Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings and discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging.
Question: What ruins a good read for you?
How much time do you have?? lol This could be a loooong list but I’m going to narrow it down to two deal breakers that will make me quit giving an author another shot.
Trust issues...my current #1 pet peeve
Misleading covers. I hate thinking I’m getting one thing and end up with another. I’m looking at you adorable, illustrated covers that promise light, fun escapism but have barely any romance and instead have death and sorrow inside!
Don't leave me this way...a bad ending.
There is nothing I hate more than committing myself to a series for years and have the last book go in a different direction or have a sloppy ending. I rarely read series anymore because of it.
I also hate open endings. I spent many hours with these people – if I don’t know what happens there doesn’t seem to be a point to me.
Yeah, the misleading cover is lame. And now with (what feels like) the majority of covers falling into the illustrated trend, it's a real issue. Seems like there have been several recently that have looked like rom-coms but definitely were not.
ReplyDeleteAnd open endings? Nooo! I feel like I have a tacit agreement with the author when I buy/read a book. I will buy your book, I will read your book, by you better do your job and give me a complete story. LOL And an open ending, leaving me to wonder or decide on my own (grrr!) is *not* a complete story. *stepping off my ranty sopabox now*
I feel like a story that is just a journey with no ending is already what I'm living lol I need a conclusion.
DeleteWorse than a misleading cover is a misleading summary or blurb. Don't promise me a fast paced thriller if your book is more of a slow burn. I feel like better reactions will happen if a reader can accurately gage what kind of story they are walking into.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I've always related the balance between strong plot and well-developed characters making a good read. That being said, I've enjoyed books that lean more into either direction, so the real answer is that I just like what I like in the moment haha.
Yes! And the blurb thing is happening now lately too.
DeleteI have the things I like/don't like but there always seems to be an exception to the rule.
I don't have an issue with covers for obvious reasons (I barely see then LOL), and I do like open endings...but I agree that a cover should reflect the mood of the story, and a series (if not a standalone) should bring some closure.
ReplyDeleteI need my solid endings lol
DeleteI'm not someone who goes crazy for covers or chooses by then but I do think they reflect a mood and throw me off if it's something totally different.
Omg good one! I feel like so many covers are misleading these days!
ReplyDeleteOhh cute, oh, everyone is dead, well this was uplifting
Ohh this looks like romance! Oh, no romance. What is this cover?!
They are! I have such trust issues now.
DeleteYou hit on two things that I can't stand, either. Why with the misleading covers?!?!? Why do they do that?! And, yeah--a book with an ending that leaves me unsettled can kind of ruin my day.
ReplyDeleteIt happens SO much now! I know they're trying to capitalize on trends and all that but it just totally turns me off.
DeleteYeah - endings can ruin a whole week for me lol
Ugh the misleading covers & blurbs are the worst. I'm in the middle of Catherine House which was marketed as a gothic horror novel. It is not and so many people are disappointed because of it. :(
ReplyDeleteit just sets everyone up for disappointment and bad reviews. Not worth the few books you sold by misleading the reader.
Delete"have barely any romance and instead have death and sorrow inside!" lol right? What's up with THAT? Do they think the readers will be happy?? And open endings- same. I like to have a resolution!
ReplyDeleteso many are doing that now and I'm just looking for something light and fun to take my mind off things.
DeleteAre you reading Beach Read? I did forgive the misleading cover because it really hit me in the feels, but I agree to some extent about that leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I hate political creep too. I really don't care which side you pledge allegiance to and I don't need you lecturing me. I accept it, if the book has a political bent, but I hate when it comes out of nowhere. I have DNFed so many books since the 2016 election because of this.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind political books but I want to know up front and i think another thing is that light hearted books are trying to cram a lot of issues into one story and that's tricky.
DeleteOh yes... Both of these will roast my nuts but open endings are a serious gtf out of here moment for me *especially* in a series. I read a lot of long series and with the amount of time and money invested I want the ending tied up with a bow!
ReplyDelete"Roast my nuts" lmao
DeleteOoo this a good question! 100% yes misleading covers. Give me what I expect! Characters whose motivations aren't really clear are a big pet peeve for me.
ReplyDeleteoh those covers Amber. I feel like I have to do a background check before buying these days.
DeleteCliffhangers are the biggest thing that will ruin a good book for me.
ReplyDeletegood one! I hate those too.
DeleteYou make a great point about the covers. I have gotten quite a shock a time or two not paying close attention to the blurb and going by the cover (not that the blurb is always the most trustworthy either.). And, grrr to the open-ended endings and lousy series finishes.
ReplyDeleteSomething that looks fun is so tempting right now - don't mislead me.
Deleteoh I agree...quite frankly I haven't read too many illustrated romances because one I don't care for the covers that much and two they are so misleading at times and I just don't trust them at all unless its an author I know and love. And those endings....I struggle with the HFN endings even, I need a full on HEA or I am not satisfied.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge chose my book by cover person - but I do think it sets a mood so don't pull a bait and switch.
DeleteI've heard a lot of people complain about misleading covers. I don't think I've read many books where that happened, but it would annoy me too - especially if the summary didn't really fill you in either. And yeah, series are an investment, so it sucks when the ending just comes out of nowhere or isn't done well. I have to say though, that I love your Woody gif here. LOL
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
It's not that deeper/darker books aren't good but if you buy it for sneering light then it's annoying to get something else.
DeleteSummaries are starting to get misleading too.
I have a ton-dumb love triangles, obnoxious characters, too slow to get to the point, weird and confusing, open endings, animal cruelty especially dog deaths, the list is endless!
ReplyDeleteI have a million things too - I tried to narrow it down lol
DeleteI hate love triangle but I've managed to avoid them for years now.
I can't do animal cruelty
I could not agree more about the endings! I read an open ending, I am throwing things. If I wanted to have to make up an ending, I would have written the thing myself, I am here for a STORY, and a story has an ENDING. Ugh. And I feel you with series, too. I have gotten burned by soooo many that I am almost afraid to read them!
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY! I need to know what happens or why bother learning about these people??
DeleteI don't like cliffhangers or open endings. Both drive me crazy. Love the GIFs. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
I haven't read a cliffhanger in years but totally agree on that one!
DeleteMisleading covers and cop out open-ended endings are the worst! Spoilers also ruin books for me. Sometimes, I'll even skip reading the blurb before starting a book because some blurbs reveal way too much of the story.
ReplyDeleteMy Latest Blog Post: Cinderella Is Dead: Book Review + Author Interview
I actually don't mind spoilers and look for them sometimes BUT I don't include them in my reviews and think they should be clearly marked so as not to ruin a book for someone.
DeleteI really think it's important for covers to accurately portray the feel of a book. Descriptions too, I feel like it's even worse when those are misleading!
ReplyDeleteYes. I have real trust issues these days.
DeleteI hate open endings, too! 😛
ReplyDeleteWHYYYYYYYY? lol
DeleteHave you ever read the Clan of the Cave Bear books?? I’m not big on series but I was fully invested in this one and was so disappointed at the last one. My understanding is that it took the author years to write each one (there’s a lot of research that clearly went into the series) but it was so meh after all the other books. Totally disappointing!
ReplyDelete