Top Ten Tuesday: Buzzwords or Phrases That Make Me Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book

by Enola

 

Everyone has certain book buzzwords that make them run to read a book--“Witches” or “Second Chance” or maybe even “Assassins.” There’s also definitely buzzwords that would make you avoid a book. I have quite a few buzzwords that make me avoid a book, and many that make me want to read a one. So, for today’s Top Ten Tuesday, I'll share my Top Ten Buzzwords That Make Me Read (or Avoid) a Book (in no particular order). 

 

 

MAGICAL WORLDS (READ)

The moment anyone says that a book is set in an interesting magical world, I have to grab it! I love books with magical worlds—Once Upon a BrokenHeart, Caraval, the Harry Potter series, you name it! Magical worlds make me feel immersed and cozy because we don’t have magic in the real world, and the stories are so interesting. Our world is normal, so when someone comes up with such an interesting magic world like the one in Harry Potter, I love to read about it.

LOVE TRIANGLE (AVOID)

This trope literally makes me run away from a book. A lot of times, love triangles can be frustrating and overused, or not executed properly, or even worse, the guy/girl the protagonist ends up with isn’t the one you’re rooting for! I can think of many books where I hated the love triangle, and found it frustrating. I definitely think whether or not love triangles are enjoyable depends on the book (and the person the protagonist ends up with).

 

THE CHOSEN ONE (READ)

I like the Chosen One trope. There are many popular books that execute this well (For example, the Harry Potter series, and the Percy Jackson series), and it’s a trope I notice that I do not get tired of. The Chosen One creates an interesting, high-stakes book with a focused main character, and I really enjoy that.

 

ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS (READ BUT OCCASIONALLY AVOID)

This trope is frequently used by many authors and is in tons of best-selling books but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad trope. I like this trope when it’s done well. However, I find a lot of Enemies-to-Lovers to be very unrealistic (aka the ones where the leads hate each other, and then ten minutes later, they’re deeply in love. It makes no sense!). But when it’s done correctly, I really enjoy it (for example, Once Upon a Broken Heart).

 

MISCOMMUNICATION (AVOID)

I dislike this trope so much. If you don’t know the Miscommunication trope, let me give you an example. Chris likes Liz, but acts a certain way that makes Liz think Chris hates her, so she starts to hate him (since she’s upset), and then problems arise. Then later, they clarify that everything was all a big misunderstanding. Just communicate! It’s so frustrating! Chris should just be honest and tell Liz he likes her, not act like he hates her! And Liz should say how she’s feeling! Why is Miscommunication even a trope? I avoid reading books with the Miscommunication trope, as it can be really annoying.

 

FOUND FAMILY (READ)

This trope is so lovely! I’ve enjoyed many books with found family. I think books with found family can be really nice and sweet. Some books that execute this well (in my opinion) include Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Harry Potter, The Naturals, and The Inheritance Games. Found family just adds a certain coziness and wholesomeness to a book.

 

SCI-FI (AVOID)

If somebody even says the word “Sci-fi,” I’m automatically uninterested. Sci-fi books with aliens or traveling to other planets is just so boring and strange to me. A lot of times sci-fi books are too intense in my eyes or terrifying or even a little slow. I’m not really interested in, for example, an astronaut’s journey to Mars, or someone who’s in a spaceship and is being attacked by the most terrifying aliens. It’s just not my thing. 

 

DYSTOPIAN (AVOID)

The second somebody says “I just read a great dystopian!” I immediately know that I will not like the book. I like to avoid dystopian stories because of the intense alternate realities they present. I read books to experience a magical world or an interesting mystery, not a crazy and scary alternate version of the world I’m living in.

 

ABILITIES (READ)

I really like when characters have cool and interesting abilities like Cassie Hobbes and her ability to read people (The Naturals), or Percy Jackson and his ability to control water (Percy Jackson and the Olympians series). Anytime somebody tells me about a book with a character with special abilities, I’m always interested because I like fantastical and fictional abilities that are either impossible to have or difficult to have. Special abilities are very entertaining to read.

 

MAGIC (READ)

I am such a huge fan of magic books. I really enjoy reading about all the different magical worlds with their unique magic systems and rules. Magical characters are so interesting, with all their cool abilities and complex stories. Magic is definitely a buzzword that makes me want to read a book. Some magic books I enjoyed include Caraval, Once Upon a Broken Heart, the Harry Potter series, and TheGirl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about my top ten, and that you found your next read. Happy reading!🌸 

No More Quiet Girls: Teen Reads for Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month—a time to celebrate the voices, achievements, and resilience of women past and present. One of the most powerful ways to explore women’s history is through story, especially the stories that portray young women finding their voices, challenging expectations, and shaping the world around them. 

The stories below spotlight girls who refuse to stay quiet, who question, resist, and reclaim their place in history, even when the odds are stacked against them. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, empowerment, or simply a great story, these books offer a meaningful way to honor Women’s History Month, one page at a time. 

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee is a captivating story that keeps readers hooked at every chapter. It details the challenging life of Jo Kuan as a Chinese American in 1890’s Atlanta, a city that doesn’t even consider her a citizen, as she secretly lives in a basement along with her caretaker Old Gin. 

Ms. Lee manages to end every chapter of the book with a dramatic bang that refuses to let you stop reading. Each chapter was fast-paced, littered with suspense, drama and a plot twist right around the corner. I loved reading about historic Atlanta and every good and bad thing about it. I also loved the characters in the story making do with what they got, as they showed resilience against an unfair world. 

Jo Kuan and her story should serve as an inspiration to everyone as a story to work for what you believe in and to prevail. I blazed through this book because of how much I enjoyed it. I would give it a 5/5 stars.

- Christopher

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley is a YA thriller that focuses on a young woman named Perry. She is determined to claim back what has been stolen from her family so many generations ago. With high stakes, and suspense around every corner, this book is a perfect for people who enjoy thriller books.

-Ava

The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrtes, and Helped Win World War II by Candace Fleming is a narrative nonfiction book that follows the stories of ten teenage girls who helped decode ciphers and keep secrets throughout World War II. Whether it was picking up Morse code signals in a listening station, working with a complex Bombe machine, or decoding messages using the Enigma machine, each task led the Allies one step closer to victory. Through their intelligence, determination, hard work, and dedication, these girls helped turn the tide of war.

-Sophie

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu follows the story of a Texas girl named Vivian. Fed up with her school not punishing boys for their disgusting, misogynistic behavior, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Inspired by the Riot Grrrl movement–an underground feminist punk movement that started in the 1990s–, Vivian starts a feminist zine called “Moxie”. Through Moxie, Vivian learns how to navigate relationships and to fight back and stay strong, even when situations seem hopeless. Moxie is a powerful anthem for everyone out there who feels objectified or dismissed. We are stronger together.

-Holly

What book do you plan to read that celebrates women?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Spring 2026 To-Read List

By Sophie L.

As a new season comes, so do new books to add to your TBR list. Spring is a time of change, so it may be time to change up your taste and try a different genre! My to-read list this spring is filled with romance, fantasy, comedy, drama, and a bit of historical fiction. Here are the top ten books I’m itching to read as we move into verdant springtime.

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This novel explores the universal story of navigating high school, told through a series of letters that reveal the life of Charlie, who is a freshman in high school and a wallflower. “We accept the love we think we deserve,” is a famous quote from this book. Such a beautiful quote must have a beautiful story, and I can’t wait to unravel it. 

2. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Shiori is the princess of Kiata who has forbidden magic running through her veins. When she loses control of her powers, her stepmother turns Shiori’s six brothers into cranes and warns the princess that for each word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Now she must save her brothers, reclaim the throne, and learn to embrace the magic she was taught to suppress. Also, this story has Chinese and Japanese folklore? Count me in!

3. Kamisama Kiss by Julietta Suzuki

Kamisama Kiss follows Nanami, recently homeless, who inherits a shrine and becomes a local deity. With her new role comes many responsibilities and a cranky fox yokai, Tomoe, who becomes her familiar. This series is such a classic shoujo romance, and Nanami is such a likeable MC! I’m definitely reading this.

4. Lovely War by Julie Berry

Set in the dreary days of World Wars I and II, this book is about four humans whose fates and hearts lie in the hands of the gods. Their stories, which we follow through the goddess Aphrodite as she tells them to the gods Hephaestus and Ares, prove that love can transcend even the great evil that is war. I love stories that focus on multiple romances!

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

In The Book Thief, Death acts as a narrator, telling us the story of Liesel, whose book-stealing and story-telling skills bring light to herself and those around her amidst the horrors of WWII. This book is definitely full of angst, and when I need a good cry, I’m 100% picking up this book.

6. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Ōima

When Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl, joins the elementary class of Shoya Ishida, a bully, he and his friends begin tormenting her. However, when the cruelty goes too far, Shoko switches schools, and Shoya turns into a scapegoat, going from the bully to the bullied. Six years later, Shoya and Shoko’s paths cross again. Shoya struggles to make amends with Shoko and confront his classmates who turned on him. I’ve heard really good things about this series, and I’m curious about Shoya’s character growth.

7. The Red Palace by June Hur

Hyeon, an eighteen-year-old palace nurse, and a young royal police investigator pair up to solve the mystery of a series of grisly murders in the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Throughout the treacherous search for the murderer, Hyeon begins to find herself entangled with dangerous political schemes and the young inspector. This book is basically a blend of my favorite genres, so I’m really excited to check it out!

8. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

This is for fans of Spirited Away! The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea follows Mina as she traverses through the Spirit Realm to awaken the Sea God from an enchanted sleep. She is accompanied by a mysterious man named Shin and a band of gods, demons, and spirits. When I saw this book for the first time, the cover took my breath away, and I had to stop to admire it. It’s simply stunning, and the plot sounds absolutely sublime!

9. Phantom Busters by Shoco

Phantom Busters is a shonen action comedy manga! Four boys, Eugene, Mogari, Kaoru, and Kotaro, create an exorcist club at school to fight spectral foes. Mogari can eat ghosts, Kaoru can see ghosts, Kotaro can talk to ghosts, and Eugene is a straight-A student who doesn’t believe in ghosts. When the four boys put together their abilities, they set out to exorcise evil. This is a really fun read, especially for comic lovers, and the art style is magnificent!

10. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Ending with a classic, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is about Bruno, a German boy, who befriends a Jewish boy during the time of the Holocaust. However, their friendship will lead to devastating consequences that will make you cry. Though it’s a sad story, I’m interested to read about the enduring innocent friendship of these two boys even in one of the darkest points of history.

[Librarian note: Check out our 5 Questions With...interview with author Axie Oh!

5 Questions with...Axie Oh!

by Enola

 

Photo credit https://www.axieoh.com

Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing an amazing New York Times bestselling author, Axie Oh, for the Winter Park Library’s Teen Book Guild “5 Questions With…” series. She is an author of many great books, such as XOXO, ASAP, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and The Floating World duology starter. Axie Oh writes many YA novels inspired by Korean culture, history, K-dramas, K-pop, and folklore. 

  

Q: What inspired you to write your books like ASAP, or The Girl Who Fell Beneath, and are any of the characters based off of people you know?

 

For ASAP, I was inspired by my love of K-pop, visits to Seoul (the vibrant capital city of South Korea), and second chance romances, like the classic Persuasion by Jane Austen. For The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I was inspired by my love of fairytale retellings and Korean myths and legends, as well as Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. 

 

The characters aren’t based off anyone in particular except for, perhaps, Mina’s older brother, Joon, from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, who was somewhat based off my older brother.

 

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer and what’s something readers might not know about one of your books?

 

I wanted to be a writer after high school, when I entered college. I took classes in fiction writing and poetry and started to share my work with others (friends, peers, teachers, and online). Readers might not know that it took eight years for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea to become published. I first wrote it in 2014, and it wasn’t published until 2022. Around twenty or so editors passed on publishing the book before it found its home with the perfect editor and publisher.  

 

Q: What was the most challenging scene or book to write, and why?

 

The most challenging scene in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was a scene that occurs in chapter three, when Mina meets Shin, Namgi, and Kirin for the first time. I had to juggle introducing three new characters, one of whom is masked for most of the chapter, while also making the scene exciting and move the plot forward. The hardest book for me to write so far was The Floating World because I sold it on what was basically a concept (a retelling of Korean celestial maidens set in a steampunk fantasy world) and then had to discover the characters, world, and plot from there! 

 

Q: Which character out of all your books are you most attached to and do you have a favorite line or chapter in one of your books?

 

I’m definitely attached to Mina from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and one line that I like that I don’t see quoted as often is from the first chapter: Behind them, the dragon rises silently out of the water, its long neck extending into the sky. Seawater falls off its dark blue scales, dropping like coins onto the boat’s deck.

 

The line that I write when I sign books is: Don’t chase fate. Let fate chase you. 

 

Q: Do you have any advice or words for aspiring authors?

 

Your first reader is always yourself: write the story that calls to you, with characters that you can’t stop thinking about. Please your inner reader before you please anyone else. On a practical level, start with a messy first draft, and try to reach “the end” even if you have to skip whole scenes. After you’ve reached the end and know the story beats and characters arcs, you can go back and revise the story to make it really shine. 

 

 

Thank you so much to Ms. Oh for taking the time to do the Winter Park Library’s Teen Book Guild “5 Questions With…” interview, I greatly appreciate it. 

 

I hope you enjoyed getting to read her answers as much as I did, and learning more about her amazing books and her author career. You can check out ASAP, XOXO, Rebel Seoul, The Floating World, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea at the Winter Park Library!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year

by Enola

Romance is one of the most popular genres in books. Everybody reads some kind of romance, whether it’s a romantasy, a mystery with a side of a romance, a Christmas romance, or a rom-com. I happen to like all four. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d share the top ten romance books I look forward to reading this year based on their descriptions. I mean, what better time to talk about all books romance, right?

  1. Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic based on the novel by Eiko Kadono

Kiki is a thirteen year old half-witch who chooses a new town to live in for a year as per witch tradition. She ends up in Koriko, a seaside village, where it’s a little hard to get the locals to trust her. She has a cat companion named Jiji, and she also meets Tombo, a boy her age who has a crush on her. I literally want to read this book as soon as possible.

 

  2. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Gelato sounds like the perfect romantic summer read! What’s more enchanting than reading an Italian romance with some gelato by your side? I think this book sounds very cute and wholesome, and I definitely want to give it a read. The story follows Lina, who is spending the summer in Italy fulfilling her mother’s dying wish for Lina to get to know her father. But, when Lina is given her mother’s old journal, she sets out to find a secret and possibly love. 

 

  3. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

This novel by Kasie West is a sweet and funny romance novel where high school student Lily writes down some music lyrics on her class desk only to return the next day to find someone has written the rest of the lyrics and also included a message. She becomes pen pals with this mysterious person. The more they share, the more Lily realizes that she might have a crush on him, but she has no idea who he is. I think it sounds like a delightful and romantic read. 

 

  4. Witty in Pink by Erica George

Calling all Jane Austen fans! This book is a historical romance about two frenemies. Briggs Goswick is the male lead in this story but Blythe can’t stand him. Actually, he doesn’t care much for her either. Blythe describes him as a man-child but an attractive man-child. As Blythe is busy trying to save her family’s name and fortune, she soon discovers Briggs is also financially broke. Blythe must come up with a plan to save her family from ruins. Briggs is also in a desperate need of money so they have to help each other out. It sounds like a funny enemies to lovers, which I think I’ll really enjoy.

 

  5. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Of course it’s a curse! Poor Sophie Hatter is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and becomes an old woman. Lucky for Sophie, the solution is (kind of) simple. All she has to do is head to Howl’s Moving Castle. Once there, Sophie meets Howl, who might just be her soulmate, and Calcifer, a fire demon who Sophie makes a deal with. The goal? Find the Witch of the Waste and face her head-on. This fantasy sounds like the perfect mix of friendship, adventure, and romance, making it perfect for people looking for a nice read.

 

  6. Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

I’ve seen this book quite a few times and I’ve always thought it looked sweet and wholesome. So, finally, this year I’m making sure I read it! Angelica and the Bear Prince follows main character Angelica, a high-schooler who finds herself worn out. Angelica starts to receive encouraging messages from the local theater mascot, and in hopes to discover who exactly is behind the bear costume, Angelica gets an internship at the theater. This read sounds very sweet and also sounds like a nice palate-cleanser, as it is also a graphic novel.

 

  7. My Favorite Color is Mistletoe by Eva Austin

I like Christmas books. Something about reading festive books during the holiday season with a cup of hot chocolate in hand is very magical, and I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this one. The story follows Audrey, who is going through a breakup, and now dreading all the couple’s activities at her family’s annual Christmas gathering. She agrees to fake date Jax but soon enough Audrey realizes maybe she can find love. It sounds like a wholesome Christmas read which I’ll read during the holiday season.

 

  8. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been wanting to read this book. It seems right up my alley with a good mix of fantasy and romance. This book is also a Netflix series, which is great. The story follows Alina Starkov, a solider who, when her regiment is attacked, suddenly releases magic unknown to her to save them. This plunges her into a world of magic as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical elite. The only problem seems to be their leader, the Darkling, who believes she is the only one who can destroy the Shadowfold once she masters her gift. 

 

  9. Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

I really enjoyed Mint To Be written by this author last holiday season, so I’ve been wanting to give her other novel, (featuring characters from Mint To Be) a shot. The story follows Lucy Kane, who works at her mom’s coffee shop in Briar Glen called Cup o’ Joe. Unfortunately, business hasn’t been too great, but it usually gets better during the fall—or at least it did because now Java Junction, a coffee chain, just became Cup o’ Joe’s neighbor and rival. The worst part is that Jack Harper, Lucy’s crush, is the owner’s son. I think this read will be great for October. It also sounds quite funny.

 

  10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This classic novel which I’ve been wanting to read is set in Regency England and follows the rivalry, and eventual romance of Elizabeth Bennet, one of the five Bennet daughters, and the arrogant Mr. Darcy. I plan on reading it very soon. The reviews for this are amazing, and people are always recommending it.

 

This concludes my “Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year”. I hope this helped you find some books to add to your TBR. Happy reading!