I am so confused and concerned by the current state of our literary world. The books that are being pushed out and published. Like, are you for real? You want me to read another cookie-cutter fantasy, half-developed, heavily romantic, probably with a smut scene not even done correctly, targeted for adults? Is this really happening?
I do not understand when it became acceptable to push books that are horrible. Like, did anybody in the publishing company read the book? What is the purpose of that book? Did anybody edit it? Did anybody think, hey, maybe that cover is not appropriate? Hey, maybe we should actually have a plot to this novel? This is not a who-can-write-the-smuttiest-novel contest.
The book covers are giving me ICKS. Like, ma’am, why is there a half-naked man on the cover? I do not even want to buy the book solely based on the cover now (I know, I know, we are not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but ma’am, the uncle across the train is going to judge me, and I like not to be stared at in public).
Lately, we are in this era of “let’s see how many books one author can push out before their fandom dies out.” It’s insanity. An author should take their time writing these novels and not be pressured by unrealistic deadlines that cause them to write a book that doesn’t even make sense anymore. Hello, Fourth Wing saga… the first book was amazing, and by the third, I am wondering if I am even reading the same series, let alone from the same author. You can read my full thoughts on that lovely series here.
BookTok does not help. Are you reading to say you read, or are you actually grasping what is being conveyed in these novels? I do not book shame—read what you want, wherever, whenever. However, I do think it’s a concern when the majority of the books pushed on social media are romance, include smut, and have no plotline. What does that say about our current mental and emotional status as a society?
BookTok, social media, the rise of reading, it’s not a bad thing. In fact, I love that more people are turning to books and reading for pleasure again. It’s one of my favorite hobbies for as long as I can remember. As a child, I loved to read. I would rather stay inside and read a book than go outside and play during recess. I read on planes, during commutes, and anytime I’m sitting in the lobby of a doctor’s office. It’s the most comforting thing in the world to get lost in another world, and I am glad people are discovering the same joy.
YET I find myself getting so discouraged, book after book, that I am furiously typing this post because surely I am not the only one who is feeling this way.
It’s not a secret around here that I am very picky about the books that get a 5/5 rating. These are usually books that are well thought out, actually have a plot, character development, world development, get you in your feels, and give you a reading hangover for the rest of your life.
There are some months where I am literally reading the book, thinking—This is a joke, right? How is this so highly rated?? Why do people even love these books? Like, this is no Kite Runner or The Nightingale out here. Heck, it’s not even a politically charged novel like Animal Farm. I swear, every time I see a recommendation or BookTok favorite, I run the other way.
Books that shape critical thinking aren’t 200-page fluff pieces. They’re layered, complex, and sometimes difficult. And that’s the point. Yet we’re in an era where critical thinking is already under threat—AI shortcuts, endless online noise, and now, book bans in libraries and schools. The last thing we need is another shallow, forgettable novel marketed as the next big thing.
You want my money—then work for it, make me fall in love with the book, make me recommend that book to everyone, make me think.