Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week’s topic is one I already covered in another post: Bookish goals for 2023. So, I decided to do something completely different and take the freebie opportunity. Today I’ll list books I expected more from in 2022. Let’s face it, some books get overhyped and you only find out whilst or after reading. I’m really sensitive to hypes and I always jump on said bandwagon. Unfortunately, when actually reading the hyped books, they get me thinking ‘Is this it? Why is this book so hyped?’ So, it’s time to list some examples of such moments in 2022. Unfortunately, it happened quite a lot to me.
- Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen: I remember the excitement I felt when I found out about this new installment in the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles universe, so I read it quite soon after release. However, I didn’t feel the thrills and vibes of the previous books in this series. Everything went so smooth and easy, I missed some suspense and tention.
- You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao: TikTok made me buy it, that often is a read flag for me. Unfortunately, the same goes for this book, because I didn’t feel all the feels this book was supposed to make me feel. It’s just okay. Moreover, I couldn’t really connect to the main character July.
- Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon: My introduction to this author and it was unfortunately, not a good one. Again, this book was okay, but it got majorly overhyped.
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey: The premise looked promising, but the excecution was just your mediocre average romance novel. Nope.
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry: I really enjoyed Beach Read, so I was really keen on reading this one. Actually, this story was really boring and nothing happened. I’ve heard Book Lovers is quite the same, so I’m really reluctant to read it.
- Gallant by V.E. Schwab: Sorry but I have to give this one a mention. It seems like Schwab’s books and me are not a great match. The synopses always sound so intriguing (same for this one), but the excecution leaves me hungry for more, something is missing and I can’t really put a finger on what it actually is. Gallant was easy to read, but lacked some spark. Also, the MC felt really young for a 14-year old and the tense parts of the story could have been more tense.
- Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff: I really enjoyed Nevernight and Godsgrave, but it has been over 2 years since I read the latter one. I couldn’t get into the vibes of this series anymore and honestly the travelling was getting soooooooo boring.
- A Light in the Flame by Jennifer Armentrout: This is such a shame, because I love the world of “Blood and Ash”. However, this spin-off series is quite a letdown. The story is repetitive and Sera and Nyktos are really similar to Poppy and Casteel. I felt this book was dragging.
- Youngblood by Sasha Laurnes: Yay for a vampire revival, but this one was a miss for me. It was too slow and things that should have happened according to the synopsis didn’t happen till up to 60% of the novel.
- Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen: I just couldn’t get a grib on this story. The writing was not for me, nor were the MC and the plot. I really wanted to like this book, because it sounded right up my ally.
Do you have bbooks read in 2022 you expected more from?
Laurie Is Reading 
It’s always hard when your expectations are disappointed. One book I read in 2022 that has a huge fan base and lots of hype was The Shadow of the Wind, which I thought was terrible. Could not understand the raves.
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It ended up on my TBR years ago, but I think I already removed it. From what I’ve heard, it’s not an easy book to read and understand.
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This is a great topic idea. I have Emily Henry on my wishlist, specifically Book Lovers so I’m curious to see if I’ll enjoy it. I didn’t read any overhyped books last year but I read The Thin Place by C.D. Major and I did have some qualms with it.
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It’s always a little disappointing to read an overhyped book. 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-goals-for-2023/
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I love VE Schwab books, but I couldn’t get into Gallant, however I think I know what it was for me: I’m a reader who loves dialogue and the lack of it was causing issues for me. To be fair, I did know this might be an issue before I picked up the book but I at least wanted to try it! I find her adult books way better than her YA to be honest, Shades of Magic, Villains and Addie LaRue were all favourites of mine and none of her YA has ever quite lived up.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/01/17/top-ten-tuesday-403/
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Yeah, the lack of dialogue definitely is something, but for me it was also the lack of character development. It was supposed to be a middle-grade at first, but the age range has been set higher.
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I mean I have to admit I didn’t get very far through it, so I can’t say much about the character development, she’d only just got to Gallant when I stopped. It’s strange, VE Schwab is usually really good at characters!
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It is a bummer when books don’t live up to the hype. I actually try to avoid hyped books until things have calmed down a bit. If that means I’m a little behind, I’m okay with that! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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I recently finished Weather Girl and enjoyed it, but I understand that not every book is for every reader. The Maid by Nita Prose is a book I read last year that was super hyped and that I did not enjoy. I read it before the hype, but I don’t understand what everyone sees in the book.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/ten-more-anticipated-releases-january-june-2023/
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Oh no! That one is still somewhere on the TBR…..
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I have only read one of these authors, Tess Gerritsen. In the Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series, I am up to Vanish and have a few more on my TBR. I have found that some series disappoint me later in the series.
And thanks again for the suggestion of the CAWPILE method for reviewing books.
TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery
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I felt the same about It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey. I liked the start of it and thought it was promising but then it just went from 0-100 in three seconds and the third act conflict was awful. I have also decided that VE Schwab isn’t for me. I had such high hopes for Addie LaRue and was severely let down by that (and at least one other book of hers).
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Oh yes I feel the same about Addie 😦
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I hate it when a super hyped-up book doesn’t deliver, which is why I tend to avoid them in the first place. I haven’t read any of the ones you mentioned, although I do want to give Emily Henry’s books a go this year.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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I expected more from Gallant, too.
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I’ve not read any of these. It is always ind of frustrating when you have certain expectations and they are not met.
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