Top Ten Tuesday

By Birdie

 

recommends

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Ten of My Favorite Books That Were Recommendations

 

This was a harder list for me.  I’m ashamed to admit, I’m not great at taking recommendations from friends.  I know what I want to read, and I struggle with deviating.  I have to read what I’m in the mood for.  Plus, I hate telling people that I didn’t like something they recommend.  Chances are if they’re recommending it, they probably loved it.

I tend to be more of a recommender than a recomendee.

I did manage to come up with a decent list of books I consider recommendations.  There’s a good chance I wouldn’t have stepped outside my ‘book’ box, if someone hadn’t convinced me to try these.

#1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Recommended by my sister when I was about 14.

#2. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

The first recommendation I got from friends on Goodreads.

#3. How To Be A Normal Person by TJ Klune 

My first TJ Klune book was a recommendation from Goodreads.  I asked for something funny, and I got it.

#4.  Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield

A GR friend told me to read this book.  She was right, it shattered my heart.

#5. Special Forces – Soldiers by Aleksandr Voinov & Marquesate

Despite the violence and intensity, this is one of the most passionate books I’ve read.  It was one of the best recommendations I’ve gotten.

#6. It by Stephen King 

I read this after my close friend hounded me.  I didn’t like Stephen King, but the kids friendship won me over.

#7. Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane 

I’d just discovered Urban Fantasy, devouring all things Vampire and Fae, when a friend recommended Downside Ghosts.  It remains my favorite to this day.

#8. Willing Victim by Cara McKenna

My first Cara McKenna was on a rec.  I don’t read a lot of M/F contemporary romance, but now Cara McKenna is one of the exceptions.

#9. Among the Living by Jordan Castillo Price

PsyCop is one of my favorite series, and I started it on a recommendation.  It was also my first M/M read.

#10. How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffani DeBartolo

How to Kill a Rock Star is right on the line.  I love this book so much, and hate it equally.  I don’t know whether to thank my friend for recommending it, or shake her.  I’ll never get this book out of my head.

Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

About Birdie

Don’t look for her in any bar, club, crazy raging party, or anywhere there may be a large gathering of strangers. She’s more likely to be found tucked into the corner of the couch watching one of her favorite shows, or preferably under a comforter with her current novel.

36 Responses

    1. Birdie

      LOL!! I allllllmost put it on the list. I was seriously thisclose. I actually almost texted you to ask if it counted, since you did have a copy first, I think you’d already started it at the time, and convinced me to buddy read it with you. But since it was a Buddy Read, I wasn’t sure if it counted… I should have included it.

      I think it’s easier to find books you love from recs. Most books I pick up at random are only okay.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ~ Angie Elle ~

        It’s true. I conned you into buddy reading under false pretenses since I was already pretty sure I wasn’t going to like the book. I just didn’t want to go into it alone. LMAO! And now it’s one of our favorite series of life!

        Like

  3. Greg

    I had a hard time with my list too, because in some ways a lot of my reads are based on recommendations. It was hard to narrow down. And agreed about comfort zone- I’ve done that too with recs where I’m more willing to try something new from a trusted recommendation.

    Jellicoe Road sounds really good and I’ve seen positive things about it.

    Like

  4. Selah at A Bibliophile's Style

    I also read Jellicoe Road on a recommendation. It didn’t quite make my Top Ten, but would probably make a Top Twenty. I think, at 38, I’m just too old for it to rock me the way it would’ve had I read it as a teen (which was WAY before it was even written, lol). I listened to it on audiobook, which was fun because of the accents. 🙂

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    1. Birdie

      LOL! I’m 37, but perhaps I’m a younger than average 37 year old. There were some aspects of the book that did feel young, but I think it was the tie in from past to present that really got to me. Or thinking of the innocence that was lost… I’m not sure. Either way, I did love it a lot.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Birdie

        Nah, not an oops. I’m definitely one of those 30-40 year olds who still makes sure to check the YA section of her bookstore. I read as much YA as I do adult, so… 😀

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    1. Birdie

      I can’t push Jellicoe more! If you do pick it up, be aware that the first 200 pages are confusing as it flips between the main story and a manuscript. But it will all reveal itself in the best way!

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  8. vendija723

    I’ve only read the first two on your list. I found it really hard to think about which books had been recommended and which I just grabbed on my own. Sometimes it’s hard to remember!

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    1. Birdie

      Read it! Then come back and tell me if it gave you as visceral a reaction as it did me! I swear, that book made me feel insane. In the immediate, upon finishing it, I hated it. But I’ve never been able to forget it, and it definitely left a scar on me which also makes me really love it.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Becca

    OMG your intro totally hit home! If someone recommends a book to me, I sometimes put it off because what if I don’t like it?? They must LOVE it! You have some stellar books on your list, but Captive Prince (which I saw in your first comments) is on my TBR and everyone seems to love it!

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    1. Birdie

      Captive Prince was so incredible. I think it gets pigeon holed in the romance category when it’s bit really a romance. It’s a Fantasy that has a relationship evolution. I love it so much, words can’t even express…. which means you may be afraid to read it. 😀
      Don’t be afraid. It’s okay if you don’t love it too.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. rudejasper

    You did come up with a respectable list! Especially since you commented on my blog that you’re a fan of the Kate Daniels series, I am now super interested in Unholy Ghosts, which I’ve never heard of! Thanks for the Rec;).

    Like

  13. Darlene

    Outlander was on my list, too! Jellicoe Road is actually somewhere on my bookshelves, waiting to be read. Unholy Ghosts looks really good! I’m adding that to my Wishlist 🙂

    Like

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