This week’s Top Ten Tuesday post is a Valentine’s themed freebie, so let’s talk about the books I’ve dragged my wife (Lisa) into reading alongside me!
This is not going to be by any means an exhaustive list, because books are one of my love languages, and sharing excitement about books has been a thing we’ve done for over 20 years now — since I was 15. Nor is it a true chart of our relationship through books, because I wouldn’t recommend some of the books we’ve bonded over through the years (like the Rurouni Kenshin manga, the author of which is a paedophile). It’s just ten of the (many) possible books I could choose!
- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper.
The whole sequence, really, and especially The Grey King. The older BBC radioplay version of it (not the recent one) was pretty formative for me, and when I managed to rediscover MP3s of it online in my teens, I ended up rereading the original book, loving it completely, and demanding just about everyone read it too. My now-wife complied, of course, and many’s the conversation we had about the series, imagining what the ending might mean for the characters (does Bran ever remember who he really is?), etc. - Harpy’s Flight, by Megan Lindholm.
We read quite a few of Robin Hobb/Megan Lindholm’s books ultimately, but I particularly remember packing up the Ki and Vandien quartet to send it to my now-wife (then living in Belgium) when I was around sixteen. Those book parcels were really important in forming our friendship and early relationship, and in providing something fun to look forward to, to talk about, etc. I remember the start of Harpy’s Flight super vividly, as well. I might reread these books sometime soon! - A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula Le Guin.
And ultimately many of Le Guin’s other books… but it will have started with Earthsea (as it did for me when I was a young teen). Given how much I love Le Guin’s work, and how much this particular one came to mean to me personally (I regularly use Ged’s ultimate decision to turn and face the Shadow as a way to vividly demonstrate my own experience of dealing with anxiety), it’s a good thing we’ve shared this in common for a long time. - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, by N.K. Jemisin.
I actually vividly recall sulkily climbing into bed to read this when I had a headache and Lisa wasn’t available online to chat to. I’m pretty sure it also went into one of the boxes of books I sent over to Belgium — the end result of all this was that when we finally moved in together, we had duplicate copies of quite a lot of books. We loved the whole trilogy, and have kept up with Jemisin’s work ever since (actually, Lisa’s probably ahead of me by quite some way). - Feed, by Mira Grant.
This is, on its face, so much more Lisa’s kind of thing than mine that it seems kinda weird that I was the first to read it, but I’m the one who’s more plugged in to discovering books in general, so it isn’t that surprising, and it does plug in to a lot of things that it turns out I find fascinating. (Namely, global pandemics.) We both loved this whole series, and Lisa went on to read more of Grant’s books (and her work as Seanan McGuire). More of it than I have, at this stage! - Magic Bites, by Ilona Andrews.
This was a series we read together more recently. Or rather, I started it, read a few books, went back and started over after accidentally taking a long break, and Lisa got interested enough to ask me for the first book… and swiftly overtook me. Ever since then, when we read the same series, if I’m ahead then Lisa will tell me “choo choo” every so often to indicate that they are steaming ahead and definitely due to overtake me. - Ninefox Gambit, by Yoon Ha Lee. This one was a fairly recent one as well, because I remember talking it over, reacting to it, theorising about it, and generally waving our hands around like lunatics about it while walking around a local park. We both keep meaning to reread it, possibly at the same time, because it blew our minds and we’d love to read it again with that insight rereading can give.
- The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System, by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu.
When I first read the first volume of this series, I was sat in a hotel room in Bath making confused, amused, concerned and bemused noises at the plot. It was my first danmei, and my first cultivation novel, and in many ways it’s not the greatest place to start because it’s actually an affectionate critique of cultivation novels. Nonetheless, I liked it enough to get the next book, read the whole series, and emoted wildly at Lisa about it while staying with my parents (while they were visiting family in Belgium). I can’t remember if I’d persuaded them to read it by the time they got back, or whether I had to keep begging them with my newfound obsession in mind (I was even watching the donghua!) — but we got there in the end. We’ve read several danmei series together now, but I think we’ll always remember this first one with great fondness! - Paladin’s Grace, by T. Kingfisher.
This isn’t the first Kingfisher book my wife read, actually, but it stands out because we started reading this series in parallel-ish while I was once again staying with my parents, this time while we were in the process of moving in 2025. We’d be meeting up after work or on weekends (as well as constantly chatting online — you mustn’t imagine we’re ever out of communication with each other for long; after 20 years of being together, I think we might stop functioning if we were) and talking about whatever I was reading, and this series was one of them. Clockwork Boys, too. - Solo Leveling, by Chugong.
I’ll end this list with the most recent thing we share! I read the manhwa series last year, and only turned to the light novels when I was sure it was going to be my thing and I’d already finished the manhwa. My burbling about it eventually got Lisa curious, they watched the animation, and now they’re reading the series, just starting as I’m on book eight. Occasionally we’ll both stop to emote about Jinho being precious, and similar such reactions.
There are many honourable mentions that I didn’t have space for in the top ten — like Jo Walton’s Among Others, which felt in my early 20s like a portrait of me in some ways, and My Real Children, which Lisa has always loved especially — but I trust this has painted a picture of a joyously bookish relationship over the years!
I’ll leave you with this little tradition of ours to be jealous over: our Valentine’s agreement, renewed each year, is that Lisa will buy me one book of my choice each month, whenever my whim strikes. The reciprocal agreement (no complaints about daytime naps) hasn’t been activated in a long time, and probably needs to be replaced with the ability to send me to get fancy coffee twice a month or something like that — but aren’t I lucky?!
Have a good week. Here is my TTT. https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/top-ten-tuesday-18-love-valentines-freebie/
Danyelle H recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #18 Love/Valentine’s Freebie
I will visit back as usual, since that’s my way, but… this comment feels like it was probably copy/pasted to all the other blogs posting this week, and that’s a pretty sucky feeling for me. These posts aren’t just about getting blog hits, but about community, right? So I would welcome hearing your thoughts, even if it’s mostly that you don’t know any of these books!
Feed was a good story for sure.
I’ve reread it a couple of times! I’m sure I’ve posted before that didn’t love it the first time round (liked it, but wasn’t in love), but somehow it stuck with me and I came to appreciate it a lot more.
Love the topic choice! Paladin’s Grace and Feed are both excellent!
Louise @ Foxes and Fairy Tales recently posted…Top Ten Contemporary Romances I read in 2025
Paladin’s Grace was a very recent read, but I’m already pretty sure we’ll both revisit it!
Sharing books is such a lovely thing. And I really must go back to the rest of the Dark is Rising series!
calypte recently posted…The Apocalypse Codex – Charles Stross
Definitely! And ahh, I hope you enjoy it. I keep meaning to do a reread, now it’s been a few years.
I love that you and your wife share reading tastes, or at least enough for you to recommend her books. My husband and I have such different reading tastes that we rarely share books. But he does love listening to me talk about the books I’m reading and processing my opinions on them.
Here’s my TTT: https://readbakecreate.com/favorite-romances-read-in-2025/
We don’t share 100% of the same reading taste, as they’re far more into horror than I am, but we still have a lot in common!
I came across Paladin’s Grace somewhere else this week already! Seeing it in your post…I’m taking it as a sign that I should pick it up soon 🙂
Flavia Lately recently posted…American Rapture by C.J. Leede (Review)
Ah, I hope you enjoy if you do! I’ve really enjoyed all Kingfisher’s books set in that world.
Fun!
I’ve only read #3.
I went with red covers: https://wordsandpeace.com/2026/02/10/top-ten-red-covers-for-valentine/
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Top Ten red covers for Valentine
Ursula Le Guin’s a classic, after all!
I love that you two share a love of reading, I’m jealous! I don’t have that with my husband, although he claims to have been an avid reader when he was a kid.
Almost all of my family have been readers to some degree or another, so I don’t know how I’d manage with a non-reader! Books take up 90% of my brain…
I love this! My husband and I will occasionally get each other to read favorite books, but I don’t know that I could compile a list of ten books we’ve bonded over. (And I *still* haven’t gotten him to read Murderbot, darnit!)
Nicole @ BookWyrm Knits recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday ~ Ten Things I Loved About Ancillary Sword
Murderbot! Honestly, that could’ve made our list. Gotta love Murderbot.
It’s nice that you and your wife can enjoy some of the same books. My husband and I have very different reading tastes, and he’s A LOT better about taking my reading suggestions than I am about taking his. What can I say? The books he likes are BOOOORRRRRINNNNGGG! LOL
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Susan (Bloggin’ ’bout Books) recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Lotsa LOVE For My Library
Oh nooo, ahaha. I don’t like all of the same books as my wife, since they’re more into horror, but we share a lot!
I loved the Dark is Rising sequence when I was little too – I do think I might be due a reread at some point soon.
I also really enjoyed the Kate Daniels series and actually did reread the whole series in 2025! I like Ilona Andrews’ other books as well, I don’t know if you’ve tried any of them?
Keira @Keira’s Bookmark recently posted…Fantasy with a dash (or two) of romance
I used to reread it at least yearly, but I gave it a bit of a rest in the last few years. Tempting to revisit!
I’ve read a couple of other Ilona Andrews books, and mean to read more… sometime. So many books, so little time.
Aww, this is sweet. Nobody in my life reads, even if I buy them the book. 🙂
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…What Would Make Me Enjoy A Romance Book?
Oh noooo. Books are the primary way I show love, ahaha. I joked with my sister that buying her fiancée and the kids books was my way of saying “welcome to the family”, but it wasn’t really that much of a joke…
TIL that Mira Grant and Seanan Mcguire are the same person!! I’m so surprised because I don’t get the same vibes from their works at all. I’ve enjoyed Mira Grant’s books and loved Feed, but I dnf’d Seanan Mcguire’s books. I feel like I have to reread them and reassess what I missed!
Haze @ The Book Haze recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | My Go-To Romance Authors
I think that’s part of why the two identities are quite separate!
This is honestly one of the most truly romantic things I’ve ever read.
Olivia recently posted…Weekly Reading Update 2-14-2026
Hahaha, thank you!