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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  • 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!

  • A
    AnnaLily East | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Red, White, & Royal Blue is a phenomenal palate cleanser from fantasy. But the Red Queen series is another fun fantasy series- as well as Realm Breaker!

  • J
    Justina Lajci | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I am so happy to hear you want to create a book club, I am so excited 🥰🥰🥰 and love to see you love these books too (who wouldn’t? Rhys is just too amazing )

  • M
    Megan S. | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I started reading ACOTAR after seeing your mention of it and fell in love. Give the series From Blood and Ash a go as well. I’m reading it now and it’s amazing!

  • K
    Kate | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I’ve just finished all the Sarah J Mass books and now I’m not sure anything else will cut it! The one of Glass series was my favourite!

  • L
    Lia | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I want you to read the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. If you’re looking for unexpected plot twists, shedding tears, and have you’re mind blown away, it would be the perfect series for you <3

  • P
    Peyton | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I seriously LOVE everything Sarah j Maas but for real, throne of glass hasn’t left my brain since the minute I started reading it!!! They are the best pieces of writing ever (in my very humble opinion of course)

  • J
    Jaqueline Lopez | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Ok I love this idea 💜

    You must read “The Last Thing He Told Me”

  • M
    Manda | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    This is definitely switching gears from romance to suspense, but “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” by Benjamin Stevenson has been BY FAR the best book I’ve read this year. I’m a romantic, specifically historical fiction and classics… and also vampires (btw “My Roommate is a Vampire” by Jenna Levine is such a lighthearted yet steamy read that you have to read during a nice weekend-with-a-mimosa preferably no ninjas). But anyhoo, try this book – you won’t regret it!!

  • K
    Kayla Huchko | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Acotar was a favorite for me from the beginning but Throne of Glass really pulled me in. It’s a lot of information to take in because a lot of world building happens (crescent city actually has way more world building so if you read that, get a notebook to jot down some stuff lol) but everything connects so eloquently and the found family aspect of it is my favorite part. I hope you love it.

  • L
    Laura A | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Omg yes!! I’m obsessed with SJM – if you want some fun beach reads for this summer literally all of Emily Henry’s books are amazing. Just finished her new book Funny Story in two days!

  • B
    Beatriz Caetano | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    ACOTAR it’s my favorite book series of all time! The way that I connected with the characters saved me many times🫠🫠 Sarah’s universe is incredible in an insane way, totally agree with you!!

  • n
    ninon | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    hey claire! love ur blog. i think you would love atlas 6!! love’s not the highlight of the book but it is there, and the universe is gonna blow your mind. xx

  • T
    Taylor | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    I’m so excited for you! Throne of glass is the best series I’ve ever read! Still thinking about it years later!

  • S
    Samantha Ramos | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    You should read the shadowhunter chronicles. Start with the mortal instruments, followed by the infernal devices, then the dark artifices, then the last hours. Theres not any s*x in them but they are still really good 😂

  • F
    Faith | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    -We seem to align on a lot of books we both love (ACOSF was my fave from the ACOTAR series).
    -I have also read every single. CoHo book! Ugly Love is my favorite! I loved the Maybe Someday series so so much. Loved Fourth Wing and you’re going to scream when you finish Iron Flame!
    -I, too, plan to read Crescent City soon!
    -As soon as I read that you plan to read TOG, I got tears in my eyes. That series holds such a special place in my heart. Please please please read The Assassin’s Blade FIRST and do the tandem read with Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. It seems daunting, but as soon as I started, it was incredibly easy. I would stay as far away from people’s opinions of most of the books and try to go into the series with a clear head (it’s hard for me not to tell you my faves and not faves lol). I really think if you read TAB first, you will get the most out of the series you can get. Having all the context that one book provides from the get-go was great to have for the rest of the series. Please post your thoughts while you’re reading TOG.

    Happy Reading❤️