Expectations Exceeded

Today's Top Five Wednesday topic is Books that Exceeded Your Expectations. I went backwards through the books I've read and kept going until I found five books.

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe - This book busted my reading slump in a big way. I read it in 2 days. Just couldn't stop. So much snarky, smart, badass, female energy in this one. I had heard it moved fast and had short chapters, so I picked it up. Whoo boy! I was surprised by its awesomeness.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley - I was expecting heartwarming. I wasn't expecting the flamboyantly gay main character with a hilarious sense of humor. It was heartwarming, don't get me wrong. But I laughed out loud so many times, and then forced this on as many people as possible.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley - All I knew about this book going in is that it was a debut book by an indigenous author. I might have known it was a mystery. I didn't expect it to touch on so many issues in the native community. I didn't expect the main character to have a solid right hook. I didn't expect the twists and turns, but I got all of that. So fantastic.

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn - I was expecting basic YA fantasy with some Black Girl Magic. I got those things, but I also got a complex magic system, plus a whole separate magic system. This book serves King Arthur and African Root Magic and a badass woman tearing it all up.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - I had read a couple of JLBs books in the past and thought they were very good, but I did not expect the Knives Out vibes that came at me. Avery is such a fabulous main character - smart, humble, unimpressed by her new wealth, brave, not going to take shit. I love her. It was a really fun book.

So there are five books that surprised me. Are there any books that pleasantly surprised you? Do tell.