Hosted by The Broke & The Bookish
Hi guys, today it’s unpopular opinion time! Today I chose to go a very uncomfortable path for me and talk about a few books I read recently that were just a bit disappointing. This is uncomfortable because I always appreciate any author and the hard work they put into writing a novel, but sometimes I just… don’t love them as much as I thought I would.
I just want to point out that I did enjoy these books overall, but there was just something about them that didn’t click for me personally. I’m not here to bash these books at all, I’m just saying they were a bit disappointing to me in some way. Most of these book still got at least a 3 star rating from me. So I hope that if this list contains any of your faves, it doesn’t mean we can’t still get along 🙂
Anyway, on to my list:
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
While I totally loved the whimsical atmosphere and the complete unpredictability and fast pace of the plot, I had trouble getting connected to the characters and the romance.
Starflight by Melissa Landers
This book had me so pumped because it features my favorite romantic trope set in space, but I was a bit disappointed. Mainly because I thought the book was just too short to get invested in any of the characters or their adventures.
Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall
Don’t get me wrong, this was a REALLY CUTE LGBTQIA+ contemporary about two best friends falling in love. But it felt like it was written for a way younger audience and was ultimately rather forgettable.
The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
Another unpopular opinion here. And I know, this book did have some great aspects – it’s diverse and fun and unique. But the truth is that I was just a bit bored throughout the story.
If The Dress Fits by Carla de Guzman
I so wanted to love this one. It features a diverse cast of characters, body positivity and the fake date trope. But I didn’t love it because the writing seemed full of mistakes, I did not like any of the characters and the fake date trope was a bummer.
By Your Side by Kasie West
I LOVE Kasie West. She writes such adorable contemporaries and I will always automatically buy any new book by her. But I must say that By Your Side was my least favorite of her so far. I still liked it, but the whole ‘trapped-in-a-library’ element was not as awesome as I made it up to be in my mind and the characters felt a little one-dimensional.
Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings, and especially Beauty and the Beast retellings. And Cruel Beauty was definitely fun and unique, but again I had trouble connecting to any of the characters.
Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
I read this book last year and remember nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except the fact that I had high hopes but ended up disappointed and had no need to continue the series. I’d prefer the Truthwitch series over this one.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Another series that sounded sooo good to me but when I read book one and two I just felt an overwhelming ‘meh’. Not a fan of the characters or the love triangle.
Great list Lindsey! I have not read most of these books, but I downright hated Cruel Beauty. The love triangle was too much and I think the mythology was not well explained too? I have read just one Kasie West book, but I want to read more! I am definitely sure that I will just pass her two recent ones since I have seen quite a lot of bad reviews. :/
Thanks Prabhleen! Yes you are so right about Cruel Beauty! I loved the concept, but it was all just soo confusing! And the love triangle was so unnecessary. Kasie West is really fun though, I loved all of her books, just this one a little less. Hope you’ll enjoy them!
But Caravel is on so many lists! Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts.
https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/02/books-i-loved-much-more-than-i-thought.html
Yes, it seems to be either loved a lot or ended up in disappointment… 🙂
I didn’t love Caraval as much as everyone else either. I still enjoyed it but it wasn’t amazing. I usually LOVE Sarah Ockler’s books but I DNF The Summer of Chasing Mermaids. I was bored too.
Ah I’m so relieved I’m not the only one who felt that way about those two well-loved books 🙂
Oh man After all the love for Caraval I have now seen some luke warm responses to it. I can’t decide if I want to read it or not now!! I enjoyed By Your Side and Been Here All Along but they are definitely quick, cute and can be forgettable. Sorry you didn’t love these more!
I’d still recommend Caraval, but I would just be careful with having too high expectations before starting it – that’s what probably killed it a bit for me. Same with By Your Side and Been Here All Along I guess 🙂
I wasnt really into Cruel Beauty of Iron King either. I’m sad you didn’t like By Your Side. Its on my TBR. now I’m nervous about it. 😛
Glad to know I’m not the only one who felt that way about Cruel Beauty or Iron King 🙂 I hope you’ll still enjoy By Your Side!
Sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy Caraval. I’ve seen so many positive reviews for that one. I haven’t read it yet but I plan to. I’m really worried that it won’t live up to the hype for me. Everyone seems to be disappointed by By Your Side by Kasie West. I haven’t read anything from her yet but I recently picked up her book The Fill-In Boyfriend, so I’m hoping to change that soon. Great list!
I hope you’ll love Caraval a lot more than I did! I think the hype was the problem for me… I LOVED The Fill-In Boyfriend, so I hope you’ll love it too! I have loved every Kasie West book I’ve read, only By Your Side was a bit disappointing.
I totally agree on Caraval. I thought I would love it and didn’t. It had so much hype. And I hear you on Something Strange and Deadly. I didn’t love that book but I finished the series and ended up loving it. They get better, but I’d still pick Truthwitch too.
Glad I’m not the only one who felt that way about Caraval. It’s a shame though, sometimes too much hype can ruin an otherwise good book. Mmm, maybe I’ll have to give the Something Strange and Deadly series another chance then 🙂
It’s a shame you didn’t love Caraval, but I can totally see how it wouldn’t be for everyone.
It definitely has a lot of mixed reviews.
I’m very curious to read Caraval, just to see what the hype is all about. I’m a sucker for retellings as well and I expected to fall in love with Cruel Beauty but I found it hard to get through it. It took me so long to actually finish it. I also added it to my Top Ten which you can find here: http://bookladysreviews.blogspot.gr/2017/02/top-ten-books-i-thought-i-would-like.html
Elena @ Book Lady’s Reviews
Hope you’ll Caraval more than I did! I am glad though that you felt the same way about Cruel Beauty!
I liked Starflight but I didn’t think it was the best thing since sliced bread. I am going to read the sequel though. I think it could have used a little more time or development too. And Caraval seems to very popular but I just haven’t decided on that one yet.
I’m in doubt about the Starflight sequel as well – I’m still really interested to read it and I hope it improves a bit on development. Caraval definitely has some very mixed reviews.
I hear ya’. Sometimes a book just doesn’t click with us, for whatever reason. That doesn’t mean it’s written bad or the author didn’t put a lot of time and attention into the story, it simply means, for us, it didn’t work. And that’s OK.
I’m looking forward to Kasie’s, Stephanie’s and have heard good things about ‘Mermaids.’ Oh, and I’m curious about Susan’s (for some reason – I’m not much of a supernatural creature fan).
Thanks, as always, for visiting Finding Wonderland, Lindsey.
Yes, it’s definitely not easy having an unpopular opinion on some of these massively popular books. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion and it’s totally ok to not like a book someone else loves, as long as people are respectful about it 🙂 Hope you’ll enjoy the books on your TBR!
I agree its not easy to talk about books you didn’t completely love and a lot of those titles I know people just adored. I find its always hard to talk about them to other blogger friends
But awesome job! Sorry you didn’t connect with these. I have not read them myself yet, but been in the same boat
Yes, it’s definitely not easy having an unpopular opinion on some of these massively popular books. But everybody is entitled to their own opinion and it’s totally ok to not like a book someone else loves, as long as people are respectful about it 🙂
Ooh I’m nervous to read By Your Side now after reading your comments! It’s a shame when a book disappoints.
It is a shame, but I hope you’ll still love By Your Side more than I did!
Hi! There’s so much hype right now around Caraval, I’m leery of reading it for fear of being disappointed. I’ve been disappointed by two Sarah Ockler books after reading Twenty Boy Summer. Don’t know what it is. 🙂
My TTT
Leslie
Too much hype can definitely ruin a good book! I’ve only read the one Sarah Ockler book, so I should definitely still check out her other books.
Aww, I’m sorry you didn’t love the books so! It’s sad whenever we expect a lot from a book and then feel disappointed when they don’t deliver. But I’m kinda excited about reading Caraval and The Iron King! Let’s see how it goes 🙂
Yes, sometimes too much hype and expectations can ruin a good book… Hope you’ll enjoy Caraval and The Iron King a lot more than I did though!