Blogger Confession: What do you recommend to read?
I think every avid reader has been asked this question before and if you are like me, you get a deer in the headlights type of look on your face. I read a LOT of books. I like a LOT of books. Books I like, I am not sure others will. Also, I don’t want to be the person that turns someone away from reading with a bad recommendation. I tend to suggest from books I have read in the last 3 months because they are the freshest on my mind. I want to throw in my tried and trues but tend to leave them off since most people like the shiny and new. So what is a girl (or guy) to do when asked that rather loaded question?
I tend to go ahead and answer! Reading is a personal thing but there is always a chance that the person will love your “recommend to read” list. At the very least, you might get someone to branch out of their comfort zone and discover new authors. I always tell them though to just give it 3 chapters and if it isn’t working then move on (now if I could only take my own advice). They will eventually find a book that clicks for them! However, I still bite my nails in anticipation of what their reactions will be to my favorite authors. What can I say? I want them to be loved!
Since this happened to me recently (aka last night), I thought I would share the list that I gave the person who asked. I am also curious what books you would add to the list because I am tempted to send her over here to get more recommendations!
YA: (Tried and True: Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series)
Cinder and Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
Contemporary Romance (Not Suspense): (Tried and True: Susan Mallery’s Fool Gold Series)
Animal Magnetism series by Jill Shalvis
Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Alaskan Nights series by Addison Fox
and I like the Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series by Linda Lael Miller
Contemporary Romance (Suspense): (Tried and True: Last Chance Rescue Series by Christi Reece)
Black Knights series by Julie Ann Walker
KGI series by Maya Banks
When the Mission Ends series by Christi Snow
Urban Fantasy: (Tried and True: Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs)
Elemental Assassins by Jennifer Estep
H&W Investigations by Jess Haines
The Asylum Tales by Jocelynn Drake
PNR: (Tried and True: Midnight Breed by Lara Adrian)
The Devil’s Bargain Series by Terri Garey
Immortal Gardians Series by Dianne Duvall
Half Moon Hallow Series by Molly Harper (spinoff of the Jane Jameson series)
Cozy Mysteries: (Tried and True: Coffehouse Series by Cleo Coyle)
Immortality Bites Mysteries Series by Michelle Rowen
A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series by Ellery Adams
Tattoo Shop Mystery Series by Karen E. Olson
A Magical Bakery Mystery Series by Bailey Cates
Zombies: (Tried and True: As the World Dies Series by Rhiannon Frater)
Plague Town (Ashley Parker #1) by Dana Fredsti
Benny Imura Series by Jonathan Maberry (special mention to Dead of Night–my favorite by him and not part of this series)
White Trash Zombie Series by Diana Rowland
Thrillers: (Tried and True: Alex Cross Series –early ones– by James Patterson)
The Intercept by Dick Wolf
The Gretchen Lowell Series by Chelsea Cain
Will Trent Series by Karin Slaughter
Rizzoli & Isles Series by Tess Gerritsen
Epic but worth it read: (Tried and True: Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon)
All Souls series by Deborah Harkness
So what do you recommend to read? I am really curious and I am sure she would appreciate the recommendations 🙂
Felicia S
During her non-reading time you can find her hanging with her rescue furr children named after book characters: Lizzie a beautiful cattle dog mix (Pound Pup), Cinder a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Pound Pup), and Minerva a beautiful Shep/Pitt mix (Foster Fail). Gathering with friends and family, attending conventions, watching movies/tv shows, rooting for the 49rs, and crocheting.
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Ok. Im going to try to add to the list things that weren’t added in comments:
UF: Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan & Georgina Kincaid and Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld
Adult Suspense: Larson’s Millenium series, Armstrong’s Nadia Stafford series
Epic: Follets Pillars of the Earth & the complimentary sequel
YA Fantasy: Graceling, The Girl of Fire & Thorns & Shadow & Bone
YA Historical: Waterfall, The Diviners, Bright Young Things
YA Distopian: Unwholly
YA UF: anything Cassandra Clare
YA Contemporary: anything Dessen, John Green, Jennifer Echols
Great list!!! This should be bookmarked somewhere!!!
What a difficult question Felicia. I usually ask what kind of books they like to read, and/or send them to my blog so they can see what I like, and if that is their taste as well.
For contemporary, I do recommend Nora Roberts as well. For UF/PNR Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu, Laurell K. Hamilton, Alexis Morgan, Susan Sizemore, Christine Feehan.
I have a few go to series that I recommend when asked.
Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane
Elmental Assassin by Jennifer Estep
Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
Fever by Karen M. Moning
Just to name a few.
We have read the same books you know 😉
So I say that you must read Magician by Raymond E Feist, wohoo fantasy!!
Love Feist 🙂
The first thing I do is ask them to name three books they really enjoyed recently, and that gives me an idea of what they would like. Then I go from there.
I always get stuck with this, because I am such a PNR & UF reader that I am pretty clueless outside that genre. The Karin Slaughter books though, have you tried the Grant County ones? They are the earlier ones focused on Sara. I loved them, although, since you are on the Will ones, you probably have an idea of what some of the characters have gone through.
Yep, I would recommend many many of those series up there, but you forgot Charley Davidson and the Fever Series. Those are tried and true and awesome!
Deer in headlights… Oh yea… that is me. I totally worry that I’ll recommend something they will hate. Usually my first question back at them is what kind of books are they looking for, or what kind do they like?
I do suggest the one I recently read: Etiquette and Espionage for YA, Steampunk, and laughter. I did just recommend the Jane Jamison by Molly Harper to someone recently.
What a great list! Some I’ve read and loved and others just got added to my TBR list. Thanks!
OMG, this is such a fabulous list. I need to print it out and save it. I get asked this kind of question all the time and totally have a brain freeze about it, despite the fact that I read so many books a year and LOVE a lot of them. It’s hard to make recommendations to other people…*ack* the pressure, especially since I’m a fairly easy to please reader.
and btw, THANK YOU!!! for including me on this list!! I ADORE all three of the series that mine is listed with…that is so cool!! smiles…
My problem is that people know I read a lot, but they don’t understand that I pretty much exclusively read romance, PNR and UF. When they ask for a rec, they are usually looking for LitFic and I have no idea what to tell them. I usually end up recommending something my bookclub forced me to read as those tend to be more mainstream.
I love/hate when people ask me for recommendations (if they are not book bloggers). What if it is too steamy? Or they don’t like the violence? Or worse, it’s boring?
I was shocked that my favorites for the genres I read didn’t make your list!
YA : Hunger Games. Wither. Divergent.
UF : Night Huntress. (Is the Fever series UF?)
PNR : Dark Hunter
Zombies : Warm Bodies
YA: I haven’t read Wither but I did like Divergent (forgot that one)! I think Hunger Games had me till Mockingjay then I was furious LOL
UF: Totally forgot about Cat/Bones (head hung in shame) and yep Fever is UF. That one I always recommend with a caveat. I didn’t like the first book. Kind of like the Shifter Series with Faith!
PNR: SK! I totally forgot about that. My stepmom will tell you that I hounded her to read them. I am totally re-reading this year before she comes here in November. (head hung in shame)
Zombies: I haven’t read Warm Bodies–it is going on my list 🙂
Those are great recommendations! I need to check out the Tattoo Shop Mysteries. 🙂
That is probably my favorite Cozy Mystery series. I devoured all 4 books pretty darn quickly 🙂
I love this, Felicia! I kind of want to make my own list. You know, for the next time I’m asked.
(For UF, I’d recommend the Iron Druid Chronicles.)
I would love to see your list when you make one 🙂
Oh The Iron Druid Chronicles so should be on the list 🙂
Question: I’m looking for some funny audios. Any ideas?
Have you listened to Kristen Chenowith’s A Little Bit Wicked? It is nonfiction but super fun!
I haven’t. Thank you so much for the recommendation 🙂
What a great list!
Also, that should be “gave” in the first line of my comment, not “have”. I can’t type today.
Ooooo you have them a fabulous list of reads Felicia! I would also add the Black Dagger Brotherhood to the PNR list as well as The Lords of the Underworld. LOVE both of those. For YA reads, I’d also suggest either The Mortal Instruments or Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare and Daughter of Smoke and Bone/Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series is also great if they end up liking the Elemental Assassin books. Oh! And you can’t forget the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning on the UF list:) SO MANY BOOKS TO LIST FELICIA!
I haven’t read but 3 of the LOTU series, I need to read more 🙂
Thanks for the YA tips–as you know, I am just sucky at those! I always kind of look blank when people ask me which of those they should read LOL I am like, ummmm I have no idea (mostly) LOL
Fever series like the Shifter series, I always have to say—“If you can get past the first book they are excellent” LOL That being said they both turned into series that I really loved 🙂
I am hoping for the same thing with the Chicagoland Vampires! I am starting book 2 and already liking Merit more than I did book 1. I still don’t like Ethan.
What?! You don’t like Ethan, oh man, you need to keep reading girl!
For PNR: I always recommend the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh, especially if you are new to the genre and/or romance. For UF, my top recommendation is the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
You know, I haven’t read either one of those series. They need to go on my list to read and soon if you loved them 🙂