A FEW OF THE UNPOPULAR BOOK OPINIONS
We all have them. Those opinions on books or reading that are perhaps not universally agreed with. Popular book opinions may also be something we have too, but whether its mental or literal, the unpopular book opinions we have stay with us. This is what we have on the agenda to discuss today.
LIST | WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING 30 YEARS LATER! (WHY WE STILL LOVE THIS ONE!)
A FEW OF THE UNPOPULAR BOOK OPINIONS. #UnpopularOpinions #BookOpinions #BookNerd #Books #Readers #Reader #Reading Share on XWhile perhaps not all of the unpopular book opinions I have, let’s jump in and see what I can think of.
UNPOPULAR BOOK OPINIONS
THE BOOK isn’t ALWAYS BETTER
Perhaps THE most controversial book opinion on this list. But here’s my thing. I don’t know that I’ve seen an adaptation where I walk away with the opinion of the book always being better. Many I’ve seen though are just as good. But I rarely see something that makes me blanket statement declare “the book is better.” The one example I can think of where this does apply is the Janette Oke adaptations of When Calls the Heart and later adaptations (the first film is decent though not wholly accurate) in the Love Comes Softly movie series.
One of the more recent book to film adaptations I did see is This Time Next Year, and I walked away enjoying both the book and film a great deal.
BOOKSTAGRAM or BOOK SOCIAL MEDIA isn’t the SAME
Social media has, obviously, shifted through the years. Some things I think are good. Other times I don’t find anything good going. One of these is the book side of social media. While there is still fun in it, how its changed is a large part of the reason why I never post a bookstagram photo anymore. There is, beyond just the book corner of social media, simply way too much drama nowadays! (Inspired by Jana’s list, I had to add this to mine because same!)
ILLUSTRATED COVERS are PASSE
Ok, so I don’t actually totally believe that illustrated cover art should go away (I still enjoy it). Rather I believe that we should have more variety. So continue to use the illustrated “look,” yes, but also shoot covers of real people, implement hand-drawn covers where text is the primary, design covers that look like a painting or create scrapbook like memory designs. There are so many directions a book cover can go, and so long as it’s using the amazing creative talents of people, I would love to see more variety in the colors and designs of cover art.
MARKETING a BOOK by TROPE
…is kind of annoying. I’m really torn about the whole marketing trend (like on Goodreads pages) of adding (to the book title) the tropes. I get this from the marketing side and an author who wants to find their audience or reader, but I find knowing so much about a book (merely by reading the title) is really off-putting. I’ve become a reader who doesn’t want to know so much about a book. I want to discover and be surprised and base my opinions or reactions on that discovery rather than a preconception. Right or wrong, as a reader, I find this trend more annoying than helpful.
MOVIE COVER EDITIONS aren’t BAD
I feel like everyone despises the movie cover editions. With exception to the permanent “soon to be a motion picture” circle, I don’t mind them and in fact have purposely bought some editions that fall in this category. Some covers that are original to the book I just don’t care for, which means the movie cover is sometimes an improvement.
POPULARITY DOESN’T EQUAL a GREAT READ
I feel like more often than not, popular books aren’t books that suit me. Just goes to show that where I’m concerned, popular “peer pressure” hype is often something I shouldn’t fall for. They suit hundreds of other readers though and that’s amazing. There are always books out there for everyone and that is a grand thing.
PRETTY SPINE ART MATTERS
I love when a book design goes that that “extra” mile and “finishes” its art with a pretty spine design.
READING FAST isn’t a MUST
I’m a turtle reader but I always see so many monthly wrap ups that showcase a reader who has read countless books. This impresses me, but it’s not me.
Your turn! What unpopular book opinions do you have? Do any of these make your list? How many popular book opinions do you have? Comment all of your thoughts in the comment section. Let’s talk.
Thank you for visiting; please do visit again anytime.
That Artsy Reader Girl April 15: My Unpopular Bookish Opinions (You can share opinions surrounding being a reader, a book reviewer, etc. OR you could share your opinions on specific books that go against what everyone else is saying. Are there any books you loved that most people didn’t, or vice versa?)
A great list! I am a turtle reader too. It is the way it is and I’m not going to change 😂
I get drawn in by book covers and people going on about it, but I won’t get it if I don’t like the blurb.
Have a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/top-ten-tuesday-my-unpopular-bookish-opinions/
I’ve been working on teaching myself not to “impulse” buy something no matter how much the cover draws me in. I try to know a little something about the book and judge whether I’ll like it on that. :) I won’t change my reading speed either. Turtle readers unite! ;)
I totally agree with the book social media take. I feel like people feel the need to attack everyone who has an opinion online nowadays.
My TTT: https://romantasylife.com/my-unpopular-bookish-opinions/
For sure! I think social media has made it “comfortable” (which I think is a negative for social media) for anyone and everyone to “overreact” or feel comfortable telling everyone why or how they’re wrong to have certain opinions. It’s all so exhausting!
There’s definitely a lot of drama on bookstagram and booktok. I’ve pulled back from posting on both (I was never a fan of TikTok to begin with), but the fact I no longer want to post about what I’m reading on Instagram makes me sad.
Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/my-unpopular-bookish-opinions/
Same, Stefani! I used to post quite a lot of book photos (though I think I did take short breaks here and there) but it’s probably been 4+ years since I posted anything like that. The way social media is now all about “right” vs “wrong” opinions and the telling of why something is “right” or “wrong” is rather exhausting. I never have had a TikTok account but I have heard that its algorithm is most helpful if you want to grow. :)
I agree with all of these!
Thanks for reading, Lydia! As always I’m glad you stopped by.
Great points, Rissi! I completely agree that the book isn’t always better than the movie, I also stay more and more away from bookish social media and I agree that just because a book is popular it doesn’t automatically mean it’s a book you should like!
Thanks so much for visiting and reading, Lindsey! Yes book social media (like most social media) tends to exhaust me. I used to post all the book photos but haven’t for a few years now. And knowing that a hyped book may not suit us is something I’ve found helpful as a reader. :)
I agree that the book isn’t always bad, nor is the adaptation bad, because it didn’t follow the source material. I adored the Percy Jackson series, and while the movies didn’t stay true to the books, they were enjoyable nonetheless. The same could be said of The Haunting in Venice, which is adapted from Halloween Party by Agatha Christie. While the movie is enjoyable, it is not the same thing.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/books-that-dont-deserve-the-hype-my-unpopular-opinon/
I saw The Haunting of Venice but haven’t read the book. I did read that the Christie story is quite different though. I think there are some adaptations that have disappointed me, but THG for example is an adaptation I think is just as good (if not a little better) as the novel. Then there is a book like When Calls the Heart that TV writers don’t seem to honor at all and that makes me sad. In cases like that, I have to “separate” a production from being (at least to me) an adaptation and try to enjoy the TV show/film as a separate story. :)
That’s true that popularity doesn’t mean great read! Also read at you own pace.
So very true, Sophie – on both accounts. :)
I agree with the opinion about Marketing tropes. I hate it when publisher say “For readers of The Book Thief” or “A Modern classic.” Let us decide. Gr,r,r
I am off-topic today: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/04/ttt-excerpts-from-new-to-me-poems-i-like.html
Yes! That does seem to be a WHOLE marketing trend these days. I see it everywhere. I “get” it from the end of finding an audience or marketing, but as a reader, I find it super annoying. ;)
I agree that sometimes the book isn’t always better, and I also think that movie tie-in covers aren’t always bad, but I guess for me it depends on the movie. If I loved the movie, I’m less likely to hate the movie tie-in cover. If I hated the movie, I hate being reminded of it every time I pick up the book. 😂
Excellent points re: the movie tie in editions! I would agree with that. ;) I’ve seen films that I love just as well as the book but have seen a few that are awful if you view is as an “adaptation”; there’s a show (still airing now) that really shouldn’t be considered an adaptation, but I know many love it and I’m glad that it’s working for them. :)
I agree sometimes adaptions are better because they fix issues with the book!
I gave up on Bookstagram, and BookTok was never for me. Reels of people’s book shelves and the same 10 books over and over again is really dull! I don’t mind Booktube because people have actually thoughtful discussion there, but the video topics can be a bit dramatic sometimes!
Blogs are the most fun and give us more freedom to share whatever we want in the format we want!
I made some book videos YEARS (I started in 2018 or 2017 I think) ago and for a while, it was fun. But life things and the drama and realization that I didn’t have the “it” factor you need to be interesting made me drop that. I do agree that the “same old” is boring and I feel like TikTok and IG Reels, too are very “trendy” and the same trends pop up on multiple pages. I’m sure I’ve participated in that through the years, too, but I’ve chosen to focus on this page here… even if writing is the “least” popular of all the things. ;)
Agreed – the book isn’t always better than the adaptation. A recent one for me where I discovered the adaptation was much better: Bodies which is a limited series on Netflix is far superior (in my mind at least!) to Bodies by Si Spencer.
I haven’t heard of the adaptation you mention, Lauren! But I’m so glad it’s better. Sometimes an adaptation can challenge or “improve” on something but I think MOST of the time I end up appreciating both the book and adaptation, which I love. :)
Great list! I’m definitely more of a turtle reader too, and seeing people read hundreds of books seems impossible for me. I also 100% agree with your opinion about popular books, I’m generally skeptical about trying very popular ones since I’ve been disappointed before (Shatter Me & The Daughter of the Pirate King ) :)
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/top-ten-tuesday-unpopular-bookish-opinions/
I think some popular books are amazing (and I did like The Selection), but mostly, I feel like the hyped one aren’t “me” reads so I am trying to teach myself that I don’t need all the trending books. ;)
I agree wholeheartedly with many of this opinions. Especially marketing by trope. I understand why it is done, but often it sets the author up for failure by comparison. It also silos readers into more of the same which, for me at least, kills the joy of reading. Similarly, I hate that my favourite library now shelves by genre. I love a good library mooch, picking out hidden gems and fabulous reads. Genre shelving makes me realise how much same-ness there is in publishing. I get the desire to catch the virality of the latest hit, but diversity is so much more interesting. When every title and spine look like a carbon copy of recent hits, the shelves lose their eclectic draw and I find myself reading less.
You make some EXCELLENT points re: marketing, Lolly. I would agree. Limiting so much by a genre or trope may end up hurting authors (at some point down the road). I also think, as one reader (and I’m sure many would disagree with me), it kind of takes the joy out of reading a book. Yes, I have certain things I like or “want” from my books. BUT I also want those things to be told differently or to be “broken” apart to share a different way or method of telling a story. There is beauty in that too. :)
I totally agree with you on so many of these. Firstly, that the movie/show isn’t always better, but in some cases it can be. I loved the LOTR movies, but could never get into the books because of the writing. And I do miss the heyday of book social media, but with the emphasis on TikTok and making my instagram into a secondary TikTok account, social media hasn’t been very appealing to me. Here’s to having our unpopular opinions shared!
We do love sharing those unpopular opinions, right!? They can be fun – and sometimes we find they aren’t SO unpopular. ;)
Sometimes I find the book lots better… but then there are times when I think the film is just as good as the book. Where one maybe falters, the other improves.
Social media just doesn’t “fit” me anymore. I know part of it is I’m not posting what my account was “built” on anymore which has a BIG impact, but at the same time, I just wasn’t into the book part of social media anymore. I’d rather lose that than a love of books. :)