Top 5 Wednesday: Gateway Books to Your Favorite Genre

For anyone unfamiliar with Top 5 Wednesday, it’s a weekly meme that was created by Lainey from gingerreadslainey and is now moderated by Sam from Thoughts On Tomes. The group communicates through Goodreads.

September 28: Gateway Books to Your Favorite Genre
What books do you think are good to introduce people to your favorite genre? If you have more than one favorite genre, feel free to split it up to cover both.

I am doing two genres, Historical Fiction/Contemporary and Fantasy/Science Fiction. A lot of those books that I have read before the reading slump and few after. I am trying to branch out to other books that I have already read but it is not easy because I barely can remember what I read and what I have in my closet at my parents’ house. 

Historical Fiction/Contemporary

1. Hearts and Dreams series by Cameron Dokey

When I was younger, maybe 8th grade or 9th grade, I remember going to the library with my mom so I can pick out books for me to read and Katherine: Heart of Freedom were one of the books that I got. I just fell in love and couldn’t help but to check them out again and again. I went on Amazon and saw that there were no more prints of these series and I had to buy them off people that were looking to sell them so I slowly but surely got all these four books. I don’t know what it is about them that I love but I do. This series got me interested in Historical Fiction and history itself.

2. The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

You know the famous saying, “don’t judge the book by its cover?” I am the person that loves a beautiful cover. Once I saw this cover on Amazon, I knew that I had to read at least the synopsis and thought it was interesting enough. So, I bought the kindle version of it and loved it. I have read almost all of her books and most of the time, in one sitting. I am excited about her new book, Always, coming out in February! 

3. Sisterhood Series by Ann Brashares

I thought these would be good for young women due to the friendships that each girl in this series has with each other as well as with other people. I thought since each girl is so different from one other, have arguments, and always have each other’s backs if they need them. Even though they grow away from each other, they are always in each others’ thoughts and hearts.

Fantasy/Science Fiction 

4. Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

I know this series got a lot of mixed reviews but this series was the one that introduced me to Fantasy, so they held a special place in my heart. I know the books has problems and I do agree with what people has to say about the problems that the books have but at the same time, it brought me the world that I got into. I read these books in one – two sittings, even Breaking Dawn (that book is huge). 

5. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

I was hesitant to read Fantasy again after Twilight. I was worried that Twilight was a fluke and I won’t love/like another book again but this series did not let me down. I read them fast, fast enough that I might miss few things and I need to reread them again and savor them slowly. 

6. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 

I know Gemina isn’t set to be released until next month but I have been hearing from people that have an ARC edition of Gemina and they are loving it so it is only logical that it is part of the list. These books are big but they are no mean intimidating. They are fast reads and easy to follow. Unlike books that have traditional writing, it is told in emails, videos, and etc. There are some pages that have few words on it or even words that made up a picture. You have to read them to see what I mean. 

Honorable Mentions

There are so many books to recommend so I am just going to post pictures of the covers that I think you should check out.