Today’s Top Ten Tuesday theme (created by The Broke and the Bookish) is books I picked up on a whim. I decided to interpret this as books I bought (or requested ARCs of) on a whim and have since read. That way, I can tell you whether or not it was worth it. And for the most part, these are books I did enjoy. I’m actually making an effort to buy more books on a whim, because I want to read as many different things as I can. And, as you can see from the list below, I tend to pick up a wide variety of books on a whim, and I am almost always glad I did.

1. Trouble by Non Pratt. I’ve been pretty picky about the contemporary YA fiction I read lately, so I’m surprised I ended up picking this one up, especially since I’d never heard of it. But I ended up really enjoying it! It deals with real issues in a cute way, without making light of them.
2. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë. Not going to lie: the only reason I bought this book was because it was part of the Brontë Vintage Classics set that came out this year. And I needed all of them. But then I read it because I heard it was one of the first feminist novels – which I’ve been really into lately – and I LOVED it. Easily one of my favorite classics.
3. How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran. Like about half of the books on this list, this book was a Book Outlet impulse buy. I’m not usually into the whole sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll thing, but I actually liked this one. It’s such a fun book!
4. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. I requested this from NetGalley because I was intrigued by the synopsis. It did not disappoint! This book is contemporary YA at it’s finest, and definitely one of my favorite books of the year so far.
5. Alice by Christina Henry. Another NetGalley request that I ended up loving! It is a very dark Alice in Wonderland retelling, and it just works so well! I recently got an ARC of the sequel, Red Queen, and I’m super excited to get around to it.
6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I have no idea why I picked this one up, other than that it was at the dollar bookstore. I’d previously read one or two of Morrison’s books, and I just have problems connecting with her characters, so they’re not my favorite. I had the same issue with this book, but I didn’t hate it.
7. John Dies at the End by David Wong. I bought this book because 1) it was on Book Outlet, and 2) I really wanted to read the sequel because it has an awesome cover. I wasn’t expecting much from this book, but once I started reading it, I flew through it. It’s bizarre and hilarious and just a really fun read!
8. The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin. This book is yet another Book Outlet find. It is a children’s book that takes place in the Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of Thrones) universe. So, obviously I had to read it. And I actually really enjoyed it.
9. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. I’m pretty sure I bought this because of the beautiful cover. But it ended up being an incredible book! It’s a blend of my two favorite genres: historical fiction and magical realism, and it’s perfect!
10. Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I honestly can’t remember why I picked this up, but I ended up getting it just a few weeks after it came out and didn’t know much about it. And I’m so glad I did, because it ended up being the first novel in one of my all-time favorite book series!

What is the best book you’ve ever picked up on a whim?