Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is ‘Books I Read In One Sitting (or would have if I had the time)’. On the whole I like to spend some time with a book, I love being excited to go back to it, but I also don’t like being in the middle of the same book for more than 3 or 4 days. Sometimes, though, a book comes along that swallows you up in one big gulp and, before you know it, you’ve finished it and you haven’t moved an inch…
Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: I have a real soft spot for fiction set in Nigeria by Nigerian authors, and I remember opening this debut novel up one evening after work and devouring it in one go. I loved this book.
One of Us is Lying and One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus: I love YA thrillers and there’s something about the way Karen M. McManus writes them that I find unputdownable. Once I opened these books, I read them before the end of the day.
The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: I adored this YA contemporary novel because it’s the novel I wish had been around when I was 15. Once I opened it, I couldn’t put it down.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: I woke up one morning in the mood to read something easy and fun, so I stayed in bed and devoured this romance novel in one go right at the start of my reading romance journey!
His Scandalous Lessons by Katrina Kendrick: Another romance novel, this time my first foray into historical romance, and another easy read that I read in one sitting.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood: This remains the only Atwood novel I’ve ever read – I know I should read The Handmaid’s Tale, but there’s been so much in the news over the past few years about men trying to control women’s bodies that I don’t need it in my fiction, too – and I really enjoyed it. I read this in one sitting while I was at uni when I was in need of a break from my coursework.
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough: This novel-in-verse about 17th century artist Artemisia Gentileschi is stunning. I was sat on the floor sorting through my books when I just happened to open this one, and I didn’t move until I finished it.
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo: I suppose this is cheating a little considering this is a novella, and therefore much easier to read in one sitting, but I have a very fond memory of reading this on a train on my home after a lovely weekend visiting one of my best friends, which ended up being my last trip before lockdown!
Such Big Teeth by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch: This is such a fun, funny MG fantasy series, and so easy to read without coming up for air.
Jessticulates 
I also enjoyed Stay With Me and The Kiss Quotient! I’m planning on reading One of Us Is Lying next, so I’m happy to see it here. 🙂
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Same. I don’t necessarily want to rush through a book, but I also don’t want to spend a week reading it, you know? I read most books in 1-3 days, depending on length and content.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Have you read Karen M. McManus’s The Cousins yet? That was SO unputdownable! Great post 🙂
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I completely adored Blood Water Paint too, it’s such a beautiful book. Did you enjoy reading The Penelopiad? It’s one I’ve been considering picking up.
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Yeah, I did really enjoy it, actually! I liked Atwood’s versions of Penelope and Odysseus a lot, and I loved the Greek chorus throughout made up of Penelope’s slaves.
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Romances are definitely usually easy reads that I can finish in one sitting, or close to it!
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Romances tend to be what I reach for now when I feel slumpy!
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Great list of books!
If you get the chance, here’s my TTT post: https://readbakecreate.com/10-books-with-the-word-day/
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Thanks!
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Yes, The Upside of Unrequited is definitely one of those books that should have been around when I was 15 too 🙂 The Kiss Quotient was a one-day read for me too, it was so much fun!
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It really is such a fun romance novel!
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I should have put Karen M McManus books on mine as well!
My post!
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Her books are so readable!
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I love your description of The Upside… wishing a book was around when you were a teen is great praise! The MG book looks adorable!
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I’m honestly so glad teens today have books like that one!
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Lots of YA and MG books are fast reads for me, too. (Even if it’s not one sitting, I can usually read a YA contemporary or a MG book in a day or so.)
Great list! It’s fun to see what books people devoured 🙂
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YA contemporaries are always a good shout when I feel slumpy!
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One of Us Is Lying was actually kind of a slow read for me, I was really excited for it, but it didn’t end up being as thrilling as I was hoping for.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2021/07/20/top-ten-tuesday-325/
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Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it!
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Ah well, not all books are for everyone. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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Most of the books I read in one sitting aren’t actually good books haha. The ones I can remember off the top of my head are Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, Ready Player One and The Hunger Games. They’re all absolute trash but oh so readable. The exception is The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, which is legit excellent and I stayed up til 4am finishing it.
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I must admit I don’t think I’ve ever read an all-time favourite book in one sitting – perhaps with the exception of Blood Water Paint, which is just stunning – but I do tend to find that the books I read in one sitting are the books I needed in that moment, even when they’re just fun reads I might forget later!
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I still want to read One of of us Lying. It sure does seem like my perfect one sitting read as well!
Happy TTT!
Elza Reads – Ten one sitting reads
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Ooh I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
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Yassss to Blood Water Paint. Ughhh such a beautifully tragic book and such a page-turner!
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It’s so wonderful!
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Stay With Me does sound good!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-read-in-one-sitting/
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It’s so good!
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This is a great list. The Kiss Quotient is on my TBR and I’m very excited to get around to it. Romance is often nice and easy to read!
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Thanks! I hope you enjoy The Kiss Quotient. 🙂
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I haven’t read Handmaids Tale yet either, also not too thrilled about what I think I know happens. I hadn’t heard about Atwood’s other books, I will have to consider this one, thanks. Kat
My TTT: https://readingwithkat.wordpress.com/2021/07/20/top-ten-books-i-read-in-one-sitting/
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who still hasn’t read The Handmaid’s Tale!
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I’ve hear mixed things of Empress of Salt and Sorrows so I’ll try and find a copy and check it out myself, I’m curious. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/romance-books-to-read-in-one-sitting/
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I really enjoyed it, I hope you do too!
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His Scandalous Lessons has gone straight on my TBR, it sounds right up my street!
Cora | https://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
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I hope you enjoy it!
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