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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  • L
    Lauren Cruikshank | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    I love this! I just started the Throne of Glass series after reading ACOTAR (twice)!!! ACOMAF was my favorite too. If you haven’t already, go read the fanfic by Illyrian Tremors that is ACOMAF from Rhys’s POV.

    So much debate about the order to read TOG. I read Assassins Blade as the 3rd book and can’t decide if I like that order yet. Just started Heir of Fire. It’s such a good series.

    Fourth Wing is next on my list after I finish the SJM books!

  • t
    tiann | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    i cant wait to be a part of your book club as books and everything in them is my personal heaven

  • Z
    Zelle | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    The Vampire Academy series and Bloodlines are so good! ToG will NOT disappoint 🤌🏼😮‍💨 Aelin is a freaking badass and she deserves the world🥹

  • D
    Danielle | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I loved the Acotar series! What a dream! Started the crescent series and again hooked. Sarah J maas is legit ruining my social life cause I cannot put the bleddy things down 😂🙈

  • C
    Courtney boggess | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    The throne of glass series is fantastic! Sarah can do no wrong! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.

  • I
    Ilianna | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    First of all, the excitement of Clair starting a book club based on now famous TikTok books is beyond handling for me! Thank you!🙏
    Love the thoughts about the mentioned books and got to tell you that reading the TOG series (Throne of Glass) is a lifetime experience! I’m sure you’ll read many comments about this, and trust me all of them will be right. TOG is truly not a book series you just read, it takes over your mind, life and personality. Looking forward to read your thoughts and how you experience this reading. Kind note: you will never foresee or predict what’s happening next!🥰

  • M
    Meghana Jaiswal | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Loved and go by every word written here…❣️

  • M
    Mélissa | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    I didn’t read Fourth Wing yet, but SJM is my world and I swear you need to start Throne of Glass ! I just started and damn I can’t stop. I would love to be part of your book club !

  • L
    Linnea | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    Throne Of Glass is going to be amazing for you. I’m on the last book and I am so sad for it to end 😢. You’ll love it!

  • J
    Jasmine | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    Down to join the book club 🫡

  • T
    Taylor Carroscia | 04.29.2024 | 12:36PM

    I read the first 6 Throne of Glass books in two weeks… prepare for them to consume you 🙃

  • T
    Tiffany J-D | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I started reading ACOTAR because of your posts and I read the entire Maas catalog in under 4 weeks! I’ve now moved on to The Witch Walker Series by Charissa Weakes, Touch of Darkness and Adrian x Isolde series both from Scarlett St Clair, and the Blood and Ash, Awakening, & the Flesh and Fire series from Jennifer L Armentrout. All very delectable and leaving one wanting more! Thanks for the non book club – book club!

  • T
    Tiffany J-D | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I started reading ACOTAR because of your posts and I read the entire Maas catalog in under 4 weeks! I’ve now moved on to The Witch Walker Series by Charissa Weakes, Touch of Darkness and Adrian x Isolde series both from Scarlett St Clair, and the Blood and Ash, Awakening, & the Flesh and Fire series from Jennifer L Armentrout. All very delectable and leaving one wanting more! Thanks for the non book club – book club!

  • L
    Lisa Schröder | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    The Last Book from TOG will destroy your mental Health 😭 i Never Really recovered. 👀

  • J
    Jeanette Corbett | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    The glass of throne series is awesome. If you ever want to explore more addictive books. Cassandra Claire created a ShadowHunter universe and its amazing- https://shadowhunters.com/shadowhunters-novels/

  • K
    Katelynn | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I JUST finished Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, before those I read the Throne of Glass Series and it was the best series I’ve ever read in my life! Now I’m starting Crescent City!