Hi friends! ☀️ I had this idea today to talk about some of the books I am forever thinking of, these books I kind of am forever hangover for.
What is a book hangover, really?
You know these books you read that make you FEEL all the things? When you close these books, the world feels changed, like it shifted on its axis. Or maybe YOU’re the one that changed.
You read this book, went into it expecting nothing, or something, but you didn’t expect this. The emotional distress, the need to BAWL about it, the feeling that this book was SO GOOD you can’t even properly express your feelings about it. That’s it, my friend. You’re in deep in the book hangover when you’re feeling like this.
Some books made me feel that way, for different reasons… and I’m still not over them. These are all highly recommended and I love them okay. I hope you’ll enjoy this list and will find some new reads to add to your TBRs!
✨ My biggest book hangovers
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why I am not over it ? Okay so we all know Evelyn Hugo took the community by a storm a little while ago and… it took me with it as well. Evelyn Hugo is this stunning read with a bisexual woman of color, trying to make it in Hollywood. To this day, I still think of the brilliance of the writing, the characterization, everything about it and I’m just forever in awe of this.
The Reader, Traci Chee
Why I am not over it ? I read the first two books of this WAY TOO UNDERRATED series and, damn. I’m a little hangover about them, I can’t wait to read the last book. The Reader is a stunning fantasy story in a world where reading is unheard of. It has pirates and secret messages and a book and ughhh I just admire this book so, so much, I hope you’ll read it please.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green
Why I’m not over it ? I didn’t expect this book to wow me that much, but wow, it did. It was weird, okay, I read this in like two sittings a while ago and found it so addictive. It’s a mix of contemporary and sci-fi, it deals with social media fame and it’s so strange and takes you by surprise and that ending left me, WHAT THE F.
Our Year of Maybe, Rachel Lynn Solomon
Why I’m not over it ? I think Our Year of Maybe is both my dream book and the kind of book I want to write, so… there’s that. The complex, co-dependant best-friends relationship, the self-discovery, the siblings relationship, the beautiful writing and emotions and everything about this book, I love it so, so, so much READ IT.
Miss Meteor, Tehlor Kay Mejia, Anna-Marie McLemore
Why I’m not over it ? I am cheating, since this book releases in September, but I got way too lucky to read it already and, WOW. I adored everything about it. The friendships, the friends-to-lovers, the beauty pageant, the pansexual rep, the latinx rep, the writing, the stardust and small town and EVERYTHING.
A Torch Against the Night, Sabaa Tahir
Why I’m not over it ? OKAY so did you READ this book?? I mean, if you did, you know why it’s right here in this list. I just can’t. I read it a while ago and am not over this ending, not over anything, at all. Sabaa Tahir’s talent for world building, characters and everything makes this series a stunning read.
Nothing Left to Burn, Heather Ezell
Why I’m not over it ? I think you’re all missing something by not reading this book okay. In a similar way to Our Year of Maybe, this book is one of these stories I adore and the kind of book I hope to write someday, that has the emotional equivalent to a punch in the stomach. HARD. It’s about Audrey navigating her consuming relationship with her boyfriend, while wild fires are burning her home. Literally, and figuratively. I’m still not over this.
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin
Why I’m not over it ? Throwback to Marie in 2014 reading Mara Dyer and screaming about it. I know this book has its clichés, but honestly I can’t deny that this was one of my first, biggest book hangovers ever. From the beautiful writing to the addictive plot, I just couldn’t get rid of this book and, well, I really loved it.
The Places I’ve Cried in Public, Holly Bourne
Why I’m not over it ? I really wish you all would read more of Holly Bourne’s work, I personally find it fantastic and she is one of the best contemporary writers out there. The Places I’ve Cried in Public is an incredible read (tw: this deals with an emotionally abusive relationship!), the character’s journey, the emotions, the intense ride, I was…. I was, wow. I closed the book and, wow.
The Forbidden Wish, Jessica Khoury
Why I’m not over it ? I will never be over how you all are sleeping on this masterpiece, really. The Forbidden Wish is an Aladdin retelling with beautiful writing, a greatly developed romance and a main character you’ll root for and fall for in a second. READ! THIS! BOOK!
What was your latest book hangover?
Did you read any of these books, or do you want to? Any books that made you way too emotional you can’t forget about it? I’d love to know your recommendations in comments!
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I had once in the last few years. Only once. When the 1700+ pages All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness ended. It had a fantastic ending and yet I wanted more of the characters, more from the characters. ?
Ohh, I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! It’s always hard to part with characters you loved so much!
My worst book hangovers were The Bronze Horseman and All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. OMG I used whole boxes of tissues for both of those!
Ohh yes, it’s often books with all the emotions that have such a big impact on us!
Thank you for your comment!! <3
My latest was Loveless by Alice Oseman ? that book gave me too many feels.
Ahhh I can’t wait to read that one!! <3
Our Year of Maybe was so tragic for me. I loved the book, but was left in tears by the decisions of the characters and what those decisions led to .
Oh yes it was definitely emotional, I cried, too, but I loved it so much <3
Thank you, Sam! 🙂
YES YES YES. I absolutely loved this post. Evelyn Hugo is probably one of the biggest book hangovers I’ve ever had. OMG YES A Torch Against the Night left me just… wow. Also, Clockwork Princess was another one of my biggest book hangovers. Great post!
RIGHT I can’t get over how incredible Evelyn Hugo was, I just loved it so so much!! <3
Thank you!! <3
I don’t get book hangovers often, but Evelyn Hugo and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing messed me up a little. I think my last hangover was from Nevermoor. It’s a big book that I read quickly. Then I couldn’t get interested in anything else.
I’m so happy you loved these so much as well! 🙂 and oh, I need to check out Nevermoor now 😀 thank you!!
I love this post, Marie! This is such a great idea and was so much fun to read.? I added a lot of these to my TBR! Nothing Left to Burn was already there and I’ve wanted to read it for so long because of how highly you speak of it- I still haven’t been able to find it anywhere but I need to ASAP because I’m super interested in reading it.
Ahh, I completely agree with Evelyn Hugo and The Forbidden Wish! Both of those swept me away- the plot and strength of Evelyn is something that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget, and while I don’t remember specifics of The Forbidden Wish (I need to reread it) I remember falling absolutely in love with it and with the romance. Great post! xx
Thank you so much Olivia! <3 I can't wait for you to read Nothing Left To Burn, it's one of these underrated gems I really, really love.
I'm so happy you read The Forbidden Wish, so many people are sleeping on that one and it makes me so sad, it's such a great book 🙂
Thank you!!
I love this post Marie! I loved the Seven Husbands but my biggest book hangovers of all time were Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma and Birthday by Meredith Russo!
Ahh thank you Sophie! OH I have heard of these two, but haven’t read them, I’ll check them out! 🙂
My most recent ones were “The Simple Wild” and “Wild at Heart” by K.A. Tucker. I honestly just wanted to re-read them after I finished ha-ha!
AHH I recently added these to my TBR, they sound so good!! 😀
I’ve never heard of a book hangover before! I love the term. Right now, I’m probably going to have to go with Mistborn, We Hunt the Flame, and The Poppy War.
Ohh We Hunt The Flame! I really want to read that one 😀
I definitely felt a book hangover both times I read Evelyn Hugo (once recently on audio). I don’t know what it is about that book, but I cry so much and then spend days thinking about it. I bought my bff a copy and she said she actually dreamed about it after finishing it.
Oh I’m not surprised, this is the kind of book you end up dreaming of for sure aha. I just couldn’t get over it and I still think of it SO often, even years after. I loved it! 😀
It’s definitely one of those stand out books that will always be a favorite.
I don’t get book hangovers too often, thank goodness, but I definitely got one after reading Evelyn Hugo. After that, I couldn’t bear the thought of picking anything else up for at least a few days, because I knew nothing else could compare!
My latest book hangover was last month after I read Loveless by Alice Oseman – it took me almost two weeks to finish a new book after that. Books that are so good that it makes others dull in comparison are a mixed blessing, huh?
Oh I get that, I feel like so many books are… bland in comparison ahaha. I’m still not over it now and it’s been years. Such a good read.
Ohh, I can’t wait to read that one, it sounds so good 😀
Thank you, Margaret!
This is the first I’ve heard of Miss Meteor and I love the sound of it.
AH YAY! I’m so glad I could put it on your radar and hope you’ll read it. It’s fantastic! 🙂
Great list! Autoboyography and Priory of Orange Tree are two book that can’t forget this year.
Thank you so much! Ahh I’ve heard amazing things about Priory… such a big book haha 🙂
My biggest book hangover has to be from Kim Holden’s Bright Side. That book is one I still get stuck thinking about years later.
Oooh wow, years later! There are books like that ahah. I need to check it out 😀
Yes, do! I always warn people that it starts out a little like, “Why does everyone love this book?” because it took me a couple chapters to get into, but the pay off is immense. I don’t know anyone I’ve recommended it to who hasn’t appreciated it.
Ahh that’s great! Some books are worth getting through the first few tough chapters! 😀
It has been such a long time since I had a book hangover and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing ? I think the last book that has stuck in my mind for a while is Aurora Rising, which just makes me all the more excited to start Aurora Burning ?
In a way, it’s good because you’re not too sad after finishing a book? ? Ohhh. I’ve heard great things about Aurora Rising, maybe I’ll have to see what all the fuss is about 😀
Thank you, Louise!
I totally feel you on A torch against the night!
(www.evelynreads.com)
Right?? I can’t get over it ?
I don’t think I’ll ever be over Evelyn Hugo and that ending…but I’m not really complaining because the writing was amazing and I’ll forever be trash for that book!!
SAME HERE, I’ll never get over it ahah it was so good! <3
the poppy war and the dragon republic. oh my gosh. no other book except these violent delights has been as good as this trilogy. i am so in love w tpw trilogy and this was the perfect time for me to read it, because if i’d been younger i would not have been ready for all of the violence.
ahh I’ve heard amazing things about these two books, I’m glad you enjoyed them so much 🙂
This reminds me that I really need to read some Holly Bourne already! I’ve had Lemmings & Snowflakes on my TBR for y e a r s. There are SO MANY books that have left me with that hangover feeling: Six of Crows/CK, the Grishaverse trilogy, my first time reading LOTR, The Last Battle, Jane Eyre, and more :’)
Ahhh yes you do! All of her books are fantastic, I love her so much! 😀 Thank you, Macey 🙂
Oh, Mara Dyer. That series has me feeling all kinds of nostalgic haha. Despite its cliche’s, I’ve still got a soft spot for that series. I feel like I’ve lucked out with the books I’ve read this year cause I’ve loved all of them, but I’d say Beartown and The Song of Achilles were my biggest book hangovers.
SAME here ahh I love this series so, so much. <3 I need to check out Beartown!! 🙂
I think my last book hangover was with The Poppy War… and now I’m scared to read the second book lmao
Ahhh I’ve heard so many people loved this series and can’t get over it ahah. I hope you’ll love the second book! 😀
YAS, THE FORBIDDEN WISH!! ?? I know I’m late to the party by reading this wonderful book earlier this year but I also can’t believe how “underrated” aka not well known this one is. So far, it’s one if my favourite reads this year. And, thank you for the “finish the an ember in the ashes series -reminder”. I really need to do that. ? // Still not over the 2 books I recently read by Khaled Hosseini. Those were emotionally hitting….
I love this book SO MUCH ahh, I’m just so happy you enjoy it so much as well <3
You're welcome ahah I need to continue with it as well, but I'm soooo nervous?
Oh I've heard amazing things about this author! 🙂
Happy reading and thank you, Linda! <3
I want to read Our Year of Maybe and An Ember in the Ashes. Probably some more but I can’t remember at the moment the ones I have in my TBR ?
Love your post. Take care ?
Ahh I hope you’ll get to read both, they’re amazing!
Thank you so much, you too! <3
OMG. I haven’t read any of these, and now I’m sad!! Great list. Thanks for adding more books to my TBR!!
Ahhh you’re welcome, hope you’ll love these 😀
My biggest book hangover ever are probably Clockwork Princess, A Conjuring of Light, and The Song of Achilles, but the ending for Evolution of Mara Dyer came really close! I refuse to read Retribution of Mara Dyer until last year because I’m just too scared ??
Ahhh I get that, the Mara Dyer series left me in such a state ahah, I loved it so much back then 🙂
a torch against the night left me with a book hangover too, there were SO many plot twists!! i need to read the reader still as well. great post?
Right??? so many plot twists, I’m still not over it ahah.
Thank you!! <3
Oh the struggle of a book hangover. I never want to get a book hangover because picking up a book after that is hard, but I also Always want to get a book hangover because it means the book was amazing.
I loved Evelyn Hugo and Our Year of Maybe too <3
Nothing Left to Burn and The Places I've Cried In Public are still on my TBR, but I hope I get to read them soon. They sound like the kind of books that will give me a book hangover too.
Great post Marie! 🙂
Exactly, I feel that way too always ahah 🙂
I hope you’ll get to read both these books, they’re amazing 😀
Thank you so much!
Holly Bourne!! I love her! Have you read any of her adult books? And did you see she’s revealing the title of her next YA novel today??
I love her too!! Yes, I’ve read How Do You Like Me Now and LOVED IT, I can’t wait to read more!! 😀 and I saw the title of her next YA, too, so exciting!
Me after getting rejected for Miss Meteor….?. But I am SO excited to read it when it comes out!
Ahhh I hope you’ll love it when you can read it 😀
I love this post so much, Marie! I have a few of these on my TBR. Like I still can’t believe I have yet to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer after so many years of owning it! I really need to get around to reading more of these books. <3
Oh thank you so much Ashley!! <3 I hope you'll love these 😀
Ashamed to say that I haven’t reaf any of these yet ? but thank you for introducing me to some of the titles I wouldn’t otherwise know if not for you!! As for books that gave me the hangover… I would say Aristotle and Dante!! Other than that, The Song of Achilles, The Boy Who Saw In Colours and The Reason I Jump are titles I can think of!
Ahh well I hope you’ll give some of these a try and will love them, then 😀 Thank you!!
Ahhh SJM books and the SOC series ended me. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nevin is another book that consumed me, and is one of my favorite books.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is another book where I felt I was swept away into this magical and unreal world so when I finished it, it kind of was like a whiplash back into the real world lol.
The Places I’ve Cried in Public kind of reminds me of the musical The Last 5 Years (from what I gathered from the synopsis), it also speaks about a failed relationship between an actress and her successful writer. And you get to hear both sides of their story.
Aladdin is my favorite fairytale, and the Disney film is probably my first choice so The Forbidden Wish seems like an epic read ?
Ahh The Night Circus was such an atmospherical book, it was so well written, I was transported by the world, as well!
I hope you’ll get to read The Forbidden Wish ahh I ADORE this book and recommend it <3
Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
I don’t think I’ll ever shut up about Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys. It was such an emotional thing to reach the ending. The book makes it clear it WON’T be a happy one, but you keep hoping, you know. And the ending is actually quite perfect, so you cry because of that, but also because you know it isn’t completely happy either.
Also, one of my most memorable book hangovers is when I finished reading the Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta, such an intense fantasy series! Lots of political schemming, and romance, and family secrets!
I think I really need to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I sent a copy to my mom in spanish, so maybe I’ll have to borrow it one day! Aaaand I still need to read A Torch Against the Night!!!
Oh wow. I need to read this book ahah I’m glad it had such an impact on you, these kind of books end up having such a special place in our hearts. <3
I hope you'll get to read Evelyn Hugo ahh I LOVE IT so much, I can't get over it ahah.
Thank you so, so much Pam <3
Such a great post!! The first two books in the Reader Trilogy are honestly so fantastic and I desperately need to read the finale book!! You also made me really excited or Miss Meteor, it’s definitely on my radar! ? One book that gave me a huge hangover was probably Jackaby, which I read earlier this year, it was so good and completely surprised me! ?
I do too!! I finally have a copy of it and I can’t wait to read it… even if I am a bit scared, too, haha 🙂
Oh I’ve heard good things about Jackaby, I need to check it out 😀
Thank you so much Caro!
I don’t experience book hangovers a lot – usually, when I *love* a book tons and it becomes a new favorite, I feel like reading more. I get excited about all the other books I’ll potentially adore and jump into another one relatively soon after. But I adore The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and that’s a book that gave me a book hangover! The bittersweet ending left me broken and I was unable to concentrate on another book for a while there. I really want to read Miss Meteor, and The Reader. Great post, Marie!
Ahhh that’s so good! it’s so great when we find books that just make us even more excited to read more and more. <3
I hope you'll get to read both Miss Meteor and The Reader, they're INCREDIBLE.
Thank you so much! <3
Agh I can relate to this feeling so much! There’s something so haunting about finishing a book and knowing you’ll never, ever get over it. Mockingjay was that book for me!
Oh yes, that book just….. ruined me hahaha 🙂
The Forbidden Wish is so, so good and I always feel like the only person in the world who knows it exists! I will forever be disappointed that it didn’t gain more traction online when it came out. Everyone else is missing out!
I somehow missed the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo train, but I’m hopping on now! Better late than never?
OKAY BUT SAME?? I feel like this book should have been way, way more hyped, everyone clearly is missing out on a gem here. I love it so much!! 😀
Better late than never, always! I hope you’ll love it 🙂 happy reading!
THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO!! I miss it so much, oh my … And it was brilliant, yes!! Also, I’m super interested in reading Miss Meteor (requested it on Netgalley, let’s see if I’ll be lucky) Right now, I’m feeling a book hangover with The Poppy War and only The Dragon Republic will cure it (or make it worse LOL) but I have to wait until my order arrives ))):
I miss it too aaaah I want to re read it now, I love it so much <3
Ahh I've heard incredible things about The Poppy War, not sure I can read it (with the triggers) but I'm so happy so many people are loving it!! 🙂
Et si je rajoutais encore des livres dans ma wish-list ? Elle devient longue hahaha !
J’entends tellement parler de The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo qu’il m’intrigue beaucoup, je pense que je vais craquer rapidement pour une copie.
Je ne connaissais pas la plupart des romans de ta sélection mais ça me donne envie de m’y pencher du coup ☺️
Mon porte monnaie ne te remerciera probablement pas mais mon âme de lectrice, elle, te remercie (et c’est l’essentiel, non ? ?)
Ahhhh oui c’est l’essentiel ahah, trop heureuse de pouvoir agrandir ta wishlist ??
J’espère que tu liras evelyn hugo, ce livre est … inoubliable, j’ai adoré, j’y pense encore tout le temps, même des mois après l’avoir lu ahah ?
Oof I am not prepared for the book hangover that An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is going to give me ? But I am really looking forward to reading it ? Evelyn Hugo definitely left me in a hangover… I think I need to do a re-read soon!
NO you’re not ahah, that ending left me shocked ahah. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it though, it’s so good! 😀
Thank you, Jessica <3
Love this post. A lot. I’ll have to think of my latest hangover. Kudos for a cool post.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Great post, so many book hangovers! I agree with Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo that book had me reeling for days!
Right?? I can’t get over that book ahah <3
I’m a little surprised to say that I’ve only read 2 of these books! From the two I have read, I completely agree with you. Nothing left to burn (which I won and read because of you) was so good. You know looking back on it now, what it kind of sort of reminded me of…dreamland by sarah dessen? I mean they’re really not all that similar, but it was the first book I read that had to do with an emotionally/physically abusive relationship, and so the main characters both struggle with breaking free from that relationship. I still have to read ALL the rest of them on this list! Great recommendation marie xx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
Oooh well I’m happy I could give you some recommendations here and hope you will love these! <3
I haven't read that Sarah Dessen book, I'll have to give it a try sometime 🙂
I just read another Khoury book recently and loved it, so I think you’ve convinced me that I need to read this Aladdin retelling.
Oooh that’s so great, which book was it? I loved loved loved The Forbidden Wish SO much, I hope you will too <3