Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Things That Make Me Instantly Want to Read a Book. But I really don’t have any absolutes to share — there’s no secret formula that always works for me! So, instead, I’ll share a list of things that — most of the time — draw me in and make me at least consider reading a book.
- If it’s by a favorite author. This doesn’t work 100% of the time (sometimes I just won’t be interested in the topic of a new book)… but I’d say 90-95% for sure!
- If a favorite author blurbs it or mentions it in an interview or online post. Again, not always — but usually if I see that a go-to author is raving about a particular book, I’ll at least check it out.
- Cutesy bright cover. (For example, check out any of Emily Henry’s books!) I love books that look like they’ll be FUN… and if the cutesy bright cover also has books on it, even better!
- Books about books. Depending on the plot, of course, but I’ve yet to hate a book set in a bookstore or library.
- Colorful but creepy cover. Maybe dark background with overly lush flowers, for example? Something eye-catching but not necessarily comforting.
- Next in a series. This one’s practically a given. If I love a series, then OF COURSE I’m going to read whatever book comes next.
- Recommendations from people with excellent book taste. Whether real life friends or bloggers whose tastes seem to align with mine, these are the folks whose recommendations carry the most weight with me.
- Certain settings, especially places I love or dream of going. I’m thinking Alaska, Montana, Scotland… I could go on and on.
- A retelling of a favorite story. Not always, and the new version has to sound like it’s got a good twist… but I’m often down for a fairy tale retelling, or a twist on an Austen novel, or even a new version of a childhood favorite.
- A tie-in with a movie or TV series I’m interested in. This one can also drive me away (I hate movie tie-in covers), but if I see something popping up on Netflix that looks good and it turns out it’s an adaptation, there’s a decent chance I’ll read the book first before watching!
What makes you want to instantly grab a book?
If you wrote a TTT post, please share your link!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I like a creepy cover sometimes, but it can’t be too creepy.
I agree, I don’t want gore or outright yuckiness, but a little hint of something unnerving works for me!
Creepy covers draw me in, too!
For me, especially if they’re both creepy and pretty!
I love these reasons! Well, except for creepy covers!
Haha, well, tastes definitely vary! 🙂
Books about books is a big one for me. I just can’t resist a cover featuring bookshelves/stacks or anything set in a bookstore or library. The publishers finally seem to be catching on to the fact that so many readers love bookish books because there seem to be tons of them out there these days. Yay!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Definitely — cute covers that include people reading or even just holding books always draw me in!
Books about books! Yes! Totally agree!
So much fun! And it always makes me happy when book characters talk about which books they love.
I, too, included movies and books and a tie in. I guess the same goes for TV shows as well. The whole reason I started the Sookie Stackhouse series was because of True Blood.
Same re Sookie, mostly — I’d read the first book a few years before True Blood aired, but wasn’t hooked, but once the show started, I ended up reading the entire series. 🙂
Bookish books are one of my favorites. While I may not love them all, I am willing to give them all a try.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/recent-additions-to-my-physical-tbr-may-2023/
I agree! Not all are great, but when I see one, I at least want to find out what it’s about.
I agree with most of these, but especially with #s 4, 6, and 9! 😀
Can’t resist a good retelling!!
Favorite author is probably my number one reason, but I’m also drawn in by hype, which can be very dangerous, lol.
Oh yes, same here — sometimes it’s hard to resist the hype. And then there’s the added pressure of trying to understand why everyone loves a book, especially when a super hyped book turns out not to work for me.
I never can resist a retelling. Especially if it’s from a favorite author. Books and movie/TV show tie ins usually draw me in. I hate the alternate covers though, too.
Ugh, yes, it makes me cringe to pick up a movie cover, even if it’s for a great book!
Favourite author is definitely a big one for me, though like you said, that doesn’t mean I always want to read 100% of what a favourite author has written (for instance I’ve never read Rick Riordan’s Egyptian mythology series because that mythology is one that’s never particularly interested me for some reason). I almost always love books about books, I can’t remember the last one I didn’t enjoy, they’re like catnip to me. Next book in a favourite series is also obviously a given. I tend to be the one giving recommendations more than getting them but I do have a couple of close friends whose recommendations I will always take.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/05/23/top-ten-tuesday-421-the-literary-dinner-party-2022-tag/
Nice to hear we have so much in common!
Definitely!