Thursday, February 16, 2017
Instant TBRs-- Things That Make Me Say YES To A Book
Last week I talked about topics or words that make me say NO to adding a book to my TBR. It got me thinking about what I do like, so I decided to do an opposite post this week.
Sometimes I pick books based on pretty covers. Lots of times I just pick books based on authors-- but since there are always new authors and new-to-me authors, sometimes I pick based on random things. Of course, I do like YA Mysteries and YA Contemporaries (that aren't super romancey), but there are a lot of those and I have to narrow them down, right?
Here are some of the reasons I instantly hit WANT TO READ:
The "I don't remember" or Amnesia Trope- I think maybe it's the mystery aspect of this trope, but I'm not sure what it is that hooks me. I know it's overdone, but there's just something about the character NOT remembering and then having to work through what happened with the reader that just GETS ME.
Mean Girls- Sometimes I get sick of girls being mean to each other, but if there's a mean girl or 2 in the book, done right, I will usually be ALL ABOUT IT.
Unhealthy Friendships- Again, sometimes I really yearn for healthy girl friendships in books, but if they're not going to be healthy, then I want them to be extreme levels of messed up-- nothing in-between.
SUPER Healthy Awesome Friendships (super rare)- Ohhh how I love and need more kick-ass friendship books.
Secret Relationships- I love a relationship that has to be kept on the down-low for REASONS. I don't know why, I just find it thrilling.
Romance Gone Wrong- I'm not into Romance books that much-- but I do really like to read about the dark side of romance. I've been involved in a sketchy relationship in the past, so I can usually relate.
Prom- I'm not into this AS much as I used to be. A few years ago if the word Prom was mentioned in the blurb it was an INSTANT ADD. Now, I am becoming more picky about them, but it's still a guilty pleasure. (I'm not sure why considering I didn't even go to my own Prom-- that's weird, right?)
Cults- Excuse my language, but I am just fucking FASCINATED by cults. It's so interesting to me how people get caught up in them and how the leaders can get these people to do almost anything for them.
The Dark Side of Social Media/Internet- So much can go wrong with the internets and it is super interesting to me because I mostly grew up in a time where we didn't have online lives (and I'm kind of really glad of that).
Bad Reputations- I instantly get interested in books that want to delve into the issue of girls having "reputations" when they hook up-- but you know, it's super cool when guys do it :(
True Crime Fiction- One of my biggest obsessions used to be reading True Crime books-- and following court cases on Court TV. Reading YA has kind of taken over that obsession, but if a book comes along that COMBINES my two obsessions?? I'm so in!
Sole survivor- This is another one that is kind of overdone, but I'm a sucker for them. Maybe it's because I liked that movie Unbreakable with Bruce Willis??
Woods- Woods are creepy as hell and I love settings that involve people getting lost in the woods, people going missing from the woods, crimes being committed in the woods, etc.
Islands- Like woods, islands can be creepy because of the isolation-- or they can be fun because it's an ISLAND. For whatever the reason, I definitely like to add these to my TBR.
Twins- Maybe it's because all of Sara Shepard's books tend to feature twins?? Maybe I like twins because I've always thought it would be like being born with a built-in best friend-- and that sounds pretty cool to me!!
Coming of Age- Being a YA Contemporary lover, I'm gonna come across a lot of coming-of-age books. The thing is, I LIKE them because they're usually about more than just a romance. I'm still trying to figure out who I am and how I fit into this world, so reading about someone else figuring it out (no matter the age) definitely appeals to me.
Serial Killer- This is a lot like the True Crime one-- but I'm morbidly fascinated by serial killers. I don't even have to read the synopsis, if I see the words serial killer, I'm IN.
Diaries or Letters- I am a huge sucker for books that are written in diary or letter format. I don't know why because they really don't end up reading all THAT different from a regular book.
______ meets _______- When one of the blanks is something I'm all about like: Clueless, The Breakfast Club, Mean Girls, Pretty Little Liars, Can't Hardly Wait, 10 Things I Hate About You, Gone Girl. The thing is, those comparisons are usually always disappointing, but that doesn't stop me from falling for it every damn time.
The Boyfriend Dumps the Girl for Her Best Friend- Oh man, I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this one because it's SO angsty & stuff-- but sometimes I just love the drama. Also, SO MUCH BETRAYAL.
Let's Talk
What are your weird/random/embarrassing reasons for TBRing a book?
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I love most of these too!!! I'm super fascinated by cults. I've yet to read a book about a cult that I loved, though. Any recommendations? Woods, coming of age, romance gone wrong, and diaries/letters always grab my attention too.
ReplyDeleteCults are just SO interesting to me!! I don't think I've read a good one yet either, but I'm hopeful-- The Possible by Tara Altebrando has cult stuff in it, so maybe it'll be the one. Also, I think Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu is a cult book-- but I haven't read it either. AND The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams has been on my TBR since FOREVER.
DeleteI like a lot of these too! Amnesia is one that gets me every time. Twins and cults are also really interesting and will catch my attention. Coming of age is always something I love to read about. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know WHY I haven't got sick of the Amnesia thing yet, but I still fall for it every time!
DeleteHmmm, I don't care for a lot of these, especially the mean girl trope. But I do love awesome friendships! That definitely gets me more interested in a book. And woods and islands are both great settings! Lol I vaguely remember that Bruce Willis movie. For me, my number one thing is probably vampires. I know there are tons of books about them, so I don't automatically read all of them, but the word vampire definitely makes my ears (or eyes, since I'm reading the blurb?) perk up!
ReplyDeleteHaha, to each his own. Vampires is probably one of my turn-offs because I auto assume it's going to be like Twilight. But yes, I'd love to see more healthy friendship books-- and if they're set in the woods or on islands, even better!
DeleteI love a lot of these as well, sometimes I feel bad cause I'm like 'should I like this?' But I can't help it, some things that are kind of strange are just so fascinating. I also love serial killer stories, I'm so intrigued by their mind set. Great post!
ReplyDeleteRight?? I'm totally feeling that way about a few of these. Some of them are so overdone and I'm just like WHY, Michelle, WHY??
DeleteI can agree with you on some of these. Love books with twins, love true crime, islands (or any creepy isolated place) and secret relationships.
ReplyDeleteMy YES tropes are hate to love romances (or other impossible seeming couples), impersonation, twins, sister stories, and probably a whole bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting.
Jen @ YA Romantics
Ohhh impersonation!! I could definitely go for some of those books!
DeleteI love serial killers. Yes, it sounds weird, but they are so fascinating. Along with true crime too. I'm big on mysteries in general.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
It does sound weird, but YES. I am morbidly obsessed with everything to do with serial killers. They're just so scary and alien to me that I can't help but be fascinated.
DeleteAmnesia/ I don't remember ALWAYS get me lol. I love that trope. If done well of course. I just read one like that (several in the last few months). Mean girls I feel like is so overdone but so what they're fun, especially in the academy/ exclusice school. Cults are awesome especially if it's a paranormal or like old time thing, like Victorian or something. Love the mystery. :) Islands- yup. And twins- especially if it's creepy w/ psychic power or something lol.
ReplyDeleteA breakfast Club comparison usually gets me too. that's why I read Rebel Bully Geek Pariah.
Cloning and having to figure out who someone really is usually appeals too.
THAT'S WHY I WANT TO READ Rebel Bully Geek Pariah!!!
DeleteI haven't really read a cloning book, but that does sound interesting!! Is Replica about that?
Rebel Bully Geek Pariah wasn't GREAT but I liked it, I think it's worth a read. And Replica IS about cloning, and even though it got some mixed reviews I liked it. It's definitely different with the 2 books in one thing. If you want to read a really good cloning book try Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty. It just came out but it's like a murder mystery in space with clones and oh yeah they can't remember anything either. It's science fiction but SOOO good.
DeleteDark, dark fiction. Muahahaha!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!
DeleteI am ALWAYS here for cults. So much. And islands and woods, yep and yep! I like twins too, and secret romance! I kind of like any weird survival shit too. And if it is survival in one of those aforementioned places, bonus points. OH and swimming. If there's a book about swimming, I am there for it.
ReplyDeleteDude, CULTS are so interesting!! I really want American Horror Story to do a season about one!! I like survival too-- especially in end of the world scenarios. Since you were a swimmer, that makes sense why you like swimming. Maybe that's why I like mean girls?? J/K I'm SUPER NICE!!
DeleteI like reading about friendships, and also family relationships. If a book has dual timelines or some connection to Paris, I'm immediately interested!
ReplyDeleteI love reading about the awesome friendships and serial killers (I'm oddly obsessed. lol!). Some of my instant "yeses" are: MC with mental health/anxiety issues, the whole fake relationship turned real relationship, friends to lovers. I also almost always say yes if the MC is artsy...lol!! I'm an artist so I love reading stories with artsy MCs.
ReplyDeleteI'm really into diaries/letters and x meets y (depending on what it is of course!) tooo. Can't say many of the others grab me haha but it is funny to start noticing what words and situations we gravitate towards in books.
ReplyDelete