Top Ten Tuesday – Books I’d Recommend to the Reluctant Reader

By Rachel

Top Ten Books I’d Recommend to the Reluctant Reader 

As a reader, I find it really difficult to pick a favourite genre. I tend to dip in and out of a really wide variety of books so rather than sticking with just one theme today, I’ve decided to go with books I’d give to someone who doesn’t read, or at least someone who doesn’t read much. As the woman herself, Ms J K Rowling once said, “If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book”. I’ve recently discovered that giving book recommendations is a lot harder than it looks! So I’ve picked the following from my Favourites shelf on Goodreads and tailored each pick to the type of reader/person I think it would suit.

Maybe Someday Cover1. For the romantic who likes to be surprised – Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. I loved this book, and I did end up pushing it on my sister, who I’d say is now a fan. Aside from the mixed media element, which was genius, I thought this was a really unique read and very refreshing for a NA novel (you can check out my full review here).

2. For the action-packed paranormal heroes  – The Mortal Instruments  by Cassandra Clare. If you prefer your fiction to pack a paranormal punch, I’d highly recommend the Shadowhunter world. This has become one of my favourite series, and one of my favourite worlds, which is why I rushed out to buy The Infernal Devices trilogy as soon as I finished The Mortal Instruments. You can check out my series overview here.

Boys Like You Cover3. For the contemporary swooner – Boys Like You by Juliana Stone. This was my first 5/5 review for 2014. This book really resonated with me for some reason, and while I may love it more than your average reader, I found the swoon-levels should come with a warning!

Noughts and Crosses Cover4. For the social commentators – Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. This book is so much more than a YA novel with a coming-of-age storyline and teenage romance. I reread this novel (and the rest of the series) this year, and I still found it to be a fantastic read. And it’s the first book I remember that made me cry.

5. For the rebels and the freedom-fighters – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I don’t think this series is perfect, but I raced through the three books in one weekend and couldn’t put them down. A fantastic dystopian that re-ignited my love for reading around a year ago. Perfect for the inner rebel.

We Need to Talk About Kevin6. For the darker side of humanity – We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. This is a seriously under-rated book that needs much, much more exposure, and I tend to talk about it every chance I get. Loosely based on real-life events, this story looks at the eternal “nature vs nuture” conundrum and tackles some very dark and intense issues.

7. For the Kings and Queens in all of us (or just the history buffs) – The White Queen by Philippa Gregory. After falling head over heels in love with both The White Queen TV show and The Tudors TV Show, I needed a historical-fix, and I’ve become fascinated by this era. Fabulously written, this series won’t bore you like History class did.

8. For the ones who like to get hot under the collar – 50 Shades of Grey by E L James. Ohhhh yes I did. I went there. While I do understand a lot of the gripes people have with this series, I also have a bone to pick with those who slam the series without actually giving it a go (be warned, by the end of book 1, even I hated Christian. But there is a story in there – trust me). I’ll always suggest this to people who aren’t afraid of books that get down and dirty.

Harry potter and the order of the phoenix cover9. For the un-put-down-able quickie – Love Virtually – by Daniel Glattauer. This was a fabulous little find I had never heard of before, but I added it to my shopping basket on The Book People, because it had great reviews, it was a hardback, and it was £1. I was pleasantly surprised. Told entirely by email, this little gem took me 2-3 hours to read. I loved it.

10. For the inner child in all of us, who still believes in magic – Harry Potter by J K Rowling – Did you really think I could make a list of book recommendations, and not include my favourite book of all time?? Everyone. Should. Read. This. Series.

*Post name-change thanks to Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook*

Have you read any of the books I’ve recommended? What theme did you go with today? What are your top recommendations? So many questions! Link me up to your posts in the comments. 

About Rachel

Avid reader & #bookblogger. Lover of all things business. A fan of drinks & dancing. Ever optimistic. Feminist.

33 Responses

    1. Rachel

      Thanks, Ula! I don’t think I have one specific genre I could have done this on, partly because I do cheat on them all so often, and partly because I’ve only been properly back into reading for just under a year so I wouldn’t have enough favourites to rec! Do you have Noughts and Crosses?? If that’s one of the ones you have you’re in for a treat! R x

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  2. Brandie

    I’m so happy you went there. 😉 I love 50! And I LOVE that Maybe Someday is your number one pick! Colleen is a genius. You have to read Ugly Love soon!! It’s out today! 🙂

    Great list. I am looking up Boys Like You right now. I’ve never heard of it, but you are making me want to read it!

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    1. Rachel

      YUS!! I definitely went there, what with the trailer-hype and all that… Maybe Someday really surprised me, I have yet to find a NA that tops it, and I’m planning on buying the C Hoover back-list soon with vouchers I got for Amazon (in the horrible UK covers…). I definitely think Boys Like You is a solid story – I just wonder if it was a 4/5 or 4.5/5 read but for some reason at the time I was just all over it?! I read the eARC and plan to buy a finished copy. R x

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      1. Brandie

        I just added it to my list. It sounds fantastic and after your glowing review, I trust you and know I’ll enjoy it!

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      2. Rachel

        Ohhh, I feel under pressure! Be good to know what you think of it compared to my review/rec once you’ve finished it, to see if I’m close! R x

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  3. Caught Read Handed

    Yay for We Need to Talk about Kevin. Such an interesting book. It’s nice to see it on someone’s list. I, too, tend to dip in and out of genres, but I always find myself enjoying dystopians the most when I read them, so I’d consider it my favorite genre.
    My TTT

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    1. Rachel

      I struggle to pick a favourite, and I don’t like thinking about it for too long or my head hurts, maybe I should start paying more attention to see if I can pick a fav genre… Thanks for commenting 🙂 R x

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    1. Rachel

      So many people have commented that they want to read WNTTAK – I’ve mentioned it in other lists too and it gets the same response. I know what you mean about being in the mood, but to be honest I went into it knowing very little about it and not being in the mood for anything other than a good book, give it a go! 🙂 R x

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  5. moonglint

    We Need to Talk About Kevin is one of those books I’ve heard about and vaguely know what it is, but haven’t yet picked it up. It sounds pretty intense which is right up my alley.
    My TTT

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    1. Rachel

      Very intense, insightful, makes you think, can also be sad, made me angry/scared, shocked the hell out of me. SUCH an amazing read. I still haven’t seen the movie adaptation yet but I was told by other book-version-lovers that it was disappointing. I think you’d really like the book. R x

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  6. Alexa

    Maybe Someday was an amazing book, best of the year so far for me. I also love that you put up the Order of the Phoenix cover for HP. I love that book best out of the whole series.
    Great picks!

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    1. Rachel

      Maybe Someday is definitely up there with my favourites for this year too! Order of the Phoenix is special for me because I read the books as they were released and the hype surrounding this one was crazy – and it was so huge that I got a HP fix for a little longer than normal. I remember all of the media coverage at the time and it was really then that the series took off. R x

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  7. Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook

    Awesome list! These are great suggestions for the reluctant reader. And any list that has Harry Potter makes me happy. I haven’t read 50 Shades of Grey, but seriously people should read what they want. It was a best seller for a reason so if you are trying to find a book for someone why not suggest it?

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    1. Rachel

      Thanks, Quinn! Ohhh I like that – the reluctant reader! I should’ve titled this post that. I can find merit in people’s grumbles about the series, but at the same time it’s the fastest selling book of all time and sold over 9m copies. I don’t think it will win any literary awards, but there is a story-line to the series, and I can also see why people read the first book but didn’t finish the series. By the end of book 1 I hated Christian, but it was definitely unputdownable! It inspired a generation to read and I think they’ll do a great job with the movie. R x

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  8. Emma

    Oh my goodness! I just adore the Mortal Instruments series and Cassandra Clare is just such a wonderful and amazing writer. Of course I also enjoyed seeing Harry Potter on your list. I had such a hard time coming to grips with the fact that on my 11th b-day there was no owl. I still like to think that maybe one day my children might get their letter.

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    1. Rachel

      Hey, thanks for commenting 🙂 I’m definitely happy Clare plans to write so much about the Shadowhunter world – I love it! I really wished for a Hogwarts letter when I was little too! Someday!! 😀 R x

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  9. Becky

    Love your list because you;ve taken a bit of everything and just thrown recommendations out there. You’ve also helped remind me I have been wanting to read Boys Like You for ages and for whatever reason I haven’t bought it yet. I must remedy this immediately, a five star review means a lot.

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    1. Rachel

      Thanks for stopping by, Becky! My shelves are a little like this too – a whole bunch of stuff mish-mashed together! Ohh, if you read Boys Like You let me know, I haven’t been able to chat incessantly about it much because not many people I know have read it! R x

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  10. Michelle

    Maybe Someday and Boys like you are two that I’ve almost picked up several times. Maybe I should give them another look. I like the way you modified the topic, I did too, but chose to list ten books I’d give adults who’ve never read YA. Great list!

    Michelle from Michelle’s Minions.

    My TTT

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    1. Rachel

      Maybe Someday is fab, the soundtrack that goes with the book really makes it, and it’s a contemporary with a twist, it’s good, I’ll say no more! Boys Like You had some “issues” – characters with pasts etc. but I didn’t feel it was too angsty at all and I really fell for the romance. Thanks for commenting 🙂 let me know if you read them and what you think. R x

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  11. Lauren

    I have been absolutely dying to read We Need to Talk About Kevin…. I have been looking for it at the used bookstore, but for some reason they have a ton of Shriver books except for this one, which makes me think it is really good!
    I just read my first Colleen Hoover novel, Hopeless, and I really liked it. I want to read Slammed, but I will definitely be adding Maybe Someday as well.
    I will be looking into Noughts and Crosses as well as Boys Like You, because they sound like they would be right up my alley!
    As for Harry Potter– best series ever!, The Hunger Games– kept me on the edge of my seat!, The Mortal Instruments– just read the first book and loved it, so can’t wait to read the rest!

    Great list! Oh and by the way I came across your site from thoughts and afterthoughts… loved the He Said/She Said post. 🙂

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    1. Rachel

      Hi, Lauren. Thanks for commenting. I definitely have a soft spot for WNTTAK, which is a weird thing to say seeing as it’s quite dark… and want to read more Shriver books but haven’t yet. I love WNTTAK that much I’m kind of afraid the rest of her books aren’t as good, I definitely recommend it though!

      I haven’t read any other Colleen Hoover yet except Maybe Someday, but the rest of her novels all come highly recommended, though I LOVED the mixed media element of Maybe Someday.

      Noughts and Crosses is fab, a definite favourite of mine from my teens and Boys Like You is one of my favourites of 2014 – let me know what you think if you read them!

      Glad you liked the new feature, we should have our first discussion post up shortly, so keep an eye out for that 🙂 Rx

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      1. Lauren

        I completely know what you mean. I own The Post Birthday World by her right now and I went to start it and decided to read some reviews on it first and well they weren’t so hot. I know I’ll read it someday, but I want to read WNTTAK first, so the other books don’t spoil my liking of the author.
        Well according to some of my friends Hoover is fantastic! I hear a lot of good things about Slammed, but I really liked Hopeless. Let me know if you get around to reading any of them.
        I love teen books even though I am not a teen anymore. I am definitely going to give them a try and let you know!
        Can’t wait! 🙂

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      2. Rachel

        I haven’t even heard of that one! Big Brother is the one that I have, I should really read something else by her seeing as I loved WNTTAK so much… I’ve just ordered Ugly Love today (which should be called Ugly Cover in the UK – I’m not fussed on any of the UK Covers, and you’d think with all the bloggers whinging about it the publishers would listen, but noooo). I’ll definitely let you know what I think of UL, I plan on buying all the C Hoover books but I wait for them to go on offer on Amazon first 😉 R x

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    1. Rachel

      Hi, Katrina! Originally this was called, “Books I’d Give to Someone Who Doesn’t Read” – Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook came up with the reluctant reader part and it rolled off the tongue so much better that I changed the name and credited her in the post! 🙂 Glad you like my picks, that helps confirm that I might actually be half decent at recommending reads! R x

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    1. Rachel

      Thanks, Nicole. You’ve been a busy commenter today 😀 I haven’t really even touched the fantasy genre bar HP but it’s something I want to work on, I think if I gave it the time it needs I’d like it! R x

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