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: Buzzwords or Phrases That Make Me Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book. These can show up anywhere – in titles, synopses, marketing blurbs, reviews, or even author endorsements, and they can instantly pull me in or send me running the other way.
Every reader has their own set of green flags and red flags. Whether you avoid nonfiction altogether or steer clear of romantasy, we all have certain words that make us say “yes, immediately” or “absolutely not.”
I narrowed mine down to five book words or phrases that make me want to read and five that make me hesitate (or walk away entirely).
5 Words and Phrases That Make Me Want to Read a Book
1. A Favorite Author.
Some authors are an automatic read, no synopsis required. For me, that’s Nora Roberts. The moment I see her name on a cover, it’s already in my hands.
2. The Titanic.
Say no more. If a book involves that doomed ship in any capacity, I’m already intrigued. Historical fiction, romance, mystery, it doesn’t matter. Titanic gets me every time.
3. A Favorite Genre.
Spy novels, witches, space operas – if a book falls into one of my go-to genres, it’s already halfway onto my TBR. Genre is one of the fastest ways I decide whether something is for me.
4. A Punny Title.
I will never get tired of cozy mysteries with clever, pun-filled titles. The cheesier, the better. A great pun signals that a book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I’m here for it.
5. The Word “Cozy.”
Honestly, this might be the biggest one. Cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, cozy read – if something is described as cozy, I’m instantly interested. It’s practically a guaranteed addition to my reading list.
5 Words and Phrases That Make Me Want to Put a Book Down
1. “Book One of [Long Series].”
There are too many books in the world to commit to something with five, ten, or more installments. Three books? Maybe. Beyond that, I hesitate. Life is short and my TBR is long.
2. Certain Tropes.
Love triangles, billionaire romances, and dark romance are usually a no for me. Plus, if a synopsis hints at a character falling in love with the person who kidnapped them? Hard pass.
3. Heavy BookTok or BookTube Hype.
I’ve been burned too many times. When a book is absolutely everywhere on BookTok or BookTube, I’ve learned to steer clear. The hype rarely matches my personal reading experience.
4. An Unappealing Cover.
I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I tptally do. If the cover doesn’t grab me, I’m probably not picking it up. Cover design matters more than we like to admit.
5 .“Not Available at My Library.”
This one is simple: if I can’t check it out from the library, chances are I’m not reading it anytime soon. Accessibility is a real factor in what makes it onto my reading list.
All it takes is one little buzzword to either add a book to my list or send it straight back to the shelf.
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