Don’t Knock ’em Til You Try ’em

This post will be a tribute to three books I didn’t have very high expectations of but ended up loving. These are books that I went into with an unfavourable preconceived notion of based on the titles, cover, or author’s previous works, but which have become series that I avidly follow and have re-read on numerous occasions.

•  #Nerd by Cambria Hebert

This book is the first book in the Hashtag series and the first book I had read by this author. The name is cheesy, and the cover is sugary-sweet. At first, I simply thought it would be a shallow YA novel that would just be a light read that I likely would not remember in a couple of weeks. I could not have been more wrong. Though the premise is that of the basic coming-of-age college romance novel full of cliches and predictable storylines, Hebert quickly abandoned that in favour of a compelling story with unexpected grit, humour, and social relevance. The books are mostly humorous though at times there are darker themes such as assault, mental-illness, and abuse. Overall, the whole series was super well done and relatable for a YA contemporary romance.

Synopsis:

“Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together…
In more ways than one.
She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn’t even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship.
But that’s about to change.
It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.
Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together…
In more ways than one.
She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn’t even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship.
But that’s about to change.
It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.
Quickly, it turns into more. But when you’re a victim of your status, there is no room for anything real. The rules are clear and simple.
Stick to your circle.
And never fall in love with anyone on the outside.”

• Fallen Crest High by Tijan

When I first started reading Tijan, she was an independently published author with several series and no real fan-base, yet. The covers she had for her books at the time were a bit amateur-ish, and titles weren’t super inventive. I gave her books a chance and she is now one of my favourite authors ever and I have read almost everything she has written, and loved almost all of it. This series is so intriguingly outlandish, yet simultaneously well-developed. Most of it is a bit dark and intense, yet it is still very much a teen series.

Synopsis:

“Mason and Logan Kade are two brothers who did their own thing. They were rich and expected to attend her school, Fallen Crest Academy. They chose public school and now Samantha has to live with them. The problem is that she doesn’t care at all: about them, about her friends, about her cheating boyfriend, or even about her parent’s divorce. But maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe change is a good thing.”

• Here Be Sexist Vampires by Suzanne Wright

The original cover for this book was plain white with red writing. Boring. The title, however, was hilarious. Unlike the previous two series I mentioned, Suzanne Wright has been well established in the UF/PNR scene for a while and I had read a book from her before. I was NOT a fan. In fact, I hate it to this day. This series and its spin-off were completely different. It was original, engaging, funny, and action-packed. I’m so glad I decided to give it a chance instead of dismissing it.

Synopsis:

“Sam Parker is a vampire with a gift so strong and substantial that she is invited to partake in a test for a place in the Grand High Master Vampire’s private army. She finds that not only has the army never included a woman, but it has never included a Sventé vampire; a breed that is regarded by the super strong Pagori breed and the hypnotically beautiful Keja breed to be too tame and human-like. Most refuse to take her seriously, especially a Pagori commander named Jared who she craves in spite of herself.

The Grand High Master, however, sees her potential and offers her the position of Jared’s co-commander to help train the newest squad in time for the impending attack on his home. Sam has to demonstrate to Jared and the squad of chauvinists why it is incredibly foolish to underestimate a wilful, temperamental, borderline-homicidal Sventé female.

Warning: This novel contains an iron-willed female vampire with an energy whip, a sexist male vampire who is determined to have her, explicit vampy sex, and a romance story with real bite.”