Holy MOLY it’s been such a long time since I last sat down and scribble out a Top Ten Tuesday. I’ve not been feeling a few of the prompts but today we’re talking about book hangovers and THAT, I can do.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and this week’s prompt is:

The Last Ten Books That Gave Me a Book Hangover

Book hangovers are possibly in the top ten things that are the worst in the world. Nothing is more infuriating than finishing a good book and being completely unable to enjoy or want to read anything else because it was just too damn good. So today let’s take a look at the last ten books I read that gave me a book hangover.

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1. The Fry Chronicles
by Stephen Fry

I always have such a fantastic time listening to anything read by Stephen Fry, particularly his own memoirs. I don’t know what it is but he truly is captivating. His memoirs are a delight to read and I’m glad he’s written 3! I always come out of these feeling as though nothing will ever be as perfect as it was.

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2. The Ventriloquists
by E.R. Ramzipoor

This is a beautiful WWII story that I become wholly invested in. It was almost a shock to resurface at the end of the story. One thing I love about a well-written piece of historical fiction is how well you get to know the characters. It almost feels like a break-up finishing one and so daunting to think you’ll have to start from scratch acquainting yourself with new characters in another book.

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3. Circe
by Madeline Miller

THIS BOOK. Oh boy. People rave about this book and say how gloriously amazing it is and I didn’t honestly think I’d be that blown away. I do love my Greek Mythology. But I listened to the audiobook of this and was immediately transported into another world. Miller has a masterful way of spinning a tale. I wish I could read this again for the first time.

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4. Jane Steele
by Lyndsay Fay

This book gave me the mother of all book hangovers. I’m a big fan of Jane Eyre for reasons even I don’t fully understand, so I dove into this story with great enthusiasm. When I finished the entrancing tale I found myself constantly thinking about it and obsessing over how much I enjoyed it. If you haven’t read this yet I would highly recommend putting your life on hold to do so.

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5. The Fiery Cross
by Diana Gabaldon

Each one of the Outlander books feels life-altering: I am a new woman at the conclusion of every one. The Fiery Cross was the last book in the series that I read and, expectedly, I burst out of my trance (‘burst’ being a very accurate word thanks to certain revelations at the end of this) gasping and staring wide-eyed at the world. The audiobooks for this series really do transport me and it’s so hard to start something new afterwards.

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6. What If It’s Us
by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

I should have known with such a powerhouse duo writing this story that I stood no chance of coming out the other end unscathed. The book is brilliant and I’m quite passionate on the point that it doesn’t receive nearly enough praise. Thankfully, I had the forethought to line up an acclaimed contemporary straight after this (Autoboyography) to help me transition back into the world. Otherwise, I would still be staring dumbfounded at this book unsure of what to do next – SEQUEL, PLEASE!

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7. A Curse So Dark and Lonely
by Brigid Kemmerer

One of the greatest loves of my literary life: A Curse So Dark and Lonely. I am quite sure that nothing will ever be as enjoyable as this was, quite. I freaking loved this book: I tore through it! I loved it so much that just the other week when I got my copy of book two, I read the first chapter teasingly and then put it aside to save it for a rainy day. You will not see me ceasing to spout the praises of this masterful, magical fantasy.

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8. Thunderhead
by Neal Shusterman

My love for Shusterman’s works knows no bounds. I have enjoyed every single one of his books without exception, but the Arc of a Scythe trilogy got me good. Thunderhead ends on the cruellest of all cliff hangers and I was ever so delighted to see that the third and final book is positively massive, which means lots of drama must be ensconced within its pages. This is what I compare all YA dystopian books to now.

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9. Heroes
by Stephen Fry

This is the sequel/follow up (it really doesn’t matter which way round you read them) to Mythos. Again, these are narrated by Stephen Fry and as I’ve said before, I simply fall in love with everything he writes and reads (I listened to the audiobook for this one).

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10. And I Darken
by Kiersten White

This was such a wicked book I found it hard to leave the world. I didn’t 100% love, love, love the audiobook but yet I still found myself totally hooked on the story. I’m excited to continue reading this in its physical format! And inevitably give myself another giant book hangover.

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That’s a wrap!

Who’s your favourite love to hate villain?

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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