Rose Quartz Reads

I'm super picky when it comes to choosing books to read or even adding them on my TBR. 'This blurb sounds good' isn't really enough for me - it's more of a starting point. From there I have a mental checklist of a bunch of other things that will make me want to read the book even more. If it checks off at least 2 or 3 of these things, I will then add it to my TBR. I know it sounds crazy to be so fussy, but I can't deal with long lists or the fear that a book will disappoint me!

1. KICK ASS BLURB. preferably with a unique and exciting concept that doesn't sound like 1000 other books I have read before.

2.  STUNNING COVER. I'm talking illustrations, typography, the works. I am petty when it comes to books and appearance is everything. If I don't like a cover? I'm getting that book from the library.

3. DIVERSITY! Particularly intersectional and #ownvoices. Not only is it super important for people to see themselves in fiction, but I feel like it shows the author thought beyond having an interesting sounding story and is giving it more levels rather than sticking in the typical stock hero (which tends to get bland).

4. FANTASY. The genre is my weakness. If I see a fantasy book with a synopsis that doesn't sound recycled + cover love + intersectional diversity, you can guarantee I'll be reading it.

5. AN EXPERIENCE I'VE SHARED/CAN RELATE TO. Kind of related to point 4, but these books always feel so much more real to me. It doesn't even have to be in a diversity sense - I just want to connect with the characters and their lives (like Fangirl).

6. AN AWESOME DREAMY/THINGS-AREN'T-WHAT-THEY-SEEM VIBE. My true weakness. Also pretty much a summary of The Raven Cycle. 

7. WRITTEN BY V.E./VICTORIA SCHWAB. I haven't read The Archived or The Near Witch yet but I literally have s Schwab weakness. Even if the synopsis doesn't appeal to me, you can bet I'm going to be reading it.

8. VILLAINS. YA doesn't have enough solid villains. I want to be fascinated by them! It's why Vicious worked so well with me

9. STRONG SQUAD DYNAMIC. Six of Crows and The Raven Cycle are prefect examples of this. I'm total trash for a group of characters who somehow become a weird but cool family.

10. A KILLER OPENING SENTENCE. Although I'm not sure anything can top the way The Knife of Never Letting Go opens.