Top Ten Tuesday – 10 Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book. This was a pretty easy topic for me because I definitely have some “go-to” qualities that I always seem to gravitate towards when I’m looking for new books. This of course is not an exhaustive list because let’s face it, as a book nerd, just about anything will at least make me pick up a book and give it a second look, lol.
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10 Things That Will Make Me Pick Up a Book
1. Kick Ass Heroine
I’m all about girl power, so it’s pretty much a guarantee that I’ll be interested in a book if it features a pretty epic heroine.
2. Location, Location, Location
If a book is set in a city I love or in some place I’ve always wanted to visit, it’s going to automatically pique my interest.
3. WWII
I love pretty much all historical fiction, but the books that are almost always guaranteed
to grab my attention are those that are set during WWII.
4. Dual Timeline
I’m such a sucker for a book that features a dual timeline.
5. Retellings
If it’s a retelling, it’s going on my TBR, especially if it’s a retelling of one of my favorites like Beauty and the Beast.
6. A Focus on Family and Friendships
I’m all for a heartwarming read about the importance of family and/or friendship.
7. Time Travel
I don’t know what it is about time travel that appeals to me so much, but it’s guaranteed to make me pick up a book.
8. Pretty Covers.
I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover right? But sometimes I totally do and if a cover is pretty, I automatically want to know more about the book.
9. Books or Book Lovers are featured
If your book features book or book lovers, it’s basically written for me so of course I’m going to pick it up. 🙂
10. Relatable and Realistic Romance
If you want to entice me to pick up a book that features a romance, make it something relatable and realistic like a first love,
a second chance romance, or even something like enemies to lovers.
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What kinds of things are guaranteed to make you pick up a book?
You know exactly what attracts you to books.
I do! 🙂
Great list! I do quite like a novel with a dual timeline – especially if the author can make me interested in both timelines, as I usually end up enjoying one more than the other. Sebastian Faulks did it really well in Birdsong.
Yes, exactly. I’ve been lucky enough to find quite a few where the author does a great job with the dual timeline so it keeps me coming back for more.
Your list reminds me of all the ones I forgot!!! We do share some of the same ones though!
I believe it since we often have similar taste in books. 🙂
I pretty much agree with all of these!! Time travel, definitely, and if a book takes place in Paris or London, I’m all for it! Great list!
Thanks! I saw Paris made your list and it had me nodding my head and drooling over the covers you picked, lol.
I love location, time travel and WWWII. Great reasons to pick up a book.
I think so too.:)
Love your choices, Suzanne! So many of these are true for me too! Especially the covers and WWII!
I noticed you enjoy WWII. I think all of my recent TBR additions on that subject have come from your blog. 🙂
Great list! A lot of these I can relate to: family/friendships, covers and dual time lines, in particular! And honestly, realistic romance is hard to find😁
I agree about realistic romance. Usually I pick up one that sounds like it might be realistic and then end up disappointed. The second chance romances seem to work best for me in the realistic department.
I love books with kickass heroines, that are about books or book lovers and have pretty covers as well. I do love historical fiction, but I’m feeling a bit bored by WWII narratives at the moment, whilst I have loved the ones I’ve read, I would like it if authors travelled outside the bounds of WWI and II sometimes!
I’m not feeling bored by WWII, but I do enjoy historical fiction that focuses on other eras as well.
If a book is marketed as a retelling, I don’t need to know anything else to pick it up. Just give me all the retellings!!!
Happy readings! 😉
Right?!
I couldn’t agree with you more about family and friendship. Platonic relationship were on my list this week, too.
My post.
I love a good platonic relationship!
Book lovers is a good one. That is just all kinds of relatable to us haha.
Haha, right!
I love time travel too!
Glad I’m not the only one. I find it so exciting!
WW II is definitely a draw for me. I don’t read *any* historical fiction but WW II-era is a time period I’m drawn to. I almost always enjoy dual timelines. And yeah, I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. 🙂
That era just fascinates me too.
Yes with all that you’ve said!!!!
Yay! 🙂
Do you sense that? Me? Cheering you on?! Haha, but YES. AT. ALL. OF. THESE. THINGS. Especially kick ass heroines. AND FAMILY ELEMENTS. And retellings. AND PRETTY COVERS. Did I mention I agree with ALL OF THESE???????? I swear I was planning a coherent comment when I first started but here we are.
Haha! Glad I’m not the only one drawn to all of these. 🙂
Ahhh I can’t stand Time Travel and I am not a huge fan of Dual timelines, though there are a few exceptions (The Night Circus!) Haha but I am all for Cover love, retellings, and kick ass heroines!! Great list!
LOVE The Night Circus!
I love a good kick ass heroine, and dual timelines are something I’ve really come to enjoy. Time travel always seems to get me too…
Right? I just find time travel so exciting.
Though it didn’t make my list, I love a good family focus too. I always mention that as a pro in my reviews, and I love seeing more and more positive family relationships in YA
Same here!
! through 4 are a definite yes for me every dang time and the others will always factor in but those first few are one-clickers. Oh and the cover because sadly I am a cover whore. If I don’t like it, forget it.
Haha, I’m a cover whore too!
Yes to all of these, especially dual timelines. I love those. And WWII fiction, I think because I know a lot are really well done and told.
Right. I’ve read so many beautifully written WWII stories.
Excellent post, Suzanne! Love your diversity in genres and tropes. Just warms my eclectic heart💜
Thanks!
I realize I haven’t read many books with time travel 😮 I do love reading retellings, especially if they’re non-western.
I love non-western retellings as well!
YES for the kick ass heroine! I love me some girl power. Side note – have you read Slayer yet?? I want to read it soon but also… Scared.
Oh, and retellings! I’m a bit of a sucker for those too. And I adore great friendships. And if you don’t get distracted by a pretty cover you aren’t human in my books. 🙂 Ha ha
I am drawn to books that have been recommended by friends and books that are by my known favourite authors a lot too. Those two definitely make me pick up a book.
Oh yes, friend and blogger recs are always big draws for me too. 🙂
Those are most definitely my top three as well Suzanne! I love books, especially books with romance that take place around WWII or the French Revolution and have a love for books set in Paris or London. Besides Australia of course. Strong, kick ass women are my weakness. One of my recent favourites has been Priory of the Orange Tree which was magnificent. Give me all the fictional women breaking that glass ceiling!
I still need to pick up a copy of Priory of the Orange Tree. I’ve seen so many stellar reviews for it!
I love family and friends stories, and I have been known to pick up a book or two based solely on the cover. Ha ha. Thanks for sharing your list. 👍✨
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s a sucker for a pretty cover, lol.