Author suggestions

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Hi, my community. :)

I think I get pickier with age. I'm fairly particular about what I like to read now. I like it when books make me feel hopeful and inspired. I tend to prefer somewhat light-hearted stories with a female main character. It's nice when she's in her 30s like me, but I'm kind of flexible. I'm not really into high-school-aged main characters anymore, though (but there are exceptions when it's a unique situation--such as in Cinder). I like some romance, but I don't want it to be the entire topic--a little goes a long way with me. I like happyish endings. I don't mind an unlikely situation, but I don't want super cheesy lines and completely unrealistic reactions. Mysteries are fun sometimes.

Authors I've really enjoyed lately:

Mary Kay Andrews
Sophie Kinsella
Beth Harbison
Emily Giffin
Sarah Strohmeyer
Kristen Heitzmann
Rainbow Rowell
Lauren Weisberger

I'm currently reading one by Hester Browne, and it's pretty good so far.

Authors I've tried but am not really in the mood for, in case you're going to suggest them: Jennifer Weiner, Mary Stewart, Cecelia Ahern (actually I have never made it through a book of hers--so boring!), Elizabeth Peters, Elizabeth Adler, Dorothea Benton Frank.

I loooove audiobooks and don't put in a lot of time reading book-books, so I'm looking for suggestions of authors who have audio of some books available. I'm open to Christian and non, provided the Christian isn't totally corny, and the non isn't full of sex scenes.

So...have I been too specific, or do some of you have some ideas for me? :)

Comments

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Hester Browne was who I was going to recommend first, so I'm glad you've found her! Which one are you reading?

I haven't read all of these, so I can't totally vouch for content, but as far as I know they seem like possibly good fits -

Meg Cabot's adult novels

Jane Green

I just got one called A Hopeless Romantic by Harriet Evans that's supposed to be like Hester Browne, but I haven't gotten to read it yet.

If you do feel like young adult fic at any point, I've really enjoyed Maureen Johnson's books - they're funny, not over the top romance, and typically very real-worldish. The Name of the Star series incorporates a mystery, too.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

You are the one who recommended Hester Browne, but she doesn't seem to have audio so that's why I've been slow to read her. And I'm reading the one you mentioned: Runaway Princess. :)

I do want to try more of Meg Cabot's adult novels. I have read one, and was kind of disappointed at how she seemed so eager to include sex (and this one ended with a sex scene...weird). But there are some I'd like to read if only they'd come out on audio in my library! I have so many non-audio books to read already :P But I am trying to read more, so maybe.

Oh yes, I've listened to some Maureen Johnson, actually! The first one of Suite Scarlett (really funny) and the envelopes series, so far. I'll have teo look into the Name of the Star. I think I have the next Suite Scarlett on my Kindle.

Thank you!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Oh, too bad there aren't any Hester Browne audios! It seems like they would make good audio books.

And I haven't actually read any of Meg Cabots adult books, so I didn't realize she includes content like that. =P Good to know for my future recommendings!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

I know...I'm sure audios are pricy, but these days they are so worth it! They are very popular, and I think certain authors would get more exposure!

Yeah, it's weird...like all this time when she's written YA books, she's been thinking, "Gosh, I want the freedom of writing about sex!!" Haha. It reminded me a little of when a person grows up conservatively and then rebels and starts swearing as part of their new persona. Kind of frustrating and eyerolling.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

If your library has any kind of request form, use it! Or just mention it to a librarian. Most places really do pay attention to requests.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Good idea! I have done that once in the past, and eventually it worked. The only weird part was that I requested they get a certain book, and the way I learned that they had even gotten my email was that months later, it was suddenly ready for me to pick up like I had put it on hold. :P So weird. No other contact to let me know.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Hm ... that's all we do too. What would you have wanted to hear? (Not a snarky question ... genuinely asking. :))

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Well, a reply (automated is fine) to my initial request for the book would've been awesome, since it seemed to go into a black hole. And then when the book was purchased (or whatever they did to get it), maybe a note saying it was available for me to check out? Or even a note saying it was now on my hold list (though that's assuming I'm ready to have it on hold). It was just weird to suddenly learn it was waiting for me months after the request.

Librarian powers... activate!

[sonneta.livejournal.com]

What Alice Forgot (http://www.amazon.com/What-Alice-Forgot-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0425247449) by Liane Moriarty - The main character hits her head at 29, wakes up at 39 and has to try to reconstruct her life.

Big Stone Gap (http://www.amazon.com/Big-Stone-Gap-Ballantine-Readers/dp/0345438329/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_z) by Adriana Trigiani - "Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime"

Sofie Metropolis (http://www.amazon.com/Sofie-Metropolis-Bk/dp/0765350998/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428547671&sr=8-1&keywords=sofie+metropolis) by Tori Carrington - A young private investigator, "Sofie's life takes another unexpected turn when her latest cheating spouse case turns into attempted murder--of Sofie--and she's rescued by a dashing Australian bounty hunter. And there's a missing "vampire" to find, not to mention Sofie's mother's best friend's lost dog . . "

Bond Girl (http://www.amazon.com/Bond-Girl-Novel-Erin-Duffy/dp/0062065904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428548101&sr=8-1&keywords=bond+girl+a+novel) by Erin Duffy - Described as "The Devil Wears Prada meets Wall Street"

Re: Librarian powers... activate!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Oooh these sound good! Thank you so much!

Re: Librarian powers... activate!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

I just put a couple of those on hold at my library. :) Thanks again.

[mainemilyhoon.livejournal.com]

Dorothy Cannell's The Thin Woman mysteries are fun - they're mysteries but they're light and a bit goofy (in a good way)

The Thing About Jane Spring by Sharon Krum

I haven't read any but I've heard good things about Sarah Addison Allen and Marisa De Los Santos.

Madeleine Wickham is Sophie Kinsella, though her books under that name aren't quite as funny. And Hester Browne also writes as Lucy Dillon.

I think you might like Where'd You Go, Bernadette, too.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I actually have read most/all(?) of Sarah Addison Allen's books. You will probably want to check her out! Although I think I liked her first books more than her more recent ones.

I tried a Wickham book and couldn't get into it. I know it's Sophie Kinsella but they seem to be a bit different. I love Sophie Kinsella except she seems to include a lot of cheating in her books, and that was a factor in whatever one I started under Wickham...I don't remember now. I didn't raelize Hester Browne was also Lucy Dillon--thanks!

I have What Alice Forgot on hold now. :D

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

Seconding Sarah Addison Allen. I especially enjoyed "Garden Spells".

You know I have to suggest Debora Geary :) Her books are available as audiobooks through audible.com and audible.co.uk

Also seconding "Where Did You Go, Bernadette" - totally different from what I expected, and I loved it.

I rather like Erica Bauermeister. Especially "Joy For Beginners".

How do you feel about Maeve Binchy? She's rather hit-or-miss for me, but I really enjoyed "Scarlet Feather" and "Evening Class".

Gil McNeil is another favourite of mine.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Thanks! As I was telling Emily, I have read most/all of SAA's books. Garden Spells probably was the best, but I did like the Sugar Princess (?) one and thought the others were readable, if not my favs.

I definitely want to read those witch books by Geary. They aren't at my library--don't I have to pay for them on Audible? Still, I need to look into it, since it might be worth it! Especially with a nice series to take on. :)

I like Binchy to an extent. I tend to enjoy her books but for some reason am never very excited about them beforehand! I haven't read those two, though.

Thanks so much! Great recommendations!

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you'd have to pay for them on audible. I'd forgotten you didn't already have a membership there :) But I definitely think they're worth the price ;) But then, I have 3 copies of the first one - physical, ebook and audiobook - so I might be just a tad biased ;)

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

How about Kristin Hannah or Luanne Rice? They are two of my favourite secular authors writing contemporary fiction. They write maybe a little less 'light' compared to the authors you mentioned, but they fit the bit for the rest I think. Romance is not the main story thread, I would call these books 'family-drama'

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

I'll look into them--thank you!