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
    myriam | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Claire i love you soo much and i like to read too

  • M
    Meagan | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    One of my favorites ever was In Five Years by Rebecca Serle!

  • K
    Kayleigh W. | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Thanks for the recommendations! ACOTAR was on my list but now I know I’ll read it for sure! Currently reading 2 different books at the same time 🙈

  • S
    Solène Wolff | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Wait until you get sucked into the Dramione World… Manacled, Secrets and Masks (all fan fic you can find for free on AOO :)

    Otherwise in fantasy / fairy books:
    - the serpent and the wings of night
    - a discovery of witches
    - kingdom of the wicked (3rd is less good)
    - TOG of course (CC is not as good in my opinion but still a good read)
    - twist me and all the book series from Anna Zaires (dark romance)

  • M
    Maneli Khademirad | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Well I have a bunch of book recommendations for you since I’ve read all these books you mentioned already. Get ready:
    Karen Marie Moning- Fever series and Highlander series (it has faeries)
    Jennifer Armentrout- she has like a bunch of good series
    J Bree- I love her two fantasy series, but crown of oaths and curses is my favorite.
    Sarah Parker- when the moon hatched
    Nicola Tyche- North Queen series
    Sara Hashem- the Jasad Heir
    Scarlett Dawn- king hall series (an oldie but goodie)
    I have more but these have been my favorite in the 12 years I’ve been reading fantasy books (I’m 23 lol).

  • C
    Clara Campos | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Hi Claire, I totally understand you, since I started Acotar my boyfriend has been annoying too… crazy that they won’t burn the world for us 🥲. I am now reading all of the Throne of Glass series, if you didn’t already you should get into it, it’s maybe even better I am not sure 😬. A bookclub would be great.

  • M
    Melissa | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    I recently read It Ends With Us (I’m late to the Colleen Hoover club). Wow was it good. Let’s chat about it. I also just wrote my first book! My editor just finished reviewing it. Stay tuned!

  • A
    Anna Kapanadze | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    JUST YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GET TO THRONE OF GLASS – I WANT LIVE REACTIONS.

  • S
    Stanislav Zlatinov | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Claire, be careful!!! Once you start reading Throne of glass you will forget about everything else. It sucks you in, not allowing you to let go. And I loved it! Cannot wait to hear how you feel about a certain character! Excited!!!!!

  • R
    Rachel Stern | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    This is so exciting, I cannot WAIT for you to read ToG and CC!! But other recs I think you’d love are Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, the Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy, and the Black Witch series by Laurie Frost 💕 All 5 star reads for me!!! Please keep sharing your SJM journey though!! <3

  • J
    Josie | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    The TOG series is my fave series ever!!! Can’t wait for you to read it. The character arcs are truly incredible. If you thought ACOTAR was good just wait 🥹

    For books on romance with great life lessons/amazing characters pls check out Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry I feel like you’d LOVE them too.

  • J
    Jennifer | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Acotar, Fourth Wing, Iron Flame was absolutly my favorites. Now, i‘m reading Throne of Glass. I love it.

  • F
    Faith Miller | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    One of my recent favorite books is the halfling saga by Melissa Blair! So good!

  • J
    Jessica Mckee | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Ohhh love this! I am obsessed with the fantasy world as well. It really does suck you in and change your whole personality😂 woot

  • J
    Jasmine | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    You think the world of ACOTAR has you in a chokehold?? Oh boy oh boy just you wait for Throne of Glass… world altering. I’ve convinced myself I’m living in their world amongst them as a close friend and literally woven myself into the storyline. Those characters are my friends. I think about them everyday. I’ve so far convinced two of my friends to read it and they are now forever changed and don’t know whether they want to curse me or thank me for making them read such a devastatingly addictively heart-wrenching yet soul-filling series. My thoughts are with you as you embark on this journey. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts when you’re done !!

  • M
    Marie | 05.29.2024 | 01:38PM

    Love this for you! Currently on TOG series but have read the others and loved them all, can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Iron Flame xx