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Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Top Ten Tuesday: Got It In One


Have you ever gotten so caught up in a book that you end up racing through it in one sitting, hardly daring to breathe, let alone get up and go to the bathroom?  What kinds of reads are most likely to have that effect on you?  I've zipped through plenty of books in one go, even taking my book with me to the bathroom, the kitchen table (I always read when I eat alone anyway), and to a college football game that I'm told was pretty exciting.  Usually, the books I literally can't put down are in the mystery/thriller genre.  Not always, as you'll see from the list below, but most of the time.  The way they're written—usually with short chapters, lots of action, snappy dialogue, and cliffhangers all over the dang place—makes them ideal for whipping through in one sitting.  Today's Top Ten Tuesday prompt is all about these kinds of reads.  I looked through my recent reading notes to find the last ten books that I sped through in one go (more or less).  Since I love me a good page-turner, I'm excited to see everyone's answers.

If you want to jump on the TTT train (and you do!), click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl for all the details.

Top Ten Most Recent Books I Read in One Sitting   


1.  The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm—Middle-grade books are easy to read in one sitting since they're generally short and written with kid-sized attention spans in mind.  This one, the first I had read by Holm, charmed me with its warmth and feel-good story.  I loved it so much that I proceeded to zoom through three more of the author's books.  I'm currently listening to another of hers.


2.  The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson—I'm a big fan of Jackson's warm-hearted Southern family dramas/sagas.  I somehow missed reading this one, which came out in 2016.  It tells a compelling story about a woman seeking answers about her estranged mother—and the surprise she left behind when she died. 


3.  The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton—Although this mystery/thriller—about a mother and daughter traveling through the Alaskan wilderness in search of their missing husband and father—is a pretty tense read, I'm not sure I would have buzzed through it in one sitting if it weren't for the fact that I needed something to entertain me while my daughter got her hair done.  Getting a silk press, then having your very thick, curly hair straightened is not a quick process.  Needless to say, I got a lot of reading done during that appointment!


4.  The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman—I've read all of Steadman's thrillers, so I knew this one—her newest—would have me flying through the pages.  It did.  The story is about a British actress who comes to Hollywood during the chaotic pilot season.  She meets an enigmatic American actress, who later disappears.  At least it seems like she did.  Did she really vanish?  Or is the Brit going crazy?


5.  The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian—This debut Southern mystery kept me totally riveted.  It's about an impoverished, abused young woman whose life changes irrevocably when her father is killed in a very unexpected way.  Suddenly, she finds herself in an unlikely partnership with a stranger, who has her own stake in covering up the man's death.


6.  The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny—The Inspector Gamache books are more about the characters than the mysteries at their centers, so I don't generally buzz through them in one sitting.  However, since I took this one on a trip with me, I spent a lot of time with it in airports and on airplanes.  It's another compelling installment in a series that I love.


7.  Shiver by Allie Reynolds—Despite the fact that this thriller is filled with unlikable characters, it's still a gripping read that had me burning through the pages with bated breath.  It's a locked-room mystery set in an isolated ski lodge with a storm bearing down on a group of acquaintances who are already feeling uneasy in each other's presence.


8.  Atomic Habits by James Clear—I don't read a lot of self-help books, but I found this one so engaging and inspiring that I read it in a matter of hours.  It gives some excellent advice on how to break damaging habits and create healthy new ones.


9.  The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher—This one has such a crazy, can't-look-away premise that I just...didn't.  I don't want to say too much about the story because the less you know going into it, the better, I think.


10.  We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin—Gritty and atmospheric, this thriller was so absorbing that I read it pretty much in one go.  It's about a haunted detective who's desperate to solve two different, but seemingly connected, cases in her small Texas town.

There you have it, ten books that I read in one sitting.  Have you read any of these?  What did you think?  Which books kept you glued to your seat?  Which are your go-to authors for riveting, one-sitting reads?  I'd truly love to know.  Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT! 

53 comments:

  1. I knew even you wouldn't twist this. We all have those kind of books. I mean, personally, I prefer longer books but that doesn't mean I don't read any short ones.

    I have seen "The Girls in the Stilt House" before and put it on my list.

    My TTT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. No need to twist a topic that works so well for me :) And, I agree, I like books that I can really sink my teeth into and linger over, but I also enjoy fast-paced page-turners. Like I said on your blog, I'm a reading enigma :)

      I really enjoyed THE GIRLS IN THE STILT HOUSE. If you read it, let me know what you think.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. I'm not buying many new books at the moment but have put it on my wishlist. One day ... And you will surely hear about it once I read it. LOL

      Thanks for visiting my TTT earlier.

      Delete
  2. As I'm seeing this list, I'm wondering: Did you read Mother May I? I think you'll like it, seeing this list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read MOTHER MAY I yet, but I did read NEVER HAVE I EVER. It was a page-turner, but it lacked the unique style that Jackson brings to her Southern women's fiction, so I was a little disappointed in that that. NEVER HAVE I EVER just felt a little generic, like it could have been written by ANY thriller writer. I hope Jackson goes back to her Southern women's fiction roots soon. That's what I like best from her.

      Thanks for popping in, Esther!

      Delete
  3. I haven't read these, but I agree that mystery/thrillers are the books that I find hardest to put down. Also graphic novels—I tend to zip through those in one sitting, too.

    My post this week

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I need to read more graphic novels. I've only read a couple. Which are your favorite?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

      Delete
  4. I definitely want to check out Louise Penny one of these days!

    My recent one-sitting read is Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean. So good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you definitely should! Her books are great. They're compelling mysteries, but they're really more about the characters and their relationships with each other.

      TOKYO EVER AFTER does sound good! I think I have a copy of it around here somewhere...

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Joy!

      Delete
  5. The Lion of Mars does sound good!

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-read-in-one-sitting/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really is! It's just a sweet, heartwarming book and it's a fast read, too. I loved it.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

      Delete
  6. I haven't read any of these, but The Wrong Family and We Are All the Same in the Dark sound interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really liked WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN THE DARK. I don't know if I can say the same about THE WRONG FAMILY, but it's a book I've definitely thought about a lot since finishing it.

      Thanks for stopping by, Jess!

      Delete
  7. Shiver looks intriguing! I do love mystery/suspense and that is usually the genre I have a harder time putting down too. This week I didn't just focus on recent reads because I wanted to showcase stuff that wasn't quite as recent on my blog. I do have several mysteries on my list too :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel like I talk about the same books over and over on my TTT posts. You were smart to go back and highlight older titles people might have forgotten about.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  8. All of these are unfamiliar to me, but good mysteries always make the best page-turners! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I ALWAYS want to know what's going to happen next :)

      Thanks for popping in, Rissi!

      Delete
  9. Great list of books!

    If you get the chance, here’s my TTT post: https://readbakecreate.com/10-books-with-the-word-day/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope you found one or two to pique your interest :)

      Thanks for stopping by, Pam!

      Delete
  10. I have got to read Louise Penney!! I have the first book in the series, but haven't gotten to it yet. I've heard they're impossible to put down!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The interesting thing about Penny's books is that they are compelling mysteries, BUT they're really more about the characters and their relationships with each other. I wouldn't necessarily say they're impossible to put down because they make me want to linger over them. Does that make any sense??

      Thanks for popping in, Lisa!

      Delete
  11. The Wrong Family looks so good! I haven't read any of these but most look great. It's been way too long since I've read a book in one sitting but there's been a few lately I feel like I could read in on sitting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have lots of time on my hands on most days, so I often read books in a day, depending on their length and content. I love the feeling of getting THAT caught up in a great story!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Katherine!

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Thanks! It was fun to put together.

      Thanks for stopping by, Abigail!

      Delete
  13. A lot of these sound so intriguing! I read The Wrong Family, and couldn't stop listening, but it wasn't one that I loved. Hopefully I'll like the others on your list better, though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same. I didn't love THE WRONG FAMILY, but it's one that has stuck with me. The premise still creeps me out!

      Thanks for popping in, Leah!

      Delete
  14. So glad you enjoyed The Wrong Family I have on my Scribd audiobook list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you enjoy it! I didn't love the book, but it's definitely a page-turner. It's also one that has stayed with me because the premise was so unique and freaky.

      Thanks for coming by, NickiMags!

      Delete
  15. I've read two of these. Particularly enjoyed Atomic habits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a great one, isn't it? Clear's explanations and methods make so much sense!

      Thanks for stopping in, Kat!

      Delete
  16. I don't read many thrillers, but, when I do, I often feel compelled to read it to the end. There's something about a thriller that urges you to finish it before you stop reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mystery/thriller writers have their witchy ways of keeping us enthralled, don't they?

      Thanks for popping by, Deb!

      Delete
  17. Replies
    1. Me, too! He's such a great character, someone I'd love to know in real life.

      Thanks for coming by, Lisa!

      Delete
  18. I haven’t read any of these, so I’ll definitely be adding several to my TBR!! Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! I'm glad you found some titles to pique your interest. I hope you enjoy them.

      Thanks for stopping in!

      Delete
  19. Your title for this is great! I haven’t heard of any of these books, but I totally understand the urge to read a certain book all at once haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? Sometimes you just don't want to leave a book world at all.

      Thanks for coming by, Rabeeah!

      Delete
  20. When I first saw this topic, graphic novels came to mind, but you're right. A novel that I read in one day (with some breaks) feels so good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really should read more graphic novels. I don't know why I shy away from them, but I do. I've only read a couple of them.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete
  21. Great list of books! I don't read many thriller/mysteries, but I think I'm missing out, so I'm trying to read more of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mystery/thriller is my favorite genre, so I'm ALWAYS looking for new ones :)

      Thanks for stopping in, Wendy!

      Delete
  22. I'm so envious of those who can read a book in one sitting! I'm just not a super fast reader. That Tarryn Fisher book is on my TBR.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've always been a fast reader. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to slow down and savor a book instead of just inhaling it! LOL.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tanya!

      Delete
  23. Shiver and The Wrong Family are two I really want to read! Thrillers are usually pretty quick for me too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't LOVE either of these, but both of them kept me riveted! I hope you enjoy them.

      Thanks for popping by, Tracy!

      Delete
  24. Thrillers are definitely books that will keep me sitting there until I get to the reveal. Your list reminds me that I've been wanting to try Louise Penny's books for a while now. They always sound so good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same! I'm a sucker for a good reveal :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

      Delete
  25. So many new thrillers I want to read! Great list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm always up for a good thriller! I can never seem to get enough :)

      Thanks for stopping in, Sarah!

      Delete

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