My Bookish Pet Peeves

I just came up with some of the most annoying af bookish pet peeves.

#1. The ‘Now a Major Motion Picture’ line and movie-tie in covers

I get the reason why publishers do this *coughs cash, sales, promos* but gosh, S-T-O-P! Let’s admit it. Some actors look *insert compliment here* but damn I don’t want them on my book cover. Those actors don’t even look like the exact characters in the book anyways. So why change covers when it ain’t broke? Let the films use their own movie posters with their own actors plastered on it.

#2. Too many books in a series

Dear authors and publishers, you really want me broke, don’t you? First, you would say that the series would be just a trilogy then next, you would announce that three more books would follow. Then again, you would release prequels or more novellas – like what? Why drag the whole story anyways? Money hungry much (okay, that’s plain mean of me but…)?

#3. Flashbacks! Flashbacks! Flashbacks!

Flashbacks can be annoying when every single chapter starts with it. It makes me want to scream ‘Move on!’ to the character because living too much in the past is not healthy mentally and physically. And I don’t need the author reminding me every second while I’m reading that the character suffers from some constant depression or anxiety. Learn from Edna Mode, my dear.

#4. Male best friend AKA the nerd – and all other stereotypes

I’m getting tired of authors making the best friend the nerd who’s in love with the female main character or the guy playing the funny, cheery best friend. I’m done with the black-haired 6-foot tall hottie who acts like as stalker and rich, captain of the football team who’s a total jerk – okay, maybe not that one.

#5. Mid-series cover design changes

Again, I feel sorry for my Instagram bibliophiles. Nothing is more annoying than series with different cover designs and sizes. #OCProblems

#6. Dense female characters

You know those characters who think they’re so ordinary-looking when in fact, they’re the exact opposite. They listen to some indie band and wear their hoodies hood up and yet every single guy in the whole school asks them to be their prom date. What does that tell me – these characters are complete, dense girls. A quick advice: buy a mirror and try staring at your own reflection for once because seriously, I’m not buying your act.

#7. Mistake after mistake

I hate when a character keeps on making the wrong choices or doing the wrong things. For once, learn from your mistakes. Show me some redeeming qualities. Make your presence bearable for me.

#8. Female population shamers

To any female character who believes that she has earned the right to judge other girls who date cute boys, who own heels, who cover their face with make-ups, who wear dresses (and the list goes on), STAHPPP! No, you’re not some cool chick. You are just one judgmental bitch. Seriously, you should stop listening to Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong With Me’.

How about you? Do you have any bookish pet peeves?

30 thoughts on “My Bookish Pet Peeves”

  1. I don’t know why this is my first time here, because your blog is absolutely GORGEOUS. This needed to be said. I really agree with you about a lot of these! I hate when a series drag on and on and ON forever, I mean, just let it go already. Some characters aren’t meant to live forever, it’s okay to stop at book 3.
    And the cover design change in the middle of a series, oh this makes me want to cry, haha. Amazing post! 🙂

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  2. I am so with you on cover changes and movie covers!! I hate hate hate movie/tv covers for books. A lot of times they are awful and not what I want to have on my shelf. There is only one exception to that rule, but I still haven’t purchased any of the new covers of that series. The same goes for cover changes mid series. That is not cool at all! I’m big on my series “matching” aka if one is paperback they all are and vice versa and covers too.

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  3. Ahh, this list is perfect! I totally agree with you on all of these things! I HATE it when some blurbs are like “[female character] isn’t like other girls. She’d rather be wearing sneakers and jeans instead of heels and a dress, etc etc etc”. Why?! I wear jeans – I’m not unusual in anyway! It’s pure misogyny, and it really puts me off a book. I hate the movie editions of books. Why do they have to say “now a major motion picture” too? Like, why can’t you just say movie/film? WHO CALLS THEM MOTION PICTURES?! Just… why?!

    Denise | The Bibliolater

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  4. I suck at finishing series, so I find the series that drag on for aaaaaaaages to be especially daunting. What happened to the good ol’ days of solidly written duologies and trilogies? I can appreciate an author who has spent so much time creating their world that they want to spend more time in it, but do what Tolkien did and tell a different story that takes place in the same world as previous works! …That being said, I will never be upset with JK Rowling for a seven book series because it’s Harry freaking Potter.

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  5. I was so unhappy when the Shatter Me trilogy changed covers! I actually liked the look of the first book originally!
    I also agree with you on the fact that movie covers of books are so irritating. I feel like it takes away the imagination of the reader when they try to picture how the characters look in the book!
    As soon as I read the part about too many books in a series, immediately my mind went to the House of Night series! Even though I enjoyed it at first, there were points where it felt like certain parts of the plot line weren’t necessary. 😩
    You covered these bookish pet peeves perfectly! 👏

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  6. I absolutely agree with you, it’s so annoying when actors and movie posters become the actual cover of the book! The book came first, you know?! but when they put actors on the cover it makes me really sad because it feels like the value the movie more than the printed story. I am also really really tired of stereotypes and similar main characters in all these YA novels. Please, you are writers, be original! Nice post ^^

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  7. I am with you on ALL of these. I hate movie book covers! They are always ugly.

    Also the nerd boy best friend – the WORST. It’s part of the whole Chosen One trope – like obviously in addition to everything else every male in her life is totally in love with her.

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    1. There were a few exceptions for me but in general they’re not easy to the eyes of readers. Maybe it’s some kind of a fantasy for some – to make the whole male population in love with just one girl? I sure don’t like that kind of romance though. XD

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        1. I read both 3 books (I just had to find out who ends up with her haha) and even bought the 4th one. I just love the covers (no matter how unoriginal they looked) XD. I read some bad reviews for ‘The Heir’ that’s why I haven’t really read it but in time, I’d probably do.

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      1. Omg! I was so annoyed when I just finished The Selection, after hearing everyone talk about it, just to find out by the time I get to the second book that the author added more books to the series after the third one. And of course, as I read the summary for the new books I spoiled the series for myself by finding out who wins the selection!!! 😣😣
        I would’ve preferred it more if the author did what some authors do and waited for everyone to catch up on the series first before launching more books that give away the mystery of the original books! 😩

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  8. Oh my goodness I hate everything on this list! (I realise that may sound like I hate the list- but I love the list, I just agree with these pet peeves :p )I particularly hate when book series drag on (I mean it just makes me think the author should move on already), dense main characters and ones that make too many mistakes (cos usually that makes me think they’re dense)

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  9. Omg that last line was hilarious haha. Cover changes and dense female characters are two of bookish pet peeves too. I’m reading a book with one of those now and it makes me want to throw my kindle against the wall

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    1. I just find it so funny that the young Taylor wrote a bitter song towards someone’s girlfriend (according to my friend, she just made up some story in her head so there’s no particular boy behind that song). Now, she turned to be that girl she was ‘hating’ on – high heels and all. Ironic ~ XD
      There are some dense female characters that I find funny – those girls with silly, innocent vibe. 🙂
      And don’t throw that Kindle. Just don’t! XD

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      1. I’ve never noticed that….and now I hate you for making me think about it! I love Taylor hahaha
        I’ve never met one so you must introduce me haha
        I didn’t but god, I can’t say what itll happen when I finish the book

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  10. I feel you with the too-many-books in a series thing. I mostly read series because I like watching a group of characters grow, but sometimes there is no story left to tell and they just have to let it go! :X

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  11. I get so many of those book pet peeves … except for the movie tie-in. I actually prefer the movie cover sometimes (but definitely not all the time!).
    Mid-series cover changes are the worst! I have the Sookie Stackhouse series and it includes 13 books. 12 out of those 13 have a black spine, the other one is white. WHY?

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    1. I think I can tolerate those movie tie-in covers for old book covers that looks so outdated like The Great Gatsby and some other exceptions. For most, I just can’t. 🙂
      The odd white spine – gosh they ruined it. Wait, isn’t that where the True Blood TV series was based from? I don’t think I have the patience to read a dozen books about vampires like I tried Morganville and I just lost my interest by fifth book. I was not even halfway the series. My biggest frustration was Throne of Glass though. :/ I stopped reading the series anyways so it’s no big deal for me now. XD

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      1. Oh the really, really old covers aren’t my favourites either …
        Yes, it’s the books for True Blood. I bought the book box with 9 of them in it, so I kind of had to read it all … I wasn’t going to give up in the middle hahaha

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Let me know what you think.