Welcome to my first blog post of 2024! What better way to kick off the new year than with a book review?
I recently had the pleasure of becoming immersed in The Girl Behind the Glass, a fantasy retelling of Snow White with a dark twist.
Told in a dual narrative style, we’re introduced to Winnie, daughter of the Mayor of Cranwick and Princess Frost, daughter of the King of Icefall. Both characters are fierce and willing to do whatever it takes for the ones that they love. I did say this was a twist on the traditional Snow White fairytale so of course we also have a stepmother and plenty of high-stakes secrets and plotting.
I absolutely adored the world-building and the dual narrative; admittedly I did struggle initially to understand the inner workings of the world and conflict with the witches but the more I read, the more familiar and addictive it became. The Girl Behind the Glass is a book with strong, sassy female protagonists and themes of family, identity and belonging that you’re guaranteed to get hooked on.
I can’t wait to see more of what this world brings!
What are you waiting for? Go pick up a copy now! Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited now.
“I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.” | Allegiant, Veronica Roth.
It goes without saying but the very nature of this blog post implies that there will, of course, be an array of spoilers regarding the highly controversial endings to some series I’ve read over the years. If you’ve yet to read these books or intend to anytime soon and hate spoilers, kindly see yourself out now 🙂
1. Allegiant by Veronica Roth:
Have I inadvertently chosen violence by kicking off with this ending? Perhaps. I’m more than aware it’s been many years since Allegiant was released so I’ll remind you what happens at the end: in a snap decision that surprises absolutely no-one, Tris attempts to disseminate the memory serum instead of letting her brother Caleb do the deed. Of course, this leads to Tris’ inevitable doom which had my fifteen-year-old self utterly shook. I had never read a book in which the main character simply…kicks the bucket. I went through all the stages of grief: from denial all the way to reluctant acceptance.
Now, hear me out. I’ve had years to digest the tragic events that led to Tris’ death and how broken it left my boo, Tobias, and I’ve arrived at the slightly tentative conclusion that I am not completely opposed to this ending. I’ll be a frank, I despise happily-ever-afters. I can hear your exclamations of shock through the screen but allow me to explain. HEA’s tend to become a bit bland after all and so I appreciated that Veronica Roth took the plunge and decided to shake things up a little. That doesn’t mean that I’m still not absolutely saddened by the fact that Tris grew so much as a character, overcame obstacles with her family and Tobias to die at such a young age.
2. Requiem by Lauren Oliver:
Now this ending REALLY rubs me up the wrong way. Lena joins the resistance and bears the alleged lose of Alex only to find that he’s been alive all along. She grows so much as a character and I was fully rooting for her to dismantle the wretched system that declares love as a disease and sure, she manages to accomplish this and reunites with an estranged Alex only for the book to end. Sorry, do I have ‘clown’ plastered all over my forehead? In what world is that an acceptable ending of any kind? I know I just said that I don’t like HEA’s and whilst that’s true, the real enemy that I loathe with every fibre of my being are unresolved endings. An epilogue, even the teeny tiniest glimpse into the future of Lena and Alex would have had me sated. Alas, it was not meant to be.
3. An Emotion of Great Delight by Tahereh Mafi:
This is a fairly new release but that won’t stop me from absolutely ripping this book to shreds. This book literally ends mid-conversation. I wish I was exaggerating and flirting with hyperbole as I often do in this blog but it’s the simple truth. How on Earth can two characters be engaged in a deep conversation, sharing their feelings with one another and then the book just ends? Dear Tahereh, please pick up the nearest dictionary and look up the definition of the word ‘resolution.’
4. A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer:
Brigid, I adore you and your incredible books but I will never forgive you for this. How dare you viciously strip away Rhen’s title and leave him a mere heap of a human? Please look me in the eyes and explain how you could be so heartless. To those of you who are familiar with this wonderful series, you might murmur soothingly, “But, what about the other characters? They all got the ending they deserved.” Yes, you are correct, they did which only makes it infinitely worse that Rhen is left to suffer. I won’t be forgetting about this anytime soon. *Old western music plays in the background whilst tumbleweed drifts across the screen*
This list is admittedly very short because I have a very bad habit of never finishing series that I’ve started many moons ago. Sigh.
Would I recommend? If you like an imaginative and cute romance, yes.
Spoilers may make a surprise appearance, proceed with caution.
Why oh why am I always so late to the bandwagon? Seriously, if someone can answer this you will be rewarded handsomely. *For legal reasons this is a joke*
The Fine Print has waited patiently on my overloaded shelves collecting dust whilst I experienced a very long, intense book slump but alas, here I am now.
One of my favourite elements about this book was the way Lauren Asher sets the premise for the entire series. We are introduced to the Kane brothers; Rowan, Declan and Cal. The book at hand focusses on the ruthless, cold-hearted Rowan who has a formidable reputation and is known for making selfish decisions which have led to those around him fearing his very presence. The Rowan we meet at the beginning of the book resembles a human version of the Grinch; he absolutely detests people and can only be described as a functioning workaholic. Enter Zahra, the human equivalent of a bright ray of sunshine who has her own traumatic past and aspires to become a Creator at Dreamland.
“Zahra’s it for me. I know it with everything in me, and my intuition has never been wrong before. There’s nothing in the world I’ll find more beautiful than her. Not the sun. Not the moon. Not even the entire galaxy compares to the light she radiates wherever she goes.”
Let’s start with Dreamland. While I initially wanted to scoff at the name, I found myself quite liking that this book was set in a theme park and showed us the inner workings and behind-the-scenes content of what it must be like to create and conjure unique concepts. The descriptions were incredible and I could imagine myself visiting somewhere like Dreamland so kudos Asher.
The grump x sunshine trope in this book is truly immaculate. Zahra somehow toes the line between bubbly and optimistic without becoming annoying and her personality is both infectious not only for Rowan but also the reader. You just can’t hate the girl. Rowan, on the other hand, is as cold as ice and refuses to drop his guard for anyone. I will say, the whole ‘I refuse to let my guard down for anyone’ cliche is a bit…tedious but given the cold, mechanical childhood Rowan experienced at the hands of his father, I could get behind it. Even more so when the premise of the romance relies upon Rowan realising that love isn’t as dangerous and manipulative as he thinks it is.
Life’s too short to hide who you are because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”
Rowan’s character development was the highlight for me not only because this was a romance book but because of some of the other changes it led to. The way he views the world, the way he views other people besides Zahra and comes to the realisation that his place of privilege has enabled him to access wealth and resources which the majority of his employees could only dream of. Zahra’s presence and involvement in his life, if anything, encourages Rowan to become a better version of himself and although this is driven by his love for her, it inspires change for the better across all areas of his life.
“You’ll learn that the best rewards come with the biggest consequences. Because nothing that great is given for free.”
Why the 3.5 stars you may be asking? Well, don’t get me wrong. A romance book with much-loved tropes like grump x sunshine and “I hate everyone but you” is bound to resemble other books utilising the same tropes but I just found the conflict towards the end to be…far too predictable. Look I get it, it’s a romance book. Readers want to see the main characters falling in love and living happily ever after but hear me out. You’re telling me Zahra, the same woman who had her heart wrenched out of her chest by her ex, the same woman who fell into a crippling depression because of this, was somehow able to trust Rowan after all the lies he told? And yes, I appreciate the lies were for the best and whatnot but part of me was reading this thinking, “there’s no way you’re taking this guy back, right?” Answer: wrong!
I refuse to allow this to taint my view of this book and despite this, I am definitely looking forward to Terms and Conditions!
“When I watch you sleep,” he said shakily, “I feel overwhelmed you exist.”
Rating: 4 sunny stars!
Would I recommend? Read on and find out…the answer has three letters though, just a little clue.
Welcome to yet another “bookstagram made me do it” blog post but for once, I’m glad bookstagram made me do it! Yes I hear you, it’s such a miracle for an extremely hyped book to actually live up to the hype, who would have thought it??
Beach Read follows 29-year-old January Andrews, a romance writer who is reeling after the unexpected loss of her father. January is faced not only with this traumatic loss but also the staggering revelation that her father had cheated on his mother, a fact January’s mother was more than aware of. Understandably, these events leave our usually carefree, optimistic heroine jaded and heartbroken. The story sees January struggling to find the inspiration to write a romance book with a happily ever after because she simply doesn’t believe in them anymore.
When January moves to the small town of North Bear Shores for the summer, determined to churn out a book to earn some cash, the last person she expects to see is her former college crush and rival, Augustus Everett. January and Gus find out that they are both neighbours for the summer and make a deal that will benefit them both: Gus will write a romance book with a happily ever after and January will write the antithesis of this.
I have to say, it was the concept of two writers competing that drew me in initially as I’m sure it did for many other readers. There’s just something about two writers being able to connect about a shared passion that just makes me want to squeal and boy this book did not disappoint! What really impressed me about this book wasn’t the romance (shocker, I know) as much as it was how utterly dreary and honest it got at parts.
Let’s start with January. I found her to be quite a relatable character. After all, don’t we all read books to forget about the never-ending mindless fog that is our lives? In those hopeless moments, it is books and the magical words they contain that transport us to realms that our beyond your wildest imagination. January, like most readers, loses herself in these books and finds that reality, unfortunately, doesn’t quite compare. When her dad passes away and she comes face to face with his mistress, January is hit with the reality of her life. She’s spent years and years convincing others that her sacrifices meant nothing, that she could be the light in their lives, that everything would be okay in the end. Ultimately, it’s coming to terms with the realisation that this isn’t always the case that is January’s undoing and that struck a chord with me.
Gus is your typical broody, mysterious guy next door but what I liked particularly about Gus was that he was willing to break down the walls between himself and January. If you’ve ever watched 27 Dresses, which may or may not be my favourite rom-com of all time, you might find that Gus is quite similar to Kevin, the cynical love interest who has given up on love after a bitter experience. It would have been quite easy for Gus to shut January out and ruin a beautiful thing in the coming so it was refreshing to see his barriers crumble little by little.
Remember how I said I liked this book for reasons that went by the romance? Now don’t get me wrong. The romance was endearing and cute as expected but it was seeing January and Gus both come to terms with their respective trauma that was the true highlight.
Muchlike The Heart Principle, this is a book that is both realistic and heart-wrenching. It shows us that whilst relationships with others, whether they be a signing other, family or friends might hold a lot of value, the most important relationship we have is with ourselves. It is our ability to deal with the trauma and cards we’re dealt that ultimately allows us to accept the love we feel we deserve.
If you’re looking for a short, cute but touching read, Beach Read is the book for you!
“I said I’ll never hurt you, Elena, but if I find out you’ve touched another man, there is nothing in this world that could save him.”
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Would I recommend? If you love a scintillating mafia romance with gore then hell yes.
This isn’t a first for this blog but it is quite rare; a review of a mafia romance of all things. Yes, I hear your gasps of surprise and I assure you, no bloggers were harmed in the making of this blog.
Warning: I can’t guarantee that there won’t be slight spoilers in this blog although I have tried to avoid them where possible. Please proceed with caution ⚠️
If you’ve ever stepped foot, or should I say thumb, on book twitter, bookstagram or booktok you may have come across The Sweetest Oblivion. This mafia romance is written in a dual person perspective and follows Elena Abelli, otherwise known as the Sweet Abelli. Elena’s reputation proceeds her. Though she was once known for being the sweet, good-natured Abelli daughter, a mistake made six months ago haunts her. Her past makes her unfit for marriage and this is how her sister, Adriana, comes to be engaged to Nicolas Russo, a Made Man, notorious for his brutality in the New York Underworld. Nico is one of five dons and is known for killing men for the slightest infraction.
When Elena first encounters Nico, their hatred for one another is so palatable it threatens to jump off the page and choke you. Elena despises Nico as she sees him as rude and arrogant. Similarly, Nico doesn’t see the obsession surrounding Elena and refuses to become one of the men who is infatuated with her infamous good looks and sweet nature. To make matters worse, Adriana herself doesn’t see a successful union with Nico as she is currently in love with the gardener.
Let’s start with Elena. Elena is made out to be the favourite daughter, a docile, sweet individual who could very easily be brushed to the aside and painted as shallow and one dimensional. As the story progresses, we learn that Elena’s past is a constant source of guilt for her and she yearns for a fulfilling and free life. She has spent her entire life under the control of her father and doesn’t wish to be passed off to another controlling man. Elena, despite her best intentions, finds herself drawn to Nico even though she’s more than aware of his jealous, vicious tendencies.
“For the first time in my life, I felt free to be me. To curse if I wanted, to keep my smiles for who deserved them, to be bad at something, to fall in love. Nico didn’t treat me like glass. He shattered the reflection of an empty life staring back at me. He taught me how to soar.”
My initial reaction to Nico was a mixed one. Did I find him overbearing and controlling? Hell yes. Did I also start to thaw towards him and find him to be sweet, caring and fiercely protective? Surprisingly, yes. A surprising turn of events sees Elena and Nico betrothed to one another and it is here that we see more to Nico. He doesn’t control her like her father did but rather he attends to her every need. Yes, I may have gushed a little when he brought her a coffeemaker pretty much as soon as they moved in together *insert swooning here*
“I swear to God, Elena, if I find out you’ve let some man touch you, I will deliver his hands to you in a box.” I swallowed. “And I do not. Fucking. Bluff.”
I was pleasantly surprised at how Elena and Nico went from hating one another’s guts to being heartbroken at the prospect of being apart. That, my friends, is the beauty of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I told myself this book wouldn’t be receiving a high rating if I wasn’t convinced by the change in their relationship but I’m happy to announce I was wrong (not something you hear often huh?)
Elena and Nico’s story isn’t as simple as it seems and I liked how they both had pasts that weighed them down and molded them into the characters we meet in the book. Nico is bloodthirsty and possessive yet operates by a strict set of moral rules that see him protecting the women in his life, especially Elena. Elena isn’t ashamed to admit that she craves the darkness Nico encompasses and despite this attraction, she hasn’t forgotten the amends she needs to make to someone she hurt in the past.
The story also introduced a wide variety of side characters who all had interesting stories that had me intrigued, namely the introduction of the icy Christian and charismatic Gianna. Their involvement in this novel was the perfect segue for the following novel, The Maddest Obsession, which will be reviewed shortly…watch this space.
“Fear is a prison, and in prison you played by different rules to survive.” | Sparrow, L.J. Shen.
Any reader who has come across the wonders of Kindle Unlimited has most likely never wanted to look back. KU is the bookworm’s equivalent of Netflix, readers can borrow unlimited titles for a small monthly price and it’s a subscription that I’m so glad I came across. Below are some spoiler free recs that you need in your life! (Source for this emphatic statement: me).
The Risk by S.T. Abby (Book One of The Mindfuck series):
Kicking off the list with a gory and utterly dark book that will have your inner villian completely satisfied. What happens when an appraised FBI profiler comes across the infamous serial killer he’s been hunting down? He falls in love of course. The Risk follows a protagonist who is hell bent on revenge after a traumatic, brutal attack left her irrevocably broken. Lana vows to seek vengeance for this act and thus embarks on a one man revenge mission which I was fully behind. If you’re a fan of dark contemporary fiction with graphic descriptions of gore and horror, this book is for you. If by any chance you’re also a fan of the Hannibal tv series, you’ll definitely adore this series! Did I mention that each book is roughly 100 pages each? You’ll be devouring this series in no time 😉
Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas:
If childhood penpals-to-enemies-to lovers sounds appealing to you then you will love Punk 57. Punk 57 is a new adult book which is told in a dual perspective of two pen pals, Misha and Ryen, who have been writing to each other non-stop since the fifth grade until a tragic event sees the letters coming to an abrupt stop. Unknown to Ryen, Misha has suffered a personal tragedy which has led to him completely forsaking everything he has worked for and once held dear, including his bond with the girl he’s never met. Misha finds himself in Ryen’s life which leads to some top tier angst and sizzling scenes that left scorch marks in their wake. More than that, Punk 57 focuses on self-hatred and acceptance which makes for an incredible read.
Sparrow by L.J. Shen:
Mob romance with major Peaky Blinders vibes anyone? Was that a yes? Well then let me introduce you to Sparrow, a contemporary dark romance which finds our protagonist Sparrow forced into an arranged marriage with ruthless gang leader, Troy Brennan. Sparrow has the perfect mix of marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers and a delicious slow-burn that just makes your heart ache. My fellow mafia/mob lovers, this one’s for you!
Feather by Olivia Wildenstien:
You might be familiar with series like Hush Hush and Angelfall (if you haven’t, I simply insist you read them!) which have focused on fallen angels and the angel hierarchy. Feather is unique as it’s a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The book’s tenacious protagonist, Leigh, embarks on a mission to transform sinner Jarod Adler in an attempt to gain missing feathers to complete her wings. Jarod isn’t any ordinary sinner, he’s a Triple, one of the most notorious sinners whose list of sins are longer than his arm. Feather is yet another new adult paranormal fantasy which is dark, gritty and offers a fresh perspective on the concept of angels and humanity. If you love dramatic, unexpected endings, Romeo and Juliet retellings and angels then you will love this book!
Church by Stylo Fantome:
Do you ever crave the darkest, most depraved, insane book you’ve ever read in your life? Stylo Fantome fulfills that criteria and then some. Emma Hartley has suffered some of the most unimaginable horrors and abuse in her short life which has led to her perspective of life becoming extremely skewed. Enter Church Logan, a silent enigma who Emma is instantly infatuated with. Church is a diagnosed sociopath which both the reader and Emma are aware of. Despite this, Emma finds herself yearning to become a part of Church, to do anything and everything he asks her to. Church is a manipulative, intelligent character who wields this trust as a weapon in an attempt to get Emma to complete his dark and nefarious deeds.
Are you still with me? Honestly, it’s hard to rave about this book any further without venturing into spoiler territory but if unreliable and extremely unhinged narrators are your thing, the Church duology might be the perfect fit for you. I must warn that this book has some pretty intense triggers including self-harm, blood play and graphic descriptions.
These are just a few Kindle Unlimited books that have stuck with me which I will keep recommending until the end of time. Please do check trigger warnings for each book if you do intend to pick them up!
“These pictures are my heart. And if my heart was a canvas, every square inch of it would be painted over with you.” | Lady Midnight, Cassandra Clare.
Before I get started with this blog, I have to mention that this post marks a whole year of blogging about all things bookish. I started this blog in a moment of despair and I’m so grateful to anyone who takes a moment to give it a read. Here’s to more ranting, fangirling and A Level English Lit level analysis!
As a devoted bookworm, the mere thought of our favourite books being adapted for the big screen by the powers that be is a catch-22 situation. On the one hand we experience undulated glee, the rush of adrenaline at the idea of the worlds imagined entirely in our minds finally being brought to life. On the other hand, there’s the chilling fear that grips us at the idea of these beautiful and magical worlds and characters being butchered before our very own eyes. In this blog, I’m going to touch on some books that I sincerely believe have a good chance of success if they were translated accurately on to the big screen.
The Dark Artifices by Cassandra Clare:
We’re all more than familiar with Cassandra Clare’s bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments, which has gone on to see international success through a movie adaptation as well as a tv series. Now don’t get me wrong. The Mortal Instruments is the reason we all got to encounter the demon slaying Nephillim known as Shadowhunters and the inner workings of Downworlders. Without it, we wouldn’t have the brilliance that is The Infernal Devices or the series that I’m about to mention. The Dark Artifices is a sequel to The Mortal Instruments and focuses on the aftermath of the events in TMI. Readers are introduced to the fierce Emma Carstairs, the Blackthorn siblings and a deeper insight into the lands of the Seelie and Unseelie. Where TMI focussed on the New York institute, TDA is centred around the residents of the Los Angeles institute and how the consequences of the war affected them individually and as a unit.
There’s a number of reasons why I feel that The Dark Artifices would be a more suitable and perhaps appealing option to be adapted into a series. To begin with, it offers a fresh perspective and a new backdrop to the usual New York dealings we’ve become accustomed to. Movie and show watchers alike have probably have more than they can take of vampires and werewolves (Twilight, I’m looking at you). The Dark Artifices provides us with a deeper look into both the Seelie and Unseelie courts which is something viewers might find enlightening. Whilst there’s a number of solid romances in the series including Emma and Julian’s forbidden tryst, there’s a strong emphasis on the theme of family and bonding. It’s a fair observation to make when I say that a lot of the tv shows and movies geared towards young adults place heavy emphasis on star-crossed lovers and very little focus on other, platonic forms of love. Done right, The Dark Artifices could have some epic fantasy, action-packed series under its belt.
Relentless by Karen Lynch:
I only very recently read this thanks to a recommendation from a trusted bookstagrammer. Relentless follows seventeen-year-old Sara, a gifted teenage girl who has the power to heal wounded animals and secretly dabbles in the world of dark magic. Sara learns she is not entirely human; her mother belonged to a warrior race known as the Mohiri, individuals who are half human and half demon with the sole purpose of destroying vampires. Sara meets Nikolas, an esteemed warrior in his own right who introduces her to the inner workings of his elusive people. Who doesn’t love a sword-wielding, broody vampire slayer? Lovers of Buffy would instantly swoon at the very suggestion of a series or movie, am I right or am I right? Not to mention that Lynch’s series is an incredible mix of every mythical creature imaginable: vampires, demons, werewolves, sylphs, trolls and hellhounds. Name it, this series has it!
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang:
So I may have seen rumours that this book is allegedly in talks of being adapted but being the cynic I am, I’ve never placed much trust in rumours like that and I’m not about to start now. The Kiss Quotient is actually the first contemporary on this list and when I first read it, I could instantly see it receiving the same praise as romantic dramas like The Notebook,The Vow and pretty every Nicholas Sparks adaptation ever. This book offers an incredibly informative insight into the live of economitration Stella who hires an escort in an attempt to become better at seducing the opposite sex. Dating and socialising in general is something Stella has struggled with as she has Asperger’s which has lead to situations where she has unknowingly broken social conventions. What Stella doesn’t expect in her rigid and fixed lifestyle is to fall in love with Michael who by his own admission has more than his fair share of baggage. The Kiss Quotient is a tale of love and loss which I believe would break the hearts of millions everywhere if it ever did make it on to the big screen.
Angelfall by Susan Ee:
If you were around in the young adult dystopian craze that roughly occurred between 2011-2016, you would have most likely been infatuated with or heard of the Hush Hush saga by Becca Fitzpatrick. Sadly, this series has already been given the green light so I’ve decided to focus my efforts on another similar but perhaps more deserving book. Angelfall is a young adult post-apocalyptic novel which follows a world which has fallen to the depravity of angels. Seventeen-year-old Penryn has learnt to survive in this world by any means necessary until her younger sister is taken which finds her seeking the help of her sworn enemy; a bruised and battered warrior angel who goes by the name Raffe. With only each other to rely on, the two find themselves drawn to one another despite the consequences.
Angelfall would make a great movie purely because we rarely get the chance to see badass angels wreaking havoc on mankind. I mean, how good does that sound? With a strong, iron-willed female lead and a love interest who has more to his personality wheel than just being a world-class asshole, Angelfall would make for an action-packed, gripping survival blockbuster.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller:
Did you love Pirates of the Caribbean as much as I did and then never found anything that could compare? Let me introduce you to the young adult swashbuckling adventure that is Daughter of the Pirate King. This book has everything that would make for a perfect movie: high stakes action, sizzling angst and complex characters. This book instantly filled the pirate shaped hole in my chest after I had finished rewatching the entirety of the Pirates of the Caribbean. Daughter of the Pirate King also offers a unique insight into mythical creatures we seldom get to see on our screens; the elusive creatures that are known as sirens. Jack Sparrow, eat your heart out.
“What if I’m not a superhero. What if I’m the bad guy?” | Twilight, Stephenie Meyer.
The ranting hour is upon us once more. Bookish tropes, we’re all more than familiar with them and whilst there’s a few that I’m utter trash for, there’s also a select few that infuriate me like no other. Before I start, I should add that there might be some minor spoilers sprinkled here and there. These are all my personal opinion of course which you’re fully entitled to disagree (or agree 😌) with.
Insta-love:
Kicking off the list with perhaps the most deplorable trope to ever grace my delicate eyeballs. Insta love. We’ve all seen it and most of us detest it. You might be reading with this scrunched up fists right now and hating me for making such a statement but please, allow me to continue. A while ago I read The Sun is Also a Star and it was, kindly putting it, the worst kind of torture. Why, oh why would two characters who JUST met fall in deep, irrevocable love with each other? It just doesn’t add up! Insta-lust and attraction I can accept, it’s the very law of nature to feel magnetised by something that captures our attention. I get that, I really do. What I refuse to appreciate is insta-love, it’s ruined many books for me where a slow-burn, excruciating build-up would have served better instead.
Love triangles just for the sake of controversy:
I was slightly hesitant to add this trope to the list because I have mixed feelings about love triangles. If done right and genuinely, they can provide a facet of entertainment that is just unrivalled. Take The Infernal Devices for example, all the parties involved share mutual respect and adoration for one another and the mere fact that there’s a triangle doesn’t detract from this. Love triangles such as the one in Twilight do really make my blood boil, however. Bella, let’s be honest loca. You were never going to pick Jacob, not in a million full moons, purely because he was a crutch that you used in an attempt to fill the void Edward ‘I have the skin of a killer’ left behind. So why the controversy? As Cardi B once proclaimed, what was the reason?
The ‘you have magical powers now you don’t need me anymore’ bf:
Okay, I’ll confess. This is, in fact, a direct shot at Shadow and Bone’s Mal. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a trope per se, it is a common feature in young adult literature that irks me like no other. I’ll never understand why these kind of characters get so personally offended when their partner discovers that they’re destined for greatness. Your girlfriend is the main character of a young adult fantasy book, what did you expect? Is it really that hard to just swallow down your bitterness and be happy for your partner? Or even better, just communicate?
The Chosen One:
I didn’t realise I hated this one until recently but here it is. If you’ve ever read a young adult book, you’ll be more than familiar with this trope. I may not loathe this as much as I loathe something like insta-love but it is a trope that needs to die a quick, swift death. We get it, the protagonist is special,one of a kind, unique, no-one can do what she can do. Yawn, let’s keep it moving before I fall asleep.
Friends-to-lovers:
Shoutout to my sister and her pet octopus for reminding of this one. My main gripe with this trope is how mundane and boring it is. Talk about a snooze fest. Since I’m a huge fan of enemies-to-lovers, it’s only the natural order of things for me to despise this trope. I’m not sure where the hate stems from but it can most likely be boiled down to the fact that there often tends to be very little chemistry between these characters and a hell of a lot of confusion for no apparent reason. Justified angst only please and thank you.
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