When books hit you like a mack truck …

Like many of you I’m an avid reader, compulsive even. I’ve read more than 8.000 books in my whole live so far. But how many really last in my memories and why?

This will be about books that’ve been either so inspirational/moving or so disappointing that I still remember years later.

♥ On my good side: books that have rocked my world ♥

The first coming to mind is Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma.

I read this book way before reviewing on Goodreads. I never wrote its review as I did not even know I could (yes I know I was all innocent and pure). But I’ve been so overwhelmed by this story, by the intense and very compelling writing that it is still on the top of my list years later.

Tabitha Suzuma’s writing is VERY overwhelming. Countless time I forgot to breathe while reading one of her books until I saw stars and realized I was not taking any air in my lungs for God knows how long.

Forbidden is a REAL taboo book. This is not about stepbrother/stepsister but it’s the REAL DEAL. I still knew by the end of the book that their relationship was impossible and forbidden but I could not stop crying. Not a soft sniffling but a whole bawling my eyes out/snot running on my face. As one of my friends likes (yes Danielle, it’s you)  to say, it was messy.

I think the best way to praise this book is by using Penelope Douglas’s words once she  finished the book. She kept chanting “Lochan is not real he is a fictional character; Lochan is not real…”.

The second book that rocked my world was Making Faces by Amy Harmon

Honestly I could add nearly all her books in this section especially her new one From Sand and Ash. This is no big secret that I’m a huge fan of Amy. I admire the author and the woman. Every time I write a review about one of her books it’s like bleeding ink. I always highlight quotes like a mad woman. By the end my Kindle would be bright yellow if I had a Kindle Fire with colors and all. Her writing is graceful, otherworldly. I still don’t know how using simple words (no she won’t use convoluted words) she says such deep truths in a few sentences. Making Faces touched me to the soul. The characters are fantastic (I have a soft spot for Bailey) and the messages conveyed in the book resonated deeply in my heart. See with your heart, true beauty is inside, everybody is a main character to someone, there is a hero inside everyone… That may sound cliché told like that because I don’t possess a tenth of her talent but I swear it’s all BUT cliché. When I ended the book it was like living and breathing again. I saw the world under brighter colors.

The third book or rather books that changed my world: The Fifty Shades or Captive in the Dark series

I know many will find it controversial as they’re not Pullitzers. But Rae Carson said “I don’t care if it’s Twilight or Fifty Shades or War and Peace – Never let someone make you ashamed of what you love to read!” And she is right! These books opened my eyes to a new genre, one that I’ve never tried or even heard of before: BDSM and Erotism. I won’t give a rat’s @ss about an erotic book that’s been badly written with no plot and no character’s building. I don’t read books filled with steam and no plot. But there was just something in these series that enthralled me. I loved Christian because he was broken. That’s what interested me and what’s been so unfortunately absent in the first movie (I still have to watch the second). The point it I discovered something totally new for little old clueless me. So I consider them eye opening.

As we’re speaking about cherry popping I’d like to select Wolfsong by TJ Klune as my first M/M read ever

I was not really interested in the genre as I need to connect with the main characters to love a story. No connection and I can’t stop falling asleep. Being a woman I did not think it would be possible to enjoy that kind of books. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! I consider this book a masterpiece. I ate, drank, walked alongside Ox. He stole my heart so many time and broke it even more often. Now honestly I was happy the sex scenes were few because it just felt “weird” reading them. Sorry guys I’m missing a few essential body parts to relate. But the love story,  the love story… I enjoyed it tremendously! It made so much sense. It was just right, to my utter astonishment. If you want to try the genre and are looking for something really well written and just gorgeous, try this one.

Now another cliché but oh so classic: Twillight by Stephenie Meyer

It was my first PNR/fantasy book ever! I discovered a whole new world full of paranormal creatures: vampires, wherewolves. I truly found Edward and Bella’s story inspirational. Think about it: he wanted to drink her dry but could not even get a taste! If that’s not love… 🙂 

Now with some miles under my PNR/fantasy reader’s belt I realize I enjoyed other books even more (to be honest I liked The Host better) but at that time it was a revolution! I have Stephenie Meyer to thank for my discovery of the incredible genre of Fantasy/PNR for teens. I’ve found gems in that genre that sits now proudly on my bookshelf.

Among others: all book written by Sarah J. Maas (be it the Throne of Glass series or Court of Torns and Roses series) and everything by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments series, The Infernal Devices, The Dark Artifices…). C.C Hunters funny and incredibly Shadow falls series and spin off, Renee Ahdieh with The Rose and The Dagger to name a few of my favorite. Bonus: I get to share the love with my kids. It gives great bonding time discussing books, swooning or ranting.

♠ Now for my bad side because yes, I’ve a bad side. ♠

These are books I either expected so much because I loved the other in this series and awaited IMPATIENTLY to read the last one. You know, THE book giving you closure. The one containing all the answers and giving you the HEA you expect (well I’m a HEA kind of chick).

Well I was FUMING  MAD with these books as they were sooo disappointing either in their execution or their ending.

In no particular order you have (keep in mind I loved the first books of the series and thought they were masterpiece in their genre):

Allegiant by Veronica Roth ; The Last Star by Rick Yancey;  The Fate of The Tearling by Erika Johansen

OK I’m stopping this long post about the wonders and abominations of my reader’s life.

Now I would love to know more about your own “life altering” books.