Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
The rules are simple:
- Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. 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.
- Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
- Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
Top Ten Books: Popular Books That Lived Up to the Hype
This week’s topic is popular books that have lived up to the hype. We’ve probably mentioned a lot of these before but #YOLO. There’s no such thing as fangirling too much about books, right?
Harry Potter – J.K. Rowling
Yeah, so we both read these as kids when they first came out but even in the series’ early days the hype for this series was real and ACCURATE. Raise your hand if you think Teagan and Jess MUST go to Harry Potter World together? #BringUsButterBeer
Throne of Glass – Sarah J. Maas
I was a bit late to the Throne of Glass game. Why? Because despite the hype I hated the covers. But everyone was right and I immediately fell in love with Slayena and Fleetfoot. I love the world and character development in this series.
The Bird and the Sword – Amy Harmon
While the hype for this book isn’t as large as many big name YA books, for a while The Bird and the Sword was popping up on all the blogs, websites and lists I stalk for best fantasy romance… and YEP, they were right. I love Lark, Tiras and this book so much. If you haven’t read it please stop what you are doing and read it now!
Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
This book is so beautiful – the writing, the characters, the plot!! I love it all. It earned every inch of hype and continues to do so. The romance <3.
Six of Crows – Leigh Bardugo
I didn’t think Leigh Bardugo could possibly do better than her Grisha Trilogy and refused to believe the hype. I went into Six of Crows expecting greatness, I mean it is Leigh Bardugo, and what I got was perfection and a new obsession. No mourners, no funerals.
In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
I love true crime and this is a gorgeous true crime book. It is delivered in a way that you feel like you are reading fiction. This book and Capote were slammed for being too infatuated with the perpetrators, but I really enjoyed the way that it was done.
Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor
I feel like all I have done since I started this book is fangirl about it and try to get everyone to read it. It’s hard for me to believe that I didn’t get to this one sooner and on my reread I am going to take my time because I know there are so many details I missed.
All the Pretty Horses – Cormac McCarthy
I’m originally from New Mexico so I have to give a shout out to a local author. Yes, No Country for Old Men was amazing both written and the movie, but All the Pretty Horses made me miss home and remember the rich history that extends from there down through Mexico.
Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn
Yes, I know lots of people hated this one and the field is pretty 50/50. I am on the LOVE side of everything Flynn writes. Unreliable narrators are my favorite (hence being a Poe fan) and dark & twisty is just my thing.
Pestilence – Laura Thalassa
We talk about Thalassa a lot because she is an amazing writer. Pestilence was brutal, but I like brutal. Plus, paranormal is a genre that I hold dear, even if it is disappearing. I didn’t think there was a possible way I could ship these two when they were setting each other on fire, but Thalassa made it happen. Magic people. Magic.
What are some popular books that lived up to the hype for you?
The Night Circus made my list too, and I completely agree about Gone Girl. I’m looking forward to reading In Cold Blood as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Cold Blood was so interesting, but hard to read because of the content.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay I think I have got to check out Thalassa’s Four Horsemen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I hope you love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Six of Crows definitely did it for me! But I didn’t love The Night Circus as much as I wanted to, and I think it was partially because of the hype surrounding it. I’m glad you loved it though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Night Circus seems to be hit or miss with people!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved Gone Girl too and I really want to read Six of Crows! Great list 😊
My TTT: https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2018/07/31/top-ten-tuesday-popular-books-that-lived-up-to-the-hype/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! We will check it out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How on earth did I forget to put Throne of Glass on my list. 😦 It’s one of my favorite series and I forgot it. haha. I totally read it because of the hype! Great list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha I’ve been reading so many TTT lists today and thinking the same thing about several books! There’s too many books out there for 10 to be enough choices 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel you. I’ve just spent like an hour jumping around and so many of them I agree with. I guess the hype is real sometimes. haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of The Bird and the Sword, but it sounds awesome so I’ll have to check it out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should! It’s amazing! 🙂
let us know what you think once you read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really want to read Strange the Dreamer, everyone loves it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely try it!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
YASSS for ACOTAR and Strange the Dreamer.
I’m ashamed to say that I own Six of Crows and still haven’t read it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Six of Crows is amazing and you neeeed to read it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I giving myself a deadline of until September
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Bird and the Sword does sound like a good read. I hadn’t heard of it before you mentioned it.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
LikeLike
You should give it a try!! It was really good 🙂
LikeLike
What a great list! I am so happy to see Amy Harmon’s book on here. I loved that one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! Bird and the sword was so good it just had to go on our list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been wanting to read The Night Circus and Gone Girl! Seeing these two books appear on so many people’s list this week makes me want to go read them asap.
Check out my list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely check both out – they’re amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree with Strange the Dreamer…the hype for that one was crazy, and completely well-deserved! It’s such a fantastic book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was so good!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Six of Crows was so good!! I’m also hoping to get to The Night Circus some time soon since I’ve only heard great things about it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so good!
LikeLike
Oh my gosh I am so excited to read The Six of Crows Duo-logy, Strange the Dreamer and Throne of Glass now! I’ve been putting of starting them because I was worried they wouldn’t live up to all the expectations from people loving them!
Thanks for the post! Need to start these books ASAP
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg yes! Try them and let us know how you like them – we looove discussing all these!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely!! It’s so good to talk about great books!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally forgot about Strange the Dreamer, but yes, that one did live up to the hype for me as well. I love The Bird and the Sword. I actually didn’t see too much hype surrounding it, but a very select group of bloggers kept recommending it to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I came late to the game on Bird and the Sword and there was a lot of hype by that time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed In Cold Blood too!!
Here’s a link to my TTT post for this week:
http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2018/07/top-ten-tuesday-popular-books-that.html
Happy reading!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLike
Six of Crows and The Night Circus are amazing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed!!
LikeLike
[…] Top Ten Tuesday Books That Lived Up to the Hype at Fiction No Chaser. I’m always leery about starting books that are OVER THE TOP HYPED UP. Yes, some are legitimately that good, but many fall short of those expectations. This is a spectacular list a, and I added several books to my TBR list from it. […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of new books to me! I need more time to read. Great list 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Let us know if you read any of them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love In Cold Blood. I read it many times when I was a teenager. Harry Potter made my list, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so good!
LikeLike
“Slayena”, I love it 😂
Aaah, I still gotta read Six of Crows and Strange the Dreamer
LikeLiked by 1 person
You need to prioritize Strange the Dreamer! It is sooo good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Harry Potter and Six of Crows eek! Such great books on this list ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLike
YES YES YES to ToG (it’s my favorite, if you couldn’t tell) and also to Strange the Dreamer and Six of Crows!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Throne of glass is our favorite toooo!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] TTT: 10 Books that Lived Up to the Hype […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
One can never talk too much about favorite books. 😉 And again strange the dreamer. This week’s prompt is continuously mocking me for not having read it yet haha.
Great list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Read it now!! But give yourself time to enjoy and process it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re spot on re: Harry Potter (anyone who says the series doesn’t live up to the hype is lying, dead set) and In Cold Blood. I haven’t read All The Pretty Horses yet – but my husband is nagging me to get onto it, and I must say I’m skeptical. It can’t POSSIBLY live up to his hype!! 😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just loved it! Maybe it will surprise you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The only one I’ve read on here is Harry Potter which is embarrassing. I really need to get to Throne of Glass and Six of Crows ASAP!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THRONE OF GLASS! Can you tell we get excited for that series? It’s great, hope you enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I’m so excited! Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person