Top Ten Book Turn-Offs

“Top Ten Tuesday” is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is the Top Ten Book Turn-Offs.

I’ll be the first to admit that I struggled with this week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt. I like to keep a relatively open mind when reading, and therefore there are very few things I’m not willing to read about, or that will dissuade me from finishing a novel I’ve already begun reading. And if you think you’re seeing double, don’t worry – You’re right. For better or worse, many of my primary book turn-offs are coincidentally the same things that will deter me from reading a book entirely if I’m aware of their inclusion beforehand (See: Top Ten Words/Topics That Will Deter You From Reading A Book) At least I’m consistent, right?

As always, these choices are listed in no particular order.

28 Responses

    1. As with anything, I think there can be an exception to this general rule, but for the most part I find instalove absolutely insufferable. While there have been a handful of authors who have convinced me of a couple’s feelings in a short duration, chances are I’ll be rolling my eyes and quickly losing patience if a couple is exchanging the words ‘I love you’ in a matter of days.
      Jen @ Pop! Goes The Reader recently posted…Top Ten Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  1. I always have an Epilogue in my super-long books, as a nice, fitting way of wrapping everything up and providing that final happy conclusion. But for short books, I don’t really see the need for an Epilogue.

    I hate the whole “rape as character development” trope that’s become almost cliché. If you’re going to have a rape in your book, have it be part of an actual, serious storyline, not just thrown in for cheap drama or character development.

    Absurd character names are a pet peeve of mine too. Why do so many YA characters these days have daft names or nicknames?
    Carrie-Anne recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday—Top Ten Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  2. I didn’t mention rape or victim abuse but I should have. You can also add incest into that trio of icky stuff. I have to admit that I find a certain joy from really, really bad character names. I giggled my way through parts of the Black Dagger Brotherhood when all the guys are chatting to each other just because the names were so silly.
    Vilia recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Book Turn-offsMy Profile

  3. animal abuse– haaate it. i want to read water for elephants but just can’t bring myself to do it.
    unrealistic dialogue– it irritates me like no other when i am reading and have just stop bc NO ONE WOULD EVER SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!
    instalove– AHHHH! i need relationship building for goodness sakes!
    absurd character names– seriously, SERIOUSLY agree. i don’t mind names that are a little unique, but it has been taken to a whole new realm in some of these books!
    Betty recently posted…TTT- Top Ten Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  4. Unrealistic dialogue is the worst. That football playing teen is probably not going to say “I wanted to do my homework, though I left my schoolbooks at home”. It’s the thoughs that really drive me crazy. href=”http://cardiganscoffeeandbookmarks.blogspot.com/2013/10/top-ten-tuesday-book-turn-offs.html”> Here’s Ours

  5. I think I can relate to almost all of these. While I hate animal abuse as much as the next person, I won’t be deterred by it. (I have Water for Elephants waiting to be read.) And I completely agree with absurd character names! I can’t believe I forgot that one on my own list! It irks me so much when I come across a character whose name is so “unique” because I feel like that just creates a barrier between me and the character. (Unless it’s a fantasy novel, in which case some unique names are acceptable.)
    Great list!
    Lauren @ Books, Tea & Me recently posted…Top 10 Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  6. I wish I had thought of absurd character names, because that drives me INSANE! And I definitely agree with the cheating.

    Although instalove isn’t my favorite thing ever, I don’t really mind it if I get to see the two characters together a lot after they fall for each other.

    Just curious, why don’t you like epilogues?
    Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted…Top Eight Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  7. I was betwixt how to write this today, until I actually sat down to convey my own list and realised that I had quite a bit to say afterall! 🙂 I love how your graphics POP!! Clever list!!

    I’m thankful to see animal abuse is on most of everyone’s non-read list! I went so far as to put that in my Review Policy! As I commented elsewhere about absent parents, its not so much that they are ‘absent’ for me, but when they actually are present, its like they are a hollowed out stand-in of what a real parent would be! Why they would be MIA is another issue, because that’s just not realistic!!
    Jorie recently posted…Bookish {Blog} Community Gives Support! | Bloggers Commenting Back!My Profile

  8. I didn’t put all these on my list, but I basically agree with ALL your points(except epilogues). Victim-blaming in general really gets to me, but sometimes I’m not always the best at spotting it, I have to admit. I also didn’t include it because I think sometimes character victim-blame and that’s not portrayed in a positive light, but some people read it like that(which is completely their reading interpretation, but just not always *my* interpretation of the text), and I decided my thoughts on it were too complex to sum up in a TTT.

    Animal abuse(ESPECIALLY animal death) and pregnancy are too of my big ones too. I do understand that sometimes animals die in life and in fiction, but I always feel authors just include it to emotionally manipulate the reader, which I don’t appreciate. (I suppose one could argue that the basis of fiction is emotional manipulation on some level, since authors are using words to make us feel things, but I don’t like knowing or realizing that I’m being emotionally manipulated in a book).
    Stormy @ Book.Blog.Bake. recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  9. Wow, great list! Unrealistic dialogue is an awesome addition to your list that I never even considered. Sometimes I too get frustrated when characters converse in a completely unrealistic way. I also dislike when authors include too much insight into the world, which is sort of related to unrealistic dialogue. All-knowing narrators get on my nerves.
    Check out my TTT list: http://booksavvyblog.blogspot.com/
    Katie @ Book Savvy recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Book Turn-OffsMy Profile

  10. I like that you put epilogues as one of your distastes in books because often I find myself not liking them either. Some endings are fine the way they are. Leave them be, ya know? The worst of all epilogues, in my opinion, belongs to Mockingjay. Good lord that was horrible! Way to sum up the whole trilogy is such a cheesy fashion. Ugh. Just ugh.
    Ginger @ GReads! recently posted…Save the Date for: NOGGIN by John Corey WhaleyMy Profile

  11. Okay, so I basically could have taken this entire list and used it for my own. I didn’t have all of the same things on my list, but I totally could have included the ones you mentioned that didn’t make my cut. Absent parents really drive me crazy! They don’t have to play a huge role, but I hate when it’s like they don’t exist. I’m on the fence on Epilogues. They caaaann work for me, but they usually fall flat. It’s definitely a hit or miss!
    Hannah @ So Obsessed With recently posted…From “What?!” to “WOW!”My Profile

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Hi! I’m Jen! I’m a thirty-something introvert who loves nothing more than the cozy comfort of home and snuggling my two rescue cats, Pepper and Pancakes. I also enjoy running, jigsaw puzzles, baking and everything Disney. Few things bring me more joy than helping a reader find the right book for them!

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