I Read The Lowest Rated Books On My Shelf. Did They Suck?

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In March 2023, I looked up the Goodreads ratings of all the unread books on my shelf. I wanted to read some good books, so I thought I'd prioritize the ones that other readers love.

While I was looking at the popular and beloved books, I couldn't help scrolling down and checking out the . . . um . . . not-as-loved books. Which unread books on my shelf had the lowest ratings?

I was kind of shocked. I was excited about those books! Why did readers feel so "Meh" about them? I decided to find out.

During the adventure that was 2023 (and the beginning of 2024), I read the books. Did I hate them as much as everybody else did?

The Sunday Post #371

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The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. It’s hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.

Best Debut Novels

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Sometimes, I read a debut novel and feel horrible about myself. Why are some authors so talented? Why can't I be talented?

Here are 10 amazing debut novels that blew my mind and sent my confidence down the toilet. You should read them. They're a good time.

Best July - December 2024 Book Releases

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Calling all literary enthusiasts! Are you ready to get your hands on the hottest new reads that will be hitting shelves from July to December 2024? Look no further, because this article has all the details on the most highly anticipated book releases for the second half of 2024. With a mix of genres and authors, these books are sure to captivate readers and make a mark on the literary world. Get ready to expand your reading list as we dive into the top picks for the best July to December 2024 book releases.

(Okay, full disclosure: The above paragraph was written by an AI that analyzed my blog and tried to copy my writing style. How'd it do? I'm a bit disappointed that it didn't mention nachos or make fun of my parents' undying love for Donald Trump. Does this robot even know me? Anyway, I wrote the rest of this post without robot assistance. I promise.)

The Sunday Post #370

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

The Sunday Post is a chance to recap the past week, talk about next week, tell you what I’m reading, and share news. It’s hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, Readerbuzz, and Book Date.

Best Books Of 2024 (So Far)

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Welcome to my favorite blog post of the year! These are the best books I've read so far in 2024. It's a short list because I've only read 34 books, so I'm just going to show off my top-top-top favorites, and I'm not going to include rereads. For extra drama, I organized the list countdown style.

Drumroll please . . . .

Mid-Year Reading Check-In

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The year is half over! Can you believe it? How's everybody holding up? Are you doing okay?

If you're reading this on the day it's posted, I'm in the middle of Hell week(s) at work. July 4th is the busiest day of the year at parks. July 5th is a governor's holiday in Colorado, so lots of state employees who aren't me will be off work. Then it's the weekend, which is always chaotic at parks. Also, the fiscal year is ending, and I work in the revenue department when I'm not dealing with traffic, customers, problems, whatever. Basically, the world is conspiring to kill me.

Speaking of death: I passed the prerequisite class and got accepted to EMT school. I guess that'll be happening in August. Somehow.

Let's talk about books! I've read 33 of them so far this year. That's not a lot, but a large chunk of them have been massive. My goal for the year is to read all the big books I've been procrastinating. I think I'm doing pretty well.

Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of my reading year so far.