As hosted by The Broke & The Bookish
This week’s top ten is all about my most recent 5 star reads, also known as my all-time favourites.
I’m honestly not a very difficult reader. My rating system mostly depends on plot, writing style, worldbuilding and character development. But another thing that is also very important and that is more difficult to describe is the feeling I got from reading the book. Did it make me happy? Did it make me think? Was I very impatient to continue reading? Was I completely invested in the characters? Did finishing the book leave me with a major book hangover? If that is the case, it will increase my rating, even if there are some flaws in the writing.
But 5 star reads are usually a pretty good balance for me. They are the ones that score high on all criteria. They have an interesting plot, a nice writing style, well-thought out world building, amazing characters AND they gave me all the feels. (I wrote a detailed post on this here if you’re interested)
So without further ado, here are my most recently read 5 star reads:
(Warning: I LOVE these books which means I may obnoxiously fangirl and use an excessive amount of caps lock. You have been warned.)
Cress / Winter by Marissa Meyer
I LOVED book 3 and 4 in The Lunar Chronicles series. I did not give Cinder or Scarlet 5 stars, even though they were pretty good too but I personally only started to really get involved as of Cress. That is where all the feels came into play and I became obsessed with this series and most of all with these characters.
My Cress book review
My Winter book review
Captive Prince / Prince’s Gambit / Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
Oh hi! My name is Lindsey and I am OBSESSED with the Captive Prince series. Seriously. I only want to talk about this book series for the rest of my life. Great plot and worldbuilding, but most of all, AMAZING CHARACTERS and THE BEST ROMANCE I HAVE EVER READ. Yes, caps lock was completely necessary.
My Captive Prince Book Review
My Prince’s Gambit Book Review
My Kings Rising Book Review
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Does it get any cooler than that? I loved the world that Leigh Bardugo created in the Grisha trilogy (see below), so I was thrilled that we got to go back to that amazing world in this brand new series. And it so lived up to the hype! (It may even kind of have exceeded the original Grisha trilogy… Shh, don’t tell them I said that)
All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
Ok, technically I originally gave this a 4,5 stars instead of 5 stars. But that’s only because I did not think I would ever reread it because reading this book once HURT MY SOUL. But since reading it I have not stopped thinking about this book. This is a book that will make you think and yes, it may even change you. So it definitely deserves the 5 star rating.
My All The Bright Places Book Review
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Another 5 star book that left me a sobbing mess by the end of it. But it was so beautiful and just heartbreakingly good. And even though it makes you cry, it still kind of leaves you with a positive feeling. Even though you’re crying your heart out. I don’t know if that makes sense but it is the case for this book. BTW have you seen the trailer for the movie? Just watching it already makes me cry. I don’t know how I’ll make it through the movie.
Shadow & Bone / Siege & Storm / Ruin & Rising by Leigh Bardugo
I know this series (and especially the ending) is not a favourite for everyone. But I ADORED this series! I binge-read it in just a few days and completely fell in love. I loved the world, I loved the plot, I loved the characters, I even loved the villain. Also, this series features my most FAVOURITE CHARACTER EVER: Nikolai Lantsov *swoon*
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
It rarely happens that a book captivates me from page one. It usually takes at least 50 pages, sometimes even more. This book had me HOOKED from page one. it was one whirlwind ride until the end and I can’t wait for the sequel because this book was just pure EPIC GOODNESS!
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
I loved this book. It’s funny and cute and magickal and mysterious and snarky and adorable. Have you read the blurb? It pretty much says it all: Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters. (also, SIMONxBAZ 4EVAH!)
The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas
I actually gave this entire series 5 stars, but I only read the last one, The Immortal Heights, recently so that’s why it’s the only one on this list. This was an amazing and in my mind completely underrated book series. The worldbuilding is super, the plot is thrilling and the characters are PERFECTION. The romance is just so on point that I was basically swooning throughout this entire series.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
I’m not that into aliens so I never thought I would give an alien invasion story a 5 star rating, but The 5th Wave got it anyway. I really enjoyed how this was written and though it was a slow start for me, I ended up really invested in the characters and the story. I have not yet read the second book, but it’s on my TBR. I also really, really want to see the movie!
What are some of your recent 5 star reads?
Have you read any of the books on my TTT? If yes, what did you think of them?
I am always happy to see Me Before You on lists because it’s one of my favourite books of all time. It’s such a beauty! 😀
Yes, it really is a gorgeous book! 🙂
I still need to read Carry On AND Winter!! They were 2 of my most anticipated for last year and I’ve just not been in the perfect mood for them. That makes me sad and I hope it will change soon. This is a great list. I also want to read The 5th Wave 🙂
I totally understand! Sometimes the mood is just not right and then it’s better to wait a bit instead of forcing yourself to read! But I hope you’ll enjoy them when you will read them 🙂
One of your books is on my list this week, too!
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/03/recent-five-star-reads.html
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you loved All The Bright Places too 🙂
So this is what you meant when you said that you loved the Captive Prince series ? It’s weird because I’m just as obsessed as you, I’m currently reading Cinder but my mind is still on Damen and Laurent, and still I couldn’t bring myself to give the books 5 stars. I’m a ridiculous person !
Yes I am a bit obsessed 🙂 Though I can understand if you didn’t give it 5 stars because it does have a few flaws. But because I loved it so, so much I just had to give it 5 stars! I read this series over a month ago and it’s still all I think about so I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂 Though The Lunar Chronicles are pretty fun too!
Captive Prince! All I want to do is talk about Captive Prince. And I’m so glad other people are reading it and loving it because it’s just so amazing. I honestly could have finished all of them in a day, but sometimes I was hit so hard emotionally I just had to put it down to try to get myself emotionally ready to continue.
Great list. So many books I’m looking forward to reading!
Thank you! Yes, Captive Prince! I was devastated when I finished this series because it was over and all I wanted was to reread them all over again. Glad you loved it too!
Great list! I really loved All The Bright Places, too, such an emotional book… I have Me Before You on my TBR, and well, I’m going to cry for that one, too.But I’m still impatient. Does that make me weird? Haha. 😛
Thank you! I completely understand, I finished Me Before You in tears but at the same time I loved it so much! So I totally get the weirdness 🙂
Fangirling and obsessive capslocking duly noted 😉 As I like your taste in books, I am going to have to make sure I check these books out. Some were already on my radar but I’m going to bump them up the pile now 🙂 My TTT
Thanks! Sometimes a little bit of capslock can be a good way to express love for a book, though sometimes a lot of capslock also does the trick 😉
Great list ! I love the Lunar Chronicles ! Having some doubt about the Captive Prince series.. see a lot of mixed reviews.
Most of the others are on my TBR pile.. like the Grisha series, and I hope to read Me Before You soon and An Amber in the Ashes too.. *sight* so much still to read !!
Thanks! I really loved the Captive Prince series but I do get that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea – especially the first one is pretty harsh and very graphic, but as a series I absolutely loved it 🙂 And I totally understand: so many books, so little time!
I really want to read ALL of these. I’m hoping to read The Lunar Chronicles series really soon. And I feel you with the capslock and fangirling when it comes to books I love.
My TTT
I was hesitant to start the Lunar Chronicles at first because I didn’t think it would be something I like, but I ended up completely loving it! So I hope you’ll end up loving it too 🙂
I read Carry On as well, but I couldn’t quite be taken by it. I’ve been hearing alot about the C.S. Pascat books, but I’m not sure if they are my thing.
I totally get it, both Carry On and Captive Prince are a very specific kind of book (though totally different from each other of course) and are not everyone’s cup of tea. But should you decide to give the Captive Prince series a try, I do hope you’ll love it 🙂