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My Top 5 G.O.A.T. Books
I love to read, but as you may know if you've been reading my blog for awhile, I took a rather long reading hiatus after college (approximately seven years). The books on this list are all older books that I'm hoping can receive some renewed love. This list is purely my subjective opinion and I realize many people won't feel the same way I feel about these books. Either way, I hope you'll give them a chance and let me know what you think! This list is dedicated to single books, whether standalone or part of a series, not series as a whole.
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Princess of the Midnight Ball is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, which has always been my favorite fairy tale, so I was predisposed to like this series. There's a practical, spunky heroine and a quiet hero - who knits. Also fancy gowns, dancing, and a magical realm of midnight balls - need I say more?
Key of Light by Nora Roberts
Key of Light is my favorite book by Nora Roberts. The trilogy itself solidified my love of her as an author, even though I can recognize her writing formula pretty easily. (Hey, if it works, it works.) I love the main heroine and her love interest and the friendship between the three female protagonists. Low key, the shop they open is a bit of a dream of mine, except mine would be a café with books, local art, and board games. The story is a typical romance, but with enough fantastical adventure to keep me from getting bored.
Enchantment by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is mostly known for his Ender's Game series, which is also wonderful. Enchantment is a great standalone retelling of sleeping beauty - another one of my favorite fairy tales. This version includes time travel and introduced me to some Russian fairy tale elements that I had never encountered before. It's a great retelling that can bridge the gap of time - literally.
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
This is a newer book for me, but I loved it from start to finish. It has great character arcs, an interesting plot, and possibly one of the most loveable characters I've ever read. The ending made me cry - but in a good way. It felt perfect. So perfect that I'm actually a bit hesitant to continue the trilogy because I'm worried that the story overall won't be as fulfilling as this one book was.
Talking to Dragons by Patricia C Wrede
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles has been a favorite of my family for a long time and the fourth book in the series, Talking to Dragons is probably the best of the four books for me. It has all the great adventure of an epic fantasy, but doesn't take itself too seriously...or seriously at all, for that matter. It's just a fun adventure romp that ends with a surprising amount of heart.
As I read more and more, I fully intend for this list to change and evolve. Personally, I'd like to see more POC and LGBTQIA+ representation in this list in the future. However, just based on what I've currently read, these are my current G.O.A.T books for me. Let me know what your G.O.A.T. books are down in the comments!
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