People always make jokes about “adults who have never read anything besides Harry Potter”. I read a ton, and always have, both before and after HP. But I’ve read HP many times and will always return to it because of the way it’s written and the way it makes me feel. The suggestions for anything that comes close to it are never quite right and just never live up to it. I know this gets asked a lot, so wanted to tailor it to what I personally am looking for.
What I love about HP: The world-building, the strong characters who all have clearly-defined traits and flaws and feel like family, each book is a mystery with an overarching mystery linking them all, and perhaps most important, it’s a found family. I love stories where characters bond over shared experience and trauma and become closer than ever.
Here’s what’s most recommended to me and how I felt about it. (Please don’t think I’m judging anyone else’s taste here, just my personal feelings.)
– The Magicians: loved the plotting, read it twice, but the characters were unlikable and annoying.
– Game of Thrones: didn’t read but watched the show. Hated all the sex and violence and how grimdark it was.
– Lord of the rings: haven’t read yet but love the movies about as much as HP, for the same reasons–will definitely read at some point
– Caraval: the first book was AMAZING, but the second two really just devolved into nonsensical plot, poor characterization, and mind-numbing sexual attraction. Romance as a side plot is great if it happens, definitely not necessary, but I want plot first, romance second, not vice-versa.
– The Hunger Games: The plot was interesting enough for a single read, and I enjoyed the amount of suspense, but I didn’t think the writing was intriguing or deep enough and still a little too grimdark
– V. E. Schwab: Really enjoyed everything I’ve read by her so far! Great characters, worldbuilding, and found family stuff to an extent.
– ACOTAR: Ugh, just no. Loved the subject matter and premise, but the writing was mediocre and hated the weird sex scenes interrupting the story
– The Cruel Prince: same deal as ACOTAR, and the sex scenes were even weirder and creepier since they involved people who were underage. I do not want that. I just want a story, no smut.
– Enchantee by Gita Trelease was enchanting.
– Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: great creepy premise, obnoxious characters (especially the main one with a chip on her shoulder the whole time preventing any meaningful relationship-building with anyone) kept me from enjoying that at all
– Twilight: love vampires, but may be the most poorly-written books I’ve ever read
Any suggestions for something that will appeal? Anyone with similar tastes? Thank you!
by cutelittlequokka