Top Five Tuesday is on a hiatus until next week, and the topic for Top Ten Tuesday this week is about most anticipated release- something I have already talked about on the blog. For this reason, I thought it might be fun to go back and do a TTT topic that I missed!
The topic that stood out to me was “The First Ten Books I Reviewed”. I started this blog in May of 2017, and have reviewed plenty of books since then. I remember the first book that I reviewed because it inspired me to start this blog. After that, it is all a blur!
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
As I said, Everything, Everything is the book that pushed me to start Kristin Kraves Books. I knew that I had an unpopular opinion and I needed to talk about it. It was validating to see that I was not the only one who felt like the “twist” cheapened the novel. For all my issues with the book, I will always be grateful to Everything, Everything!
Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel
I was actually surprised to see that I reviewed Sleeping Giants so early on! I guess I was influenced by the community from the start because I know it is a book I picked up purely because of other bloggers. The Themis Files continues to be my favourite SciFi series and I will never stop raving about it. Please read it!
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
I am one of those people who really liked The Girl on the Train and I remember being so excited to see that Paula Hawkins had released a new book. I know that this is an unpopular opinion, but I actually preferred Into the Water! It does not seem to be a book that many people talk about- maybe I should mention it more on this blog. There are a lot of characters and it did take awhile to get a handle on the all, but it was worth it to me in the end.
The Girls by Emma Cline
To this day, The Girls is a book I always bring up when asked for a book that disappointed me. I am still surprised that a book about a cult ended up being so dull! There is no denying that Cline is a talent writer, but I will never understand her choice of narrator. It always felt like the reader was being kept at a distance.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Has it really been this long since I read Red Rising?! I have been saying I wanted to read the sequel ever since and I just never pick it up. Reading back on my review has reminded me just how much I loved the first book and has made me excited at the idea of reading Golden Son!
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ah, one of my all time favourites! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo continues to be so hyped, and it deserves it. I said in my review that Evelyn Hugo was one of the most dynamic characters I have ever read about, and that remains to be true over two years later. There is no character quite like her!
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
Cannery Row is my favourite book of all time, so I felt like my blog was missing something if I didn’t review it. I have since reread it for the 5th time and continue to feel the same way about it. I had so much fun putting that review together, and reading it back now brought as smile to my face. I just love the characters!
The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone
Now here is an underrated book! I remember so many details about this book and I am just now realizing how much it has stayed with me. The setting and the friendships were memorable. Plus, it has one of the most beautiful cover. This book will always be special to me because it is the first book I ever won in a giveaway thanks to Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm- someone I still follow and admire to this day!
The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
The Husband’s Secret is actually my favourite of Morairty’s novels. I remember that it kept me on the edge of my seat and I just had to know what was happening. I said in my review that it had one of my favourite epilogues, but I forget now what I loved it so much! I need to go back and reread it because I am curious.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
My review for Carry On is so short because I remember being so nervous to share my unpopular opinions on it. It is such a beloved novel, but I just could not connect with the story. It being so similar to Harry Potter really threw me off and took me out of the story. It is interesting because Carry On is not a book that Kristin of 2020 would ever pick up in the first place. I have really come to understand my reading tastes of the last two years!
This is a lovely post Kristin! That’s the best thing about blogging, it’s like reading therapy. I’ve learnt a lot about my reading preferences since starting too ☺️
I completely agree. I rarely pick up books I don’t enjoy these days. That is all thanks to blogging and having an understanding of my reading taste!
Ooh I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed Into The Water. I haven’t had a chance to read either of the authors books yet – although I loved the adaptation of The Girl On The Train – but I really want to soon. I hope to get to Evelyn Hugo soon too although I had no idea it was that old. I’ve seen it mentioned so much this year that I just assumed it came out towards the end of 2018 😅
Not a bad start, Kristin💜
Thanks!
Wow you reviewed some amazing books! I did this a while ago and looking at those reviews was so…cringe-y!
I was surprised by the books I reviewed early on! The way I review has definitely changed though.
Same! My first reviews were pretty much one or two sentences saying ” I liked/didn’t like this book” with absolutely no explanation!
This is a lovely post! I’ve heard such good things about Red Rising so I’ll definitely be picking this up!
It is so so good!!
This is such a great list! I loved The Husband’s List & Evelyn Hugo!
Thank you! One of the best books ever!
What a stellar line up of early reviews! I would attempt to do this, but I’m certain my early reviews would make me hide for months out of pure embarrassment lol.
Hahah I had the same fears! I was surprised that I was reviewing popular books from the beginning. The boon community influence was strong from the start!
Haha! I literally went and looked at mine and started laughing so hard. I was heavily influence by (are you ready for this) Pinterest when I first started so all mine were books I had seen people talking about there. Thank goodness I found GR and the blogging community lol.
Haha that’s hilarious!! I don’t know that I have ever got a book recommendation from Pinterest.
Count yourself lucky. So many of my early reads were from lists that people had pinned of the “best books you’ll read in 20…” smdh
I can’t believe you thought The Girls was dull! I was left fascinated when I read it :O
I just felt like I was on the outside looking in. I never felt like I cared about the main character for some reason!
What a cute post prompt! I think Everything, Everything was one of my first reviews … at least, one of the first I can remember ha-ha!
It’s a good one to review because there are so many mixed opinions!
I know eh?! I loved seeing how different everyone felt about it!
So fun to look back! 🙌😍
It really is, and a little bit cringy as well!
I looked only once at an old review and declared “never again” 😂😂😂
That’s a fantastic idea Kristin!
It was a fun post to write!
Beautiful post!💜 I totally agree with you on Everything, Everything!
Thank you! It is such a shame because I thought that it had potential!
I am so with you on needing to finish the Red Rising sequels!
Why haven’t we finished it already?!
I know!! Right?!?