If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or Tik Tok, you’ve likely seen the same book recommendations pop up everywhere. Some of these reviews and hype are sponsored by the publishers themselves, or are just in a genre you might not be that into. The premise might sound good, but are all social media book darlings worth the hype? Here are a few that are.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Seven Husband of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Read follows the life – and many marriages – of Hollywood starlet Evelyn Hugo. The book delves into the less-than-bright side of show business, forbidden love, and heartbreak. It frequently shows up on Bookstagrammer’s and BookTokker’s must-read list. But don’t take their word for it. Hugo has nearly one million readers on goodreads with an average rating of 4.48, meaning the general book world supports the hype behind this book.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
The House in the Cerulean Sea is often described as heartwarming, whimsical, and witty. The book, written by TJ Klune, follows Linus Baker as he meets Arthur Parnassus and his six magical orphans – one of whom is the antichrist. Authors, critics, and fans have tried to describe the fantastical tale by pairing it with the likes of The Umbrella Academy, Shrek, Harry Potter, and a touch of Douglas Adams’s writing style. Behind the hype is four fantasy book awards – making it a great addition to any fantasy fan’s to-be-read pile.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
V.E. Schwab delivers a tale that is part fantasy, part historical fiction, and part epic love story in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. In 1714, our protagonist Addie makes a deal to live forever, but it comes with an unfortunate side effect – no one she meets will remember her. The book explores what it means to leave your mark on the world through lyrical prose and the heartbreaking centuries Addie endures alone. Most of the negative reviews note the slow pace at the beginning of the book as the biggest problem, but the book still managed to grab two book awards from Indie Next Pick, Library Reads Pick, and was a finalist for Book of the Month Club’s Book of the Year.
The Unhoneymooners
The Unhoneymooners is a classic rom-com with a hilarious setup that is the ideal read for any romance reader. Olive and Ethan hate each other, but due to a series of comical circumstances, they end up enjoying an all-expenses-paid honeymoon together. The book is written by friends and author-duo Christina Lauren, and has been named a must-read by TODAY, Us Weekly, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Goodreads, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, Southern Living, Book Riot, Woman’s Day, and The Toronto Star.
Discover more things to get hyped for at the Luzano blog.