Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and The Bookish and this week’s theme is things that will instantly make me want to read a book.
1. The author
We all have go-to authors, right? Those people whose books you wil pick up whatever they’re about, or however much they cost. The first two that spring to mind are Charles de Lint and Lisa Williamson (and you’d struggle to find two authors more different than those two!), but there are others too.
2. LGBT content done well
I’m always looking out for books that have central LGBT themes, but I have to know they’ll be done well. I don’t want to always be reading about a gay kid who spends the entire book being victimised for his sexuality/gender identity. Give me positive representation, with happy endings please. Bonus points if it includes bisexuality and/or transgender, or if it’s own voices.
3. Alternative history
Steampunk Victorian England with werewolves? GIVE IT TO ME NOW. A world where Hitler won WWII? MINE. A world where Hitler never existed but WWII still happened and was worse? GIMME. I love alternative histories. (I will also love any of you who can identify those books – leave me a comment! – or recommend anything else.)
4. Bookseller recommendations
My local YA bookseller is a goddess of book recommendations and if she tells me to read something I will read it. I might not manage it straight away *cough*ACOTAR*cough*, but it still makes me want to read it immediately. (Seriously, since book club started, I have spent So. Much. Money.)
5. A well written romance that is not the focus of the story
I am a sap at heart, and I really like reading romantic stories, but I still don’t want the romance to be the be-all and end-all. I want the characters involved to have lives that don’t revolve around each other.
6. Strong female friendships
Two women who have a proper, realistic, supportive friendship, not a bitchy one. Is that too much to ask? (Sometimes, apparently yes.)
7. A blurb from an author I love
If you’ve got a quote from my favourite authors on your cover, there’s a pretty good chance I’m going to pick your book up, because I reckon they probably have good taste.
8. Positive representation of marginalised people
This would have been higher up the list, but it’s taken me this long to work out how to phrase it. Bring me your books about anybody other than able-bodied white people, preferably by own voices authors, and I will read them. Do NOT give me books that marginalise people further, or appropriate different cultures, ok?
9. Fairytale retellings
I am 90% more likely to buy a book if it’s a retelling. I love them.
10. A pretty cover
Yes, I am that shallow. If it’s shiny, I’m there.
What makes you want to instantly read a book? Let me know in the comments!
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