By: Manuela Soares
Happy Tuesday, readers, and welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday here at Functionally Fictional! I’ve been spending more time on bookstagram and booktok lately and have seen so many great reels and videos. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’ll pick up a book before even reading the summary simply because of who the author is. That being said, I thought that this week I would find ten books that got me hooked on an author and kept me reading them for years.
Without further ado, here are ten books that got me into an author:
Body of Lies by Iris Johansen
I got this in high school on a whim because it sounded good and I liked the cover. Now, many years later, I own over 20 of Iris Johansen’s books that I have come to love. I love the character of Eve and her story, and the life that she has created.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
The cover of this one is what drew me to it, and the summary is what made me stay and give it a go, and man am I glad that I did. I loved this book so much, and the series that it started is fantastic! Arden’s writing is incredible and completely draws you into the world and story.
The Girl in the Letter by Emily Gunnis
I can’t remember where I learned about this book, but Gunnis’s writing and storytelling is absolutely incredible. I was hooked from the beginning and have continued to love the author. This book made me cry, and I just loved it.
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
I’m a big historical fiction lover, especially if it revolves around WWI or WWII and involves strong female characters. This was the start of an incredible time, and I love how Kelly weaves the stories of these women and what they go through together in a way that is believable and encompassing.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
I read this for the first time in elementary school before I knew that it was the first in a trilogy, and I remember being absolutely enraptured by the world Pullman created. When I got the trilogy box set for Christmas when I was 13, I was stoked to read the full series.
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
I love fantasy books, and this one did not let me down. It’s the first in a trilogy and I love how the author mixed the fantastical aspects with mystery, romance, and overall intrigue. It’s a great read, and the storytelling is, well, fantastic.
A Loving Scoundrel by Johanna Lindsey
I’m not a big romance reader, but this was another I bought on a whim in late high school and enjoyed it. It’s not the first in the series, can’t actually remember which it is, but one of the great things about these books is that while they are interconnected, you don’t have to read them in order to understand what’s going on; they can all be read as a standalone.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Admittedly, this one I actually learned about first thanks to the TV show Poirot. It wasn’t until I was older that I read it, but I loved Christie’s storytelling and how masterfully she weaved her mysteries.
The Lost Legends by Cait Maire
So, I’m very fortunate to know this author and was lucky to be on the sidelines as she wrote it. Her storytelling is incredible and the characters and world that she created are divine. This one sucks you in and makes you want to know more and see where it takes you.
Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville
I originally read Into the Land of Unicorns in elementary school, and I was sucked in from the start. The story that unfolded was one that kept me intrigued and wanting more, which let’s be serious, isn’t too surprising for a kid reading a fantasy book that involves unicorns, adventure, and mystery. I just loved it and still do.
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