Every Tuesday I will do a Top Ten Tuesday post, selecting ten examples of whatever bookish (or non-bookish) topic out there.

For this week's Top Ten, I'm linking with Broke and Bookish to do my first Top Ten Tuesday meme. This week's meme is "Top Ten Things That Will Instantly Make Me Not Read a Book." 

Let's begin.

Top Ten Book Turn-Offs

1. Insta-love. Meet Sue. Meet Bob. Strangers in the first chapter, they find they cannot live without each other by second chapter. Does anyone know people like them in real life? No. I thought so. However, authors and publishers believe these cliche needs to continue, especially in young adult fiction. Give the trope a rest. Trust me.

No.

2. Books over 400 pages. Time's precious. Between raising two boys, sharing moments with my husband, working, and breathing, I prefer to use my time wisely. When I read, I don't want to feel as if I'm trogging along. I want a good plot, great characters, and special dialogue within 400 pages. No more, but maybe less.

3. Overused pop cultural references/slang I get it. You want to appear hip. You want readers to know you're connected, but guess what? Sometimes, you try too hard. You become that person. You know, the writer that researchs pop culture online and shoves every bit in. But, here's the thing. Those references must match the people and setting. Imagine reading a piece and being pulled out of the story when a suburban mother uses a term straight out of Oakland, CA. Nope. Uh-uh. Check your sources. 

4. Love triangles Meet Bob. Meet Sue. Meet Dave. She likes them both, and for three hundred pages and so, we'll read about them both CONSTANTLY, which may cost the book a proper plot, dialogue, and characterization. If we're really lucky, we'll get the same triangle throughout the series (See Twilight). I've never seen one in real life because that's not the drama for which I yearn.

Sure. Just keep them out of the books I read.

5.Societal isms (e.g. racism, sexism) played for drama without any lesson or resolution attached. Real life is hard, and in my body, it gets harder by isms, particularly racism and sexism. So, if you're going to use them, make sure you illustrate a point to be made as these topics are serious business and they often bring pain to your reader, particularly if they're not used responsibility (For example, the racist/sexist isn't knocked down a peg or two).

My lemonade cup is full, people.