Top Ten Tuesday: It's Your Fault I Read It (and I Thank You)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
It's Your Fault I Read It
(and I Thank You)

To be honest, I don't act on book recommendations often. That might qualify as Blogger Heresy and admitting that is means for a Blogger Time-Out, but it's the truth. The fact is, after reading for 40+ years I'm kind of an expert on knowing what I like to read and then finding it. :) 

But there are exceptions to every rule. And there have been some instances when a blogger friend specifically recommended a book to me, or maybe I just read their review, and I decided to give it a go. I'm not sure I can come up with ten, but let's see what I've got, shall we?

  

HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy - This one was recommended to me by Brittany at This is the Story of My Reading Life. (Sadly, she no longer blogs but she sometimes posts on Instagram.) Brittany practically forced me to read this M/M romance about 4 years ago. Now I've lost count of how many times I've read and listened to it. #WesmieForever

THE MARKED MEN SERIES by Jay Crownover - Brittany is also the culprit friend who turned me on to Jay Crownover and her Marked Men series. I really had zero expectations when I read Rule, the first book in the series, but I was hooked and binged the whole series on audio. 

LONG SHOT by Kennedy Ryan - Sam (We Live and Breathe Books) and Amber (Du Livre) take the credit for this one. I remember DM'ing with them while I was reading it, sharing my thoughts along the way. And at one point Sam wrote: "Brace yourself" in regard to what was coming. She was right. It was a tough read but it was also a 5 star read and make Kennedy Ryan an instant favorite.

  

THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS by Bill Konigsberg - I only became aware of this one when Sam featured it on her blog. I was so taken by the way she wrote about it that I knew I wanted to read it. It was a great recommendation and I was able to enjoy a book I never would have picked up on my own.

BIRTHDAY GIRL by Penelope Douglas - I'm pretty sure that it was BookTuber Jess @ Peace Love Books who I first remember talking about Birthday Girl. I bought it soon after but then it took me a year (um, or maybe two) before I finally read it. Now I definitely want to read more from Penelope Douglas. 

THE BOY AND HIS RIBBON by Pepper Winters - I have Sophie (Beware of the Reader) to thank for this one. Pepper Winters had barely been on my radar before I saw Sophie talking about her books. It was this one in particular that really caught my eye and helped me a discover a new author whose story telling I enjoyed.


What book do you most often recommend?


39 comments

  1. It's okay. I don't act on book recommendations much either. :)

    It sounds like they do occasionally work well for you, though.

    My TTT .

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  2. I probably deserve a blogger time-out too because I ask for recommendations and then rarely read the books people recommend. I have so many books! I can’t justify getting more, even though I want to read them.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. It's hard to justify buying any more books at this point... but I still manage to convince myself to go for it. LOL

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  3. There are a few authors up there I really should try out, I see them everywhere! It's hard to take recommendations when you're usually the one giving them!

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    1. I don't really give that many specific recommendations. Opinions on books are so completely subjective. But its still fun to tout your favorites. :)

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  4. Well, I feel pretty special seeing my name up there, and am happy I pushed a book on you that you might not have found on your own. And, now, look at you. You know you're glad Amber and I pushed Kennedy Ryan on you.

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    1. Totally glad y'all pushed me to read Long Shot! Not only was it a phenomenal book but now Kennedy Ryan is a favorite of mine and I've read at least 5 other books from her. :)

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  5. Like you, I often seek out books on my own, but it is always nice to read something you wouldn't have otherwise read.

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    1. So true, Ethan. Many of my blogger friends have very different reading tastes so I learn of books I otherwise wouldn't have known about.

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  6. I love getting recommendations from people, but it always takes me forever to read them! haha. You definitely put me on to the Covenant Series and the Addicted/Calloway Sisters series and I thank you! haha

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    1. LOL Same here, Ashley. The book sounds awesome, I get all excited, and then it two years later and I still haven't read it. Oh, and I tend to push the Addicted/Calloway series on everyone. Haha! I loved seeing your reviews!

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  7. Amber is the one that made me pick up Long Shot too (& I think a review by you too).

    I read The Music of What Happens on a whim but I loved it too.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Long Shot was a tough read. Sometimes I could only read a few paragraphs at a time. But the overall story just wowed me in a major way. Now Kennedy Ryan is cemented as a favorite. I want to inhale her whole backlist. :)

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  8. Same here- i kinda just go with what I know I like? It usually works, but there have been times when I've acted on a blogger rec and loved the book, so yeah it does happen! And it's awesome when it does! :)

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    1. Yeah, I know what I enjoy and have never had any trouble finding books to read. LOL But sometimes a rec really hits the spot.

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  9. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who doesn’t always follow through on book recs, I’m the same. It’s normally because I get so many. Or I get the book and never quite get around to reading. You’re reminding me I haven’t read Him in forever with this post. And also that I read Long Shot and haven’t continued with the rest of the series. I have so many books I need to read!. Glad that at least a few of the book recommendations you’ve had have been for the better.

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    1. Hi Becky! *waves wildly* So good to hear from you again. :) I thought Long Shot was the absolute best in the series but that's not to say I didn't love the others, too. Getting cameos of Iris and August in the other books made my heart melt. :)

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  10. I want to shout, "THANK GOODNESS YOU LISTENED!!!" about those first three. It would have been so sad for you to have missed out on the greatness of those.

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    1. LOL Right? It hurts my heart to think I could have missed out on some of these.

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  11. I often act on book recommendations, but I'm really bad at keeping track of who recommended which book. You've inspired me to be better about that because who doesn't love knowing that they're connected a great book to an appreciative reader?

    Happy TTT!

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    1. Aw, that's great to hear, Susan! I actually started keeping a list in Google Docs of all my recommendations so I could keep track of who recommended what. :)

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  12. Great list! The Music of What Happens has been around and I want to read that!

    Here’s my TTT!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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  13. Oh, I love Him and I have The Music of What Happens to read! I definitely get ideas of things to read because of blog recommendations.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I hope you'll enjoy The Music of What Happens, Lauren!

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  14. Ooh, that's a good question! I don't think there's any one genre that I recommend the most but it's usually just whatever book I've read and loved? I think the majority of my recs lately have been contemporary romance though--especially in February 😂 I've got a few of these on my TBR and I'm looking forward to reading them :) Great post, Tanya!

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    1. Yep, almost all my recs are contemporary romance since that's 95% of what I read. LOL

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  15. Ha! That's so funny, but I totally get it. You know what you like! I tend to love recommendations because then I know I'll have other people to talk to about the book, but within those recommendations I only pick up a book if I think I'll like it. My most recommended book??? Hard to say, but maybe The Bronze Horseman.

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    1. Oh my goodness, The Bronze Horseman. I can hardly even talk about that one, Alison. It destroyed me. I still haven't managed to bring myself to read the other two books!

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  16. I want to act on more recommendations but I am usually so overwhelmed with what I have that I just don't have time to add more. I have read the occasional review that really spoke to me and caused me to try a book I wouldn't have otherwise. I don't think I would have read Him without knowing how much everyone else loves it.

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    1. I know what you mean, Carole. I get so many recs that sound great but the fact is I already have so many books on my shelves and on my Kindle that I am genuinely excited to read. It makes it hard to justify adding to my TBR.

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  17. For me, it depends on who is giving the recommendations. If it's someone who has similar taste to me, I'll take the rec. But those random recs that come to me from Goodreads members, no thanks, lol.

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    1. Totally agree, Suzanne. My blogger friends know my taste. Especially the ones who read similarly to me. But those random ones on GR... sooo off the mark. Every time.

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  18. The only one I've read is Rule but I grabbed Long Shot not too long ago when it was a freebie because of you and Sam. :)

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    1. Long Shot is definitely one that you have to be in the mood for. It's a tough read. But when you do get to it I hope you love it!

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  19. And I read I'll Meet You There because of you Tanya!!! Also bought Long Shot because of you LOL

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  20. I read HIM because of a rec too!

    I am like you, I know what I like and tend to stick to that. I did the same topic as you, though! :)

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    1. I'm so glad I was recommended Him! It became an instant favorite.

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