Today I took a chance on a book that ended up being a total teenage wet dream. Nothing against books for young adults and adolescence, but there are major patterns in a lot of these books that rub me the wrong way. There's the 'ugly/average girl turns hot and is now the envy of all' trope, which I guess is supposed to make us feel like there is hope for us peasants? If it happened to them it could happen to me, right?
And there is always the love interest that couldnt see her before but now that she is pretty he's discovered that she's the love of his life. The real prince charming.
The 'bad boy who's only good for me' trope. Can we just collectively agree that you can't have your cake and eat it too?
Can't forget about the almighty Love Triangle.
The list goes on. Some really aren't so bad and in all fairness I understand why there are those who enjoy it. But I just feel like (for me) the girl doesn't always have to be transformed into this beautiful swan to be the main character. Friends can just be friends, no hidden secret love required. And that "bad boy" needs to get the hell out, my new standards are needs to be emotionally stable and baby you ain't it.
All in all, the book had potential. Apart from the obvious dramas and super lame "plot twists" you could spot miles away, it was a book I didn't want to hate. Until we turned into a desperate housewives episode.
Someone please write some good book recommendations in the comments before I die.
I recommend Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace! It's fantasy with a lot of ghosts, YA but it avoids the tropes you hate. The female lead and the male lead (a ghost) are comrades-in-arms but there is zero romance between them. No beautiful swans or makeovers in sight. It's gritty and brutal but ultimately uplifting.
@Achaius Thanks a bunch! Definitely looking this up. I'm a sucker for the grit. <3
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