Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday - The Best of the Best

This is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They feature a different top ten list every week. This week's topic is top books that I have given five stars to lately. Looking at my Goodreads shelf, I am super picky with my five stars. So I decided to list the top books I have given a four or a five star rating in the last month.



1.Paperweight by Meg Haston 
2. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
3. Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan 
5. What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler
6. Alight by Scott Sigler
7. Nora and Kettle by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
8. Return Once More by Trisha Leigh
9. Saint Anything by Sarah Dressen
10. The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith
11. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison
12. Bright Side by Kim Holden 

I highly recommend every single one of these books. They are all good in their own way. Don't Get Caught is really the only book on here that was funny and made me laugh. Every single other book on this list is either serious or serious heartbreaking. I am such a masochist.

Have you read any of these books? What were a few of your last five star reads?

35 comments :

  1. Code Name Verity is one of those books I've seen everywhere, really want to read but somehow haven't gotten around to. I don't even know why, because it sounds EPIC. I actually really want to read Saint Anything too. I've heard good reviews, and it's on your list of 4-5 star books so that must imply good things. It's one of the first Sarah Dessen books I'm excited to read...

    Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jolien, Code Name Verity was so good! You really do need to read it. And yeah, I have never read a Sarah Dressen book before but I may have to start. Saint Anything was really good.

      Delete
  2. I want to read so many of these books, so I'm very happy to see them on your list this week! I can't wait to read The Way I Used To Be.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrissi, you need to read it! But just get ready for all the feels!

      Delete
  3. Oh what a great list!! I have only read Bright Side (which I loved and was a 5 star for me) and Saint Anything (which I think was a 4.5 for me). Most of the others are on my TBR and ones I want to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grace, I am so glad that you told me about Bright Side! It was such an incredible book! You really need to read the others on the list as well.

      Delete
  4. Return Once More was one I was going to read (love the time travel idea) but I never got to it. Thanks for reminding me! Great list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem Greg! Return Once More was a great read. I am happy that my list reminded you.

      Delete
  5. So happy to see The Way I Used to Be and Blood and Salt on your list since I have them sitting on my shelf waiting on me to read them! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christy, I hope you are able to get to them soon! Blood and Salt was super creepy, but so good!

      Delete
  6. Code Name Verity is such an amazing book. I love the cover of Nora and Kettle -- now I need to go read your review!

    Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, Nora and Kettle was freaking BEAUTIFUL! And have the tissues handy because you will need them!

      Delete
  7. hahah Don't Get Caught looks pretty darn funny! I saw it a couple of months ago, but completely forgot about it. Definitely want to read it, though! Great post :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lola, it really was! It was better than I thought it would be. And as you can see, I have some pretty heavy books on this list. This is a great one to break up all the tears. :)

      Delete
  8. I want to read The Way I Used To Be. And I should bump up Saint Anything since you gave it a high rating. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely list of books this week in your TTT post. I still need to read Code Name Verity!!

    Thanks for visiting my TTT post and leaving me a comment. Happy reading to you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Add me to the long list of people meaning to read Code Name Verity. And yes, every single one of these looks interesting. My poor suffering TBR pile! It's a good thing it's a virtual pile, since no bookshelf on earth could actually hold my stack of books to read!

    I don't know if this is uncool to ask, but--how do you make your book cover collage? I have tried to figure out how to do those using what I already know, and I just can't get anything that looks remotely professional. I am sure the information is google-able, but I'm not even sure what program or system or whatever to find a tutorial in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wendy, if it makes you feel better Code Name Verity was sitting on my Kindle for MONTHS before finally getting to it. But I am so glad I did! And it is not uncool to ask about my photo collages at all! I am happy to help. It took me forever to figure it out too. There is a free website I go to: www.picmonkey.com. It's free and you can make all sorts of collages and you can add text if you want too! Hope you love it. I use it ALL THE TIME since I discovered it!

      Delete
  11. The Way I Used To Be is on my list this week as well. I also really liked Don't Get Caught. Great list! My TTT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Laura! I hope you love The way I used to be. It's such a great book.

      Delete
  12. Blood and Salt, Return Once More and Paperweight got 5 stars from me as well. I NEED to read The Way I Used to Be and Saint Anything. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen, YES you need to read them NOW!!! Okay, maybe not right this minute, but SOON! Ha. The way I used to be was so powerful. And Saint Anything was my first Sarah Dressen book, but it will not be my last. :)

      Delete
  13. I read Code Name Verity a year or so ago, and my heart is still broken from how raw and emotional it was. So glad you liked it too! Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous choices! ♥

    ~ Zoe @ Stories on Stage

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Zoe! I really need to read the sequel to Code Name Verity. I just loved the characters so much and it was incredibly heartbroken. I can see why you are still recovering.

      Delete
  14. It may seem strange but all of these are actually on my TBR! Somehow I've never gotten around to any of them, though. I've heard such great things about all of them! I'm especially exciting about reading The Way I Used To Be simply because I could use some contemporary right now (and it doesn't hurt that the cover is gorgeous!). Great list and thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Laura, I hope you get to them soon! The way I used to be was so gripping and so emotional. I just know you will love it. Be ready for all the feels!

      Delete
  15. Blood and Salt and Paperweight were both really good! I'm hoping to read The Way I Used to Be soon, so I'm happy to hear that you liked it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stefani, I am sure you will love it. Just prepare yourself for ALL THE FEELS! It is super intense, but so good.

      Delete
  16. I love how you said you are so picky with your five star ratings, Cynthia. I am, too! I know everyone's ratings are different but to me a 5 star rating is something rare. That has to be a book that just kind of became a part of me, one that completely pulled me in, made me feel, is totally unforgettable and became an instant all time favorite. I don't hand those out lightly. Sometimes I see reviews and it seems like every other book they read gets 5 stars. LOL Not here! :) I didn't have time for TTT this week (*sad face*) but I would have had to do the same thing - just pick the highest rated. I have The Way I Used To Be on hold at the library right now. I'm looking forwrad to that one. And Bright Side... I'll be reading that one soon. And Code Name Verity, oh my goodness. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry.

    Tanya @ Girl Plus Books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tanya, YES! That is so true. Even when I can't necessarily find a flaw with the book, it really has to be AMAZING to get that coveted five star rating. It has to be one of those books that I will never, ever forget. I hope you read The way you used to be soon. It was so emotional. Same for Bright Side. Keep the tissues handy!

      Delete
  17. Glad you had Code Name Verity on this list as it's my current read.
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/top-ten-tuesday-50/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How are you enjoying it?? I loved it so much!

      Delete
  18. Can you believe I have YET to pick up Code name Verity? I feel like a horrible reader for skipping it. I am going to have to make it a priority to pick it up by the end of the year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lyn, oh you MUST read it SOON!! It is a must.

      Delete