Has your opinion of a book changed over time?

Have you ever read a book and loved it but when you've gone to reread it, you like it less? Or perhaps it's been the other way round; have you gone to read a book but couldn't get into but when you've tried it again, you've really enjoyed it?

I was at my book club the other day and we were talking about all the different books we've read recently. Now there was a variety of books discussed from A Man Called Ove to several romance books

At book club, I introduced them to Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster novel, which was her debut and has recently been turned into a movie on Amazon Prime.

I first read Beautiful Disaster many years ago, I think when I was in my final years of high school. At the time, I absolutely loved it! It was recommended to me by my sister and I enjoyed the cliché bad boy romance. Plus the fact that the female main character had the name 'Abby' spelt that specific way made me like it even more because that's how I spell my name and I rarely ever see it that way.

But anyways, enough about my name.

When reading Beautiful Disaster, I liked the college aspect of it, the thrill of an enemies-to-roommates-to-friends-to-lovers trope. Also, I remember Travis Maddox being one of my favourite fictional men.

However, now I'm rereading the book before I watch the movie and I have to say, my mind has changed.

I don't know whether it's because I'm older and have different views on things now. Or if it's because I'm studying Creative Writing and aspiring to write my own novel that I notice things about the way Beautiful Disaster is written that I'm just not a fan of anymore.

Beautiful Disaster is still a good book, don't get me wrong; one could easily read it and be swept up in the romance of Travis and Abby. But I just don't enjoy it as much as I used to.

Which is a completely different story to the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi.

This dystopian series spans six books and I remember the first time I bought book one. It was mainly because of the cover, pictured below, but also because I love dystopian novels.

But when I came to reading Shatter Me (Book 1), I felt disappointed. I actually think I didn't finish it the first time.

If you know me though, I rarely ever get rid of paperback books that I've bought. So fast forward a few years and I tried reading Shatter Me again.

And this time...boy was I impressed. I devoured the whole series - once I'd ordered the rest from Amazon - and it is hands down one of my favourite series of all time.

I was telling my book club about these two experiences and it's weird how over time books from your childhood that you loved, can become ones you never read again; but similarly, books you disliked can soon become your favourites the older you get.

Have you ever had a book or series that you liked and when you reread, you found you liked it less? Or vice-versa?

If you have, let me know in the comments below.

Until next time...