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
    Scarlett Davenport | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    If they ever make a movie or series for ACOTAR, I NEED you to play a role in it. You could slay Morrigan honestly.

  • J
    Jessica | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Absolutely yes to a book club! And yes to ACOTAR! Can you be our Mor for the TV adaptation?

  • K
    Koe | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    YES TO THIS! Excited to see more. Can you do a day in your life?

  • M
    Mariana | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Tog is a feeling, Throne of Glass is insurmountable, I read it after acotar and i was really surprised, because the universe is completely different, it doesn’t focus much on the romance but more on the protagonist’s story and i loved it because we don’t see that much in books nowadays. I also want to recommend a saga that is Chestnut Springs by Elsie Silver, which is a cowboy romance. I really loved this saga, its vibe, the characters, the settings, it really gave me the feeling i get when i’m watching a romcom, it’s a quick book to read, with cute, funny scenes and looots of romance, you can enjoy it with the characters and falls in love with them too. If you’ve never read a cowboy book, that’s how i thought it would be, but you’re curious to read it, i highly recommend this saga, i’m completely hooked on this aesthetic and i’m definitely going to read others like it. Flawless is the first book in the series.

  • A
    AnaMaria | 04.30.2024 | 03:55PM

    YES to book club
    ———
    The Corner | Claire Holt replied:
    Glad to hear you’re excited!!

  • D
    Demelza | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    I’ve started a court of thorns and roses after seeing your reviews. It’s taken a few chapters to get me hooked, I’ve just downloaded the reminder of the series :) Xx

  • J
    Janine | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Hey Claire, I’ve read the Sarah J. Maas books in the same order, and it was perfect. I took me some pages to fell in love with Throne of glass, but later there are moments full of love and andmiration for these beautiful world an characters 😍. Especially the characters are developing in such an amazing way. You grow with them as Sarah J. Mass grow with them as an author. I’ve never cried again while reading like in the last book of Throne of glass. Such strong women, friendships and loves.

    A few weeks ago I’ve finished Crescent City. And what can I say.. book 2 was a mind blowing suprise.

    If I have to rank..

    1. ACOTAR!!!! (Team Cassian 🤤)
    2. Throne of glass
    3. Crescent

    Other book series I fell in Love with

    - The Mortal Instruments (Cassandra Clare).. and all the the books around.
    She have a very heartwarming art of writing. Every book is like a reunion with a beloved family.
    - The Remnant Chronicles (Mary E. Pearson).
    - The Red Queen (Victoria Aveyard)
    - And my all times favorite author: Jennifer L. Armentrout. She wrote SO many fantastic romantasy series. From Blood and Ash and the prequel Flesh and Fire are properly the hottest ones 😏.

    Hope you keep sharing your booklove with us. Love your excitement ❤️.

    And by the way.. Love your honesty about pregnancy, parenthood an anxieties. It’s unfortunately really rare.

    Have a nice day ☀️

    Lovely greetings from Germany
    Janine

  • T
    Tahoser | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    A book club is a wonderful idea! I adore reading since I’m 8, I’d like so much to be a part of some club to talk about books. In the other side I’m an introvert+++ and I know nobody who reads same books as me 🙈 Hope you’ll find people to discuss and share thoughts.

  • L
    Lena | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    Hi Claire, I recently discovered my love for fantasy books. Before, I only read novels occasionally (I could hardly find the time with work and three children!) But then I started with “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black. It was a gift from my husband. I had confessed to him, that I secretly adored fantasy movies. I had never read a fantasy novel before and often had to force myself through the high literature I thought I was supposed to read as an adult. I literally devoured this book and then the entire series. That was the start of my new addiction to “Romantasy” books. I enjoy immersing myself in this world. And now, I spend all my free time reading.
    After the Holly Black series I read “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame”, then I followed your recommendation and basically inhaled ACOTAR (loved it so much!). Just today I started “The Trial of the sun Queen” … not sure what to expect. But it says that its the perfect “hangover book” after Iron Flame.

    I look forward to your book club and new recommendations.

  • A
    Ashley | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    If you want a good romance, listen to the Bridgerton Series or anything by Emily Henry! They have reallllly good narrators and some of the best spicy scenes 👀

  • M
    Mira | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    Thank you Claire! Gladly noted! I just found my love for reading and started with Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and I looooooved it and can’t wait for Onyx Storm 😍😍 I just started Acotar and so far I am not that hooked and I really hope I am going to be since I already bought all the books 😅 and everyone says it so I am staying on it 🙏🏻🙏🏻 were you hooked from the beginning? Idk 🤷🏻‍♀️ xoxo 💋 Mira

  • N
    Nicole H | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    Love your recommendations!! I loved the Mortal Instruments series, Delirium, and The Newcomer. Looking forward to reading more of your reviews!! <3 I’ve also loved you since H2O!

  • M
    Meg C. | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    Just started the ACOTAR series! Once I got past ch4, I finally started to enjoy it! Can’t put it down!

    I finished “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston right before starting this… SO SO GOOD!

    I love Colleen Hoover. Period.

    Carley Fortune is a favorite author AND Taylor Jenkins Reid!

    I’ve been seeing The Fourth Wing everywhere. I’ll add that for when I finish the ACOTAR series!!

    Excited you’re doing this! I love to see what other people are reading and loving! (Helllo, Goodreads app!)

  • J
    Jennifer Bennett | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    We have the same taste in books and fave authors so I’m in!

  • M
    Megan Taylor-Buckley | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, absolutely phenomenal and so addictive. 3 books so far, 4th comes out this summer. Read the books before you watch the series though (I think it’s on HBO Max in the US? I might be wrong).

  • A
    Alenna | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    I am rereading the throne of glass series and its one of my favourite series ever. Reading the series for the first time as a 19 year old made me feel like I was growing up with the characters, and I feel connected to them on a level I can’t explain. Though it’s weird, this series really impacted me and the main character specifically taught me confidence, she’s everything I want to be and so much more.