Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Books I Read Before Blogging

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week for Top Ten Tuesday, we get to list our favorite books that we read before our blogging days. I wrote a similar post about this a while back, where I listed books that I wish I had read when I was a blogger mainly so that I could review them. I think it's almost impossible to say "favorite" but these books are some of my favorites and I really do wish that I had read them during my blogging days so that I could review them. So I will try to restrain myself from going overboard. However, there will be a few key books that I won't put in the list due to my previous list that I already posted.

Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature by Robin Brande

This was before I really discovered the contemporary YA books. It involved familial problems, awkward teenage high school-ness, the typical mean hierarchy, a geeky love interest, and PUPPIES! How can you not love puppies? 

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen & Bahija Lovejoy
Basically the first YA book I ever read. I supposedly read this for school in middle grade, but all I remember is rereading it over and over. It's in a foreign nation with a girl disguising to be a guy and falls in love with a prince. Hello, perfect.

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

Set in Ireland, this book had the great topic of insecurity and overcoming grief. Most of you are probably rolling your eyes over it being an "issue" book of sorts. Grieving girl and a movie star with a setting of Ireland, people. 

Forever Princess by Meg Cabot

In my previous list, I had listed The Princess Diaries in general. While I love the series in a whole, the last book is probably my favorite. I wished for more Michael scenes, but the scenes with Michael? 
OH SWEET BABY CUPCAKES. 

How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend by Janette Rallison (or any other book by this author)

Basically any Janette Rallison book. I have gone back and forth between which one is my favorite so many times. There's My Fair Godmother, where I adore the retellings. Just One Wish is so delightful and heartbreaking. It's a Mall World After All is hilarious...well, all of her books are. However, THIS one has jealousy (on the guy's end) and twins involved with motorcycles! 

When my sister read this, I was pretty proud that I had actually read it first AND it was before my blogging days. I actually discovered new things! Now this is fantastic fantasy. Magic, kingdoms, royalties, adventures...what else do you need?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Hunger Games first started making me love dystopians. Divergent was amazing in the way of how their world was split up. I loved the factions and tried to decide who I would be (besides the obvious Divergent). 

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Heartbreaking. Emotional. Wonderful. Great. 
After her WHOLE family gets killed in a car wreck, a girl has to decide whether or not she wants to still live and continue life without her loving family or die and join them. I must read it again soon.

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

I'm sorry I seem to keep adding Sarah Dessen in all my lists! But really, being a contemporary fan and before my blogging days, I couldn't really find anything in my library. Along for the Ride was great because there was a shy guy getting out of his shell and the both of them taking late night quests to help insomnia. I so wanted to be her. 

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Probably my favorite fairytale retelling. First of all: who doesn't love Beauty and the Beast? Who doesn't love Beast himself? I have always and will always love this book. I need my own copy pronto.

There's No Place Like Home by Jen Calonita

Once again, I named this series in my previous list, but I have a thing for last books. All of the books are great, but it involved parallel universes! 

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the other books. The first one was charming, the second one was our introduction to Zach, and the rest of them were all great in their own way. However, the fifth one was so great with my emotions. Gosh, the scene near the end? Chilled me. Amazing!

Honorable mentions: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Ella Enchanted and Two Sisters of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine, Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, and many, many more.

What were some of your favorite books before blogging? Do you agree with any of mine?

29 comments:

  1. I just finished reading the first book in the Gallagher Girls series and really enjoyed it. I'm happy to hear the rest of the series is just as good if not better.

    I have read a couple of Sarah Dessen books and LOVED them, but I haven't read Along for the Ride. I will have to add that to my TBR list.

    Here is my TTT: http://jacquesbooknook.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-read.html

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    1. Oh keep reading! It is good :) The 5th book is just an emotion-tugger for me :)

      Great! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I think we may be book soul mates. I love the Princess Diaries, Gallagher Girls, and Sarah Dessen, especially Along For the Ride! And I've been meaning to read Divergent- I've heard great things. Just as soon as I have time... ha. x)

    Have you read Heist Society? I like the GG books better, but they're pretty good.

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    1. Haha! Book soul mates, I like it :) Oh I totally get how that is! I tried reading Insurgent but realized that it had been so long since the first one so I didn't remember anything...and didn't have time to go back and reread. Ultimately, I still haven't read the 2nd one.

      YES. I wanted to put those on there but I wondered about having the same author. By far, Ally Carter is my favorite. I agree. GG is better in my opinion, but I do love Heist Society.

      Eeep, thanks for commenting :) Glad I found my book soul mate, haha

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  3. I really want to read The Girl of Fire and Thorns! I've heard nothing but good things about it. :D

    Here's Mine @ Pinkindle Reads & Reviews

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  4. I LOVE The girl of fire and thorn so much <3 and I can't wait to read Beauty, since it's my favorite fairytale and I love retellings.

    Mel@thedailyprophecy

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  5. I absolutely adored Forever Princess too Sunny, Michael <3333! I was so sad to know this would be the last book in the series, I really wish Meg will come back to this series, maybe in the college years. I waited ages to read Divergent, but I'm so glad that I finally picked it up! I have a copy of The Girl of Fire and Thorns, so can't wait to get started on that and also There You'll Find Me! Wonderful list Sunny! :)

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    1. Michael. Oh, what a wonderful creation an author has made. Ah, have you SEEN Mia's blog?! She hinted at writing another diary which means another book! I hope she's not just torturing us though. Ooh, tell me what you think! There You'll Find Me has Christian tones in it, so it might not be for everyone, but I personally enjoyed it. Thanks, Jasprit :)

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  6. I love this list! I don't know what to comment on first, actually! :) The Gallagher Girls and The Princess Diaries made my list too, I want to read There You'll Find Me (Ireland!), I still need to read How to Take the Ex Out of Ex-Boyfriend (I love Janette Rallison), and I love Along for the Ride (but I just re-read This Lullaby yesterday)! :) My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/04/08/beforeblogging/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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    1. I felt the same with your list! Gosh, I need to reread all these, but you make me especially want to reread Sarah Dessen since you did ;) Thanks for coming by!

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  7. You mentioned a number of books on my to read list, but the only book I have read on your list if Along for the Ride and I loved it.

    My TTT http://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2013/04/top-ten-favorite-books-i-read-before-i.html

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    1. Great, I hope you love the others as well :)

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  8. I haven't read Along for the Ride yet! The only book on your list that I've read is Divergent! But I can't remember whether I'd started my blog when I read it or not, so I didn't include it. I definitely need to check out a lot of these books!
    Great list :)

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    1. Oh, my heart breaks! You really should read these :) Thanks for coming by!

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  9. I love that you enjoy fantasy! It seems that so many of my friends can't get into fantasy worlds, but I love them. Especially TGoFaT...it might just be my favorite fantasy series...of the ones I've read already, anyway. :) I haven't read all of your picks, but I'm sure they're all on my TBR. ;0)

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  10. I liked Girl of Fire and Thorns as well!

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  11. We don't share any but you have a few of my favorites on here! Some of them I don't know so I might have to check them out :). Great list!

    Jasmine

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  12. These are so many good books on this list! I especially enjoyed GG5 (agreed about the emotions, and the plot was even more exciting than the others), and the parallel universes in There's no Place Like Home were very unexpected but ultimately exciting. I had never heard if There You'll Find Me but it sounds interesting…:)

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    1. You are actually the first person I have heard mention Secrets of My Hollywood Life series so that makes me so happy! It is :) Religious, but I like it.

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  13. I've read a few of the books on your list but the one that is more intriguing is Seven Daughters and Seven Sons. Have you read it recently and does it stand the test of time?

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    1. IT DOES. Gosh, it does. Read it. I used to read it like every other month but now it's a couple times a year. That's actually in my top ten on what I'm reading next :) Tell me what ya think!

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  14. I read Divergent and If I Stay before I started blogging too! Along for the Ride as well but I didn't love it for some reason. Looking forward to her new book though! Great list!

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    1. Oh, I've heard mixed things about Along for the Ride. I tended to like it more when I reread it :) Thanks!

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  15. I really liked Divergent and If I Stay, too--those are both ones I'd reread again. I still need to read Along for the Ride and Out of Sight!

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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    1. Ooh, read them and let me know what you think!

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