Journal

Let's start a book club?

Written by CLAIRE HOLT | Apr 25, 2024
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I wasn’t a big reader as a kid. As my siblings devoured novels every couple of days, I was busy dreaming about my crush and the seven children we would share when he finally realized he was in love with me. Of course, I read the classics. I had delusions of running off to Hogwarts. But I never really had a burning desire to lie awake until 2am turning pages. 

When I moved to America, my excuse was always: I read too many scripts, I don’t have time for books. What a loser thing to say!!! Thank god I’ve grown into a die-hard, fully fledged bookworm. The kind of person who lives and breathes this shit. I cancel plans to read. I form relationships with characters in my head. I get annoyed with my dream of a husband because he’s not quite as perfect as my book boyfriend. What do you mean you aren’t panting with desperation every moment you’re in my presence?!

I switch back and forth between audiobooks and Kindle, unable to waste time existing in my own brain when the fate of the faerie world is at stake! Now that I’m typing this I realize I may have taken it a little too far... but I can’t see myself stopping anytime soon. Not when the entire S J. Maas universe awaits. 

Since I’m committed to this new identity, I figured it was time to start a little book club. I’ll tell you my faves, you tell me yours. We can discuss ad nauseam (since Andy really doesn’t want to get into it with me and I’ve read all Reddit message boards). Here are a few to start off:

The ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Mass

I know I sound like a broken record about this but it’s just. that. good. The second book might be one of the best books I’ve ever read. If I had to rank them in order of favorites: 

  1. A Court of Mist and Fury (book 2)
  2. A Court of Silver Flames (book 5)
  3. A Court of Thorns and Roses (book 1)
  4. A Court of Wings and Ruin (book 3)
  5. A Court of Frost and Starlight (book 4)


Read them all. I’m still thinking about them. I will say the first book took about 200 pages to really suck me in but once I was there, I was a goner. 

In Scientia by Luke Baines 

I would argue that this is the book that really got me into the world of Romantasy. This was my friend Luke Baines’ first foray into fiction and I was BLOWN AWAY. I knew he was an amazing script writer, but had no idea he could pull off a novel like this. I finished it in two days (no small feat for a mother of tiny ninjas) and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

I’m a Kindle girlie so this is my one and only hardcover (but she’s a beauty).

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 

I still have 100 pages to go but you were all right. This book has me in a chokehold. I love that the action sequences start right away, and don’t even get me started on the raunchy scenes. Worth the wait. That’s secretly why we are reading, right? 

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 

Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. I’m pretty sure I’ve read every single one of her books, but It Ends With Us is my favorite. Colleen has an amazing way of combining darkness with light. Honorable mentions go to: Reminders of Him and Maybe Someday.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I loved this beautiful book about Old Hollywood, romance, and self discovery. I think this is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best book, but I also loved Malibu Rising (couldn’t get into Carrie Soto Is Back).

After I finish Iron Flame, I’m planning to tackle the Throne of Glass series, and then Crescent City. God I’m excited. Pray for Andy! 

C xxx

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  • M
    Martine | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Ahhh I love this little segment on the corner!!! ACOTAR is hands down the best series in romantasy world. Once you start, you canNOT stop. Please write to us your feelings once you’ve gone through all of them!!! You will need at least a week of mourning. Fourth Wing is also so addictive and Rebecca has us on the edge of our seats for Book 3. Please pray for me, as I try and attempt to go back into the ‘real’ world, to some non-fantasy reads… How will I ever survive without the dragons and fae drama!!! <3

  • C
    Cyndi | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    We have the same taste in books !! LOVE it !! And I must say that, Sarah J Maas changed my life with ACOTAR , loved any minute of it, for 2 months I lived in Velaris, I think I am ready to go to the woods and wait for a High Lord or try to catch the Suriel 🥹

  • E
    Elizabeth | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Hey Claire! I too am in my romantasy era. I’m obsessed with Fourth Wing and Iron Flame! Literally lives in my head rent free.

    If you need a book recommendation to have you giggling and kicking your feet in the air I recommend reading Powerless by Lauren Roberts, the banter is amazing and the way the author writes the MMC pov is complete poetry!

  • K
    Kayla Queen | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    I am here for a book club!! My all time favorite author is Sarah J. Maas – Hands down. For me, her series are ranked TOG, ACOTAR, CC. I love them all for different reasons though! Fourth Wing & Iron Flame will continue to have me in a chokehold until her 3rd book comes out next year. I also enjoy Colleen Hoover – I loved Verity & It Ends With Us. I’m in quite the book slump since finishing TOG because I’m sure that no series will ever come close to how much it means to me…I’m looking at starting either the Bridgerton books or The Cruel Prince next :)

  • K
    Kayla Queen | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    The TOG series is my all time FAV! I’m excited to hear your thoughts on it. Xo

  • M
    Meagan | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Read all of these and I’m on the crescent city series rn!!

  • A
    Andrea phifer | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    I love to read too, I have read all of SJM, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, so much Dark Romance, and I’m currently on the last 40% of Zodiac Academy – which is like if Harry Potter and ACOTAR had a spicy baby, it’s gold. I love you. I have a booktok @andrea_eea come read with me!

  • l
    lindsey | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    just started my acotar REREAD!!!

  • H
    Hailey | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    you really should start a book club! maybe on goodreads? i’ve screenshotted and saving for later 😍

  • K
    Kortney | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    I love acotar! I’ve read all sjm books love her. I’m currently reading the Final Gambit in the Inheritance Games series. Also I grew up watching tvd and the Originals and I love you and Rebecca!

  • K
    Kortney | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    I love reading and I’m so excited for this!

  • D
    Drake | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    I just finished acotar and went to throne of glass series next. We obviously read enough Reddit threads to both be told that’s the best reading order. Throne of glass can go a bit slow in the beginning but it is an INCREDIBLE story so you must push through!!! I’d recommend reading tower of dawn and empire of storms at the same time. Enjoy!!!

  • C
    Caitlyn | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Oh such good Recs! If you like Iron Flame and ACOTAR then I definitely recommend From Blood And Ash by Jennifer Armentrout. I’ve recommended this series to 5 people and they’ve all loved it! It’s my favorite book series I’ve ever read! 🤩

  • H
    Hayley Alexander | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    If you’ve read and loved ACOTAR, you have to read Throne of Glass. It is incredible, the world building is amazing and the character arcs chefs kiss.
    Also highly recommend picking up a few Jennifer Armentrout and Scarlett StClaire books…your life will change.

    P.S have you ever thought about becoming an audible narrator?

  • L
    Laynie | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Hey Claire! I love that you love reading. May not be what you are looking for, but maybe you could read something that you could recommend to your kids someday (when they are a bit older of course). It’s always cool to go back and read something for a younger age group (I started reading later too). The Mortal Instruments series got me into reading, but Percy Jackson is always a classic.

  • S
    Scarlett Davenport | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    If they ever make a movie or series for ACOTAR, I NEED you to play a role in it. You could slay Morrigan honestly.