Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Top Ten Tuesday: I'm Seeing Stars

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

I'm Seeing Stars!

This week, I was challenged to take a look at my TBR, and predict which books would earn 5-stars from me. My goal, when picking books, is for each to potentially be a 5-star read, but I took a critical look, and went for sure things, when I assembled this list.
When I think about books, which have rated high with me, they were entertaining and evoked some strong emotions. I also tend to like book with an emotional balance - not too heavy or too angsty, which tend towards the lighter side. A strong ending is another requirement for me. I need it to be happy or hopeful, but also tie up those loose ends, and not leave me wondering about the characters.

These are all YA books I have, and plan to read. Many are from authors I have had previous success with, while a few are new-to-me, but the books emitted that super-cute vibe I tend to adore so much.

What makes a book a 5-star read for you?
Let us know in the comments!

50 comments:

  1. Katie Cotugno is someone I'd like to read more of. Miranda Kenneally seems like I've seen good stuff on too. Fun covers too- these ten make a nice little cover collage!

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    1. Kenneally's Hundred Oaks books have been winners for me, and I am excited for something new and different from her

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  2. I don't know of any of these books yet, but I am glad you have so many you think might be ones you can love. Fingers crossed they all will be, because I know you need some more five stars as there haven't been too many lately!

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    1. I have read books from many of these authors and they have earned high ratings from me. There are a few new to me authors on there, but the books sound like something I would love

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  3. YAY What I Like About Me is on your list! I adored it -- the Aussie author is such a gem and I really hope it's a wonderful 5-star read!

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    1. Glad to hear good things. I love the whole concept of the book.

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  4. These are all new to me, but I hope they all end up being the wonderful 5-star reads you expect!

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    1. Between the descriptions and authors involved, I feel confident that these will be hits for me

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  5. So many good books and I really do hope they are all five star reads for you!

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    1. I feel like I am back on track and my book radar is working again

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  6. I just finished What I Like About Me and I LOVED it! You're going to adore it too! I have Meet Me At Midnight and What I Like About You and both are books I'm really excited to read.

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  7. I hope these are all 5 stars for you, Sam!!

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  8. I have What I Like About Me to read as well. And I'm excited about Wayward Witch - I really liked the first two, though I enjoyed the first one a bit more.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. I cannot wait to see how Brujas wraps up. It good really interesting in the last book, and now we get the strongest witches story

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  9. I have high hopes for You Say It First. I almost always love Cotugno’s messy stories that feel so realistic. And the premise of Kenneally’s Four Days of You and Me sounds like one I’d enjoy. Hope there are a lot of 5 star reads here for you, Sam!

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    1. All Cotugno's books have been hits for me, and she does that HS-college transition well too.

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  10. i tend to love books that walk the dark side of the world. i want to be blown away, unable to put the book down, but sometimes the book won't fit this criteria, but is so well written and has everything a book in that genre needs, that i have to give the 5
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I equate being able to get lost in the story with being blown away. That's something a 5 star book does for me

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  11. OOh nice ones! All new to me ones. I hope you enjoy them all to the 5 & up star limit! ;)

    Here's my Tuesday Post

    Have a GREAT day!

    Old Follower :)

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    1. I had a rough start this year, but I think my book picking mojo is back

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  12. Every 5 star read (which is very rare for me) I had last year came as a total surprise & were books I hadn't planned on or knew about so I guess mine are all happy accidents lol

    Karen @ For What It's worth

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    1. I had quite a few that surprised me, and many were books I put off for so long, which frustrated me, because I let all that book goodness waste away

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  13. I do hope these all turn out to be 5 star reads for you. They are all new to be but I will be looking forward to your reviews!

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  14. A great story, likable characters and awesome writing makes a 5 star read for me! I'd love to read Meet Me at Midnight, I'm currently reading Jessica's other book Love Songs and Other Lies and it is really cute!

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    1. Characters are so important to me. The plot or writing has to be really amazing for me to love a book with unlikable characters. Love Songs was 5 stars from me. I loved it! Hope you like it too

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  15. I'm looking forward to reading The Summer of Impossibilities!

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    1. I adored Allen's Taxonomy book, and am excited about her new book

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  16. There are lots of great titles on your list! I am most looking forward to What I Like About You. :)

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    1. A book by a blogger about a blogger. I am definitely interested

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  17. I tend to like heavier reads than you have here, but I do like the idea of an emotionally balanced read. Not too heavy, not too light. I haven't read any of the titles you mention here, but several are on my TBR list. I'll definitely check them out when I'm in the mood for a lighter read.

    Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!

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    1. I like an overall lighter tone, but I like the book to have some substance.

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  18. Wayward Witch looks really good! I hope you love all of these!

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    1. I am ready to see how the series gets wrapped up, because the last book really turned it up a notch

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  19. Is it ridiculous that I am terrified of you jinxing yourself? This topic made me nervous for that reason 😂 But I too am very much looking forward to Four Days of You and Me and You Say it First, so hopefully you are right about them (all of them, really!)

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    1. Let's hope this becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Those two authors have been solid for me, so I feel confident about those two books

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  20. I always, always adore seeing your lists like this one in particular. It feels like a list I could have made and 10 books I could have picked out, too 😂 I can't wait to read You Say It First, It Sounded Better in My Head, What I Like About You, The Summer of Impossibilities and You Don't Live Here and well all of the others as well, they sound incredible :)

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    1. You are probably the blogger with the most similar reading tastes to mine.

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  21. Let's meet at the end of the year right?

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    1. I think we will have the verdict on these books by the fall.

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  22. I'm much pickier about giving something five stars and I do plan to re-read my 5 star reads and see if any need to be downgraded but that is a job for the future!

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    1. I have a thing about revisiting things I loved, because i worry my feelings may change due to my life circumstances, etc. I don't know, I want to hold onto that good thing

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  23. Great list Sam!!! I predict Four Days of You and Me will be a five star read, because Keneally never fails to delver. I look for strong emotions, and a superb ending in my 5 star reads as well. I love it when the story plays like a movie in my head, I can connect or relate to the characters in some way, and life lessons are incorporated as well. Great List!!!


    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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    1. I am excited to get a new book from Kenneally. She is wonderful! It's great to relate to the characters, but I find I like those who are different from me too.

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  24. I also need books to be neither too heavy nor too light and to have a strong ending that tells me the characters are ok. Wooliness or wishy washy endings (wait and see endings) annoy me.

    I've only read one author on your list - Jessica Pennington - and I enjoyed it. I like the sound of Meet Me At Midnight so I'll keep an eye out for that one.
    I'll be curious to see if your predictions were correct! :)

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    1. Wait and see endings make me nuts! I am a big stickler for a good, tied up ending. It can be a bit messy, but I need to know the direction the characters' lives are taking. Pennington writes the type of contemporaries I love. There is just enough drama and lots of feels, which is always perfection for me

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