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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  • R
    Regina Garcia | 04.29.2024 | 12:39PM

    Yes, a book club!! I’m back into reading after a while and just finished Throne of Glass. It was sooo good! I loved the action and variety of characters, even more than ACOTAR. I definitely recommend it! Now I’m not sure what to read next haha either fourth wing or crescent city.

  • A
    Amanda | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    WoW you’re gonna love throne of glass, it’s even better than ACOTAR. Trust meee

  • S
    Sydney Zaun | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Throne of Glass is the pinnacle of SJM’s work. That series is my Roman Empire and I loved ACOTAR, but ToG is just elite. SJM alters our brain chemistry.

    Add “A Court this Cruel & Lovely” series to your rotation after SJM. It’ll help with the book hangover. “Powerless” is also amazing and I need the second book in the series to be released asap.

  • Z
    Zoe S. | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    I also just finished Fourth Wing and am in the middle of Iron Flame! Absolutely obsessed with Xaden. I need to read the ACOTAR series next! I am just getting into Romantasy. For a while I was reading thrillers. Pretty girls by Karin Slaughter and The Housemaid by Freida McFadden were two good ones I read recently.

  • s
    shai | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    100% agree. acotar series is just that good. no more explanation needed 😭

  • S
    Sinead Keaney | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    I hope you’re enjoying Iron Flame! When you finally read Throne of Glass have you thought about how you plan to read it? It’s amazing and I think you’ll love it! There are a few different orders fans like to read it so I’d recommend doing a little research so you can get the most out of your first time reading it. I definitely regret not doing that. Id say it’s probably my favorite SJM series, but then again I love all three! Happy reading!!

  • L
    Larisa | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Thank god i’m not the only one with ACOTAR.. First couple of pages I started to think i’m this fool who doesn’t get it 😂 Not much of a reader myself but after catching up (way too late) with this series i’m starting to actually like reading.. God I feel old 😂 X Larisa

  • V
    Vanessa | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    I’d love to be part of this book club!

  • A
    Alexandra | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    So excited for this ❤️

  • M
    Madison B | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Omg yess. I just finished Acotar bc I saw ur post a few weeks ago and I was like okay I gotta try it … and omg it’s so good. I read fourth wing right before it and I loveddddd those books, I can’t wait for book 3 to come out. My next series I’m starting is the Twisted Series by Ana Hunag. If you haven’t read the Fine print series… it’s so good highly recommend!!

  • S
    Shere Ladd | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    I definitely want to be a part of the book club! My husband doesn’t want to hear about my books either!! I suggest reading the Crescent City series before TOG. It’s only three books, and spoiler alert there is a ACOTAR connection. I have a bookstagram account where I post about my favorite books, check it out when you get a chance. My page is bookaholic_southerngirl

  • r
    riza | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    You should try rina kent she is exceptional writer

  • I
    Ivy Grayson | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Omg we are book soul sisters! I am obsessed with allll of theeeeseeeee!!! I also recently read Where The Crawdads Sing and saw the movie (loved them equally) very colleen hoover vibes and I am here for it! Ps she should make a movie and have you star in it!

  • d
    desi kostadinova | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Fourth wing has got to be the first book I ugly cried because of. I seriously haven’t finished a book faster so far. I spent ao much time either thinking about the book or reading it it’s almost embarrassing to admit.

  • M
    Mackenzie Groark | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Please read psycho shifters series by Jasmine Mas! She is so funny and has me literally laughing out loud. FYI it is a reverse harem.

  • E
    Elisa Mazzarello | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Love this! Im In!