April Reading!⛈️🌬️📚

[emma]

I don’t know that there’s entire genres I don’t like but I definitely find it amusing when someone gives a book I really didn’t enjoy 5 stars.

I guess emotional contemporary fiction that makes you want to cry is my least favourite.

[junch817]

Apr 5, 2024 11:35:48 GMT -6 adelbert said:

Apr 5, 2024 9:41:05 GMT -6 junch817 said:

We usually talk about what everyone is looking forward to, so how about this - what is your least favorite mainstream genre?

Historical fiction for sure.

What’s crazy to me is, history class was my LEAST favorite class as a student; from like 2nd grade through college. But historical fiction? Omg I can’t get enough.

Our brains are weird. Or at least mine is 😂

[thatgolfb]

I gave The Heiress 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it!

I gave One by One by Freida McFadden 4 stars. I kind of guessed the twist, but it was still enjoyable. I have been in the mood for quick easy to digest books lately, and she is great for that.

Speaking of- I am almost done with The Devil Wears Scrubs by her, it’s a comedy and not a thriller. It’s… okay. It started with some fat phobic commentary so I think that just soured me from the start. But I’m mostly enjoying it.

[thatgolfb]

Apr 5, 2024 9:41:05 GMT -6 junch817 said:

It’s so funny to me when I’m reminded of how everyone’s tastes are different. My online book club is reading Just for the Summer this month and Funny Story next month, and I’m personally not looking forward to either of those ONLY because I don’t enjoy romance. I don’t enjoy romance in television or movies, so it’s not at all surprising that I don’t reach for it for reading either. But it’s quite obviously one of the most popular genres of books out there, and those two books specifically have been popping up allllll over of the place. So I know in my book club 95% of the people are super excited for it, and then I’m like great, 2 months in a row of something that feels like required reading to me. I am partly looking forward to reading an Emily Henry book because I know how popular she is and I have never read one of hers, so I guess in a way I’m thankful this challenge is getting me to do that, because otherwise I don’t think I ever would. There are too many other books out there I want to read instead.

We usually talk about what everyone is looking forward to, so how about this - what is your least favorite mainstream genre?

I have realized that of fiction, I still really don’t enjoy fairy fantasy as a whole. I liked Fourth Wing and can do dragons, apparently. But fairies especially the fairy smut, I cannot do. lol.

Also I can’t stand self help books.

[thatgolfb]

I didn’t realize so many here didn’t like historical fiction. It’s one of my faves!

[thatgolfb]

Apr 5, 2024 12:15:50 GMT -6 angelashly said:

Apr 5, 2024 11:52:54 GMT -6 abs said:

Sci-fi and horror are ones I never read. Not a huge fan of fantasy or non fiction but every year there are 1-2 that I read and enjoy. I mostly stick with thrillers and contemporary romance but with an emphasis on the story. Like I’d be thrilled to be in a book club and discuss Just For Summer and Funny Story. I can’t stand the romance with nothing but sex scenes.

You and I are similar

I only pick up a non fiction if I really enjoy the celebrity

I don’t even really do true crime much despite my love for thrillers and mystery

Oh yeah I really don’t like true crime. I don’t watch the shows or listen to the podcasts either; generally.

[angelashly]

Apr 5, 2024 13:05:53 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

Apr 5, 2024 12:15:50 GMT -6 angelashly said:

You and I are similar

I only pick up a non fiction if I really enjoy the celebrity

I don’t even really do true crime much despite my love for thrillers and mystery

Oh yeah I really don’t like true crime. I don’t watch the shows or listen to the podcasts either; generally.

I’ll watch it

I’m all over the place

[abs]

Apr 5, 2024 13:05:21 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

I didn’t realize so many here didn’t like historical fiction. It’s one of my faves!

I like it as well but they tend to be heavier books so I can only do it in small doses. Some of my top books from the last few years have been historical fiction though and they tend to be the ones I remember long term. Thrillers as much as I enjoy them are straight up brain candy and get forgotten immediately.

[adelbert]

Apr 5, 2024 12:38:18 GMT -6 junch817 said:

Apr 5, 2024 11:35:48 GMT -6 adelbert said:

Historical fiction for sure.

What’s crazy to me is, history class was my LEAST favorite class as a student; from like 2nd grade through college. But historical fiction? Omg I can’t get enough.

Our brains are weird. Or at least mine is 😂

I love history just not historical fiction. I would rather just read non-fiction about an event or place.

[bearfootzcontinued]

Apr 5, 2024 13:05:53 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

Apr 5, 2024 12:15:50 GMT -6 angelashly said:

You and I are similar

I only pick up a non fiction if I really enjoy the celebrity

I don’t even really do true crime much despite my love for thrillers and mystery

Oh yeah I really don’t like true crime. I don’t watch the shows or listen to the podcasts either; generally.

I've discovered that I love mysteries but I do not want to read about people being abused or tormented.  Same with tv shows - DH knows I'll protest if he turns on anything Law & Order like. 

[emma]

Apr 5, 2024 13:05:53 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

Apr 5, 2024 12:15:50 GMT -6 angelashly said:

You and I are similar

I only pick up a non fiction if I really enjoy the celebrity

I don’t even really do true crime much despite my love for thrillers and mystery

Oh yeah I really don’t like true crime. I don’t watch the shows or listen to the podcasts either; generally.

oh yeah me too. That’s it then, the genre I don’t care for

[marygracerich]

Apr 5, 2024 13:05:21 GMT -6 thatgolfb said:

I didn’t realize so many here didn’t like historical fiction. It’s one of my faves!

I live historical fiction! I have spent many, many days reading so many Philippa Gregory books. 😂

[DGM]

Apr 5, 2024 12:38:18 GMT -6 junch817 said:

Apr 5, 2024 11:35:48 GMT -6 adelbert said:

Historical fiction for sure.

What’s crazy to me is, history class was my LEAST favorite class as a student; from like 2nd grade through college. But historical fiction? Omg I can’t get enough.

Our brains are weird. Or at least mine is 😂

This is me! I love historical fiction now (especially dual timelines) but never liked formal history study.

My least favorite popular genre is Stephen King style so I don't know if that's suspense or horror. I like cozy mysteries, but anything graphic is too intense. ETA clarity

[emma]

I’m a lover of history, all of it! I’m the person that reads every display at museums and finds all the history tours fascinating. I even enjoyed the potato museum in PEI interesting

[DGM]

Speaking of genres, are time travel or time bending books considered sci-fi? I really enjoy books like In Five Years and Oona Out of Order.

[snowyowl]

Speaking of favorite and least favorite genres... I'm finally getting into thrillers/mystery. It turns out that I have certain types I don't like, which soured my whole perspective of them. So I'd love some recommendations of people's favorites, since I've been avoiding them for years! As a kid, I devoured Agatha Christie, and I'm finding a lot of stuff billed as a thriller is what I thought of as a Christie style mystery.

Thriller stuff I like - campy, "five old friends go to an island and one gets murdered" type stuff. A "happy" ending where the bad guy gets a comeuppance. I love horror so anything that straddles the line of thriller and horror is good.
Things I can't do - Children getting hurt, missing, etc. If it's backstory it's sometimes ok, but mostly not. Anything that gets too gritty, especially heavy SA plotlines.

And as payment, the mysteries and thrillers I've read recently with thoughts.

The Fury, Alex Michaelides - two stars. I might have liked this more if it wasn't so obviously drawing on one of my favorite old films, so I knew generally what was coming from the beginning, if not all the details.
Also, I'm very annoyed because a lot of the reviews mentioned The Silent Patient by the same author being better, and how weird it was that the author spoils that book at the end of this one. I didn't realize what the spoiler was until I went and read the description of The Silent Patient, and now I'm not sure it's worth reading.

Sleeping with Friends, Emily Schultz - three and a half stars rounded up. It has the camp, it was fun, a little disjointed.

Various Simone St. James - I assume people who have read St. James know what they are getting into. Hit or miss, some fun Christie style twists, and I like her writing. She is an always read for me, but since the quality is really varied I can see why someone who isn't into her style wouldn't bother. If anyone hasn't read her and wants to, The Sun Down Motel is my favorite.

The Clinic, Cate Quinn - three and a half stars rounded up. This was exactly what I expected from the description, and the writing was not bad.

The Children on the Hill, Jennifer McMahon - three stars. Meh, the twists were either easy to guess or a little cutesy.

My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones - five stars. Ok, I'm being extremely flexible with genres here. But I loved this book, and I'm currently halfway through the sequel and love that too.

[emma]

snowyowl if you like campy friendship murder mystery then you might enjoy the Thursday Murder Club series

[marygracerich]

I cannot believe how long it’s taking me to read this book. It’s not that I don’t like it. The story is interesting. I’m just moving slowly through it.

[sudsy]

Blind Date With A Book is sooo much fun! It’s great to support small business.

[sudsy]

[dc2london]

Apr 5, 2024 21:13:58 GMT -6 snowyowl said:

Speaking of favorite and least favorite genres... I'm finally getting into thrillers/mystery. It turns out that I have certain types I don't like, which soured my whole perspective of them. So I'd love some recommendations of people's favorites, since I've been avoiding them for years! As a kid, I devoured Agatha Christie, and I'm finding a lot of stuff billed as a thriller is what I thought of as a Christie style mystery.

Thriller stuff I like - campy, "five old friends go to an island and one gets murdered" type stuff. A "happy" ending where the bad guy gets a comeuppance. I love horror so anything that straddles the line of thriller and horror is good.
Things I can't do - Children getting hurt, missing, etc. If it's backstory it's sometimes ok, but mostly not. Anything that gets too gritty, especially heavy SA plotlines.

And as payment, the mysteries and thrillers I've read recently with thoughts.

The Fury, Alex Michaelides - two stars. I might have liked this more if it wasn't so obviously drawing on one of my favorite old films, so I knew generally what was coming from the beginning, if not all the details.
Also, I'm very annoyed because a lot of the reviews mentioned The Silent Patient by the same author being better, and how weird it was that the author spoils that book at the end of this one. I didn't realize what the spoiler was until I went and read the description of The Silent Patient, and now I'm not sure it's worth reading.

Sleeping with Friends, Emily Schultz - three and a half stars rounded up. It has the camp, it was fun, a little disjointed.

Various Simone St. James - I assume people who have read St. James know what they are getting into. Hit or miss, some fun Christie style twists, and I like her writing. She is an always read for me, but since the quality is really varied I can see why someone who isn't into her style wouldn't bother. If anyone hasn't read her and wants to, The Sun Down Motel is my favorite.

The Clinic, Cate Quinn - three and a half stars rounded up. This was exactly what I expected from the description, and the writing was not bad.

The Children on the Hill, Jennifer McMahon - three stars. Meh, the twists were either easy to guess or a little cutesy.

My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones - five stars. Ok, I'm being extremely flexible with genres here. But I loved this book, and I'm currently halfway through the sequel and love that too.

The Guest List by Lucey Foley

[dc2london]

Apr 5, 2024 12:38:18 GMT -6 junch817 said:

Apr 5, 2024 11:35:48 GMT -6 adelbert said:

Historical fiction for sure.

What’s crazy to me is, history class was my LEAST favorite class as a student; from like 2nd grade through college. But historical fiction? Omg I can’t get enough.

Our brains are weird. Or at least mine is 😂

The way social studies were taught when we were kids was awful. My kids' hostory and social sciences/civics classes are so much better.
None of them can complete a crossword bc they haven't been tormented by rote memorization, but they actually understand how and why the world exists as it does.

[wedding]

The only genre I would never read is smutty romance. Romance isn’t really my thing anyway but reading detailed sex scenes makes me cringe.

[wedding]

I just finished The Vacation by John Marrs. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars but there were a lot of story lines to folllow and I had to go back and forth a bit. I liked how everything wrapped up and there were many unpredictable twists. I’m on a roll with his books right now so I need to find more on Libby.

[kittyriot]

I’m actually not much a modern mystery enjoyer. I try it every once in a while, but it often doesn’t work for me. Which is why I might not comment in a while….it seems as though there’s a ton of mystery lovers here.

I do enjoy a cozy mystery occasionally, Murder in an Irish Village et al. But I even though I read those occasionally I’m almost always go back to Contemporary Fiction, Romance and Historical Fiction.

[thatgolfb]

Apr 5, 2024 17:40:05 GMT -6 emma said:

I’m a lover of history, all of it! I’m the person that reads every display at museums and finds all the history tours fascinating. I even enjoyed the potato museum in PEI interesting

This is me now. I did not used to be like this, but I have turned into my dad. I have started delving into historical NF, and I need to read more of it. Radium Girls was fascinating.

[nelzie]

Add me to the list of those who don't like historical fiction. Add historical romance as well.

I'm also not much of a literary fiction person.

There's a few categories I'm not a huge fan of but do like a few certain things. SciFi, fantasy, and horror.

[thatgolfb]

I am listening to the latest Finlay Donovan book. This series is so fun.

[thatgolfb]

Apr 6, 2024 13:10:32 GMT -6 dc2london said:

Apr 5, 2024 21:13:58 GMT -6 snowyowl said:

Speaking of favorite and least favorite genres... I'm finally getting into thrillers/mystery. It turns out that I have certain types I don't like, which soured my whole perspective of them. So I'd love some recommendations of people's favorites, since I've been avoiding them for years! As a kid, I devoured Agatha Christie, and I'm finding a lot of stuff billed as a thriller is what I thought of as a Christie style mystery.

Thriller stuff I like - campy, "five old friends go to an island and one gets murdered" type stuff. A "happy" ending where the bad guy gets a comeuppance. I love horror so anything that straddles the line of thriller and horror is good.
Things I can't do - Children getting hurt, missing, etc. If it's backstory it's sometimes ok, but mostly not. Anything that gets too gritty, especially heavy SA plotlines.

And as payment, the mysteries and thrillers I've read recently with thoughts.

The Fury, Alex Michaelides - two stars. I might have liked this more if it wasn't so obviously drawing on one of my favorite old films, so I knew generally what was coming from the beginning, if not all the details.
Also, I'm very annoyed because a lot of the reviews mentioned The Silent Patient by the same author being better, and how weird it was that the author spoils that book at the end of this one. I didn't realize what the spoiler was until I went and read the description of The Silent Patient, and now I'm not sure it's worth reading.

Sleeping with Friends, Emily Schultz - three and a half stars rounded up. It has the camp, it was fun, a little disjointed.

Various Simone St. James - I assume people who have read St. James know what they are getting into. Hit or miss, some fun Christie style twists, and I like her writing. She is an always read for me, but since the quality is really varied I can see why someone who isn't into her style wouldn't bother. If anyone hasn't read her and wants to, The Sun Down Motel is my favorite.

The Clinic, Cate Quinn - three and a half stars rounded up. This was exactly what I expected from the description, and the writing was not bad.

The Children on the Hill, Jennifer McMahon - three stars. Meh, the twists were either easy to guess or a little cutesy.

My Heart is a Chainsaw, Stephen Graham Jones - five stars. Ok, I'm being extremely flexible with genres here. But I loved this book, and I'm currently halfway through the sequel and love that too.

The Guest List by Lucey Foley

One by One by Ruth Ware
One by One by Frieda McFadden
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

[thatgolfb]

Regency is actually the one sub genre of HF I don’t particularly care for. I haven’t gotten into Bridgerton or the like.