Have any books ruined you for other books? Did you read something just so amazing that other books just can’t compare? Do share!
Julie:
I think there are some books that are so well-written that they can ruin you for other books in a similar genre/style. We can’t help but compare. I think Colleen Hoover’s earlier books ruined me for contemporary and NA romances. Colleen Hoover’s earlier works also ruined me for Colleen Hoover, since she set the bar so high at first. #Sorrynotsorry. I think The Hunger Games ruined me for other dystopias, since it led the way in my enjoyment of the genre, and other books do not have the same effect on me. Also, I think the Soul Screamers series ruined me for other YA paranormals, because I was quite obsessed with that series and Tod! Well, since we’re on the topic, I think Tod, and Dimitri, and Adrian, and Jamie, and Lucas have all ruined me for other book boyfriends. I’m sure there’s more I can list, but I’ll stop here.
Rose:
Probably the book that gave me the longest book hangover and therefore was the most difficult to come back from was The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. That book just destroyed all other books. I eventually found Outlander and what can I say? JAMMF healed me. Probably the most recent book that I read that I still am not sure I even have recovered from is Thoughtful by S.C. Stephens. I love Kellan Kyle. He has ruined me for all future boyfriends. In fact, my boyfriend of 4 years at the time and I even called it quits right after I read this book. Coincidence? Hmmmm I am not sure. I broke up with a boyfriend of 3 years after reading The Bronze Horseman and I ended a 6 year relationship while reading the third book in the Outlander Series…. So perhaps there is something to this? I suppose all of my exes would say that reading has destroyed my relationships… I would prefer to look at it as though reading saved me! I mean, without Kellan Kyle, Jamie Fraser and Alexander Barrington, how would I even know I good man when I finally meet one?
Lynn:
Julie stole my Colleen Hoover idea, so I’m going to go with Tammara Webber for the YA/NA contemporary romance genre. Easy is just brilliant. As well as Breakable, Lucas’s companion novel. I think the whole companion novels are starting to get out of hand. But this one? It’s actually worth it. And provides some more insight into the love story. Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series ruined me for other YA fantasy books. Karou and Akiva are still with me more than a year later. The characters in these books are amazingly well written. I really want to just be a part of their lives. And mostly, Rainbow Rowell. I want to live with her and her characters. We could all live happily ever after together.
[…] it wasn’t until I got a gentle nudge from Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight (in reply to our Chat Between Chapters: Books that ruined you for other books discussion) that I finally decided to make it a priority. Also, this serves as a #ShelfLove read, […]
I think Neal Shusterman’s Unwind series ruined me in the fact that no matter what else I read, nothing will ever be as fundamentally messed up as that series! This is such a fun post!
I have the first book in the Unwind series Shannon, in audio actually. Maybe I’ll make that my next #ShelfLove read 🙂
Hmm. I think for me it would be George R.R.Martin. I haven’t enjoyed any other Fantasy novels half as much as his.
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I haven’t read any books that just ruined me for other books, but there have been a couple that gave me a horrible book hangover. Black Iris and Sea of Tranquility. Both of them were AMAZING and are in the New Adult genre. It took forever to come back from reading these two books.
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Ooh yea The Sea of Tranquility is amazing!
I obviously have to read the Soul Screamers Series. I am not even sure if it ever got put on my TBR officially, so I will check that.
I feel the same way about Colleen Hoover. Her early books were just amazing. She is still a great author, but like you said, the bar was set pretty damn high.
Suzi Q, The Book Dame recently posted…Life of the Stereotypically Rich: Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams
I think since her first books were pure gold, she’s having to compete with herself and is kind of slacking off lol.
Hrm, I can’t think of anything off the top of my head. Maybe I’m lucky?
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
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The Harry Potter series ruined not only children fantasy books but movies for me! You girls always come up with great posts 🙂
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Oh I agree, Harry Potter definitely ruins you for other children’s fantasy.
Pretty much everything by Maggie Stiefvater makes everything else seem weak. I’ll Give You The Sun made all other contemporaries seem inadequate. Before I Die by Jenny Downham ruined me for all the other dying-kid books that have ever been written or will be written in the future. *sigh*
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I haven’t read either of those titles, but I’ll Give You the Sun sounds like something I should check out since I’m so picky with contemporaries anyway, I might actually love it 🙂