Us bloggers always do our “top books of 2017” posts (see mine here!), but deep down we all know that there’s nothing more we love than some good trash-talking. So here I’ll leave you with the worst books I read in 2017.
10. DNF: The Saturday Evening Girl’s Club
This book was just UGH. I really am not a fan of chick lit, and this was grocery-store chick lit to the extreme. It bored the crap out of me, and it majorly annoyed me that a book taking place in 1908 was using a modern-day dialect.
9. DNF: Roseblood
I really wanted to like this Phantom of the Opera retelling, but alas, it was not for me. It was way too weird and way too confusing. You can see my thoughts while reading this book and reasons for DNF-ing this one here.
8. DNF: Carnivalesque
I didn’t get very far into this one before I had to DNF it (which is too bad, because it seemed BA). This one didn’t have much wrong with it necessarily. I just wasn’t for me. See my review here.
7. 2.5 stars: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
You know, this one wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t that exciting for me. See my review here.
6. 2 stars: The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
This book is a combination of a bunch of things I don’t like. A LOT of people loved this book, but it definitely wasn’t a me-book. See my review here.
5. 2 stars: Unicorn Tracks
MAN I wanted to like this one. Sadly, it was pretty meh. See all the reasons why I didn’t like it here.
4. 2 stars: A Strange Companion
Another sort of chick-lit type book (this one helped me to realize I don’t like chinsy chick-lit). There was a lot of implausible things in this story, and I really didn’t like the main character. See my review here.
3. 2 stars: The Crowns of Croswald
This one had a lot of potential, but it just fell kind of flat. I do maintain that I think kids would love it! See my review here.
2. 1.5 stars: Artemis
One word: DISAPPOINTING (AF). Good god this was a let-down afterThe Martian. See all the reasons why here.
And the worst book of the year was…
1. 1 star: The Graces
LOL. This book was so bad it makes me chuckle every time I think about it. I’ll spare you all the details here, but I do invite you to read my GIF review here if you’d like an elaboration on why I did NOT like this book.
What was one of the the worst books you read in 2017?
A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.
Maraia
FINALLY, someone else who’ s not in love with Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. I was really starting to think I was the only one. I didn’t hate it, either, but I found it kinda boring.
Maraia just posted [Top 10 Tuesday] Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn’t Get To (and totallyyyy plan to get to in 2018!)
Ali
Yeah, I definitely just thought it was kind of meehhhhh.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Haha, I don’t think I’ve seen a ‘Worst Books’ list yet. Everybody just lists the best. I’ll make sure to avoid these books.
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Ali
Hahaha, I mean you never know if you’ll love a book someone hates BUT yeah I definitely wouldn’t recommend any of these…
The book worm
I actually had a good year in 2017… can’t complain… Let’s see how this year goes!
Ali
I’m so glad you had a good 2017! I hope 2018 is even better (:
Greg
Yes trash-talking! lol I have to also agree with Penumbra’s. It was okay but nothing special. And Artemis! Nice to see a little more measured response since I’ve seen a few raves. It just doesn’t appeal to me much even though it’s sci fi.
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Ali
Yeah, Penumbra’s was super underwhelming, and Artemis was just plain bad. smh
Stephanie
I also DNFd Roseblood, it was terrible. As well, I DNFd Wintersong and the Selection. And Throne of Glass was definitely my most disappointing of the year. Everyone else seems to love it and I hated it.
Ali
Ooooooh good to know about the Throne of Glass series, because I was considering reading that series this year!
Amber @ The Literary Phoenix
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who felt the need to post a list like this. We read so many good books, but can we talk about the bad ones for a sec? Yes please.
ROSEBLOOD: This is on my TBR because I got it in an OwlCrate and I am DREADING it. Splintered, also by A.G. Howard, was on my 2017 #Nope list. Was it filled with blooding heroes and a heroine who was floppy and useless?
MR. PENUMBRA: I found this one underwhelming as well. I sort of want to go back and re-read it now with the knowledge that nothing exciting happens at the end. I’d be more forgiving if it was a series, but as far as I know, it isn’t.
ARTEMIS: I am trying so hard not to compare this one to The Martian and I haven’t even read it yet. So nervous.
As for the other books, I have no opinion because they aren’t really too heavily on my radar… though given this, I imagine they’ll stay that way!
Amber @ The Literary Phoenix just posted Books I Meant to Read in 2017 but Hahaha NOPE.
Ali
Hahahah I loved your break down. I got Roseblood in my Owlcrate, too. My recommndation? Don’t rush into it XD I like your idea of re-reading Mr. Penumbra knowing it has an underwhelming ending, because I definitely expected something more epic! As far as Artemis goes, there are some people who have been enjoying it…. so maybe you’ll be one of those? I’ll cross my fingers for ya! XD
Annemieke
I really liked Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore but I also get why you wouldn’t like it.:)
I also totally did not like The Graces at all.
Annemieke just posted Book Review – Deadly Sweet
Ali
I think I was set up to find Mr. Penumbra’s mediocre. I had seen some references to it being kind of like Ready Player One (one of my all-time favorites)…. which it’s not really at all, so that didn’t help its case much!
Bec (@booktineus)
The only one of these I’ve read (and gave up on) is RoseBlood. From what I heard about it from other bloggers, we made a good decision.
I remember being interested in The Graces when it was announced but very quickly lost interested when the reviews started coming out ha
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Ali
Hahahah you made a good choice on both accounts!
Lindsay
I agree with you on a few of these!! “The Watchmaker of Filagree Street” was a DNF for me too, which was disappointing since there was a lot of buzz when the 2nd book came out and the cover is cool so I was exciting to read it! I just couldn’t get into it! “Carnivalesque” got a pretty low rating from me as well. Other circus and carnival-type books are very “in” these days but this one was a huge flop!
Other dislikes from me from last year included “Meddling Kids” — I was WAY disappointed by this one. I was hoping that it was going to be so much more fun, or even make a little bit of sense. Guess my expectations were too high. Also “Eighty Days Yellow.” What was I thinking when I picked that one up?? No idea.
Ali
Phew! Good to know that Carnivalesque didn’t get any better! I haven’t heard of the other two you mentioned, but I least now I know I probably shouldn’t read them if they cross my path…
Milana 🇨🇦 (@acouplereads)
I am with you for the graces. Biggest letdown for me.
Milana 🇨🇦 (@acouplereads) just posted Into The Drowning Deep: Blood Thirsty Mermaids
Ali
SO AWFUL