Popular Romances I HATE 🤪

[@aliciayamasaki3705]

One of the most popular romances that I can't stand is The Hating Game. When she realized he painted his walls the color of her eyes I got major serial killer vibes

[@chandlerainsley]

HAHAHA that's valid

[@tyra6012]

I've never read the book but I watched the movie and when that scene came up I was so freaked out. So weird!

[@Zzzlol1]

and watching the movie just made it even worse ngl

[@danigreene598]

YES I had the same reaction!!!

[@GreenGretel]

**Spoiler** The ending when he was all, "I loved you since the first moment I saw you (proclamations of love at first sight always feel so incredibly phony), I painted my room the color of your eyes, etc etc." killed the whole romance for me.

[@princesskittyXx]

So hear me out: I don’t like books that feel like they were meant to be literary fiction but hide behind “romance”. the romance is always weak just to push a book that felt like it was trying to say something the whole time. Also tiktok books I don’t trust tbh bc there’s usually no substance there either good characters or interesting plot. It’s just ✨pretty cover✨

[@paigepoelvoorde1075]

Hit it right on the nose!

[@cupcakesanddancing]

THIS!

[@princesskittyXx]

@@cupcakesanddancing I’ve been bamboozled for too long

[@tarnim2595]

My issue with Book Lovers was that it didn't even feel like a romance. It felt like Emily Henry wanted to write a women's fiction novel about a women's journey to find what she truly wants to do with her life separate from her responsibilities and then though "oh this needs to be marketable so let's add in a romance"

[@GreenGretel]

And frankly, Mhairi McFarlane (who's name-checked in _Book Lovers,_ interestingly) tends to do that (women's fiction w/ a romance tying it all together) better: See: _Just Last Night._ That said, I still liked _Book Lovers_ more than Chandler seemed to because Henry's writing and dialogue is still so good (and I don't find the sister relationship as off-putting as she did - I think a co-dependent/overly protective bond makes sense given their history...I've honestly seen those sorts of relationships often in real life between siblings who've undergone trauma together while young), but she just didn't pull off certain elements - including the, uh, central romance - as capably as needed for the book to be great.

[@graceannreads]

In November 9, not only did he lie the entire time, he lied about something that literally changed her entire life?? and then SHE apologized to HIM???

[@kajamelia3856]

November 9 is literally the definition of toxic, how can anyone like it is beyond me

[@Oyinks_]

I actually felt so gaslit reading "Things We Never Got Over" reviews. The entire book was about how Naomi should finally take ownership of what she wants and make herself happy, not just make other people happy, but we're never told what she wants! I thought I was crazy, I kept flipping through the book to see if I missed something in this MASSIVE book.

[@MsHenrei]

Sis, I totally feel you. I still get angry about the time I spent on that book. I coulda read at least one and a half other good books. Thalia Hibbert, Kennedy Ryan etc. What a massive waste. Those reviews?! Grrrr 😒

[@rosettachristopher6981]

I dropped the book the moment the ml literally told the fl to take an order from the well known se$ual assaulter of the town, and still got mad at how he touched her and her reaction to it. Like that man purposely sent her to his table knowing that the assault was a possibility.

[@ravnclxws]

Me: I hate these popular books. Society: “hate” is a very strong word. Me: I know, that’s why I said it.

[@fannihalmy7372]

Your new hair colour is beautiful! 😍

[@chandlerainsley]

thank you!!

[@ChloeFrizzle]

I would love a video of books you didn't like and better versions of the premise!

[@poprocks8316]

My problem with Things We Never Got Over was just my overwhelming boredom. The dynamic lacked chemistry imo, which made the steamy scenes skip worthy. I only really liked the dynamic between the heroine and her niece, but since its a romance, the shining point should be...the romance. and it was not to me at all.

[@chandlerainsley]

totally agree with ya there. also forgot to mention it in this video but phrases like "tight wet wonderland" really didn't make the smut memorable in a good way lol

[@Lena-zn4re]

@@chandlerainsley “tight wet wonderland” BAHAHA IM SCREAMING😭😭

[@carolineblueskies]

@@chandlerainsley omg 💀💀💀

[@reviewsfromabookworm8264]

@@chandlerainsley And let's not forget his weapon of mass destruction

[@ileanacabrera6548]

Things We Never Got Over. (Spoilers ahead) I want to cry hearing someone agree with me. I bought this book in March, read 100 pages, put it down and decided it’s not for me. Then it blew up, it was everywhere. I suffered through 25 more pages, donated my copy. I never wanted to see it or hear about it again. Then I was convinced on some Facebook groups Im in that it gets so much better in the second half. So I picked it up again on kindle, read the whole thing. Gave it 1 star for all the reasons you mentioned (and also I was probably just bitter to have read the whole thing when I wanted to DNF it at 100 pages originally). I was also annoyed that Naomi is supposed to be 36 but literally does nothing for herself. Knox gets her a place to live, a phone, pays for a shopping spree, helps her buy a car… SHE DOESNT EVEN LOOK FOR JOBS she just gets one? And don’t even get me started about when she randomly just won $20K. That scene towards the end where she and Waylay get kidnapped and Tina talks her criminal boyfriend to not shoot her because Naomi is on her period??? I thought I was being pranked. In fact, I was convinced I was being prank when Knox thinks she got hurt (I don’t even remember what happened, I think she got shot at or something, no idea) and she opens her eyes asking for coffee. The amount of times she mentions her need for caffeine 😅😅😅 It felt like Lucy Score doesn’t like coffee but she’s trying to be relatable. It reminds me of All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. The characters are similar ages, small town, single parent. MZ obviously did it much much better.

[@chandlerainsley]

you have been thru the RINGER, god bless

[@paigepoelvoorde1075]

This comment is a masterpiece

[@taylorgayhart9497]

“Don’t shoot her, she is on her period” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I am dead!!!

[@hayleykelble699]

This is why I watch your videos. I love the raw honesty and not sugar coating things to keep people happy. While I don't agree with every book, I respect your opinions and I love listening to your reasoning. I would love to see the recs for books that did it better!

[@ellierosereads]

some of these are on my tbr and that makes me nervous hahaha

[@chandlerainsley]

haha i'm notoriously picky, if you're hyped about a book i hope it goes well!

[@OverstuffedShelf]

I sooort of feel like Emily Henry should be writing general fiction not romance? Like she's a good writer but Beach Read really didn't read like a romance to me (haven't read Book Lovers but I feel like I've been hearing the same sort of thing). Also hellooo, cute cat easter egg 😍

[@alyssanybakken]

absolutely agree!

[@riyamalik3756]

I really didn’t like beach read.

[@heatherstecher7322]

Totally get this. I LOVE Emily Henry’s books (all three!). They’re definitely not fluffy, but I personally like the substance. Just depends what I’m in the mood for.

[@blair94]

I agree, people we meet on vacation was so good and it didn’t read like a romance imo

[@micaellyalves3367]

I love romances like the ones Emily Henry writes. Honestly, they are perfect. I love it when a book has relationship development instead of just smut.

[@Brianna-wn8bo]

I felt insulted reading Things We Never Got Over in how it handled (tw) domestic abuse. It was insulting how Naomi's previous abusive relationship was used as a plot twist three quarters of the way through, and especially insulting in how Knox was portrayed as physically controlling but make it ~romantic~ for a heroine who had just escaped an abusive relationship.

[@itstiahra]

I literally just finished Book Lovers and it wasn’t a OMG IM OBSESSED type book, it was more like the tension is great, the banter is great, the setting is cute but the characters made annoying choices and the “happily ever after” was just off.. i agree with and understand all your criticisms of it!

[@NatalieWeeznet]

PLEASE make the video you were referecing at the end of your Book Lovers review where you take a book you didn't like and give a book you did like that has a similar plot! That sounds like really interesting/fun video that I'd click on immediately

[@bookborrower]

I would love you to do a video of books you didn't like with a book you did that had the same premise. I've said before that you are my go to for romance recs and this type of video is exactly why. I love how honest but not mean you are about books.

[@chelsea2059]

I already knew you didn’t like Book Lovers because I saw it on Goodreads but it still stung/surprised me for a second time (it was such a cozy read) lol 😂

[@laybeescalante8311]

I'm going feral with ur hair it looks so pretty

[@stevie__reads]

I love that I DNFd things we never got over literally yesterday, I was reading reviews too and I was second guessing myself but I was hating it and at 50% I just gave up

[@louvienne531]

My problem with the friend zone was that a lot of the heroines thoughts and feelings about her infertility were based on what josh would think about it and not what she herself thinks and feels and it really irritated me!!

[@courtney9602]

you should called that "books that do the thing better than the popular one" video "dupes" or something like that, like how people talk about makeup dupes, cheaper versions of the more expensive thing. but for books. idk.

[@eleonorarosato3766]

Thank you for "Things we never got over" XD I downloaded it through kindle unlimited because the story seemed so interesting, literally what most of my favorite romance books are about (didn't even know it was popular then) but I don't think I even finished the first chapter. I can see how I might like it one day, but honestly I don't know if I'll ever try again.

[@maddyvogel4525]

i haaaated People We Meet on Vacation and i know that's super popular. but i am realizing i really hate flashback-style books, where we have two timelines. It felt like the entire relationship was built on the past? but then...what about now? idk. also the characters were so annoying. I can rant about that book for hours.

[@readingindawn6091]

I literally felt embarrassed that I didn’t like Things We Never Got Over cause everyone loved ittt

[@PrettyPurplePolkaDots]

The Friend Zone can absolutely burn in a fire and I would not cry.

[@annibtj]

you should definitely do the video recommending books based on the ones you don’t like! would love to see it and also loved hearing your thoughts on these books 💗

[@seraphinetinskey9293]

Yes please do the video idea you mentioned! That sounds like a great watch!

[@Chinwadee]

Am I weird but I really enjoy your dislike books vids on yt and reviews on Goodreads! Or maybe I just love everything about you, especially your tastes in books 😍

[@lyna7038]

People we meet on vacation was such a disappointment I rated it 1 star and I hated it I forced myself to finish it

[@mexrnei8410]

THIS AAAHH

[@songbirdb7382]

Oooo I’d love a video where u talk about books that have similar synopsis’s!!

[@nidhireddyreads]

read over half of these and disliked all do them! feeling SO VALIDATED

[@strawberrysocks2835]

I love these kinds of videos! It's so vindicating to hear someone else pinpoint all the things I hated in these books! The only thing I'd add is that in Well Met, DeLuca squandered the only slightly interesting dynamic: the fake flirting while in character. It could have been so good! And it just wasn't.

[@kaitlinjoy8855]

Well Met is honestly one of my favorites, but more for the setting than the love interest. I definitely didn’t have as strong a reaction to him, but I can totally see where his rudeness verges on outright asshole lol. I will say that if you’re ever willing to give the ren faire romance universe a second chance, the third book, Well Matched, is my favorite! It’s about the sister and the kilt wearing hunk we meet in the first book, and I find their story much more enjoyable to read :)

[@nikkiknack]

I agree, Well Matched is solid, moreso imho than Well Met. You can see how much DeLuca's writing improves over the series

[@AmandaKrutsick]

It always wows me how similar our romance tastes are! I agree with pretty much all of your assessments here, and thank you for saving me from reading 600 pages of Things We Never Got Over. (Also was the book you were referring to as a five-star read in the Book Lovers section The Roughest Draft? Because that book was a 5-star for me as well!!)

[@chandlerainsley]

yes!!!!

[@60sbaby70sgirl]

I didn't listen to your thoughts on Book Lovers because I'm reading it right now and I want to decide for myself how I like it. The Friend Zone - totally agree. I didn't care for it for two reasons, the same as you on the infertility part AND killing off the friend. I have not read the rest of them but do have some on my TBR.

[@chandlerainsley]

i hope you end up liking Book Lovers!!

[@sabrinapage3565]

Hey Chandler! Thanks for making this video! I think it would be worth rereading Well Met because how you described it was not how I experienced it at all. I don't remember Simon going after Emily's character flaws or anything like that. The college situation you referenced, she assumed that he looked down on her for dropping out because of her personal feelings, not because he said anything bad! When they talk about it later on, he clarifies that he felt sad for her because it was clearly something she cared about, not that he thought any less of her. As for him being difficult, his brother who died started the fair and he felt that he had to keep everything the same and took on way too much. He never called her flakey, but he did get annoyed with her for being on her phone during lessons because he thought she wasn't taking fair seriously (he took it too seriously) when in reality she was checking in on her sister and schedule while listening. He also struggled with her trying to change things, which was hurtful from her perspective. His character arch involved him having to let some things go, so I can see how he could be annoying at first, but he never seemed like a bad person. Thanks for saving me the pain of reading Things We Never Got Over. I clicked this video the moment I saw that. So glad I didn't waste my time!

[@wiktoriabadora1243]

100% agree about The Spanish Love Deception! the first 100 pages were so hard to get through because of the reasons you mentioned 😭 and I don't like how Bringing Down the Duke sounds 👀

[@samanthahubachek106]

For your “this sucks, try this” video, One True Loves by TJR has the premise you’re looking for in Lydia Bird. And I’m not a TJR girlie. But I loved that one.

[@chandlerainsley]

that's the one TJR i haven't read! need to give it a go

I was looking for an easy read and was between all rhodes lead here and things we never got over cuz both are on KU and I heard a lot about both. Having finished all rhodes lead here about 20 minutes ago and reading all the comments saying it The good version of things we never got over made me feel like I made the right choice 🤣 I'd LOVE the video with all the good versions of this one ❤️

[@eleonorarosato3766]

Literally the reason why I started Things we never got over was beause it reminded me of All Rhides Lead Here. I gave up pretty quickly though

[@shebahector6713]

Tiktok played me about Things We Never Got Over. I thought it was going to be a sweet small-town romance. At first, I was enjoying it but when Naomi was telling Knox that they need to keep their boundaries around their FWB situation and he did not want to listen. It threw me off. Then, I realize the length of the book and I was so confused on why it would be that long. At some points, it was predictable but I wished he listened to her more. The grumpy x sunshine was not working for me :( I honestly dnf it

[@jackielopez9739]

Things we never got over was weird. The characters were supposed to be older yet they act young. Idk it was missing something. I felt pretty meh about it.

[@danielleholland7608]

100% agree about Book Lovers. By far my most disappointing read of 2022 so far. It still makes me mad to think about it lol, so much so that it made me question whether I actually enjoyed Emily Henry’s previous releases. Especially how she treated her sister, basically infantilizing her- a grown woman, married, with children, yet took it upon herself to find her sister an apartment, etc.. like how is that her responsibility?! It came off as extremely controlling and entirely unhealthy. Overall, it felt like Emily Henry spent little time crafting a good story and just wanted to write & release another title quickly.

[@Silverware-vk1pg]

Wow! I really really appreciate your view on these books. Haven't read any of these personally but I find myself if I read them I would probably agree with you 100%!

[@lihfng]

You're actually the person that inspired me into reading more romance so I actually really enjoy these videos as someone who trusts your opinion! That being said, Book Lovers, The Heart Principle and Bringing Down the Duke are all in my TBR and I'm curious if I'll share your opinions hehe. As for popular romances I don't like, there's a few lol but some I feel quite passionate about as truly hated are The Hating Game, The Kiss Quotiente and The Love Hypothesis 😅

[@aanya2232]

I just DNF'd Things We Never Got Over and immediately came here to hear your thoughts 💕

[@AvivasLibrary]

Completely agree with everything about things we never got over - don’t get why people keep raving about it

[@angelfish2077]

Fantasy Romance that is so so good that *might* work for you is Ruby Dixon’s anchor series . The first one is Bound to the Battle God and I’m pretty sure all 3 are on KU!

[@dejasaur]

Yeah honestly it hurt me how bad The Heart Principle was as a romance after anticipating it so much. I’m still not over it lol

[@IBEtripz]

Same! So disappointed Quan deserved better

[@lizardslibrary]

oh no i just bought book lovers and was so excited for it too!

[@sandeesandwich2180]

I haven't read Book Lovers, but I felt the same way about Beach Read, which it seems like everyone but me adored. I thought the premise was dumb, the heroine had the maturity of a 12 year old and it just went on too long. I thought Well Met and Bringing Down the Duke were okay, but not great. PS: Your cat also seems to be unimpressed with these books.

[@dannigruesome4920]

Interested by you saying you can't get behind a romance based on mistaken identity or dishonesty while Punk 57, which you said at one point is your favourite romance of all time (idk if that's changed or not), features that heavily with Ryen not knowing Misha is Misha for most of the book. This isn't like a gotcha or anything, I'm just curious how you reconcile those two things? Maybe you've mentioned it before and I missed it. But I'd agree that I also hate mistaken identity most of the time and I'm curious your perspective on how it relates to Pen's works.

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I am so stoked for this, this is my favorite video topic!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol

[@mxbones9245]

Fantasy romances are really hard because they either have good plot and terrible romance or good romance and terrible plot (or both bad:/ ) but there is one for me that stands out as fantastic. Bit of an older one but- The Seven Realms books. The first book is called the Demon King. Honestly before you fully give up on YA fantasy/romance I would try this one out. Your husband might even enjoy it as well.

[@BookedandBusy]

Lmao the heart principle was pitiful and it makes me sad til this day

[@isaa1782]

The worst about The Spanish Love Deception is the "I wanna see you milking me"-qoute

[@chandlerainsley]

lina's a dairy princess

[@KimberlysS89]

Haven't read any of these and now I'm glad I didn't lol. You articulate so well why you didn't like the books and the things you highlighted are some of the things that I don't like in books either. That's why I really like videos like these, if dislikes are similar then recommendations are easier to trust. At least that's my logic lol.

[@pandora2658]

I totally agree with you about The Heart Principle. I was so disappointed in that one. I hate the From Blood and Ash series. Why can't we get GOOD fantasy romances instead of silly ones that insult our intelligence and read like a daily soap opera? Or is that just me? Popular romances that I hated: Lingus (no chemistry, the most unlikeable female lead), Fifty Shades of Grey (I DNF'd after 10% because the writing was beyond atrocious), The Deal (boring, I didn't see the chemistry and this is one of the books that made me give up on NA as a whole).

[@funpolice5821]

I hated The Deal sooo much!!! I have realised that the quirky, not-like-other-girls heroine just sets me off and makes reading about them unbearable.

[@moodyfloral6234]

I'm so glad you made this video! Someone said Things We Never Got Over has Gilmore Girls vibes and that made me really want to pick it up - though historically I have not liked most of the Lucy Score books I read. It's been on my Kindle a few times already but I always swapped it out with another KU title... You solidified my opinion that this will probably be not for me. Looking forward to the video of popular romances you loved!!

[@chandlerainsley]

whoever said Gilmore Girls vibes liiiiiiiiiiied. the small town aspect is lovely but i didn't get that lorelai/rory relationship vibe and the side characters weren't all that either lol

[@haileyfussell]

Thank god I hadn’t read any of these lmfao. A book I hated was the love hypothesis, it was so boring and overhyped. I think it maybe would’ve been okay if it hadn’t been so popular but it frustrated me. Both the main characters have zero personality, and the entire premise of playing fake dating so your friend can date your ex is so unrealistically “heroic”. They tried to make a very normal person who experienced normal things seem like a hero because she did that and because she had someone tell her she wasn’t capable….? Idk not my thing lol

[@chelsea2059]

Same!! I do not understand the hype!

[@louiseparas708]

I genuinely agree so much. like- it was mediocre at best, the thing that kinda made it trashy to me was the fact that it was SO hyped up that I already had perspective on it before reading it. Adam’s whole personality is literally being a tall, dark haired, stereotypically attractive broody boy. And I feel like Olive’s character could have literally been replaced with any of Elle Kennedy’s characters and it would’ve been better. Honestly, the only thing I liked about it is the smut damnit-

[@Cozy_cavy]

I read some of Things We Never Got Over bc Kindle recommended it to me….. I dropped it pretty quick lol

[@lu__libros5015]

While I didn't hate Things We Never Got Over, I didn't found it as spectacular as many people did. For a grumpy /sunshine and small town romance I think All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata is muuuuch better

[@chandlerainsley]

yep that would be my rec!!

[@GreenGretel]

I gave _Bringing Down the Duke_ three stars (which is like-didn't-love for me) and dug the writing, but definitely had some issues with it, and your review made me laugh while remembering them. I know the majority of historicals feature very unrealistic aristocratic male leads who are anachronistically either supportive or not opposed to women's rights, so on one level I appreciated the greater realism of delving into what our plebeian heroine would really be up against, but as you said, it did make it feel like she was getting in bed with the enemy, someone who was fundamentally not on her side as a human being, and that's not what I want from a happy-ending romance. Granted, he was never portrayed as a dyed-in-the-wool reactionary (he was mostly helping with the Queen's/conservatives' schemes to get his family's castle back), but he spent SO much of the book perfectly willing to have her lose her friends, her standing in respectable society, etc. just to be his mistress and get his stupid castle back - willing to have her sacrifice so much more than him - that it ultimately made his total conversion at the very end seem a little unconvincing and 'too little too late.'

[@rsloveeeee]

The only ones I've read on this list are Spanish love deception, JLA, and november 9 and I HATED all 3 so I'm glad u did too haha

[@elinam1139]

"Sparks and juices flying" 😭

[@MsHenrei]

Things we never got over?! I won't get over that anytime soon. I really regret reading that book. When I found that the hero was 43, I couldn't believe it. The heroine was 36?! I had to go back to Amazon to read the reviews. Are those folks serious or what? Unlike The Love Hypothesis and Spanish Love Deception both of which I didn't like but could see how folks liked them. I can't believe anyone will like this book. The hero was toxic. Always having grabbing her, acting like a certified douchebag. Gah, just thinking about this makes me angry again. Actually, I'm angry I hate-finished the book instead of adding it to my DNF pile ☺☺

[@Maddiexz]

Yes, I love that video idea! ❤️

[@mell4248]

Have you read A rogue of one's own? It's the second book from Bringing down the Duke series but it focuses on different characters. I found this one better and less problematic (from what I remember, maybe I should re-read it lol) but I'd be interested in your opinion

[@vivienkj]

I DNFd well met about 50% into it, it was just going circles and getting boring. I‘m also tiered of the hole „because of trauma i behave shitty“ thing🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Wanderwilderreading]

You totally clickbaited me here but when I saw Book Lovers in the thumbnail I had to watch! I haven’t read it… You’re the first person who I’ve seen criticize it since it came out. The hype is real on this one

[@laurenalyssa5579]

I am so torn on this video because I DESPISED The Friend Zone and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird, and November 9 was definitely not it, but Book Lovers is one of my favorite romances ever. As an older sister who basically raised my sister, I related hard to Nora (though to be fair neither of us are near 30 yet) and I thought Charlie was super charming

[@chandlerainsley]

i'm glad it worked for you!!

[@christinajohn8415]

On another note, in love with your rings! Where are they frommmm?

[@chandlerainsley]

thanks! variety of places, but i get most of my jewelry from Ferko's Fine Jewelry

[@ipshitajee]

Omg same I hated Book lovers too It lacked the ✨spice ✨ and most importantly tention

[@marys1665]

I actually enjoyed Book Lovers! However, I tend to also enjoy literary fiction, so that could be why. I also really disliked The Spanish Love Deception and November 9… do not get me started on that book. As someone who has burn scars, the twist really infuriated me and had me ranting for weeks. I understand the situation, but the depth of the lie from someone who made her feel beautiful for the first time after her injury… An injury which further damaged her relationship with her father… it just sickened me and felt emotionally manipulative. Plus, it seemed like she thought no one else would ever love her because of her burns… So is she settling for a liar because of that? Ugh.

[@cupofjae]

This was a great video!!! Seriously keep ‘em coming! Also would love to hear your favorite small town romances! One romance/romance series that I will literally never understand the hype is the ACOTAR books. Could not get past how whiny the main character was, how very UN-spicy it was despite everyone’s assurance that it was spicy. But - I never made it past the first book. Maybe it gets better but I’ll never find out 😂

[@gloriaaaaa]

For me, my problem with Nov 9 was Ben. The comments he made left me with my jaw open in horrified shock. He would say things like he wished she had wore something more revealing so she could at least be entertaining to look at. He kept undressing Fallon while she was crying. He said that because he was paying for dinner, HE would get to chose what she wore and he chose the most revealing thing. I was just appalled, I don't remember all Coho's heros being this bad. And to me, the plot twist was quite guessable. If i disliked him at the beginning, I can't imagine him liking after the twist was revealed.

[@mayyys.7092]

Book Lovers was literal click-bait omg. Rivals to lovers? WHERE? Not only did it not read like a romance (it read more like a literary fiction book) but there were too many external plots, BLAND af characters, and too similarities to her previous books which made for a disastrous book.

[@chandlerainsley]

yeah the characters all felt like repeats ngl

[@irine_elle]

For a book about two editors... it needed some.

[@blair94]

The love triangle thing is so true, literally half of Nicholas Sparks’ books are love triangles with the douche bf and perfect new guy… like why

[@eatingskittles247]

My biggest issues with the Spanish love deception is 1) like you said the love interest who just stands by while you’re being discriminated against & 2) there (for me who has struggled w/ disordered eating) was a lot of fat phobic & unhealthy comments made around food that I just couldn’t get behind

[@Katelynwouldratherbereading]

I agree with most of what you said about Book Lovers - definitely disappointing. Luckily I was still able to enjoy the banter and just passively listening to the audiobook 🤷🏻‍♀️ One popular romance that’s also one of your faves that didn’t work for me was It Happened One Summer 😬 I think I just don’t like Tessa Bailey’s writing, and all the cute small town aspects felt super cheesy to me Great video!

[@chandlerainsley]

totally valid!! sometimes cheesiness really does it for me, i think the vapid heroine is just something that tends to work for me lmao

[@pandora2658]

I've tried a few of Tessa Bailey's books and ultimately decided she is not for me. I don't like overly possessive MC's, and I physically cringe with every 'Baby' bandied about.

[@Hmaebush]

Yess for JLA I totally didn't understand how A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire got into print. I didn't read the rest of the series because I just couldn't get past how bad the writing was.

[@nicoleryanbooks]

Honestly I don’t know why I bought Book Lovers. I’ve been putting off reading it because I didn’t totally love Beach Read or People We Meet on Vacation. Goes to show the power of peer pressure 😅

[@paigepoelvoorde1075]

The toxic masculinity in Things we never got over was… like… too much…

[@chandlerainsley]

yeah there was literally no justification for Knox's behavior

[@natarsha2203]

This was my main problem with it. Knox constantly manhandles, belittles & tries to control Naomi... and this is a story about a girl running away from an abusive relationship. Not to mention the random brawls. It felt seriously off to me.

[@knightdragon7640]

Man I was so excited for the heart principle but it put me into a depressive episode with how dark it was. I went in wanting a sweet romance with my favourite hero and got depressing caretaking. It was rough and I wish I had seen reviews before I read it

[@pardonthisbookaddict]

I liked Things We Never Got Over mainly because of the narrators. A narrator can make or break a book. Sebastian York is just good. Another example of this is Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata. I was nervous about the first 13 chapters of being nothing but epistolary, but I found that I liked it a lot more because of Teddy Hamilton and Callie Dalton’s narration. If I had physically read it, I doubt I would have liked it.

[@ellarenee2309]

I absolutely hated the third act “events” in Things We Never Got Over. It felt unnecessary.

[@chandlerainsley]

absolutely

[@maddiesaunders9523]

I love this hate list. As in, I also strongly dislike many of these, thanks for sharing your tastes cause I'm in the same boat, people be whack

[@ninjaturtles12121]

Emily henry's last book the people we meet on vacation (what ppl did they really meet tho lol?! would have been better if it didn't revolve around the 2 blah characters lol) was so dreadfully boring but universally loved and hyped. I just did not understand how two boring insipid characters with a weak plot, no chemistry, stupid conflict was so raved. But I have learned my lesson. Other than Tessa Bailey (who writes excellent chemistry but still a little lacking in other aspects imo) I will not pick traditionally published romance. I love indie romance and that's what I'll stick to. if it has an illustrated cover with two character sketches n a bright background I know to skip it lol.

[@rachelrrr2981]

IT ENDS WITH US 🥲

[@leena1842]

i really hate people we meet on vacation😶

[@FourPawsandaBook]

I loved the heart principle, but I get the argument. You’re not the first person I’ve seen to say they didn’t like Book Lovers which makes me nervous!

[@sierramyers8421]

Things we never got over is probably one of the worst books I’ve read this year. The writing was so juvenile it was like reading something from watt pad and not in a good way. Also all of the representation in it felt forced like the author was trying to squeeze as much in as a possible.

[@abigailb8206]

A fantasy romance that I think is really well done is the forsaken king by Penelope barsetti (it’s a trilogy) and I never see it talked about!

[@toribrookss]

whewwww a dragging today! 🤣 but i def feel you on the fbaa series - the books are too long for no reason. nothing happens. i really liked the first two but the third one was another 600+ pages of repeated bland ass jokes and nothingness til the last 10% and the fmc is so stupid and annoying so i gave up on that series

[@kikoullini1]

Personally, I don’t dislike any tropes/traits as long as they make sense to the actual story/plot. Sure, i prefer some things more than others, but my ultimate goal is to read a good, well-written story. For example I don’t mind cheating, misogyny and or bigoted views if it makes sense to the story. But if they are a cheap, lazy tactic to move the plot forward then i get very annoyed.

[@tayQTpi]

You should try A Ruin of Roses by KF Breene for a smutty fantasy romance.

[@michellestratford9753]

I want to know which book is the 5⭐ version of Book Lovers!! 😂🥰

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I def agree about the friend zone and your infertility points 😩

[@ViolaVines]

I really didn’t care for blood and ash or Acotar though I wanted to. Their voice/style just really is grating to me

[@yachisy3575]

I had super high expectations from book lovers, but I was kinda disappointed. I mean it wasn't bad, but it wasn't also great wahahahaha. It was just mid. If I had low expectations maybe I would have loved the book and would even consider it as a comfort read cos I like how Nora's story was narrated, like how she did everything for her sister because she is the older than her. So I kinda relate with her in terms of being the eldest and always having this feeling of being responsible for my younger siblings.