April 2: Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book
What makes you pick up a book, or look a bit closer? Do we have any in common?
A really beautiful cover.
No matter what they say, covers are important. I can’t possibly read every blurb in a shop, but I can select a few based on the covers. Plus, a lot of work goes into book covers, and the artists are really talented. I don’t see anything wrong with admiring them.
Queer stories…
Especially #ownvoices. And especially books about more than coming out or queer tragedy. I’m not saying those can’t be great books, but I’ve reached a point where I prefer seeing something different: queer characters fighting dragons or off on an adventure, stories where being queer isn’t the entire character.
… especially queer women.
There just still aren’t enough.
Sprayed edges.
I just think this is such a cool novelty, and it makes the book really stand-out in a pile. I like seeing which colour they choose.
Retellings.
I love retellings. I know it’s not a real genre, but it’s my favourite genre. Fantasy, science-fiction, contemporary… whatever! I might not read them all, but I’ll definitely take a look.
Slytherin girls.
I love when authors let their female characters be ambitious, practical and occasionally ruthless. Male characters get a lot more leeway here, so I’m always looking for cunning, creative women.
A clever or punny title.
Witches.
High Fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, fabulism… I don’t know why, but there’s something about witches and sorceresses that always appeals to me.
Vaguely Gothic historicals.
Foxes and Fairy Tales 
Oh a beautiful cover gets me EVERY time. And I like a clever title as well.
Also witches.
Queens of Geek was awesome!
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I loooove sprayed edges! I wish more publishers designed books with them.
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Me too! 😊
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Great list! I 100% agree about witches, and yes to sprayed edges! I’m weak for a sprayed edge. I love Gothic historical novels and stories about queer women and Slytherin girls… basically I agree with your list entirely!
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😊
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Oh I like your list too!! Witches and Slytherins and History oh My! This is a list that could work for me too.
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I love this list! Witches and Slytherin girls 💚
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Ooh yes, I love pretty covers and sprayed edges! Also love queer stories and slytherin girls. Retellings can be kind of hit or miss for me, there are some I have loved, but some have been very lukewarm, it really depends.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2019/04/02/top-ten-tuesday-205/
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I can’t say that I’ve seen many books with sprayed edges, but they do look cool.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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Witches, Gothic and sprayed edges. Yes to all of them.
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I’m always looking for queer stories too, especially ones that aren’t tragic or are set in fictional worlds.
And I agree – I’m always looking for morally gray women because male characters always get the chance to be far more morally gray without getting half the hate.
Great list!
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Yep! I have nothing against sad queer stories — there are some great ones — but I’m not a huge fan of tragic melodrama anyway, so I’m glad we’re finally getting more representation in other styles too.
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I love queer stories, too, and I mentioned them in my list this week as well.
My post.
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Slytherin girls is such a good one!
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Slytherin girls is such a good one! And yes, give me all the books featuring queer women.
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YESSS! Okay, so, first of all THE COVER FOR UPROOTED KILLS ME EVERYTIME. I feel like swooning and then fainting and then looking at it again just to repeat the process. It’s so stunning. I’m weak. Also, I like that you have Still Star-Crossed on here because I picked up a copy last year at a library sale and I keep meaning to get to it, but haven’t, and I feel like that is an absolute nudge in the right direction for me. So, cheers, for that one.
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I love the Uprooted cover! And the Spinning Silver one that matches it 😍
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Yes to literally all of these! Especially witches, Slytherin girls, queer girls, and sprayed edges. 😂 What a great list!
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Thanks! ❤
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Queer women for sure. There always seems to be tons of queer male stories but it’s still really lacking in the female/female relationships in comparison. I’m happy to say it does seem to get better and better each year though.
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There’s been some pretty high-profile ones this year too which is nice! They still seem to have to work twice as hard though. Hopefully it’ll just keep getting better and better! 😊
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As much as I hate to admit it, a good cover goes a long way with me! I also love books about groups of misfits/found family stories banding together to do something, whether that’s flying around the galaxy or defeating a big bad.
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Yup! I never thought of that, but a compelling Big Bad type villain is a great draw too. 😊
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I am shallow, and a good cover will definitely draw me closer. My daughter got me turned on the witch books, but specifically, modern day witches.
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There’s been quite a lot of modern YA witches recently I think? Which is wonderfu! 😊
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The cover for The Night Tiger is really pretty. If a book is a retelling of a story that I really like, I’ll probably like it.
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Retellings made my list too. Can’t get enough of them!
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There’s something universal about a lot of retellings I think. 😊
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You knowI’ve never seen a cover with sprayed edges, and seeing that pic — gosh i need more of those in my life! How lovely that is!
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They’re getting more common I think? Its still largely a YA thing I think, but I’ve seen a few pop up in the MG and adult sections of my bookshop. It’s such a nice little extra. 😊
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Yessss, totally agree with queer stories and queer women! If a book has an F/F romance, I’m much more likely to pick it up, because sapphic romances are still underrepresented compared to gay romances, and I really want to read more of them. Covers also influence my decision to pick up a book because if they’re eye-catching, I’m more likely to notice them 🙂 Great post!
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Yup me too! I’m more likely to take a risk on a genre I’m not sure about if it has an FF romance in it at the moment cause I want to support them.
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It would appear we are all lovers of beautiful covers 🙂 Wish all books had sprayed edges too. Great list, by the way. 2 thumbs way up for retellings, Slytherin girls and Gothic historicals. And thanks for including pretty book covers – more for me to check out 🙂
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No problem at all! Yes, I think we all get lured in my a nice cover XD
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Covers, own voices and titles do the trick for me! I also love to read books about mentall illness or other health issues, I feel they have so much to offer ♥ Great post, you made me want to do something similar! 😀
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That’s awesome, I’d love to see yours!
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