Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Top Ten Tuesday: Not for Review

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is...

Not for Review!



This week I am talking about non-review books, or rather, books I read, and loved, but were not provided by a publisher. Rather, these are books I either bought or borrowed. I read every book on this list at some point this year and each earned between 4.5 - 5 stars from me. All were big winners for me.

Any favorite shelf books to share?
Let us know in the comments!

45 comments:

  1. Oooh this is a really good topic! I've had The Last Time We Say Goodbye on my Kindle since it came out but have yet to read it. I keep forgetting its there. Wanderlost is one I've been wanting to read!
    Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

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    1. I don't tend to buy a lot of books, so I had to twist the topic. I think my daughter bought Goodbye years ago, but I actually listened to the audiobook. It was so good. I am glad I finally gave it a go. Wanderlost was as fun and cute and adorable as I wanted it to be. If you need something like that, read it.

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  2. I've only read one Sarah Dessen book, I need to check out more of her stuff!

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    1. I love Dessen and have read all her books. Her latest finds her in fine form too.

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  3. Love Wanderlost! It's one of my favorite books of all-time! <3 I also loved The Smell of Other People's Houses - the audiobook was AMAZING - and Whatever Life Throws At You!

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    1. Wanderlost was adorable with substance, which is my favorite kind of book. I also listened to Houses, and I cannot understand how more people weren't talking about that book, when it came out. I like Cross' books. They work for me and Life was SOOOO good.

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  4. I also loved The Smell of Other People’s Houses. I want to reread it eventually, but I never seem to have time for rereading!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I don't remember seeing too many people talking about Houses, and it's a shame, because the book is fantastic.

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  5. I looooove If I'm Being Honest!! The authors did well with the "she's a so-called btch but is actually a softie on the inside" and they really had me rooting for Cameron until the end of the book. Also with Two Can Keep a Secret! This book ensured me that Karen M. McManus' future books are worth the read. This one got my interest in YA thriller/mystery back.

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    1. I am so in love with that writing duo. I mean, after reading Honest, I ran out and bought their first book. I think McManus really finds a nice balance in her stories, so that they can appeal to a wide variety of readers. I am not a mystery reader, but the book was so much more than that. Loved both her books, can't wait for more.

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  6. love the topic. the smell of other people's house...what a title
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. The book is so good. It's a historical, set in Alaska in the 70s, and Hitchcock did such an incredible job weaving the lives of these people together.

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  7. I'm glad you included borrowed because I rarely buy books these days but I have auto-borrow authors now :-)

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. I buy few books. I don't have space to keep physical books, and I am lucky enough to have good library sources, so I often borrow.

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  8. Every once in a while we have to read books just for us, right? :-)

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Definitely. Sometimes, I am enjoying the "new releases" much later than other bloggers, but I am glad I read each and every one of these. I have been known to feature some throwback books on my blog too.

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  9. Nice! I'd say the majority of my books are from myself! Maybe 10-15% are publisher given. Perhaps a tad more...but not by much. I'm terrible at math! Lol. And since my reading habits have had to change this year, I am not entirely sure of the accuracy.

    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. I am definitely ARC heavy, but I am trying to change that ratio.

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  10. Mine! Haha love that. That made me smile on a Monday. :)

    I really liked Two Can Keep A Secret. One of my recent faves.

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  11. Er, Tuesday. I seem to have my days mixed up *sigh*

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    1. Nobody needs two Mondays in their week. *laughing* MaManus won me over with both her books. I cannot wait for more.

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  12. Two Can Keep a Secret was a trip! Gosh darn it. I want to read The Smell of Other People’s Houses. Thanks for the reminder to pick it up.

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    1. Houses was so good. I had it on my TBR for a long while, and finally downloaded the audiobook from the library. Zero regrets. It really impressed me.

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  13. Girl Made of Stars is such a great book. That one made Ashley Herring Blake an auto-buy/borrow author for me.

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    1. Blake is definitely an auto-read for me at this point, too. I only have her debut to read, and then, I will have to wait for a new release.

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  14. I'm listening to Two Can Keep a Secret now! I really enjoyed her other book and this one is really good so far too!

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    1. Yeah! I hope you like. I enjoy McManus' style, and she combines all those elements I love and wraps them in a mystery.

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  15. Two Can Keep a Secret was a lot of fun! It was a library audio for me too. :)

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    1. Same. I listened to quite a few of the books up there. That is mostly how I ingest my non-review books (though, I am trying to change that)

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  16. I haven't read any of these, but most of them are on my TBR list somewhere. I'm glad you loved them all!

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    1. I hope you get to a few of them, because they were all phenomenal.

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  17. I really do need to try those Karen M McManus books. I see them everywhere and I like the sound of the plots.

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    1. McManus' books just work for me. I am a fan. They hit all the things I love about YA PLUS, I get a mystery.

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  18. So do you typically *only* review your arcs/books for review, Sam? And you don't review the books your read on your own? Just curious. :) I really want to pick up Whatever Life Throws At You soon(ish). I just love Julie Cross.

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    1. I used to really only do ARCs, but I am trying to mix in backlist, and if I read a newer release that blows me away, and I have the time and space for the review, I will put it up there. I do write reviews for all the books I read on Goodreads, and I link to them all on my Sunday Post. I LOVED WLTSAY. It just had all that feel good stuff that sports stories have, and I was a fan of the romance too.

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  19. I might try Two Can Keep a Secret this October. Feels like a great read for that time of year.

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    1. I love McManus' books. I like that she can combine a bunch of different elements in her mysteries. I really enjoyed both her books.

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  20. But did you review them or not? I mean do you only review the books that you get from publishers Sam?

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    1. I review all the books I read or listen to on Goodreads. I like to post blog reviews for newer books, which are usually ARCs, but I have been working in more backlist.

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  21. Night Music, If I'm Being Honest and Girl Made of Stars are all ones on my wishlist. I haven't read any of these yet, but there are a few I am very much looking forward to on this list!

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    1. I hope you get to read them, because they are phenomenal

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  22. Yes! Girl Made of Stars definitely deserves more attention!

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    1. You don't think Blake's books get a lot of attention? I always feel like I see them around a lot, and I agree with all her books getting lots of love.

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  23. Lol, I love the gif. I love the mine mine mine from Finding Nemo. It always makes me giggle!
    I haven't read any of these but I'm proud to say I recognise quite a few! Bookish osmosis is a thing. :)

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    1. That gulls are the best! I always feel a sense of accomplishment, if I have at least heard of all the books people talk about.

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