Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all been having a good week so far, mine has been pretty quite, I went to see The Post at the cinema on Saturday, and that was really good, if you haven’t seen in you definitely should!
Today is kind of a special day for me, because it’s my fourth blogaversary! That’s right, four years ago today (how the hell has it been that long?), I started BookLoversBlog. Honestly I’m kind of amazed I’m still here, I sort of thought it would just be a side hobby I’d do during sixth form and never thought I’d manage to maintain my blog through the first year of Uni, let alone throughout second and third year. I also never thought so many people would be interested in reading what I had to say about books, I mean there’s 800 odd of you who follow me, not to mention the people who follow me on Twitter and that’s just incredible! So thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last four years, and here’s to hopefully many more! I’m going to be doing a Q&A post to celebrate, so submit your questions to me here:
Well that’s enough of my spouting on, the point is, it’s Tuesday and that means another Top Ten Tuesday from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. This week, since it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow (ugh), we’ve got a romance based freebie. Now since I’m a total romance cynic and hate everything to do with Valentine’s Day (seriously I can go through the rest of the year not caring that I’m single, and then this one day comes around and just shoves love down your throat), I’ve decided to turn this week’s prompt on it’s head and instead of going for a typical mushy topic, I’m going for Top Ten Books For The Romantic Cynic This Valentine’s Day (aka books you can read if you want to escape all the love!). So here we go:
- Gone Girl-Gillian Flynn
If any book is going to remind you how lucky you are to be single, it’s this one. I mean you won’t find a book less in the romantic spirit than this crime thriller about Amy and Nick Dunne who may be the most twisted couple in the world. Once you’re done reading about Amy and Nick, you’ll probably be incredibly happy that you don’t have a partner who can frame you for their disappearance.
2. Dangerous Girls-Abigail Haas
Yet another book about twisted relationships that will make you feel glad to be single, as you follow Anna, Elise and Tate who are in a twisted kind of love triangle, Tate is Anna’s boyfriend, but it’s pretty clear that Elise is obsessed with her and I felt like Anna might be kind of love with her too. Anna is accused of Elise’s murder, and the whole book follows the trial and the events that led up to the murder, ending with a shocking reveal that will absolutely blow your mind.
3. Asking For It-Louise O’Neill
This book is about sexual assault, so yeah, not at all romantic. It will make you angry, it will make you want to throw your book (or in my case laptop) across the room because of how the justice system is weighed against the victim, and it will definitely not give you the warm and fuzzies, so perfect for the grumpy singleton to avoid the love on Valentine’s Day! Plus it’s generally just a really important book, especially given everything that has gone on this year, both in Hollywood and now in the book community.
4. A Series Of Unfortunate Events-Lemony Snicket
The Baudelaire Orphans don’t have time for romance, they’re too busy dodging the misery that keeps flying at them from every turn. So if you’re a romance cynic wanting to avoid the love this Valentine’s Day, why not dive into the Baudelaire’s story to remind yourself that no matter how lonely and bitter you feel, the Baudelaires have it a lot worse.
5. Before I Go To Sleep-SJ Watson
Another crime book to remind you that love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The kind of amnesia the MC has is pretty terrifying, I mean imagine waking up every day and not knowing who or where you are? Pretty scary right? Add to that that her husband is not who he appears and you have the makings of a pretty scary situation and a very twisted romance.
6. Dark Places-Gillian Flynn
Honestly if I’d read Gillian Flynn’s other book it probably would have been on here too, her books are so twisted! This book follows the survivor of a massacre, Libby Day who pinned the crime on her brother Ben and twenty five years later attempts to discover what really happened. It’s all pretty gruesome really, there’s a scene with a satanic cow ritual that has been stuck firmly in my head ever since I read it. So if you’re not in the mood for romance this Valentine’s and would rather read about gruesome murders, this is the book for you.
7. Frozen Charlotte-Alex Bell
Another creepy horror for your cynical romantic heart to dive into. Set in a creepy old house on the Isle of Skye, it follows Sophie on a visit to her cousins as she attempts to solve the mystery of the Frozen Charlotte dolls and the gruesome accidents that seem to follow them. There’s a slight hint of romance between Sophie and Cameron but for the most part the book is focused on the creepy goings on at the old Dunvegan School For Girls.
8. This Savage Song-Victoria Schwab
Kate Harker and August Flynn don’t have time for all that mushy stuff, Kate is trying to prove that she can be as vicious and devious as her cold hearted father and August is just a monster attempting to be human. If you’re wanting something devoid of romance but with less horror and more action, this might be the book for you.
9. Code Name Verity-Elizabeth Wein
Friendships are just as, if not more important than romantic relationships and I think Valentine’s Day is a timely reminder of that. If you’re feeling bitter about the fact that you’re alone this Valentine’s, then read this book and it will remind you that you might not have a partner but the friends in your life will always be there for you. You’ll also be crying for a reason other than your lack of date.
10. The Book Thief-Markus Zusak
There’s a few little hints of young love, but other than that, this book is far more about friendship and family and war and death (oh and books), than it is about love. If you want something to touch your cynical heart this Valentine’s Day, I dare you to read this book and not cry. I dare you.
So there we go, ten books for your cynical romance heart this Valentine’s Day, that you can dive into to avoid all of the mushy stuff going on around you, whether you’re single and cynical like me, or if you’re in a relationship but you don’t really do Valentine’s Day. Have you read any of these? What other books would you recommend for the romance cynic in your life this Valentine’s? Let me know in the comments!
Next week’s topic is Books I’ve Decided I’m No Longer Interested In Reading, which is kind of topical given what happened over the weekend and the fact that I just unhauled a load yesterday, so it should be a good one!
In the meantime however, I’m hoping to do my big Blogaversary celebration post over the weekend, so make sure you submit your questions in the form that I linked at the top of the post!
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