Let's Throwback!
Something I learned this week: I don't read may "cozy" winter books or books set in winter, for that matter. Executive decision - I am doing a totally different topic. I have been making more of an effort to read my shelves and get through my backlist books, and I must say, many of these books have been spectacular reads for me, and I would love to share some of them with you.
- Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton: This book had me crying those happy-mad-sad tears. It was emotional and so, so beautiful.
- Confessions of a High School Disaster by Emma Chastain: I fell in love with Chloe Snow this year, and I will be waiting for her Junior year book with baited breath.
- Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby: Kirby has solidified her place as one of my go-to authors. The way she can deliver such a painful story and incorporate so much beauty is what I love most about her books.
- Flipped by Wendell Van Draanen: Talk about being late to the party! I may have been 15 years late with this one, but I have no regrets. This was one of the most charming and lovely stories I read this year, and it was a gateway to Van Draanen's other books, all of which, I have loved.
- Far From the Tree by Robin Benway: This was another gateway read. After I finished this book, I went and purchased 3 other Benway books. Let me tell you, Benway knows how to deliver the feels.
- How to Love by Katie Cotugno: Katie C. is a solid favorite of mine, and though I owned this book for years, I never read it. I thought it was time, and I was really pleased with the results. As always, Cotugno beautifully told a messy story filled with flawed characters, and I LOVED it!
- Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly: I had been wanting to read this series since it first came out, and I am glad I finally did. I immediately took a shine to Digby, and Zoe and Digby quick became one of my favorite fictional duos.
- Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett: You all know I adore Jenn B., and I finally read her YA debut, which was phenomenal, as I expected.
- If I Fix You by Abigail Johnson: Johnson is another author, who writes these complicated and messy stories, which evoke such a strong emotional response from me. She's a total auto-read now.
- Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins: I never understood all the hype about Anna. I enjoyed it, and was determined to finish the series, but I never went nuts the way everyone else did. However, I ADORED Isla. It was a low drama love story, and Perkins gave us fans of the series a wonderful ending. Loved it!
What was the best "throwback" book you read this year?
Let us know in the comments!
I know nothing about Flipped but I love that adorable cover! I will have to go learn more. :) Jenn Bennett and more Katie Cotugno is in my future too.
ReplyDeleteFlipped is the most precious, sweet story of seeing the differently after having your eyes opened. It's about family and first love and realizing the beauty that is right in front of you. All the feels.
DeleteI don't do cozy winter reads either so my list is full of disaster and monsters as usual!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's your brand of cozy. 😂
DeleteLooks like a pretty amazing group of books you got there! The ones I've read I loved and have several others to read still.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, no regrets
DeleteI’m going to read Far From The Tree this month. It’s been sitting on my TBR shelf for nearly a year, so it’s way past time to read it.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I really, really, really loved that book. It was complicated and messy and heartwarming. So good
DeleteI loved Anatomical Shape of a Heart, too! I started Isla, but I need to hunker down and finish the book. I keep getting distracted by other reads. :)
ReplyDeleteI have been doing quite a few backlist via audio, which is how I "read" Isla
DeleteAhh... love that you found so many great reads from back listed titles. There were many that I read and loved in your pile as well. I shared Flipped with my daughter and she loved it to. Check out the movie it came out a few years ago directed by Rob Reiner, it was really good.
ReplyDeleteI saw the movie. I was surprised they set it in a different time period, but it still had all the charm of the book
DeleteI struggled with this topic too! Thus, I broke it into two categories where I knew winter at least occurred in the story...and still forgot one of my all time favorite reads! And my second selection were what I called cozy paranormal mysteries! Lol!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday Post
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
I found a few that fit the topic, but not 10
DeleteLOL, don't worry about being late to the party. Next month's TTT topic "New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2018" for me is going to be filled with authors that people have been reading for years. I think the only well-known authors missing from that list are going to be Marie Lu and Veronica Roth, which I've known about for a while now.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm familiar with some of these books, I haven't read any yet. I think the best "throwback" books I've read have been Cassandra Clare's. Like, all of them, LOL.
I do love discovering new-old books though. It's fun, because usually legions of people have read it, and there's lots of discussions. I am eager to see your list, though. The other WLABBers are HUGE CC fans, and since I was always reading my daughter's books, I was actually on that train early. Same with ToG. My daughter remembers waiting on SJM's line at BEA, and she was almost all alone.
DeleteWait, Flipped is how old? I didn't realize it was published so long ago. I really adore that one.
ReplyDeleteI was pretty surprised when I saw the publication date, but now that I think of it, I remember my daughter having the book back in late grade school/early middle school, and she is almost 24. It was a wonderful gateway book to more of Van Draanen's books, which have all been winners for me.
DeleteI'm thinking of joining the Backlist challenge for next year. I've got so many books to get caught up. Every week I have time to join into the TTT I end up not liking the topic. :-( But I want to do it more! Oh well. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI join it every year, but I sort of suck at it. My goal is always to have about 50% of my reading be shelf/backlist, but it never goes that way. Oh, when I don't like the TTT topic, I just make up my own. I don't do negative topics, but I love doing TTT lists. Do your own thing.
DeleteI REALLY must read How to Love! I also have heard amazing things about If I Fix You. I recently read Anatomical Shape and it was great. Also loved Far From the Tree and Things We Know By Heart so much! Now I need to add Words on Bathroom Walls to my list, too, that sounds great! Love your list, and love that you made an executive decision to change the topic 😂
ReplyDeleteYes! You like Cotugno and messy stuff, and let me tell you, it's messy. I am a Johnson fan. I am starting her next release soon, and am hoping to strike gold again. She give good feels. The thing about Words wasn't just the way the mental health issue was addressed, which was really informative, but the way the author approached some of the relationships the MC had and she put some really beautiful people in his life. It's how I hope it could be for those suffering from that disease. It made my sappy heart explode.
DeleteFLIPPED is super cute! As an adoptive mom, I'm naturally drawn to adoption books, but FAR FROM THE TREE didn't *quite* do it for me as I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I should try Benway's others and see what I think. Your other picks sound really good. Most of them are on my TBR mountain chain somewhere. *Sigh*
ReplyDeleteHappy TTT!
Flipped wins for cutest book of all time in my heart. Man! When that kid started planting that tree in her yard, I lost it. Sorry Tree didn't work for you. I adored it, but I also adore Benway.
DeleteI don't know much about all these books apart from Isla one as it is the part of Anna and the French Kiss series. I am yet to read that series but I really wish to read it soon. I really love to read backlist books as it gives me a kind of satisfaction :)
ReplyDeleteAnna was a cute series. I loved all three pairings, but Isla was my favorite for the romance and the way it wrapped up the series.
DeleteThe interwebs ate my comment?! Grrr! I just left a long comment about Far from the Tree and poof it's gone. Anyway, suffice it to say, I adored FFTT and still think about those characters.
ReplyDeleteThat book made me go read more Benway, and I have no regrets.
DeleteWhile scheduling TTT posts I also realized that I don't read many cozy and winter-y reads. I'm a mood reader and am all over the place all year round. The covers to these are beautiful! I've heard of most of them throughout the years :)
ReplyDeleteSome people were talking about seasonal reads, and the kind of books they associate with certain times of the year. I do associate summer with light and breezy reads, but I read those all year long.
DeleteI haven't read any of the books on your list yet, but If I Fix you does sound like an intriguing read. It also has such an eye-catching cover.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thanks for stopping by earlier.
Johnson's books are really great. Always messy, but heartwarming. She gives me a lot of feels and I love that.
DeleteThese all sound so good. That Jenn Bennett book is really calling to me.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to be disappointed by Jenn Bennett. I am working through her adult books right now, and they are fabulous too.
DeleteI worked on backlist and tbr piles a lot in 2018 and like you found some stellar reads. Thanks for adding to my tbr pile!
ReplyDeleteMy TBR is mountain, but I love when I actually can mark some as read, and I am glad I got to find some real gems in the bunch.
DeleteThis is a fun post idea! I def need to get better at reading backlist. I also LOVED Far From the Tree, Anatomical Shape, and Isla (Isla is my favorite in that series, too!).
ReplyDelete*High Five* I thought I was alone with my love for Isla. Everybody is always "Anna, Anna, Anna", and I liked that book, but I loved Isla.
DeleteTHE ANATOMICAL SHAPE OF A HEART <3 I love that book so much and I want to love it forever and read it again and again <3 Isla and the Happily ever after was such a good read too and such a great way to finish those companion novels. Although admittedly Anna will always be my favourite. I have Things We Know By Heart is on my kindle waiting for me to read it DD:
ReplyDeleteThe ending for Isla was just the sweetest thing ever and so perfect for that series. Read Heart, it was so wonderful!
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