Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Bionic Book Worm. Click here for the October topics.
Last week I shared my favorite tropes. This week are my most hated (or least favorite). I’ve had this post ready since Sunday, but I saved it as a draft instead of publishing it. Sorry.
Tropes that have to go!
- Love triangles. Gross. Gag. I just read a book centering around a woman who had not 2 but 3 men who wanted to marry her. And get this- they were all friends. Please. Not only is it unrealistic but it’s annoying. She could not make up her mind and the men just happily waited to be chosen. Yuk.
2. Love that bad boy who treats me bad. Get over it. This is not only a cliche it’s also just bad… Why push the notion that women only like men who mistreat them? That’s crazy. I admit the bad boy (Rebel without a cause) can be sexy. But that is it. A quick word about Twilight– this book takes the bad boy relationship to the next level. This one truly just wants to kill you by draining you of your blood. Which leads me to #3…
3. Weak female characters who have to be rescued. Again- Twilight. Really Bella. Trouble follows. Life threatened. Needs a man to rescue her. Weak. Weak. Weak. Okay, no more picking on Twilight.
4. The Girl gets the guy. Maybe it’s my age but I no longer like my endings tied in a neat bow. Why does the book only end after the main character and her love interest finally become a couple? Life isn’t like that. It’s messy. Sometimes things go unresolved. I’m okay with that.
5. The Stupid Police Department. I read a lot of mysteries. In some, the local police department is portrayed as Gomer Pyle. Really? Their incompetence leads to a nosy neighbor solving the crime. Or the cop is angry and can’t listen to the little people around them. Enough.
Some of these books listed were good reads. One I even loved (Geekerella) but the trope is worn out and needs to go.
What’s one of your least favorite tropes?
-CK
2. The ensemble cast. Some plots require a huge cast of characters. Some get more page time than others, but the reader has plenty to love. Granted, some fantasy books have a few too many characters but I like variety. Can you imagine Frodo’s journey without Merry, Pippen, and the gang?
‘Tis the Witching Time by Monica Knightly, book 4 in the Stratford Upon Avondale Mystery Series. Shakespearean village, a tea room, and a Samhain Harvest Festival. What more do you need?
Black Cat Crossing by Kay Finch, book 1 in A Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. A murder, a writer, and a jinx of a black cat named Hitchcock.
Hallowe’en Party by Agatha Christie, book 39 in the Hercule Poirot series. Poirot and children!
Monster in Miniature by Margaret Grace, Book 5 in the Minature Mystery Series. Haunted dollhouse!
Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters, book 1 in the Amelia Peabody series. Egypt, mummies, and murder.
I’m also making plans for my old age by taking notes 🙂
Luna (Lunella Lafayette)– The Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur comic series by Amy Reeder. She’s a child super genius with a dinosaur for a best friend. A real dinosaur. Who wouldn’t want to be her friend?
4. 
“You ready to see how the next big change in your life is going to look like?”
