Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read

~ Erika K

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Every Tuesday they post a new Top Ten list prompt. This week’s list is Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read. I know some people love these books (hence the hype), but they are either not for me, or I just haven’t gotten around to them yet.

Let me know which hyped books you haven’t read – I’m sure I’ve missed a bunch. I’d also love to hear if you have read any of the books on my list. Tell me why they are worth reading! 🙂

Note – all book descriptions from Goodreads

1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E L James
Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1)
I just have absolutely no interest in reading this. Even if it was my cup of tea, I’ve heard so many people complain about the actual writing (not the story), that I know I wouldn’t be able to finish it.

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. (more)

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars
I do sometimes read young adult, but this one just sounds like way too much of a tear-jerker for my taste.

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird
This one is getting hype all over again with the release of Go Set a Watchman. I may get to it one day, but I haven’t read it yet.

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray, Love
No real reason, I’ve just never picked this one up…

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want–husband, country home, successful career–but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. (more)

5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Atlas Shrugged
I’ve never had an interest in this book. Has anyone here read it?

Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, but against those who needed him most, and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world’s motor — and the motive power of every man? (more)

6. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
Another one I never got around to, but might someday…

Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch—and there’s always a catch—is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance ...(more)

7. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre
I’ve tried on at least two occasions, but couldn’t get into it.

Orphaned into the household of her Aunt Reed at Gateshead, subject to the cruel regime at Lowood charity school, Jane Eyre nonetheless emerges unbroken in spirit and integrity. She takes up the post of governess at Thornfield, falls in love with Mr. Rochester, and discovers the impediment to their lawful marriage in a story that transcends melodrama to portray a woman’s passionate search for a wider and richer life than Victorian society traditionally allowed. (more)

8. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Road
Another “maybe someday” book…

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits… (more)

9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Help
I even have a copy, but never seem to quite be in the mood to actually read it…

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone. (more)

10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)
I see this book cover everywhere, but until now, I hadn’t even taken the time to read the description!

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control. (more)

30 thoughts on “Top Ten Hyped Books I’ve Never Read”

  1. I’ve only read two of the books, The Road lacks substance but the bleakness of the world makes it a better than average read and Fifty Shades which I was persuaded to read after my friends had gotten me a little tipsy and put the book in my hand, that got an angry review. All the rest just don’t appeal to me because I’m grumpy most likely.

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  2. So many good books! The Fault in Our Stars and Eat, Pray, Love are two of my all-time favorites, and definitely worth a read. The Road is absolutely brilliant. I’ve actually just started reading The Help myself, it’s been on my list for ages! Great list 🙂

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  3. Well we have 2 similarities, we both list “Red Queen” and we both have a copy of “The Help” but haven’t yet read it.
    I don’t recommend “Fifty Shades” at all. I read it out of curiousity and wish I hadn’t bothered. “Eat, Pray, Love” is one of my favorite books.

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  6. To Kill a Mockingbird would have been on my list this week if I hadn’t started reading it last week. I feel like I need to read it before Watchman comes out because I’m going to have all the Harper Lee fans coming in to my store trying to talk to me about how much they loved Mockingbird and I won’t have a clue what they are talking about.

    I also have Fifty Shades, Eat Pray Love, and The Help on my list. 🙂

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  7. I knew I was a hyped book reader, but this list proves it. I’ve read 5 and 1/3 of these. (I only got through “Eat” on Eat Pray Love. 😉 ) Jane Eyre I had to force myself to finish. Some parts were great, but overall I found it to be a snooze fest. Loved The Help, Dragon Tattoo, and TFIOS. (BUT I didn’t read that one until I was in a mood to cry!) Mockingbird I read in school, it was good but I probably won’t pick up the (hyped) sequel. You know my thoughts on 50 Shades, no internet in Atlas Shrugged and Red Queen I’m not sure of yet. Great list!

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  8. Yep. I will never read Fifty Shades of Grey. The hype for Red Queen will most likely make you dislike the book. It has its faults, but its enjoyable.
    I think I’ve mentioned this on EVERY TTT post today, but The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was horrendous for me, AND I ONLY GOT 10 PAGES IN! it was so excruciatingly slow, and boring and I couldn’t do it.

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      1. I will give you the opposing viewpoint and say that I loved Dragon Tattoo! I got into it right away and it was a page turner for me.

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  9. So many of these books I feel the same way about!! I never read 50 shades, or Eat pray love, or most of the ones you mentioned. However, I did have to suffer through Jane Eyre in HS and I still hate it to this day.
    But, you should read to kill a mockingbird! My students read it each year and it is still one of my all time favorites!

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      1. I’ll probably try again eventually. It’s almost as bad as Moby Dick. 😉 The good thing about TKAM is that it’s pretty short, and easy to read. I really liked Harper Lee’s style.

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