Previously inspired by Hannah at So Obsessed With and her list of low-rated books she really enjoyed, I made my own list here. Today I'm doing the reverse, just like Hannah did, and putting together a list of highly-rated books that I didn't enjoy. I chose books that had an average rating of 4 stars or higher on Goodreads.
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult: Goodreads rating of 4.34. I typically enjoy Picoult's books, but for me her take on racism was filled with clichéd characters and her signature twist ending didn't work.
The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley: Goodreads rating of 4.27. This dual timeline story travels from India to England. At first glance, it seems to have everything I enjoy in a novel, but the writing is so stilted and the story is predictable.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: Goodreads rating of 4.25. I was so happy to see that Hannah had this one on her list, too. I tend to feel a little weird when I dislike a book that everyone else seems to love, but I can't even with this one. This book is just so pretentious and the characters are wildly unbelievable.
The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepworth: Goodreads rating of 4.15. I loved an earlier novel by Sally Hepworth, but this novel about a single mother dying from ovarian cancer was a mess for me. I gave it 2.5 stars.
Where the River Ends by Charles Martin: Goodreads rating of 4.10. I thought I would like this story of a man who takes his sick wife on one last trip down the St. Mary's River, but the pretentious main character, confusing timelines, and general over-the-top-ness of the book turned me off.
Are there any highly-rated books that you haven't enjoyed?
That's a shame about Sally Hepworth's novel. I've only read one of hers so far but I really loved it. I've been wanting to read more of them but maybe I'll skip this one. The only highly rated book I disliked that comes to mind at the moment is Neil Gaiman's American Gods. It's rated 4.11 on GR and I DNF'ed and gave it 1 star.
ReplyDeleteI've only read one of Neil Gaiman's books and it definitely wasn't for me. He's very popular, though!
DeleteAside from the Picoult one, I don't actually know these authors. But yeah, I always feel slightly weird when everyone is liking someone and I am face-palming at what I'm reading. I have a review coming up of Jar of Hearts which I didn't like at all and everyone else does. The Widow is another, and BA Paris' new one as well.
ReplyDeleteI know, it makes me feel like I missed something!
DeleteThere are definitely books I didn't lile that everyone loved but I would have to check with Goodreads! I have that Jodi Picoultbook still to get to do I'll have to see how I feel on it.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope you enjoy it! Lots of other people have!
DeleteI haven't read any of these other than John Green's. I love him, but I know he isn't for everyone! I still haven't brought myself to watch the movie of TFiOS. I don't think I can do it....too much!
ReplyDeleteI watched the movie and kinda felt the same as the book, but my sister bawled at the movie!
DeleteWhat a fun prompt! One highly-rated book that I had to DNF because I really didn't like it was Children of Blood and Bone. The POV's were just too repetitive for me...
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, and that one is so popular right now!
DeleteThis is a fantastic idea for a post! I always feel like a black sheep when there are popular books that don't sit well with me. It just proves that not all books are for everyone, right?! I might still give Picoult's book a try just because I am curious. ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly! We're not all going to love the same books!
DeleteTotally agree with you about The Fault in Our Stars. Everyone raves about it, but I absolutely hated it. I guess I'm just not a John Green fan.
ReplyDeleteThat's the only book of his I've read, and I don't think I'll read any more! Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way about TFIOS!
DeleteThe only one on this list that I’ve read is TFIOS. I liked the plot, but I agree that John Green’s characters are insufferable.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Oh, definitely!
DeleteThe only one I've read here is the Picoult book, Small Great Things. I discussed it with a book group this spring. I have read several of this author's books and liked them. I haven't read all of them because she definitely has a 'formula' that works for her and her readers. I tire of it though. I was probably more interested because of the Labor and Delivery nurse storyline. My daughter is a L&D nurse and that part was familiar and curious for me. It got mixed reviews from the book group.
ReplyDeleteShe definitely can be formulaic, I've slowed down on her books. Glad to hear there was a good discussion about Small Great Things!
DeleteI can never read The Fault in our Stars since the movie ruined me. I want to enjoy Jodi Piccoult but her books are so hit or miss for me.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed most of her books, but Small Great Things was just too much, for me.
DeleteI loved TFIOS when I first read it, but after my second read I didn't like it that much. I think if I read it a third time I wouldn't enjoy it at all, so I'm just gonna stay conflicted, haha!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that's pretty interesting how your feelings have changed!
DeleteThese posts are always so scary for me, but I am happy to see NONE of the books are on my favorites shelf. I did enjoy TiFoS. I am a solid John Green fan, and this one had all the emotional stuff I love. I ugly cried the last 30% of the book too, but you know what? It is not my favorite JG book.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I know, I was a little worried about being controversial, especially with TFIOS.
DeleteI am so with you on Small Great Things. She tried too hard and the ending was ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI've only read The Fault In Our Stars and though I liked it myself, I do agree that the characters are pretty pretentious!
ReplyDeleteAt least we can agree on that!
DeleteI really enjoyed The Fault in Our Stars at the time, but I don't think I'd be quite taken with it if I read it now. I think I'd feel like you do. This is why I ended up donating my copy to my library. Sometimes you outgrow certain books.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree - I loved Twilight when I first read it, but now when I read it, it can be overwhelming with its high-school angst.
DeleteI enjoyed TFIOS when I read it, but I probably wouldn't enjoy it now in high school as I did at 16 years old. It definitely did NOT make me cry like everyone else claimed, though.
ReplyDeleteI cry a lot at books, but yeah, I didn't cry with this one at all!
DeleteI always feel weird when I dislike a book that everyone is raving about. :) It happens though. The Fault In Our Stars seems to have lots of opinions on both sides- some seem t olove it, others hate it. I haven't tried his books yet but I probably won't start w/ that one when I do...
ReplyDeleteYeah, he can be a little polarizing, although many more people seem to love him!
DeleteI've only heard of two of these -- the John Green and the Jodi Picault. And The Fault in Our Stars is the only one on my TBR pile, and even so, I'm waffling over whether to read it because I know the ending is sad. (Surely that's not a spoiler by this time?) I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it; my daughter loved it, but I know that while it has gotten a lot of love, you've also got company in not caring for the book.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I feel a little better when others feel the same way about TFIOS - I'm glad I'm not the only one!
DeleteI really liked The Fault In Our Stars when I originally read it, but now when I think back on it, I've always feel like actually it wasn't that good, and maybe I got sucked into the hype? I know a common criticism of John Green's books is that they're quite pretentious and that the characters don't speak or act like really teenagers, and I have to agree with that.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
Thanks, Laura! I read it so far after the initial hype, so I wonder if I had read it when everyone else did, if I would have liked it more. But I just couldn't do it! And I probably won't read anything else by him, either.
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