When I talk about books I tend to talk in absolutes; we love all the books in our favourite genre and prefer the book to the adaptation, but there’s an exception to every rule and in this tag I get to talk about those exceptions. I was tagged by The Orangutan Librarian. Thanks for the tag, I had a lot of fun answering the questions for this one so I hope you enjoy reading my answers just as much.
No rules, just link back to the creator; The Orangutan Librarian.
#NotAll Cover Changes
A cover change you liked
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The first cover makes me think of cheesy sci-fi, the kind of guilty-pleasure book that would be enjoyable but that I’m never going pick up from the shelves of a bookstore. The second cover, the one that made me pick this book up, is just too beautiful to be passed by.
#NotAll Adaptations
An adaptation you love more than the book
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Nine times out of ten I will read the book before seeing the film, but when I first picked up The Princess Bride I couldn’t get into the story. There was too much background information in the opening that I need to go away and watch the film to understand what the book was telling me.
#NotAll Tropes
A trope you’ll never get tired of seeing
Enemies to Lovers
I’m not sure why I love this trope more than any other but if a book has an enemy to lover relationship chances are that’s enough for me to pick it up, and chances are it’ll end up in my favourites list as well. Case in point; Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Angelfall, and Carry On.
#NotAll Insta-love
You insta-loved this insta-couple
Maya and Amar
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Insta-love is one of the tropes I can’t stand. The only exception is the idea of soulmates and/or reincarnation, but that has to be written really well to not get on my nerves and I think Roshani Chokshi did a really good job with Maya and Amar’s story.
#NotAll Love Triangles
An example of a love triangle done well
Tessa, Will and Jem
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
Love triangles are another trope I can’t stand, and I think the relationship between Tessa, Will and Jem is the only one I didn’t hate. For me it was because Will and Jem were so close, that they weren’t competing because they loved each other as well as Tessa, that made this one bearable.
#NotAll Parents
Bookish parents that, you know, parent!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Throughout the book Starr has a lot of challenges to face and some very tough choices to make, but the whole time her parents are there for her. They support her no matter what, and try to protect her the best they can. Honestly I think they’re the best parents I’ve read in a YA book.
#NotAll Villains
A villain you love
Holland
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
It was only really in the third book that I came to love Holland. In the first and second books we didn’t get much development to his character to understand his actions but in the third, when we saw more of his past and everything he’d been through, my heart just broke for him.
#NotAll Chosen Ones
A chosen one you can get behind
Simon Snow
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
As Baz would say Simon Snow is the worst chosen one to ever be chosen, but I think that’s why he’s the best. Simon isn’t going to save the world without destroying part of it and he kind of subverts all the typical ‘chosen one’ tropes which honestly I’m getting a little tired of.
#NotAll Hyped Books
A book that lived up to the acclaim
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Before picking up The Bear and the Nightingale I’d read so many glowing reviews that part of me loved it without having read it. I had high expectations but it ended up being as amazing as everyone promised it would be, and now I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book.
#NotAll *Insert Favourite Genre*
A book you’re not keen on from your favourite genre
Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan and Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige
I can’t pick just one because both of these books are terrible. I’m not going to go into either of them too much but Reign of Shadows had a weak plot and weaker characters, and Stealing Snow had a love square and a main character who made so many 180 degree turns I ended up getting dizzy.
#NotAll *Insert Least Favourite Genre*
A book you liked from a genre you don’t often read
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Historical fiction is never going to be a favourite genre of mine, no matter how much I love The Book Thief, but I’d heard a few good things about All the Light We Cannot See that I was curious enough to pick it up and try it out myself. It’s a heavy book but definitely worth reading.
So what’s a cover change you thought was better than the original? Would you have picked up The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet if you’d seen the original cover or do you prefer the res-design as well? Who are the best bookish parents you’ve read, and what was the last book you picked up that lived up to the hype? Let me know.
Agree with you about the cover change for long way to a small angry planet. And I *love* enemies to lovers!! Love your choices for egs. And I definitely agree with you about infernal devices. Totally, totally agree with you about Simon Snow! And bear and the nightingale definitely lived upto the acclaim!
Wonderful answers 😀 ❤ Loved reading it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are rare occasions where cover changes work out for the better and this was one of them. 😀 You can’t beat enemies to loves and so far TID is the best of Cassandra Clare’s books I’ve read.
The Bear and the Nightingale is one of my top reads, I didn’t think it would be possible for it to live up to the hype but it really did.
Thanks so much. 🙂 ❤
LikeLike
I really enjoyed reading your answers for this tag! I love the new cover of Small Angry Planet which I haven’t seen until now (I still have to read this book!) You also reminded me that I have to finish reading the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. I like enemies-to-lovers tropes in general so I am definitely curious about how Karou and Akiva’s relationship will develop. Holland is one of my favourite villains (maybe second to AIDAN!) and I loved that Simon Snow is a unconventional take on the usual chosen one 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Sophie. Yeah the new cover is gorgeous (and I’m weak for gorgeous book covers so I’m glad they changed it!) Oh I’m kind of surprised you haven’t finished the DoSaB series already?! I can never leave series unfinished if I know all the books are released. I think you’ll be happy with how Akiva and Karou’s relationship ends up, I know I was. 🙂
We can say both. Holland favourite human villain, AIDAN favourite AI villain! 😀
Yeah it was kind of a parody chosen one right? I just loved everything about that book. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha yeah I also can’t believe I haven’t finished DoSaB yet. I think I might read the last book this month? Especially after reading The Night of Cake and Puppets, I am excited to see what happens in the last bak 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh, in that case I hope you manage to make it to the last book and that you really love (you’ll have to let me know when you finish it so we can talk more about it.) 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I started Dreams of Gods and Monsters yesterday yesterday and now I am almost halfway through. I like it so far 🙂 Liraz and Ziri are still my fav characters (is there a chance that they will get together?? Wait don’t tell me lol)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Well hopefully you’ll continue to enjoy the book all the way through, and don’t worry my lips are sealed. No spoilers will come from me at all! 😀
LikeLike
I didn’t even realize The Star Touched Queen had insta-love. It was just really good although A Crown of Wishes won me over. I think the cover change for Throne of Glass was better and same for Carry On. And as for the best bookish parents, I would say the family in Second Chance Summer is amazing! Also from Simon vs. The Homo-Sapiens Agenda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I think it depends on the readers opinion you know, some people will spot the insta-love while others may be able to look over it. A Crown of Wishes was my favourite of the two too.
Definitely Throne of Glass, but I dunno I kind of prefer the original cover for Carry On (it’s the one I own so it kind of has to be my favourite!)
Yes I read Second Chance Summer and those are great parents (that book had me in tears), it’s just a great read overall and same goes for Simon Vs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yea I didn’t really spot it because I was captivated by the writing and the world. I do want to reread it again. The Carry On hardcover isn’t bad. I just feel like the paperback is much more fun for me and have more things going on. It’s more of a preference. Second Chance Summer and Simon vs. are both my absolute favorites!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here, I love detailed world building in books and The Star-Touched Queen has incredible world building! 🙂
Ahh I get that, I pretty much have a preference when it comes to all book covers, and I always try and buy the ones I like the best! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a system with covers. If the cover is ehh, I’ll just buy the ebook version and if not, I’ll buy the actual version. I will also buy the ebook version if I’m not sure if I will like it or not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a good system. I tend to buy the eBook if I’m not sure a book sounds good, and then once I’ve read it if I’ve loved it I’ll buy a physical copy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m like that too. I’m hoping to buy To Kill a Kingdom in the physical version because I read that on my ebook and it was amazing. I want it to be on my bookshelf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In that case I hope you manage to get a copy soon. I’m doing the same but with Sea Witch, read it on my Kindle and loved so I’ve pre-ordered the paperback! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed Sea Witch! I definitely will check that one out especially after loving To Kill a Kingdom so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d recommend it, and actually I enjoyed it more than To Kill a Kingdom so maybe you’ll feel the same way about it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Omg that makes me so much more excited to read it! Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s all right, you’ll have to let me know what you think when you’ve read it as well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely will tell you when I get it 😉 Now if I only can get to my other reads that I have right now XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get that, too much on the TBR list too little time to read it all! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holland seemed like such a conflicted character in ADSOM. I am curious to see what else we’ll get with him later on. Also agree on that cover update of The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. HUGE upgrade hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh his development is incredible throughout the trilogy, and actually his best book by far is the last so you’ve got a lot to look forwards to Lashaan! Definitely, I would have missed out on a great book because I wouldn’t have picked it up if it’d kept the original cover. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great answers to these questions Beth! I think I went “I agree” to pretty much every question! haha. That cover change was definitely needed! They look like two completely different books! That’s crazy! I agree I’d never pick up the old version, but the new one is really pretty! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Meghan. Yeah that’s what I thought, I doubt I’d have even picked up that book without the new cover and having read it I kind of think the new cover fits the story better as well. It’s a great book though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! That’s good to hear! 🙂 I’m glad to see it was a change for the better on all accounts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a fun tag! ANd all of the yeses for The Bear and the Nightingale ❤ I admit though, I favor the kitschy sci-fi cover of The Long Way more. For some reasons, I have always had a soft spot for them haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a brilliant book, my copy of The Girl in the Tower will be arriving next month and I can’t wait to get started on it. I get what you mean, it has that classic-era sci-fi feel to it, I just prefer the new cover. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Girl in the Tower is brilliant! I was worried about how she would improve and grow on Vasya’s story, but she really does. I hope you enjoy it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh that’s great to hear. I haven’t heard as many positive things about The Girl in the Tower as I had about The Bear and the Nightingale, but what I have heard is very promising. 🙂
Thanks! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an awesome tag! Love all your answers. I totally agree about the enemies to love trope, there is something about it that is just compelling. My favourite chosen one always has to be Harry Potter though! I honestly wasn’t a fan of the Tessa-Will-Jem triangle, just because *SPOILER* I thought it was a bit annoying that she ended up with both of them
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, and yeah for I think it’s the sarcastic back-and-forth/banter you tend to get between two enemies-to-lovers characters. I can’t resist it. 😀
Harry Potter is the ultimate chosen one, he’s my favourite too, and I get what you mean about the Tessa/Will/Jem love triangle but that was actually the part I liked about it. Neither Will or Jem felt they had to force her to choose between them, they accepted that she loved them both and it didn’t destroy their friendship either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get that, I guess I was just disappointed that she didn’t really choose you know? It felt a but like the author didn’t want to make any fans upset
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I get that. I guess if people preferred either Will or Jem (like Team Edward or team Jacob from Twilight) they may have wanted her to choose one of the other, but I liked both characters equally so it didn’t bother me too much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this tag! I might have to give it a try myself. 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh feel free to, I’d be interested in seeing your answers for this one! 🙂
LikeLike
That cover change is gorgeous, it definitely attracts more attention 😀 TID love triangle is perfect, it’s the best one I’ve seen. And I skip the opening of the Princess Bride because like you said, it was just too long! xD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I never noticed the book until I saw the gorgeous second cover! I think TID love triangle is the only one I’ve read that I’ve actually enjoyed, all over love triangles have just ended up annoying me.
It takes ages for the book to get started doesn’t it? I was so confused when i first picked the book up waiting for the story to actually begin. 🙂
LikeLike
This is such an amazing tag ,i loved your answers ,one trope I also really love is enemies to lovers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! 🙂 Yeah enemies to lovers is one of the best tropes. I think it’s the banter between the two characters that gets me every time! 😀
LikeLike
I know right it’s so adorable 😸
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh lovely answers for this tag, Beth! I also really love the enemies to lovers trope, it’s always so much fun to read! ❤ And yes for the parents in the Hate U Give, I just love it when we actually get parents that are there, in the story, present and accounted for haha. I loved the parents in here too and I can't wait to see the movie, too 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Marie! 🙂 There’s nothing better than a good enemies to lovers relationship is there? I think there some brilliant parent in YA contemporary but the bond between Starr and her parents stood out so much more (maybe because of the subject the book dealt with you know?)
Oh yes I can’t wait for the film, the trailer looks amazing so you know the film is going to be amazing too! 😀 ❤
LikeLike
Great tag! I loved your answers but somehow I can’t stand the love triangle between Tessa, Will and Jem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much. 🙂 And oh that’s a shame, but are there other love triangles you enjoyed, or is it just love triangles in general you can’t stand?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome 🙂 I barely enjoy love triangles and I can’t really think of one I particularly like but I guess a really good one might be nice to read. Or maybe if it was from either of the guy’s perspective in the Infernal devices, reading for Tessa’s POV kind of made her feel like a slut to me(no offense) as she ended up having sex with Will even when they did not know what had happened to Jem, and that part really stuck with me, so yeah…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mean I get what you mean because I barely enjoy love triangles too, in fact TID one is the only one I actually enjoyed reading (and I’ve read a lot of books with love triangles in them, they seem to be everywhere in YA). I actually think it would have been good to see some more of the story from either Will or Jem’s perspective, we got small chapters but not a lot right? And yeah I know what scene you’re talking about but didn’t she think Jem had died when that happened? Because Will felt the bond between the two of them die?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, they did think that but they did not even stay true to his memory for one night and that stung, you know?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I get what you mean, they did move onto each other kind of fast. I suppose while reading I just felt it was how they handled the grief of losing someone they both loved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get what you are saying too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wait, I loved the love triangle in To all the boys I’ve loved before!
LikeLike
That cover change a good move indeed 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, yeah. I guess it’s rare but sometimes we do get cover changes that are for the better! 😀
LikeLike
I agree with you on that cover change!
I don’t really mind Chosen Ones, as long as they’re a bit conflicted and not just some Mary Sue badass.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah I don’t think I would have picked up The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet with that cover (which would have been a shame because it’s a great book!)
I get what you mean, there needs to be more to the character than just a prophecy and all-around perfect-ness. That gets old fast.
LikeLike
This is such a cool tag! And your answers are super relatable – great post! 💖⭐️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, and yeah it was a great tag to take part in! 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such an interesting post, I love this tag 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person