Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing

Prompts: Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

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Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days?

I’ve been wondering about this for awhile now because I’m on booktok and tried out some of the books that are hyped on there. I think more people reading is a good thing. But I’m not gonna lie, before booktok and bookstagram – I sometimes would scour Kindle Unlimited for tropey books (academies, dark romance, romantasy before it was called romantasy) because I NEED those type of books when I want my brain to not over think on detailed world-building. I just needed to vibe, and read smut and just have fun. So I think there is a place for those books and honestly I was happy for indie authors doing these genres getting more publishing deals with big publishers.

I don’t think it has impacted the quality of books because I can still find quality books! But I think it has taken out the surprise of what happens in a book. If it’s being marketed as enemies to lovers, I’m looking for it in the book. But I think before the trope marketing, readers would at least be surprised about enemies becoming lovers, or one bed, or touch her and die, etc…you know the tropes.

Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres?

I mostly read fantasy and romance and I do think it’s impacting “romantasy” a lot. Can’t say much about the other genres. But the tropes in romantasy are rinse and repeat to the point sometimes I’m wary of romantasy books.

How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

The quality of stories I don’t think will be affected. I actually think an author can only get better (hopefully) from the hype and success. I’ve read a few hyped indie books that I thought was just okay, but hoping because of the hype the sequel will be better. But I’ve read some amazing indie books that deserve the hype also. I do think it’s a phase because that’s the thing about the book world there are always phases or cycles.

Romantasy books are trope heavy but so is contemporary romance – and I don’t think we had a problem with all the contemporary romance tropes feeling like a formula (even though it is) because people weren’t pointing tropes out all the time until very recently. Even as a blogger who hardly listed tropes during my first 3 years of blogging in my reviews have now automatically been adding “enemies to lovers”, “forced proximity” into my reviews. I still don’t do it as much because I don’t remember all the tropes, I don’t take notes while I read or else it will feel like a chore. But sometimes stating the tropes does help someone decide if they want to read that book or not. I love enemies to lovers, so I am always looking for those books, but I won’t necessarily read it if the premise doesn’t intrigue me or if it sounds like every other book out there.

Maybe marketing is just giving too much information? It needs to be like a movie trailer (and not the ones that show basically what happens in the whole movie lol)…give us a juicy, intriguing synopsis. And now I’m questioning my reviews and maybe should go back to not mentioning tropes! 😅 That would be easier on me actually!

September Topics:

September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

September 12: Following the Reader

Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations

Prompts: What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?

September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing

Prompts: Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations

Prompts: What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?

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What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite?

Right now my favorite is fantasy (adult or young adult) with romance. It used to be romantasy until the genre got flooded with books with the same tropes. 😅

If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically?

ACOTAR (A Court of Thorns and Roses) series by. Sarah J. Maas – I get that people love or hate it, but I love it! But the world building is great and the romance. Same with the Thorn of Glass series – world building.

The Bridge Kingdom by. Danielle L. Jensen – love this first book of the series so much. Love the characters, the betrayal, the high stakes and action!

Legendborn Series by. Tracy Deonn (but I think this is more YA Urban Fantasy? I still recommend it.) – the world building, characters, black girl magic/power.

Crowns of Nyaxia series by. Carissa Broadbent – world building, the romance, Vincent!

The Folk of the Air series by. Holly Black – scary Fae, love how Jude had to navigate this dark/threatening world

Has your favorite genre changed over time?

I’ve been reading since I was in middle school (a long time ago LOL – I had the original Vampire Diaries books back in 1991 😅 and let me tell you my first book boyfriends were Stefan and Damon Salvatore). So yes I went from young adult horror/paranormal, young adult romance, historical romance, fiction, contemporary romance, then back to young adult when Twilight and Divergent and all those vampire books came out (what a time!), back to historical romance fiction lol…then contemporary romance, fantasy (with romance) for a long time, then romantasy. I think I’m back to mostly reading fantasy (young adult or adult with romance) sprinkled with contemporary romance, and horror. I can’t stick to one genre or I will get bored.

September Topics:

September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

September 12: Following the Reader

Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations

Prompts: What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?

September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing

Prompts: Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

September 12: Following the Reader

Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

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What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog?

Right now on tiktok because I’m building my following, I’m basically following anyone who follows me – unless it’s an account that doesn’t post anything. I pretty much do the same for book blogs but I feel like even though I follow people here on wordpress, I don’t always see the blogs.

Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you?

Pretty much follow back unless I check the account and I don’t really vibe with their content. But for booktokers, bookstagrammers or book bloggers, it’s usually a follow back.

Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

I feel like booktok is so much easier to find new followers and comment and such. I love how people are authentic on there, don’t have to make their videos or photos pretty or anything. I feel like bookstagram years ago had more engagement and now it’s so different – I basically only see accounts that have 1,000+ followers. Smaller accounts, not so much. I think I post the least on bookstagram just because I have to make pretty posts (and I’m lazy lol) it’s easier on booktok. Blog engagement I think is in the middle – it took me years to build up a good following but I love the community!

September Topics:

September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

September 12: Following the Reader

Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations

Prompts: What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?

September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing

Prompts: Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

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Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is?

I actually don’t know! I feel like my automatic answer is fall (but hello I live in Hawaii – it doesn’t get cold here! 😅). But fall is BUSY – holidays, my kids school projects, etc….so…maybe winter? Because the sun sets faster and I do my best reading at night.

Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

Now, if the topic was when do I read the most…according to the arcs I was given this year, it seems like major publishing dates occur in July and September. So I will say according to this year alone, I had so many arcs to read for these 2 months out of the whole year. December is such a dry spell – is everyone just busy? 😅

August Topics:

September 5: In Which Season Do You Do Your Best Reading? (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Is there a month, quarter or other specific time of year when you do your most reading and why do you think that is? Does this tend to fluctuate every year or is your reading pretty ‘steady’?

September 12: Following the Reader

Prompts: What makes you want to follow a bookish account on social media? What makes you want to follow a book blog? Are you very discerning or do you follow back whoever follows you? Do you prefer or find it easier to engage with other readers on one platform over the other (i.e. blogs vs. bookstagram or booktok)?

September 19: Favourite Genre Recommendations

Prompts: What is your favourite genre(s) and what makes it your favourite? If someone wanted to try your favourite genre(s), what are five books that you would recommend to them and why those books specifically? Has your favorite genre changed over time?

September 26: Are Published Books Losing Quality? The Impact of Social Media Platforms and Trope-Based Marketing

Prompts: Reading has become increasingly more “popular” due to platforms like booktok and bookstagram, which tend to promote certain types of books. It has also given rise to the “trope only” marketing trend. Do you think the hype that’s been created on these platforms has impacted the quality of books that are published these days? Do you think it’s impacting only certain genres or do you notice it across all genres? How do you think this will impact book quality and publishing in the years to come (i.e. is it just a phase or will it continue)?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

August 22: Quotes & Excerpts/Extracts (Davida Chazan @ The Chocolate Lady)

Prompts: Do you like to use quotes from books in your book review? If so, do you prefer to keep them at a minimum or do you include as many as you can? Do you like to make posts with excerpts or extracts from novels? Do you think that quotes and excerpts/extracts make readers more or less interested in reading the book? Why or why not?

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Do you like to use quotes from books in your book review? If so, do you prefer to keep them at a minimum or do you include as many as you can?

I used to try to include quotes from books in my book reviews but I either got lazy or I didn’t highlight the quotes I liked in the book (because I was lazy😅).

Do you like to make posts with excerpts or extracts from novels?

I would LIKE to be that kind of person who has patience to make posts with excerpts and extracts – but again, I’m too lazy.

Do you think that quotes and excerpts/extracts make readers more or less interested in reading the book? Why or why not?

I love quotes so I feel like it would make readers more interested but I’m not sure how other people feel about it. I think a quote or excerpt can give someone an idea of what the book is about – it can either turn them on to the book or off. In that way, I think they are super helpful.

August Topics:

August 1: Multiple Copies of Books

Prompts: Do you have multiple copies of any books? What makes you want to get more than one copy of a certain book? What books do you have multiple copies of? Are there any books that you want to get more copies of in the future?

August 8: Reading Slump vs Bookish Hangover (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: What’s the difference between a reading slump and bookish hangover—do you think there’s a difference? How do you get out of both situations? What are examples of books that put you in a reading slump and books that caused you to have a book hangover? For more information, Book Riot has some really interesting articles about using neuroscience to understand reading slumps and the psychology of a book hangover.

August 15: A Change in Bookish Opinions

Prompts: Have your bookish opinions changed over the years, and if so, in what ways have they changed? Do you think your bookish opinions have changed because of being part of the bookish community (including on social media), reading more books, or book blogging? Have your bookish opinions changed in ways you didn’t expect?

August 22: Quotes & Excerpts/Extracts (Davida Chazan @ The Chocolate Lady)

Prompts: Do you like to use quotes from books in your book review? If so, do you prefer to keep them at a minimum or do you include as many as you can? Do you like to make posts with excerpts or extracts from novels? Do you think that quotes and excerpts/extracts make readers more or less interested in reading the book? Why or why not?

August 29: Six Years of LTB: An Anniversary Freebie

Prompts: How quickly does time fly for us to now be celebrating six years of bookish discussions?! 🎉 Whether you’re new to LTB or have stuck around for years, thank you for joining us in these weekly bookish discussions! To celebrate, we’re making this week an anniversary freebie. Revisit a topic that you’ve done before, go back to a topic that you’ve missed, or write about something else you’re interested in. Check out our blogs—Aria, Dini and Rukky—for ideas!

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

August 8: Reading Slump vs Bookish Hangover (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: What’s the difference between a reading slump and bookish hangover—do you think there’s a difference? How do you get out of both situations? What are examples of books that put you in a reading slump and books that caused you to have a book hangover? For more information, Book Riot has some really interesting articles about using neuroscience to understand reading slumps and the psychology of a book hangover.

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What’s the difference between a reading slump and bookish hangover—do you think there’s a difference?

I think a reading slump just happens when book after book isn’t hitting or your mood is off, not in the mood to read. A bookish hangover I feel is like any hangover after you had something so good and fun. So a hangover comes after reading what you think is the best book ever or maybe not ever, but a book that got your jaw dropping and your heart pumping. You want that same high but the next book doesn’t hit as good.

How do you get out of both situations?

Pushing through the book you are reading or switching up genres OR taking a break from reading, like a week.

What are examples of books that put you in a reading slump and books that caused you to have a book hangover?

So reading July arcs put me into a sort of slump/hangover because I was reading so many good books! I do feel like I’m in a slump right now only because I think I read so much for July (before July), it was like a reading marathon and now I need a break. So I’ve been reading slower or none at all. But here are some of the books I think that I had so much fun reading this year so far!

August Topics:

August 1: Multiple Copies of Books

Prompts: Do you have multiple copies of any books? What makes you want to get more than one copy of a certain book? What books do you have multiple copies of? Are there any books that you want to get more copies of in the future?

August 8: Reading Slump vs Bookish Hangover (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: What’s the difference between a reading slump and bookish hangover—do you think there’s a difference? How do you get out of both situations? What are examples of books that put you in a reading slump and books that caused you to have a book hangover? For more information, Book Riot has some really interesting articles about using neuroscience to understand reading slumps and the psychology of a book hangover.

August 15: A Change in Bookish Opinions

Prompts: Have your bookish opinions changed over the years, and if so, in what ways have they changed? Do you think your bookish opinions have changed because of being part of the bookish community (including on social media), reading more books, or book blogging? Have your bookish opinions changed in ways you didn’t expect?

August 22: Quotes & Excerpts/Extracts (Davida Chazan @ The Chocolate Lady)

Prompts: Do you like to use quotes from books in your book review? If so, do you prefer to keep them at a minimum or do you include as many as you can? Do you like to make posts with excerpts or extracts from novels? Do you think that quotes and excerpts/extracts make readers more or less interested in reading the book? Why or why not?

August 29: Six Years of LTB: An Anniversary Freebie

Prompts: How quickly does time fly for us to now be celebrating six years of bookish discussions?! 🎉 Whether you’re new to LTB or have stuck around for years, thank you for joining us in these weekly bookish discussions! To celebrate, we’re making this week an anniversary freebie. Revisit a topic that you’ve done before, go back to a topic that you’ve missed, or write about something else you’re interested in. Check out our blogs—Aria, Dini and Rukky—for ideas!

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

August 1 : Multiple Copies of Books

Prompts: Do you have multiple copies of any books? What makes you want to get more than one copy of a certain book? What books do you have multiple copies of? Are there any books that you want to get more copies of in the future?

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Do you have multiple copies of any books?

I think for only Pride and Prejudice. I wish I could get multiple copies but in this economy? I can’t! And lack of bookshelf space.

What makes you want to get more than one copy of a certain book?

Whenever I see all the different special editions and sprayed edges – I WANT to buy all of them.

What books do you have multiple copies of?

Pride and Prejudice. I bought one copy from Barnes and Nobles and then my hubby came home with this books being thrown out of a military library and they had all these classics, including Pride and Prejudice.

Are there any books that you want to get more copies of in the future?

I have the regular copies of the Legendborn series but I want the sprayed edge, special editions for the whole set. Maybe after the last book comes out and if I have money for it.

August Topics:

August 1: Multiple Copies of Books

Prompts: Do you have multiple copies of any books? What makes you want to get more than one copy of a certain book? What books do you have multiple copies of? Are there any books that you want to get more copies of in the future?

August 8: Reading Slump vs Bookish Hangover (Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: What’s the difference between a reading slump and bookish hangover—do you think there’s a difference? How do you get out of both situations? What are examples of books that put you in a reading slump and books that caused you to have a book hangover? For more information, Book Riot has some really interesting articles about using neuroscience to understand reading slumps and the psychology of a book hangover.

August 15: A Change in Bookish Opinions

Prompts: Have your bookish opinions changed over the years, and if so, in what ways have they changed? Do you think your bookish opinions have changed because of being part of the bookish community (including on social media), reading more books, or book blogging? Have your bookish opinions changed in ways you didn’t expect?

August 22: Quotes & Excerpts/Extracts (Davida Chazan @ The Chocolate Lady)

Prompts: Do you like to use quotes from books in your book review? If so, do you prefer to keep them at a minimum or do you include as many as you can? Do you like to make posts with excerpts or extracts from novels? Do you think that quotes and excerpts/extracts make readers more or less interested in reading the book? Why or why not?

August 29: Six Years of LTB: An Anniversary Freebie

Prompts: How quickly does time fly for us to now be celebrating six years of bookish discussions?! 🎉 Whether you’re new to LTB or have stuck around for years, thank you for joining us in these weekly bookish discussions! To celebrate, we’re making this week an anniversary freebie. Revisit a topic that you’ve done before, go back to a topic that you’ve missed, or write about something else you’re interested in. Check out our blogs—Aria, Dini and Rukky—for ideas!

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

July 25: The Elusive 5-star Read

Prompts: What makes a book a 5-star read for you? Do you give books 5 stars easily, or are you more selective with them? What are your all-time favourite “can’t-live-can’t-breathe-without-them” 5-star reads? Is there anything that makes a book automatically 5 stars for you? Or the opposite — what makes you drop to 4 stars?

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What makes a book a 5-star read for you?

This is such a great topic because I have been questioning how I rate my 5 star reads this year. A 5 star year has to make my heart pound, my jaw drop and take me on an emotional journey – not necessarily to make me cry, but I have to be blown away. But lately I wonder if I’m too strict with my 5 star rating?! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Do you give books 5 stars easily, or are you more selective with them?

I do not give them easily but I wonder if I’m too strict because there are books out there that are messy, and not perfect but the vibes are so immaculate. I kind of envy the giving a book 5 stars just for vibes lol.

What are your all-time favourite “can’t-live-can’t-breathe-without-them” 5-star reads?

All time? That’s too hard for me. This is just some random my 5 star reads I have tracked on Goodreads. I used to give them so much more easily before I became a blogger!

• The Awakening L.J. Smith – gave this one 5 stars when I read it as a teenager.
• Catching Fire by. Suzanne Collings
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by. Laini Taylor
• Kristin Hannah by. The Nightingale
• The Cruel Prince by. Holly Black
• A Court of Silver Flames by. Sarah J Maas
• Heart Forger by. Rin Chupeco
• The Poppy War by. R. F. Kuang
• Bing Me Their Hearts by. Sara Wolf
• The Bridge Kingdom by. Danielle L. Jensen
• Legendborn by. Tracey Deonn
• The Women by. Kristin Hannah (many of her books are 5 star reads for me)

I think it’s interesting to see how my 5 star ratings changed over time. I really lived in a time when Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc… and those type of books came in my 20’s! I ate those books up so fast. Young Adult has changed so much – the books became LONGER. Kristin Hannah books always get me and almost always a 5 star read. This is a random list, but my 5 stars definitely got fewer the older I got, which is kinda of a bummer and I might be changing the way I rate a 5 star book next year.

Is there anything that makes a book automatically 5 stars for you? Or the opposite — what makes you drop to 4 stars?

5 stars are never automatic these days, but if I was gripped by the story, read it in one setting and my heart is thumping from adrenaline or heartbreak or something and I was engaged with the characters and story overall – then it’s a 5.

Dropping stars is maybe because pacing was a bit off, book was too long without much going on, rushed ending, or something to that effect. Or I wasn’t invested as much as I wanted to be.

July Topics:

July 4: Duologies vs. Trilogies

  Prompts: Do you prefer duologies or trilogies, and why? What are the pros and cons of having two books vs. three books in a series? What are some of your favourite duologies and/or trilogies? Do you think there are benefits to these shorter series, compared to ones with 4+ books, or are fewer books limiting?

July 11: Book Hype (Melanie @ Melanie’s Book Blog)

  Prompts: Has the hype ever ruined a book for you? Has the hype ever made a book better for you? Do you like lesser-known reads, and finding a gem of a book that no one’s heard of? Or do you prefer to read the more popular, mainstream books? Where are the majority of the books you read, in terms of popularity? 

July 18: Reading Beyond Books

  Prompts: What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays? Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays? Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing? Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?

July 25: The Elusive 5-star Read

  Prompts: What makes a book a 5-star read for you? Do you give books 5 stars easily, or are you more selective with them? What are your all-time favourite “can’t-live-can’t-breathe-without-them” 5-star reads? Is there anything that makes a book automatically 5 stars for you? Or the opposite — what makes you drop to 4 stars?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish meme originally created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and hosted by Aria @ Book Nook Bits, where every Friday, bloggers write discussion posts based on a weekly prompt and Dini @ dinipandareads has cohosted since the beginning of 2025.

This week’s topic is:

July 18: Reading Beyond Books

Prompts: What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays? Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays? Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing? Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?

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What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays?

😬 Blogs! Um…does Twitter count?! lol…and email? Or mail? Once upon a time I liked poetry but I never read plays unless it was Shakespeare back in school

Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays?

I do! If I find a link on social media and want to read more about the topic. I’ve read my sons essays to double check them! lol. I read a lot of stuff my daughter writes.

Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing?

Yes I only read novels these days.

Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?

I have no patience for podcasts and I barely have patience for audiobooks lol…but I have FINALLY listened to more than one audiobook in one year (this year).

July Topics:

July 4: Duologies vs. Trilogies

  Prompts: Do you prefer duologies or trilogies, and why? What are the pros and cons of having two books vs. three books in a series? What are some of your favourite duologies and/or trilogies? Do you think there are benefits to these shorter series, compared to ones with 4+ books, or are fewer books limiting?

July 11: Book Hype (Melanie @ Melanie’s Book Blog)

  Prompts: Has the hype ever ruined a book for you? Has the hype ever made a book better for you? Do you like lesser-known reads, and finding a gem of a book that no one’s heard of? Or do you prefer to read the more popular, mainstream books? Where are the majority of the books you read, in terms of popularity? 

July 18: Reading Beyond Books

  Prompts: What do you read other than books? Do you like non-novel forms of literature, like poetry and plays? Do you read a lot of news articles, op-eds, or essays? Do novels make up most of your reading, or is it a mix of those other kinds of writing? Do you ever listen to podcasts in place of audiobooks?

July 25: The Elusive 5-star Read

  Prompts: What makes a book a 5-star read for you? Do you give books 5 stars easily, or are you more selective with them? What are your all-time favourite “can’t-live-can’t-breathe-without-them” 5-star reads? Is there anything that makes a book automatically 5 stars for you? Or the opposite — what makes you drop to 4 stars?