THE BUZZWORDS THAT INSTANTLY MAKE ME AVOID A BOOK!
Avoiding books is probably not something many or maybe any of us talk about. Week by week goes by and we discuss the books we love and the authors we repeat read. If you’re me, you even repeat the same books week to week because, well, I’m a boring reader who doesn’t read (in number) a lot of books. However, there are those genres or types or specific tropes that just aren’t for us and sometimes talking about the buzzwords we avoid when it comes to reading or specific books, well, that can be interesting too.
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As I draft this, the idea of sharing a few things that make me want to avoid a book seems fun. Just because it’s not something I usually write about and that seems like a good way to shake up the norm and safety of these lists I write. However, I am also wondering if I will be able to think of anything fitting. Guess the only way to find any of this out is just to get started, and so, this is what I’m going to do.
BUZZWORDS or PHRASES THAT MAKE ME AVOID all of the BOOKS
DUAL TIMELINE AKA TIME-SPLIT FICTION
Readers love this. I don’t think I do. I’ve read a few, and am actually reading one now, but I think this simply isn’t my type of genre.
FANTASY, SCI-FI or SUPERNATURAL
I’ve read a few books here and there that fall into one of these genres, and some I’ve even liked. So I don’t think it’s safe to say I would never read a novel in these genres, but it’s not something I seek out and more often than not new books in one of these genres is one I skip over reading more about.
TRAGIC BUT IT DOESN’T WORK
I don’t know if I’ve read a book like this or not (I think I have) but I know I’ve seen movies that are funny, sometimes to the point of hilarious, only for them to take a tragic turn. I think there is a way to add some humor to a sad story, and some work well, but then others just feel off and wrong. This is when tragedy adds nothing to a story, and therefore it just does not work.
TEARJERKER or DARK
I have read some really good sad stories, but despite this, the stories that make us cry simply are not my happy reading place. This is perhaps why I still have never read some of the most popular historical fiction novels. They seem to be dark and tearjerker coded.
THE BUZZWORDS THAT INSTANTLY MAKE ME AVOID A BOOK! #BookList #TTT #TopTenList #TopTen #Books #Readers #Reading Share on XTROPE SUBTITTLE
This is a marketing trend (though I haven’t seen it as much lately), and while I understand it in this framework (because an author always wants to find their ideal reader), I don’t like it as a reader. I think it takes away the idea of discovering a story and if we aren’t willing to read a synopsis (and a well written one tells us all we need to know) then we may not make it through a 300+ page story.
STORY X meets STORY Y
I confess, I’ve been drawn in by these hooks, but I think overall, they don’t need to be used. Again, I stand by my statement that a good synopsis (and design!) is enough to intrigue.
WOMEN’S FICTION
I’ve read some good books in the women’s fiction line and enjoyed many of them, but I’ve read some that just don’t suit me so I think I steer clear of these.
…and yes, I realize, I really failed at these since I feel like I have read some good books in my supposed avoid categories.
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Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl March 31: Buzzwords or Phrases That Make Me Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book (These words or phrases can be in the title, synopsis, marketing materials, reviews, author blurbs, etc. and immediately pique your interest or immediately make you say “NOPE”. Examples include: fae, forbidden romance, morally grey characters, unreliable narrator, found family, magical worlds, love triangle, marriage of convenience, dark academia, stranded, dragons, dual points of view, starting over, etc.)
I like Duel timelines, too. In fact I’m reading a book which is running one — the story set in 1920s and then jump ahead to the 2020s, with a relative in the same space.
https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2026/03/ttt-buzzwords-that-make-me-want-to-read.html
I’m so glad you like that one! The one I’m reading now is 1800s (I think) and modern times. :)
I think few of us have absolute rules. I will read dual timeline for example but I don’t seek it out and something else about the book has to be appealing for me to pick it up.
Thanks for sharing your #TTT
That’s a great way to summarize my thoughts Shelleyrae. I feel like I will read *most* of these things I “avoid,” but it has to be the “right” book, too. :)
Tearjerker is such a good one!
Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/my-top-10-bookish-buzzwords/
Thanks so much for visiting Stefani! :)
Have a good week and have a good day. Here is my TTT. https://dmhoisington.wordpress.com/2026/03/31/top-ten-tuesday-25-buzzwords-or-phrases-that-make-me-want-to-read-or-avoid-a-book/
You too Danyelle. :)
I have read a few women’s fiction stories that I liked, but I also avoid that genre in general.
I have too… so I don’t “avoid” it I guess, but I also don’t look for it or seek it out? Either way, I guess it’s safe to include here. ;)
I also struggle slightly with dual timeline novels. They can be excellent, but I have also had many experiences where they didn’t work for me, so it often takes me a while to get to reading them even if everything else about the story interests me. I find they work for me more when the character is reminiscing on their own life, and sometimes they work regardless, I’ve just always got a little bit of doubt going into them.
That’s a great point, Keira (about the timelines working better if it’s the same character). I know that the story seems to be trending now, but I think, overall, they aren’t books I seek out, and that’s okay. LOTS of readers love them and that’s grand. :)
I’m not sure how I feel about dual timelines, they do sound appealing sometimes but then when I pick them up I don’t tend to love the modern timeline as much as the older one 🤷🏼♀️.
I kind of agree about your thoughts on synopses! I do think a good one is all you need sometimes but I find these days they really include too many details in there that I’d rather experience as a surprise in the story!
Here’s my list this week: https://darkshelfofwonders.com/top-10-buzzwords-that-make-me-pick-book/
I love going into a story and really discovering it. I feel like with marketing and such, we know “too much” about a story today. And same on dual timelines. Sometimes it’s just not quite as interesting as it sets out to be.
I also tend to steer away from tearjerkers and dark books. Most of the time, exceptions are always possible :) I haven’t read many dual timelines, it’s not something that speaks to me, though I don’t really mind it either.
Exceptions are always part of the equation. I have read some good ones, but I guess I don’t seek those out. Dual timelines are having a full on MOMENT right now, but I also don’t seek those out either. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! :)
I definitely agree with you on the “STORY X meets STORY Y” thing – it drives me INSANE. Also, most of the time, they’re completely wrong and I only end up being more disappointed because I was looking forward to something specific. 😅
Mentioning every single trope on the description page is basically like the ingredient list on all of my snacks – it’s better if I don’t know what it says 😂😂 Going in blindly and just enjoying the story is a much better experience.
Glad I’m not totally alone in these. ;) I like surprise in my read and even films (I don’t even go watch trailers anymore!). I want to discover something and I feel like if you see or read all the things, you miss that. :) Thanks for visiting, Jane.
I’m not one to typically go for fantasy or sci-fi either. That said, I have read some of both and enjoyed them. But more often than not, it’s a pass for me. Reading for me is supposed to be a way to shut off my brain, not make it work harder.
Here’s my TTT for the week: https://readbakecreate.com/the-qs-us-vs-have-it-ten-titles-starting-with-q-u-or-v/
Well said. 👏🏻 I know there are AMAZING books that make us think, but I’d rather fully ENJOY reading than feel like I’m working to enjoy it. :)
So interesting to see what’s on your list! I tend to avoid tearjerkers too most of the time, but sometimes if I’m in the mood to cry then I seek them out. Dual timelines is also kinda iffy for me. I don’t necessarily dislike them, but some authors do them better than others. I love that you know what doesn’t work for you!
I have read some really good sad books, but I don’t look for them anymore. I like happy. There is always enough sad in the day to day real life, so I go for cheerful, which doesn’t always mean everything is perfect, but rather that happy is the goal at the end. :)
I don’t think I’ve come across a trope subtitle, but I think it would very much turn me off. It feels gimmicky.
I think it’s a marketing thing to connect the “right” author with the “right” reader, but it feels very much like it takes the discovery and mystery out of reding a new book.
I prefer books with happy endings too.
Same! They are so much better than sad ones. :)
Same. I read very little sci fi/fantasy or women’s fiction, although I do read some here and there. It’s just not what I tend to gravitate toward. I do love a dual-timeline novel, though. Not all of them work for me, but it’s a setup that I mostly enjoy.
Happy TTT (on a Wednesday)!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Same here; I do read most of these once in a while, but I don’t seek them out. It’s just not my cup of tea, and that’s what’s so great about having so many genres. :)
I adore the time-slip genre. I’m not one that is focused on tropes.
I’m so glad; I know many readers love it! :)
I agree with you on dual timeline, women’s fiction, tragic turn, sci-fi, and dark tearjerker. Others for me are time travel, love triangle, cozy mystery, secret baby, and age gap.
Movies were doing age gap for a while last year (or maybe the year before) and I did see one or two that were really good. Not sure that I’ve read any with that trope though!