≡ Menu

BBAW 2016: Favorite Books Recommended by Bloggers

bbaw 2016

I’ve written a few times before about how it’s hard for me to think about what my reading life would be like without book blogging. I started Sophisticated Dorkiness just a few days before I graduated from college, so all of my “adult” reading life has been influenced and affected by the other bloggers and readers I’ve met and built relationships online. That makes today’s Book Blogger Appreciation Week topic really interesting to tackle:

Day 3: What have you read and loved because of a fellow blogger?

I’d venture to say that basically all of my contemporary fiction picks come from other bloggers or the good folks who contribute to Book Riot. Fun fact, Book Riot was actually started by a bunch of book bloggers, and I was lucky enough to be one of the original contributors. The community of contributors and readers on the site is really amazing, and I get a ton of good suggestions from them. Our managing editor, Amanda Nelson, recently did an interview talking a bit about how Book Riot got started, if you are curious about that.

Anyway, I wish that I were able to grab a book and say specifically who convinced me to read it, but most of the time it’s more of a general buzz of excitement around a book that comes from the bloggers I read, folks I follow on Twitter, and the Book Riot crew. I think this list could be incredibly long – I read a lot based on what other people love – but I tried to keep it narrowed down. And in the case where I can remember specifically where I heard about a book from, I’ve left a link. Otherwise, here are 10 books I loved based on blogger buzz:

  1. The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
  2. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
  3. The Shore by Sara Taylor (Andi at Estella’s Revenge)
  4. Re Jane by Patricia Park
  5. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
  6. Blackout by Sarah Hepola (Candace at Beth Fish Reads)
  7. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
  8. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Shannon at River City Reading)
  9. Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon (Kelly at Stacked/Book Riot)
  10. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I could go on and on and on with this list, but I’ll cap it at 10 and throw the question back at folks who are more regular readers: Which books have you picked up because of a rave or review you read here at Sophisticated Dorkiness?

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is being hosted at The Estella Society by Ana (Things Mean A Lot), Jenny (Reading the End), Heather (Capricious Reader), and Andi (Estella’s Revenge). Visit the website for more information about this awesome community event! 

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links through Amazon. If you make a purchase through any of those links, I will receive a small commission.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • bermudaonion (Kathy) February 17, 2016, 8:38 am

    And I’ve found a lot of great nonfiction recommendations on your blog.

  • Beth F February 17, 2016, 8:43 am

    You are one of my go-to bloggers too!

  • Kay February 17, 2016, 10:28 am

    I, too, have a very hard time remembering where I first heard about a book. I suspect I’ve gotten some suggestions here, but I’m very bad about remembering. I do know that you tend to make me consider non-fiction, which is tough for me as it’s not one of my go-to types of books. Anyway, I discussed Everything I Never Told You yesterday with a book group. That was fun and quite the lively discussion.

    • Kim February 21, 2016, 1:50 pm

      Everything I Never Told You is such a good book, I love that one.

  • Jenny @ Reading the End February 17, 2016, 1:02 pm

    Columbine is the one I always remember! I saw your post title, and I thought, ugh, I would never want to read that, and then your affection for it talked me into giving it a try. And it was excellent. In general, I put a ton of nonfiction on my list because of you!

    • Kim February 21, 2016, 1:50 pm

      I’m not sure I’d want to read that book in most situations, but after Sandy Hook it just seemed right. It was what I needed to process in that moment.

  • Athira February 17, 2016, 1:14 pm

    I haven’t been great at keeping track of who recommended which book to me. Some days, I do a better job of it. I like your book list – I need to check out Sorcerer to the Crown.

  • Sarah's Book Shelves February 17, 2016, 2:16 pm

    You got me to read The Great Beanie Baby Bubble – which was so fun and interesting! And I don’t think I’ve seen a single other blogger I follow jump on it…sadly 🙁

  • Shaina (@shainareads) February 17, 2016, 3:25 pm

    It can be so hard to pinpoint who was recommender zero when it comes to the books that the blogging community exposes us to! Many I’ve enjoyed (The Shore, Tiny Beautiful Things, etc.) came from a whole load of voices rather than a single one.

    I too don’t know what my life would be without blogging. You bookish folks have captured my heart, and my life would not nearly be as rich without you. 🙂

    • Kim February 21, 2016, 1:49 pm

      Ha, I love the phrase “recommender zero.” 🙂

  • TJ @ MyBookStrings February 17, 2016, 8:36 pm

    I have not forgotten about your list of NF about women explorers! One of these days, I’ll read them all. 🙂

  • Deepika Ramesh February 17, 2016, 11:39 pm

    That’s a nice list. I have read ‘Americanah’ only. So much to catch up. 🙂

  • Jeanne February 18, 2016, 9:04 am

    I’m sure there have been others, but the one I mentioned in my post is that it’s because of you I read Charmed Particles this year.

    • Kim February 21, 2016, 1:48 pm

      Such a lovely book, I’m glad you mentioned it!

  • Kailana February 20, 2016, 7:11 am

    You have definitely added to my TBR over the years!