Top 10 Mainstream Popular Authors that I Still Have Not Read | TTT

Posted on by Lauren

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.

1. Rebecca Yarros

  • The Empyrean (Fourth Wing, #1; Iron Flame, #2)

I’ve seen more talk about the hype of Yarros’ Fourth Wing perhaps more than the hype itself — though I’ve seen plenty of that too. The reason I haven’t picked up any of her work yet has nothing really to do with any tarnished reviews. While I do really enjoy fantasy, I read mostly its young adult and middle grade iterations as opposed to adult or new adult. Because of that, I’m not sure her work precisely aligns with my interests (not to besmirch her or her work at all, of course).

2. R.F. Kuang

  • The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1; etc.)
  • Babel
  • Yellowface

I’ve only ever really heard raving reviews for all of R.F. Kuang’s books, making it very easy for me to want to read her work. That fact hasn’t changed, I’m definitely still interested, it’s just nothing has made it to the top of my TBR just yet. I do plan on reading some of her books but I’m guessing it’ll still be a while before I find the time.

3. Agatha Christie

  • And Then There Were None
  • Hercule Poirot (Murder on the Orient Express, #10; etc.)
  • Miss Marple (Murder at the Vicarage, #2, etc.)

Mystery has never been my top genre, although when I’ve picked up mystery thrillers, I’ve almost always enjoyed them more than I expected. That being said, the sense I get of her style is that it’s something I’d more readily consume in a visual medium (as in murder mystery films like Knives Out or even Clue). I’m still open to reading her works but it isn’t my highest priority.

4. Holly Black

  • The Folk of the Air (The Cruel Prince, #1; etc.)
  • Book of Night (Book of Night, #1, etc.)
  • Modern Faerie Tales (Tithe, #1; etc.)

I feel like no one was really immune to the hype surrounding The Folk of the Air, especially those in fantasy-reading circles. There was a time where I was gearing up to pick it up myself — then I heard mention of a main character with a tail and wasn’t sure I could take it seriously (please, no one be offended!). Aside from that factor, I’ve heard that series praised for its political intrigue among other things which has kept me open to the possibility of reading it. Also, this author is a teeny bit of a cheat as technically I did just read The Field Guide, the first in a middle grade series she co-wrote. So, already, I’ve opened the door to her work!

5. George R.R. Martin

  • A Song of Ice and Fire (A Games of Thrones, #1; etc.)
  • A Targaryen History (Fire & Blood, #1, etc.)

As mentioned previously, the fantasy I consume is mostly young adult and middle grade. A big part of that has to do with 1) spicy romantasies not pertaining most to my interests (I say this with absolutely no condemnation for those who enjoy them! I just don’t think they’re personally my thing) and 2) my distaste for excessively long stories. I’m a slow reader as it is so books that exceed four hundred pages can be a real slog for me. Again, I love that people love these books, but I don’t think I’ll realistically get to them.

6. Haruki Murakami

  • Norwegian Wood
  • Kafka on the Shore
  • The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

I’ve been recommended Murakami’s work–always with caution as I’ve heard mention of his slightly misogynistic leanings–and I do fully intend to read some of it one day. I have After Dark and Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World downloaded on my kindle which I haven’t gotten to mostly because I prefer physical books far more than e-books. So, one day! Just not quite yet.

7. Brandon Sanderson

  • Mistborn (The Final Empire, #1; etc.)
  • The Stormlight Archive (The Way of Kings, #1; etc.)
  • Elantris (Elantris, #1; etc.)

I’ve seen one or two of Brandon Sanderson’s writing lectures on YouTube and thoroughly enjoyed them. As previously mentioned a few times, I’ve not prioritized adult fantasy very much in my life. That being said, I’ve heard so much praise for Sanderson’s work that of the many fantasy authors, I could see myself giving him a try one day. Again, not for a while, probably, but eventually.

8. J.K. Rowling

  • Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, #1; etc.)
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
  • The Casual Vacancy

As one of those kids who wasn’t allowed to read Harry Potter growing up, I think I harbored a little bit of resentment as a kid because of it. However, as so many things have surfaced about J.K. Rowling that don’t align with my values in the last several years, I don’t feel quite so bad. I’m sure I’ll watch the Harry Potter movies in full at some point but I’m not so sure I’ll pick up the books. (Once again, this definitely isn’t a slight to lovers of the series! I totally get that and am glad you enjoy it. I think a lot of the love surrounding it has to do with nostalgia that I personally just don’t have tied to it.)

9. John Green

  • The Fault in Our Stars
  • Looking for Alaska
  • Paper Towns

When John Green’s young adult contemporary books were at their most prominent, I was busy reading every Hunger Games derivative I could get my hands on. It wasn’t until a bit after his biggest wave in the scene that I started considering contemporary novels at all. Looking back, I feel like his books were apart of a huge moment in the industry that has grown a little passé by now. That may be a faulty perception and his work may still hold up very well but I’ve gone this long without picking any of it up so I think I’ll be alright.

10. Colleen Hoover

  • It Ends With Us (It Ends With Us, #1; etc.)
  • Verity
  • Ugly Love

Let me preface this by saying that I would never look to put anyone down because of their interests; that’s definitely not my intention now. That being said, I’ve seen a lot of commentary and video essays about how harmful Colleen Hoover’s work can be or has been. Personally, it’s not something I’m interested in consuming. And controversies aside, romance has never been a genre I’ve read much of anyway so ahead of any backlash, it’s mostly a matter of personal taste.

Have you read any of the authors on this list? Would you recommend them? Why, or why not? Who are some popular authors you’ve yet to pick up? I’ve love to hear your thoughts below!

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Published by Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren (she/her, 22), and I like to read and write; I’m still trying to figure out the rest.

14 thoughts on “Top 10 Mainstream Popular Authors that I Still Have Not Read | TTT”

  3. I’ve read some of these authors. Yarros is a fantastic writer. If you were going to, based on your comments, Fourth Wing would be the one to try. I don’t think Colleen Hoover would be for you. John Green would only be if you wanted to read a YA contemporary for some reason. Martin is way too graphic and long for sure.

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  4. I’ve got Rebecca on my list, as well. I’m hoping to get her read soon. George is on my list, but not really on my TBR. John Green’s stuff is good, and I love Holly Black, too. I am a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter books, although I’ve had to separate the community I know and love from the author.

    Here’s my TTT: https://funknfiction.com/2023/11/14/top-ten-tuesday-mainstream-popular-authors-that-i-still-have-not-read-yet/

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    1. I’ve heard such great things about Sanderson’s work! I definitely hope to pick up something by him at some point. Excellent world-building is something that can really make or break fantasy, I think, so it’s good to hear positive comments on it!

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  7. I’d highly recommend checking Brandon Sanderson out! He’s got a great YA sci-fi/fantasy series called Skyward, as well as a trilogy called the Reckoners. I’d recommend since you said you liked YA fantasy books–they’re incredible!!

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    1. Thank you so much for the recommendations! I’ve been reading so many standalone novels lately that I think I’ve been craving a series without even realizing it. I think this may be an excellent remedy for that! 🙂

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  8. Interestingly, given your usual genre info, I actually think Sanderson is the one you should try if any. Two of his books, Warbreaker and Elantris, are standalone YA fantasy novels that aren’t as complex and adult as the rest of his writing, plus whilst he writes a few romance subplots they aren’t spicy at all. I’d say those two particularly plus his Steelheart series (a definitely YA series about superheroes suddenly appearing on earth but not being the good guys we all expected…) are probably more in the style you like. Don’t go down the route of Mistborn or the Way of Kings, they’re definitely more traditional complex adult fantasy.

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    1. Thank you so much for the suggestions! All of your insights are very much appreciated. 🙂 Based on all the recommendations I’ve gotten, I’m definitely planning on picking up some of Sanderson’s work in the very near future!

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