unpopular opinions: 2022 edition! // the one where i get heated

I was tagged to do this by the wonderful Aster! I’ve done this tag before but it was so long ago, and my stash of unpopular opinions has grown since 2018. So let’s do this!

1. A popular book/series that you don’t like

I was going to pick Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco but I’m going to attempt to read the subsequent books to see if I like them better. Anyways, the pick for today is going to be Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. It’s popular, especially with the sequel on the horizon, but I just found it so boring. Alex’s main personality traits are not doing her homework and seeing ghosts! I didn’t see enough Darlington and Alex interactions! The mystery is just kinda vague! The dark academic vibes are present only in theory! I don’t know, I never felt immersed in a complete story, it felt more like a rough draft.

2. A book/series that many people don’t like, but you love

On the flip side, I’m sad more people didn’t love Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li! I think the marketing tactic of “art museum heists with some social commentary” didn’t really work, since this book is more about social commentary than anything else. I personally loved the characters and their struggles, passions, and wants, but I can see how the heist aspect would be disappointing.

3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you didn’t want them to end up with / An OTP you don’t like

I pretty much hate every ship in The Atlas Six universe except for Nico and Libby. Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing Callum and Reina just because I think they’d burn the world down together. Anyway, somehow the author has everyone and their great uncle’s third cousin twice removed get together in this book except for the one I want to be canon??? So what’s up with that Olivie Blake??? What did I ever do to you???

4. A popular genre that you hardly reach for

Romance 100%. I’ll read contemporary stories with romance, but I’m never quite reaching for romance books you know? I’ve considered The Love Hypothesis but even the mere thought of it makes me bored.

5. A popular or beloved character that you don’t like

Obligatory Parisa insult: who the heck likes her??? She is easily the worst character in the book by virtue of “perfection” and boring chapters and lack of meaningful chemistry (aka non-physical) with any of the other characters.

anyways.

Audrey Rose is my official choice for Popular Character I Despise. Actually, in the first book, I liked her! She was born into an era of society that treated women as far, far lesser than men. She’s clever, and knows what she wants! Unfortunately, the plotting did her wrong in the last two books and that cleverness becomes stupidity. She’s stupid. She and Thomas put all this work into their relationship and not making it a power imbalance, and then suddenly everyone’s cheating and lying. Not to mention it’s like she forgot how to solve a mystery. A scone would go missing and she’d ignore the trail of crumbs and go straight to interviewing some guy who’s famous for eating. ANYWAYS SHE’S ANNOYING.

6. An author that you can’t seem to get into

I actually don’t have an answer for this question. I’d say Victoria Schwab, but I’ve only read (well, DNF’d) one book by her. And I’ve knocked Kerri Maniscalco’s books enough already, so I’m going to pass on this question!

7. A popular book trope you’re tired of seeing?

Smut? Is that a trope? I feel like a lot of fantasy authors now feel pressure to put smut into their books because of Booktok, and it honestly makes a lot of books worse. The focus on worldbuilding, character arcs/relationships, and excellent plotting gets lost when smut is added just for the sake of it.

8. A popular book/series that you have no interest in reading

At this point, I feel like reading a Colleen Hoover book would make me lose all respect for myself. It’s become a matter of principle. I’m too well-read to read lesser Wattpad fanfiction when I could just read good Wattpad fanfiction. For free. I mean, Colleen Hoover brings nothing to the table that thousands of authors haven’t before, except that the other authors never had the advantage of Tiktok and had actual good books. Should slandering Colleen Hoover become my main personality trait like a quirky YA girl? I can become an Emilia or Abriella by not being like the other girls! Whoo*!

*don’t ever get me started on colleen hoover ever again cuz i get HEATED

9. The saying goes that “The book is always better than the movies,” but what movie or tv show adaptation is better than the book?

I haven’t actually read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson but this horror mini-series is just so well-done I’d be impressed if the book could top it. Also, the show has Oliver Jackson Cohen in it? So…the book is already at a severe disadvantage.

I tag anyone who wants to do this! I can never remember who’s done this tag recently and who hasn’t lol. Tell me: what’s an unpopular opinion of yours?

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