Looking for a great book to read? Want to know which books book bloggers are raving about? This post is for you!
I've read a lot of awesome books. Books that I just had to give a 5 star rating to. Books like A Reflection of Evil by William Todd, Spectrum by Ethan Cross, The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane, and One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus to name a few. I'm always on the look out for more great reads though. I love reading about books that other readers enjoyed, and decided to ask my book blogging buddies to share a book that they rated 5 stars.
Best Books List
Here's a list of the books they recommended:
@Nikki_theSNR recommends A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.
A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves.
@B_C_Blogspot recommends New Boy: Othello Retold (Hogarth Shakespeare)Tracy Chevalier brings Shakespeare’s harrowing drama of jealousy and revenge to a 1970s era elementary school playground.
Arriving at his fifth school in as many years, diplomat’s son Osei Kokote knows he needs an ally if he is to survive his first day – so he’s lucky to hit it off with Dee, the most popular girl in school. But one student can’t stand to witness this budding relationship: Ian decides to destroy the friendship between the black boy and the golden girl. By the end of the day, the school and its key players – teachers and pupils alike – will never be the same again.
@BluegrassBelle recommends My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand
Move over, Charlotte Brontë. The authors of the New York Times bestselling My Lady Jane are back with an irreverent spin on Jane Eyre—a tale of mischief, romance, and supernatural mayhem perfect for fans of The Princess Bride or A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.
You may think you know the story. Penniless orphan Jane Eyre begins a new life as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets one dark, brooding Mr. Rochester—and, Reader, she marries him. Or does she?
Prepare for an adventure of Gothic proportions in this stand-alone follow-up to My Lady Jane, which was called “an utter delight” (ALA Booklist, starred review), and “an uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
@cafe_manon recommends Hangman by Daniel Cole
A detective with no one to trust
A killer with nothing to lose
Detective Emily Baxter is still reeling from the Ragdoll case, and from the disappearance of her friend William “Wolf” Fawkes. Despite her reluctance to jump into another gruesome case, she’s summoned to a meeting of a new FBI/CIA/UK law enforcement task force in New York. There, she is presented with photographs of the latest copycat murder: a body contorted into a familiar pose, strung up from the Brooklyn Bridge, the word “BAIT” carved deep into its chest.
As the media pressure intensifies, Baxter is ordered to assist with the investigation and attend the scene of another murder, again with a victim inscribed with a word—“PUPPET.”
The murders continue to grow in spectacle and depravity on both sides of the Atlantic, and the team helplessly plays catch-up. Baxter must shake off the grief and fear that have paralyzed her for the last year so she can stop another terrible killer before it’s too late.
It is rather awful, Emma thought as she walked across the fields down to the farm, how this business is leading us all into subterfuge and deception, and we can't really tell who is friend and who is enemy . . . '
Emma wakes up one morning to an apocalyptic world. The cosy existence she shares with her grandmother, a famous retired actress, has been shattered: there's no post, no telephone, no radio - and an American warship sits in the harbour.
As the two women piece together clues about the 'friendly' military occupation on their doorstep, family, friends and neighbours gather round to protect their heritage. In this chilling novel of the future, Daphne du Maurier explores the implications of a political, economic and military alliance between Britain and the United States.
New York Times Bestseller now available as a beautifully packaged paperback
A Summer Reading Pick for President Barack Obama, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg
From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.”
One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?
Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.
Dr. Harari also compels us to look ahead, because over the last few decades humans have begun to bend laws of natural selection that have governed life for the past four billion years. We are acquiring the ability to design not only the world around us, but also ourselves. Where is this leading us, and what do we want to become?
Featuring 27 photographs, 6 maps, and 25 illustrations/diagrams, this provocative and insightful work is sure to spark debate and is essential reading for aficionados of Jared Diamond, James Gleick, Matt Ridley, Robert Wright, and Sharon Moalem.
Three weddings. No date. What's a hot stud to do when all the women on his speed dial are either serving dinner to their families or serving time?
Out of all the O'Briens, Seamus is the best-looking, most creative, and, did I mention, best-looking? Single at almost forty wasn't a big deal until every sibling in his large and loud Irish family found "the one." Now, he's desperate for a wedding date, one he doesn't have to worry will make out with the limo driver or rob the bride and groom blind.
Allie Mendes is the good daughter, who's spent her life living in her perfect sister's shadow. But when her sister steals the man Allie was supposed to marry, that shadow she's lived in threatens to swallow her whole.Allie wants to believe a bright future awaits. But when she begs God to save her from this disastrous twist of fate, the last person she expects Him to send her is Seamus O'Brien.
Allie needs a stand-in boyfriend to avoid appearing as lonely as she feels. Seamus needs a decent woman without an ankle bracelet or a rap sheet as long as his muscular arms. The two make a deal to pose as each other's perfect date. But weddings mean romance and a chance at forever neither had planned.
ONLY BOUNDLESS LOVE CAN SILENCE THE WHISPERS OF THE PAST . . .
A broken woman.
A damaged man.
A free spirit intent on saving them both.
Elysia ‘Sia’ Willis lives a solitary life. The only person in it is her big brother, Ky, vice-president of the infamous Hades Hangmen. She loves him, but she has absolutely no love for the outlaw MC he belongs to.
Raised in secret by her mother, Sia grew up separated from her brother and distant father. No one knew she even existed.
After the tragic murder of her mother, Sia spiraled into a rebellion against the rules of the Hangmen. A rebellion with dire consequences that now, years later, she still can’t escape.
As she lives once again in secret, happy on her own at her secluded ranch, a devil from her past comes calling. A devil who wants to possess her once again and take her from the simple life she never wants to lose.
And he will stop at nothing to collect what he believes is his: her.
Valan ‘Hush’ Durand and Aubin ‘Cowboy’ Breaux have finally found a home in the mother chapter of the Hangmen. The notoriously private Cajun twosome have, for now, put aside what chased them from their beloved Louisiana. But as threats toward the club build, Hush and Cowboy are given a task—protect Elysia Willis at all costs. Cowboy welcomes the job of watching over the blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty.
Hush fights against it.
Scarred by events from his past and a secret that plagues his everyday life, Hush refuses to let anyone else get close. Only Cowboy knows the real him. Until a certain sister of the club’s VP begins to slowly knock down his defenses, shattering the heavily built walls that guard his damaged soul . . . with his best friend leading the charge.
As lost and open hearts begin to meld, taking each other from indescribable pain to the never-before felt relief of peace, the newly-mended threesome must first endure one more rocky path.
Only then will they finally shake free of the shackles of their pasts.
Only then will they shed the bonds that have for too long held their happiness captive.
And there is only one way to survive that path . . . together.
Dark Contemporary MFM Romance. Contains scenes of violence and sexual situations. Over 18’s only.
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
@FangirlBree recommends Bloom by Cassia LeoWhere flowers bloom, love grows.
With Jack determined to correct his past mistakes, and to help me cope with the news about Junior’s murderer, I find myself hardly able to function, my soul weighed down by renewed grief and crippling guilt.
When I confess my sins to Jack, watching the light in his blue eyes go dim with every word I speak, I know I will not soon be forgiven. Maybe I don’t deserve forgiveness.
When I confess my new predicament to Isaac, I’m met with words of comfort and an apology that leaves me reeling with regret.
I am truly my own worst enemy.
But I refuse to give up. With a renewed sense of purpose, I am determined to weed out my destructive habits and bloom into the person and the mother I was meant to be.
@Breesbooks28 recommends Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans WelchA summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.
Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.
But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.
People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.
Kirkus Reviews called Love & Gelato “a sure bet for fans of romance fiction,” while VOYA said readers “will find it difficult to put this book down.” Readers are about to discover a new place, a new romance, and a new talent.
Have you read any of these books? Would you give them a 5 star rating? What was the last book you rated 5 stars?
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33 comments
Thank you for including me!! What a lovely list of 5 star reads!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome :) A Little Life sounds like a great book. My TBR list definitely grew after putting together this blog post.
DeleteThanx for this - you rock chicky!
ReplyDeleteMy Pleasure :)
DeleteOooo I need to start trimming my TBR not add to it!... Your blog is bad for my TBR! I have added My Plain Jane to my shelf..
ReplyDeleteSame hereeeee. Already added 3��
DeleteMy Plain Jane has been on my radar for a while now. When it got suggested for this post I moved it up on my tbr
DeleteThis list is going to be so bad for my TBR!
ReplyDeleteI might do the same concept but divide it into specific genres in future posts. I'm putting together a kidlit version for next week. Might do more for romance, mystery, etc... It adds to my own tbr too 😉
DeleteI feel so behind, I haven't read any of these yet (and haven't even heard about some of them). Sapiens is on my TBR list, though!
ReplyDeleteA few of these were new to me too. The only one I've read from those suggested by my guest book bloggers is One Of Us Is Lying and I gave it 5 stars too.
DeleteTaking note of Crux Untamed, it's really calling me. Thanks for the recommendations
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome 😊 Happy reading!
DeleteA great post! Thanks for sharing. Really!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure 😊
DeleteDefinitely taking note of this post! Crux Untamed has a really striking cover that is calling to me!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post :) Happy reading!
DeleteThey all look interesting. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThere's a bit of everything here. Hopefully everyone will be able to find a suggestion for a book to suit their reading tastes.
DeleteThis is a great list of books. Some I've heard a lot about. So much hype around A LIttle Life I'm not sure I want to read it. Have hangman on my shelf and I'm looking forward to that one.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy Hangman. I sometimes get put off by too much hype too, but some of those books are really worth it.
DeleteI've only read one, Love and Gelato - Great book.
ReplyDeleteMost of these I've not read myself yet.
DeleteGreat list. Added some to my TBR!
ReplyDeleteThanks. Happy reading! :)
DeleteThis list has some wonderful books on it.
ReplyDeleteThey gave me some great suggestions for books to read.
DeleteGreat picks and list Jo, I have a couple of these books on my tbr pile too. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :) I feel like I need to read all of these now.
Delete*Gathers them all and adds them to my ever overflowing tbr list*
ReplyDeleteI know. posts like this are dangerous for my TBR too. So many awesome books!
DeleteChildren of Blood and Bone is SO FREAKING GOOD!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of good things about that one.
Delete