Bookish Buzzwords | The words and phrases that make me claw for a book immediately

Posted on by Ashleigh

There’s always those words or phrases in a book’s synopsis that just grab you. Those phrases that just guarantee that book is going on your TBR.  You hear/read them, and you’re mind goes GIMMIE GIMMIE GIMMIE.

What are mine? Well…I actually found it quite hard to pinpoint mine. With my reading taste being so varied, I generally just pick up things based on recommendations. But after a great deal of thought – after retracting those all encompassing arms of mine that grab every book possible, and picking out specific words I want to keep – I’ve managed to narrow it down.

So here are my bookish buzzwords!

Fae

This one actually makes me laugh a bit. Because as much as I’m drawn to all things fae, I only seem to own Sarah J Maas books that include fae. I honestly thought I read about them all the time? But…apparently not? I’m pretty sure I just see loads of fae related things on social media – people dressing up and the like.

But fae – I don’t know. It’s like seeing myths being brought to life. We’ve all heard of fairies, though these really aren’t those little cute mischievous things frolicking around in flowers with the bees. No, the immortal, incredibly strong magical wielding warrior type fae are what I like to read about.

Books read with Fae: Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

No romance

Again, this isn’t one that happens often, but that’s not my fault. Romance seems to be everywhere (ew). So as soon as I hear a book doesn’t have romance in it, I’m on it. IT SHALL BE MINE.

Seriously, authors. Romance isn’t everything. Life and drama and strong relationships can still happen without a partner. Just saying.

Books read with no romance: This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab, Who Runs The World by Virginia Bergin,  A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

World War II

I love my history. But specifically, history surrounding World War II. The majority of the historical fiction books I own are relating to WWII. The majority of the nonfiction history books I own are relating to WWII.  I don’t even know why I love reading about it so much, considering it’s all so devastating.  But it’s the period in history I’ve studied most throughout school, and while my memory is atrocious when it comes to remember dates and names of people involved, I know enough to get by. And I just want to hear every story possible.

Books read about WWII: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman, Paper Boats by Erndell Scott, Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Illustrations & different formats

I’m a reaaaallll sucker for this. I see a book with illustrations, or told in different formats, and it’ll likely be on my shelves the next time I’m splashing out on new books. Why? It just breaks everything up a bit. I love the feeling of finishing a book quickly, so when a story is told in letters/notes/doodles/diary entries/anything other than just words across a page, I whizz right through it. I find it so exciting, turning the page and wondering what design will be there next.

Books read with illustrations/different formats: The Next Together by Lauren James, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich, Here I Stand by…a lot of people (collection of short stories)

Uncontrolled magic / whimsical feelings

This one…I didn’t know what the actual phrase for it would be. I was going to say magical realism, but a lot of the books I have that come under this are fantasy, so maybe not.

But basically, any book that is surrounded by a wonderfully whimsical feeling, because magic is involved usually as part of nature/the natural order. People don’t have total control over it, it’s just there. Doing it’s own thing. Making things bizarre and wonderful.  My best example would be The Raven Cycle series with Cabeswater. If you’ve read that series, you might get an idea of what I mean.

Books read with uncontrolled magic/a whimsical feeling: The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

So those are my bookish buzzwords!

Are any of these words/phrases buzzwords for you too?

Are there any other words that are buzzwords for you in books?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!

    

  

30 thoughts on “Bookish Buzzwords | The words and phrases that make me claw for a book immediately”

        1. I always see mermaid books and think they sound interesting but never seem to pick them up! It’s so weird that I don’t, I literally haven’t read any :/

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  2. My buzzwords are;
    “…by J. K. Rowling” 😉
    “impossible heist”
    and anything that has “the fate of the world rests on…” as it is bound to an epic story!

    I’m with you on WW2, and to be honest any conflict too. I like espionage thrillers, and there are quite a few set with a Cold War backdrop so I would add that too.

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          1. 😂 me too! Although it will be too small as she is writing more Fantastic Beasts screenplays. I need to look for another that will be big enough! 👀

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          2. Oh god I don’t know what I’m going to do when all of the illustrated editions are out, they’ll need a shelf to themselves with how huge they’ll be!

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          3. Gosh they are big! Plus the anniversary books being released this year in all the house colours! That might be an expense I can’t justify though 🙈

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  3. I usually gravitate towards anything involving the Civil War (US), writing, hiking, or outer space (such a random list!!). Buzzwords are actually really interesting to think about… it’s hard for me to think of mine on the spot, even though I know I definitely have them. Great post! 🙂

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  5. heheh sometimes, for me, if a book says no romance, I walk away xD hahahah I LOVE MY ROMANCE OK? Also, anything magical, yes, basically. Another for me is “post-apocalyptic” “survival” “wasteland” aka – anything that will have sort of a Mad Max vibe, I’m ALL for

    Molly @ Molly’s Book Nook

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    1. I just like no romance because it’s different! It’s not *that* common for everyone to be in relationships, I don’t get why it’s in every book 😆 If a romance is mixed with fantasy though, I usually love it! And I don’t know why, but I’ve never really been interested in apocalyptic type books.

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      1. hehe I know, I just love when there’s a bit of romance. I’m fine with out it, but sometimes I’m just REALLY in the mood for one – that’s where contemporary usually comes in lol. And yeah, I find that not a lot of people do lately? But I’m a sucker for ANYTHING with that theme – shows, movies, art, what have you haha

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  6. This is interesting. I never would have thought of buzzwords that instantly make me want to read a book. I think for me another one not listed is “mystery” some type of story that involves a mystery being solved or uncovering the truth to a mysterious person/place. I also agree about magic, and sirens and mermaids that someone mentioned

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  7. NO ROMANCE YES! We need more of those. I should just hurry up and publish a ruddy book. No one would probably read it but at least I can be able to say there’s no romance.

    You know bookish trends like the dystopian genre (shivers)? I hope no romance will be one of those trends. It would shake up the bookish community.

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    1. Gosh can you imagine how great that’d be? To actually have a wide variety of book to choose from that don’t have romance? To be able to choose whether you fancied reading about a romance or not? That would be nice 😆

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  9. Love your buzzwords! WWII and no romance are definitely buzzwords for me as well. The older I get, the less I like romance in my books… maybe I’m just getting more cynical as I age lol Some of my other buzzwords/phrases are “based on the true story,” “fans of Neil Gaiman,” and anything that I would consider a “bookworm’s delight” like “bookstore” or “library”

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