Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Makes Me Stay Away

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Finally, a Tuesday that I am able to participate in and actually be able to do! In April, it was words/topics that make me want to pick up a book. This week, it's the exact opposite. I initially thought this would be easy, but I have a premonition that it will be harder than I think. There is the fact that I like to give books a chance. Hopefully I don't come off as a book snob in a few moments.

Vampires/Werewolves

I think this trend has finally seen its death, but if I do see it around, I won't be reading it. The usual premise of these "creatures" make me feel blah inside as a reader. That does NOT mean I hate on the readers who do read these type of books. I just personally won't read one. 

Male main characters 

I know. It's horrible, it really is. Most of the time, I won't read a book because it's narrated by a guy. However, I do love to read dual perspectives from both genders in a book, so that mollifies it by at least some, right? 

If I can't understand half of the synopsis

This usually is for fantasy books. I love fantasy and different worlds, but I don't like looking at a book's description with foreign words and every other word is capitalized and I have never seen that word before in my life. The whole synopsis feels riddled to me and if I can't understand the back cover, how in the world will I be able to keep up in the book? The exception? My sister might hand me a book and it's a bonus if she explains it to me in simple, already-read-it language.

Insta-Love/"Love at first sight"

If a book really is about the dreaded insta-love then they will probably use that second phrase. I hate when people are unrealistic and so I don't care for it when it's in my books too. On top of that, I think it's utterly stupid that someone thinks you can instantly love someone. It's called insta-attraction, people, and that's completely fine.

Poetry

These are considered the dreaded verse books, for me at least. One, I can't understand them. Two, I hate poetry. Always have, always will, thanks to it being the only thing I was bad at in English. I see a great synopsis and I'm all excited until...it says "written in verse." 

"Steamy"/"Sexy"

I DO like sweet kisses, scenes, gestures, relationships, etc. However, I would rather not be uncomfortable through the whole book. If they advertise "steamy" or a synonym of it, that usually means that's what's happening through the WHOLE book. No thank you. 

"Popular" "Homeschooled" Other bad stereotypes

When authors make demeaning stereotypes.

There a few exceptions to the rule of the first stereotype mentioned, but none for the homeschooled. We aren't uncivilized and usually when they mention that he/she is homeschooled, that means they are going to have to face some kind of social "difficulty" and be "introduced" to the world. As for the popular side, I'm getting sick of it. They use the same kind of characters as they do for the other stereotypes. I'll stay away mostly, thanks. 

"Bad boy" "Dangerous" etc. 

"Oh, you're a self-proclaimed bad boy?" 

I love bad boys, I really do. However, I have found that I like them when they are not already proclaimed as one in the synopsis. I want to be SHOWN. They're a bit cheesy otherwise.

"For fans of..."

When I see a book saying "for fans of..." or "if you're a fan of..." I think, this author doesn't have any imagination and they are basing their work off of somebody else's popular YA book. I think of all those  authors who suddenly became Twilight and Hunger Games-esque authors, straying from what they knew. Also, I don't like being told by someone in a far away city, who could very well be a robot, that because I like this Book A, I will like Book B. 

Love triangle

It's disappointing to see a love triangle already introduced on the back cover/front flap. I have found that means that is what the book is mainly centered around, no matter what other problems the main character is having. Love triangles might be growing stale, but I do like some, especially when done right. I do not like it when I see that's what a book is about. I want it to be introduced in the book and even better, if it is unexpected of sorts. 

Do you agree or disagree with these? What are some words/topics/phrases that make you stay away from reading a book? 

Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Want to Pick Up a Book

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Words can evoke lots of emotions or feelings or just plain, old nostalgia. Other times, words can entice you and make your ears perk up or your eyebrows raise. Topics and words go hand in hand because words make topics. I might be spinning you around in circles, but the point is: there are certain words or topics that will immediately interest you. Here are mine (that I could think of) below:

Emotional

When I see a blogger or hear someone say that the book they read was amazing and "so emotional" or a tearjerker, I'm instantly intrigued. Issue books are hit and miss for me, but you can have a book that makes you tear up without it being sunken down by all the issues. The Fault in Our Stars, Second Chance Summer, or Mockingjay, anyone? 

Retelling
I mentioned it in trends and I'll mention it again: I love retellings. Sure, some retellings have been told A LOT (ahem, Pride and Prejudice and Cinderella), but even those have a place in my heart because the repeated retellings are redone for a reason. You really can't get enough of Mr. Darcy. And like I mentioned in my trends post, there are numerous books that could be retold and haven't...yet. 

Orphan

Before you call me a hypocrite, hear me out. I know I have said repeatedly that I wish for more happy families. However, I have always been interested in the orphan aspect. When someone says "orphan," I wonder if she'll go looking for her family. Is her family actually dead? What's the backstory here? 

Amnesia

Considering that Anastasia is one of my favorite animated movies of all time, my ears instantly perk up at any mention of amnesia. This also ties in with the point above. Anastasia wasn't an orphan, but she THOUGHT she was. Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter, the latest Gallagher Girl book does this the amnesia plot so well. So if I see anything about amnesia, I'm there. 

Secret

Ooh, the mystery. Either you're about to be told insider information like in Secrets of My Hollywood Life or there's a "secret" that can ultimately shake a family like in Belles (both books by Jen Calonita). I don't care either way because secrets are fun. 

Princess

It might seem girly of me, but I love royalty. Young Victoria is one of my favorite movies, I adore The Princess Diaries series, and I will pounce at any mention of anything related to royalty. In YA, that's usually "princess." Even one of my favorite adult Christian books is The Princess by Lori Wick (which includes an arranged marriage of sorts). 

Parallel Universes

Who doesn't love parallel universes? Whether in TV shows, movies, or books, they're so interesting to watch. They might be for standalone books or in the end of the series like There's No Place Like Home by Jen Calonita where you are attached to the characters and know how they really are. You get to see what life would have been like or how great their life really is. 

Disguise

Who doesn't love disguises? Whether it be for criminal activity, sleuthing, or a girl pretending to be a boy...there will be adventure and fun and greatness ahead. Seven Daughters and Seven Sons has a girl disguising herself as a boy to make money and ultimately falls in love with a prince. The first book in the Gallagher Girls has a spy pretending to be normal and starts a romance with an actual normal guy. Heist Society involves a robber and her family taking on many disguises and personas to continue with their adventures. Lots of superheros have a disguise and their other persona is freaking great. I don't think I need to continue anymore because obviously this is an AWESOME plot. 

Boarding school

Source

It's also a great way to get parents out of the way. But besides that, you get more interaction with the main character and their friends. It's a great time to see the chemistry evolve with two characters or provide some kind of hierarchy. Two words: Gallagher Girls.

Camp

It's also another trend that I love, especially for a summer read. Like boarding schools, it's a great way to see more of the beloved friends, more drama, and usually some cute boys as well. The fact that I've always wanted to go to a camp like the ones in these fictional books make me love them even more. 

~*~

What words perk your ears up?