Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Top Ten Tuesday - Books that Surprised Me

Hello, dear readers! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl is all about books that surprised me. Do any of these resonate with you in the same way? I'd love to know. Happy Tuesday!
 



1. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab - No one remembers you. Spend all day in a room talking to the main character, Addie, and she’s erased from your memory the minute you leave her presence. The plot was intriguing as much as it was heartbreaking. 
2. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers - A devout Christian man falls in love with a prostitute and marries her. You would think this arrangement is doomed from the start, but it’s actually an incredible love story. 
3. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - This book shocked me when I discovered the villain, Georgia Tann, was a real person who was born and raised in a small community ten miles east of where I live. 
4. Verity by Colleen Hoover - If you’ve read this book, then I don’t have to explain myself. It’s a wild ride. If you HAVE read it, did you believe the letter or manuscript? Curious minds want to know.
5. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - The author gave one of the main characters, an octopus named Marcellus, a voice. Sounds crazy, but it works, and it’s one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. 
6. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson - Characters spontaneously combust. How can that NOT be surprising? 
7. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - I've never cared much for fantasy books, but I couldn't put this one down. 
8. Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - This story is mostly about gaming, so I immediately went into it thinking I wouldn't like it because I've never been into video games, but this book was actually very good. 
9. Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney - I can count on one hand how many suspense/thriller books I've read in the past ten years, and stories like this are one of the main reasons why. Overall, I'm glad I took a chance on it, but plots that are too far-fetched just aren’t my thing. 
10. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy - Wonderful book but the ending BROKE.MY.HEART. I didn't just cry - I SOBBED. I yelled in disbelief while listening to the audiobook. If you had passed me on the road, you probably would’ve thought I’d lost my mind. I never saw it coming, and that's really all I can say about it without giving away any spoilers. 

12 comments:

  1. Before We Were Yours was a good read. I can’t believe Georgia Tann got away with it!

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  2. Nothing to See Here was so good! And anytime someone asks for an audiobook rec, it's the first thing I suggest! The narrator is so deadpan no matter how crazy things get.

    Here is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. It must be the same narrator for both books. She was amazing and so funny!

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  3. Funny that we both had Before We Were Yours on our list today, but for different reasons :)

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Cindy! Have a good weekend!

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  4. Great list! I haven't read Verity but I have heard a lot about it!

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  5. I'm a huge V.E. Schwab fan so I knew that I was going to love Addie and I did—it was one of my favourite reads from last year! I didn't have many expectations about Tomorrowx3 when I started it but it also became one of my favourite reads. The emotional impact of that book! I still get teary eyed when I think about today 😂 I've still got Remarkably Bright Creatures on my TBR and I can't wait to read it. Sounds very intriguing!

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    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I've seen SO much (both positive and annoyed) about Francine's books. I haven't read any though I do think I'd like to at some point to see what my reaction to her famous book (Redeeming Love) is. :) Thanks for visiting my list last week... and my apologies for not visiting here until now.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you decide to read it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Thank you for visiting!

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Hello and welcome to my website! My name is Stephanie Sullivan, and I'm a librarian, wife, mother, grandmother, and believer. I hope you'll bookmark my site and check back often for some book news, reviews, healthy recipes and more. Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless!

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