Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that is now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. “It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” This week’s topic is about books we are no longer interested in reading. My reading preferences have changed a lot over the years, and there are many books that I used to want to read that I am not intrigued by today.
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
I think I missed the boat on this series! It was all the rage a few years ago but it seems as though the love for this series has died down. No one seems to talk about it anymore! I think it might be one of those series that was great at the time, but YA has come a long way since then and Uglies just didn’t hold up!
Beautiful Creatures
I have seen mixed reviews for this series so I never picked it up but I was still intrigued! I tried to watch the movie but could not sit through it, but there is still something about Beautiful Creatures that appealed to me for a long time. The fact that I still have not read it makes me realize that I obviously do not want to read it that badly!
True Blood Series by Charlaine Harris
I used to be a huge fan of True Blood the TV show when it first came out! When I heard it was a book series, of course I wanted to read it! I was in university at the time so reading for pleasure was more difficult and never got around to it. Eventually, my love for the show died and with it so did my desire to want to read the books!
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
The 5th Wave is another example of a hyped book that I was interested in but never actually read. I heard so many good things about it when it first came out. Now that the sequels have been released, I have heard that the series really goes downhill! I do not want to get invested in a series that will leave me disappointed.
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
The Luxe was released during that phase where every YA book had a picture of a girl in a pretty dress on the cover. Of all of the books with pretty dresses, this is the dress that I thought was the most beautiful. I remember there being a lot of buzz for it but no one seems to talk about it anymore, and thankfully, the pretty dresses on the cover fad has died!
Panic by Lauren Oliver
There is just something about Lauren Oliver’s writing that I do not connect with. I read Before I Fall last year and really disliked it, even though it is so well loved! I have just come to realize that her writing style is not for me, so I am not interested in any of her books anymore.
Wicked by Gregory MacGuire
I love the Wicked Witch of the West so I of course thought that I would love Wicked! This is a book that I have tried to read many times but I never get very far. I have decided to just stop trying and I will stick to watching the play!
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Unfortunately, the ending of this book has been spoiled for me! I always hear people talking about how shocking the ending was, and now that I know what happens, I do not see the point of reading it! I have also heard a lot of mixed things about it. I would still like to try another one of her novels at some point.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Jennifer E. Smith’s books were everywhere on booktube a few years ago! I always thought the stories sounded sweet and the covers were adorable. I really do not have a reason as to why I am no longer interested in her books, I just think that there has been so many wonderful YA contemporary novels released since then that her books are not a priority.
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
DON’T HATE ME!! I read the first three books in The Mortal Instruments and I really wanted to enjoy them and to be part of the fandom but I just could not get in to them! Once she starting come out with more and more books set in this world I just came to realize that I could not keep up, was no longer interested, and I shouldn’t force myself to read something just because everyone else has read it!
I would love to hear your opinions on any/all of these books? Are they still worth reading? I can’t wait to read your thoughts!
I was the opposite about Beautiful Creatures. I wasn’t too interested but I ended up picking it up to see what the hype was about and I ended up reading the whole series. Loved it! Wicked is good but it is a slow read.
That is interesting to hear about Beautiful Creatures!! Did you watch the movie? I wonder if I should try again!
I think the first seasons of True Blood were amazing, but then the Lilith plot was so bad I lost interest in it and never even watched the last season I so couldn’t be bothered. I must have read the first 5 books or so too, and then again lost interest. They were great at the time, though.
The first few season were awesome! I loved it but you are right I think the storyline got a little weird for me! I wish I had read the books back then!
I went through the same with True Blood, and I started asking around how good the books were, and people kept telling me they were great, but very different from the show, so I never really got around to read them and now I lost all interest in them!
I am really sorry you got We Were Liars spoiled because it was such a great read! But I guess it might come accross a bit boring if you already know “the mistery” around it.
Anyways, always great to stop by here ^^
It seems as though a lot of people feel the same way about True Blood. I hadn’t realized they were different from the show!
I am so mad that I was spoiled. I think I would have liked it!
I agree about Cassandra Claire, though I have not cracked open any of her books yet, I just don’t think they would be something I’d enjoy. I want to read them because everyone else loves them, but I also know my taste and she just doesn’t fit into those interests, you know?
I also agree about Wicked. I’ve had it on my shelf for years and haven’t gotten much further than a few chapters..
I think you should trust your gut on Cassandra Claire!
I thought Wicked was going to me amazing but I can’t get in to it!
It is SO nice to not feel like the only one on the planet who hasn’t read those books 😳😳
I agree with you about the Charlaine Harris’ books… I loved true blood in the beginning and I have read the first few books but it got to a point where I just didn’t care to keep up with them… It’s the same with Cassandra Clare, I did manage to finish The Mortal Instruments but now we get this vibe that you need to read all (The Infernal Devices, The Shadowhunter Academy,) to enjoy the new ones and I just don’t want to… I’m bad because I know that this is a beloved series and all but I just don’t care to read it.
True Blood was great for awhile. I am so sad that I fell out of love with it!
I hate to say it but I think Cassandra Clare is over hyped and there are just too many books!!
Exactly…
I have three books from your list: TMI, We were Liars, and The 5th Wave that I’m still iffy on. I heard a lot of rave when I first started blogging but that was 2 years ago.. and I still haven’t read yet. I did like her Infernal Devices though, have you read?
I have not read The Infernal Devices but I still might pick it up! I have a feeling I might like that series!
I read the 5th Wave and thought it was enjoyable but not remarkable. My interest waned after the first book and it looks like we dodged a bullet.
There is just so many great books out there that I wouldn’t want to waste my time on it! Still kind of curious about it though. I haven’t heard great things about the movie either! Have you seen it?
No, I haven’t. I actually forgot all about the film haha
I almost put the 5th Wave on my list too. I’m just like– DO I really still want to read that????? Maybe I’ll just see the movie and see if that sparks my interest. Also, I was not that big a fan of WE WERE LIARS as I was the rest of E. Lockhart books. Maybe I’ve just had that trick ending pulled on me one too many times. I totally recommend all the books she put out before that one though bc they are AMAZING and don’t rely on a big twist to make them good.
I have heard mixed things about the 5th Wave movie but I kind of want to see it! I have heard other people saying that about the We Were Liars ending too! I do want to try her earlier books so I am happy to hear you enjoyed them.
The 5th Wave really isn’t worth the hype, and I also lost the energy to care about reading Uglies! If you didn’t enjoy the first half of The Mortal Instruments, you probably won’t enjoy the second half anyway! They’re a lot slower. 😫
This is all good to know! I am glad that I am right in not wanting to read these anymore!
this could be my list of books I don’t want to read except for ‘uglies,’ which I know nothing about so I can’t judge that one. I think the ‘mortal instruments’ series is not for me either. I did though at one time to read them but not anymore. & I don’t think you should feel bad for not liking it.
have a lovely day.
Thank you Lissa! I am so glad that you agree with me about these!
I read Uglies 2-3 years ago. I really enjoyed it… i don’t think i was the target audience tho, but still 😀
The concept of it sounds kind of interesting! It makes me kind of want to read it now that I know you enjoyed it!
I totally hear on not being able to jump on the Cassandra Clare bandwagon. The books have some cool parts, the world seems like it could continue to be interesting but I just didn’t like the characters after the books book.
I just could not make myself like Clary and Jace! I think that it a big part of why I didn’t enjoy them!
Yeah it was the same for me.
Uglies is one of my favorite series. He’s actually writing three more in the same world.
Great list!
Here’s our tuesday posts:
Top Ten Tuesday: http://jennreneeread.blogspot.com/2018/02/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-broke-up-with.html
Teaser Tuesday: http://jennreneeread.blogspot.com/2018/02/teaser-tuesday-your-one-and-only-by.html
Ohhh I didn’t know he was writing more books in the series! Everyone is saying they like Uglies so now I kind of want to read it again…
I felt the same way about The 5th Wave! I finished it, but only as audiobook.
I loved the first three in The Mortal Instruments, but the rest were terrible and so incredibly frustrating. If books ever mad me mad, it was this series.
I am so happy I never picked up The 5th Wave!
Wasn’t TMI only supposed to be three books? I am pretty happy with the way it ended so I am glad that I chose not to continue on with it!
It was, but I guess there was an audience and she wanted to make more money. I was very happy after 3 books, I completed the 4th and it made me so angry. I started the 5th, but just couldn’t handle where the story was going. I have no desire to finish. You made an excellent decision in my himble opinion.
I would definitely recommend The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare, I found that it was a lot easier to get into and it doesn’t drag as much!
I’ve also read The 5th Wave and I definitely agree that the series goes downhill, the first book was really good but the rest of the books felt like a completely different series.
I actually own the Infernal Devices so I really should read it! I do want to know what all of the Will Herondale hype is about!
It is so disappointing that The 5th Wave series goes downhill!
I really hope Will Herondale does live up to all the hype, he’s one of my favourite characters!
Everyone seems to adore him so I am sure I would too!
I’m sad to see some of these books on your list. I really enjoyed the Beautiful Creatures series. More so than the movie. I have only read The 5th Wave and not any of the rest of the series but I liked it. I also enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series too. But I respect Reasons. Good list.
Thank you! I knew these would be controversial because a lot of them are really well loved!
I did read Uglies when I was in college – another book series forced on my by my friend. I did like this one, though. I think it was very poorly marketed and maybe released at a bad time. I wish more of my students would read it because I know they would like it! I did read Beautiful Creatures and enjoyed it, but I am not interested in watching its adaption. I have Panic but I still haven’t read it either!
Great post! I will say that I absolutely loved all of Jennifer E. Smith’s books. Like you said, the covers are adorable and they’re just such sweet and enjoyable romances. 🙂
Thank you! That is actually good to hear. If I was going to try one which one would you recommend? I love the covers!
It’s been a while since I read them, but I remember especially liking This is What Happy Looks Like. I also remember liking most of them equally though 😉
Great list! Honestly I read Uglies and it was pretty meh, so I don’t blame you for losing interest. And yeah I’ve given up on reading Beautiful Creatures too- I just heard too many mixed things. Oh gosh good call with Wicked- I dnf’d it a lot before eventually finishing it (it took about a year to finish)- needless to say I didn’t like it, though I love the show too. Tbh I thought statistical probability is one of the worst cases of instalove I’ve ever read- so good call there as well!
Thank you! You made me feel pretty great about all of my decisions here!! I really wish Wicked was better!
You’re welcome! I’m glad! Ah I so agree there!
It’s funny I’ve read pretty much every book on your list! I haven’t read the True Blood books, I want to, but at the same time I don’t, haha. I did love the tv show!
The show was really good! I have only watched the first few seasons though!
The first 3 are the best. The show kinda died after the fourth but I still continued because I like to torture myself 😛
I am like that too! I always hope that it will get good again!
Here’s to keeping hope alive!
Ooh, the Mortal Instruments series has been in my sights for a while. It’s just a matter of jumping in now, haha. Great list!
I am curious to see what you end up thinking about TMI!
I agree with the Uglies because I couldn’t get into that either. I actually liked Beautiful creatures, but many didn’t for some reason. I also liked we were liars, but without the twist the book isn’t all that interesting. The luxe series was surprisingly good but I’m a sucker for historical fictions. The last three books in the mortal instruments series are not worth your time so don’t bother XD pretend book 3 stayed the end.
I love historical fiction so maybe I really should read The Luxe series! I was satisfied with how book 3 ended in TMI so I’m happy you said that!
It really just goes downhill from there. I barely made it through the last book, but I was happy just to finish it. You should definitely read the Luxe.
I don’t blame you for not picking up Beautiful Creatures. I remember picking it up when I was sick one time and I flew through the first book but found the second book to be meh. I ended up never finishing book three.
As someone who has reread We Were Liars, I think you can go in knowing the ending and still enjoy it. I personally really enjoy looking at hints towards the ending throughout the entire novel and rereading it has made me love it even more. (It really sucks that you had that ending spoiled for you tho… reading that twist will always be one of the most memorable reading experiences for me)
That makes sense about We Were Liars. It might be interesting trying to look for the foreshadowing!
I read Beautiful Creatures a while back! While I did enjoy it, it’s been so long, and I’ve just lost interest, and probably won’t continue reading the rest of the books. I also remember it felt a bit unnecessarily long, too, so you’re definitely not missing out. I found myself disappointed in Panic, also. I actually really like Lauren Oliver’s writing, but for me, Panic was definitely missing something. So, if you’re not even a fan of her writing, then Panic is definitely a book that I would suggest skipping!
I did really love the Uglies series and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. I feel like Uglies has always been under-appreciated, and if it had come out when books like The Hunger Games and Divergent were released, it would have gotten the movie I’ve been waiting for since I was in high school, lol!
That is interesting to here about Panic! I am glad that I avoided that one!
Many people have been saying they loved Uglies. Now I am tempted to read it again! Here’s hoping it becomes a movie 😋
Yeah, you didn’t miss much by skipping that one!
Haha if you do decide to read Uglies, I hope you enjoy! The author recently announced that he’s continuing the series, too! So, perhaps the Uglies series is making a popularity comeback. 😊
I’ve lost interest in reading Beautiful Creatures as well. Nice list!
Thank you! It does sound interesting but there are just too many good books out there!
I started to read the Uglies series, but never finished it. The books that I did read were so boring and I just didn’t see why everyone loved it so much. Same with Beautiful Creatures. I read a few books, but then I got bored and never finished. OMG….I am so mad about the 5th Wave. I loved the first two books, but that third book was so bad. Such a disappointment to a series I actually loved at first. Didn’t like We Were Liars and I wasn’t that impressed by the ending. The Mortal Instruments….I actually loved the first four books, but then it just got so boring. While I did finish them all, the rest of the series wasn’t that great and it dragged on and on. It would have been perfect if she just ended it after the third book.
I am so happy that you confirmed a lot of my suspicions about these books! It is too bad about the 5th Wave! It sounds like it had a lot of potential! It is the worst feeling when I series you love has a disappointing ending! I was pretty satisfied with the ending of the 3rd book in TMI so I am happy I stopped there!
I have to say that I think the Uglies series still stands out as great YA lit. Maybe it’s just the science of it all that means something, but Scott Westerfeld (from what I know) seemed to do decent research about the tech that went into the book. I think it was meant to be plausible in the real world, which makes it more interesting than books without that component.
That is interesting that Scott Westerfeld did a lot of research- I definitely appreciate when authors take the time to do that. I am actually interested in his writing. Have you read Leviathan by him? That series sounds really good!
I read and enjoyed the first two books in the Uglies series, but come to think about it again now, compared with all the books I’ve read in the past year or so, Uglies is just not worth reading.
It’s such a shame you didn’t get to experience the story of We Were Liars, especially the ending 🙁 I loved that book, it made me cry and the writing was exceptional. Maybe check out E. Lockhart’s other novels to make up for it!
I am now torn on Uglies because there are so many mixed opinions about it! I have been told the author is writing more books as well. If I am honest with myself I will probably never read them!
I really do want to read one of her books!