YOUR MOST HATED BOOK TRENDS 

I saw someone say "The cruel prince wouldve been better with spice still good though" MAAM THEY ARE 17 THEY ARE MINORS AND YOUR 30 ABSOLUTLEY NOT

I HATE hearing tropes I want to be surprised if the enemies get with each other 😩

The thing that gets me about the cartoon romance covers is the fact that it's bleeding into the historical romance genre. Part of the fun of historical romance is the beautiful painted covers with gorgeous dresses

Old person hot take maybe: I hate calling it spice. I’m old, that’s smut 😂

I feel selling a book on tropes really only works well with romances. You already know it's going to end in a HEA, but the tropes give you an idea if you're more likely to enjoy the journey.

V.E Schwab did it right by posting the bonus story from The Archived online and then publishing it in the series bind-up a few years later. Love when bonus content is free online

The epilogue thing was interesting and I understand the perspective but I LIVE for the epilogues. Granted, I have not read a lot of time skip kind of epilogues, especially in fantasy. But when it comes to romance, EPILOGUES ARE SO GOOD. The characters all throughout the book are trying do something or struggling to achieve something and that epilogue just gives me a slice of life kind of happiness that I really love and adore where the characters are just living life and thriving.

That paperback one hits me especially. I only collect paperbacks, mostly for the fact that uk hardcovers are huge, and most don't fit on my shelf. And so when i have to wait a year or so to get it in paperback, I'm super pissed, especially if its a book ive really been looking forward to.

18:22 "Like NO!!! LET THEM BE REST IN PEACE" I laughed so hard 😂😂😂

I hate it when books release covers with like the movie/Tv movie posters in the movie / TV show is nothing like the book and the character on the book cover looks nothing like how the book character is described 😞

7:47 OH MY GOD, YOU USED MY COMMENT!!! Is this what it feels like to be acknowledged by your favorite celebrity?! 😭🤩

The flat Stanley reference was GOLDEN- I was thinking the same thing, but I feel like those books weren’t as popular (which is so sad lol)

I don't mind when a character comes back as long as it serves a purpose and makes sense within the confines of the world

Omg the blurb/quote one. I will put a book down immediately if it only has a bunch of blurbs/quotes on the back. Other trend I HATE is when the author name is bigger than the title

Yes on the instant love! Here for the slow burn.

Whenever he said the interconnected bit I immediately went "shadowhunters"

Minor squabble: The hardcover to paperback conversion timeline is not a book trend. It's just the way the publishing cycle works. It's a business model. Like it or hate it, there is real data behind it. The hardcover gets its day in the sun ($$), then the paperback gives it new life ($).

With regards to the break ups in books (and I think in media in general) I recently saw this Bengali movie where the parent of one of the main characters had a fairy-tale romance but then the marriage ended in divorce and the parent said "just because our happily ever after was short lived does not mean it never existed. We were in love and full of joy during that part of our life and that made it worth it even if we did not stay together forever" (rough translation, forgive me it may not be exact) and that really made me want to see more portrayals of love like this.

7:03 me realizing I mostly read old books that have a table of contents and so didn't really notice they went away. I fully intend on having them in all the books I write. Also I love naming my chapters, it's like a fun little game of 'oh this thing happens in this chapter but how do I say that without spoiling it?'

17:50 I hate country exclusive bonus chapters/short stories being locked down forever. Make it available at some point! Example: I preordered a book and so I was emailed an exclusive short story that bridged the 2 books- awesome! Like a year(?) or so later it was published as a bonus novella that anyone could buy, and I love that! I got to read it first, keeping the meaning of a preorder bonus, but eventually everyone got to enjoy it. That's how it should be!

I just started reading Some Desperate Glory and I just made a note about how I love that it has chapter titles! Enjoying it so much :)

I want us to go back to the painted book covers for romance books. I'm talking the ones from the 1980s where you can see the brushstrokes and if you look enough you can find the artists signature (because these were actual paintings done of full size canvases that would then be photographed and scaled down). There was also a kind of intimacy that you could feel because you know that the artists spent days on the cover and not like a few hours in Photoshop.

I feel you on the cartoon book covers! They were fun for while, but give me something new!

As someone who learned English later in life and doesn’t live in an English speaking country the accent change at 14:50 tripped me up badly haha! Suddenly my brain didn’t recognize your words as English for a few seconds. And after that English in general started sounding as foreign as it did to me back in fifth grade. But thankfully now I’m back to hearing it completely normally

Thanks for featuring my comment! Absolutely agree with the cartoon covers all bleed together. I do really like the style but I can't differentiate between who's books are who's and I think it's pretty sad that there's no individuality anymore in terms of style. This also translates to other cover trends but the romance genre is just the first to come to mind since, in my opinion, it is the biggest offender.

One thing that drives me crazy with books is when printed on the cover it says "check out *blank* by this author" If anything put it on a sticker. when I pick up my book to read it I want to focus on the one I'm reading, not to be thinking about the next book that has come out

Okay, I hadn't thought through getting rid of cartoon book covers until you said no real people on the covers, and that brought to mind all those Harlequin romance covered books my Mamaw had on her shelves. No hate to romance books! But I prefer my book covers to be a bit more.... subtle than THAT.

I feel like the character coming back to life thing can work really well if (1) it serves the story, (2) it comes with lasting consequences and (3) it's done in a world where death has happened and has been established to stick the extreme majority of the time so that they still hit you in the feels. For example (spoilers for Star Wars: the Clone Wars): Echo from Domino Squad. We'd seen countless clones die, including half of Domino Squad by that point, so when he didn't come out of an exploded ship, it was very reasonable to assume he'd gone as well. When we find out seasons later he'd survived, it wasn't a case of "oh he's alive, yay everything can go back to normal". He'd been mutilated and used to the point where he no longer felt he fit in with his regular clone brothers and decided to forge his own path with a new team, a team that felt like outcasts. And while he'd been missing, we'd seen the deaths of so many other clones we'd gotton attached to, including Echo's last squad mate Fives, who suffered one of the most tragic deaths in the series, and who died while thinking he was the final Domino to fall. When this show brought back characters from the dead, it felt earned. For Echo, it didn't mean a happy ending, but further character development and a hopeful beginning. I'm sure not everyone would agree with me, but that's my opinion on when a resurrection can work. It worked for me and, whenever I rewatch the ship exploding with Echo in it, It's still so tense and sad because of the trauma that event will cause him in the future, and from that moment he'd never see Fives again 😢

I needed to hear someone complain about the state of publishing so bad 😭 I feel like no one around me does and it makes me feel like a snob or something

Yes so much to the return of the Table of Contents! I love going back to reread some of my favourite scenes once I finish a book I love, and that is *so* much easier when I don't have to flip through the entire book to find the chapter!

As a DC girlie, I actually really like the death-and-revival trope. There's always something interesting that happens in the inbetween part (ex. the fight for who should pick up the mantle, a metaphor for becoming an adult when a sidekick takes up their mentor's name, grief and terrible coping mechanisms, denial and the search for proof that the character is still alive, etc.). Plus, every now and then, the character that dies comes back with such a changed personality and/or morals, so all the effects of their death are still felt. The only time I don't like the trope is when there is barely any time between the death and revivial.

That author blurb can backfire. I won't trust a book blurb from an author I don't like lol

Sarah J Maas is being called out in this video😂

I hate when the books in the same series are different heights. It makes me nervous to pick up the next book when im not sure it's the same as my other book

the exclusive chapter from a US store I bet it was send by a SJM fan, lol

I’m so happy that Sherlock came back from the dead 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I don't mind and I even like how books have tropes listed because it acts as a second summary with even more information. I hate being jumped scared by tropes or concepts or whatever that I hate or that actively freak me out so having all of these different tropes listed gives me a better play-by-play of what to expect. And I'm a character reader not a plot reader so I don't care if the tropes "ruin" the plot bc I'm not here for plot

I love this concept!! ❤

Sometimes I won't read a book because I don't like the author who left a blurb

I love that I got to participate in this, this was so much fun!!! I luckily saw your community post at a good time to add to it!!

I literally just watched this right before reading a book that had chapter titles in it.

If I heard it right, they don't even publish paperbacks if the hardcover version doesn't sell well enough. So it's also a gamble to wait, you might miss out.

Loved this video!!!

I’m so happy you read my prompt, and your response was great!

I am reading the Custard Protocol series by Gail Carriger. The books are for adults. The chapters have titles😊

I agree with the spice… every once and a while I don’t mind reading some, but I don’t want it to be the whole plot. Sometimes I need a break.

Lil late to the party with this one but I had a thought too I think part of the reason some people are getting tired of the cutesy art style for a lot of modern romance books is because even though they contain a lot of adult themes (like smut, etc.) and are CLEARLY written for adults, a lot of adolescents from ages 12+ are buying these books. Now I’m a firm firm believer that sex education should be taught younger on the pretense that statistically it lessens the chances of teen pregnancies, but these books are let’s say just fantasies for adults. Again that’s perfectly fine, I’m don’t mind a smut book once in a while, but publishers are actively targeting those same books to preteens/teens/young adults in attempt to make more profits. (The reports of that are true and can be found online) I think the best way to fix that issue is that books, just like movies, shows, and video games, need an age rating system. That way books that are for adults (including the author and cover artist) can keep their illustrated covers without having to worry about their reputation being dogged on because some kid’s parent didn’t fully look into a book their child picked. Movie theaters and game stores will not let minors walk into a screening for R/X rated movie, or walk out of a store with a game that is rated M. If they can do it, then why can’t libraries or stores like Barnes and Noble do it too?

The paperback system is the worst!! I’m one of those people who only buys paperback, but also wants to read the book in the same calendar year it was released in 😂

the only time in books where I like table of contents in fiction novels are the Wheel of Time books and the Lord of the RIngs book

In Germany we have a lot of abstract romance covers. Like flowing colors. It does not say anything about the book itself but I really love it. And I don't like the cartoon style coming over from America (or where ever). Just leave me with my unassuming swirls of color!

Go check out these authors: Nora Roberts Christine Feehan Amanda Quick Jayne Ann Krentz Lynsay Sands All adult smutty romance authors (NR it soft/light smut, but still good), AND THEY HAVE VARIETY COVERS! Especially NR, SOOOO gorgeous! I have never liked the cartoony/paint block covers, that doesn't give me adult romance vibes to me. Sabrina Jeffries Madeline Baker I LOVE these covers, actual smutty romance covers

i hate it when books drag their plot out, too. if i don't feel like the story is moving forward, it feels line wasted time. - especially bc i'm a slow reader and also struggle when i feel like i'm not making any progress.

13:36 i just read Brandon Sanderson book where the epilog was fighting and chasing and I was wow wow wow wait a minute... we just settled things down for the next book what is this now 😂😂😂

Way too uniform cover styles are too common in any genre. I really want to support the upcoming new authors in my country, but the local cover aesthetic for literary fiction is 'late autumn dirt road puddle' and I'm like 'I had the best intentions but you know what? I can be dissuaded!'

The things I hate aren't really tropes but they are: - Dust jackets. Print the art on the damn cover. - When the cover is shorter for WHATEVER REASON leaving a strip of unprotected pages. Stop.

I will check out a book from the library and wait a year to buy it in paperback before i spend $30+ on a hardcover. I wish the wait time was shorter, but I’ll do it 😔

I actually prefer romance books with animated covers. It leaves me more inclined to read the book. Especially for a light novel and manga reader.

The spice thing is annoying because the people asking are asking on older YA books (pre 2019 releases) and it’s like… children having sex shouldn’t be a marketing point for you as an adult 😅. Also, those same people are either a) not getting adequate sex b) porn addicts or c) in their wattpad phase

To the book covers being a cartoon, YES! At first I would only see it by a certain author and I thought it was cute - after some time, i would see more over that same style come out and realize it wasnt by the same author like 🤔 why? Lol.

7:55 OMG! YES!!! YES YES YES YES!! Bring back the synopsis on the back! How the f do you expect me to buy your book if I don't know what it's about?? Nobody cares what the "Guardian" or the "New York Times" has to say about it! You want my money? Then just tell me what the plot is about!

Why did so many of these make me think of Cassie Clare books 👀🫢

On Booktok I hate people asking for spice in YA books. Why do you want to read about teens having sex?

The falling in love / getting into a relationship within 2 chapters is one of the biggest book turn off for me 😅 I would rather have them not confess at all but WE KNOW they're in love for like 3 books

The only spice I want is in my food. I'm sick of books that always have spice or overspice or outright glorify and romanticize abuse (Looking at you especially, Colleen Hoover!)

How do you know if a fiction book is written by a ghostwriter? Do you find out through general research or can you just… tell?

Ideally, I love enemies to lovers. But 9 times out of 10, it's actually rivals to lovers, and not even truly that. Most of the time, it's the MC thinking they're "enemies" (rivals), and there's no real, ACTUAL tension outside of the MC's head. Additionally, the "enemy"/rival/love interest is neutral, or even already romantically interested in the MC.

It's the year of our Lord 2024 and we're still not releasing paperbacks at the same time as hardbacks. Not everyone wants, can afford, or has the space for hardbacks. The fact that half the time I even forget a book came out because I had to wait so long for the paperback. Or they don't even advertise or announce a paperback release so it comes out and has been out for months and I didn't even notice

Where/who/when was the 1st MODERN cartoonish ROMANCE NOVEL COVER MADE?? Im curious... Anyone know

Wait. What happened to the table of contents? I feel like I haven’t not had one in any books recently

I love romance fantasy but I get it’s not for everybody SJM set a high standard for me ❤

Team No Epilogues!

I agree with the cartoon book covers, I'm tired of them

People saying that this is the best book ever. Over hyping stuff. Now i fint know weather or not to read those books lol 😆

If people want spice that bad, just go read erotica 😭 At least is properly written. Leave them out of others books 😭

I hate when the sequel ruins the first book's ending. I'm looking at you Peter Swanson 😒

I usually enjoy spice in my books. However a recent read literally began with it. First sentence plunged right into a s** scene…a long one! No introducing the characters or setting the stage for the story, just WHAM! Definitely not a good way to begin in my opinion.

I read an article one time that indicated the cartoon covers are used by publishers because it is cheaper than hiring models for the cover art. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Spicy books are just another trend, it will go away eventually, especially if a lot of those books are no good. Honestly, I like erotica but I have ZERO interest in all the popular tik tok spicy books. there is a lot of great , sexy, emotional, beautiful romance books out there. it's just hard to find cuz too many trashy ones. But yeah, just because it's got spice in it, doesn't automatically make it bad book.

I don't mind smut, BUT....let it be a slow-burn! I am currently reading 600 page standalone and I can't count how many times I have read the word ''cock'' or ''orgasm'' like...give it a rest, gurl! I get it, some people like it, but I like my slow burn. Also, in the end the conversations end up looking lewd like...ughhh. Another thing that bothers me is ''love geometry''. Yeah, get rid of love triangles, please. They really aren't realistic...

I'm very pro-smut in books and am extremely wary of this very "sex-negative" seeming wave of discomfort with sexual content that seems to be happening online regarding media right now- HOWEVER, I think it is an issue that fantasy, YA, romance, and adult fiction seem to have been all just thrown into a giant mess of a singular genre, and it does feel quite difficult to effectively delineate what you actually want out of any one of those individual genres without having all of the baggage that comes with the others thrown at you as well. While I think if you feel like "all books have smut" these days, you're probably not looking very deeply- at the same time, I have full sympathy for the fact that the average book you see hyped up time and time again online seems to be the same romantasy smut vibe as the last thing. Smut isn't EVERYWHERE, but if you actively don't want it, publishers sure don't seem interested in making it easy to avoid stumbling into by accident.

I don’t like book covers that have real people on them. I won’t buy them, and will hunt for a different cover.

I don't seek out spice and the only books I've read with spice is ACOTAR, Verity and Red White And Royal Blue. Red White And Royal Blue is the tamest out of those. I also only have a few spicy books (that I know of) on my TBR. Also, there are people who want spice in YA books. No! ACOTAR shouldn't even be considered YA. Many YA books have characters who are minors and the intended audience is also minors. It would not be appropriate and it would also be creepy for a grown adult to write that and for a grown adult to read that. If sex is mentioned, is should be a closed door/fade to black situation in YA. I am also sick of so many book recs having to do with spice. Spice is overrated and I definitely prefer romantic moments over sexual.

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Wouldn't these be called tropes and not trends?

22:49 it’s me :)

I can’t stand the tropes on tiktok😭

I hate when authors only briefly describe the main characters. I want the most thorough description of what the character looks like. Please stop giving, “beautiful tresses atop a beautiful woman”. Girl, that’s too vague!!

I just hate seeing the same books recommended over and over. Please someone talk about something else.

I'm so bored with the majority of primary characters being female. If Ian Fleming was writing today, he would have to make his hero Jane Bond in order to get it published. Decades ago female characters were often secondary and often two-dimensional and so rightly that needed to be worked on. But it's gone too far the other way. We now have macho women and wimpy men. I'm a woman, and I really miss having a selection of strong, complex and heroic males in books today.

That paperback one hits me especially. I only collect paperbacks, mostly for the fact that uk hardcovers are huge, and most don't fit on my shelf. And so when i have to wait a year or so to get it in paperback, I'm super pissed, especially if its a book ive really been looking forward to.

Tbh I legit never read author blurbs. When book shopping these days I either have goodreads pulled up to get an actual description or I go in knowing I want.

That paperback one hits me especially. I only collect paperbacks, mostly for the fact that uk hardcovers are huge, and most don't fit on my shelf. And so when i have to wait a year or so to get it in paperback, I'm super pissed, especially if its a book ive really been looking forward to.