Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!
Top Ten Tuesday is an original weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Ten Books I Struggled to Get Into But Ended Up Loving. Here we go!
1. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
I absolutely loved this book, but I have to admit it took me a bit to get into. One sister’s story was more interesting than the other’s at first. It also took time for the story to really go anywhere because of the perspectives switching back and forth. It was totally worth the wait, though!
2. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
Another WWII historical fiction book that took me a bit to get into. For this one, it was the multiple story lines that slowed down the read. It took a long time for the story to unfold because of all of them, and there wasn’t an immediate connection between all of the characters. Very good when it all came together.
3.Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The entire first half of this book was torture for me. I hated Nick and it moved slow slowly. Thank goodness for amazing plot twists!
4. The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
I loved the very beginning of this book, but then it slows down a lot. I’m not sure if that’s because I’m not a sci-fi fan? I did love how everything ended, though.
5. Bone Dust White by Karin Salvalaggio
Bone Dust White is one of those dark, sleepy thrillers that moves so slowly it takes a while to really be sucked into it. Despite that, it’s a great read.
6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larrson
I hate to say it, but the first ¾ of this book is so boring. Seriously boring. It’s all set up. It ends in a spectacular fashion and sets up the next book. Those two things made it worth the read.
7. The Ghosts of Heaven by Markus Sedgwick
Four stories combined to make one amazing book. None of them are particularly interesting until you combine them all at the end.
8. Dragonfly Wishes by Penny Harmon
Tales of grief are hard for me to read because they’re so depressing. Luckily, there’s a lot of growth in Dragonfly Wishes that made this book get better and better as it went along.
9. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
At first, I hated Evelyn. She made me not want to continue reading. I’m happy I stuck it out because her life became fascinating.
10. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
This is another one of those multiple narrator / takes a while for the story to build things. Big Little Lies totally lives up to the hype.
Yes! The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo!! I struggled with that one at first so much but decided to stick with it and was so glad I did! Books 2 & 3 are awesome too and even more crazy!
So many others on your book I want to read still. Especially Big Little Lies and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
I bet you’ll like those two. I am so used to romance that other genres seem to take longer for me to get into. 🙂
I ended up hating The Nightingale, I finished the book but I wasn’t happy about it. I think I would have felt the same about The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo if I wouldn’t have listened to the audiobook, I actually listened to book 1 and 2 and read 3. Loved this trilogy. I absolutely LOVED Big Little Lies – but it was another audiobook, I laughed my head off at times. And I didn’t even start reading Gone Girl – the movie was awesome but the book no thank you.?
That’s a bummer you didn’t end up liking The Nightingale. 🙁
It was the typical WWII setting, lots of heartbreak, and the typical sad outcome.
We have so much in common on this post!! I had to start Evelyn twice before I ended up loving it. Same with The Nightingale – and that is one of my all time favorite books now. I’m glad to see you ended up loving the Lilac Girls, because I bought a copy a few weeks ago! I am planning on picking up The Girl with all the Gifts sometime before Halloween and hopefully I’ll like it.
That’s so awesome! I am going to check out your list. I hope you like those books! 🙂
I keep seeing The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo pop up on my timeline but I have no idea what this book is about beyond the title. Is it really that good?
It’s good. It’s weird because the MC is not one anyone really loves, but her story is good.
I was captivated by Gone Girl from the very beginning. I understand hating Nick, though. I kind of loved to hate him, so that makes it easier to read I think.
I hated Nick in Gone Girl, too. I liked reading from his perspective though so it wasn’t difficult for me to get into the book.
I want to read Gone girl and Big Little Lies from your list. I hope I enjoy them but not sure if I will sadly. Hyped books tend to fall flat for me lately 🙁 Love your list and so glad you ended up loving all these <3
I think you will enjoy them if you go in without knowing too much.
Big Little Lies is my favorite Liane Moriarty book. I love the little sides from other characters between chapters. And she tackles a serious topic but the book has a lot of humor. Great list!
Awesome post- I hated Nick too but definitely ended up loving that book!! And I’m really looking forward to Nightingale 😀 And I really need to read the girl with the dragon tattoo already!!
If you can, listen to Dragon Tattoo. The first 3/4 of the book is REALLY boring!
ah awesome- thanks for the tip!!
I STILL haven’t read Gone Girl, although I’ve had it forever now. I’m really loving this post, though – I have quite a few books on your list and I know that I’m probably going to end up enjoying them once I finally give them the time!
Yay! I love hearing that!