This year I’ve opened more viral books than ever before. I’ve been feeling the void from Harry Potter and have been wanting to find the next best thing. Something that I can grow with and be excited for the next release. However what I have found is that although as an adult I still enjoy HP I read it as a child and therefore have a nostalgic fondness to fall back on, something that I obviously do not have with a new series. Also picking up YA makes me feel old and out of touch. I’m a firm believer YA is for all age groups and am not snobby about adults reading this genre. I know there is a book series out there for me!
I first picked up Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, it had lots of great reviews. I love an academic setting it didn’t feel too out-there as my first pick. I read it just as Hell Bent the sequel was being released. So, I knew that it was successful enough for the public and the publishers to want more. I understand that as writing goes it’s not the most advance novel but I enjoyed the storyline and where the story was taking me. I actually bought the second novel on my kindle and am going to try and read whilst I’ve got Ninth house some what etched into my brain, although have seen that it hasn’t had the same hype as the original.
I was then recommended A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass. Not only has it been everywhere on my instagram, goodreads and Tik Tok a friend of mine also loved it. This was a hard no from me! I have never felt so out of touch with what YA think makes a good book. What got me from very early on was how often the Author wrote “lazy” it became comical when she referred to a characters lazy smile, or how he lazily did X or Y. For me it wasn’t just the way the storyline that I couldn’t get into the way the book was written just bothered me. I just could not get my head in the game. I actually DNF, which I’ve not done many times this year. There is obviously a HUGE audience for this book and I love when others find a book or a series that is right for them. But for me it wasn’t the one.
Finally I’ve been reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros over the last couple of weeks, storyline wise it is very similar to ACOTR. But I’m not sure what it is but it has clicked with me a little more. Well, that was until around chapter 30 when the spiciness started. If I weren’t so close to finishing I think I would DNF this too. The sex scenes are just so cringe, there is a lot of “gasps” and reference to “tongues thrusting” too cringe for me! I know the author has written what she knows responds well to an audience. Everyone loves a will they won’t they character hook, but I was enjoying the story without the unbelievably irritating love interests. Although I enjoyed this more than ACOTR I think I’m going to pass on the sequel Iron Flame.
I wouldn’t put any of them on a must read list, but in all honesty I’m probably about 10 years older than the target market. It’s been fun reading books that are not usually a style or genre (fantasy, YA, Romantasy) that I would explore.
There is such a snobbery around books and what people choose to read. The most important thing is reading books that you enjoy. I don’t think I will be looking to Tik Tok to influence any of my 2024 books, but I’m never going to say never! I always love a recommendation from friends and as reading goes I’m happy to give most things a try. The worst thing you can do is not finish it if it’s not for you!
Next year I’m going to keep trying new genres and authors but I think I might steer clear of overly hyped books.
I really tried with ACOTAR, but I felt the same thing, out of touch. Then my next thought was "If this is in touch, then out of touch it is!" My cousin had so excitedly recommended it to me when I told her that I love reading High Fantasy, and it made me feel like a snob when I told her I DNF it. I will say of all the viral recommendations I have ever gotten Red Rising by Pierce Brown more than lived up to the hype, and the audiobook is a master class performance by Tim Gerard Reynolds.