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!🌸 

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2025

by Enola

For all the book-lovers out there, having a favorite read of the year is a common thing. There is always one book that truly stands out to each reader. One that makes us happy. One where we love the characters. One that excites us and keeps us on the edge of our seats. One we can’t stop thinking about. But unfortunately, the biggest problem is when somebody asks “What’s the top book you read this year?” We usually reply, “I have multiple” or our brains go blank and we can’t decide which is our favorite. It’s hard! There are a lot of great books out there. So, I’m putting together my top ten best books of 2025.

 

 

1. Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

            Starting off with an absolute fantasy-favorite and bestselling book, I absolutely loved Once Upon a Broken Heart. I’d recommend it to anyone. The book was magical and romantic with a fairytale-like setting and such interesting, complex characters. The story follows Evangeline Fox, who makes a dangerous deal with the notorious Prince of Hearts in order to stop the man she loves from marrying her stepsister. This then leads to a dangerous journey of love, curses, and magic. If you love romantasy that will whisk you away into a whole new world that you can get lost in, this is definitely the book for you.

 

2. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

            Yet another Stephanie Garber book made it onto my list and for a good reason. This romantasy is whimsical and mysterious; you can’t predict a thing! The book follows protagonist Scarlett Dragna as she partakes in the magical and mysterious performance known as Caraval and explores the Isla De Suenos--the island on which it takes place--with a mysterious young man named Julian Santos, as they quickly try to win this year’s game. With action, mystery, old secrets, and whimsy, this is the perfect book for all fantasy (and romance) fans. I loved it and flew through this book. The plot twists were absolutely mind-blowing (don’t worry, no spoilers here). I definitely recommend it.

 

3. Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            This outstanding second book in The Grandest Game trilogy, the popular TheInheritance Games spinoff, is a beautiful combination of romance and mystery. It is definitely a book that will blow your mind. Full of twists and turns, danger and romance, this book was very fun. It was so interesting! The book is told through the perspectives of Lyra Kane, Gigi Grayson, and Rohan as they partake in the annual Grandest Game and solve all the puzzles that come along with it. A must-read for mystery fans! I absolutely loved it.

 

4. Mint To Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

            Tis the season! Would this really be a “Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2025” without at least one Christmas rom-com? I don’t think so. Mint To Be follows two leads, Emma and Aidan, two childhood best friends whose relationship is strained when Emma leaves for boarding school without saying goodbye, only to return for the holidays with her boyfriend. Emma’s return forces her and Aidan to reconnect. The book is a small-town holiday romance and perfect for readers looking for a short read to get them into the Christmas spirit. I definitely enjoyed it this holiday season.

 

5. ASAP by Axie Oh

            Romance readers, K-pop fans, and K-drama fans, you need to read this book…ASAP! ASAP by Axie Oh is a very adorable K-pop romance about Sori, a rich trainee and the daughter of a K-pop company owner, as she deals with family expectations, duty, the industry, and returning feelings for her ex-boyfriend, K-pop star Nathaniel. It was very wholesome, light-hearted, and entertaining. I really liked it. It was a great short and sweet novel.

 

6. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            When I tell you this book was AMAZING, I truly mean it. The Inheritance Games series is my second favorite series of all time. I will forever recommend this to everyone and anyone, whether you are a fantasy, romance, sci-fi, dystopia, or mystery reader, though keep in mind this book is mystery with a sprinkle of romance. This mystery follows a teenage girl named Avery Grambs, who randomly inherits billions from a stranger, Tobias Hawthorne, as she tries to figure out the mystery of why she of all people was chosen to inherit everything. The book was super interesting and complex, it will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat! This was a book I could not put down. The whole series was amazing (The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit, The Brothers Hawthorne, Games Untold, and The Grandest Game Trilogy) but I chose to talk about only a few of the books so I could make room for other amazing books.

 

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

            Yet another book from Axie Oh made it onto this list. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is not a book to miss! Blending fantasy, Korean mythology, and romance, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an interesting and fantastical retelling of The Tale of Shim Cheong, a classic Korean folktale. The story follows Mina, a girl who (in this version of the story) sacrifices herself instead of Shim Cheong, in order to save her older brother, Joon, and his love, Shim Cheong, from the wrath of the Sea God. The story then follows her journey through the Spirit Realm, where she meets Shin, a mysterious spirit. I loved this book especially since I am a fan of mythology. All the mythology fans, here is your sign to pick another mythology book (aka, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea).

 

8. The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            If you loved The Inheritance Games series and decided to start The Grandest Game trilogy, prepare yourself for a high-stakes spinoff where nothing is as it seems. With dangerous secrets, intricate puzzles, limited time, and a hidden threat, The Grandest Game is a very entertaining and action-packed story. This book is told through the perspectives of Lyra Kane, Gigi Grayson, and Rohan as they each make their own alliances and fight to win. The Grandest Game is the perfect mystery to pick up if you’re looking for unpredictable plot twists, romance, mystery, and danger. This book will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

9. True Beauty by Yaongyi

            All right graphic novel fans, this one is for you! True Beauty is a fun and entertaining story about a girl (Jugyeong Lim), navigating high-school (and later college), beauty standards, makeup, and romance. For most of her life, Jugyeong was bullied and laughed at for her looks, but soon, she learns makeup and is able to use it to make herself beautiful. She changes her style, face, and likes just to be liked, and Jugyeong becomes a popular girl at her new school, Saebom High. But things get complicated when Jugyeong is caught in a love triangle with Suho Lee, the cold and smart student, and Seojun Han, the handsome bad-boy. I had so much fun with this series, even though I’ve only read volumes 1-7 so far.

 

10. Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            We finally made it to the last book on this list and the spot goes to…Games Untold, yet another book in The Inheritance Games saga! This novella was very entertaining, with multiple short stories featuring characters from the world of The Inheritance Games. It featured stories focused on Nash and Libby Hawthorne, the four Hawthorne brothers, Toby Hawthorne, and more! It was a fun and short read. I definitely recommend it to fans of The Inheritance Games and mystery fans alike.

Top Ten Tuesday: Throwback Freebie

written by Grace H.

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday encourages book bloggers to create and share a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is…throwback!!

This means that I get to choose the topic, selecting from past prompts that have already been used. I did some digging to find some old topics, and I chose one from 2020… books I read because someone recommended them to me.

All of these recommendations were ones that I really enjoyed; so take this post as my recommendation to YOU if you haven’t read any of these!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Summer 2024 To-Read List

Written by Grace H.

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday encourages book bloggers to create and share a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is…Books on My Summer 2024 To-Read List!!

Now that summer is here and school is out, teens have a lot of extra time on our hands, and I plan to make a big dent in my TBR stack. Here is a list that I’ve compiled of my most anticipated reads for the summer!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish WIshes

 by Grace H.

Welcome back to TBG’s Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, Top Ten Tuesday encourages book bloggers to create and share a “Top Ten” list in response to a different topic each week.

This week’s theme is…Bookish Wishlist!!

This is a list I have put together of the top ten books that I wish I could add to my ever-growing collection!

1. The Cruel Prince trilogy by Holly Black (this is one of my favorite YA series and I wish I had physical copies so I can read them over and over again!)

null

2. Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi (this is another one of my all time favorites!)

null

3. The Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy by Stephanie Garber (a really popular series that I haven’t read yet + the covers are gorgeous!

4. Swarm by Jennifer Lyle (an intriguing sounding YA sci fi)

null

5. Five Survive by Holly Jackson (one of the best YA thrillers I’ve read within the past year!)

null

6. The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott (newly released supernatural/fantasy novel)

null

7. Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon (I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and this next installment sounds like a good read!)

null

8. Paper Towns by John Green (one of the few John Green books that I have yet to read)

null

9. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh (I’ve had this series on my TBR for a while and I’m very excited to read it)

null

10. Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (this one isn’t being published for almost an entire year, but I’m already adding it to my wishlist!)

      

Let us know which books you are eager to add to your collection!