Top Ten Tuesday used to be a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, but was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl. “It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.” This is definitely something I can understand and want to participate in.
This week’s prompt is books I’m worried I might not love as much the second time around. This is such a great topic, because I have quite a few books that I feel this way about. Not all the books are going to be on this list for the same reason, and I’ll give a brief explanation for why each book landed on my list.
- Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas. I know it’s weird that I’d put the second book in the series for this, but I didn’t love the first book as much as this one, and I’m worried that if I reread it, I might not love it as much knowing what is going to happen.
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Similar to the book above, I don’t know if I would love it as much knowing all the twists, since the plot twists were so central to my enjoyment of the story.
- Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume. I loved Judy Blume books growing up, and as I got older, I read her more mature books. This was one that I loved intensely as a teen, but I wonder if I’d still love it as much as an adult.
- Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. This was a book that I read multiple times throughout my teenage years and into my twenties, but I wonder if this is one of those books that didn’t age well.
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I remember reading this one as a teenager, and enjoying it immensely. But I wonder what I’d think of it as an adult.
- Carrie by Stephen King. I’m worried about not loving this one the second time around because I don’t think it would age well. It was written in 1974, so there’s been a lot of time for it age, too.
- The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. It was rare that an assigned reading for high school English class was enjoyable, but I loved this one. And I’m a little worried that it just won’t hit the same now that I’m older and have changed so much.
- The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. There’s something about unreliable narrators that is irresistible to me, but once I know the big twists in the story, it’s kind of hard for me to enjoy a book with the same abandon I did the first time around.
- The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. When I had gotten back into reading a few years ago, this book was very popular. I read it and liked it, but now that I’m more of a critical reader, I’m curious to see if I’d still feel the same way about it.
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. Another great mystery story that I enjoyed immensely, although I’m not sure it would be as enjoyable the second time around when I already know what happens. Or I could just wait another year and probably forget it all anyway 🤣
What are some books that you are worried that you might not like as much a second time around? Have you read any of these books?
Categories: Top Ten Tuesday
Leah's Books 
I think books like The Silent Patient won’t work the second time because the surprise and shock value would be missing. But what a great read the first time around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was a surprising and unexpected read, and rereading it would help me pick up on those clues that I missed the first time around, but just knowing the big twist would take a lot away from the book.
LikeLike
You make a good point about novels with a mystery or plot twist. Rereading books with reveals or secrets is never quite as fun the second time. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! The one area of my personal library where I don’t typically buy books is mysteries/thrillers, because once you know the big reveal, it’s just not the same to reread.
LikeLike
I love Poe’s stuff and every now and then I go back a reread little bits and pieces from his stories or poems. It’s just fun to revisit. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that’s a relief to know! Now I feel more comfortable going back to it. Also, I have a super soft throw blanket that has The Raven printed on it, and my dogs adore it!
LikeLike
It’s hard to read mysteries and thrillers more than once because, like you said, you know the plot twists. That said, there is something about going back and seeing what you missed.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/the-cs-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-c/
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s definitely some that I relish going back to see what I missed the first time around – usually in series, where there’s an overarching plot line that I can pick up on stuff I missed before knowing the plot twists.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed The Silent Patient when I read it but then I read all the reviews that made me see all the plot holes, so I doubt I’ll enjoy it a second time around too. I could also never re-read SoC knowing full well what happens in book 2 to my favorite character. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! I avoid reading reviews until after I’ve read a book, but then once I’ve seen some other reviews I’ll realize plot holes that I overlooked or something else that makes me think differently about the book. And yes! I love the story in SoC but what happens to said character changes how I feel about rereading them.
LikeLike
I actually just finished a reread of the first three Earth’s Children book. The Clan of the Cave Bear and The Valley of Horses were still really good. The Mammoth Hunters showed a drop in quality IMO, and I will not be rereading the last three books of the series.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, thank you for the heads up, and confirming my worries about the series. My reading tastes have refined a little bit since my teens and early twenties.
LikeLike
I was the same way about Judy Blume when I was growing up. Since there weren’t many contemporary YA books back then, hers really made me feel seen and understood. I do wonder what it would be like to go back and re-read them now that I’m an adult. I’m not much of a re-reader, but I would actually be tempted with some of hers!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s it exactly! I remember moving from reading the Ramona Quimby series to Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Deenie and her other stuff, and not even realizing that it was YA literature because that wasn’t a thing yet. But I definitely wonder how I’d feel about that now.
LikeLike
Haven’t read any of those
I think the main books I would be worried I wouldn’t love the 2nd time are those required books for high school
LikeLiked by 1 person
I highly recommend them (at least the ones that I loved so much that I am scared ot reread them). And there were definitely a few from high school that I’d be scared to reread.
LikeLike
There are actually some from high school I already know I wouldn’t like if I reread them
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel that so deeply in my soul.
LikeLike
Have not read nay of these although I do want to try out Carrie. Here is my post https://paigesofnovels.com/2024/03/12/top-ten-tuesday-books-im-worried-i-might-not-love-as-much-the-second-time-around/.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely give Carrie a read! Just be aware that it’s a bit outdated.
LikeLike
An interesting list. I want to read more Sarah J Maas.
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh – I can’t wait to see what you think of more of her books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just need to find the time! I’ve got the first two Crescent City books waiting on my shelf 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the first two – haven’t gotten to the third that’s on my shelf yet 😩
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are so large that it is a bit frightening 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
ACOTAR books were fairly long but I had them electronically so I didn’t notice 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhhh, that’s smart! I bought the huge cinderblock sized shelf ornaments 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 I need to try harder to get more kindle books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re so convenient but then we don’t have the pretty bookshelves to show off. The struggle is so real.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is 😂/😭 I love the way books look on a shelf. My books are completely random 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally get what you mean about Six of Crows. The element of surprise made the story what it was for me as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved that story so much, but I’m curious to see what I pick up on a second time around.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, for some of mine I have the same worry! Tastes move on, and also books age badly…
Here’s my list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes I think that it might be better to just love certain books and not reread them.
LikeLike