Top Ten Tuesday: Books Outside My Comfort Zone I Enjoyed

VeronicaSpeedwell

I tend to stay pretty strictly in my reading comfort zone. But every now and then I branch out and am surprised by how much I love the book. Here are some books outside my comfort zone that I really enjoyed!

1. Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

JackTheRipper

I never reach for historical fiction so this book fell off my TBR after a year of sitting there. But in July I buddy read this and I’m so glad I gave it a shot! This was a really fun read.

2. Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

FeministManifesto

I NEVER read nonfiction. It’s just not a genre I gravitate towards. But this short story written as a letter to a friend who recently had their first child blew me away. This is definitely a must read.

3. The Final Six (The Final Six #1) by Alexandra Monir

thefinalsix

Science fiction is another genre I don’t normally enjoy, but this was a 4 star read! I think what I enjoyed about this book was that it actually takes place on Earth so the sci-fi aspects were pretty light.

4. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Blanca&Roja

Magical realism and I don’t normally see eye to eye but this story was breathtaking. I’ve given McLemore’s other books a shot but none of them did what this book did for me.

5. City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

CityOfGhosts

As an almost 30 year old, I steer clear of most middle grade stories. But this was a lot of fun. I loved the Edinburgh setting and this was so atmospheric.

6. How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

HowToStopTime

Another sci-fi novel. But like The Final Six, this takes place on Earth too. This follows a man who lives for centuries. I highly recommend this!

7. A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanna Raybourn

CuriousBeginning

I steer pretty clear of historical fiction but I love mysteries. So I gave this a shot and fell in love. This series is so clever and witty.

8. Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1) by Sylvain Neuvel

SleepingGiants

Oh look more sci-fi that takes place on Earth (I think I found the only way I like sci-fi). This is a really cool premise told in an even cooler format.

9. The Test by Sylvain Neuvel

TheTest

This is a dystopian, another genre that’s not really my speed. This novella is out there and SO well done!

10. Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

SevenHusbands

This is one of my favorite books of all time! But it doesn’t fit my comfort zone at all. It’s a historical fiction novel following a famous main character. I don’t normally like stories following the lives of famous people so this wasn’t originally on my radar. But the hype got me and I’m so flipping glad I gave it a shot. This started my love affair with TJR’s books.


♥♥♥♥

9 responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Books Outside My Comfort Zone I Enjoyed”

  1. Melanie (TBR and Beyond) Avatar

    I’m glad you tried middle-grade – there is so much good stuff out there – even for adults ❤ Great list! Love a lot of these ones!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. paperbacks.and.planners Avatar

      There really is! I’m about to try Small Spaces by Katherine Arden so hopefully I like that one too 😍

      Like

  2. whimsicalmama Avatar
    whimsicalmama

    I just finished Stalking Jack the Ripper last month and felt the same way! It’s def not something I would reach for normally, but I did enjoy it.

    Also City of Ghosts was such a fun read I’m so glad you gave that a try!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. paperbacks.and.planners Avatar

      Yes!! They’re both such good reads 😍😍 I’m glad you enjoyed them too! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Em @ The Geeky Jock Avatar
    Em @ The Geeky Jock

    I felt the same way as you, Re: City of Ghosts! (Tunnel of Bones came out today!)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. paperbacks.and.planners Avatar

      Ah 😃 I know, I’m so excited to read it this fall! 🙌❤

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Em @ The Geeky Jock Avatar
        Em @ The Geeky Jock

        I’m at the 3/4 mark right now! IT’S SO GOOD!

        Like

  4. evelynreads1 Avatar
    evelynreads1

    Great list!
    For me stalkign Jack the ripper and Evelyn Hugo are also outside my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed both!

    (www.evelynreads.com)

    Liked by 1 person

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