Can we please humor eachother for a moment and name some reasons we DNF'd books that are weird or funny? I found one of my old phones, and looking at the pictures on it I saw I photographed a bunch of book pages at some point. And then I remembered... my first DNF 😭

The outfits, man. THE OUTFITS. Do you remember when you would read X Reader fanfiction on Wattpad and the author would so kindly put a picture of the outfit in there, but it was the early 2010s and we were teens so it was the worst thing you ever saw when you think back on it? I kid you not when I say that the further I looked, the more i expected the pages to show a picture of sneakers and galaxy leggings with layers of the same top in different colors and an owl necklace for some reason. ✋️😩 So yes. I DNF'd that book for the outfits alone.

And now, my favourite two outfits I had the pleasure of reading about. Ahem;

She had her hair in a bun, and because she wanted to look nice for a date she put on red lipstick, a pair of rose shaped red earrings, a jean jacket over a red casual dress printed with palm leaves and red sandals paired with a blue purse to compliment the jean jacket.

Her showstopping outfit to a skatepark, which had the love interest whispering 'wow' and the rival staring in envy was made up of a purple beanie, a white T-shirt with black sleeves, black leggings with moons that ran down the sides and purple sneakers with black laces.

I haven't read a romantasy book in ages and was thinking to give it a try in the new year! Any recommendations to share, i already have ACOTAR and Fourth Wing in the list. (Have heard mixed reviews for both but am still willing to give it a try)

Also, are all romantasy book series more than 2 instalments long? I dont think I can tune in to anything longer 2 books long (unless it's really good!).

Thanks for your suggestions!

Hey everyone, not long ago I recommended Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil to a friend, who really liked it and would like more like this. I suggested a few she didn't like like Gideon the Ninth, and she needs the topic of pregnancy to be avoided at all cost. Also, because she doesn't read in English, I can't recommend books that came out this year as they mostly haven't been translated yet. Do you have any suggestions for books similar to BOBMS?

I was taking a look at this romance centered fantasy book that I partially read today, and the main character casually mentioned listening to Shrek’s All Star by Smash Mouth in the middle of doing CPR on her dead friend. And it was like, three paragraphs in. Like yeah I get that there are songs that move in the right time for CPR compressions, but I think we could’ve left Shrek out of this no?

I’ve noticed this with a good majority of present day romance centered fantasy books I’ve read. Like another one had some amazing writing, but every other sentence it mentioned some random modern day buzzkill for no reason. Like Pokemon Go and Mario Party and how the High King likes Timbits. I get that it’s supposed to be set in the modern day in a fantastical equivalent to our world, but like it just sucks all of the tension and fun out of it for me I guess.

Maybe it’s just a specific gripe of mine, but has anyone else noticed any patterns romance-fantasy books like this? And do you personally have problems with it? Are regular romance books usually this corny too?

Hey everyone I’m trying to figure out two books to get my mom for Christmas but I’m struggling to find smth she’d like so please let me know if you have any ideas for books that fall under that criteria!!

• she really likes those cheesy Hallmark movies so maybe smth like that?
• fictional books based on South Asian mythology bonus points if there’s a feminist perspective (think Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel)
• honestly anything that’s very wholesome and has a happy ending
• NO SMUT AT ALL PLS LOL

Thanks everyone!

I don't know why, and I am deeply embarrassed to admit this, but I have a very difficult time reading classic novels. Not all! One of my favorite books is Anne of Green Gables followed closely by Little Women. I also loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and randomly, Stoner.

When I try to read classics like Emma or Pride and Prejudice, my eyes absolutely glaze over. I don't know if it's the language or the antiquated phrasing/word usage that makes reading feel like I'm barely understanding, or maybe I'm too dim for the writing. I could never get into books like A Tale of Two Cities or The Jungle. I read Frankenstein, but that was in high school, and I really banked on my reading group being able to interpret things I didn't get. I never outgrew that problem.

Reading The Great Gatsby just a couple years ago, I know I missed things because reading old discussions, I realized there were things I flat out missed. I tried to read Jane Eyre and legitimately wondered what was wrong with my reading comprehension. Why don't I understand these?

I think I just want to know I'm not alone. I read a lot, I think I read a variety of books across a variety of genres, but I just can't get into things written pre-1960s or so (with a handful of exceptions). I don't know a single reader who doesn't love reading classics, and I avoid them because I'm embarrassed to DNF them when no one else I know has 😅

I know 'different strokes for different folks' applies, but I don't want it to! I feel like I'm probably missing out on some great literature.