So I have a confession…I’m actually a piece of instant coffee.
I mean, you probably entertained some notion that I’m actually a human creature. But no. I am a bean of coffee * when it comes to making instant decisions and judgements about books. I know they say “don’t judge books before you’ve read them” and blah blah etc. But when you’ve read NEARLY A MILLION BOOKS ** you get a very solid idea of what you like or dislike. You realise what topics you are a mess of instalove for. You realise what topics make you wish a camel would eat your head instead of you being forced to read them.
Reading a lot = really understanding your preferences.
Which is actually the best and makes it easier to find good books because you know what you want!
Today I’m liking up with Top Ten Tuesday for their prompt “Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book” and I’m going to do make me instantly WANT to read and WANT NOT to read. Just to shake things up. And because apparently incapable of following a TTT prompt properly.
Rest my soul.
(And also because I did a list of things I’m utter trash for just a few months ago.)
* And also actually an immortal dragon queen of the darkness. I am a complex thing okay?
** This is probably not hyperbolic at all.
Honestly I have a severe case of instalove. With books. Not, like, people…ew that would be strange. People are all very nice, but from a reasonable distance in case they carry diseases like that blight that makes them extend overly happy hugs or commence small talk. This Vulcan says none of that thank you. However, instalove between me + books = a very real and fearsome occurrence. And sometimes I try to hold myself back?? Be logical??? But that ends up going down about as well as this:
Book: DRAGONS!!!!!
Me: need
Brain: Just because it’s about dragons, which we all know you mildly adore, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good book. In fact, oftentimes dragon books fail your expectations. We should wait. Look at some reviews. Decide if it’s worth buying or borrowing from the library.
Me: yes that’s wise
Brain: ok so what are you doing on book depository
Brain: cAIT WE diSCUSSED jUST THE OPPOSITE OF THIS —
So here are some of my literary weakness that I am 5000% trash for:
- DRAGONS. This is so painfully obvious it’s nearly a cliche to say on this blog.
- ANYTHING WITH A LITTLE BIT O’ STABBING. Or you know, a lot of stabbing. I am so here. What is a book if there’s not a bit of blood and torture and maiming perhaps.
- HEISTS AND CON ARTISTS. Omgggg words cannot even summarise how much I will INSTA BUY a book if it has a heist or thieves or con schemes in it. SO. MUCH. LOVE. It’s actually disturbing.
- HISTORICAL RETELLINGS. There aren’t enough of these either!!
- DISABILITY REPRESENTATION. Particularly Autism and Deafness and Selective Mutism. But honestly I want to read about any kind of disability AND I want to read about them in epic fantasy smiting evil and being badass because yes.
- DIVERSE EPIC FANTASY. Particularly set in diverse places!! Like where are my African-inspired epic fantasy worlds??!? I DO NOT SEE YOU AND I WANT TO.
- RUSSIA. Ugh I’m ridiculously obsessed with Russia. I don’t even know why. IT’S ME, GRANDMAMA, ANASTASIA.
- PIRATES. I want them all now and yesterday and immediately piraaaaaaates.
- SWEET BOYS AND SHARP GIRLS. I love this combination so much.
- GHOSTS. They ain’t gettin’ any DEADER. No but really. An unreasonable amount of love for ghosts hath I.
- MODERN WITCHES. They hex you by night and make toast and greet you politely in the elevator by day.
- VILLAINS. Or the morally grey antiheroes. Whatever. Love them.
- MAGICAL BAKERIES. Food is my OTP.
- ANYTHING WITH “QUEEN/KING/PRINCE” IN THE TITLE. It’s SUCH a cliche and yet why do I own 380 books with “queen” in the title? I can’t help myself. I love royalty. I think it’s because I relate, right? #ObviouslyIAmAQueenToo
- LIBRARIES OR BOOKSTORE SETTINGS. Obviously. My aesthetic.
- MAGICIANS. Tragic ones. Messy ones. Adooooorable and disastrous ones. (Am I just talking about A Darker Shade Of Magic? Yes.)
- DARK PSYCHO FAERIES. I can’t get enough of those stabby faeries.
- MUSIC BOOKS. Characters who play violin! Cello! Piano! Harp! VIOLA.
- PETER PAN RETELLINGS. I’m actually getting rather sick of the average retellings (do something different omg) but Peter Pan = something I can not go past. Because I have a Peter Pan complex. #IWillNotGrowUpAndYouCannotMakeMe
- BROTHER STORIES. RIDICULOUSLY FOND OF THESE. WILL INSTA-READ.
- MAGGIE STIEFVATER. Who is a genre and category all on her own and if she wrote it, I’m eating it.
I don’t always dislike these!! (Just mostly.) I have favourite books that can turn hated tropes on their heads! However, I will not be looking at them deeply without serious convincing. And occasionally just the mere sight of them make my eyeballs roll up 9 metres into my skull and I pass out just to get away from the thought of them.
I’m not dramatic. Stop it. If I have to stamp my foot and smack you with my unicorn, then you will have to leAVE mY PARTY.
MY OPINION IS “I WOULD RATHER NOT” TO THESE:
- AMNESIA. It generally just equals a book of ANGST and CLICHES and I’m too old for this.
- LOVE TRIANGLES. Ughhhhghuhghh. If you’re in love with two people, you are not in love with either.
- CURE CULTURE. Ok this one never has any redemption. It is just not on.
- DYSTOPIAN. I’m so sick of it!! I just can’t find a dystopian that doesn’t make me want to murder myself with Katniss’ spork. (Although I do love Katniss. <3)
- BOYBANDS. Yes I listen to a boy and a band on occasion. No I don’t want to read about them, they’re probably sweaty and gross. And I just don’t care about this stuff very much???
- ROAD TRIPS. I’m bored. Do I look bored? I’m boooooored. PLEASE STOP WALKING.
- INSANE ASYLUMS. They’re always derogatory to people who are actually suffering. And I hate the magical “oh you weren’t insane because insane people are incapable of anything!! you were just magical!!” because it’s. so. cruel. Why can’t we have truly mentally ill heroes?!?
- SARAH J MAAS. haha haha hahahhhha hAHHAHAHHHAA. #Sorry
- SUICIDE BOOKS. They upset me too much.
- ROBOT GIRLS. Obviously they are robot girl stories I love…but mostly they’re kind of dumb. Oooh, she discovers she has emotions??? WOW. DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.
- COLLEGE. Ehhhh. I never went plus American colleges are so weird. SO WEIRD. I’m 0% interested.
- TIME TRAVEL. Pls don’t mess up the universe. Just sit down. Have a cupcake and get a new hobby.
- MERMAIDS. I have too many questions about anatomy. Also put on some clothes.
- MARRIAGE CONTESTS. Because #always #sexist.
- SPORTS. I kicked a soccer ball once. It won’t happen again.
- COMPUTER GAMES / VIRTUAL REALITIES. I never have played any??? Apart from Sims??? And it interests me exactly 0% to read.
- PERIOD DRAMAS. Go away.
- LAZY SUMMER VIBES. Because nothing haaaaappens and they’re so sappy and I’m so bored.
- ARENAS. Isn’t 5,000 books of this enough yet??? I’m so done.
YESS TO THIS LIST. And obviously Maggie Stiefvater is a genre. *nods furiously*
Also, Sarah J. Maas. Hahahahahahha. I need a moment to recover. I highly doubt I will read any more books of her aside from ACOWAR because I don’t like not continuing series! (Ok let’s not include ToG in here hahahaha😑😂) it’s not just her books which are problematic. The main reason why I am so against her is because of her fandom. Those people never understand anything, and believe that SJM is a god who can do no wrong. Also, I have seen some people get death threats on tumblr who speak up against her books which is baaaaad. Very bad I tell you.
Do you know what! Her ACOTAR series is NA/Adult because it has sexual content, AND a warning is given on the back of the books, but they were in the YA Fantasy section of the GoodReads awards and of course, ACOMAF won despite it not being YA and being NA. Lady Midnight was at the second place so it was the rightful winner imao since it is part of YA!!
And brother and sibling stories are the best! I can honestly never relate though because all I want in life is to throw my brother off a cliff.😂😂
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MAGGIE STIEFVATER IS AMAZINGNESS.😂😂
And agh yes, the main reason I’m opposed to SJM books is the problematic aspects. Like the fact that she treats disability and POC characters as disposable never fails to rile me and just the way Celeana treats other women is so degrading. I’m so peeved on SO many issues. And I’m never going to stop being mad that ACOTAR was shelved as YA and won in that Goodreads thing!! THAT’S SO RIDICULOUS IT WAS NEVER EVER EVERRRRR YA. I’m never going to get over that. It’s actually kind of disgusting. I can’t imagine 13-year-old me being okay with reading ACTOAR and, newsflash to Goodreads…Ya is meant for 13+.
(I think we love sibling stories because we’re secretly in hope our own siblings will turn out better. 😂😂
Love your list! I’m a sucker for baddass girls in space even though I know it can be done so wrong I just want badass girls kicking shooting lasers and piloting space crafts 🙈 I thought I would love road trip books because it kinda sounds fun but so many of them are just tedious I don’t know why I keep adding them to my Tbr expecting something different 😅
I’m with you there!! IT CAN BE SO COOL!! And like any trope/topic can be done awfully haha, but when it’s done right? *flails with the happy*
And yes agh the roadtrip books can get so tedious. Although there are some I do actually love, like The Lost and Found by Katrina Leno. But mostly when it’s like the Hobbit or LOTR and they just walk for 50 chapters and nothing happens? SAVE ME.😭😂😂
We share dragons, but you know, duh. How could that not be on everyone’s list? I have a huge need for more diverse epic fantasy. Give it to me. (Let’s pretend that I actually can buy them…)
I feel you on the road trips, boybands, sarah j.maas, love triangles and marriage contests. I never understand how that last one even became a thing…
Annemieke recently posted…TTT #91 – Top Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book
Dragons should definitely be on everyone’s lists. It’s like proof that you’re a good person to love dragons. *nods*
Marriage contests are the WORST and yet so popular?!? Make it stooooop. 😭
Yes to most of these!
Also I’d like to have a lot more intrigue and diplomacy in books. Ass kicking and stabbing are entertaining but where’s diplomacy?? not all of us are made out to be sword fighters, some of us are better at politics?
And I’m a little tired of heteronormativity. Like at least give us a queer side character.
Whyyyyy would anyone want to TALK through their problems when they can just punch people, Alex? C’mon now.😂😂 (JUST KIDDING BTW HAHA.) I actually do like a good political book at times! Which is why The Winner’s Curse series really impressed me with mind games and royalty instead of JUST ass-kicking.
I love mermaid books, but now I’m not going to be able to stop questioning their anatomy – thanks for that! 😛
I have to disagree on books with queen/king/prince, though… The Queen of the Tearling made me far too suspicious towards other royalty-centric titles. There are so many I’m interested in, I just can’t bring myself to actually read them.
Alyce @ Everything Alyce recently posted…TOP TEN TUESDAY: Ten things that make me instantly want books
omg you’re welcome for that new pain.😂😂 And I actually HAVE read one mermaid book that I liked, so they’re not all bad…I just have too many questions about their logic.😂 How do they even pee though.
I KNOW QUEEN TITLES ARE SO CLICHE BUT I’M SUCH AN ADDICT FOR THEM. SAVE ME, ALYCE, I’M TERRIBLE.
Oh man, I hate the cure culture and love triangles. ALSO WHY ARE ALL ROAD TRIP STORIES BORING? lol hey I actually read a really good asylum book called A Madness So Discreet, it was actually incredible. CAIT WHY DO I SEE SO MANY THINGS YOU DISLIKE ON MY LOVE LIST. TIME TRAVEL AND GAMING AND WHAT IS THIS.
That’s okay, I like dragons too so we can still be friends.
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Ohhhh I actually want to read a Madness So Discreet because I love the author. 😂😂 But any kind of quest/road trip…omg. I’m like taking a nap right here.
I’M SORRY FOR FAILING YOU, JEANN. DON’T ABANDON ME HERE. *clings to your ankles as you leave me* I’LL GIVE YOU A DRAGON TO MAKE UP FOR IT. Blame my parents for never letting me play video games.😂😂
Witches. Give me witches and I will read.
Reading your list, I can see why you liked Six of Crows so much. It’s, like, your perfect book. (I just finished it.)
I don’t understand American colleges either, but we have Americans over here who are absolutely flabbergasted by UK student life so…maybe it’s just different over there? I don’t know.
I don’t like books about sexual assault. It doesn’t matter how it’s presented, I don’t want to read it.
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YAS SO MUCH WITCH APPRECIATION. ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE NAMED NATHAN OR GABRIEL. LET’S BE REAL HERE. And haha yes. I mean it’s like Six of Crows just went through my checklist. So lovely of it. :’)
oh I agree with you about books on sexual assault in books. I avoid when I can too.
A great list- definitely made me think more deeply about what I want/don’t want to read about but I’m such a flake, I’ll try anything… then again, there are a couple of things I always steer clear of if possible: time travel and dream scenarios. Time travel plots have just pissed me off a bit, like, why is there so many different things happening and how are they relevant? As for dreams.. yes, they’re interesting to talk about but if I have to read a dream per chapter, then just no. Why can’t the dream things happen for reals?
I’m excited to see your enthusiasm around Stiefvater- I recently scored the whole series in paperback and I’m yet to read it… sooo… High hopes! 🙂
I try everything a lot of the time too haha.😂 Because I have 0% self control when it comes to books and I want to read soooo many of them. And I HAVE read like one good mermaid book and there’s a few triangles I love.😂 BUT TIME TRAVEL DOES MY HEAD IN. They always mess with the past and future and then they get into alternate realities and I just….*watches brain descend to mush*
afjdlksDJKL STIEFVATER IS ONLY THE BEST THING OF THE WORLD.
This immediately makes me want to recommend a few books with stabbing and torture and none of the things one your bad list. (Cause a girl almost giving into marrying an evil king when she loves someone else is not a love triangle)
But I also have some idea of your taste from all the books you review and I wouldn’t touch, so I won’t bother. I(‘ll just keep them all to myself and the existing fandom and write an epic review when the next book come out.
I also won’t mention the wonderful dystopian with a crazy love triangle that i’ve just been enjoying. (the girl wasn’t actually in love with both guys at once, but I didn’t know who to ship her with)
And I won’t mention my own story that almost has a marriage contest and some kind of geometric love thing.
Oh, wow, sorry Brie. This post isn’t meant as an attack to you.😳I’m sorry if I upset you.
I think bookworms can have different tastes and this isn’t bad though, just something to keep in mind.
I forgot to add food to my list!!!! oooohhh the pain.
I run away screaming from zombies, oh and time travel… and maybe those type of books that have so many love interests/angles that make me grab my old geometry book to search for the name of the shape.
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FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY LIFE THOUGH. Especially in books. A good book really should drive me to starvation. :’)
Time travel messes with my head SO MUCH. I tried to watch the time travelling Xmen movie and I just about died because it was so confusing.😂
ANYTHING WITH A LITTLE BIT O’ STABBING ☑
HEISTS AND CON ARTISTS ☑ #Love
HISTORICAL RETELLINGS ☑ same, Cait. same.
DISABILITY REPRESENTATION ☑
DIVERSE EPIC FANTASY ☑
RUSSIA ☑
VILLAINS ☑ #Duh
ANYTHING WITH “QUEEN/KING/PRINCE” IN THE TITLE ☑
MAGICIANS ☑
DARK PSYCHO FAERIES ☑
MUSIC BOOKS ☑
PETER PAN RETELLINGS ☑ (I’m starting to think that I might be your evil twin)
BUT…. so much Sarah J Maas hate that I demand cake as compensation for emotional abuse.
side note: I get that some from the SJM fandom can act a little crazy, but you can’t judge the author or the entire fandom based on a few specimens.
I’M GLAD WE AGREE ON SO MANY THINGS!! And haha it’s not the SJM fandom being the reason I don’t like her books! I don’t like the books themselves.😂 I don’t have a problem with those who do though. WE CAN STILL BE FRIEEEEENDS. And I’d give you cake but also I ate it all. *pats your head and gives you a crumb*
I was with you all the way until we got to the mermaids. I just…. What? Pirates! Peter Pan! But no mermaids? What about Mermaid Lagoon? *Boo hoo tears emoji*
I’m soooorry. Maybe I just need a good mermaid book to convince me?!?😂
OMG, Cait, HOW DID I FORGET HEISTS? I am so ashamed. Yes yes yes to sweet boys and sharp girls. Sorry, bad boys, you’re old news. We definitely need more diverse epic fantasy, as well as diverse sci-fi!
Um, so, when can I expect your novel set in a magical bakery?! Basically I want you to write all these things, haha.
HOW COULD YOU, MARAIA. YOU’VE FAILED.😂😂 And yes please, let’s remove the bad boys and have some of the sweet ones. Bonus points if they’re bookworms. 😍 Unless they’re Ronan Lynch, who is kind of a bad boy and I love him.
I am 10000% going to write a magical bakery story. Just wait. I’ve got my magical library story down, so *flexes fingers* let’s get to this.
Oh yes, Ronan is definitely the exception. But yes, sweet bookworm boys! (Oh wait, I actually found one. 😂)
\o/
I also don’t care for road trips and summer vibes…but a lot of people do like them. I never understood why. Books like that always lack substance to me.
The sweet boys + sharp girls combination, though. Those are the best. =)
Emily Seals recently posted…10 things that will make me instantly want to read a book.
They just seem too slow and meandering! I need more of a concrete plot with more ACTION and not just travelling.😂
I’m actually not surprised by most of your list? 😛 guess following someone for a while does that.
Entertaining post, though! (And did you know that next week’s TTT is what drives you away from books?)
YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL😂 I’ve been around too long haha.
And…nope.😂I didn’t actually read ahead of the prompts and now I regret everything haha.
How did I not list some of these: witches of any type, heists (yes!), libraries/bookstores (yes please) and food! I forget about the great books that involve food. How? I don’t know.
Love this list! PS have you read the Heist Society series by Ally Carter? 💖
Chrystal recently posted…Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book
I’m glad we like so many of the same things! *HI FIVES* And yep, I have read Heist Society but not the rest of the books. 😂
I like asylums in books, but when the awesome girl gets out of there to prove she wasn’t crazy. Double points if there is a ghost in there somewhere. 🙂 http://mwgerard.com/top-ten-tuesday-things-that-make-me-want-to-read-a-book/
I find the trope of “the girl wasn’t really crazy but is actually cool!” is really depressing actually. Like the fact that it insinuates that people who DO have mental health issues can’t be the leader of an adventure. It also kind of diminishes their struggles. 🙈🙊
That’s true too! I more meant the women who are put in asylums by men who can’t handle thoughtful, strong women. But yes, women who are kick-butt and have mental health issues are awesome too. Have you read THE MOTION OF PUPPETS? Her exact issue is never diagnosed but it’s a very interested psychological novel, with a gripping plot as well.
THIS LIST IS EVERYTHING!
1) I love dragon book, but good dragons because I hate it when books have evil dragons, just no.
2) Russia, thank you! I thought I was the only one who loves Russia in books. After reading The Bronze Horseman, I freaking love it so much I can’t even!
3) VILLAINS DESERVE MORE RESPECT IN BOOKS #ENDOF
4) Yes for royalty in books.
5) Books/book stores in books? Please and thank you! Althought the most resent one I read by Kasie West totally didn’t use the library and it just pissed me off.
6) I thought I was the only one who gets pissed off by road trip books? I mean, nothing happens? Ever?
7) I just binge watched 13 Reasons Why and I can’t stop thinking about it, and not in a good way.
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I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY LIST!! WE CLEARLY BOTH HAVE EXCELLENT TASTE!!
I will never forgive that Kasie West book though…like what a waste of an excellent premise. 😒😒 Always gonna be bitter there.
Understanding your preferences is good, but stepping out of your comfort zone and picking up a book which is not normally your cup of tea is good too. I love to find my new favorite in unexpected genres.
Yes to Sweet Boys and Sharp Girls, it’s my weakness too. And I love morally grey antiheroes. And of course Maggie Stiefvater!
I actually enjoy books dealing with memory loss.
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It totally can be good to try books you’re not sure you’ll like! I actually do that a lot haha.😂 But I also know when there’s no point and I’m just going to leave a gnarly review. 🙈🙊
Agh I did this prompt and we love so much of the same stuff! Win for us over here planning world domination in the form of heists or pirates 😉
I’m pretty picky with contemporary, because gag me . I just can’t stand them, mostly bc hello some of us are not 16 with two boys who love us; some of us are 23 and don’t leave our house and when we do boys are not the reason books are!
*hi fives for our heist and pirate appreciation* 😂 And I have trouble with contemporaries a lot too!! I DO love them, but I tend to need more magic and blood haha.
Ha ha I swear we are like the same person, book wise. I love basically everything on your like list, especially stabbing, magicians & pirates. I have to admit, I do like some of the stuff on your hate list, but what can you do? Totally agree on the amnesia trope, that one needs to die a slow painful death. I’m still kind of a sucker for Sarah J Maas books though and I love a good dystopia.
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WE ARE DEFINITELY EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF BOOKWORMS WITH GREAT TASTE. *hi fives* (And I do like a GOOD dystopian, I just think I read too many when the craze was on.😂)
I am all down for historical retellings and pirates. I like brother stories, too. Libraries – always good choices!
Library-esque books always have so much to relate to!!
I totally agree with your “Rather Not” topics. I’m kinda over suicide books. It feels like there are a lot of them out there. Also, “Lazy Summer Vibes.” *Shudders with horror*
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I just get so bored with those lazy summer books.😂 Go get a hobby like fighting dragons or looking for dead welsh kings, PLEASE.
Hahaha! This is great! I LOVE the diversity of the bookish world! I personally adore Historical anything haha! Trying to branch out more….but #toomanybooks #notenoughtime. And really don’t like them love triangles. Ha!
There’s ALWAYS too many books and not enough time though…the bookworm agony.😂
Omg. Okay. So this list is the best thing ever. But omg, I’m still laughing (like real laughing, like I shouldn’t be reading this at work laughing), because you have NO idea how much I related to RUSSIA. There’s a reason about 99.9% all of my fiction is set in some psuedo-faux-let’s make it snow a lot-fantasy Russia knock-off, and it’s ALL because of that movie! Like, I should probably learn more about actual Russia and not just beautiful songs and worlds that look like paintings. Same with royalty. Don’t try and tell me that it doesn’t make sense for everyone in the world to be a prince or princess or duke or whatever. Don’t shatter my illusions.
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AHHHHH it made you really laugh?! THIS MAKES MY DAY.😂 *gives you all the cake* And omg I’m really glad you’re writing Russian fantasy because ME TOO and also I want to go to Russia someday and also russian fairytales are the best and RUSSIA.
Dark stabby faeries are the best! I’m all for the insta cover love too.
THEY ARE. And I absolutely insta-buy for covers too.😂NO SHAME.
I feel like I always say this with your posts, but god are they just the most accurate things of all-time. A very loud YES to all of this ahh.
Insta-need for me is pretty much anything that’s centered around villains/morally grey characters. All of my favorite characters fall under that category (which should probably concern me but doesn’t #whoops) and I have such an immense love for twisted characters and stories. _<
Another fantastic post, Cait!!
adaline @ not gary cooper recently posted…Ten Tropes That Make Me Want to Instantly Read A Book || Top Ten Tuesday
AHHH THANK YOU. <3 We clearly both have excellent taste and this is a glorious fact.
And pfft, we don't need to be concerned about our love for morally grey cinnamon rolls. They just need to be loved and we are here to do that for them. :')
So much yes to the disability representation! I’m disabled and want to read all the books with disability rep in them! Unless they get “magically cured” #nothankyou
Mermaids…I love mermaids <3 they are actually on my list of "instantly want" though I never seem to get around to reading those books *cries from overwhelming TBR pile*
LGBTQIA+ lit. In any way shape or form is a major YES to me!
Vampires as well. Aliens. Actually almost any kind of weird "creature". I like weird things….*goes to hide in the corner*
Great post! I'll need to think of my own full list 🙂
And disability needs to stop being treated as invisible too…like it’s a bad thing or a thing to be ashamed about and hidden. *sighs* I really want books to catch up on this and start stomping out stigmas.
I need to find more mermaid books probably.😂I’ve only read like 3 and they just didn’t do anything for me BUT THREE IS NOT VERY MANY.
ANTIHEROS AND VILLAINS ARE THE BEST. I’m glad you agree. Do you know what would be cool? A book where every single character is a villain. Villains who love food. Because clearly I’m not twisted enough already. And I agree, dystopian is dead to me. I’m so sick of it. Wonderful post!!
YES I THINK THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT. PLEASE MAKE ONE FOR ME. Actually I write fantasy books like that myself at times.😂 Why have heroes when you can just have a dozen villains. :’) #Nice
Villians are waaay more interesting!!
I’m totally with you on sharp girls and modern witches! Yes please! I’m the opposite about dystopian! I want to read them alllllll. I also agree about the video games one, BUT I did read Ready Player One and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would!
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I think I just burnt myself out SO bad on dystopians when they first went into that wild craze stage. I read like dozens of them per week.😂 MY BAD. I do want to read Ready Player One though, despite me always failing at gaming books.😂
Oh, dear, lol, because of the part about hating amnesia stories… There’s a part in my own series… But, actually, it’s not really amnesia, it’s about a specific incident, and it’s not like the minds in question are wiped *totally* blank. And now I absolutely can’t say anything more without massive spoilers for my own book! #OHMYGOSHWHATTHEHECK
Generally I run a million miles from contemporaries (soooooo boring for me), murder mysteries (PLEASE STOP WITH THE FORMULAIC unless you’re going to do me in next and spare me), and the girl-meets-boy-and-obsesses-for-79-years when there are MORE IMPORTANT things in life to do novels.
Usually if I see a dragon/unicorn/faery on the cover, I will be picking it up faster than the speed of light to at least read the synopsis. Same with unusual art — is it vintage? abstract? art deco? Translation – something different. That often attracts me, too.
OMG I SERIOUSLY DIDN’T MEAN TO BE RUDE THER!! 😭 There ARE amnesia stories that I like anyway…like The Maze Runner. 😜 So don’t worry!!
And I so agree about the girl-meets-boy-cue-obsession. Like, get a hobby. Start a blog. Then you’ll have no time for the obsessing.😂 #practical
I predicted about 90% of what would be on your list and I’m so proud of my psychic abilities right now. *pats self on back* (But I’m SHOCKED that cake didn’t get its own category.)
Ugh, yes, thank you, I think it’s time we let dystopian and arena books die. They had a good run. Now let them sleep peacefully in their graves so we can make room for things like adorable YA families and characters who write fan-fiction and MAGIC.
I’M SO PREDICTABLE. I SHOULD PROBABLY RETIRE AS A BLOGGER SOON.😂
They did have a good run and now 1938847 people have run with them and we need to stop.😂
YES TO DRAGONS! Actually, yes to all mythical creatures, but to be fair, dragons probably rule all of them anyway.
Also, just basically yes to your entire list of reasons for bookish insta-love. Especially heists, Russia, villains and magicians. 🙂
As for dislike, I really dislike instalove in books. I’m a big romantic and love romance in books, BUT it needs to be done a bit realistically and not overtake the rest of the plot. Which instalove almost always fails at so NOPE. I do kind of love roadtrips, haha. But by car. No to walking 😉 And I also kind of like mermaids, but I agree about all the anatomical questions!
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads recently posted…What Makes Me Pick Up A Book? My Top Ten Bookish Buzzwords {Top Ten Tuesday}
YES DRAGONS RULE THEM ALL!!😂 We definitely need more of them in books because they’re so underrated.
I totally agree! Instalove feels like a cheating way to do it because there’s not character development! It feels like slack writing most of the time tbh.
YESSSSSSSSSS
I enjoy reading books about dragons because who doesn’t? And, we are in dire need for some more diverse epic fantasy with magical bakeries because cake. Cake is life, not a lie. My siblings are meh, so I love reading about epic siblings in stories in the hopes that my siblings could possibly turn out better. Also anything with queen/king/prince/princess in the title piques my interest too, and so does musical instruments!
I totally agree with you about cure culture and lazy summer vibes. Marriage contests and arenas I read purely to laugh at the deaths, I think I might be slightly weird for that?? Although, the characters are probably weirder for deciding to enter a contest for someone’s hand in marriage!!
I AGREE. Anyone who doesn’t like dragons is probably to be mistrusted. Cake is absolutely life and omg I just love everything in your comment. I think we are long lost twins.
(Why do people insist on entering contests for marriage anyway!? WHAT ABOUT THEY GO FIND A DRAGON TO LOVE.)
Hmm… one thing that would make me want to read a book would be time travel (particularly if reviews say it’s well done… because it isn’t always). Something that would make me avoid a book would be hearing the book contains clinomorphisms, particularly for OCD. If I hear that a character refers to him/herself or someone else as “so OCD” merely because they’re tidy, the book would get instantly struck off my wishlist and it would immediately go on a list of books–and authors–to avoid. I don’t know if people are aware of how extremely insulting it is for a condition that negatively affects every aspect of your life to be laughed off as a cute personality quirk.
I haven’t read many books about gaming, but I’m not really what I’d consider a gamer. I used to get nauseated from playing games like DOOM! 😛 I will play around with simulators, though. The RollerCoaster Tycoon and The Sims games have gotten a lot of play on my computer over the years. (I got The Sims 4 not long ago, and I’m still getting used to the style of play. I’m not used to all my Sims aging at the same time… and my neighbourhood is littered with dead Sims who got old and died when I wasn’t paying attention.)
Oh I agree about the “that’s so OCD” sort of comments. I wince EVERY TIME I hear them…and I hear it a lot on the internet too. Someone told me I was really OCD for having my bookshelves like I do…and I’m just like???? What even??? Why are you misusing the word like this??? It is very sad how people use the term as interchangeable with “quirky” or whatever. Ugh. I hear ou.
I’ve only ever played Sims haha! And that was like Sims 2!! SO LONG AGO.
I’m quicker to pass on a new book than actually READ a new book. I have to read the blurb, and concider the genre, title, and cover, of course. Reason for all that work: I’m very young, and my mom trained me in being a picky book picker, not reading just any book that could be twaddle, or bad for my brain. Which means being picky is part of me now. 😛
as for things I pass books on:
1. anything not fantasy.(just kidding, but if it’s not fantasy it has to sound really interesting)
2. romance. If it’s a main part of the plot, boooooooring. I don’t mind it on the side though. shipping! 😀
3. dark stuff. no thank you. I don’t need that scary stuff in my head tonight.
4. if one of the characters is gay. I am GONE.
I totally need more dragon and pirate books! I’m actually plotting two, a dragon book, and a pirate book, which might actually be a series, which will be scary, since I’ve never written a book series before. But first I need to finish my star wars book. sigh.
Most crazily, ~Olive
Olive recently posted…Happy Easter!
Yay that you like dragons and pirates! ME TOO.😂
Literally every time you upload a list like this, I have to jump between the comments section and the body of the post itself to add commentary on all of the things you were so right about. THIS POST IS FULL OF SO MUCH TRUTH. Yes to all the diversity and representation – esp. all the retellings SPECIFICALLY featuring diversity and representation – and royalty, and Maggie Stiefvater (bc, duh!). And you’re so right… an absolute no to anything and everything with inaccurate depictions of mental health / suicide – especially the whole fantasy asylum trope! – and I. Hate. Lazy. Summer. Books. Too. Teens frolicking at the beach and creating drama for themselves where there are clearly s’mores to be eaten instead? No thank you.
Savannah @ Playing in the Pages recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Things that Will Instantly Make Me Want to Read a Book
HAHA. I’m sorry about that though!! Why are my posts so so long.😂 I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT THOUGH THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. WE ARE LIKE BRAIN TWINS CLEARLY.
Dude, yes. I mean, if these people want to have a lazy summer, why not go find a dead welsh king and also become dark magicians while they’re at it??? Priorities???
I am a) new to your site, b) in love with you site, and c) never again going to be able to properly express my love for pirates without thinking, “immediately piraaaaaaates.” All that and an Anastasia joke? I adore.
Also, American colleges are weird, even if you went there, but mostly unlike the weirdness surrounding them in books.
OMG I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED MY POST!! *gives you welcome cake* And it’s always a good time for an Anastasia reference, right?!😂
Omg Cait, your “do not want” list is longer than your “want” list!
No it isn’t??😂 My want list is 21 things and my do-not-want list is 19?
I insta-need assassins, faeries, medieval kingdoms, more historical retelling’s like And I Darken. I do have this thing with witch books. Me+Witch books= don’t go together. I’ve just read so many bad witch books, and I don’t like Harry Potter. I love a good faerie book though! I also like a well planned out heist! Have you ever read Pretending To Be Erica?! Oh, that book is sooooo good! I remember telling my mom about at and she told me to stop because it was to crazy! *me cackling with the amazingness of a well thought out plan*. The College one made me laugh though. I agree college is weird and expensive. Why is it sooo expensive?! I will never know. I didn’t know suicide books upset you though. I feel odd that I like reading those books, my mom also thinks its odd. I’m an odd person. I don’t like the ones were its told from the person that wants to kill themselves though. They all end with I found a girl/boy that makes me want to live cliche. I more like the aftermath ones, were people are discovering the why’s of things. I also agree with Dystopian. I didn’t realize how much of it I read when I was younger. Now I hate it, it was a phase. My new phase is dark (not horror, horror bores me) bloody, awesome fight scenes, and con artisty things, with villians. Awesome right?! I do occasionally venture into contemporary and either come out (a) loving the book to death do us part or (b) hating it, wanting the book as far away as possible and not finishing it.
I haven’t read Pretending To Be Erica but I’ve got it added on goodreads!! I’M GLAD YOU THINK IT’S GOOD! I should see if my library loves me enough to buy it for me.😂 But I just love how clever those kinds of books are. Yaaaas.
I don’t think it’s odd to read books about suicide. And like I do love SOMe books that are centred around the topic (All the Bright Places for one)…but yeah I just do find it very upsetting to read about and often I don’t think it’s handled in healthy ways and it’s very depressing with no good messages. 🙈🙊 And NO to the books that fix everything with “romance” ughhhh. *walks into a wall*
I read like a MILLION dystopian books when I was 16-17 and I totally burned myself out on them. 😂 Now they all sound the same hahha.
I just spent fifteen minutes searching mermaid anatomy because you got me wondering how in the world that would work. (Not that I haven’t wondered occasionally before, but, yeah.) It would’ve been more than that, but I was worried about running into something unsavory. 😛
Also, I agree with you completely on dragons. Gimme. 😀 Particularly adorable small dragons and epic enormous ultra-protective ones and Dragon-Rider bonds in general.
Bahahhaha, I’m glad we’re both now thoroughly confused and worried about mermaids now.😂 I just…i have so many questions. Shape-shifting mermaids seem to be okay but then what about the others?? HOW DOES IT WORK AND DO I EVEN WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY PEE AND…HAVE CHILDREN.
Hello there!! I signed up couple of weeks back and have so been enjoying your posts!
I wanted to ask (hopefully this isn’t a repeat question!) – please could you elaborate on your dislike of all things Sarah J. Maas? I am so curious! I have read her books and I am not too sure how I feel, but.I know something about her work bothers me (but what!! ah!!) – but everyone else I have run into is a raving fan, so they are no help. What exactly is it that you object to?
Ah! again – thank you for your delightful work! I am stuck out in the countryside at the moment (I spend long hours contemplating the hillsides, the clouds, the birds… :/ ), and your posts are like a wonderful splash of color and book-discussion and laughter all rolled together (with chocolate in there somewhere!).
Hi Jennifer!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING IN THE MADNESS. *gives you welcome cake*
Haha, okay so I will try not to rant: but I find Sarah J Maas books are fairly problematic with how often they are sexist, kill of POC characters, and dismiss disabled characters from the storyline. I was really angry with all the personality-pendulum swings in the Throne of Glass books and the romance is abusive in the ACTOAR books. Also all the sex makes me give them a dubious side-eye that they’re considered “young adult”. I also don’t like how everyone is in love with Celanea and all her girl-on-girl hate, plus the way she treats people sickens me. I USED to love the books, but I think they took a massive inappropriate turn after book 2.
I’m really glad you enjoy my blog! THANKS!
Yaaas I am on board with so many of these. Dragons, heists/con artists, historical retellings, sweet boys and sharp girls, antiheros, maggie stiefvater. These are all things that will 100% make me want to read a book, I guess that’s why my tbr is so long. Most of your ‘rather nots’ are things that I am not strictly against but I can see how they can be done badly, however cure culture is so nonredeemable and I don’t understand how it is in so many ya books.
Emma recently posted…Top Ten Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book
YAS YOU HAVE GOOD TASTE CLEARLY. *awards you with cake*
And yes! Like my “No” list is not even things that I’ll never read about, really, because I still have books I love that do those tropes well! But I just am pretty tired of them. Except for cure culture, which I will hate always. *rages that it even exists*
I’m with you … on some of this.
I’m also a sucker for heists, ghosts, and good villains. Also left cold by time travel, amnesia, love curing all, robots, virtual reality…
I’m puzzled by your hatred of road trip stories. Have you ever been on a good road trip? Because maybe you’ve just been on really bad ones. American colleges are weird? Hmmm…. again, maybe you are reading about the wrong ones, like the ones with drunken toga parties, instead of the ones with brick covered buildings and a whiff of menace, And I am all about a good boarding school setting.
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Hahah that’s fair.😂😂
Okay truthfully: I personally also hate roadtrips. I’ve been on MANY and I hate driving and I hate spontaneous adventure.😂 But when reading them it’s not so much that, just as the tedium of all the travel. Like quests with all the walking in fantasy stories? I’m so bored.😂 I have read good roadtrip books though, so it’s not ALWAYS a hate for me. I like John Green’s.
Haha I love period dramas 😀 But only if they’re written by Jane Austen. I haven’t read any others. I’m not sure if I have any book instalove yet…I guess I haven’t read enough. 😮 But if you don’t like amnesia…why do you like Anastasia? (I guess it’s the same way you can dislike dystopian and like the Hunger Games, eh?)
I’m curious as to why you think American colleges are weird. I’m in one right now. Is it stressful? Yeah. Is it unnecessarily complicated? You bet. Is it weird?
Well…I guess if we’re going off movies…I could see that…
What are Australian colleges like?
Haha, I mean, there are ALWAYS exceptions. I also really love The Maze Runner which is 100% about amnesia and also dystopian and kind of cliche in retrospect. 😉 So it depends on the writing.
And omg can anyone NOT like Anastasia/!???
Oh American culture is just SO different from Australia.😂It just feels alien to me. Australia has universities, not colleges, and I’d say they’re more like how the British function. My sister is in one! I haven’t been.
I AGREE WITH YOUR “YESSSSSS” LIST. Like heists + fantasy + diversity + morally grey/antiheros + stabbing + cute platonic relationships IS WHAT I LIVE FOR. And I haaaaaate love triangles. It’s always so dramatic and angsty and whiny. I actually like dystopian — but only as long as it’s not cliché (because god knows we have ENOUGH of that). And I don’t like video games or virtual reality things like that, but I read one duology (the Roar, I think; I’m not sure if it’s YA or MG) that was about a video game BUT I REALLY LIKED IT also it was sci-fi and I have a weakness for sci-fi with cool magical abilities but WHATEVER. And suicide (in books and in real life) makes me sooooooo sad! I just can’t deal. *cries*
May @ Forever and Everly recently posted…Mini Reviews // All the Contemporaries Attack Me
WE OBVIOUSLY BOTH HAVE GOOD TASTE. *hi fives* I can’t stand the videogame/virtual reality things at all.😭 They just seem so…ugh. I don’t even know. Boring and tired.😂
SCI FI CAN BE SO COOL THOUGH. BECAUSE ILLUMINAE.
Your list does not surprise me in the least and has quite a lot of GREAT things on it. 😀 I forgot about some of these and really should have had them on my list.
One insta-have, one must need, is probably a book with geek culture. It takes place at a con, it’s about a character trying to bring their favorite character back, etc.
One insta-GET-THE-HECK-AWAY: books with strong religious overtones that are preachy in the extreme. I can’t swallow the elitist tones these books have and will throw a book away from my person so fast. >:(
I did do this list, by the way, and one of the Top 10 Things that can make me pick up a book? If it’s recommended by a certain Dragon Queen. 😉
I’m basically so cliche these days, aren’t I?!😂 No surprises to what I like/dislike. I THINK MAYBE I’M TOO LOUD ABOUT IT.😂
Oh I love geek culture too!! It’s so relatable.😂
And definitely me too with the overly-religious books. I just read Defy the Stars and honestly it was partially the religious aspects that turned me off. And things that get preachy? Ugh. This is why I’ve abandoned ship with all Brandon Sanderson books. I feel like I’m having messages shoved down my throat. 😭
OMGGGGGG YOU ARE TOO NICE. *tackle hugs*
OH OH OH! I can’t edit my previous comment sooooo I’m adding a second one. Don’t mind me. BUT ANYWAY. I loveeeee your origami cranes! 😀 😀 they are so pretty and I love them all lined up in rainbow order! Really, all things should be lined up in rainbow order, but I digress. They are too cute. You are so amazing at origami and I love seeing all of the things you make!
YES YES ALL THINGS SHOULD BE LINED UP IN RAINBOW ORDER!! It would make life infinitely better.😂 And aww thank you. <3 <3 You're too nice to me!!
OH DEAR. I’m afraid that most of the things on your hate list are things I’m writing currently or have written in the past???? Whoooops! Sorry… :/
I mean, I am totally with you on the brother stories and ghosts and pirates and bookstores and foooood and I’m actually writing an African-inspired fantasy so that should make your soul happy, but…
My book has amnesia??? Oops… I can totally see where you’d think that’s angsty, by the way.
I adoooore mermaids, though I have wondered similar things mostly WHERE IS YOUR UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS, SIR??? They don’t have gills, after all. Don’t tell me they have to come to the surface every 30 seconds! Also what do they eat??? And can you actually swim well with ungainly human torso + fishy lower half??? Not sure… I also appreciate your desire for modesty. 😀
Aaaaaaand, I have a robot girl who discovers she has feelings… This is getting bad, isn’t it??? I am so cliche. 😉
Okay what’s a marriage contest, exactly???
You think American colleges are weird? Why? 😀
I Googled “cure culture” but it couldn’t tell me what it was???
TIME TRAVEL AND SPORTS AND VIDEO GAMES = AAAAAAALLLL THE EWWWWW!!! So I totally agree with you there…
Road trips and lazy summer vibes sound boring but also slightly aesthetic, so…????
Kate Marie recently posted…Unedited: Pink
Why are you being sorry!??? COME ON KATE! I am one person and my opinion matters exactly 0% in what you choose to write and what you love! You just ignore me and write what’s on your heart.
ajfkdlsad YAS for African-inspired fantasies! I really wish there were more of them…*glares at all writers of the world and waits for them to fulfil this request* 😂 Although I actually just bought City of Saints and Thieves which is con artists aND Africa and why haven’t I read it yet.😂
Oh for the marriage contest…you know like The Selection? Or 5 to 1? Basically anything where you have to win someone’s hand.
So “cure culture” in books is when disability and mental illness is erased by the characters having to “overcome” them to have a better life. Which is absolute nonsense! You can have a happy, good, and fulfilled life if you have mental health problems or a disability! It also generally cures them with romance, which is so wrong. Arghhh.
Aw, you’re so sweet, Cait. I just couldn’t help thinking how much you would NOT want to read what I write. ;D
YAYAYYYYY!!!
OOOOhhhhhh, okay, we’re on the same page now. EW. I thought that sort of thing died out in the Middle Ages or something??? Sad to know that people are still writing that kind of crap…
Gotcha! I totally agree! The whole “you can MAKE yourself better if you TRY hard enough and think happy thoughts” is SO absurd. Like, dude, this is a legit, concrete illness, not just “in my head.” GAH!
Also I never seem to get your replies to my comments anymore… *soft weeping*
Kate Marie recently posted…I’m Back… And I’m Sunshiny, Apparently
YASSSS to all of your likes and totally agree on your dislikes! I HATE amnesia! I watch a lot of Korean dramas and there’s always, always an episode where someone gets amnesia and I’m like really? Really? I’m thinking of giving A Court of Mist and Fury another chance though since everyone loves it so freaking much!
~Sara
Sara S recently posted…Spring Wishlist
Amnesia just gets so tiring after a while right?! There’s so much confusion in those stories and that MAKES SENSE but it’s really tough to keep interested in these days I find for me.😂
I NEED A BOOK IF YOU RECOMMENDED IT, CAIT. You have yet to fail me! I appreciate this 😛 Books that I run screaming from? Anything that is “Beach Read” is usually a sad potato that really wanted to be a tomato but was rejected from fulfilling their one true wish. Fracken vegetables, just growing and stuff. The nerve.
INSTALOVE IS SO siiiiillllllyyy. Like stop calm down let’s take a moment and reflect on our decisions. BUT WAIT NO I MUST KISS ALL THE PEOPLE AND CONFUSE THEM AND BE UNSURE BUT ALSO IN LOVE HOW CAN YOU BE IN LOVE AND UNSURE ABOUT BEING IN LOVE??????? I don’t understand humans sometimes. Also, pirates, dragons, brother stories, pretty much everything you said 😀 Also cure culture is the dumbest thing like stop just no. Take a step back. now take like 89 more. Okay, NOW I want you to just not ever again.
My TTT: https://lemon-notes.com/ten-things-that-i-read-asap/
OMG REALLY? THIS MAKES ME VERY PLEASED THAT YOU LIKE MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
*awards self with cake*
*awards you with a little cake too*
I also think instalove is a totally lazy plot device. 😂 Where’s the character development?!? That’s what I’m here for!! And I want more pirate dragon brother stories, preferably all three in one book, please and thank you. (I happen to be writing one SO THERE’S THAT.😂)
YES DRAGONS AND MAGICIANS. When they are together it is even more AMAZING! Also, why do we always buy books with queen in the title when 90% of them are cliche. I do this every time I buy books (no control over self whatsoever).
ALL THE DRAGONS AND MAGICIANS YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. (And I knooooow. I’ve read a lot of cliche “queen” titled books but yet I persist in needing them.😂)
I swear I am smart, but what the heck is cure culture? I am feeling clueless at the moment. I agree with you on the Do’s and the Don’ts for the most part! Especially stabby stabby stuff, and dark faerie stuff.. Just out of curiosity, have you happened to read the The Night and Nothing series by Katherine Harbour? Dark Faerie PERFECTION! And STABBY! And AWESOMENESS!
Adore your posts, as always. I head over anytime I am in need of a good chuckle. I do try to avoid when I am itching for something sweet though, because CAKE makes frequent appearances and drool starts happening which is not an attractive quality. But CAKE! So. So. GOOD!
Oh that’s okay! You can google it if you want a more sensible explanation hah, but to me = cure culture is when you have a character with a disability or mental illness and you have to “cure” them as part of their character development or so they can go on and “have a good life”. It’s disgusting because it promotes this idea that ill or disabled people can’t be happy or have good lives. AND it often “cures” them with romance. Sooooo much nope.
And no I haven’t heard of The Night and Nothing series! I SHALL GO LOOK IT UP! Thanks for that rec!!
AJFDKLSAD THANK YOU THOUGH. And you can always count on me to obsess over cake here.😂
Thank you for the explanation… I feel smarter now! Obsess away… I am actually going to eat a piece of cake right this very minute. To you, a goodnight!
So much yes! We share quite a few – morally gray and villainous characters, pirates. magic, and Stiefvater. Now if Ms. Stiefvater would combine these into epic book… 😀
We definitely need a pirate-centred Stiefvater book!!
OH MY GOODNESS YES. We have so many likes in common! Historical retellings, heists, disability rep…..I’m also a huge fan of anything LGBT+. I mean, it could be the most cliche romance ever, but I’d still love it. I’m pan, and I read so little LGBT+ rep growing up that every time I read positive + accurate depiction of my community, even if it’s super cliche, I get this awesome validating feeling. And the new influx of LGBT+ material into the literary world gives a person such an awesome feeling of being surrounded by a support network of allies and other comm members.
Dystopians, arenas, SJM, and period dramas are also near-instant “no”s for me. So are sports – usually. But I have found a few exceptions, primarily Nora Sakavic’s All for the Game trilogy (in which the sports-talk is healthily balanced with gangs and death and blood). I will confess that I love virtual reality sorts of things, though, primarily Reki Kawahara’s Sword Art Online novels. OMG, yes, American college is sO STRANGE. How is Aussie college different?
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Ellie @ On the Other Side of Reality recently posted…The Rapid Fire Book Tag!
Oh yes and yes to more diversity too!! And I think books definitely need more LGBT+ rep, especially in fantasy. Contemporary YA seems to be doing better, but I want to see it in all the epic fantasy and magical books too?!
And omg is Nora Sakavic the one who wrote The Foxhole Court? I HAVE THAT ON MY KINDLE AND NEED TO HAVE READ IT LIKE YESTERDAY. *glares at TBR*
I actually never went to college so I have no idea.😂 My sister is in uni now and thoroughly agrees that Americans are weird hahha.
I AGREE WITH THIS SO MUCH. Pirates + cons + historical retellings = instant busy for me too but summery nothingness and road trips and boy bands (or any celebrity romances, really) are insta nos for me. They’re too dull and monotonous. Great list!
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Ooh, we are basically like TWINS OF EXCELLENT BOOKISH TASTE HERE. *hi fives*
I share quite a lot “run-away-from” book signs with you! I can’t stand love triangles. Or suicide book, that is an insta NO for me. Same goes for Sarah J. Maas… Anothr thing I can’t stand is when book romanticizes incest or similar distrubing things.
And I LOVE diverse fantasy setting and siblings stories so much 🙂
Lucia @Reading Is My Breathing recently posted…MY NEW ALL TIME FAVORITE BOOK
Ugh so much agreement…romanticising incest is creepy as anything and I hate abusive romances too (aka most of SJM’s books…*rolls eyes when people call it feminist*) DIVERSE FANTASY IS JUST WHAT WE NEED SO MUCH MORE OF THOUGH. 🎉
I’ll just start with stuff I dislike since that’s easier xD
Insta love
Annoying romance (“I loved you ever since I met you” *sigh* I only like one series that has that ish in it. also when the characters were practically forced together because the author can’t write a story without any in it and basically most romances >.<
Dumb main characters
"perfect" main characters that can hack into any computer, climb any mountain (literally) but cannot differentiate themselves with other characters of the same genre
dumb, boring love interests that all look similar (brown hair/blonde messy hair and blue eyes and dimples and act similar (tell jokes that aren't funny) ugh. Where are the boys with black hair and brown eyes? Where are the black boys who are love interests. I know girls of various races who find them attractive in real life yet no one likes them in books?
Just love interests in every story. If yours is boring, author, cut them out of there! Please!
Teenagers with no morals (everyone smokes, does drugs and drink alcohol till they are drunk all the time in books as if EVERY teenager does that.
References to bands that disbanded 20 centuries ago. Yeah, I get that the Beatles were good but Why does no one listen to recent music? I don't listen to pop in english but still, at least there's 55% percent chance of me knowing the band.
Things I like:
REALISTIC diversity
Characters that are actually funny
Main characters that aren't the same as every other one
A book that isn't boring?
I don't seem to have many… I haven't read many 4 star books *sigh*
Ugh I hate unnecessary romance too, and instalove drives me CRAZY. I think it’s a cheap excuse not to develop the characters, tbh! Definitely not a fan. 🙈🙊 Why can’t we have more non-romance-cenric YA books?!? And I’m all for messy characters who make mistakes or are morally grey so I’m with you there!!
I also like your love list too!! FUNNY BOOKS ARE THE BEST THOUGH. I’ve read so many hilarious books. :’) Let me know if you ever want some recs, hehe.
Hey Cait, this was such a great post-hilarious as always. I was wondering if you read My Lady Jane. It’s a historical retelling and it was absolutely hilarious. I think you might like it, also dragons for the win always.
I actually borrowed it from the library recently but had to return it unread…wahhh. I should try again then?!
Yes! It’s one of my favourite books simply because of the amount of horse puns 🙂
Mermaids and the anatomy questions haha!
I’m not contracted yet, but agented. I write historical romance…think trappers and loggers and cowboys. I don’t think I’m in your love list, but I did have one guy stab another with a chickenbone to the neck?
Does that count?
Enjoyed your sass. Learned about you from Carrie Booth Schmitt.
I didn’t think I was into dragons but then I read the Pern books. Sigh. Don’t you wish you could hit reset and read a book for the first time again.
Omg stab in the neck with a chickenbone?! That must’ve been an exciting scene to write.😂(Also congrats on being agented!)
haha that inner conversation with your brain cracked me up. WHY ARE BRAINS SO FREAKING NOSY?? SMH.
Aren’t historical retellings THE BEST??? I am SOOOOO into alternative history right now is almost pathetic! like Wolf by Wolf. OMG I could eat that book.
I do have a weakness for mental health rep especially schizophrenia because I VERY MUCH loved someone afflicted. [sniff, wait I need a min]
ADHD is very high up there too [because I’m one of those, Dory like dark creatures, never still, never paying attention, no short term memory] and Autism and YES to diverse places! I like South America and Europe 🙂 and YES TO ANYTHING GHOSTLY! Anything to do with the afterlife.. insta-love!
Unfortunately I can’t do Maggie, Have tried. Many times. My nemesis. Can’t get trough her writing style. 🙁 [WHY?? WHY???]
I still like asylums [the ghostly ones] and dystopians [the ones product of the apocalypses] Sorry no dragons or Sarah Maas either. I know I know you gotta be a special kind of person not to like dragons. I DO LIKE THEM. In person. Like Daenerys’ babies are my fav creatures ever but I can’t read about them.
Or zombies. No Zs books for me please. World War Z I loved but no books about Zs.
Great post Cait!
Brains are just so annoying sometimes, tbh. They just don’t UNDERSTAND THE NEEEED.😂 And why can’t we have MORE historical retellings?! They’re harder to find than blue cabbage, I swear omg. And I tend to really like to read books on topics that are in my own life too *nods* so I get that! I feel like it can help us understand the people we’re around, right?! Which is excellent.
I SHALL JUST CRY THAT YOU DON’T LIKE MAGGIE STIEFVATER THO AND TRY NOT TO HAVE AN EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN OVER IT.
Oh yes your list! Mostly the second one because with the first I do not really agree with you, if not for three points, witch I’m actually writing about!
A modern witch falls in love with a sweet normal boy, she is actually a former villain and she is mentally ill, but it isn’t about curing her. She used to be in love with a man, that really just defined her insane and just ignored her until the crisis has passed, making her ashamed of it. There is not love triangle, because when she meets the boy she understand that she is in an abusive relationship and tries to escape. The boy is not curing her, just making her start her journey. I’m proud that I seem to have your approvation 🙂
Anyway, mermaid. Just… anatomy. There is not acceptable explanation and I just refuse to simply not think about it. How are they not exstinct?
You don’t have to agree with me on all of them haha! We’re different people. 😉 I’m glad you’re not writing cure stories! That’s excellent.
I have so many questions about mermaids…how do they even.😂
This list is amazing! I would say one thing that I hate is super confusing third person and one thing that I love would be a futuristic earth world. Love this post. 🙂
Nabila // Hot Town Cool Girl
Futuristic books can be so cool! I’m reading one right now that’s like set in the not-so-distant-future and I love it. 😍
So, it’s more Hook-centric, but have you read Alias Hook? I friggen loooooove it.
I haven’t but I reeeeally want to!! It’s good then?! *pushes it up higher on the need-to-read list*
I wanted to re-read it basically as soon as I finished.
YES TO ALL OF THIS. Every time I see that a book has a love triangle I’m just like “#NOPE.” They’re so overused and pointless. And road trips and virtual realities aren’t my cup of tea either. 😐
Although I am so with you on library / bookstore settings. Whenever I see a book set there I automatically put it on my TBR. And historical settings and disability representation are great too.
Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
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It is so overused!! And so tiring tbh.😂 And roadtrips are just sooo boring when they don’t do anything but like drive (or walk if it’s fantasy) for pages and pages. I NEED SOME ACTION.😂
OMG!! 😛 This was hilarious ! Yes to Maggie Stiefvater (but I have to say while I adore The Raven Boys, I did not like shiver?! *please don’t kill me Cait* ) and OMG I agree about SJM! I think I’ll just read the final ToG book though to see what happens to the story but I stopped loving the series after CoM! AFTER SHE DECIDED TO SHOW CHAOL HORRIBLY JUST SO AELIN COULD HAVE HER FAE!!! And Dorian my sweet muffin did and said things that were so uncharacteristic for him.
Every time people recommend me ACOTAR I politely nod and escape because then they start throwing questions as to why I won’t read it and it’s just scary!! Like I’m glad you like a book but stahp attacking me just ’cause I don’t!!
And holy mother no boyband stories!! I’m so tired of seeing those everywhere!! Yes to Pirates and Con artists 🙂 BIG NOOO to college and lazy summer vibes!!
Awesome post Cait. Here’s some cake 😀 🙂
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I WON’T KILL YOU BUT I’LL THROW A SNOWBALL AT YOU BECAUSE *GASP* HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE MY PRECIOUS WOLF NAMED SAM WHO FOLDS ORIGAMI AND IS TRAGIC. ❤️💔😂
I honestly am not reading another SJM book again.😂 They’ve ticked me off too many times and it just makes it WORSE that I see them everywhere. Also it annoys me how many people list them as “recommended for everyone”…because they’re wildly inappropriate for younger YA readers. Like 12-year-old me would NOT have been ready for them and they’re supposed to be “YA”?!??? Not happy.
I have to say, Cait, I love some of the things on your hate list. Which I mean, is fine, because we all can’t like the same books. But I am an absolute sucker for a good dystopian (and note, please, I did specify good- not some knock off of every other one!), and I also want to know where I can find Katniss’s spork, I don’t have that in my collection yet 😉 I also love time travel- the messier, the better 😉 And I also get pretty excited about a road trip, I must say. BUT I am totally with you on boy bands (or frankly, ANY bands, really), and lazy summer days, UGH so annoying. And um, SERIOUSLY with mermaid anatomy! I do not compute!
Now, we do have some likes in common! I love Russia too. And diverse epic fantasy sounds, well, epic. I find that a lot of times the things I THINK I don’t like, I actually don’t hate after all? But then sometimes I am right, but let’s be real, that is rare.
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When I find Katniss’ spork, I’ll send it to you for your Hunger games shrine. :’) ALSO I DO LIKE GOOD DYSTOPIANS!! I just never find them anymore. The genre seems way too tired. 😂😂
Those lazy summer days with boybands though…they’re so dull.😂 I’m so not a romantic apparently. It’s hilarious.
RUSSIA THO. <3
I agree with so many these! Especially pirates, heists, and thieves. I feel like it’s a combination of Six of Crows and A Darker Shade of Magic (which I’m currently reading ACOL right now) but those two have made me want to read all of the pirate, heists, and thief books I can get my hands on. And I’m with you on dragons and though I’ve never read a book with dark psycho faeries I am intrigued. I need books with dark faeries in my life. Or just any books with faeries in general 🙈. Also, I can’t stand love triangles either! *throws trope into the middle of the ocean*
Great list, Cait! 😊
YASSSS EXACTLY!! I am absolute trash for SoC and ADSOM. 😍😍 I basically just go searching the bookish seas like a little sharp-toothed shark, looking for pirates and cons books so I can eat them all immediately.
(You should try Holly Black if you want dark psycho faeries!)
Same! And I will definitely be looking into Holly Black’s books. I think I have a few on my TBR. 😊
I’m gonna write this down and come up with the perfect Cait book and write it so you’ll have to adore it and you’ll thank me for all eternity. KAY???
No but I do have a few of those YEESSSS items. Mhuahaha.
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Hahhaah.😂 You should come up with the perfect BEE book. 😉 That’s what’s important for writers.
I am such a sucker for a) a good romance with ANGST and b) anti-heroes because #realistic.
In all seriousness though, I have found a recurring pattern with all my favourite books and they all seem to have really great romances, complex and relatable characters and a strong connection with the reader.
I hate when I cannot connect or relate to the character because that would make me instantly dislike the book! The character doesn’t even have to be ‘like me’ for them to connect to me – they just have to seem realistic and three dimensional!
I actually loooove finding patterns in favourite books!! I’m pretty much the same.😂 Good complex characters that I can relate to = a book that’s going to be a win for me!! And I don’t like those typical “dislikable” characters that have to go through all the character development before you can stand them. It’s usually too late for me to care.😂
I was totally with you on the stuff you’re trash for but I admit I’m also trash for some of the things on your hate list like college, mermaids, and insane asylums. :/ sorry. But I agree about suicide books. My friend was describing the first two eps of 13RW. I didn’t even watch them myself and I had a major hours long panic attack. So yeah I can’t do stuff like that. It’s nice to chat with someone else that is all about ghosts. I’ll will most certainly buy a book as soon as ghosts, talking to the dead, or rising the dead is mentioned. It can’t be helped!
Why are you sorry!?😂 You don’t have to be sorry!! Bookworms are all different and that is actually gREAT. And speaking of 13 Reasons Why, I adamantly hate that book and think it actually sends a really bad message about romanticising suicide. So much #nope for it.
I totally agree with DRAGONS, of course. But I’m kind of miffed you run away from time travel. How can that be? You are usually so awesome :p You still are awesome, though, but good time travel (or universe-skipping) novels are just so, so, so good. I am going to have to find one and make you read it. While I feed you cupcakes to make it easier to keep you in one place. And that place should be ‘not running away from’…
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Hhahhaah YOU MAKE ME LAUGH. 😂 I can still be awesome and not like time travel?!😂😂 I just get so confuseddddd. It always screws up everyone’s timelines and IT’S WEIRD. Especially when kids are hanging out with their great grandparents and all that. Help.😂
I have read The Girl From Everywhere though and I DID like that one!!
I have a serious need for contemporary books about fangirls and fandoms. Like, if it’s got a character who’s a fangirl? I’ll will definitely be reading it as soon as is humanly possible.
I also love books with bisexual representation, bc this blogger is #bisexual. And who doesn’t love reading a book which represents them? I haven’t read that many of them though…….WHERE ARE THEY AT?? I NEED THEM.
Tbh I’ll read any book, I don’t dislike many types of stories, at least none that come to mind. I’m really open to any genre, except thriller, usually.
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Yesssss. I like fangirl books! Especially with GOOD fangirl representation and not, like, the book mocking the fandom life. (Have you by any chance read Queens of Geek? It is 500% fangirl appreciation plus a bisexual protagonist!)
The author of Queens of Geek had most of it originally on Wattpad, so I’ve read the ‘first draft’ of it, but I’m still waiting for my library to finally get the published version in. But I hope to read it very soon! XD
Mironiel Blokzyl @The Life of a Mirkwood Elf recently posted…Missing by Kelley Armstrong || Kelley Armstrong Does It Again
Omg I had no idea it was a wattpad book!! THAT’S AWESOME.
I looove most of this stuff, and some of the bad ones too. XD I love arena’s, honestly, but PEOPLE ARE RUINING THEM so in my novel, I’m switching it up with the arena. *gasp*
Also dystopian. Ugh ugh ugh. I’m seriously hoping that there will be one coming out that’s good, because I’ve hated most of them. Although I’m working on one right now (planning) that i started writing solely to smash the cliche of “the government is bad and rebels are good” and it’s pretty much sass and coffee and capture the flag with people as flags.
I know right?!? I actually used to love the arena trope, but it’s just SO overdone now it feels cliche. If no one uses it for like 10 years, maybe I’ll be able to handle it again.😂
Sass and coffee and capture people as flag?! OKAY THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.
Love that post! So happy to see you mention MAGICAL BAKERIES! No one ever does that! 😀 Have you read ‘Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet’ by Charlie N. Holmberg? If not, you might like it! It’s about a young woman who bakes magical cakes and bread and cookies and everything and it’s really sweet!
I have read that one!! Purely because of the cake factor.😂
Totally agree with some of these for sure! Thanks for the post.
Angel @Angel Reads recently posted…Discussion: Disability on Covers
We clearly both have excellent taste then. :’)
No way! You like books with dragons? THAT IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION XD lololol. Also, I can’t believe you don’t like time travel books 😮 I also stay away from suicide books because they’re so depressing.. Lovely post 😀
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I KNOW RIGHT?! Such a shocker.😂 No one saw this list coming.😂😂
CAIT. This is perfect! Your list of nopes. Yep. All of them. Anatomy of mermaids, explain! Also dystopians, arenas, chica robots and so on. It’s been done. But um, yeh. Set your story in a library, preferably an old one with a hidden manuscript, or a bookstore with weird after-hours shenanigans, and I am SO there. Plus pirates? From Lila to The Girl from Everywhere I cannot get enough! 😂
I’M SO GLAD YOU AGREE. *hi fives* And we definitely need SO many more pirate books. (I’ve just bought the Girl from Everywhere sequel!!)
Of COURSE we agree! We are like telepathic or something. I have an idea – what about a giant secret library (like in Nevernight, preferably with giant man-eating bookworm) and pirate mashup? It could be a floating library? Come on, this could work… 🙂
Sadly, I have the Ship Beyond Time ARC but I have not gotten it read yet, and I am so looking forward to it! What is stopping me? I ask you…
Time travel done right = awesome. But all too often it’s just totally cringe XD
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I honestly probably just haven’t read many good examples?!😂 I did like The Girl From Everywhere though!
UM EXCUSE ME MERMAIDS ARE MY ACTUAL FAVORITE. Other than that I can agree with most of your dislikes… trekking is so tedious to read! And dragons, fairies, unicorns and large woodland creatures as well as other magical forest creatures are usually thinga that will instigate a steamy romance between me and books! 😍😍
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I mean, I probably need to just read more Mermaids, though, right?! I feel like I’ve read a grand total of like 3 books about them and that seems pathetic.😂 Also treks/quests/roadtrips just get so booooooooring. Like I don’t want to watch the scenery flashing by. I want action and food and stealing things. Preferably all together.
YESSSSSSSS there are no mermaid books I feel like 😱😱 my Peter Pan retelling has evil mermaids that I am rather proud of 😈
ALSO ADD TO YOUR LIST:
stabbing
Betrayals
Running from bad guys and almost peeing yourself but with witty banter in between 😄
Anything w/ magic!!!!!!!!
My least favorite is Holes
I
Will
Never
Read
It
Also there is one good road tripish called Hour of the Bees. Best book ever!
I haven’t read Holes either. 😂 But all the magic FTW!
I have totally loved these last two Top Ten Tues lists. Hearing what everyone loves/hates to read is so interesting.
I have to say that I use to pick up book just because they were dystopian, but that was before there were 5 million copycat stories with the ONE dystopian plot. Back when PK Dick was the king of dystopian stories they were a lot more interesting.
And yes, yes, yes! To love triangles. “If you’re in love with two people, you are not in love with either.” Absolutely!
My TTT Yes! http://books.thetechchef.net/top-ten-tuesday-21/
TTT No Way! http://books.thetechchef.net/top-ten-tuesday-22/
Arwen @ I Love A Good Book recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday #22
I agree / disagree with you on the Sarah J Maas, the TOG series, I just stopped half way through, I really enjoyed the first one , but please… its just going on an one… the term flogging a weary donkey comes to mind
I do however, have to say that I am enjoying her Fae series ….so far
I used to like the ToG series but there’s just too many problematic elements for me! 🙈🙊
Russia, haha, at least I don’t have that xD maybe that’s cause I live beside and, you know, actually have to deal with the stuff it does 😀 less romantic that way!
But ghosts! So totally yes. For me it’s also magic, time travel usually… Often retellings. I know I’m a sucker for some other things… But I just can’t think of them now! Oh wait, yes. Victorian. I mean, it can be either written in those days, or it can be written about those days! Gosh, petticoats and accomplished ladies! ANY. DAY.
Huh! I’m actually okay with dystopias and amnesia, but I’m so not okay with vampires 😀 with some exceptions, of course! And mostly zombies, but also with some exceptions. Then I have some YA romance allergies. Actually, I used to be like NO YA FOR ME, but then you girls all started making me more positive towards it xD so now I will read this here or there, and find there’s some good stuff! So that’s nice.
Oh wow, you don’t like time travel! That’s what I toooootally love 😀 possibly because #BackToTheFuture and #DoctorWho. Just these loves of mine.
So totally agree about marriage contests though. WHAT. EVEN. Why would you? Why would anyone? Why do girls read it? ;_; it makes me crumble up like a raisin inside to see so many Bookstagram pics with all those books!
I’ve been keeping this post in my mailbox for forever, so glad I finally read it 🙂
Also. If you’re gonna be reading a post of mine, read the one I attached. I think you might actually enjoy that book! Especially because I’ve yapped and raved about it tons and I think you even know the name of it by now 😀
Evelina recently posted…Rogue mages, steampunk spells and secrecy – Brother’s Ruin by Emma Newman
*pops out of pile of dust* HALLO I AM CATCHING UP ON YOUR BLOG POSTS.
I snorted and said “YUS” when you put Sarah J. Maas on your no list XDDD Like, I have Heir of Fire and I never finished reading it a million years ago and sometimes I think “maybe I should finish that. Just to finish it.” and then I think “um no I will probably regret everything”.
and I almost 100% agree with both your lists. We should be friends.
N’AWW, YOU’RE THE SWEETEST. 😂 And I’m surprised I didn’t lose too many followers for that SJM comment buuuut I couldn’t help myself. 😉