Maryse's Book Blog

I know… some of you are shaking your head, maybe even rolling your eyes and thinking,  what the heck is she talking about now? Her and her crazy made-up words.  What is a “Marmy” list?

Tee hee!!! *giggles with glee*

Some however, who have been actively chatting books with us for months, maybe even years now, know exactly what it is, ’cause it’s YOU guys that have dubbed these books the “Marmy” books.

Marmy books are those that my “book-twin” (Amy) and I always seem to love. Maryse & Amy = “Marmy” (ergo “Marmy” books). If one loves it, the other surely will. And generally, the more traumatic, or emotionally stunning, the better. 😉

For some of you, THESE are the books that get your adrenaline racing, your blood boiling, have you hyperventilating, ugly-cry facing, and/or experiencing jaw-dropping gasps. Any of those. Sometimes… all of those.

It doesn’t mean they won’t have an HEA. Amy and I LOVE HEAs!!! But… a Marmy book means, anything goes. 😉

• It could be the ultimate risqué/forbidden guilty pleasure drama, and end in an unconventional HEA, or
• It could be easy-going happiness and end in a jaw-dropping, unexpected twist.
• It might tear your heart out in the beginning. It might tear your heart out at the end.
• It might have an HEA even with all of the heartache (and/or distress) that it makes you suffer through.
• It might not have an HEA at all…
• It might have you questioning your own morals and ethics. It might have you relating to a character you’d never admit to being able to relate to.
• It might have you HATING a character wholeheartedly, and yet completely unable to put it down, because you’re hooked hard.
• It might have you gasping in shock. It might have you wanting to put it in the freezer… it might have you wanting to throw it across the room (I don’t recommend either of those). 😉

But what it will have you, is feeling, experiencing and NEVER forgetting the book… ever. And most often, recommending it to everyone you can (even if it’s one you wouldn’t have normally chosen for yourself… or for the person you’re recommending it to).

Basically… I think it’s pretty much any book Amy and I have devoured and that freaked us OUT. Dark ways… or sad ways, or shocking-exciting twist ways.  Some seem gentle but are so clever and intense in emotions that we become a part of the story and it affects us as if it were real, some took a crazy turn that we didn’t see coming, and some are complete mind f**ks. But it has to be well written, captivating, and one we can’t stop thinking about and/or talking about. BUT!!!!! If there’s “shock-value” (scary or sad or twist-wise) it has to have merit.

Some of you steer clear of this potential book-trauma, and specifically request that we dub them the “Marmy” books, for your own reading-safely.

Jan: keep those Marmy books away from me! *holds crossed fingers towards Marmy list*

*snort*

And bev, too. She doesn’t do “Marmy”. LOL!!!

Nay: what does ‘Marmy’ mean?

Maryse:  Nay… “Marmy” is a combination of the names “Maryse and Amy” (me and Amy!!  ) and it refers to the kind of rip-your-heart-out, gut-puncher, -crazy-twist, or “crazy-ending” type books that we LOVE! I will quote Amy’s explanation of “Marmy” which is pretty much perfect: She says:

“YEP!!! The Marmy twins always have time for book hurt!! LOL!!!

So, for the newer friends here… a Marmy book will *potentially* do any (or all) of the following: make your tummy eat itself from angst, make your chest clench from trepidation, cause splotches from anxiety, rip your heart from your chest before pummeling it and stomping all over it, punch you in the ovaries, blindside you with a sledgehammer-to-the-chest twist, or make you ugly cry and snuffle all over Manny (our sweet, stuffed manatee). Also, there MAY or MAY NOT be an HEA…but we don’t do spoilers here so it could go either way. And we love ‘em both. 

BUT! Just because we both love the same book doesn’t make it a Marmy book. For example Cocky Bastard or On the Island (hey, there’s one for the low-angst list!). Okay, jumping off my big-mouth soapbox now…”

bev: So, to any newbies or anyone wondering a Marmy book does not equal a death club book. Death club actually came from somewhere else. I tease them about it because they are not afraid of them. In fact they love any book that has an uncertain ending.

Uncertain can mean more than just death. Any twist or mind f***. But also a hard won hea. Maybe just not a traditional hea. Marmy books are just books that are extremely high angst and makes the reader feel extreme emotions. Sadness yes but also anxiety, fear, confusion, anger, and etc. Me Before You, Thoughtless, Jezebel, Hausfrau, Avoiding Commitment, Arsen, The Opportunist, and Rainfall all Marmy books.

I do have to say that I actually think the majority of those that comment and read this blog love a Marmy book and maybe a death club book too. I think us more conventional romance readers are in the minority here. Which is probably why I do not always understand you all.

… A Marmy happy ending doesn’t mean they are always happy together.

Oh yeah… 😉 The Death Club. *blush* That’s us, too. That’s what they dubbed all of us that don’t mind a major character dying in a book. :D!!! Oh… don’t get me wrong. We MIND… (we cry our eyes out until we can’t breathe)… but we can love it, anyway.

What the heck is our book-problem? 

LOL!!!!! And many of you have specifically requested that we once and for all, put up a Marmy-book list so you can indulge in the most intense reads that your heart can stand.

Cait: We could call Maryse and Amy wait for it….. Marmy!! Lol This book list is right up my alley I actually don’t know where to start!! Whoop

R: OOOH is there a Marmy list already? I think I’ve seen the ugly cry list, but throwing in high angst AND ugly cry adds another level of hurt!

Maryse: OMG. A MARMY list. THAT IS SO GONNA GO UP SHORTLY!!!!!!!!!!! *squeeeeeee* all of our favorite crazy intense books on ONE LIST!!!!!

Nay: count me in as a Marmy book lover too! Is there a Marmy list or do we just go by ‘what to read after…’ lists that we know are gut-wrenching?

Renee: The Marmy list is coming soon Nay! But They’ll happily give recs in the meantime!

Melinda: I would Love a Marmy List. Ooooooh where to start the best books.

Renee: Emma Scott just asked me what Marmy means. I think it’s time to trademark it! And she said to tell Maryse “she hopes her stuff gets classified as Marmy.” 

Emma: Renee is my ugly-cry pusher. “Psst, hey. You wanna try some of the hard stuff? I got God-Shaped Hole and some TJR. Real primo. Or maybe somethin’ exotic? Hausfrau? I got it all. Say the word and my buddy Prime will have it to you by Tuesday. Legit.”

Maryse: Oh sheeeeeesh. Okay… if Emma is looking for Marmy books, it’s time I posted the list.  That will be my project this week.  !!!! AND HECK YES!! She absolutely has one on here. Two. 😉

Renee: I love ugly cry books but the crying needs to take place before the end!

Amy: WOO-HOOOOOOOO!!!!! A Marmy list!!! I’ll get a list over to you soon, Maryse…this is gonna be FUN!!!! *wiggles in seat*

Nay: I love most all of them–Death, cheating, love triangles–anything that rips my guts out… Anyway–I LURVE angst!!!  …what’s really awesome is that before you sob those happy tears, your guts get chewed up and spit back out over and over again! Such a delicious feeling for angst lovers!

Kim: I love when a book is so angsty that I actually feel my stomach drop at certain parts. Oh, and if there’s a death that shocks me oh I cry. I absolutely adore books that put me through the ringer. There’s something wrong with me lol

Maryse: Right there with you Kim.  That would make you an honorary member of the “Marmy” club (Maryse & Amy super-angst, shocking twist type books)

Lisa: Sounds like Larks might be a good holiday book. Its about time I tackled a marmy…its been a while.

Nay: Oh yay! The Marmy list too! I’ve been watching for that oneI can’t wait for both of those!

Leslie: Nay is definitely part of the “Marmy”! She loves getting her guts ripped out and wants big angst!! Hee hee.

Grey: I am also ready for the ultimate grey marmy haha! (Those are the dark ones, I want ones that will give me pretzel tummy and stomp on my heart LOL – I know, I’m not asking for much, right?!?)

Amy: Holy moly, R…I know for a fact you haven’t hit the, er, brilliant turn of events. Because no way would you be this calm.

Dang…Hausfrau, Thoughtless, Rainfall. Woman, you need to pace yourself on the Marmy books. You’re going to build up a tolerance and then books like Badger and Jezebel and Forbidden aren’t going to have the desired effect.

Amy: Okay…proof that not every book which obliterates our hearts is a death book. One book which I will not name by title (because spoilers) absolutely destroyed some of us and is a Marmy book, but there was NO death in it.

Leslie: Btw Amy, I am only teasing you about the Marmy books! I know not all Marmy have death and several have HEA….but they def put you through the ringer. Not all of us are as tough a cookie as you, Maryse and the other brave ladies.

There. They exist. 😉

And this is the day. Ready? Hold on to your hats, my friends…

Amy: Okay lady, what do you think the criteria for the list should be? Obviously books like

• Forbidden, (Maryse’s Book Review)
• Thoughtless, (Maryse’s Book Review)
• Badger, and (Maryse’s Book Review)
• Hausfrau: A Novel (OF COURSE!!!!) should be on there… (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: YAY!!! Yes to all of those! 😀 Jezebel for sure!!!!

Amy: Yes to Jezebel!! Not just because of the ending (LOVED IT!) but what Celeste went through near the end. Holy moly, my heart was aching and breaking for her. …*sigh* I get kind of sad when I think I may never find another one that will have the same effect on me. That’s my inner book nerd rearing it’s head there.  (P.S. Maryse’s Book Review)

Jennifer: I first read Jezebel this past weekend and was blown away. I 5 starred it but wished to learn more about the aftermath but thought that may have lessened the impact of the story. Now I know, it did not…perfect!

Theresa: I just finished Jezebel…absolutely fabulous. Can we just say cuckoo for cocoa puffs!!!! I thought I had it all figured out and then SLAM! I think I sat there with my mouth open for like ten minutes! I know this is not about this post but I had to throw it out there!!! I feel better now.

Maryse: Drowning Instinct <— (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: Drowning Instinct…will anyone ever, ever, EVER listen to us about that one?!? Maybe they will after the Marmy list, DANGIT!!!

Amy: Drowning Instinct…holy moly, I am so not kidding when I say that it is different from all of the other teacher-student books. I started it at one point and then stopped (I was probably in a mood), but when Maryse reviewed it I had to go back and BAM! It kicked my mind’s a$$. And my heart’s a$$. And my a$$. In other words, it was perfect. 

Sadie: great book! So glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Maryse: and Rainfall <— SO POIGNANT, STUNNING AND FOREVER ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!!! Still in the mood for a shocking love story. Have you read Rainfall yet? I’d suggest an immediate move into that one. (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: Rainfall STILL kills me. I wanted it to go so differently and yet it wouldn’t have affected me the same way if it HAD gone that way. It still hurts. 🙁

Lisa: Rainfall, Rainfall, Rainfall!!!! I love that book. The ending destroyed me for days….even when I think of it now, I get the feelz.

Melinda: It’s captivating. The writing is so so good. Gutted is such a great word for this book.

Leslie: I can tell you right now I would hate Rainfall. I came very close to reading it, realized I couldn’t handle it, then read a ton of spoilers…so I know what happens and big fat nope!!

Maryse: *snort* You are missing out… how it plays out is AMAZING *sigh* LOVE it. When it all comes together… wow.

Maryse: Stolen by Lucy Christopher (Maryse’s Book Review)

Kathy: Just finished Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I know it was one of your dark read Maryse. I think I have Stockholm Syndrome. Crazy to have sympathy for a kidnapper! I still don’t know how I feel.

Vivien: Stolen a Letter to my Captor by Lucy Christopher. I read that book in one sitting, I cried, and it sparked by love for reading. I force feed that book on everyone I know. I read the book at least once every year.

Carla: Because that was my first personal case of Stockholm syndrome. lol

Rebecca: You rock! I’ve been working my way through your “dark reads” list and Stolen by Lucy Christopher blew my mind

and Forever, Interrupted: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid <— Oh GAH!! Forever Interrupted and After I Do did me in. And I LOVED every second of it. Books. Always and only in books. (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: obviously we know from the blurb that he dies at the beginning, but I wasn’t expecting to fall for the guy through the flashbacks AFTER he died, and I wasn’t expecting to cry as much as I did…like, big flat ploppy tears that just kept running out of my eyes for most of the book. And I loved every minute of it, even though I wanted to break things and kick things by the end because I didn’t want him to be gone. GAH!!! …OMG Forever, Interrupted hurt my heart in a different way from any other book. She made me fall in love with him AFTER he died, and that was just a whole new kind of heartache to experience!!

Jeannie: I absolutely LOVED Forever, Interrupted,

Maryse: Of COURSE Me Before You: A Novel by Jojo Moyes (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: Me Before You goes without saying. So beautifully heartbreaking.

Wilda: I read it years ago, but it still gives me heartache.

Nicole: The book that I just had to share with others is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. It made me re-examine many things in my life.

R: I wanna play too!! Me Before You was pretty light, right? *scrolls through books* Nope. I got nothing! 

Maryse: Held by Edeet Ravel <— I LOVED the ending of this one! Held is about a kidnapped teenager but OMG it is SO good. Held in a room… of course Stockholm syndrome and all. (Maryse’s Book Review)

Greg: I just got Held by Edeet Ravel from the library it’s great reading. Chloe Mills actually feels for her hostage taker she has Stockholm syndrome. I can imagine how she must be disgusted with herself for feeling this way.

Amy: Held…aw man, Maryse! You KNEW how much that one would mess with me, didn’t ya?? I’ve been running through it over and over for days now and STILL can’t wrap my head around it. …Held made me freak out at the end (which is SO much fun!)

Amy: The story was going along all calm and without anything major happening, almost to the point where I was *wanting* something bad to happen just to shake things up, and then…and then…the *spoiler* and…and… *scratches head* No. It’s *spoiler*. *spoiler*. Because he *spoiler*…he *spoiler*…and she *spoiler*… No way. Nuh-uh. *shakes head and crosses arms* They just want to *spoiler* *spoiler*. They are *spoilers*. Because no way did…

Right? RIGHT?!?

*whimpers*

I just don’t know. 

Maryse: The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton <— back when BDSM love stories were rarer (this one made everyone cry… I don’t know if it would get the same effect today but I think so). (Maryse’s Book Review)

Danielle: The Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton made me cry so hard I thought I was going to hyperventilate!

Lori: The one that broke the dam was Reluctant Dom by Tymber Dalton.

Maryse: Butterfly Weeds by Laura Miller <— a little gentler but def. has the cry factor (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: Butterfly Weeds is a lighter, gentler one for sure…but the ending is still a heart-wrencher!! *sniffle*

Jami: another book that I read on your reccommendation that hurt me was Butterfly Weeds by Laura Miller.

Cheryl: Finished Butterfly Weeds, oh yeh, I cried. Amy/Maryse- did you read the follow-up book My Butterfly? Debating how much crying I can handle…

Kathy: my absolute favorite book boyfriend is the sweet and honest Will from Butterfly Weeds by Laura Miller. He’s my wish-I-had-a-boyfriend-like-him-in-high-school-but-he-didn’t-exist boyfriend.

Tammie: I just read butterfly weeds and had some really teary moments and my heart felt so heavy at the end of the book it was good to read a good light funny book!

Amy: Okay, we can’t forget about:

• Tristan and Danika (the whole damn trilogy because GAH!!!!!!) – Maryse’s Book Review of #1
• Avoiding Commitment (Maryse’s Book Review)
• The Opportunist (not so much the second and third, even though they were good as well) – Maryse’s Book Review
• It’s All Relative …I don’t care that others read it and didn’t react the way we did, I STILL say it’s a Marmy book. Right?? 😛 (Maryse’s Book Review)

Amy: THERAPY, but OMG that is a Marmy book. The angst, the heartache, and the “hasn’t she been through enough yet???” were a combination that worked me over in the most delicious way. ;)Amy: Okay, how about these…

• Full Tilt, (Maryse’s Book Review)
• Bright Side, (Maryse’s Book Review)
• The Tied Man, (Maryse’s Book Review)
• Her Master’s Courtesan (*shudder*), (Maryse’s Book Review)
• and I think even Marrow because that one was NOT a light, easy read. (Maryse’s Book Review)
• And even though you haven’t read them (I’m pretty sure), I would say Bad Romeo and Broken Juliet could be Marmy books. Because ANGST.
• Oh! After by Varian Krylov. I swear, the sucker punch halfway through the story was rough. If you ever get the chance, that one is SO good.
• Oh! Oh oh OH!!! We can’t forget Arsen. A broken love story!! I wish I could virgin read that one all over again. *sigh* (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: OMG YES!!!! So shocking, and painful… and what an ENDING!!!!! YES PLEASE!!! 🙂

Amy: RIGHT?!? With Arsen and with Tristan and Danika, I swear by the end of both of them I was exhausted and aching yet sobbing happy tears…throw in some sweating and panting and I might as well have just given birth, LOL!! I am SO FREAKING EXCITED for this list!!! Giddy, I tell ya…GIDDY!!

BUT!!!! There’s more!! 😀

It Ends with Us: A Novel by Colleen Hoover <— *ooooooomph*!!!!!!!! (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: I waited until the last minute to read it and OMG!!!

Amy: MARYSE!! Is it a Marmy read???? Is it? Is it?? IS IT?!?

Maryse: Oh Amy it IS. But I don’t want anyone getting assumptions just because it’s a Marmy book!!!! READ IT. Seriously!

Amy: Sooooo…it’s a Marmy book but not a SCARY Marmy book. Hear that, all y’all? Nothin’ to be scared of!!! 

bev: A five star Marmy book. But not one of THOSE Marmy books. Nothing else needs to be said. Trust me. Lol. I don’t trust it. When I first read Slammed I was really into it. Then I read it again a couple of years later and I was like, Whoa Lake. Slow your roll girl. Those are some big serious consequences that don’t just affect you two.

Amy: *glares at Bev*

Maryse: *glares at Bev* *chucks a peanut onto bev’s nose. Just because*

bev: Yeah, I think that missed me.

Amy: I am STILL hurting from that one. She took an issue which is usually black and white for me and made it all kinds of gray. And dammit, that gray area put me through turmoil.

Lisa: This was the perfect read, leaving behind such a powerful message! I have so much respect for Colleen and her family<3 I loved ALL the characters, even when they were “just people who do bad things.” Help!! My first official book hangover since Suanne Laqueur’s Fish Tales  (((((

An Exaltation of Larks by Suanne Laquer <— HECK. YES!!! Actually ALL books by this author (so far) have been angsty, gasp-inducing, OMG NOOOOOOOO… and OMG YESSSSSSS!!!! NOTE: All of her books are intense and yet a little “lighter” in the Marmy-trauma-format, but definitely addictive, and will make you gasp in dread and delight the entire way through. (Maryse’s Book Review)

Fabi: I’m a little surprised that The Man I Love and/or An Exaltation of Larks isn’t in the list. Those are the two most recent “Marmy” books I’ve read.

Nay: My favorite for November was also An Exaltation of Larks. NO question.

Cheryl: I am LOVING this book. It’s so beautifully written and I’m slowly eating every bit up like a big bowl of pudding. “Desire pooled thick like pudding in her chest, sweet along the back of her throat.” And oh yeh, the name, is it only obvious to the reader?! Waiting for that shoe to fall, along with the BIG fall.

Sharon: I just finished An Exaltation of Larks, and it’s probably one of the best all time reads for me. What a story. It smoldered and burned and hurt and ached. Every one of those characters pulled your heart strings. I was disappointed with the ending, but loved the ending . . . It was just right. I am definitely book hung over now.

The Fish Tales by Suanne Laqueur <— Fish Tales is sooooo good, and shouldn’t be missed… Some readers find it a bit slow in the first third of book #1, but OMG do they enjoy it right after…

• Book Review – The Man I Love
• Book Review – Give Me Your Answer True
• Book Review – Here to Stay

Renee:  I cried half the night because I got to a super sad part of the 3rd Fish Tales that I didn’t see coming and today I’m crying because it’s almost over. This is a first. Starting the book hangover before the book ends. Gah.

Lisa: Robin your reaction to Fish Tales is EXACTLY why its on my tbr list gathering dust.

Renee: I’m hungry, I’m considering a mid-day bubble bath, and The Fish Tales may end me.

Grace: Fish Tales! It was oddly addictive from the start for me, but I can’t really tell you why. Fish just fascinated me. Once the drama explodes, I was beside myself with emotions, with needing to devour every single moment just to know what happens! I think it was so rich a story because it was so unique. It wasn’t feeding us overplayed devices set up to break our hearts so we would be emotional about the characters, but genuine pain and confusion and coping difficulties. I became obsessed with getting what I wanted to happen to happen, but had no earthly reason to believe that I was going to get it. These books were epic! Waiting between releases was painful! For anyone who can just read the whole thing back to back right now, there is no excuse not to just dive in!

Reyna: I agree about the Fish tales series. I just bought the third one and am about to read, but the first 2 had me crying and feeling so much for these characters. I swear I felt like I was there with them. This series is at the top of my favorites list. Definately need as box of kleenex very close when reading!

Author Anonymous: A True Story by E.K. Blair (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: it’s a Marmy book. Along the lines of “Arsen” and extremely stressful. But what makes this one so extra-intriguing to me is that it’s called “Author Anonymous” and it’s a true story about an author in our community (NYT Best Seller indie, now traditionally published) BUT!!! She didn’t write it. She told her story to another author (E.K. Blair) who wrote it for her.

Amy: O. M. GEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Another Marmy book!! Holy moly, this one is going to work me over, isn’t it? And the fact that it’s REAL?? My tummy is already twisting just from your review.  Hmmm…reminds me of another trainwreck-that-I-couldn’t-look-away-from read where the housewife kept making face-palming choices yet I could never dislike her.  GAH! Why do we love these kind of stories?!?

Maryse: Oh yes Amy… this is Marmy in full force. And it’s NOT fiction!!!!!! *gasp*

The Turning Point by Freya North <— Amy wants to add this one!

Amy: I’m thinking Turning Point may be a Marmy book as well, but Maryse hasn’t read it yet.  That book. THAT BOOK. I really struggled with the writing style at first (it wasn’t bad, just difficult for me to adjust to) but once I did, I was hooked. And now…now I’m still healing. Still bruised. So of course what do I do? I keep poking at the bruise and then cringing ’cause it hurts so much. That book does NOT shy away from ugly, painful truth of what all happened.

1986 by Morgan Parker <— Amy suggests this one!

Amy: I would say 1986 is a Marmy book. Not a OMG-you-have-to-read-this-NOW Marmy book, but a book you should add to your short list.

I’ll *try* to sum it up quickly and without giving anything away…the writing was pretty good, nothing spectacular but I am more forgiving with male authors writing a female MC. (I am MUCH harder on female authors for whatever reason. Don’t ask ’cause I don’t know why) There were some “huh?” moments that could have been clarified a bit better, and there were some typos which weren’t a big deal at first but were much more frequent in the last one-third of the book. That aside, this isn’t a steamy cheating book like Arsen or Thoughtless…she jumps into the affair right away (no insta-love though), but it is actually believable because she had a history of jumping right into unhealthy relationships with guys before she was married after an emotionally traumatic experience in high school (not rape, so no triggers).

What makes it a Marmy book is the TURN it takes. There were several times where I was thinking “WTF is going on?!?” right along with her, and even *I* didn’t know who she should believe or what she should do. It’s not a mindf&%k, and it’s not a thriller, but given the setting of being in 1986 Ukraine (I love books set in times before cell phones and internet) with the whole KGB fear and being an American who is at risk over there, it was definitely a tummy-twister with a nice punch to the chest when everything is realized. And the ending and epilogue…GAH, bittersweet!

God-Shaped Hole by Tiffanie DeBartolo <— Amy read both books by this awesome author, and while BOTH can be read as standalones, THIS ONE (her first book)… sort of crosses over with her next one. Amy didn’t know how exactly, so I told her about the hidden “Easter Egg.” cameo-type thingie 😉 And she says:

Amy: YAY!!!!!! *twirls around and tosses candy confetti* Now you have to read How to Kill a Rock Star so you can get the Easter egg. I re-read the scene after Maryse told me what it was and ohhhhhhh, my heart!! (I read HTKARS before GSH so I never put two and two together before) HTKARS has angst and emotion and *GASPS* and gut punches and it’s just wonderful but in its own way unique from GSH. AND they are both contenders for the Marmy list so…there’s that.

Kim: What’s really funny is I’ve owned How to Kill a Rock Star for a few years and that’s the book I’m scared of even though I’ve read every book mentioned above except two.

Allison: Amy, God Shaped Hole is the one I read and How to Kill a Rock Star I haven’t yet because I’m afraid of crying that hard ever again. LOL

How to Kill a Rock Star by Tiffanie DeBartolo <— HELLO??!!! YES. THIS ONE IS OF COURSE ON THIS LIST! (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: Here’s a quote from the book:

“Break my heart? Is that what you just said? I have news for you; you didn’t break my heart. My heart’s fine. My heart’s in the best shape of its life. You know what you did to me? You took an AK-47 and blew my soul open.”

Just saying… 😉 *ooooooooooooomph*!!!!!!!!

Full Tilt by Emma Scott <— Amy says: “I’m pretty sure Full Tilt was an agreed upon book to add to the Marmy list. ” (Maryse’s Book Review)

Maryse: You must read Full Tilt!!!! It’s a complete book, except I realize “All In (Full Tilt Book 2)” is DEFINITELY a sequel and you must NOT read the blurb or even that book, until you’ve read #1.  Mind you, if anyone stumbles on #2 first and reads it, they’ll still be able to follow… it’s just much more poignant after experiencing #1.

Amy: You have to read Full Tilt!!! You’ll never look at blown glass the same way again.  … all I have to listen to is From Where You Are by Lifehouse and Stars by Grace Potter and BAM! I’m right back in Full Tilt!

R: if you’ve read the blurb, you pretty much know what you’re in for. Full Tilt hurts, but All In heals 

Cheryl: Amy, Maryse and R- are your ears ringing now? I just finished Full Tilt and I am a SOBBING mess! I kinda *hate* you right now. Beautifully written, but gah I just, ugh, feel so devastated!!! Gonna look at All In…

Tristan & Danika by R.K. Kelley <— Amy also DEMANDS everyone reads this one! “READ TRISTAN AND DANIKA’S TRILOGY!!!!!!! That is a Marmy trilogy if ever there was one!!! I’m not kidding. My tummy and chest just clenched thinking about it, and I want to sob happy tears all over again. I don’t think I have EVER sobbed happy tears over another book like I did with T&D.” P.S. Here are Maryse’s Book Reviews of this series:

• Book Review – Bad Things
• Book Review – Rock Bottom
• Book Review – Lovely Trigger

The Breathing Series by Rebecca Donovan <— Leslie recommends this one! “Major angst/ugly cry (aka Marmy) – Breathing Series” (Maryse’s review of book #1 Reason To Breathe)

Jezebel by K. Larsen <— GASP-WORTHY AWESOMENESS!!!! Yes… it’s a Marmy book FOR SURE!!!! (Maryse’s Book Review)

R: Is Jezebel Marmy? I LOVED it, but it didn’t feel Marmy to me. We may have to discuss. Hmmm…

Grey: Oh yes. Jezebel is def a Marmy book… It’s a Grey book at any rate LOL! Oomph and Forbidden, that one made the bottom of my stomach fall out!

Amy: *I* think it qualified as a Marmy read because of the *OOMPH!* twist we didn’t see coming. I know I didn’t see it coming, and I’m pretty sure Maryse didn’t either. But I would say it’s one of the “safer” Marmy reads. Not *too* intense but emotional and twisty all the same with a nice WTH! to round it out.

Leslie is not a big “Marmy books” fan, but she has a few that she recommends: “I think the highest angst I have ever read that twisted my tummy, shocked me and made me cry were:

• Consequences Series – Aleatha Romig
• Breathing Series – Rebecca Donovan
• Dark Duet – C.J. Roberts

I don’t often read books like these as they tore my heart out. But when I have the guts, WOW, they are brilliant.”

Sadie recommends these! “I just read this post and apparently is genre is my jam. Great list! I loved Held! Can’t believe you haven’t read GSH despite knowing the spoiler. also, Fish Tales series, Emi Lost and Found series. Side note: I think you guys would like one called Boy Toy by Barry Lyga.”

Rebecca: You would know to put The Jack & Jill Series on the list if you would listen to me and READ IT! And, you haven’t read God Shaped Hole? Omg.

➔➔➔  Looking for more of our favorite recommendations? Browse our “Ultimate Favorites Lists” here. Are you in the mood for a certain kind of story? Browse our favorite “genre/trope categories” here and our reader favorites lists too.