“Top Ten Tuesday” is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is the Top Ten Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels.
Narrowing down my choices for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do, primarily because the contemporary genre is a veritable treasure trove for character driven novels. What are character driven novels, you ask? While the term is rather ambiguous, I would define a character driven novel as one whose sole (or primary) focus is on a character’s psychological and emotional development, as opposed to a novel whose momentum and focus is based primarily in action, romance, or theming. These novels are typically a little quieter in tone and a little slower in pace, but no less powerful or moving. In fact, I would argue that they are consistently the ones I enjoy most. After much time and consideration, the ten novels below are what I would consider to be the best of the best in regard to character driven stories. The cream of the crop. The pick of the litter. The flower of the flock. (Okay. I’ll stop.) But seriously. You need these books in your life.
As always, these choices are listed in no particular order.
1) This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales (My review)
2) Landline by Rainbow Rowell (My review)
3) Ask The Passengers by A.S. King
4) Golden by Jessi Kirby (My review)
5) Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (My review)
6) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
7) The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson (My review)
8) Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
9) Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson (My review)
10) Side Effects May Vary by Julia Murphy (My review)
10 Responses
omg yes to Fangirl!!! And Golden!! LOVED those books!!! 🙂
Kelly @ Belle of the Literati recently posted…And They Lived Happily Ever After…RIGHT?!
So many beautiful books on your list. I absolutely loved Since You’ve Been Gone and This Song Will Save Your Life. Golden surprised me as well. I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did!
Chrissi Reads recently posted…Top Ten Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels
I really loved Golden, and completely agree with this choice. I haven’t read any of the others, but several are on my TBR!
Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl recently posted…Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White | Book Review
Fangirl is on my list as well; I really enjoyed that one! I read Since You’ve Been Gone this year as well, it’s so amazing.
A lot of your picks are on my TBr, like wintergirls, landline and ask the passengers -too little time to read everything I want.
Jolien recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels
I haven’t read any of these! Does that make me a terrible person? I do now have my eye on several though.
In a completely non-TTT related comment I LOVE YOUR BLOG LAYOUT. So pretty <3
Charlotte @ Books and Baby etc. recently posted…TOP TEN TUESDAY // Ten Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels
Oh I love your definition of what a character driven novel is. ^-^ I completely agree! I think they’re almost my favourite kind…though I do like me some supernatural action/adventure stories too. I have Fangirl on my list too!! I absolutely adore that book.
Here’s my TTT!
Cait @ Notebook Sisters recently posted…Let The Characters Drive This Book Already
I love character driven novels, but I have to admit I haven’t read many contemporary character driven novels. A. S. King, Morgan Matson and Laurie Halse Anderson are all novelists I still need to read – I really need to get on that!
Jess Gofton recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Character Driven Novels
I love character driven novels the most, as well. Although I do think that many contemporary romance novels are character driven. I have Eleanor & Park on my list, but Fangirl is just amazing, too. Rainbow Rowell writes the best characters.
I also have a Laurie Halse Anderson book, buy I listed Speak instead. I actually haven’t read any of her other books, which I really need to remedy asap.
Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted…Top Ten Character-Driven Novels
I loved what you said about character driven novels maybe being quieter but no less moving. I read mostly sci fi / fantasy, so a lot of the popular novels are plot-actiony, but some of the most moving stories for me have been ones that have focused on the character and her/his reaction to events/atmosphere/etc.
Steph @ Exploring Worlds recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Books For Readers Who Like Character Driven Novels
It’s sad to know that I haven’t read any book from your list:(
But I am loving the fact that I am getting a lot of recommendations from today’s topic.Character driven contemporaries are my favourite kind of books.
Here’s my list
Mishma @ As the page turns recently posted…Top Ten Books for readers who like character driven novels.