Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This week’s topic is Things That Make Me Instantly NOT Want to Read a Book. There are a few things that make me hesitant to read a book. Let’s check them out!
1. Bully Romances
I like almost ever type of romance, but bully romances are ones I just can’t get behind. It’s funny because I love enemies-to-lovers, but when the actions and conversations get mean and hurtful, I just can’t get behind the relationship.
2. Horror
Books that are really scary or have a lot of violence and gore are not my faves. They’re too disturbing, and I end up having nightmares. It’s strange because I sometimes watch horror movies, but reading horror stories freak me out way more. One of my favorite shows used to be The Walking Dead, but something really violent and gory happened to my favorite character, and it was so horrifying, I haven’t watched the show since.
3. Bad Editing
If I’m reading a book that isn’t edited well, I find it hard to get fully immersed in the book. I end up focusing on the mistakes instead of the content. Sometimes, I come across a book that has a bunch of grammatical errors or needs some major content revisions. Those end up being DNFs for me.
5. Secret Baby
This is one of my least favorite tropes. I hate when a baby is kept secret, especially when its kept from a parent. If I know a secret baby is a main trope in a story, I won’t read it.
4. Love Triangles
This is one of those tropes that has to be done really well for me to like it. I don’t understand the love triangle. If you can’t choose, maybe don’t be with either one. Or be with both. lol Personally, I think if there isn’t a clear choice, then neither should be a choice.
6. Death of a Parent or a Lot of Focus on Grief
I lost my mom a decade ago, and I still can’t read books that have a heavy focus on grief and loss. I still deeply miss her, and the grief never really goes away, so when I read books heavy with grief and loss, it triggers all kinds of emotions.
7. Open Endings
I am so not a fan of open endings. I do love cliffhanger endings if I know there’s another book to follow, but if it is a standalone book or the final book in a series, I want a resolution. I like my stories with a sure ending, wrapped up with a nice little bow with a cherry on top. lol Stories that have endings left open to interpretation stress me out. I NEED CLOSURE!!!
8. Unappealing Covers
I mean… I definitely judge a book by its cover. Not gonna lie. And I will read a book with an unappealing cover, but it’s definitely a harder sell for me.
That’s all I can think of today, though I’m sure there are other things that deter me from a book. What are some things that instantly make you not want to read a book. Do we have any on common? Comment below!
Bad editing is definitely something that’ll make me DNF, too. And secret baby is one of my most disliked tropes, too.
Yeah, I never really understand the whole secret baby thing.
Agree about horror
I’ve been seeing love triangles a lot today and have to agree. I can tolerate it more if I’m reading a YA and it’s more about the characters coming of age and figuring out their likes and dislikes. When it comes to full fledged adults that a big Nope from me.
Yes! I totally get that.
I can’t hang with horror either. It just isn’t worth the lost sleep for me! Bad editing is another one that gets me, as well.
Yes! They give me too many nightmares – the horror and bad editing! lol
Books about grief have definitely hit different since losing my grandma a few years ago. I can understand wanting to steer clear of them. Great list this week!
Thanks, Joanna! I tend to stay away from book I know will make me cry. lol
I don’t necessarily mind the secret baby element if done well, but it’s just so prevalent that as soon as a character has a deep dark secret from their past, chances are we know already it’s a secret baby! Agreed about bad editing and lack of closure too…
Yes! lol And I always hope it’s going to be a different deep, dark secret, but it’s usually not. hahaha
I am not a fan of love triangles either.
Yeah, they’re just so frustrating.
This is a great list. Secret baby, love triangles, and bully romances are all ones I avoid too.
Thanks! Imagine if a book had all three? *shudders* lol
That would be a nightmare.
Awesome list this week, Julie, and I can identify with all of these. But I can definitely agree with the one about the grief – I lost my dad a little over four years ago, and I was a blubbering mess while reading Crying in H Mart. That was my first (and last) time trying to read a book that centered on grief and loss.
I totally understand that. And when you don’t expect it, and then something happens in abook that brings all those feelings to the surface. Like the end of The Bone Shard War. It totally destroyed me.
Oh. My. God. Can we just pretend there was a different ending on that part?
Yes, yes we can! lol
Oh my gosh! I cannot believe I forgot about open endings. I hate them! lol. Also, I’m not a fan of reading about loss/grief either.
I know – I need closure!! lol
Great list, Julie! I totally agree about so many of these. Horror, open endings (ugh), love triangles and bad editing are awful 😂 I forgot to add bully romance to my list but it’s definitely a no for me.
thanks, Dini! I’m not surprised we share so many of the same dislikes. lol
Ugh, I agree with you for Bully Romance, Secret Baby, Bad Editing, and Love Triangles.
Yes! They’re all terrible! lol
Great list, I also dislike bully romances!
Thanks! Yeah, i just can’t get past the meanness. lol
I agree with all of these, Julie, except maybe the Secret Baby thing. I know that is sometime in the books I enjoy, but the other parent always finds out and it works out. Great list.
Thanks, Carla!