It’s time to get a bit more controversial around here again – things have been quite calm lately! So in order to spread a few more of my unpopular opinions, I’ve got the Nope Book Tag for you. This was originally created by A Booktube Book, so make sure to check out her original video here. Now, though, let’s get to the questions!
1. Nope: Ending
A book that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was crappy.
The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I have mentioned this before, but this is probably the book ending that has annoyed me the most, EVER. It’s been almost a year since I read this, and I’m still bitter about it.
2. Nope: Protagonist
A main character you dislike and drives you crazy.
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Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. I detest him and just wanted to give him a good shake. Or, better yet, to drag him off to see a therapist so he would finally quit all his whining and his yammering on and on about phoniness when he was such a phony himself. Honestly, I feel as if I’m not getting something here because this book is so many people’s favorite and I just found it such a pain to read…
3. Nope: Series
A series that turned out to be one huge pile of nope after you’ve invested all that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn’t worth it anymore.
Never say never, I guess, but one series I gave up on and have no desire to pick back up again at the moment is the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy. I don’t really remember how many books I read, but it was definitely at least five and there’s at least nine of them by now. I did enjoy the first couple of books – the characters were interesting and there was a unique elemental magic system – but after a while, things just started to get repetitive. There was one battle after another, and characters I had liked got more and more unlikable or stereotypical, so I never continued on.
4. Nope: Popular Pairing
A “ship” you don’t support.
Aelin and Rowan. I think I’ve made my dislike for them pretty clear by now.
5. Nope: Plot Twist
A plot twist you didn’t see coming or didn’t like.
I definitely didn’t see the plot twist in Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None coming. I was about twelve when I first read it, but to this day, I remember how flabbergasted I was after that ending. I was kind of mad I didn’t see it coming, to be honest, because I had suspected all along that that person was actually the murderer! But after a certain turn of events, I was so sure they were ruled out completely. Let’s just say Agatha Christie is the queen of plot twists. And I like all of them.
As to a plot twist I didn’t like, just have a look at question one…
6. Nope: Protagonist action/decision
A character decision that made you shake your head.
The decision in M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains that basically causes all the trouble. I mean, I know Richard was a douche, but guys, there are many, many better ways of dealing with your problem!
7. Nope: Genre
A genre you will never read.
I don’t see myself ever reading erotica. Ugh. *Shudders* Second place goes to Westerns, though. I’ve read a couple and liked none of them, so it’s very, very unlikely that I’ll voluntarily pick them up.
8. Nope: Trope
A trope that makes you go nope.
Instalove. But I’ve mentioned that so often by now that I’ll spice things up a bit and give you another one. I absolutely hate it when protagonists have siblings that they love unconditionally, but you never actually see them interacting and having sibling moments. The siblings are only there to hold the protagonist back and make them vulnerable, but they aren’t actually included in the story. If your protagonist has a sibling that’s worth mentioning, they’d better be getting some page time!
9. Nope: Recommendation
A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read.
I don’t refuse to read anything – I’ll just refuse to spend money and/or time on books when there are others out there that I’m pretty sure I’ll like more. So I guess one book that fits this category is Caraval by Stephanie Garber. I know many people like it, but I’ve also heard a bunch of negative things and it just doesn’t sound like something I’d enjoy. If I want some magical circus vibes, I’ll just reread The Night Circus 🙂
10. Nope: Cliché/pet peeve
A cliché or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.
The breath people didn’t realize they were holding. Honestly, that line is in about every second book I read, and I can’t help but notice. Another one is very Sarah J. Maas specific, but it drives me so crazy that it deserves a mention here: the use of male/female to describe absolutely everything. What the heck is a male smile, for instance? How is it different from a female smile? And why is it so important that it’s male? Please, Sarah J. Maas, cut down a bit on all that (fe)maleness.
11. Nope: Love Interest
The love interest that’s not worthy of being one/A character you don’t think should have been a viable love interest.
Rowan! In case you didn’t already get that from question four. And Jessy from Bramblestar’s Storm by Erin Hunter – thank God that wasn’t permanent. Also, Liam from Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce. I still love that book, though, so I’m willing to forgive 😉
12. Nope: Villain
A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.
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I’m going with the cliché answer here, but honestly, no one can be worse than Lord Voldemort, right? I probably wouldn’t get very far if I ran, though… Also, anything from Stephen King’s books. Especially Cujo. The creepy thing about him is that he’s just a dog, so the probability of me meeting him is actually much higher than meeting someone like Lord Voldemort. But he’s still heck-a scary and I’d almost certainly die if I met him.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading about some of my more controversial bookish opinions! Let me know down below what you find absolutely “nope” in literature – I would love to know!
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