Y’all, I definitely own wayyyy more than 10 unread books. Like, multiply that number by 150 and you’ll have my shameful TBR-owned number. I wish I was exaggerating. If you think any of the books listed below are absolute MUST READ ASAP, let me know and I’ll be sure to move them up the TBR.
1. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Why’d I Purchase It: Pretty much all of my book blogger friends have raved about this book at some point and now that I’ve read my first Melina Marchetta, I understand why she seems to be universally adored. ALSO, I always hear about Jonah Griggs and want to meet him.
2. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Why’d I Purchase It: Well, I purchased my first copy because it was an award winner and I went through this phase where I needed to snap up all of the award winners. Then I bought my second copy because she was doing this signing at Oblong Books and I feel the urge to BUY ALL THE THINGS at signings. SHAMEEEE.
3. The Cavendish Home For Boys And Girls by Claire Legrand
Why’d I Purchase It: Basically I hosted Claire Legrand for a blog tour and she was super awesome — then some people I like and trust gave it glowing reviews and also omg that cover. Alas, it’s sitting on the shelf.
4. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
Why’d I Purchase It: Forever Young Adult gave it a GREAT review and there’s a bird on the cover. Also, it’s middle grade. And let’s not kid ourselves, I really bought it for the cover.
5. Room by Emma Donoghue
Why’d I Purchase It: All of the buzz surrounding it — plus the topic is something I encounter at work so I thought it might be interesting.
6. Split by Swati Avasthi
Why’d I Purchase It: It’s a book about being raised in a household where domestic violence happens. Also, Keertana at Ivy Book Bindings gave it a thoughtful and excellent review.
7. Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Why’d I Purchase It: It’s by Libba Bray and it won a Printz Award. Enough said.
8. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
Why’d I Purchase It: So many people recommend this book and say that it’s really emotional and good. Basically I am saving it for when I need a nice good and draining cry.
9. Paper Towns by John Green
Why’d I Purchase It: I haven’t met a book by John Green that I don’t like and so, I knew I needed this book and you know it’s going to sit unread probably until his next book deal announces, because yeah I need one in reserves.
10. The King Of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Why’d I Purchase It: I found this whole series well except for book four at a library book sale and scored it all for like $5. I read the first two but somehow never got around to this one which sucks because Gen is so cool. Also Megan Whalen Turner is fricken BRILLIANT.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke And Bookish.
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Hey April,
I definitely recommend ROOM by Emma Donoghue. A story of a young boy who has never known the world that his Mother has brought him up in, until he is given a chance at freedom.
Going Bovine is a book on my list to read.
Have fun reading!
Dude. You have some great books on this list! Seriously. Jellicoe Road is only my most favorite book of all time… LOVE Frankie also. And The King of Attolia is FAR and away my favorite of the series. Every time I reorganize my bookshelves, I find myself flipping through that one for my favorite Gen moments. And let me tell you. They never get old. SO MUCH LOVE! 🙂 (Also, Wintergirls and Going Bovine. Also very good)
Okay, so I haven’t read most of these books either, but OH MY GOSSHHH read The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls ASAP. It’s such an awesomely creepy and messed up middle grade. You would love it.
I also have all but 2 of those books on my shelf! I thought I was the only Jellicoe Road virgin left!
I am the same! I am constantly buying books and forgetting about them. I LOVED Room though!
Hi April 🙂
On The Jellicoe Road should be read as soon as humanly possible. It’s not only my favourite book by Melina Marchetta, but also my favourite book of all time and if you’ve enjoyed another of her books, this book will definitely sell you on her! I would apologise for sounding too demanding but you did say to let you know! 🙂
– Rachel
Ohh yup, I have WAY more than 10 unread books, too. Jellicoe Road, Going Bovine, Paper Towns, and The King of Attolia (along with the rest of the books in that series) are among them. I would also like to meet Jonah Griggs and Gen someday!
I have some of these books which I still haven’t read either–Jellicoe Road, all of the Megan Whalen Turner series. Others on your list look interesting and I will have to check them out and maybe add them to my other unread books!
Paper Towns, The Disreputable History, and Room are all really good (though I know you know that already, but seriously…three of my favs). I tried REALLY hard to read Going Bovine, and it just didn’t happen. It’s a strange book! And Jellicoe Road was on my list, but your addition of The King of Attolia reminded me that I bought The Thief and never read it! I can already feel my summer reading list shaping up in my mind…
Totally agree on ROOM. Definitely not a HAPPY story by any means, but I thought it was very brilliant to write it in through the eyes of a five year old.
Based on the way I interpreted this, I have like none of these, but I have hundreds I’ve bought but not read. HUNDREDS.
1-3, 5, 7-8, and 10 are also on my own but haven’t read list. Clearly, we like the same things.
I’ve actually read The Apothecary. It’s cute. You’ll definitely enjoy it.
I’m pretty sure Split is on my GR to-read list, but I’ve not found it as a used book store so I don’t own thatone yet.
My curse is I see books IN PERFECT (near) CONDITION at the library exchange or garage sales or HPB and I must have them. They are mostly adult books and they go unread because I spend all my time reading YA!
JELLICOE ROAD? THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU BANKS? THE KING OF ATTOLIA??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
APRIL
Five of those are on my bought and didn’t read list as well.
ROOM is one of those books that stay with you. The writing is insane. I mean, to step in the mind of a kid and write about such a sensitive subject, and do so believably is amazing. Jellicoe Road was really good. I love Jonah Griggs. It’s tough to get into at first, but worth it to stick with it. I haven’t read Wintergirls but I’ve read a couple other books by Laurie Halse Anderson and enjoyed them. She is a really great speaker. I saw her last year. She said her inspiration for Wintergirls was from a pediatrician friend who asked her to write something about eating disorders, as well a few fan emails from girls suffering. That is so admirable and makes me want to read it. <3
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I am so with you on owning too many unread books. And lately that has exploded into SIGNED unread books. EEEEK! Love your list, though – several of your picks are on my shelves…
That said, I think you should get on Cavendish ASAP. You’ll LOVE IT. Promise!
Your list just reminded me how many books I have yet to read! Most of these are on my shelves as well, but not on my list! It was too hard to narrow it down lol.
Room and Wintergirls are great reads, though. Heavy but wonderfully written!
My Top Ten
You know… I’ve been looking for Paper Towns (as in a hard copy) for quite some time and none of the bookstores around town ever have a copy! Dammit. I guess Amazon or B&N online will have to do. But yes, I NEED to read this one. Ever since Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I’ve been itching to give a solo Green book a try. I think Paper Towns is it.
None of these books made it to my TTT list but many are on my ever-daunting TBR list, which is, sadly looking even worse. Poor books.
Jellicoe Road seems to be on a lot of lists today! I don’t own a copy, but it’s been on my TBR list ages. And unread John Green? I wish I had unread JG books on my shelves….I heard his writing so much. And Room is sooooooo good. Creepy and icky at times, but so good nonetheless. Hope you like it too!
I just finished Jellicoe Road a few days ago, so I’m still all crazy about it. SO GOOD.
Haha! Having a book in reserve is definitely a good thing. Paper Towns is one of the two JG books I’ve read – the other being TFIOS.
I have two copies of a few books because I went to signings, too. I know I have two Blackwoods, and I still haven’t read it. 🙂 Glad I’m not the only one who has done this.
I also have two copies of Princess Diaries because I went to a signing. At least I’ve read that one.
You have books 1 & 2 in the right order, make them your priority!! 😀
Jellicoe Road is pretty dang good if you stick with it! Jonah Griggs is worth it. Also Paper Towns is my favorite John Green and ROOM is just WHOA really good but wow.
I have The Apothecary on my shelves too – I need to read it. The cover is so cool.
I have to admit that I haven’t actually heard of any of these, let alone read! I hope you get a chance to go through them someday though so I can find out what you think 😀
My TTT
That is so weird! I just requested The Disreputable History… and Split from the library and will be reading them soon! I am so excited! I loved Jellicoe Road, Room, and Cavendish. You should definitely read them when you get the chance.
I need to read more John Green. I have Looking for Alaska just sitting unread on my shelf. I really want to read Going Bovine, love her Gemma Bray series, and Wintergirls! King of Attoila is sitting on my shelf too, still unread. I read the first two as well and then just stopped so we’re on the same page. And I have to agree about The Apothecary. That cover is awesome! I hope you get to these soon! 😀 Great list! And wow, I just rambled! No more caffeine for me.
I am very intrigued by Room, but I am scared to read it because I might have the wrong kind of feels, where you can’t do anything about it and you want to hit someone. so, i’m sticking to kissing books for now.
Two of my faves are on there! Paper Towns and Split. Read them, April, read them!
I LOVED The Disreputable History, Frankie is one of the most awesome female characters I’ve ever read! It’s a pretty quick read too but so much fun.
I don’t have any of those others on my personal shelves but SO many of them are “want to read someday” books!
Great list, I hope you love them when you get the time to read them! 😀
Room is excellent! I read it almost in one sitting and after finishing it I just had to sit there staring at nothing, trying to deal with all the emotions and stuff, it’s very powerful. Would it help if I said it ends well?
I have several Melina Marchetta books and I still haven’t read any of them! For the longest time Looking for Alibrandi was one of the most popular teen books in Australia – it’s been around for ages! – and got a resurgence when the movie came out. I’m so pleased she’s big in North America now too, more Aussie authors should crack this market if the publishers would just embrace the cultural differences and spend a bit on promotion.
Going Bovine is fantastic, but pretty much unlike anything else Libba Bray has written. I listened to the audio version and was entranced. Highly recommended!
On the other hand, I think I may be the only person on the planet that didn’t love The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
PAPER TOWNS. So fun. Not my favorite John Green but that’s like saying it’s not my favorite pair of sweatpants. I just really love sweatpants and so they all make me happy.
I didn’t put it on my TTT, but I also have Jellicoe Road. I bought it when it was on sale after reading Epic Reads’ post on why you should read it! I also plan on reading more John Green because I LOVED The Fault in Our Stars!
I barely read any contemporary, but The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is one of my favourite books of ALL TIME! It’s really smart, witty, and hilarious (plus it’s a boarding school book). I really love Megan Whalen Turner as well 🙂 I read The Thief and The Queen of Attolia in one day, but the second one made me depressed, so I didn’t feel like reading The King of Attolia. I have all the books now, and I’m planning to read them all again (mostly because The Thief is one of my favourite books of all time). Awesome TTT this week!
Room is soooo good! And I really liked Wintergirls and Paper Towns. There is a LOT of Libba Bray that I need to read … I’ve heard her books are awesome!
Great list!
Paper Towns!!! It is my favorite John Green book. You should really listen to it too if you get the chance, the audio is awesome.
KING OF ATTOLIA! YOU MUST, APRIL! YOU MUST! It is SO GOOD! I was just…BLOWN AWAY. Also, Jellicoe Road is fantastic, as is Split and The Disreputable History is just…genius! 🙂