Caitlin Considers: Books You Love More Than You Thought You Would

Have you ever had those books that, for whatever reason, you've read but weren't really sure about? And then you absolutely love them and become a little obsessed with them? Me too.

Usually I've read them because I was curious about them or because they've been recommended multiple times or because someone has lent them to me. The thing they all share was that I wasn't sure I'd like them before I read them, I started with little to no expectation of them or even expected to dislike them.

This is my actual favourite thing to happen when reading. I love to go from scepticism to adoration. I love that moment where you realise that you are so immersed in the story that it is 5am and you have to get up soon. I love when you spend days remembering the world, thinking about the characters.

My first memorable instance of this is with the Percy Jackson series. I bought the first book cause it was a fiver for the hardback and it sorta looked like Harry Potter. I didn't read it for a few months and at first, felt the writing style was too young but I was soon immersed in Percy's world. The next day I left early for college so I could run to a bookshop first and buy the sequel. This is where my love for Percy blossomed. Since then I've read all the books and the Heroes of Olympus books and made my boyfriend read them (one of my other favourite things about reading is having my boyfriend admit to enjoying a book he was initially dismissive of. The day he finally accepted Harry Potter is a very fond memory).

The second time it happened was with the Strange Angels series by Lili St. Crow. I kept looking at them in the shop, thinking I might like them, but not prepared to spend the money to find out. Then I found them at a book sale, 2 for £1 and bought them (the first 2). I knew as soon as I started reading that I'd been stupid not to get them before. They were perfect for me, from the female main character to the mysterious hot boy to the heart-pounding action-filled plots.

Finding a book or series you adore is always magical. But finding it in a book you didn't expect to like much is always more so. There's just something about the change of attitude you have, of going from one feeling to another, opposite feeling. Of just knowing that you've found something special where you didn't expect to. 

Other books/series I love that I didn't expect to:

Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter
I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan 
Graceling by Kristen Cashore
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
The Fever series by Karen Moning

What books do you love more than you thought you would?