Disappointing or overhyped books

[YaMuvva]

I have just finished reading I Who Have Never Known Men after 2 friends have harangued me into reading it for a while now.

What a total let down. I hate it when books build up a mystery with loads of clues as if you’re gonna have answers at the end, then…nothing! So frustrating. I’m so cross I wasted my energy and time on it.

I also hated Elenor Oliphant and kept wondering when the good part was gonna start. Nothing happened except that she got a makeover.

That's pretty much our only book club rule @Springtime43

& that one

The Queen of the Tambourine by Jane Gardam. I think it was one of the few book club books that none of us liked.

@mynewsidehustle came on here to say demon copperhead. Really struggling with it so I’ve put it back on the shelf.

I have enjoyed all the Matt haig’s and Richard osman books though , although I tend to audible them, makes a difference I think when yore exercising or pottering, less commitment!

I really enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry - feels like a dirty secret after reading others reviews!! Agree with the Richard Osman comments. I’ve read one Matt Haig book - think it was called Being Human which was a real let down, it had a really long list at the end which felt very childish - but that might have been the point 🥴

Ditto all above on a little life. So miserable and the main character was so irritating.

also the book thief. So dull and over sentimental.

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling. So utterly boring, but I kept reading to the end because surely there would be some exciting plot twist at the end. There wasn’t.

Yeah, I found it trying too hard with the whimsy and I was distracted by some people behaving and talking in a way that felt too modern.

Oh dear. I have Lessons in Chemistry next in the queue on my bedside table Hmmm.

Yes why did he shag that stupid paramedic woman. I was gutted

Yeah, I found it trying too hard with the whimsy

I felt like that with The Thursday Murder Club. However, I enjoyed the follow up book much better because he didn't need to introduce and explain the characters.

So glad to see pps replies.

My most surprising Did Not Finishes this year (I never make myself plough through any more)

Lessons in Chemistry
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Cloud cuckoo land

Also hated
Eleanor Oliphant
A Little Life

Tomorrow x 3 -hated it
Hello Beautiful - ditto
The House in the Cerulean Sea - trite and simplistic
The Covenant of Water audiobook. Yes, there are parts that are good but it needed a good edit and the attempts at a Scottish and Geordie accent were just painful.

Richard Coles’ first book, can’t remember the title but all I do remember is repeated discussion of the installation of a toilet

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

Just couldn't connect to the characters at all.

Maybe it's because I don't give a rats about computer game designers

Wolf Hall = zzzzzz
The Figurine by Victoria Hislop, another big yawn.

The Southern Bookclub of Slaying Vampires - the worst thing I've read in my life. The fact that the beginning was so engaging made the second part of the book even more disappointingly rubbish.

I liked Midnight Library. Lessons in Chemistry was a pleasant, light read. Demon Copperhead- couldn't put down throughout.

I normally stick to non fiction, I have to say. Many, many books (Normal People, Richard Osman books, for example) I couldn't get into.

Lessons in Chemistry - screamed ‘ I want to be made into a film’ from the beginning

Wolf Hall - tedious writing. Made good TV out of it but the base material was already there.

God yes, that first Richard Osman - the hype was unreal! I kept reading thinking it was going to get better 🥴 it was just daft. A massive disappointment.
Also that “..family upstairs “ one can’t remember the author but it was massively hyped.

I'm the same - have it on Audible and I can't stand the voice. I did wonder if that's why I had to stop. I should always remember to get a few lines on what the book is about before I waste my credits downloading!

One I did really like (heavy topics of war and women in war) was The Storm We Made, about Malayia in WW2. I didn't know much about the conflict in Asia despite doing History GCSE. Prima Facie was also another heavy one (about rape and Law) but amazing, could not stop listening; Jodie Comer narrates it and I was hooked.

For me, it's when I've really, really loved an author's work, and then they release something that's not to my taste at all. Obviously, their artistic direction is totally their choice, but I can't help but see it as a personal affront.

The Secret History is one of my favourite books of all time, but I couldn't get into The Goldfinch at all. Roddy Doyle was by far my favourite author in the 90s, but then he wrote that trilogy about a man, and I hated it.

I like it when authors stay the same, and produce works that are consistent with everything they have done before 🤣

I thought Lessons in Chemistry was fine. Not amazing, but a pleasant quick read. At first I found it a bit annoying but enjoyed it by the end.
But I was given it as a Christmas present and hadn't heard of it before, so was unaware of any hype and didn't have any expectations.

Also that “..family upstairs “ one can’t remember the author but it was massively hyped.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell was enjoyed by all, incuding me, at our book club.

A Star Called Henry was the Roddy Doyle I hated.

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse - I do not understand why it became popular and raved about, it is was so dull and she never managed to draw you in or give you a sense of place.
The Mirror and the Light - I enjoyed Wolf Hall but the trilogy was diminishing returns and I think this one jumped the shark - it was surely only raved about because of Wolf Hall.
A Little Life - for all the reasons given
I also didn't think much of American Dirt, it felt formulaic and the ending unlikely.

By contrast I enjoyed Elinor Oliphant, Crawdads & Lessons in Chemistry. Not great books by any means, but enjoyable and engaging reads.