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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  • C
    Charlene | 04.29.2024 | 12:23PM

    All great suggestions. I’m stuck on the first a
    Court of thorns & roses book, but I guess I’ll
    Persist because everyone says it’s.that.good!
    I recently finished the audio book of a little life, kill me dead, that book broke me into a million pieces and I was bawling. What happened to Nina by dervla mctiernan was amazing, read it in 12 hours ⭐️

  • C
    Chelsea | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    Love this for you🫶🏻 other recs- Darling Venom by Parker Huntington, Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi, The Program series by Suzanne Young, Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, anything Emily Henry if you want romcom, A Touch of Darkness series by Scarlet St Claire, Lightlark series by Alex Aster!! I could go on and on but ill stop there😅

  • L
    Liz | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    I really really loved „a Discovery of witches“ – its hard to decide between Matthew and Gallowglas in my daydreams 🤔

  • L
    Lauren Williams | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    Can’t wait for your update after iron flame 😬

  • G
    Gina | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    Crescent city is by far better than her throne od glass series. I was instantly enthralled when I started her books a few years ago as well.

  • A
    Ashleigh | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    Omfg! Throne of glasss series has my soul. Different to ACOTAR and 4th Wing but such a rush!!!

  • L
    Luisa | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    Hey Claire
    I think the idea of a book club is great. There are so many book lovers out there and each of them has the same feelings and thoughts about a book. Im from Germany but I read a lot of englisch books. Of curse Sarah J. Maas is a queen. She got me into reading fantasy romance. I have two book series I really loved too. First one is the " caraval" series by Stephanie Garber. The storyline, the plottwists and the charcters were just awesome. This is really a masterpice. I also loved reading " The cruel prince " by Holly Black. This book is giving enemies to lover to 100%. The characters are also amazing but Rysand is still number one of all book crushes.
    Hope this helps your a litle bit.
    Kind regards

  • A
    Alesia Păușan | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Did you read a romance book??

  • l
    laura | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    omg! definitely read Throne of Glass next!!! I‘m currently reading the last book and it‘s sooo good, even better than ACOTAR in my opinion.
    tip from me: either don‘t read Tower of Down or read it after the last book, bc it plays at the same time as Empire of Storms and it‘s „just“ about Chaol soo you maybe wanna skip that. Also, it‘s not really needed for the main story :)

  • C
    Casey Muckert | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    The Mortal Instruments and co??? Surely!

  • D
    Dominique Laurant | 04.29.2024 | 12:22PM

    I’ve read all of these books (minus Luke’s book) and I liked/ loved most of them. Highly recommend Emily Henry and Carley Fortune ❤️

  • C
    Chris Ann Denny | 05.29.2024 | 01:42PM

    Welcome to life after SJM! I always pictured you playing Mor if it ever made it to the big screen. Avid reader and there are so many of us on Insta. A corner called Bookstagram. I am chrisannreads on Insta. You can find many book lovers through my follows. It’s a whole world.
    I have read everything you mentioned and enjoyed them all. One series I highly recommend is the Magnolia Parks series by Jessa Hastings. It’s not fantasy-it’s basically Gossip Girl but make it British and they’re older. There are five books out and more to come. It’s a delicious guilty pleasure.
    Happy Reading and look forward to your updates!
    Chris Ann

  • M
    Millie | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    You should read Powerless by: Lauren Roberts I literally love that book so much!! Then there’s Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows by: Rebbeca ross two of the best books I’ve ever read I got goose bumps reading the second one!!

  • L
    Lidia | 05.29.2024 | 01:41PM

    I love Collen Hoover, her books are amazing 😍. I recommend you reading The folk of the air books starting with The cruel prince, I’m sure you’ll love it!

  • A
    Alba | 05.29.2024 | 01:41PM

    Hi! I completely agree about The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo and It ends with us. I can’t say about the others since I’ve never read them. Now I’m currently reading works from Joël Dicker, I loved “the truth about the Harry Quebert affair” and I’m right in the middle of “The last days of our Fathers”. Two completely different book genres but love them bot (even if the author is mostly known for his crime novels). Hope you’ll be able to read some of his books. Xoxo

  • H
    Hayley | 04.30.2024 | 03:24PM

    Don’t judge the Throne of Glass series on the first book! The writing and story gets more sophisticated as you go on – I was a bit thrown coming from ACOTAR. Stick with it!