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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  • S
    Sara | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    What are your thoughts on people type casting you for Mor in ACOTAR? 👀

  • J
    Jessica | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Welcome to the never ending book club! My friend and I stated with Sarah J. Maas and never looked back! I’m interested to hear your theories about the Maasverse! There is so much speculation about what is to become of our friends! I’m also a die hard Cassian girl! Excited to hear more about your reading journey and theories!

  • D
    Diana Fernandez | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Ninth house and Bell Bent by Leigh Bardugo.

  • J
    Julia Liu | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Hi Claire! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying reading books, I know exactly what you mean with your obsession with ACOTAR. That series had a chokehold on me last summer when I binge read the first book all the way to the fifth and believe me when I say the grief is real when ur done??? Anyways I know you already have such good series on ur TBR list, but I thought I’d give some other recs you should check out that I fell in love with myself! The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue & The Way I Used To Be! Happy reading 😊

  • M
    Marlene Bromba | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Hi! Welcome to the book world😍 I can totally relate to your desire to cancel everything else for a good book!

    Here are a few of my all time favourites:

    - Grishaverse Books by Leigh Bardugo
    - Caraval Trilogy by Stephanie Garber
    - Divine Rivals Duology by Rebecca Ross
    - The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by VE Schwab
    - These Violent Delights Duology by Chloe Gong
    - Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman
    - The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black
    - The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

  • D
    Darshini | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    I did not know you were such a book girlie. Now you’re my all time favorite Claire. As an actress and as a person!!! My favorite are also Fourth Wing and All Your Perfects by CoHo. I guess I could call you a bookworm now but readers nowadays prefer being called book dragons since they like hoarding their books like a dragons precious treasure. 🤭❤

  • E
    Ellie | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    I’ve just finished the acotar series I read all of them in a week. Honestly the best books I’ve ever read.

  • S
    Selena | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    You should make like a Discord or a broadcast channel on Instagram for the Bookclub

  • S
    Sonia Gaubert | 05.29.2024 | 01:39PM

    Just bought the first series! Thank you and I love you! Named my daughter after you, Claire Juliette!

  • M
    Mari McLean | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Omg ACOTAR was soo good! And you would make a perfect Mor!! I’ve started listening to the audiobooks and they’re so good! I am hoping to start TOG when my uni semester finishes next month! Always wanted to be in a bookclub!

  • C
    Clarissa | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    As you enjoy fantasy, I think you’d enjoy the Shadow and Bone series too. :) It’s one of my favourites.

  • C
    Chiara luce | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Claire we have the same taste in books 😍

  • N
    Nishtha | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    Excited to be a part!!

  • J
    Jess ❤️ | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    The scream I scrumpt when I saw you had started this! Yesss! I loved the Acotar series too – Nesta is my favourite, and I think your gal Phoebe Tonkin would play her so well if it ever got made into a series – you would play Mor, obviously. I have a Bookstagram where I review books, and I have a lil ACOTAR fancast on there, because I’m willing an ACOTAR show into fruition😀 I need to start Throne of Glass, but my bank account says no to an eight book series right now 😀 I LOVED Evelyn Hugo and Malibu Rising is so underrated, but so good! I had a Colleen Hoover phase, my favourite was Verity. And I LOVE reading paperbacks, but Kindle is so convenient. Anyway, I love this book blog, I love you, it’s all great! Continue to read and slay, Claire Holt – AKA, Mother ❤️

  • S
    Sandra | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    I really loved the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Read it like 6 months ago and still think about it sometimes

  • A
    Angela | 04.29.2024 | 12:40PM

    This is a good place to be!! I fall in love with It Ends With Us too 😍