Some Favorite Adult Books!
I read a lot, but I don't always read YA books. I actually enjoy mixing it up, and I have read some really great books outside of YA. I don't often scream about my adult reads, well not here on the blog at least, but there have been many deserving of my praise. Without further adieu, here are some of my 5-star reads from my adult shelf.
Liane Moriarty
Series: n/a
Publisher: Berkley
To be perfectly honest, I only have one Moriarty book rated under 5-stars, so all are worthy of praise. This is a prime example of what LM does so well. The way she weaves all these people's lives together, and then hits you a twist, which leaves you with your jaw on the floor.
Sophie Kinsella
Series: n/a
Publisher: The Dial Press
Kinsella is one of those authors, if she writes it, I will read it. I became a fan via her Shopaholic books, but I think her stand-alones have been even bigger hits with me. This book had all Kinsella's signature elements, and I really loved how this search led to Poppy coming into her own.
Clare Mackintosh
Series: n/a
Publisher: Berkley
I thought the way Mackintosh structured this book was brilliant. It amped up the tension and really kept me guessing. This one had me all over the place emotion wise. I shed a few tears, I gasped in horror, I bit my nails in fear. It's was fantastic!
Helen Hoang
Series: n/a
Publisher: Berkley
Believe the hype! This book was stupendous! This book so funny, so sexy, so sweet, so heartfelt, and just all around amazing. I was drawn into this story from the very beginning, and once I started, I found it really hard to stop.
Autumn Chiklis
Series: n/a
Publisher: Wednesday Books
This book was so much fun! Lou's story was amusing, but also relatable, and it left me in high spirits. A delightful tale, which I think could appeal to both mothers and daughters, as well as new graduates, who are beginning their post graduate lives.
Cecelia Ahern
Series: n/a
Publisher: Hachette Books
I have a deep-seated love for characters, who share a lot of history, and this love story was spread out over 45 years! This book made me nuts, but I loved it! I spent so many years following Rosie, through her ups and downs, that I had really become invested in her well being. I cried for her. I cheered for her. I spat out cuss words for her. I wanted the universe to stop working against this woman. Most of all, I loved Rosie.
Christina Lauren
Series: n/a
Publisher: Gallery Books
This is another second chance type romance, where the characters had a storied history. This book was beautiful and heartbreaking and it just filled my heart with so much joy. Nothing but love for this one.
Julie Buxbaum
Series: n/a
Publisher: The Dial Press
I considered myself a solid Buxbaum fan after this book. I just really appreciate her storytelling. There is just something about the way she allows the story to unfold, and the way the characters react and interact. She does such a good job expressing the complexity of the relationships present in the story. She broke and mended and broke my heart again and again, and she did so in such a wonderful way.
Jojo Moyes
Series: n/a
Publisher: Penguin Books
I have enjoyed many books by Moyes, but this one still stands out for me. This is a story about family, and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. This is a story about not giving up, even when it looks like there is no hope. This is a story about survival, whether it be physically, mentally, or financially. This is story about being different, embracing those differences, and using them to your advantage. Most of all, this is story about love: love between siblings, parents and children, a man and a woman. A fun, "awwww" invoking read. I was smiling, laughing, and feeling pretty optimistic at the end of this one.
Emma Davies
Series: n/a
Publisher: Lake Union
What a beautiful story! This was such a charming story of healing, love, forgiveness, and friendship. I was smiling and feeling all the feels during this book. This book was like a warm hug, and it made me all warm and fuzzy and happy inside.
What are some of your favorite adult books?
Let us know in the comments!
The Husband's secret *nods*. I read this one right after Big Little Lies, and it was hard to top that one, but I really liked it. Between the two of them Moriarty became a must- buy author for me. And I've been meaning to read Mackintosh, I keep seeing good things about her stuff.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed all of Mackintosh's books. She was previously in law enforcement, and her experience shows in the details she includes in her stories. She writes a really great suspense-mystery. Totally recommend her.
DeleteHeh, adult books Sam, who knew ;) AND not to mention, some titles that sound lovely, and that I didn't know of before. Do you review adult books elsewhere, btw?
ReplyDeleteI mix it up, but I stay loyal to the WLABB vision by focusing on YA. My reviews are all on Goodreads. I recently started linking to any reviews I do not feature in my Sunday post
DeleteOh I enjoyed some of these too. Loved the Husband's Secret, Kiss Quotient, One Plus One and Love and Other Words. I need to get to I Let You Go.
ReplyDeleteAll Mackintosh's books were great, but her first still stands out. It left me a little dumbfounded when I realized what was going on. Loved it!
DeleteI just adored Love and Other Words. And I would like to read The Kiss Quotient. Sadly our library doesn't have it yet. :(
ReplyDeleteI listened to the audio fir TKQ via Hoopla, and it was really well done
DeleteI've read everything by Mackintosh and she constantly impresses me. Love and Other Words is one of my favorites, as is TKQ!
ReplyDeleteMackintosh is definitely good at building the tension and throwing some curves
DeleteI have definitely been mixing it up with adult books. Lol I definitely read BLL but can't remember if I read the Husband's Secret. Even though I read they synopsis I am still not sure...
ReplyDeleteJen Ryland Reviews
I have read all LM's books, and I will continue to read them all, because they are fantastic
DeleteI wish more bloggers would talk about adult books. YA books tend to take over the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
I read a lot of adult books, but most of them are romance. ☺
DeleteThe Husband's Secret sounds intriguing! Here is our Top Ten Tuesday
ReplyDeleteIt was great, but the ending!!!! It's just something LM does well
DeleteOMG I REALLY REALLY NEED TO READ THE KISS QUOTIENT!!! I've been hearing nothing but amazing things--I love light, fun romance reads. ♥ And I haven't read the book, but the Love, Rosie movie gave me ALL THE FEELS. I may or may not have watched it 5 times already. Heh.
ReplyDeleteI want to see the Love, Rosie movie, but I fear there will be tears. The book was really emotional for me
DeleteFun topic. I love adult books. I own Love, Rosie and need to read it ASAP. I also have Smothered on my wish list so I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Smothered is a good book to read if you are looking to laugh. Very, very funny
DeleteWow, I've only read three of these but they are three good ones. Cecelia Ahern is a favourite author of mine anyway and I enjoyed Love, Rosie. And I've Got Your Number was a great Sophie Kinsella book, I've found some of her newer books haven't quite matched that standard. The one everyone can love though is The Kiss Quotient though. I will be rereading that one for years I think.
ReplyDeleteI am a solid Ahern and Kinsella fan. The later Shopaholic books were missing a little of Becky's charm, but I thought Surprise Me was great.
DeleteThe Kiss Quotient is lovely. Especially if you just finish reading a bunch of dark YA books.
ReplyDeleteThe book was really exceptional. It was so much more than I expected, and surprised me in the best way possible.
DeleteWhen I hear "adult books" the first author that come to mind would be Aly Martinez. She has a lot of beautiful, heart wrenching and emotionally damaging books. Fun times ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I have a book by here, but have not read it. She's really big among the romance readers I mingle with.
DeleteI enjoyed One Plus One way more than I thought I would. I generally love anything by Liane Moriarty and Sophie Kinsella!
ReplyDeleteMe Before You was my gateway Moyes book, but there was just something really beautiful about One Plus One. Without a dying character, you don't have the same level of emotion, but it did indeed pack quite an emotional punch.
DeleteGoodness, this list made me realize how many adult books I really want to read! I have yet to read anything by Liane Moriarty OR Jojo Moyes, and that is pretty sad. And I definitely want to read The Kiss Quotient! Funny thing, I have read Christina Lauren, Cecelia Ahern, and Sophie Kinsella, but all YA stuff. Which again, is a fail hah. One of these days, Sam. I'll get my act together! Fabulous list!
ReplyDeleteLM is so fantastic! I guess you could call her women's fiction, but there is always this air of mystery in all her novels. So good!
DeleteI haven't read any of these, but I've read one Moyes book. Maybe I'll have to read more of her in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteI apparently really like non US authors.
DeleteI don't read much adult fiction either, so this is a fun topic! Thanks for sharing :D
ReplyDeleteI try to read at least one adult book a week, but I have a bunch of favorite authors.
DeleteI've read some of these or other books by these authors. Fantastic list. I need to try Moriarty's book. I've loved others by her.
ReplyDeleteI am chomping at the bit for the new Moriarty book. It seems like forever since her last one.
DeleteI agree, The Kiss Quotient lived up to the hype! One Plus One is another favorite of mine! It was funny and at times heart wrenching! Wonderful list, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI think Moyes always does the blend of happy and sad well, but I really fell in love with the non-traditional family element of One Plus One and well, math for the win.
DeleteI need to read LM. I just picked up I've Got Your Number! It took me a minute to realize it took place in England. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI think all but maybe 2 of Kinsella's books (both Shopaholic books) take place in England. I always was an anglophile
DeleteYou mentioned some of my favorites! LOVE The Kiss Quotient, obviously. I also have enjoyed all of Clare Mackintosh's books, but I think I Let You Go is my favorite of hers, too. I've Got Your Number is the cutest! I still have yet to read anything by Liane Moriarty, but I know The Husband's Secret is a favorite of lots of people whose reading tastes I trust.
ReplyDeleteLM is brilliant! I cannot scream about her books enough. I feel like the others are living in the shadow of Big Little Lies, but only one was less than 5 stars for me (it was 4)
DeleteThe Kiss Quotient is the only one of these I've read so far, and I loved it. Almost all of the others are on my TBR though. Sounds like I have some good books to look forward to :)
ReplyDeleteApparently, I have a thing for non-US authors. It's good that Hoang won one of the few US spots on my list.
DeleteI read lots of romance that I don't review. They are my fun reads. I do plan on getting to The Kiss Quotient but I'm SO bad with book hype that I'm waiting until I don't remember hearing anything about it lol
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I say something about all the books I read over on GoodReads, but I am trying to respect the YA thing the WLABBers established here. TKQ was so wonderful. Seriously, just thinking about it puts a stupid grin on my face.
DeleteI will be picking up The Kiss Quotient at some point. It's starting to feel like everyone's read it but me.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting a normal, schmexy romance, but the emotional depth and the layers each character had was incredible. PLUS the ASD rep was so good. I loved it.
DeleteI have yet to jump into the adult fiction pond too much, but I might have to check out a few of these. They sound like they could a lot of fun. Great picks, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteI have always mix, thought I must admit, most of my adult reads are romance book. Every once in a while some popular fiction will catch my eye, and I have found a few authors that are now must reads for me.
DeleteI haven't read any of these yet but I actually didn't know the Kiss Quotient was an adult read and not actually a YA! I learned something new from this post :D
ReplyDeleteUh, The Kiss Quotient is VERY adult. It's about an autistic woman, who hires a male escort to help her with sexual encounters, but it turns into so much more. The emotional depth of the story really shocked me, and the ASD rep was excellent (as it was #OwnVoices)
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