn't stop until I knew the character's fates.

6. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Loved this book so much! I went in afraid it wouldn't live up to the hype only to find it went above and beyond. I can't wait to read it again!

5. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I put off reading this one because again the hype scared me and that hype has burned me before. Such a mistake! This book was so endearing. I opted for the audiobook and was utterly enchanted by both main character Don and the narrator.

4. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Sci-Fi is another genre I rarely read (or read and don't usually like). But this science fiction novel is BRILLIANT! It is at the top of my re-read list for 2018.

3. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

I put off reading this series for years. I had a print copy, kindle copy, and basically zero excuses not to pick it up. But the size was almost as daunting as my TBR pile. I finally took the plunge and never looked back. 

Jamie + Claire = Forever

2. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

I had no idea how I'd feel about The Bear and the Nightingale when I started it, but I was in love within chapters. So complex. Such an amazing main character.  I'm eager to read this again before picking up the next book in the trilogy.

1. Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

This book is one I started hesitantly to have it turn out to be one I will never forget. You know the kind of book that winds its way inside you and you find days/months/years after reading you can still recall it with great detail. I literally sat and sobbed at the end. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to read it again because the ending shattered my heart, but I know i will never forget it.