Happy Friday storytellers! If you have been reading a while you know that sometimes people either online or in our personal lives will recommend books to you based on either stories that they themselves have enjoyed or from hearing about your latest read/obsession. The famous “If you loved this, you’ll definitely love this…” is a huge phrase in the book world and a phrase that can sell a person on a story instantly. But, sometimes those recommendations can go sideways; and what was suppose to be your next favorite read is now your lowest rated read of the month (or even your first DNF of the month)–and thus the failed book recommendations was born.
Today, I’m super excited to be able to collaborate with one of my closest friends–the amazing, Jamsu from JamsuDreams–on this post! If you don’t follow her already, you definitely need to pause what you are doing and go change that! Trust me, she is a complete and utter gem and unlike the ones on our list today, she gives the most incredible romance/fantasy recommendations. You can find all her social media links at the bottom of this post!
Grab your blanket, a bowl of chips and some popcorn and get ready to see our some of our failed book recommendations!
Everything highlighted in blue are from Jamsu, and those in white are from yours truly!
Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Years before they made these books into a TV Show a twitter mutual hyped them enough for me to actually order the whole Grisha trilogy and first Six of Crows book. I mean this Nikolai character sounded awesome and just my cup of tea! Unfortunately I didn’t ever get to meet him since I only barely finished Shadow and Bone, only managing it because of The Darkling. I had zero interest in Alina or Mal. And Six of Crows was even worse in my opinion. I never got past the first hundred pages since it gave me a headache.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I honestly thought I was going to love this one. I was just off my Divergent/Insurgent high and jonesing for another dystopian read, when a close friend of mine suggested I give this book/series a go, since she absolutely adored the entire series. I trust her recommendations, so I said why not? Ya’ll….I should have said why not. I could not for the life of me connect with any of these characters. I felt like i was in bumper to bumper traffic just waiting for something exciting to happen to grip me into the story—but unfortunately that never came.
Darkfever by Karen Marie-Moning
I honestly don’t remember a lot of this book but it was recommended to me in a Facebook group. People keep saying the series gets better but I just don’t have the strength to give the second book a try. I might change my mind someday but there are so many books I’d rather be reading. I just remember thinking the “main” couple was toxic.
House of Night Series by P.C. Cast
Note to past Sam: Don’t read every book High School Friends recommend. I have an infinite love for vampire stories and thought that this was going to be my shit back in high school because 1) Vampires and 2) it was a thick ass series and I’m the type of gal who would read the grocery list of my favorite stories just so I can get more (aka—I love long series). Unfortunately, my dreams were crushed because this was a yikes fest in the making. I don’t even think I was able to finish the first book in the series because of how annoyed I was with every single character in the book. Also could not wrap my head around the fact that we had people just walking around touching people’s foreheads and boom they were vampires. Like okay go off I guess.
Moonlight Sins by Jennifer L. Armentrout
I usually LOVE Armentrout’s books but I only read one of her contemporary romance books before this one. I wasn’t a big fan but a fellow blogger told me to read this book. I was really confused in the beginning of the book and I didn’t really like how Lucian and Julia’s romance started. I just didn’t connect to the romance and it was a slow burn af. I wasn’t even that surprised about the big reveal in the end. Moonlight Sins just made me more sure to just stick to her fantasy books.
Beastly by Alex Flinn
This is another one where I listened to some of my fellow classmates way back when. They new of my eternal love for Beauty and the Beast and my passion for all things High School Musical; so when the time came for the movie and we all found out that Vanessa Hudgens would be the lead— I was all but volun-told to read this. Unfortunately the hype was better than the book in my opinion. I could not for the life of me believe in our beasts difficult circumstances nor was I invested enough in their pairing. Lucky for the book, back then I was a firm believer in “if you pick it up you finish it” (thanks Mom) so I trudged through it.
What recommendations didn’t make the cut for you?
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Oooof, I hate when this happens. I also didn’t really like the Shadow and Bone trilogy though I did manage to make it through. Bone Witch didn’t really work for me – I think it was the soup I was slowly going into, but I don’t know, it just wasn’t for me maybe.
I remember reading the first book in the shadow and bone trilogy and just feeling meh about it and never reading the rest. Good on you for muddling through though!! ooo I heard Bone Witch was a mix bag with some people too 🤔
I never liked Alina and Mal either 😂 Now the TV version, well, I think I like that better since they’re far more amusing on screen (and they’re less boring). I’m bummed about SOC not working for you though! But it’s also not for everyone.
Also Sam why would you read House of Night??? I know younger me liked it but I was done with all the characters by book three? Maybe? I don’t know anymore.
I was young and influential back then LOLOLOL. I have since learned the error of my ways and should probably unhaul the six books I have in that series since I’m not going to read them 🤔
The “I should have said why not” made me laugh.😂 I adore the entire Lunar series, it is a bit slow in the first book. I have also never read Beastly. I think seeing Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, and an Olsen twin in the movie adaptation was enough for me.
LOLOL I gave it the good ol’ College try Antavia! I just could not get throuuuugghhhhh! And you are so not missing ANYTHING with the book. I honestly think the movie is better and you have been saved the torment (plus Alex makes the movie semi bearable 😂).