Thursday, November 29, 2018

Favorite Authors

In case you haven't noticed, I like to read. {grin} And one of my favorite joys is discovering a new amazing author. I thought it could be fun to write about some of my favorite authors and see if anyone has others I should be reading. Who knows...maybe we'll all find someone new to love!

The Favorites:
J.K. Rowling - This is probably a dumb one to start with, but I think the Harry Potter series contain some of the best books ever written. I've read the whole series numerous times and love them still, I'm listening to a podcast about them and am fostering a love of them with Trent! I also love her Cormoran Strike series which is completely different from HP. The only book I didn't like was The Casual Vacancy. And I haven't read any of the Fantastic Beasts books and am not sure if I want to or not, but I sure do love J.K.!



Kate Morton - Kate's books always follow somewhat of a formula - girl in modern times who is unraveling a mystery from the past - usually Edwardian time period {Downton Abbey} - and we see the mystery unfold as she uncovers clues AND from a point of view during that time period. You know what you're getting every time, but they're always really enjoyable. 


She has a new book out, and I'm on the waiting list already for it!

Liane Moriarty - I knocked out Liane's first 7 books in rapid succession and ATE THEM UP. They weren't all amazing but several of them outstanding! Her most recent book that I read, Truly Madly Guilty, was a bust for me, but I've heard great things about her latest book, so I'm hoping for good things.


Her next book - can't wait to read!

Taylor Jenkins Reid - Man, Taylor knows how to write a chick lit book that is SO MUCH MORE than a chick lit book. I've read all 5 of her current releases, and she has a 6th book coming out in March that I can't wait to get my hands on! She takes a simple yet interesting idea or what seems to be an impossible scenario and weaves a magical tale out of it. I've ended all of her books extremely satisfied with how she tied everything up. She just has a knack for telling a great story.


Coming out in March...

Jennifer Robson - I just discovered Jennifer Robson earlier this year and have read all 4 of her books. Three of them were a loose trilogy set during/after WW1 and the 4th one {that I read first} is set during WW2. I'm a broken record with my love for a) books about the Aristocracy and b) books set in Europe during the Great Wars, and these check both of those boxes.


Dying to read this - about Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown!

Susanna Kearsley - My sister introduced me to Susanna Kearsley a few years ago when I was raving about Outlander. A lot of her books have a slightly similar theme and she thought I'd like them. She was right! Susanna's books are somewhat similar to each other in that they usually have some element of a) supernatural elements, b) Jacobite timeline, c) story jumping from the present to the past, or d) all of the above. Most of them have been really good, a few were excellent, and there's only been 1 or 2 I didn't like very much. Given I've read 9 of her 11 releases, I'd say I'm a fan!


JoJo Moyes - After reading Me Before You, I was definitely hooked on JoJo Moyes. Since then I've read 6 more of her books and only have 2 to go before I've read all of her books. I wouldn't put her with Taylor Jenkins Reid for knocking my socks off everything, but she writes really great books and has really well-developed characters that you root for. 


The Sometimes Authors:
Kristin Hannah - The first Kristin Hannah book I read was The Nightingale, and I think that was a big mistake. It was a phenomenal book and started me down a path of love for all those 'Great War' books I've mentioned above {which is probably 20 or so books}. Since then, the other books I've read of hers have largely been more of your run-of-the-mill chick lit for me. I liked The Great Alone and Winter Garden a little more than some of the others and find her to be a good author to choose when I'm in a bit of a reading slump. But I don't typically seek her out.

Nora Roberts - I have easily read 50 or 60 of Nora Roberts' books. I think that makes me a fan, ha. However, they are very formulaic and if you've read one, you've read them all. Doesn't mean they are bad and who doesn't love a book that they know will be good every time. A few of them are better than others, and I really think Nora is a solid writer, she just doesn't set my book world on fire.

4 comments:

Erika said...

OK, well you know I have All The Thoughts on this!!! Obvi completely agree on JK Rowling and feel the same about Kristin Hannah. Kate Morton & Liane Moriarty I feel similarly about, but sadly wasn't as in love with both of their newest books (Clockmaker & Nine Perfect Strangers- just finished that one last night). Clockmaker, to me, was going TOO FAR with the number of narrators/timelines. Like waaaaay too many, I couldn't keep up and ended up not caring very much about any of them. That broke my heart, haha. I wanted to love it!!! Nine Perfect Strangers was enjoyable but not her strongest, I would say. I feel like it jumped the shark a little and was just a little silly at times...but I did enjoy the premise and the ending, so I'm not shooting it entirely down. Just not as strong as What Alice Forgot, BLL, and Husband's Secret- my faves. Agree on JoJo Moyes as well- although I will ride hard for The Girl You Left Behind all day every day- by far her best book, and one of my favorite books I've ever read EVER, so I mean...I'm all on Team JoJo!! :) I haven't checked out Jennifer Robson yet, though I added her books to my TBR list when you mentioned them a few months ago- really need to actually READ them now!!! I like that all of your authors here are female! I would probably add Fredrik Backman to my list. Have absolutely loved everything he's written except for one, and that one (My Grandmother Told...) I HATED, so that was a very interesting feeling, hahahaah!!!

Emily said...

Love this! I obviously agree with you on JK Rowling and Taylor Reed Jenkins. I did not know about Taylor’s new book but I’m excited to read it. I’ve only read one book by both Liane and Jojo but they didn’t leave me craving more. It is funny that both you and Natasha love Nora Roberts so I’ve been tempted to try a book but I already have so many on my “to read” list that I don’t know if I need 50 more haha

Kathryn Bagley said...

I am a die hard fan of Nicholas Sparks-even thought most his books are pretty much all the same...ha! I listen to 2 new ones I hadn't heard before and they were really good-a tad different story line. Two by Two and See Me.

Natasha said...

I pretty much agree with you on all of these although I can't stand Kate Morton. Liane Moriarty sometimes hits it out of the park (What Alice Forgot) and sometimes doesn't (Truly Madly Guilty).

I also LOVE that you love Nora too!

Have you read any Colleen Hoover? She reminds me of Taylor Jenkins Reid but her books just leave me crying. Also Jodi Picoult is a favourite and in her new book A Spark of Light, she does it again.

Have I mentioned before that Jennifer Robson is a friend of a friend so came to our book club once? She was lovely and just so great so now I like her books even more :)

Thank you for always sharing great books and expanding my reading lists.