Best and Worst You Read in 2016

[Grey]

I had 2, 2 stars this year... Love the Way you Lie by Skye Warren and Chronicles of a Midlife Crisis by Robin Harding. I didn't like either of them. I should have DNFed both.. but I kept going...oy!

[Paula]

Oh if we are including 2* - I had 5 of those! Which I find surprising as I don't consider myself a harsh rater!

Fall into Me
Moore to Love
Forever Girl
Go Long
Beautifully Toxic

Can't remember why but they must have been bad

[Ela]

My worst 1 - star reads! I can't believe I actually had any of those:

Harley & Rose Jenner, Carmen
Tabula Rasa Thomas, Kitty
Allegiant (Divergent, #3) Roth, Veronica

[Leslie]

Isnt it funny when our best is someone else's worst? (and vice versa)

[Leslie]

I'm bummed that several of you guy's worst are on my TBR!! Oh no!

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

I'm not sure I'd worry about that too much Leslie.

For example, The Butterfly Garden is a 5 star read for Ela, while it's a 2-star read for me.

I can't tell you the times I've loved a book that most of my reading buddies rated low. Vice versa too. Many times (as recently as a 2-3 days ago), I rated a book much lower than my GR friends who also read it.

So much of it is mood, and the rest of it is personal taste which is about as varied as our fingerprints. ;-)

[Robin]

LOL Fabi. And it was a struggle to write my On the Island review without saying "this is NOT Surviving Raine" :D Which Fabi LOVED, Leslie, and I just couldn't...

[Leslie]

I liked Surviving Raine but totally get how not everyone would. But some of my worst, I cant understand how people could love them. ;)

[[deleted user]]

If any of mine are in your tbr still try them, many people loved my worst books.
I think that is why the Highwayman was such a disappointment to me because of my own expectations.

[Jan]

Really interesting thread. I'm another one who finds I don't always like the 5 star books everyone else is loving. Thanks for reminding me about Love, Chloe, Leslie. I was disappointed by that one too, after loving Hollywood Dirt. I guess we should try not to build up our expectations too high when a new book is coming. Even fav authors write lesser books sometimes :-/

[Jan]

Oh, and Surviving Raine was a dnf for me *blushes* I liked it ok, but just not enough to finish it.........

[Ela]

I rated Surviving Raine higher because of the hype from my friends who were reading at the same time *shrugs*

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

...and there you go, so many different opinions on the same book

I loved Surviving Raine so much that it went on my "all-time favorites" list. Not only that, but Shay Savage is one of my favorite authors.

Opinions are all over the place, from love to like to indifferent to hate. All over a single book. :-)

[Ela]

..........but I LOVE Shay Savage for writing Transcendence! It too is one of my all time favorites.

[Jan]

Yep I loved Transcendence too, but just never really got hooked by Surviving Raine.

[[deleted user]]

It can be so hard when someone does not like a book you loved.
When Maryse dnf'd Jellicoe Road I had to clutch my heart.
Yet I have been on the other side. The one reading a book with my eyebrow raised thinking, this one???
It is all subjective.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

Transcendence was just ok for me. I couldn't help but compare it to Clan of the Cave Bear which is one of my all-time favs.

bev wrote: "It can be so hard when someone does not like a book you loved.
When Maryse dnf'd Jellicoe Road I had to clutch my heart.
Yet I have been on the other side. The one reading a book with my eyebrow r..."

I'm completely opposite of that. Of course I love it when I can rave about a book with another reader. But I'm also very interested in discussing the wheres and whys with someone who has an opposite opinion to mine on a book. I fascinates me to hear their take on scenes and plot lines.

There's probably nothing I enjoy more than discussing a book with another reader.

[[deleted user]]

Hmm. Yeah, I want to be told if they didn't enjoy it and why.
It will hurt and I will maybe give you a bit of a hard time, but hopefully not be too precious about it, lol.
I to liked Surviving Raine more than Transcendence, though it was a fun book.

[Leslie]

I get sad when you guys dont love a fave of mine, but I am way more sad when you dont love the characters. I was crushed when Robin didnt love Kellan. :(

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "I get sad when you guys dont love a fave of mine, but I am way more sad when you dont love the characters. I was crushed when Robin didnt love Kellan. :("

I was saving him for you! :D

[Leslie]

Thanks Robin!

I have to admit, I'm feeling a little stressed that so many books on fave lists from blog are ones I didnt love or would never read. :(

[[deleted user]]

Why does it stress you, Leslie?

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "Thanks Robin!

I have to admit, I'm feeling a little stressed that so many books on fave lists from blog are ones I didnt love or would never read. :("

Variety is the spice of life! If we all liked the same books that blog would be mighty boring! Plus, you wouldn't be able to judge me for Kellan and I wouldn't be able to judge you for Professor Gabriel ;) Although, only an idiot would love the good professor. Me being said idiot...

[Leslie]

I know I cant love all the same ones but seriously, I feel like odd man out. Makes me sad as I love to talk about books but I'm not into most of ones everyone on blog gushing about. Like I'm the nerd trying to hang with the cool kids.

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "I know I cant love all the same ones but seriously, I feel like odd man out. Makes me sad as I love to talk about books but I'm not into most of ones everyone on blog gushing about. Like I'm the ne..."

That's so weird because I feel the same way. I know a lot of people on there like the same books I like, but the ones that are always talked about seem to be fantasy or PNR that I've never even heard of. At that point I just lurk with one of Amy's virtual cocktails. Then someone mentions Fish and I perk up like, "who said that?"

[[deleted user]]

LMAO.

I have felt the same way. Definitely not at the cool table. There will be weeks when everyone is reading the must read high angst cheating book or the must read *insert author everyone loves but me* or must readade me cry book.
And I am there with my sweet YA.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

Leslie wrote: "I know I cant love all the same ones but seriously, I feel like odd man out. "

Did I hear you say "Odd many out" ? --->ME<--- Are you talking about me again?

I swear I haven't recommended a sci-fi in at least ... ummm ... a few days?

Come on Leslie, we all have slightly different tastes, but I bet most of us can find at least one book in common to rave about. AND, if raving isn't possible, then do like me and pick someone's brain for deets on WHY they didn't like a certain book.

For example, not only do I know that Robin didn't like Surviving Raine, I also know WHY she didn't like it. Even more so, since I've gotten to know her reading habits, it would never be a book I'd recommend to her.

See? I think that's fun. Book talk!!!

[Robin]

I disappeared. Suannes doing a FB takeover and I'm so easily sucked in. See? --> Fish!

That's true. Fabi's tastes are pretty different too, definitely different than mine for the most part. But it's so much fun when we find one we both love. Rare, but fun. And I don't even think she's totally nuts for loving Bastian. Partially, sure. But not totally.

[Leslie]

Ok, I just went though all the 2016 reader faves and out of ALL of them only four (yes, I said four) were 4 or 5 stars for me.

Thanks for pep talk though...well, once I finish Before we Were Strangers I will have one more popular one under my belt.

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "Ok, I just went though all the 2016 reader faves and out of ALL of them only four (yes, I said four) were 4 or 5 stars for me.

Thanks for pep talk though...well, once I finish Before we Were Stra..."

Don't sweat it. Be a rebel! I don't like ANY comedies (movies) other people like. Seriously, try me. I just figured it's because I'm on a higher plane intellectually than everyone else. My sense of humor is just more advanced, ya know? Maybe that's what's happening to you with romance ;)

[Anna]

I like that we all have different tastes. I discover new authors to try. This reminds me I haven't given Maryse my top 2016 list yet. Hmm..Larks first then my list.

[Leslie]

Ok Robin, do you hate Elf? Me and my son tease my hub cause he doesnt think its funny. How is Wil Farrell NOT funny?!?

Anna, I haven't given Maryse my list either. I posted my list on GR but I'm too lazy to write up blurbs/comments on them so I probably won't bother.

[Robin]

Leslie wrote: "Ok Robin, do you hate Elf? Me and my son tease my hub cause he doesnt think its funny. How is Wil Farrell NOT funny?!?

Anna, I haven't given Maryse my list either. I posted my list on GR but I'm t..."

Whoa!! No, I love Elf. Ok I don't hate all comedies :D

[Jan]

LOL Robin :)
Hey Leslie I often feel like you too, and when I post my (honest) reviews on GR or amazon I often feel like ducking my head to avoid all the peanuts I know will be virtually lobbed at me. Yesterday I posted a less than gushing review of KA's Rock Chick Reawakening on GR and amazon.au and I felt a bit scared! (Crazy, huh!) I only gave it 2 stars on GR, which is the same as 3 stars on amazon (meaning 'okay'). BTW I hate those conflicting star ratings!! Have a look at my review on GR if you want a read of my issues with it. Luckily I felt reassured when I read some reviews similar to mine on amazon.us. I have to always remind myself, I'm probably not the ONLY one that didn't like a certain book. And I don't believe in dishonest reviews. That's a line in the sand for me.

[[deleted user]]

It is funny that we all have felt like the odd man out.

[[deleted user]]

Yet, I hope we all feel comfortable saying what we really think of a book.

I love end of the year list. Most have list with books ive never even heard of and it makes me excited. The book im reading right now, Dating the Man Upstairs, was on one of the list. I hope I like it.....but I dont know.

[Jan]

Hear hear bev. And yeah, the eoy lists are good pickings!

[Leslie]

Jan, I agree, I don't believe in dishonest reviews either. But it is hard to post a less than raving review on a popular book as sometimes fans & authors can be "trolls". I only read first Rock Chick book and I didn't like it. :(

[[deleted user]]

KA is definitely not for everyone, lol. I think even us who enjoy her recognize that. She has got some writing quirks for sure.

[Robin]

I never even paid attention to GR or Amazon's star system. I kind of made one of my own, but now that I look at it, I can adjust mine to fit theirs. Amazon's? Not so much. I just tried to change the rating on A Thousand Boy Kisses and told it NOT to update my feed. Can you guys tell me if you see it pop up on your feed?

[Robin]

Grrr. I hate that I can't "play" with my ratings and not broadcast it all over the place. Just ignore me for a little while...

[Grey]

it popped up that you commented on your comment, Robin on A Thousand Boy Kisses...

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

Yup, it popped up on my feed.

[Robin]

Did you guys see the status update I just made because now I can't even see that!

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

The most recent thing I see from you in my feed is a comment on A Thousand Boy Kisses.

[[deleted user]]

So GR will just disregard it if you say you do not update your feed?

It's kind of weird updating a current read and not seeing it unless someone comments.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications]

I don't think that do not update feed feature works. It updates it anyways.

[[deleted user]]

That stinks. Especially if you can't see it for yourself.

[Robin]

I can click on the box if I "edit" my review and I think that works, but anytime you change a star rating, That goes straight to the feed no matter what.

[Jan]

Mmmm. The GR website had a hiccough on my laptop and went down for a while. I posted a comment here (or so I thought!) but now it's not here. I'll try again!
OK here goes.

Sometimes I want to play around with my books on GR but I never know what's going to show up on everyone's feed. Don't want to flood all your feeds with my fiddling with my shelves etc. So yes, I totally agree, it's frustrating that you don't really know what's going to show up on other people's feeds.

@Leslie I didn't particularly like the first rock chick book either, but later ones are better. One of my favs was Rock Chick Renegade - Jules and Vance's story, if you ever want to try one of the others. You do have to 'go with the flow' a bit - some of the characters and situations are pretty 'out there'. But the guys are HOT, and the books can be a fun read if you're in that kind of mood.