Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature that was created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Born from a love of lists and a love of books each week there’s a new topic for bloggers to list their ‘top ten’.
Top Ten Books I Enjoyed that Are Outside of My Comfort Zone
I’m not very adventurous when it comes to reading. I know what I like – YA fantasy, contemporary and sci-fi – and I’m not good at venturing outside of those genres. Still there have been a few books I’ve discovered, largely thanks to blogging and other bloggers, which I’ve loved so maybe it should be a bookish resolution to try new genres a little more. After all if I’ve enjoyed the ten books I’ve featured in my list this week there are probably plenty more out there I’ll enjoy.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Everyone was talking about this book on WordPress, and everyone was loving it so of course I had to read it. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was one of the first books I tried as an audiobook, and it really added to the experience. It was an incredible read, and I can’t wait to get through more of Reid’s books.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
I’m not too sure why I picked up this book, or where I discovered it from. I’m not a fan of classics, I read Shakespeare when I was in A Level English and didn’t enjoy it at all, so picking up a book about students studying Shakespeare may have been a weird choice but I was hooked on the mystery and the characters.
Sadie by Courtney Summers
This was another book that was everywhere on WordPress, and so obviously another book I had to read as well. Sadie was the first book I read as an audiobook, I started it on a long coach journey and was so hooked I never wanted the drive to end. This was a heartbreaking read, but an unforgettable one as well.
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
Historical fiction is a genre I rarely reach for, but every book from the genre I have picked up I’ve really loved. The Game of Love and Death is no exception; it’s got a touch of magical realism in the characters of Love and Death but at heart it was a historical love story between Flora and Henry.
Circe by Madeline Miller
I love Greek mythology, but before picking up Madeline Miller’s books I’d only read fantasy books inspired by Greek mythology – like Percy Jackson – rather than straight-up retellings. Madeline Miller has an incredible way of writing and her books are so beautiful, plus I learn so much from them.
Moonrise by Sarah Crossan
Before picking up a copy of Moonrise at YALC I’d never read any poetry books, and despite loving Moonrise I’ve never really been tempted to pick up another one. I’m not sure what I expected from this book but I was surprised by the emotional punch Moonrise had, it was a sad but beautiful story.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When it comes to historical fiction I can’t not talk about The Book Thief. In some ways it’s similar to The Game of Love and Death; it’s a book with a touch of magical realism in Death’s character but at heart it’s Liesel’s story told over the years of the second world war. The Book Thief is one of my all-time favourite reads.
13 Minutes by Sarah Pinborough
I requested this book from NetGalley, the blurb sounded interesting so I figured ‘why not’? For me psychological thrillers aren’t like historical fiction, where if I’m in the right mood I can see myself reaching for a book from that genre, but the mystery in 13 Minutes had me hooked. I didn’t want to put this book down until I knew everything.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
After reading an incredible review for All the Light We Cannot See I knew I had to pick this book up as well. It’s another sad yet beautiful story telling the story of the war through the eyes of Marie-Laure and Werner; two very different characters affected in very different ways as the war unfolds.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
I can’t talk about my favourite books from outside of my comfort genres without talking about The Night Circus. I picked this up on a whim from the library one day and that was it, I was gone on the magic and the story. The Night Circus is an epic read, told over the course of many years but always following the magic of the circus
Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday?
Have you read any of these books, and if so were they from genres you normally love to read or genres outside of your comfort zone?
What are your usual genres, and what genres are outside of your comfort zone? Are you good at branching out, reading books from all kind of genres and enjoying them, or like me do you stick with what you know you’ll love?
I felt the same way about evelyn hugo- I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but it completely won me over! Same goes for daisy jones (which was perfect in the audio version btw) Sadie, book thief and circe were all amazing as well. Fantastic list!
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Lovely post!! Sadie was outside of my comfort zone as well, but I was absolutely blown away by it! I thought it was a fantastic story, and it’ll haunt me forever. I still haven’t read The Night Circus, but I really want to. ❤
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The hype is the reason I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,otherwise I would have never picked it up,it’s not usually something I world read.
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I wouldn’t have either, and in this case it’s a matter of thank god for the hype. I really loved the story so I’m glad I was able to discover it. 🙂
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Great List! I’m with you on Evelyn Hugo – I heard so much praise from the bookish community and had to read it myself. Fortunately, I ended up loving it just as much as everyone else, it turned out to be a great reading experience 🥰 I also love the Book Thief (such a wonderful, unique narrative!), but have yet to read The Night Circus and All the Lights we cannot see, as they are aso very much outside of my comfort zone – glad to hear you enjoyed them though 😄
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Thanks so much Caro. 🙂 Oh my god yes Evelyn Hugo is incredible right?! I was a little worried because it’s not my usual genre but I was hooked. The Book Thief is such a classic for me, and it never fails to make me cry, and honestly I can’t recommend The Night Circus enough. I’ll say to anyone who asks that it’s my all-time favourite standalone read, and that’s high praise I think. 🙂
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If you liked Evelyn Hugo, you’re going to be a huge Daisy Jones fangirl. That’s what happened for me, at least.
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Oh I have actually read Daisy Jones, and yes I’m a massive fan girl of that release too. 😀 I really need to pick up more of Reid’s books someday. 🙂
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I loved «Circe» and «All the Light We Cannot See» (so sad!) but I was actually very surprised that I didn’t love «The Book Thief». It’s an amazing novel but I didn’t feel connected with the characters or the story, and tbh it was a chore to get through it.
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Oh I was in tears by the end of All the Light, and Circe was such an unforgettable read for me as well. I love Madeline Miller’s books.
Oh that’s a shame about The Book Thief though, I suppose at least you can say you tried it, and there must have been something you enjoyed if you can still say it was an amazing novel. 🙂
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The Book Thief is definitely a good shout! I haven’t read much historical fiction either and that book was a welcomed change!
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It’s definirely nice to discover something new every now and again. Plus I’ve found most times that books from new genres that I’ve picked up have always been pleasant surprises. 🙂
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If We Were Villains, Evelyn Hugo and Sadie are some of my all time faves 😍 I’m so happy you loved them too!! The Book Thief was definitely out of my comfort zone. I put it off for ages because I was so intimidated by it, but I’m so glad I read it because even though it broke my heart it was so good!!
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Yeah they’re amazing, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them because I wasn’t expecting to as much as I did you know? That’s an intimidating book for sure, and I know what you mean because I put it off for ages as well, but we got there in the end. 🙂 ❤
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CIRCE, 13 MINS AND THE NIGHT CIRCUS ❤ . So happy to see my top novels in this list T_T ❤
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Yeah they’re amazing reads, and despite not being my usual genres Circe and The Night Circus are two all-time favourites of mine! ❤
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The Night Circus is one of my favorite books ever! The structure and imagery allow you to fall into the story and be a part of the circus, and I love it.
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Yeah I’ve read a lot of fantasy books but The Night Circus is in a league of it’s own, and I haven’t found another book that can compare to it either. 🙂 Are you excited for Erin Morgenstern’s new release?
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Yes! One of the ladies at my local bookstore has read the Starless Sea and says that it’s really good.
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Oh my God I am so jealous! I would kill to get my hands on a copy of The Starless Sea, I just have to tell myself it’ll be worth the wait (because obviously it will be).
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I loved The Night Circus too! It’s such a beautiful world to sink into. I hardly ever read fantasy so it was definitely outside of my comfort zone. I’m so glad I tried it though – it’s encouraged me to read more fantasy!
📕MP📚 X
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In terms of fantasy books The Night Circus is the best of the best in my opinion. 🙂 I’m glad it encouraged you to read more fantasy too, that’s the main of trying new genres isn’t it? Finding that one book you love enough that it opens a whole new genre for you. 🙂
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I’ve only read Circe out of all these books and I wasn’t a huge fan of it but I’m glad you liked it! Other than that, pretty much all the other books you mentioned are on my TBR and now I can’t wait to get to them!!
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Oh that’s a shame about Circe, but if it wasn’t a book from one of your usual genres at least you can still say you gave it a go right? 🙂
Thats good to hear, and hopefully you’ll enjoy the others more than Circe then!
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If We Were Villains sounds super interesting.
My TTT.
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It really is. It took me a little while to get into the story but it’s well worth a read, and a must if you like Shakespeare. 🙂
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