Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and 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 theme is:
June 11: Unpopular Bookish Opinions
I didn’t think I had a lot of unpopular opinions until I started writing this post, but here we are with a full post of 10 opinions. Some of these might not be that unpopular, but some are a little on the risky side. Prepare your mugs for a helping of tea.
1. French flaps are the worst
They just spill out whenever you’re reading and get in the way. They make it so hard to hold a book that I’ll actively avoid buying a specific edition if I know it has flaps.
2. Bookish candles are overpriced
I SAID WHAT I SAID, OK. They smell amazing and I’m a sucker for ADSOM candles, but I don’t actively buy them because they’re a lot of money for what they are. If you set your mind to it, you could probably make your own for much cheaper.
3. Book Depository are great for worldwide shipping, but so unreliable
I can’t count the number of times when I’ve ordered from them they’ve sent the wrong book or it’s been lost in transit. And usually these are gifts or books for giveaway winners too. Sort it out BD.
4. I read two pages of TEOOO and put it down
The protagonist’s voice felt annoying to me and I didn’t love the writing style. I might still pick it up at some point, but I just immediately felt put off and didn’t want to continue reading it.
5. Adaptations can make or break a series
I’ve seen a lot of authors talk about the fact that an adaptation doesn’t affect the source material because it still exist in its original form, but for me it does. I really liked the Mortal Instruments series until I saw the film. It was bad, guys. Bad. So bad, that it tainted the books for me because every time I thought about them, I remembered how bad the film was. Although I’d been growing apart from them for a while, I felt even less inclined to finish them after seeing the film, sadly.
6. We put too much emphasis on the number of books we read every month
I’m 110% guilty of doing this too, but we place far too much importance on how many books we read in a month.
It becomes something of a contest for who can read the most, and while it’s truly impressive if someone’s read 12 books in one month, it’s not all about that, right? Surely the most important thing is your enjoyment of the book and whether you found a new favourite?
Yes, friends, I’m banging the quality over quantity drum. I would rather read two 5-star books that I adored, than ten books that I didn’t love. I’m not trying to detract from people who read lots of books in one month – quite the opposite. I’m a medium-to-slow reader, so I’m always amazing when someone’s read 14 full-length novels in one month. It’s a great achievement. But it shouldn’t be the be-all and end-all of reading.
7. I don’t like the UK Queen of the Tearling covers
I’m sorry, I’m being unfair, but I just don’t like the aesthetic of them. The colours don’t harmonise and the animal trap in the shape of a crown is clever but boring. The American ones are beautiful in comparison, and they make the UK ones look even worse. Can we get a rebrand over here?
8. Requesting an ARC just to trade is bad etiquette
I know people love to trade for books they want, but asking for ARCs just to trade isn’t great behaviour. I’ve seen so many people get proofs at conventions and put them on #arcsfortrade the next day.
Reading the book then trading it? Absolutely A-OK. Trading immediately? Please no. It means that people who really want to read a specific book have less of a chance of getting a proof because other people have already requested copies just for trade. It isn’t as bad as selling ARCs (literally Satan’s work) but publishers only have a finite amount of proofs. They should go to readers who really want to read and review the book.
9. I’m done with fae/fairy stories
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy these types of stories (sometimes), but I feel like I’ve read so many of them in the last few years that I’m at saturation point. There’s only so many super-powered, macho alpha-male fae stories a girl can take before she wants to physically erase the word “Tamlin” from her mind. So take me out of the bookshop because I’m done.
10. Not every YA novel needs to include romance
I enjoy a good romantic adventure as much as the next person, but I need a break every now and then. It’s so refreshing to read a YA book with 0 romance. Zero. None.
One of the reasons I love This Savage Song so much is that there was an amazing friendship, but no romance. The lack of romance left the narrative open to spend more time exploring the main friendship and the story benefited so much from it. A book doesn’t have to have a romantic side plot to be exciting. Give me romance-free novels.
What are some of your unpopular opinions? Do you agree or disagree with any of mine?
coffeeinonehandbookintheother.wordpress.com 
Great list! I totally agree with you on 2, 6 and 10. Seriously, why are bookish candles SO expensive? Why do I have to pay so much money for something I’m literally going to set on fire?
Thanks Jess! Hahaha your comment about setting them on fire made me laugh but it’s so true! We’re paying a lot for a nice smell 😛 I do like to occasionally treat myself to one, but not very often because they’re a lot!
Hallo, Hallo Kate,
I’ve been happily reading these posts since the early morning hours,… hard to believe its nearly noon here! lol I was surprised you mentioned the flaps? Did you mean when the cover art has them for hardbacks? I just remove the covers when I read hardbacks and keep them in a safe place before I re-cover the novel after I’ve read them. I wasn’t sure if this was what you were referring to OR if it was the flaps that are on trade paperbacks? Hmm…
I like the look of the bookish candles but I never purchased them – mostly as I’m afraid I might be allergic to them! Unless I can find soy or other natural wax variants with on essential oils as otherwise I’m sure I’d be rendered a sneezy mess of a girl who just wanted to have a pleasant scent whilst she read! lol
I was blessed – only a few wrong turns with BD thus far but I haven’t used them in a few years so perhaps that isn’t the best observation? I know they lost one of my books from the warehouse! Aye.
It depends on the adaptations for me – I have seen nearly all the Little Women & Pride and Prejudice adaptations – the stories only winning me over more each time I see them. I’ve seen a few Jane Eyres as well and I’m recently watching “Little Men” as a tv series which is a follow-up to Little Women. I tend to go Classic Lit with adaptations vs Contemporaries but even then, I give them a whirl. I saw “Crazy Rich Asians” recently as my library had the copy but I nearly regretted it as I was going to listen to the audios first – then, I was so caught up in the film, I forgot I wanted to hear it first! lol
I’m not even sure who would do that with an ARC? I am always so very thankful and grateful when I receive a print ARC. Each one is still in my personal library, so I’m unsure who would do that? Very odd behaviour.
I agree. We need to be kinder to ourselves as Ellen stipulates after each episode of her show – it isn’t just enough to be kind to others but we forget to be kind to ourselves – especially in regards to the pressures we inflict on ourselves as social readers (social media), readers and book bloggers. Its a vicious cycle at times.
I’m thankful not overly read with the fae. I have two series I love “Borderlands Saga” and “Tipsy Fairy Tales” whilst I’m loving my journey so far into October Daye.
I agree – not every YA has to be a Rom. It could be coming-of age or it could be family related or it could be a Contemporary Fiction piece or a Realistic Fiction work – romance doesn’t have to be the be all / end all of YA.
You have a lovely list, Kate!
I enjoyed reading it!
I AM HERE FOR THIS TEA. Bookish candles are so overpriced it’s ridiculous, I’ve only ever once bought them myself without getting them in a box. Why buy them when a lot of the time their scents don’t permeate the room when I can go to ikea and get a huge candle for £2
*boils kettle* They always smell good, but they’re quite a lot for a small tin or jar. If they did discounts more often I wouldn’t mind, but it’s rare that they’re not full price. Ooh do Ikea candles smell good?
Honestly, and most of the big shops are american based as well so it takes ages. Yeah I love ikea candles
OK like yes to a fair few of these haha. I feel like faeries is getting a bit over-saturated now.
And oh my gosh, getting ARCs just to trade? Get in the bin. The entitlement of some people astounds me.
Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/
Yeah, I think we might need a break from fae/faeries for a few years. It’s time for other magical/mythical creatures to get a chance. 😛
Yes, believe it or not, I’ve seen people actually do this. It makes me both sad and annoyed because there are people who would love to read a particular book and would want to keep it rather than trade it, but instead other people get a copy and then just trade it straight away. I suppose the only good side is that it usually goes to someone who *does* really want to read it, but it’s a shame that it had to be traded for that to happen. Hahaha get in the bin, I love that. (And it’s right.)
I have genuinely being shouting from the rooftops about the overabundance of romance in YA for so long! It’s not necessary most of the time and it can ostracise teens who don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction (or both) or those of us who just haven’t found someone yet (I know I felt strange when I was a teenager for not having had a boyfriend yet and a lot of that probably did come from the books I was reading and the media I was consuming). Bookish candles are overpriced, I mean they’re pretty but £16 for a candle plus like £20 shipping because they’re nearly always from the US? It’s too much! I did like TEOOO but I could relate a lot to the protagonist so the voice didn’t annoy me. It’s a bit naive to pretend like adaptations won’t have any impact on your book at all, because a lot of people will get their introduction to your book via the adaptation, so if the adaptation is bad, like it or not, it reflects on the book. And yes, there is way too much emphasis in the bookish community on numbers of books read per week/month/year. It’s not a competition!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/06/11/top-ten-tuesday-215/
i love your list so much! I agree especially about the romance, I mean… I’m all for a good romance, but they’re not necessary all the time and, sometimes, a book would do way better without having romance included. All for romance-free novels with emphasis on friendships or family relationships or other relationships, I’m with you on that! 🙂
Aww thanks Marie! Yeah, romance is definitely not mandatory! And I agree; sometimes I’ve read books where the romance felt like an afterthought to try and add an extra dimension to the novel, but it didn’t really do anything.
Totally agree with you about BD. And I was one of those persons who won your giveaway and they sent the wrong book 🤣 also I feel BD is quite expensive, that’s why they offer free shipping 🙈
Oh no! I finished The Exact Opposite of Okay just yesterday and loved it so much! I know it seems a little annoying in the beginning but if I can convince you in any way, please read it. I think you might end up liking it 😊
Yes! I remember when they sent the wrong book, it was so frustrating! (I felt bad for you too, since you had to wait even longer for them to send the right one.) I find BD to be more expensive than Amazon and Waterstones for paperbacks, but sometimes they’re the same price for US hardbacks.
Ah I’m glad you enjoyed it! Hehe please feel free to convince me; I want to know that it’s worth reading after feeling a bit unsure about it! I might end up reading it later this year if I can get past the first two pages 😉
What’s with the U and that E n the Queen of the Tearling cover? It doesn’t look great. I’m not surprised to hear that people requests ARC just to trade them, but it’s still disappointing.
I know, they’re so weirdly formatted! And yeah, I wish people wouldn’t request arcs if they just want to trade, it means fewer copies for people who actually want to read them 😦
I agree with so many of these! I would own more bookish candles if they weren’t so expensive! Also, I like romance sometimes but it feels inevitable when reading sometimes that the two main characters will end up in a relationship and it can be unnecessary. I struggled a bit with TEOOO when I first picked it up, but gave it another go later and really enjoyed it – the sequel is better than the first book too!
I totally agree about Book Depository! I tried buying a specific edition of Three Dark Crowns for my friend’s birthday and I was sent the wrong one! When I contacted customer service they weren’t very helpful! Also, French flaps are super annoying! Although I also hate deckled edges, which I know is a very unpopular opinion!
I agree with absolutely everything you said! Especially with the last two points. The fae has become what vampires were in like 2009. I’m just about done with them all. And it’s so annoying that books are all about romance now. What happened to platonic friendships?? Wonderful post!!
Hehe good to know we’re both on the same page! Yeah, fae seem to have become the most popular supernatural creature in the last few years and I’m ready for a change! Can we have elves or sirens next? 😛 Thanks so much Angelica!
Great list. I totally agree about the romance thing – it’s so refreshing when there isn’t a romance all the time.
Omg, I totally feel ya about the bad adaptations – TMI is one of my fave series of all time, but after the disaster of the TV series, I found myself hating some of my fave characters!! So I stopped the show immediately & re-read the books 😂
I don’t really mind french flaps but yes omg I love reading books that have no romance at all! It gets tiring seeing love triangles and insta love again and again and again 🙄