5 “Bad” Books I Actually Really Like

I’m going to start by saying I don’t know that there is such a thing as a “bad” book. While definitely some books are better than others, and for sure the writing in some books is just terrible, I don’t know that a book can be “bad”.

Okay, I take it back, there are some books that are DEFINITELY bad in every way.

But I don’t think you have to only like things that are “good.” I mean, for one thing, good/bad is so subjective! But for another thing, your enjoyment of a thing isn’t necessarily tied to its quality. I have definitely experienced movies/TV that are so bad I can’t enjoy it, but most of the time I can like something even when I can tell it’s not awesome if it’s achieving whatever it set out to do. This book was supposed to make me laugh, and it did. Yay!

Okay, glad I got that out of the way.

This list are books that the book community on the whole has determined are terrible, and that I to some extent agree are not awesome, but I still love them anyway.

1. Twilight

I resisted Twilight for a LONG time. By the time the movie came out literally everyone I knew had read it except for me, and then I saw the movie which was terrible, and so I refused to read it. Until I did. And yes, it was just as bad as everyone says. The dialogue is particularly awful. But … I have still read the whole series. More than once.

I don’t know what it is that makes me keep reading. It’s not the romance. Maybe it’s the melodrama? It’s definitely at least part the Pacific Northwest setting. Whatever it is, so many people enjoy this book that I’m done criticizing it or apologizing for liking it.

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The Cliche Book Tag

I always like a good cliche, and this tag is full of them! Thanks to The Orangutan Librarian for tagging me!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words
A book that wasn’t or couldn’t be better than the movie.

This question comes up a lot, and I always choose the same 2 or 3 books, so let’s do something different this time! The Princess Diaries is a book that I really liked as a young teen, but compared to the movie is awkward and lame. The characters are so much more likable in the movie!

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
A Rags to Riches or Riches to Rags Story

Haha, can I choose The Princess Diaries again? In all seriousness, Thomas Cromwell is the original pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps guy, so Wolf Hall is a great example! I’m so nervous to see what happens to him in the third book, whether he’ll fall back down to rags. And I know I could just look it up, but I don’t want to spoil the book for myself!

Hocus Pocus Book Tag

Because it wouldn’t be Halloween without Hocus Pocus, and I wouldn’t be doing my job right if I wasn’t spreading the Hocus Pocus love, I’ve created my very own blog tag.

Dun dun DUUUUUNNNN!!!!!

I hope you enjoy it! I’ve certainly had fun dreaming it up and creating it.

Rules:

There are no rules. It’s YOUR blog. But if would be nice if you linked back to me, and maybe the person who tagged you too. Share the love folks.

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The Sanderson Sisters

A great trilogy.

It should be a surprise to no one that I’m choosing The Lord of the Rings. I mean, favorite book, obviously favorite trilogy. Do I need to say any more?

Review: The Crown

The Crown by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection
Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Maturity Level: 3
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆

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When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection, she didn’t think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn’t sure she’ll find the fairytale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you…and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible—and more important—than she ever imagined.

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Just silly. And not in a good way.

Review: The Heir

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection
Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Maturity Level: 3
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆

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Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she’d put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess’s life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can’t escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn’t expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn’s heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she’s always thought. 

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Upon finding out The Heir existed, I fully expected this review to be mainly lamenting the fact that Cass didn’t quit writing after book 3 and scolding myself for continuing to read. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much better this book was than the last two.

Review: The One

The One by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopian
Maturity Level: 3+
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆

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The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon’s heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she’ll have to fight for the future she wants.

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As far as creating and end for this story, The One was perfectly adequate. But all of the problems and poor writing that plagued this series were still there.

Review: The Elite

The Elite by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Dystopian
Maturity Level: 3
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆

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The Selection began with thirty-five girls.
Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon’s heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America’s chance to choose is about to slip away. 

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The Selection wasn’t that great, but every good quality it had was pretty much non-existent in The Elite. It was pretty much two hundred pages of “I don’t know who I looooooove!!!!!”, and everything I hate about shows like The Bachelor.

Review: The Selection

The Selection by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection
Genres: Romance, Dystopian, Young Adult
Maturity Level: 3
View on Goodreads
Rating: ⋆⋆⋆

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For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

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The Hunger Games meets The Bachelor in this poorly written but entertaining young adult novel by Kiera Cass. Though The Selection will never win any awards, it was a fun and easy summer read.