A couple week’s ago the Top Ten Tuesday topic was about our favorite books of 2017. Today I decided to share the books that disappointed me the most in 2017. It doesn’t necessarily mean they are bad books (though some were admittedly awful), they are just ones that I expected I would enjoy more and didn’t. Links go to my reviews.
1 Star Reviews
There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. I enjoyed Stephanie Perkins’ contemporary novels (though not without their issues) and have been really looking forward to more from her. TSIYS was her foray into the horror genre and it went…badly. This was basically a romance with a little bit of murder thrown in.
Six Stories by Matt Wesolowski. This was one that EVERYONE was giving 5 star reviews to and I just don’t get it!? It was repetitive and drawn out and unsatisfying to me.
2 Star Reviews
Final Girls by Riley Sager. Everyone was raving about this one, but it’s incredibly unlikable characters and predictability really left it lacking for me.
Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh. This had a great concept, but really failed in the execution, in my opinion. It was pretty boring and there was a lot more talk of the main character being an honorable warrior than her actually being either of those things. This was also NOT a Mulan re-telling, like so many people said it was. I would say it was more loosely inspired by Mulan.
The Lying Game by Ruth Ware. I basically disliked every second of reading this book. The main character definitely wins the Worst Mother/Character of the Year Award.
3 Star Reviews
The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre. I think my disappointment in this was entirely my fault. I think I misunderstood some of the reviews I read on it and thought it was supposed to be incredibly twisty and shocking. Even though I thought it was a pretty good book, there were not really any twists and nothing surprised me and it left me really disappointed.
The Girl Who Was Taken by Charlie Donlea. I read some terrific reviews on this and decided to snatch it up when it was on sale. While I thought the mystery aspect was well done, I thought the main character really lacked personality and the writing was way too clinical. It made me disappointed that I spent money on this one.
What books did you find disappointing in 2017?
Stephanie's Book Reviews 
I’ve only read The Lying Game on this list and I didn’t even want to finish it (boring) but I did manage it. I’m starting Ghostwriter this week and really don’t know how I’ll feel! Have a great week Stephanie!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the Ghostwriter more than I did. Just do not expect there to be a shocking twist at the end! I did and just felt really let down.
Glad to know that so my expectations don’t spoil it for me…haha
Just finished The Ghostwriter and I have to agree with you! Oh no, I was expecting to be knocked off my socks and I don’t even want to write my review now 😦
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it more, but glad I’m not the only one who felt this way!! A good book, but not worthy of all the raves.
YASSSS about Final Girls. I was SOOOOO pumped for this book and it fell so flat for me! The characters were super unlikable and it was like I was the only one who felt that way for a long long time. Such a shame. The concept had such potential.
I felt the same way going into the book, but yeah…those characters were the WORST. I just couldn’t get over how much I disliked them.
I know, me too!
I really haven’t heard anything good about “There’s Someone Inside Your House.” I’m a bit of a scaredy cat myself, but from what I’ve read it was a big flop story wise and horror wise.
I kept seeing reviews of how scary it was before I read it, so I was expecting a lot of gore, but there is barely anything at all. Not that I really like reading gory stuff, but if I’m reading a horror novel then there needs to be at least a few things to creep me out!
Yikes! What a sad post. I appreciate it, though. Now I can avoid wasting time with some of these. 😉
Yes, consider this your cautionary tale haha.
OH my, this is so sad. All those pages in these books and you didn’t enjoy so much.
It is a little sad when you put it that way haha. But it also made me appreciate the good books a little more.
Bonus!
I’ve seen so many mixed reviews about There’s Someone Inside Your House. I am looking forward to reading it and seeing what I make of it!
I look forward to hearing what you think of it, too! I hope you enjoy it a little more than I did.
I completely agree with There’s Someone Inside Your House – that really disappointed me as well. 😦 Sorry you felt that way too. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous post! ❤
Thank you! And I’m glad there’s someone that agrees with me! It was quite the let down!
I finally read The Lovely Bones this year, and whilst I enjoyed it, I expected it to be amazing, considering how much I’d read about how emotional and beautiful it is.
I feel like I should stop expecting things from books and just be amazed when they are amazing. 🙂
I’ve heard other people say they were really disappointed in The Lovely Bones, too. I wish I could have no expectations of books. It would make things so much easier haha.
Quite the post, it is! I didn’t expect to see Six Stories in here as I’ve only seen 4+ stars for it, as you pointed out hahah And The Lying Game! I read that one and gave it 3 stars if I remember correctly. Definitely not Ruth Ware’s greatest book, so I can understand the disappointment.
Thanks! Yeah I just don’t get the hype with Six Stories! Massive disappointment. And the main character in The Lying Game just ruined the whole thing for me.
I had to look back to see if I had any disappointing reads this year. No clunkers – but several middle-range reads. I read The Woman in Cabin 10 and was a little disappointed, so I’ll take your word for it on The Lying Game. Here’s to great reads in 2018!
In my opinion The Woman in Cabin 10 was MUCH better than The Lying Game, so I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to you. And congrats on having such a great reading year!
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