10 Books to Try if You're a Mood Reader

As a mood reader, I find it can be easier to pin down a specific genre I’m in the mood to read, but when it comes to figuring out what I want to read within that genre… oh boy, I struggle. Big time! Like, I’m always in the mood to read a Fantasy book, but that doesn’t really help narrow the search when there are so many different possibilities within the genre. I swear, sometimes I spend more time debating which books I’m in the mood to read, rather than actually reading! The mood reader struggle is very, very real!

I’ve set up my list by a general theme or a genre, and then within each category I’ll discuss which books might match different tropes, topics and/or themes you might be in the mood to read about. Okay, granted, this all works perfectly well in my head… so, I hope it works just as well in practice! Let’s give it a go!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme run by The Broke and the Bookish.

Retellings, or Books Inspired by Other Works

I’d recommend: The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer

If you’re looking for:

• A unique take on fairy-tales we all know and love.
• Diversity.
• An emotional roller-coaster.
• A dystopian society thriving both on Earth and on the Moon.
• Moderate levels of romance throughout the series.
• Awesome characters.
• A series that lives up to the hype.

Why? I feel this series contains a little something for everyone. It combines four different fairy-tales – Cinderella (Cinder), Little Red Riding Hood (Scarlet), Rapunzel (Cress) and Snow White (Winter) – to create an entirely new futuristic world. Highly recommended.

I’d recommend: The Splintered Trilogy by A.G. Howard

If you're looking for:

• A darker, gothic version of Alice in Wonderland.
• Characters you’ll both deeply love and deeply hate.
• A strong, yet approachable fantasy vibe, set both in our world and in Wonderland.
• Awesome imagery with fast pacing.
• Witty and snarky banter.
• Gorgeous book covers. (Yes. This has now become a mood. Totally legit!)

Why? Alice in Wonderland was one of the few fairy-tales I wasn’t a huge fan of when I was younger, but after reading the Splintered series, I have a new found appreciation for it. (Also, you need to meet Morpheus. You can thank me later!)

I’d recommend: The Nevermore Trilogy by Kelly Creagh

If you're looking for:

• A series inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe.
• Slow-burn romance.
• Loveable characters.
• A love-triangle free zone.
• So many emotions!
• Gothic and creepy atmosphere.
• Perfect pacing.
• Gorgeous writing with crystal clear imagery.

Why? I’d recommend this trilogy for the slow-burn romance alone, but every other element you could possibly wish for is also present. The writing style is stunning; the pacing perfect; the story arc engaging and the characters… oh, the characters. *Happy sigh* I love every single thing about this trilogy, and I can’t recommend it often or highly enough.

Fantasy

I’d recommend: Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

If you're looking for:

• An excellent stepping stone to begin exploring YA Fantasy.
• A book that takes familiar fantasy themes and breathes fresh life into them.
• A fast paced and engaging read.
• A love triangle that won’t have you rolling your eyes and stabbing things in vengeance.
• A main character that you can easily empathise with.
• Superb character development.
• Clear imagery and wonderful world building.

I’d recommend: The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson

If you're looking for:

• A great introduction to YA Fantasy.
• Secrets. Lots and lots of secrets.
• Good character development.
• Magical undertones.
• Intriguing world building.
• A really well written and balanced love triangle.
• Moderate levels of romance throughout.

PSA: A little warning with this trilogy, DO NOT read the synopsis for the second book before reading the first book in the trilogy, as it contains a major spoiler.

I’d recommend: The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski

If you're looking for:

• A fantasy series with some fairly strong historical tones, and a hint of dystopia mixed in.
• A strong political story arc.
• Excellent world-building.
• Slow-burn romance.
• A female main character that uses her wit and intelligence, rather than her fists, to have an impact on the world around her.
• Characters to care deeply for.
• Blood, death and sword fights.

Why? I’d recommend it to both seasoned YA Fantasy addicts and also to those newly exploring the genre. This series has become one of my all-time favourites, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I’d recommend: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

If you're looking for:

• Fantasy meeting Dystopia with deadly consequences.
• Those that loved The Winner’s Trilogy, and want to move onto something even more brutal and risky.
• Complex characters.
• An Ancient Rome inspired world.
• A dynamic world that poses a real threat to the characters and their well-being.
• Even more blood, death and sword fights.
• A book that deserves the hype.

Science Fiction; Conspiracies; Spies and Secret Societies

I’d recommend: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

If you're looking for:

• A book with unique formatting. (Containing graphics, maps, plans, emails, websites, transcripts, surveillance footage, etc.)
• A war. Set in space.
• Spaaaaace. And space ships.
• An artificial intelligence that’ll traumatise you forever.
• Your emotions to take a real pummelling.
• A sweet romance that doesn’t take over the entire story.
• Awesome characters.

Why? If you love Science Fiction and space travel, you NEED to read this book. Also, if you’re new to the genre, this could be an excellent book to consider trying. It is a chunky book, but with the way it’s formatted you’ll fly through it a lot quicker than you may think.

I’d recommend: Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz

If you're looking for:

• A thriller that combines several different genres seamlessly.
• Diversity.
• An isolated boarding school.
• Secret societies.
• A book that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I’d recommend: Tunnel Vision by Susan Adrian

If you're looking for:

• Government conspiracies with lots of sci-fi elements.
• Adorable characters that you will love forever.
• A family that cares deeply for each other.
• A really interesting twist on psychometry.
• A male main character.
• Fast pacing, with really vibrant imagery.
• A book that makes you think.
• A very subtle romance.

I hope you find some of these recommendations helpful. I’ve had to cut this list down quite a bit – it turns out I’ve got a lot more books to recommend than I first thought! I actually created a second post and I’ll post it at some stage in the future, if anyone is interested.

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Reading!