Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy Authors!

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

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Hello! Welcome to this week’s Top Ten Tuesday where we are discussing our auto-buy authors. So here are ten authors whose work I have loved enough to be eager to read anything they have written. I haven’t read every single book by these authors but I am slowly working my way through them all because they are all simply fantastic writers.

1. Madeline Miller

Their Books I’ve Loved:

The Song of Achilles
Circe – My Review

Why:

I just love the way Miller writes. She manages to achieve a gorgeous lyrical prose whilst still keeping her books totally gripping and accessible. I also love that her books focus on Greek mythology which I am OBSESSED with. Both of these books are fantastic but Song of Achilles is especially poignant. I am eagerly hoping for news that she is writing another book!

2. Karin Slaughter

Their Books I’ve Loved:

Pretty Girls: A Novel
The Good Daughter –
Pieces of Her – My Review
The entire Grant County Series

Why:

Karin Slaughter is my undisputed queen of crime! I love all of her stand-alone’s that I’ve read like Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter and Pieces Of Her which are a great way to see if you like her writing and I’ve finished her Grant County Series which is incredible. Next, I’m moving onto her Will Trent Series which I’m sure I’ll love too. Her books are seriously violent and brutal at times but if that doesn’t put you off too much then please do give them a read – you won’t regret it!

3. Chris Whitaker

Their Books I’ve Loved

All The Wicked Girls – My Review
Tall Oaks

Why:

I read a lot of psychological thrillers but for some reason All The Wicked Girls especially has stuck in my mind ever since I first read it. I immediately read Tall Oaks which is also excellent. Whitaker is incredible at evoking an atmosphere – I felt completely transported whilst reading. His books also have an intensity to them which I just love. I really hope he writes a new one soon!

4. Tana French

Their Books I’ve Loved:

In the Woods: Dublin Murder Squad: 1
The Trespasser: (Dublin Murder Squad 6)
The Wych Elm – My Review

Why:

I’m not getting through Tana French’s books very quickly but I am loving every one I read. I read The Tresspasser first which is actually book 6 in the Dublin Murder Squad Series but the great thing about this series is that, whilst it focuses on the same squad, each book follows a different detective so you can kind of read them out of order. And if you don’t want to commit to the series, her latest book, The Wych Elm is a cracking and intelligently written stand-alone.

5. Fredrik Backman

Their Books I’ve Loved:

A Man Called Ove
Beartown (The Scandal in the UK) – My Review
Us Against You – My Review
Britt-Marie Was Here

Why:

Backman is one of my absolute favourites. I have yet to read a book written by him that hasn’t made me feel ALL the emotions! I think A Man Called Ove has to be my favourite because it truly is one of the most heart-warming books I’ve ever read and the story really creeps up on you, by the end I was a mess. Beartown and Us Against You are slightly unlike his other books in that they have a kind of crime aspect. They are absolutely worth reading especially if you like a quite big and fascinating cast of characters.

6. Jane Harper

Their Books I’ve Loved:

The Dry
Force of Nature  – My Review
The Lost Man – My Review

Why:

I have been so impressed reading all of Jane Harpers books. The Dry blew me away with its atmosphere and incredible sense of setting which is Harper’s greatest writing strength. Force of Nature is the second in that series and is also great. The Lost Man is a stand-alone book and I think it’s my favourite from Harper so far. It was such an interesting and twisty story without ever feeling overblown of unrealistic. I would highly recommend these books to any crime/mystery/thriller fan.

7. Mindy Kaling

Their Books I’ve Loved:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: (And other concerns)
Why Not Me?

Why:

I adore Mindy Kaling and I’ve found both her books hilarious. She has recently announced she will be releasing a new book of essays next year and I CANNOT WAIT. She is so relatable and says things that people often don’t admit to thinking which is just fantastic. I actually think comedians often make the best memoir and essay writers because their wit leaps of the page and that is certainly true of Mindy!

8. Leigh Bardugo

Their Books I’ve Loved:

Six of Crows: Book 1
Six of Crows: Crooked Kingdom: Book 2

Why:

I put off reading Six of Crows for ages because there was so much hype surrounding it and I just didn’t think it could live up to it. However it actually exceeded my expectations and I loved it so much. I am definitely going to work my way through the rest of her books and I’ve already bought the Shadow and Bone series in preparation. I’m also particularly excited that Bardugo is releasing an adult fantasy novel later this year, Ninth House, which sounds awesome.

9. Trevor Noah

Their Books I’ve Loved:

Born A Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Why:

It probably seems a bit odd to choose an auto-buy author who has only written one book so far but that is how much I loved this book. It was perfectly pitched and told an at times harrowing story with so much humour and wit. It is also an unusual story, due to Noah growing up in fairly unique circumstances in a turbulent country which makes it even more compelling. Noah is going to be releasing a follow up to Born A Crime and I will be pre-ordering it as soon as possible.

10. Roxane Gay

Their Books I’ve Loved:

An Untamed State
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture

Why:

Roxane Gay is so supremely talented and I will always be happy to read her writing. I started with her fiction book, An Untamed State which was brutal, intense and beautiful. Then I listened to the audiobook of her memoir which was so unbelievably honest and unflinching that it blew my mind.The book of essays about rape culture, Not That Bad, that Gay edited was not a particularly pleasant read but it is such an important topic to discuss openly and Not That Bad really demonstrated the many different perspectives surrounding the issue. I’m definitely going to read her other essay collections, Difficult Women and Bad Feminist and I fully expect to love them too.

Well that’s it – 10 of my auto-buy authors! I would love to know what you think of my choices and who your auto-buy authors are! Lets chat in the comments and I can’t wait to read all your lists!

xxx

 

43 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: Auto-Buy Authors!”

  1. Holly says:
    Reply

    YES Mindy Kaling is also one of my auto-buy authors! I am SO excited for her new book to come out. Your point about her saying things that everyone is thinking but no one admits to is so true!! I never knew how to articulate it before, but that’s exactly right 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Thrice Read says:
    Reply

    Leigh Bardugo is everything! I completely forgot to put her on my list and now I’m kicking myself. Also, I’m realizing that I really need to check out more authors as I only knew a few on your list!

    Liked by 1 person

    • lifewithallthebooks says:
      Reply

      If you generally prefer fiction then An Untamed State is fantastic but pretty violent at times (just so you’re aware) but if you’re happy reading non-fiction then I’d probably start with Hunger (a Memoir Of My Body) which is one of the most honest and intense memoirs I’ve ever read and will tell you so much about Roxane Gay herself. All her books are great though! 💛😊

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Anna @MyBookishDream says:
    Reply

    I have only read a short story by Madeline Miller, but I loved her writing style. I can’t wait to pick up a full length novel by her. Great list! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  21. jaybird says:
    Reply

    Okay, although only Miller appears on both of our lists, I’ve rarely come across another post that exhibits as many books/authors that I’ve enjoyed:) The only reason I haven’t listed Backman, Harper, Gay and Bardugo is because I’ve only recently discovered them and have only read one of their books. Gay’s work is empowering reading and I need to get to more of it, you’ve also talked me into picking up Harper’s The Last Man sooner rather than later and I just bought my first Tana French novel bc for some reason I’ve never read such a highly recommended author. Chris Whitaker’s a new name to me, adding to my tbr!

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