It’s that time of the season where I’m desperately begging you guys to hold me accountable in two things: narrowing down my TBR and determining which books should stay or be purged from the list. I recently went through and amended my Goodreads TBR to only include review copies so that I could keep them organized; this is how I determined now is the best time to, little by little, go through and seriously consider which pleasure books should be boosted in priority and which should get the boot. I’d love it if you could help me out in the comments; if you have a favorite book you see in these posts, could you let me know? Also, if you see a book that really didn’t sit well with you, could you let me know that too? Of course everyone’s opinions are subjective, but I’m hoping mostly that this will help encourage me to pick up at least one book from each stack that has been sitting and get that sucker read! Here’s how I picked this stack: I led my 4 year old to one of my bookshelves and told her to pick the 5 prettiest books that she saw. 🙂 I’ll be including the book summaries below in case anyone spies a book that might interest them to; thanks for your help guys and I’ll post updates as I get through these! ❤
BEFORE WE WERE STRANGERS
BY RENEE CARLINO
To the Green-eyed Lovebird:
We met fifteen years ago, almost to the day, when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House.
You called us fast friends. I like to think it was more.
We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music (you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley), photography (I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you), hanging out in Washington Square Park, and all the weird things we did to make money. I learned more about myself that year than any other.
Yet, somehow, it all fell apart. We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic. When I came back, you were gone. A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding…
I didn’t see you again until a month ago. It was a Wednesday. You were rocking back on your heels, balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform, waiting for the F train. I didn’t know it was you until it was too late, and then you were gone. Again. You said my name; I saw it on your lips. I tried to will the train to stop, just so I could say hello.
After seeing you, all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me, and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like. I might be totally out of my mind, but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half?
M
CINDER
BY MARISSA MEYER
(LUNAR CHRONICLES #1)
Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder’s brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it “a matter of national security,” but Cinder suspects it’s more serious than he’s letting on.
Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder’s intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that’s been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter’s illness, Cinder’s stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an “honor” that no one has survived.
But it doesn’t take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.
THE NAMES THEY GAVE US
EMERY LORD
Everything is going right for Lucy Hansson, until her mom’s cancer reappears. Just like that, Lucy breaks with all the constants in her life: her do-good boyfriend, her steady faith, even her longtime summer church camp job.
Instead, Lucy lands at a camp for kids who have been through tough times. As a counselor, Lucy is in over her head and longs to be with her parents across the lake. But that’s before she gets to know her coworkers, who are as loving and unafraid as she so desperately wants to be.
It’s not just new friends that Lucy discovers at camp—more than one old secret is revealed along the way. In fact, maybe there’s much more to her family and her faith than Lucy ever realized.
THE BONE SEASON
BY SAMANTHA SHANNON
(BONE SEASON #1)
The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by breaking into people’s minds. For Paige is a dreamwalker, a clairvoyant and, in the world of Scion, she commits treason simply by breathing.
It is raining the day her life changes for ever. Attacked, drugged and kidnapped, Paige is transported to Oxford – a city kept secret for two hundred years, controlled by a powerful, otherworldly race. Paige is assigned to Warden, a Rephaite with mysterious motives. He is her master. Her trainer. Her natural enemy. But if Paige wants to regain her freedom she must allow herself to be nurtured in this prison where she is meant to die.
WRONG PLACE
BY MICHELLE DAVIES
(DC MAGGIE NEVILLE #2)
When a man fails in his attempt to murder his wife and then commit suicide, DC Maggie Neville is assigned to be the surviving woman’s Family Liaison Officer.
As the husband lies in a coma in hospital, the wife sets about making sure everyone knows he’s guilty. But there’s something about her story that doesn’t ring true to Maggie.
Digging deeper, she finds an unexpected link between the couple’s case and a series of burglaries she and her colleagues are investigating in the local area – and the mysterious disappearance of a young woman twenty years ago.
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I don’t see anyone recommending Before We Were Strangers so it’s what I pick. I loved the book. I’m not sure it’s your kind of read but I guess you’ll never know unless you try, right? Also, your 4-year old is adorable. ❤
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Thank you dear! I actually love those type of books so I’m hoping I can squeeze it in asap. ❤️
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You will survive without reading Cinder. I know everyone else disagrees, but they’re wrong, and it’s okay 😂. I have the rest of the series, but have no desire to carry on with it.
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Loved The Lunar Chronicles.
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I absolutely love the Lunar Chronicles. I can’t believe you haven’t read it yet Chelsea.
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I know IT’S EMBARRASSING ALRIGHT? 😂😂😂😂😂😂
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Cinder is such a quick read, but I’ve heard wonderful things about The Names They Gave Us! I hope you enjoy whatever you end up reading!! ❤
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Thank you so much!
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Love how you picked these titles! I personally really enjoyed The Lunar Chronicles and I’ve heard great things about The Bone Season and The Names They Gave Us. I hope you will enjoy these!
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😘😘
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I absolutely loved reading Cinder and the whole of The Lunar Chronicles. Despite their size they are such easy, fun books to read and I would definitely recommend them!
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Thanks Kelly!
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I’ve not read any of these, so I can’t help you with this stack. Hopefully I’ll be able to input on future stacks though! I like this methodology of clearing your TBR though 🙂
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Thanks Jo!!
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I read Cinder recently and didn’t care for it that much, but pretty much EVERYONE else did… however it is a pretty quick read so you could probably fly through it 🙂
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Good point Dana! I am looking for quick reads lately 😂
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Yayyyy I didn’t line it either haha
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Cinder.. I have read and I love this series. I like this kinda retelling. So if you are planning to read whole series then go for it.
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Thank you dear!
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I bought Cinder because of Marie’s fab review but I keep putting it off for books from genres I prefer xD
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I completely understand Meggy! 😂 I do it too!
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Honestly, I’m not a fan of Renee Carlino’s books. I have tried several of them, and get frustrated and DNF. I did read this book you have – and it was just okay for me. I don’t feel like it’s so amazing that you need to make it a priority…you could even skip it all together imo. 😉
I hear Cinder (the entire series) is worth every minute. I haven’t actually read it, but everyone sings it’s praises.
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Thanks Brandie!! 😘❤️🎉
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I loved the Lunar Chronicles! Cinder is an easy book to get into to kick it off, and then each subsequent book gets better. There are also some great add-ons to the series, like ‘Fairest’ and ‘Stars Above’ where Marissa Meyer has some fun with characters that haven’t been given a perspective. Give them a try!
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Sounds great! Thanks Hannah!
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The only one I’ve read from this list is Cinder, which I found to be enjoyable but somewhat predictable. I do think the Lunar Chronicles does get better with each book, but it does make for more of a commitment!
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Ah I completely understand that. Thanks Nicole!
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Lunar chronicles were amazing. If you do audiobooks, I’d highly recommend them that way. Bone Season was amazing (the second book is on my coffee table, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet).
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I really should bc you are the second person to recommend them audiobook style! Thanks dear!
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Another vote for Cinder, but with the warning that it was the hardest of the 4 books to get through. In hindsight, Cinder is the set up book and it’s almost like the author is building the “cage” that the characters are going to need to fight their way out of. It’s very effective, but reading it made me feel a little claustrophobic (I will never make it through 1984).
If you finish Cinder and decide to read the rest of the series, the audio version is fantastic! The narrator does a fabulous job of differentiating all the voices.
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Oh thanks you! I really appreciate the disclaimer and will keep it in mind. Thanks Brandyn!
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Cinder is on my list to read, but now you made me add Wrong Place! lol
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Yay!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
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Loved the Lunar Chronicles! And you’re lucky enough to come across them after they’ve all came out so no waiting :). My best friend has also read and liked The Bone Season but I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews on it!
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That is very true; I love it when I’m able to discover a series without the waiting. 😂 Thanks dear!
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I’ve only read Cinder from that list of books, but I did really enjoy it!
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Thank you Mandy! ❤️
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I loved Cinder. The rest of the series is even better but Cinder is a great start. Haven’t read any of the others.
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🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 thank you!
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I’ve only read Cinder from this list and I loved it! SO much! I expected to hate it. Honestly the red high heeled shoe threw me off and I thought it would be girly. It was a really great book!
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Oh yay! I’m excited to read it now!
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I loved The Bone Season…but the sequel was a DNF, so..
Renee’s books sound so, so fantastic (I was lucky enough to receive a copy of her upcoming one and can’t wait to dive in!!) and I’ve heard really great things about them!
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Ah thank you Leah! I appreciate your honesty. I have 3 of Renee’s books on my shelf and I really need to read them asap!
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The Lunar Chronicles is so much fun. I highly recommend Cinder!
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Yay! Sounds like that may be the winner for this round!
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I enjoyed Bone Season! It was different from what I expected, but in a good way (if that helps haha)
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Definitely helps; thank you! Did you happen to read the next in the series as well?
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I did! I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first though. I noticed there is now a third one. I may give it a try too.
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I am currently reading Cinder. I was sceptical when I started but have really enjoyed it so far.
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Ah good to hear! Be sure and lmk what you think when you finish it too!
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Wrong Place sounds amazing! The other ones didn’t quite grab my attention but that one definitely did.
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I’m so glad to hear that! I loved the first book in the series and am not quite sure why I’ve let this one sit for so long.
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I read The Bone Season and I didn’t like it….oops.
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Bahaha thank you! Also, that last book is the second one after Gone Astray.
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH I wanna read that one!
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The only one I’ve read from here is Cinder, and I really recommend it! The Lunar Chronicles overall is a fantastic series worth checking out! 😀
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Thanks Mikaela! That one seems to be the most popular!
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The only ones I know are Cinder and The Bone Season because they’re also in my TBR! I can’t say much about either of them. I’m also trying to hold myself accountable for the MASSIVE piles of unread books I have in my TBR. We can create a support group or something.
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Ah I think that would be a genius idea!
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I don’t know any of these so I can’t help at all!
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BAHAHAH no worries Dee!
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The only titles from this stack that I’ve read are Cinder and The Bone Season, so I can’t vouch for the others.
Cinder: This book is honestly a little slow and a lot of people find it boring in parts, BUT you can’t continue The Lunar Chronicles without reading this one first, and the rest of the series is so amazing that it made me love this one by proxy. I encourage everyone who tells me they’re uncertain about Cinder to power through it, even if you have to skim sections, just so you can move on to the other books because the character cast in this story is so precious and the plot is really fun and interesting as it continues on.
The Bone Season: I just read this for the first time last week, actually! I really loved it. I didn’t expect to like it, tbh – I don’t know why, but it didn’t strike me as particularly interesting? – but I read it anyways because of a group read in the FB group I admin. Anyways, the first few chapters didn’t really draw me in, but I got sucked in by the page 50 mark or so and tore through the rest of it. I mean, this was one of those rare books that kept me up until 5am and I had to FORCE myself to go to sleep and finish it the next day, lol! So if you like dystopian or urban fantasy stories at all, I recommend giving it a try.
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Oo thank you so much Destiny! I appreciate the detail and time you took to include all that and it makes me really excited to read both! I have all of the lunar chronicles on my shelf so that should confirm the need to read these. ❤️
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You’re so welcome! I really hope you like them!
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