Books I Thought I'd Hate But Ended Up Loving

This post is inspired by The Book List meme hosted by the awesome I'm Lost in Books.  I really liked the topic this week (which was the brainchild of Cristina at Shredded Cheddar), so here goes... As usual all book titles link back to their Goodreads page so that you can check out these gems for yourself.

The Secret History
Donna Tartt


Now, I know that this isn't a YA book, but it is one of my all time favourites and I re-read it once every year (in November, it just seems like a November sort of book). Also, all the characters are at university, so are all late teens/early twenties anyway.  I have had to buy countless copies of it as I keep giving it away so that I can share the love.  However, the first (and second, third, fourth and possibly fifth) time I came across it I thought it looked like pretentious, over-bearing, over-hyped nonsense.  I should really have just picked it up and read the first line of Chapter One.  Which is awesome.  It's a fascinating story of murder, betrayal, love and friendship and the extraordinary things that people find themselves doing in order to belong.

City of Bones
Cassandra Clare


I honestly was completely put off by the cover.  It's not that half-naked men don't do it for me, it just didn't make it look like a book of "quality" to me.  Also, I found the blurb on the back uninspiring.  Then one day, I found myself in an airport bookshop with few options and thought like it might make an easy read on my flight.  I loved it.  In fact, I now love Cassandra Clare so much that I plan on devoting a blog extravaganza week to her books at some point in the future.  The story is great, the characters are fun and multi-faceted and I defy anyone not to fall in love with Jace.  I'm probably going to marry him myself one day.  Mark my words, people - you heard it here first.

Twilight
Stephenie Meyer


I ordered this on whim after reading about the hype in my Sunday newspaper.  Before it arrived I made the mistake of reading an article and some comments on Breaking Dawn (which had just come out). I thought that Edward sounded cruel and controlling, Jacob completely pointless and Bella a real sap.  When the book finally arrived I shoved it on my shelf and forgot all about it thinking that I could give it to my young cousin at some point.  Then I went on holiday and grabbed it as a lazy read.  My poor holiday buddy had to put up with me trying to sneak a few pages every we sat still as I was instantly hooked.  Luckily, I leant it to her so that she could get sucked into Twi-land too.  I've obviously read all four of Stephenie's books now, and at point s still think that my original views on the characters were right in some respects and it's not a work of great literature, but that doesn't mean that I didn't get totally involved with the story.  Ultimate escapism and something that I have enjoyed re-reading and passing on to friends.


So that's it.  There are many more, but I am secretly hoping that this topic can be followed up with a Books I Thought I'd Love but Ended up Hating as then I could really get my rant hat on.  So hint hint - can we do that sometime soon??