Here's what I have left to do:
A book recommended by a bookseller
I have a hold on Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash on Libby, but the wait is "several months," so I might have to just forget it and order a physical version.
A book set 24 years before you were born (1955)
I don't even know how to search this? I can find books set in the 1950s in general and I might just go with this. Maybe The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis? Atomic Love by Jennie Fields?
A book that was published 24 years ago (2000)
I'll probably read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire because I love it. I can just pull this one off my shelves.
A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot
This is my least favorite trope. I don't like to read about people being mean to each other and I've DNFed a couple of books trying to meet this prompt. Does anyone have any ideas about this? I don't like to read people sniping at one another, so that's where the sticking point is.
The 24th book of an author
I had Gallant by VE Schwab on my list here, but it's no longer available on Libby. I'm going to reread Innocent in Death by JD Robb and enjoy every second of it.
A book that starts with the letter "X"
My plan has been to read X by Sue Grafton. Unless anyone knows another really good book to fit this prompt?
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Help me out! Anyone know a book set in 1955? A good enemies-to-lovers book I won't feel terrible about reading? I'm running out of time to get these books read!
X by Sue Grafton is a safe bet. For the other two... I don't know. I don't like romances in general. But, I did a google search for books set in 1955: https://www.goodreads.com/book/popular_by_date/1955
ReplyDeleteI was laughing because Harold and the Purple Crayon is on that list. I guess that wouldn't fulfill the challenge?
Hey, maybe I'll find Harold and the Purple Crayon and call it a day!
DeleteI did a Google search and got the same link as Jenny. I also noticed some kids books like Beverly Cleary were on it, so you could knock that one out fast.
ReplyDeleteYA or a children's book - I see how you and Jenny work!
DeleteI got curious at the 1955 thing, so I googled it...and I see what you mean. There is a wikipedia page for books set in 1955, and it's a short list. Nothing stood out to me.
ReplyDeleteSo next up, how about books published in 1955? I think we can skip Lolita and From Here to Eternity...again the pickings are slim.
I've been very protective of the Alphabet series, but after long break I finally treated myself to the next book, which is F. Enjoy X!
Kinsey for the win! I have that book on my shelf, so I'm just going to sink into it and read it. At the beginning of the year, I said that maybe I would reread the whole series and I don't have time for that, but I'm definitely going to read X.
DeleteI am so impressed you do this every year! Just looking at the list has me completely overwhelmed, but these ones that you have left to do seem just impossible. One enemies to lovers book that I really enjoyed was One Star Romance. It's more than a romance, it's also a book about friendship. You and I often have diverging tastes so I am really unsure that you'd like it. But it was much more interesting and involved than I thought it would be - it deals with a woman who writes a book, and then finds herself being maid-of-honour to the best man who gave her book one star. Definitely enemies to lovers but a lot more than that. I mean, I really liked it but I'm always a bit nervous recommending books to you just because we have different tastes...aieeeeeee
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of research at the beginning of the year and if I read a few books from the list every month, it's no big deal. I just sort of fell of the wagon this year, so I'm a bit behind.
DeleteI'll look into One Star Romance. At this point, I'm willing to try a lot for that prompt.
Would the Hunger Games books count as the enemies to lovers? I read them a while ago, but don't two people who are battling it out end up a couple?
ReplyDeleteWere they enemies to start with? It's been a while since I've read them!
DeleteIt looks like you've got this handled, Engie? Just for kicks, I did the Googling thing too, and some winners in the enemies-to-lovers category appeared to be "Enemies With Benefits" by Roxie Noir and "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros. (But that may have interspecies romance--not sure.)
ReplyDeleteYou've got over a month left! So you've got this, basically! I'm amazed you do this every year!
"Fourth Wing" made me uncomfortable because there was so much graphic teen sex. Eek. I'll have to look into "Enemies with Benefits," but that sounds exactly like a lot of mean banter to me.
DeleteIan McEwan’s The Innocent is set in 1955, I believe! I reread it earlier this year to help a friend’s daughter with a paper - I don’t just “know” that haha!
ReplyDeleteI love that you know this tidbit of information!
DeleteI am in complete shock that Harry Potter is 24 years old!! How did that happen? I'm reeling from this.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly. What?
DeleteThe first book came out in 1997, which is even older!! It's shocking!
DeleteAsk the AI for book recommendations. That works really well. I do that for my read around the world and it lists me all the authors and books per country.
ReplyDeleteThat was a fun suggestion! After the first list gave me mostly male authors, I tweaked the parameters to ask for books written by women.
DeleteThe Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith was published in 1955 and is set in that time period. I don't usually read romance so avoid the "enemies to friends" trope; however, my daughter has ordered one of those book boxes for me for Christmas and I got to pick the book I would want to read. It's called "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" by Ally Carter. I haven't received it yet, so can't honestly tell you it's a great read, but the description of "Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter" gave me the sense it might be witty and funny, as I have enjoyed the Knives Out movies.
ReplyDeleteWait...book boxes for Christmas? Is this a thing? What is it? How do I get on this? I need more information!
DeleteBook of the Month!!! Gift yourself a membership-- it is very fun!
DeleteHm. I don't want to own more books, though! I want someone to come and take all the books I already own and make sure they get a good home.
DeleteI agree Engie with not wanting more books around the house, and all the other sorted goodies that come in these boxes! That's why I only occasionally do a one-off book box subscription at Christmas. I usually pass the book on to one of the little free libraries in my neighbourhood.
DeleteHave you read Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates? It takes place in 1955, and is excellent. It's about a couple living in suburbia. I wrote a review of it on my blog years ago, but it gives a lot away and I don't recommend that you read my review before reading the book. There is an excellent film version as well, with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. The film version is one movie that has really stuck with me, and the book is (as is usually the case) even better.
ReplyDeleteHere's a glimpse of the writing:
“He felt as if he were sinking helplessly into the cushions and the papers and the bodies of his children like a man in quicksand. When the funnies were finished at last he struggled to his feet, quietly gasping, and stood for several minutes in the middle of the carpet, making tight fists in his pockets to restrain himself from doing what suddenly seemed the only thing in the world he really and truly wanted to do: picking up a chair and throwing it through the picture window.
What in the hell kind of life was this? What in God’s name was the point or the meaning or the purpose of a life like this?”
Drop Dead by Lily Chu is a pretty adorable enemies to lovers book. The sniping is gentle.
ReplyDeleteI was very excited about this one because Lily Chu is great, but I can't find it at the library! *sob*
DeleteGreat challenge! I was also going to suggest reading a book published in 1955, but it looks like others have beat me to the punch. I can't help but notice that "Return of the King" came out that year. I know what I'd be reading!
ReplyDeleteI will not bore you with the details about how much I despise Tolkien's writing, but suffice to say I will NOT be reading that book. I have read The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring and want the hours of my life back that I spent plodding through them.
DeleteI just finished A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon and that would count for A book with an enemies-to-lovers plot. I thought it was great and not too enemies-ish.
ReplyDeleteHuh. I've never heard of that book, but the title is making me laugh.
DeleteThe only atypical enemies-to-lovers one I can think of is This is How you Lose the Time War - rival agents in a time war falling in love. No sniping, but I'm not sure how you'd like the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteOh, Allison. I DNFed that book SO HARD. LOL. The writing was too much for the likes of me.
DeleteOkay some enemies-to-lovers romances that you might like: Plane, Trains, and All the Feels by Livy Hart; Dating You/Hating You by Christina Lauren; Made in Manhattan by Lauren Laynel; Battle Royal by Lucy Parker. I can keep going...
ReplyDeleteHave you read The Hating Game? I don't know if you'd like it but that's one of my all-time favorite enemies-to-lovers romances!
I did read The Hating Game. And I hated Josh. With a fiery passion. It was an okay book, but Josh's personality did not work for me. Justice for Lucy! Find her a better partner. (I really do get invested in these characters. It's okay for you to remind me that they aren't real.)
Delete