Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join.
This week: Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Make You NOT pick up a book
If either of these 1o things are in the blurb or a review of the book, I will probably not read it or it will get little stars in my own review.
1. Erotica
I don't judge people who read these kinds of books, but this topic just really doesn't attract me.
Examples: Fifty Shades of Gray and similar books.
2. Love triangle
It's not like I would not read any book with a love triangle in it, because then I probably could not read any YA. But if the blurb/review makes it seem like the love triangle is the most important part of the novel I won't pick it up. The romance should never overshadow the actual plot, this goes for every sort, not just love triangles.
Example: The Elite
3. Depressing topics
I read books for fun. That doesn't mean every book I read has to be all about happy stuff, but books particularly about serious stuff, like death and depression, I want to avoid. It just gets me depressed myself.
Examples: The S-Word, Thirteen Reasons Why
4. Super arrogant protagonist/love interest
When the blurb already mentions such a person I immediately get repulsed from the book. I really hate these characters and when they are so obviously arrogant it's mentioned in the summary, I'm not going to like it. There's nothing wrong with a bad boy, but only if he actually has a good side.
Examples: The Collector, Obsidian
5. Instalove/ unrealistic romance
'She meets a mysterious boy and is immediately attracted to him. After this meeting she can't get him out of her head and has to know him.'
If something like this is in a blurb I will already be irritated with the book. I get that people are attracted to each other without really knowing the other, but instantly loving another person and getting obsessed with them.. no. This happens in so many books and it's just not realistic.
Example: Across the Universe, Unraveling
6. 'The New (fill in a very famous book)'
I don't like it when this is said in a blurb. I know it's to attract readers who liked those other famous books, but it gives too many high expectations. Most books can't possibly rise to the level of these famous books, and the comparison just makes them look bad. And is it not good to be unique and not to be compared to another book?
Examples: The Testing, The 5th Wave
7. Whiny/unlikeable protagonist
When in a review people talk about an unlikable MC they could not connect too, I'm already hesitant to read the book. I like to be able to identify with the MC. Of course she/he does not have to be perfect, but if I get constantly irritated by this person, there's something wrong.
Example: Across the Universe, Parasite
8. Too many/confusing POVs
Multiple POVs in books can be amazing, if only they are clear, distinguishable and written in the same narrative. I like the POVs to be in different chapters, that is the clearest. If at a certain moment I don't know who's speaking anymore, the whole story will get confusing.
Example: Of Poseidon
9. Too little worldbuilding
Especially with dystopians worldbuilding is very important, I like to have a good view of the world and how it came to be. In dystopians/sci-fi's this is extra important because the world is not our own. If I am kept in the dark for a long time or the worldbuilding is so minimal I have no idea how to imagine a world, I don't like it.
Example: Legend
10. Bad grammar
Bad use of grammar is so annoying. And no, this is not only the case in self-published books. A few mistakes are not that bad, but if I'm constantly distracted by them I will get the urge to quit the book.
Put the link to your TTT in the comments!
