A new question for us reviewers with interesting answers , if I may say so myself 🙂

Thank you Angela for asking you won a $10 giftcertificate to Dreamspinner Press

Angela: Was there ever a book you thought wasn’t really for you because of the genre/topic/blurb etc. but you read it anyway and it turned out to be one of the best books you ever read ?

 

Marieke:

Maybe not the best ever, but yeah. I took a book a book a few times to either help others out, or because I felt I I should try something different. Sometimes it works out and you’re pleasantly surprised, sometimes it doesn’t.

Kat:

Several times and I have opened my review saying so. I have misunderstood the blurb or it has not been as forthright as it could have been also but wound up absolutely loving the book. Unfortunately it has went the other way sometimes too. But I love when I read a genre that is new-to-me and discover a whole new style or theme. I read a book recently that I hadn’t realized was in the future when I chose it but it was just what I needed at that moment in my life to make me optimistic and give me hope.

Chris:

I wouldn’t say it was the best book I ever read, but Down by Ally Blue was so far out of my comfort zone I am still amazed that I picked it up. I don’t do horror, especially one that has eyeball removal. But for some reason…probably the cover…I decided to give this a try. And despite it’s rather ambiguous ending and all the nasty creepy-crawly bits, I absolutely loved it. I don’t know if I’ll ever brave a reread, but it still stands out as a constant reminder that I should take chances every once and a while

Donna:

YES!! This has happened to me a few times, but the most notable time was with Rob Rosen’s Queens of the Apocalypse. Gun toting drag queens fighting zombies?? That was nowhere near my ballpark. But he wrote such a nice email asking if someone would review it, and no one else was interested. So I broke, and agreed. It’s one of my all time favourite books now.

Marte:

yes, definitely. I waited so long to read A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews. This was before I joined the review blog, though. I saw all these high rated raving reviews, but I didn’t feel any urge to read the book. I don’t particularly like religion as a theme in my books, so that put me off, and well.. I don’t know what else. Perhaps the hype, was a bit off putting as well. I had it on my maybe-read list for a long time, long after the hype had calmed down. Then someone talked me into reading it, and the rest, they say is history. It turned out to be such a fantastic book! I absolutely loved it! I am truly happy I (finally) read it.

Louisa:

For me it wasn’t a book for review, but a book that I was asked to beta read. It was military and paranormal and neither are things I would regularly read. I wasn’t sure this book would work at all for me. But as I started it, I was sucked in completely. I couldn’t read it fast enough. It was a great book and it is probably the reason I branch out further with sub-genres now.

Amber:

Yes, this has happened a few times recently. I’ll also look at reviews and if I see there is minimal sex in a story I will get turned off. Recently, I requested the Common Law series by Kate Sherwood. The blurb was absolutely something that sounded right up my alley but when I started reading the reviews I realized there was very minimal sex so I immediately thought, dang it, I’m going to hate these books. So imagine how surprised I was when I started the series and I couldn’t put them down I realized….whoa…this is a phenomenal series.

Dani:

Definitely I don’t like historical and then I mean I really don’t like it. I tried a couple of times as I adore some of the authors writing this genre so I really want to try. A great example of something i didn’t see coming was by picking up a story from then new author Alex Jane. I liked the blurb but completely overlooked the fact it was set quite some time ago. I still decided to go for it and it turned out to be one of my favorite reads.

Roberta:

of course, that happens sometimes…that you’re shocked when a book surprises you.  i love when something like that happens as it reminds me that there are some really amazing authors out there and that i shouldn’t limit myself.

Cindy:

I think that happens to everyone. One such story for me was Last Concubine by Catt Ford. It’s a historical novel and I wasn’t sure I would be able to get through it, but once i started it, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Still one of the best novels I’ve ever read.

Alexander:

Yes, “Razor Wire”, which was my first foray into FF.  it was a fantastic book with a superb narrator.

Cinnamon:

Can’t remember one. I remember a story by a new author that blew me away. So yeah, meeting new writers through a request is the highlight of being a reviewer

Did you ever pick up a book and got absolutely surprised by it?

One commentor will win a $5 store credit to JMS Books