A lifelong reader of all things YA and books with heartfelt moments that punch you with all the feels. Currently expanding my reading interests to encompass anything that makes me feel deep and resonate with the characters
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
The rules are simple:
Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other blogger’s lists.
Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
In no particular order, here are the top ten new authors I read last year and the books I was introduced to them. And in actuality, almost all the new authors I read last year since it oddly seems I read a lot of books by old and loved authors.
Ben Philippe
Although this isn’t Ben’s debut, I yearned to diversify my reading selections and read more books by POC authors as a new ongoing goal. I loved the protagonists and the experience Ben brings to this particular story I read in 2020 (including a little trip across the border to good ol’ Canada!). I plan on checking out his debut at some point this year.
2. Jordyn Taylor
Jordyn’s debut novel was one of my absolute favourites of 2020, a book I raved about to many friends online and off. A mixture of history and contemporary storytelling, she’s become an author I look out for in future works.
As a matter of fact, keep an eye out for her second book, Don’t Breathe a Word, when it comes out in May! I will be posting an ARC review for it nearer to that date.
3. Cameron Lund
2020 was a year of good romantic contemporaries for me, and that brought Cameron’s book into my sphere. I love a good best-friends-to-lovers trope and this one didn’t disappoint, especially the second half! It was cute and didn’t judge whether one was a virgin or not because that’s not all there is to a person.
4. Emma Lord
Emma Lord is a sheer delight and her cute Twittersphere story was as fun and romantic as the title suggests. It also made its way to one of my favourite reads of 2020. Definitely churned out a lot of great debuts that hit all the right spots.
Her next book, You Have a Match, came out this month! Be sure to check back for a review on this novel soon! 🙂
5. Amelie Wen Zhao
I can’t be a champion of POC authors without supporting my fellow Asian writers. While there was a lot of controversy surrounding the debut release by Amelie, I personally enjoyed the book and didn’t understand some of the issues prompted by initial reviewers. Anyhoo, I’m glad she’s getting the happier recognition she deserves, and this fantasy reads like any other old-timer authors out there you may love and enjoy.
6. Suzanne Park
Another Asian writer! Both books featuring kinda nerdy and quirky characters, I absolutely adored the first premise while the second one fell flat for me. The Perfect Escape was her YA debut while Loathe at First Sight was technically classified in adult romance but it’s no simple rom-com as the description may mislead you to believe. I think I will stick to Suzanne’s zombie butt kicking, escape-room/escapist YA novels as it’s more up my alley. Also, representation!
7. Roseanne A. Brown
I loved the different fantasy take this debut brought! You can really see the African cultural influences throughout this crafted world, but it was explained in a way that helped us learn if we were not familiar with such mythologies. Either way, I look forward to book #2 when it releases later this year.
8. Jasmine Guillory
While Jasmine’s been around for a bit before 2020, I was really into rom-coms last year (see the majority of above list) and I just couldn’t stop reading all of hers. She’s one major romance author who stands for POC and I’m all for that. Definitely put a lot of her own experiences as a Black woman into each of her protagonists and I learned so much from just seeing the world through their eyes.
9. Jessica Goodman
The only debut that wasn’t a rom-com or fantasy, this book mostly lived up to its mysterious allure from its synopsis and gave me a harrowing experience as the protagonist solved the real mystery behind her former best friend’s death. Soon to be a TV series in the future named The Player’s Table, I’m looking forward to seeing this story brought to the (slightly bigger) screen!
10. Zoraida Cordova
Last but surely not least, Zoraida’s debut was, well, mostly on fire! (See what I did there?) While I struggled with its pacing a lot, the story set some good foundation in an Inquisition Spain-esque world and a protagonist that can steal people’s memories. I am excited to see what the sequel brings.
And that’s a wrap! Did you read any of these debuts? This Top Ten Tuesday should’ve been relabelled as top 10 debuts but I guess it makes sense most of my new authors would be those putting out new books last year.
Hello lovelies! I thought it would be a good time to do another book tag and introduce different sides of ourselves that don’t always come through our other blog posts.
I have seen this one floating around and wanted to give it a try for fun. Let me know if you agree with any of these or are supremely flabbergasted in the comments below!
Link back to the person who tagged you or the blog where you first saw this tag.
Answer all prompts.
Add one more prompt of your own.
Tag at least 5 people.
Don’t lie.
Have fun!
Never have I ever … read a later book in a series before reading the first book
Andge: the…the…later book? Of course not (but mostly because I have no idea what the heck is happening in book 2 or later when book 1 normally sets the foundation of the world/setting).
*After a moment of intense thinking*
Oh wait, now I remember I did when I was super SUPER young. Does everyone remember Meg Cabot? Oh, for The Princess Diaries you say?
Well, I’m talking about one of her OTHER series. Does anyone recall The Mediator? Yeah I was a young preteen child and couldn’t get my hands on book 1 yet so I started in book 2 and then jumped to book 4? What the heck were you thinking, oh little one?
I ended up buying all of them but only so I could re-read everything in order so all those tidbits I ruined for myself now made sense
Fives: I have never done it – on purpose at least! Some books feel very sneaky about whether they’re in a series or not though! If I think about it really hard, I believe that I actually did pick up a random book off the shelf in the library and start reading it. I thiiink it was called the Children of the Red King (Charlie Bones…anyone?). I can no longer remember which book I picked up, but I can safely say it was unlikely to have been book #1!
In my defense, it wasn’t clear! It wasn’t like “SERIES BOOK #4”, as far as my young, young mind could tell hahaha. So I guess my answer is yes I have read a book out of order in a series….but unintentionally, promise. For the record, that series didn’t even really need to be read in order for the main plot, just the background plots.
Never have I ever … burned a book
Andge: who burns books?! Can I get their name and number so I can legitimately ask why you would do this?
(I have been guilty of throwing a book across the room, but that’s not as serious of a crime. Right?)
Fives: I’m with Andge on this one. You’re kidding me right?! I’ve thought about burning my thesis papers….(LOL), but never a book that someone else authored! It doesn’t seem right to destroy someone else’s work. My own homework or writing though….I’ve been tempted.
Never have I ever … read a book I knew I would hate
Andge: Not intentionally I don’t think. Like, it wasn’t with 100% certainty I would hate it. Though if you ask me for an example right now, I’m not sure I can think of a book at the top of my head.
Fives: I judge books by their cover pretty hard (don’t judge me too hard though!), so I don’t think I would ever intentionally read a book I knew I would hate …. but mostly because I figure I won’t even finish if I hate it that much. I usually look at the cover, but of course, also read the brief synopsis to get a feel for whether I’d enjoy the premise – these two are the main things I base my judgments on (before anyone thinks I actually only judge a book by its cover art haha).
Never have I ever … wrote a fan fiction about my favourite books
Andge: Err…does writing a fan fiction about the TV series adaptation of the book series I loved as a child count as a yes? I mean, the TV series was quite different from the source material…
But if anyone has to know, the book series stars a certain redhead whom I admired as a young child. Also, that source material was mighty long reading for a seven-year-old.
(If anyone’s interested, I will be posting that story at some point in time for public consumption.)
Fives: As much as I want to be the next great writer, I really haven’t found myself motivated to put in the due diligence for writing, let alone a fan fiction. That being said, I do often enjoy reading fan fictions, as it is like an extension of a world you want to exist outside of just their own book canons!
Never have I ever … loved a book when I was young and hated it when I got older
Andge: This has been a big fear of mine but I have yet to find my childhood loves have gotten worse with time. I definitely was pickier with the word “love” for books when I was a child so maybe that really solidified those that I found worthy for such a descriptor.
Fives: Hmm, contrary to Andge here I’d say I was never afraid of that, but I always expected to enjoy the books the same when I am older as when I was young. That being said, books that I had massively enjoyed as a child often paled in comparison to my expectation of the emotional pay off when I re-read it as an adult (Deltora Quest, anyone?).
I’d say that two things contribute to my feelings changing: firstly, I enjoy different genres now – obviously thrillers and mysteries are my main jam as opposed to young adult fantasy (how’s that for the loss of innocence archetype?), and secondly, the style of writing geared towards young readers no longer appeals as much to me as an adult. That being said, if you ask me if I still love series such as Deltora Quest and Harry Potter, I would happily tell you that I still love them.
Never have I ever … dressed up as one of my favourite literary characters
Andge: Funny that this is one of the prompts.
The answer is of course! Would anyone not expect me to have cosplayed as Alice in Wonderland before?
Not sure I would want to be posting that particular outfit online for everyone though. Will need a lot of encouragement.
Fives: I have some Harry Potter-like robes…but costumes have never really been my thing.
Never have I ever … hated a book by an author I love
Andge: Unfortunately, yes. I love Julie Kagawa and I’ve read almost every series she has put out. Except for the one with the vampires in it whose name slips my memory most of the time. I adored her debut book, The Iron King, even reached out to her when it first came out, but I just couldn’t stand that first book in her newer series.
Also, stay tuned for an ARC review for her upcoming book revisiting the world of the Iron Fey in The Iron Raven.
Fives: Hated is such a strong word! I feel like I have a decent amount of brand (author) loyalty. I would say I have never hated any book by an author I loved, but of course, certain pieces do fall short of my expectations – can I really blame the author for my high expectations though? I’d like to think that everyone can have their high point and less good points – something that is kind of noticeable in my recent reviews of Ruth Ware thrillers, I’m sure. That being said, I will still continue to be excited to read all the books she pumps out!
Never have I ever … gone into a bookstore to buy one book and come out with many more
Andge: This is a funny prompt. I worked at a bookstore for a period of time, and that definitely meant being surrounded by books all the time brought more books into my home than I initially wanted to. Though this also happened when I didn’t work at a bookstore so I guess it’s also in my nature.
Fives: You mean this isn’t normal behaviour? Hahahaha. Honestly I rarely go into a bookstore to buy one book anyway, but I can assure you I can leave with as many as my arms (or wallet) will allow, at any one time. I can’t help it. Are we not all bookworms here?
Never have I ever … read the end of a book before reading the beginning
Andge: Is this a big faux pas ‘cause it seems a lot of people do it? I’m glad because I’m definitely in this club, though maybe not for mysteries since I don’t want to ruin the surprise for myself. Definitely for rom-coms.
Need. To. Know. What. Happened. To. My. Ships.
Fives: Actually, I never do this with books, not that I judge people that do. To be honest, it wouldn’t really matter even if I did, since I often forget what I have read during the reading process anyway. Or even if I accidentally glanced at a spoiler, I will have fun seeing how the book can lead up to that point. To answer the prompt though, I have never intentionally read the ending of the book before the beginning.
Never have I ever … read a book without the dust jacket cover
Andge: Yep, though not often because I do like the cover designs and feel I wreck books more when the dust jacket is off (ie. I put my mug of something hot on top of my books when I’m not reading because there’s no room…sometimes the bottom of the mug isn’t super dry?)
Fives: I heard you’re supposed to read with it off…? Is this true? (Someone please let me know, I get conflicting answers). I generally read with it off, if I can, because it tends to get annoying when I open the spine of the hardcover and it just kinda flops about. I’ve done both, reading with it, or without it. That being said, for ease of transportation and reading, I actually prefer paperbacks (is this a blasphemous sentiment?!), so dust jackets aren’t often a thing anyway.
Never have I ever … skim read nearly half a book
Andge: Ohhh, yeah younger Andge would be affronted by this but I have definitely done this too. With rom-coms as well (what is with me and ruining rom-coms?). But sometimes I’m just wayyyy too impatient for the author to just get to the point with things.
Fives: I guess most people wouldn’t know this (though Andge does!), but I’m on average a very quick reader. I think I still manage to absorb all of the information present in the book though! So I’m not sure I would call it skimming. I generally don’t do it though, because if me reading at my normal pace isn’t even interesting me enough, I would never make it to half the book anyway!
Never have I ever … spoiled a book for someone
Andge: Oh no! This is a big bad one for me. Can’t let the joy be ruined for someone else. Even if it’s a book I hated, maybe it’s something someone else will like so why spoil things?
Fives: Only if they ask for it. I myself don’t mind spoilers, because sometimes that helps me determine whether I want to read it or not (am I just weird?). That being said, I assume the normal protocol is not to spoil a book! I only ever spoil a book when the individual asks me to (and mostly when they aren’t going to be reading it anyway).
And that’s it from us! 🙂 Agree? Disagree? Or were there surprising tidbits in there?
I will be tagging no one in here, but if you see this and want to try it, I look forward to seeing your answers for the above!
Anna Fox lives alone, a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother and their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.
Welcome to our first buddy read at Down the Rabbit Hole! Fives and I are excited to start such a series with A.J. Finn’s explosive debut, The Woman in the Window. If you would like to see more of these kinds of reviews, please let us know in the comments below!
Breaking the book into a couple of important points, these are our individual and collective thoughts that came up as we read this book together.
Pacing and suspense build-up
Andge: While a thriller is typically typed as so by the level of intrigue and suspense the author aimed to put their audience through, not all are successful. The Woman in the Window was super slow for its first 30 or so chapters, let’s be honest. But its mundane, day-to-day details in Anna Fox’s life had a purpose that came back ten-fold, leaving me to revel at what came to be at the climax. Once details of the event Anna witnessed through her window unfolded, things just climb from there in a way that felt organic. Headings showing you the passage of time helped create a sense of urgency as we learn one new thing after the other. I would say the pacing couldn’t have been better.
Fives: I definitely agree with Andge’s sentiment here – the beginning was quite slow – although I personally don’t mind too much, I am all about that slow build suspense (the ‘just what is going on?!’ feeling). This all being said, the ramp up in tension and excitement was quick and relentless. I know for a fact that neither of us were able to put it down after the second half the book – it was painstaking for us to stop at our agreed landmarks for discussion! The short chapters were very well executed in providing this kind of steady rhythm that underlies the whole novel and provides a driving force for the suspense. Not every thriller I have read has this type of pacing, but I can say I definitely enjoyed this whole experience!
Plot elements
Andge: Any good mystery or thriller places a good amount of attention to the mundane details. They may just be there to set the scene, or in actuality, help tie together loose pieces at the end. A.J. Finn did this beautifully! I honestly flipped through pages back and forth in later scenes referencing earlier ones with exclamations of “oh wow I totally missed this!”. Red herrings are also a thing I look out for but the level of craftsmanship in this piece of writing made it hard for me to narrow down what mattered or what was there to throw us off. This detail-oriented planning was perfect for such a book.
Fives: Having more thrillers under my belt than perhaps an average reader, I have come to expect many kinds of seemingly mundane plot points or bedazzled red herrings. That being said, A.J. Finn did a fantastic job slipping in all the inconspicuous little details mixed in with the heavy hints – this did a really good job of mixing us up! Andge and I had long discussions over the many details inserted into the plot, and what they could possibly mean in the whole scheme of the novel. I believe one of the best approaches to thrillers is the hiding of important facts in plain sight, and I can say that the author did the most fantastic job of this – only when you really stop to scrutinize the details can you really even begin to pick out some possibilities. That being said, you won’t be able to stop turning the page to think!
Characters
Andge: In my experience with mysteries, sometimes the whodunnit individual was some random character who appeared for five seconds on a singular page in chapter 10, or something. So of course I had no idea they did it! Unlike my frustrations in those stories, I loved that we got to really know a handful of main characters in this book. The Russells made up of Alistair, Jane and Ethan held an air of mystery that slowly unravelled little by little as Anna interacted with them in her limited capacity. Add in Anna’s estranged family, daughter Olivia and husband Ed, plus her handsome live-in tenant David, there were a lot of people to consider when trying to piece the bits of information Finn slowly released to us at interesting times. Were any of these people involved in something, and why?
Fives: The characters are one of the standout points in this thriller. We get so many details into each of the main characters, and there are very few throwaway characters. Everyone was there for a reason, and as you delve deeper into all the characters that show up in the book, each one leaves you wondering about their motive and secrets – the mark of a truly skilled author. The plot follows only Anna, an agoraphobe who is stuck in her house, as she looks beyond into other houses. After reading the book, I am reminded that windows are two-way – does ‘The Woman in the Window’ refer to Anna looking out through the window, or someone else being looked at?
Ending
Andge: I would never want to ruin a book such as a thriller to you. But to sum up my feelings for The Woman in the Window, I have to at least address the ending. We came up with many hypotheses over our discussions for how this story was to end, and I do mean many. What I will say is that I wasn’t disappointed which is a HUGE win in my books, and it felt like the right kind of ending to give Anna and her story.
Fives: So in the end, what happens is – – just kidding. But trust me, despite being able to predict a few things here and there (none of which we were sure still, by the way), the whole ramp up all the way to the climax and resolution was just honestly enthralling, and I don’t think there was any other way I would have wanted it. The transformation of Anna from the beginning to the end was also a marked delight, and you must go see (or rather, read) for yourself! What are you waiting for?
We hope you liked reading this buddy review! We are super excited for any subsequent releases by A.J. Finn. But most importantly, we are stoked for the upcoming Netflix adaptation of this book this year. Stay tuned for a blog post comparing our thoughts on the book with the movie 🙂
