Let’s Talk Bookish: Favorite Romance Tropes & Book Recs for them | 2/14/25

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:

Favorite Romance Tropes & Book Recs for them (Aria)

Happy Valentine’s Day! What are your favorite romance tropes? What books would you recommend that have those tropes? Are there any books with those tropes on your TBR? Do you have any least favorite romance tropes?

What are your favorite romance tropes?

I LOVE enemies to lovers, it’s my favorite because of the hating that takes place lol. I just love a romance filled with tension and explosions I guess. I love good chemistry!

What books would you recommend that have those tropes?

Here’s a few books that have this trope, some old, some new:

Heartless Hunter by. Kristen Ciccarelli
The Bridge Kingdom by. Danielle L. Jensen
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
A Monsoon Rising by. Thea Guanzon
Quicksilver by. Callie Hart

Are there any books with those tropes on your TBR?

Rebel Witch by. Kristen Ciccarelli
Rivaled Crown by Holly Renee

Do you have any least favorite romance tropes?

miscommunication tropes – I lose my patience quick when the main problem is miscommunication.
I don’t love fated mates – especially if in the book they use the word mates over and over and it’s overkill. I don’t mind if it’s mentioned, it happens and they don’t go on and on about being mates. Like, we get it, you will be together forever…fantastic, let’s move on.😅 I used to love it until everyone started using it in romantasy.

TOPICS FOR FEBRUARY:

February 7: Reading Challenges: Do we love them or hate them? (Dini)

Prompts: What do you think of reading challenges—do they motivate you or do they feel restrictive and end up making reading feel like a chore? Are there any challenges you participate in yearly? What reading challenges are you joining in 2025?

February 14: Favorite Romance Tropes & Book Recs for them (Aria)

Prompts: Happy Valentine’s Day! What are your favorite romance tropes? What books would you recommend that have those tropes? Are there any books with those tropes on your TBR? Do you have any least favorite romance tropes?

February 21: Non-Romantic Love (Dini)

Prompts: It’s the month of love but it’s not always about romantic love. What are your favourite non-romantic relationships to read about (i.e. siblings, parent-child, etc.) and what do you love most about them? Do you prefer to read about them over romantic relationships? What books would you recommend with your favourite non-romantic relationships?

February 28: How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?
(Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Prompts: Prompts: How many books do you typically read in a year? Do you always track your reading? Does keeping track of the books you read motivate you or stress you out? How do you keep track of the books you read? Do you have a 2025 reading goal?

Let’s Talk Bookish: Reading Challenges: Do we love them or hate them? | 2/7/25

Let’s Talk Bookish is a meme where participants discuss certain topics, share their opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts. Topics for each month will be posted a month in advance here on my blog, and will be available in their own posts as well as here in the archive. You can also suggest topics and download the official header images from this page.

This week’s topic is:

Reading Challenges: Do we love them or hate them? (Dini)

What do you think of reading challenges—do they motivate you or do they feel restrictive and end up making reading feel like a chore?

I’m always curious about reading challenges and love seeing the ones that people join. I do think they motivate me but I can’t say I’ve actually completed one yet! I think my fear is it will make reading feel like a chore and I already sorta feel that way with arcs – which is why I have requested less of them.

Are there any challenges you participate in yearly?

I do not but I do take note of challenges other book bloggers join just in case maybe I might do one.

What reading challenges are you joining in 2025?

I’m actually doing a reading challenge that my son dared me to do. I was doing a post for the Spell the Month book meme and he asked me if I would be reading all the books selections I listed on there. I said no, you just post a book photo and it’s synopsis. And he said…why don’t I read all the books I choose for the meme. I thought…hmmm…maybe this is a book challenge I can do! So I credit him for motivating me. 🥰

TOPICS FOR FEBRUARY:

February 7: Reading Challenges: Do we love them or hate them? (Dini)

February 14: Favorite Romance Tropes & Book Recs for them (Aria)

February 21: Non-Romantic Love (Dini)

February 28: How Many Books Do You Read in a Year?
(Jillian @ Jillian the Bookish Butterfly)

Let’s Talk Bookish: 2022 Reading & Blogging Reflections | 12/30/22

Let’s Talk Bookish is a bookish meme that was created by Rukky @ Eternity Books and now is hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits, where each Friday, bloggers write posts discussing the topic of the week! Definitely check out her blog for more bookish content plus more Let’s Talk Bookish topics and the schedule.

This week’s topic is:

December 30: 2022 Reading & Blogging Reflections

How many books did you read in 2022?

According to Goodreads and I think it’s mostly up to date – it says I read 116 books!

Did you meet your reading goals?

Yes, my goal was 52 books.

What were some of your favorites?

What were your least favorite books you read this year?

How did you feel about your blogging in 2022?

I think I felt more comfortable. This is my 4th year blogging I believe and I felt more sure of what I wanted to do and what posts I wanted to make. I feel like I found a good rhythm and schedule for posting

What are your favorite posts you wrote in 2022?

I don’t have a favorite post but this are the top 5 of my most viewed posts in 2022:

The Final Gambit by. Jennifer Lynn Barnes | Book Review

10 Book Quotes from Book Lovers by. Emily Henry| Top Ten Tuesday | 5/24/22

Reminders of Him by. Colleen Hoover | Book Review

Kingdom of the Feared by. Kerri Maniscalco | Book Review

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by. Carissa Broadbent | Book Review

What are some of your favorite posts from the community that you read this year?

Let’s Talk Bookish: Do Bloggers Owe Their Readers and Vice Versa? by. DiniPandaReads — love all her Let’s Talk Bookish posts

Birthstone Book Covers: November! by. booksarethenewblack — this was a fun book tag to do

The Modern-Day Christmas Song Book Tag by. acereader — another book tag I want to do

2023 BOOK RELEASES by. KristinKravesBooks — she has great booktube videos!

TOP TEN TUESDAY – BOOKS I WANT YOU TO GET FOR CHRISTMAS by. birdiesbooknook- another fun blog with great posts!

There were so many favorites posts but I have so little time to find them on here lol…but definitely check these blogs out!

Let’s Talk Bookish: Holiday Books | 12/23/22

This week’s topic is:

December 23: Holiday Books (Aria ~ me)

Christmas books and movies dominate the media during the winter season, but Christmas isn’t the only holiday being celebrated. Do you like reading holiday books at all?

It’s not my favorite genre (I like Christmas movies more than books) – but I like to read 1 or 2 Christmas romance books during the holidays, at least! Sometimes it’s too cheesy for me, or maybe I’ve just become to cynical in my old age lol…but a holiday romance here and there is fun during the holidays.

Have you ever read a holiday book about another religion?

I’m not Jewish but my husband is and that’s what made me decide to read The Matzah Ball and I thought it was great to see how other religions are celebrated around the holidays. Hanukkah and Christmas sometimes coincide and they both include celebrating with festive lights so I thought it was a fun holiday romance book.

What about a holiday book not set during the winter season?

There are some books where they celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in the story maybe because they are only a few weeks away. I love Fall because it’s spooky season, but I guess Halloween isn’t exactly a holiday? We don’t get it as a day off at least. I’m trying to remember if I’ve read any books celebrating Diwali and I feel like I have but can’t come up with a title in my head off the cuff.

If you’re religious but don’t celebrate Christmas, do you feel represented in the holiday media?

I don’t think a lot of other religions get much representation when Christmas is in full force. My child did come home with a Hanukkah menorah craft she did at school which was nice to see along with her other Christmas arts and crafts. I definitely don’t see much about Kwanzaa though I know when my son was in Kinder he did a coloring activity for Kwanzaa. It would be nice to see more holidays represented.

Let’s Talk Bookish: Do Book Titles Matter? | 10/21/22

This week’s topic is:

October 21: Do Book Titles Matter? (Hannah @ Hannah’s Library)

How much do book titles matter?

I think they matter a lot. I think a good title sets the tone for the book.

Have you ever read or not read a book based on the title alone?

Yes, most definitely – because if I’m not attracted to the title but the cover art is amazing. Well, I’m a sucker for a good book cover so I’ll read it. As for not reading something because of the title…🤔, I’m trying to think of an instance but am coming up blank. But I’m sure there have been titles I’ve skipped because of the title.

Do you like long or short book titles better?

Keep it short and sweet!

Do you think the title has to connect to the story in some way?

Yes, I feel it should connect because as I said before I feel like it sets the tone for the book. If I read a book that doesn’t match the title, I feel a bit mislead. For example…

This story to me needed more Christmas things about it because the cover is very Christmassy and the title says Christmas Clash. The things clashing in the story was two families that had bad blood and they have rival restaurants. It’s set around the holidays but that’s about it for the Christmas part.

What are some of your favorite book titles?

I love titles that get straight to the point! 😆 The Grace Year and the Hunger Games made me wonder…what is a Grace Year? What happens in the Hunger Games – and whoa, do we find out!! As for Fable and Guncle – one word titles are short and sweet. I think all the titles in The Inheritance Games series were spot on and strong. It totally tied into the story.

Of course on the opposite end of short titles are those with long, fancy titles which we usually find in the fantasy genre. I have a love/hate relationship with those. Sometimes they sound so pretty…and other times it’s just too many words lol. For example, the SJM titles are always fitting and I kinda blame her for starting this trend lol…

All these titles that start like: A Court of, A House of, A Storm of, A something something something….titles was fun for awhile and then I started to roll me eyes. 😅 It got to be too much but I believe finally it has died down!

At least I know when I see a title like that it’s going to give me fantasy or romantasy. So I guess that’s one good thing about it!

I want to know what some of your favorite titles are, let me know in the comments below!

Let’s Talk Bookish: DNFing Books | 10/7/22

This week’s topic is:

October 7: DNFing books (Mint @ Mint Loves Books)

DNF is an acronym that stands for did not finish.

What makes you DNF a book?

If I am constantly putting down a book because it’s boring me or I have a hard time concentrating then I either DNF or tell myself to come back to it at a later time. I still have a hard time DNF’ing arcs though – so if I get halfway through the book and that’s all I can push through – I’ll skim the rest.

How often do you DNF books?

Not a lot – but if I have too many books I’ve borrowed, or arcs due in a month, I find myself letting the borrowed books go past due date. I can always come back to them. I think I’ve been DNF’ing a book every other month this year lol.

What’s the silliest or pettiest reason why you DNF’d a book?

A main character who gets on my nerves to the point I cannot continue reading about them anymore. I feel like my will is pretty strong to push through any book and I sometimes like unlikable characters. But if it comes to the point where everything about them just puts me off then I DNF the book.

Do you review books that you DNF?

If they are arcs – yes I do review them as best I can. It’s super rare for me to give a one star review, even for a DNF’d book because someone else out there might actually love the book. But books that aren’t arcs? If I have the energy to write a review after DNF’ing it I will – but most times, I don’t.

Let’s Talk Bookish: Reading Seasonally | 9/23/22

This week’s topic is:

Reading Seasonally

Do you read seasonally?

I think I’ve done much better at reading seasonally but I never used to care about it before. I think joining the blogging community made me more excited to read seasonally. I look forward to reading more spooky reads near Halloween and of course holiday romances near Christmas.

Do you like a beach read in summer, a spooky book in the autumn and holiday themed ones in winter?

Definitely spooky books in autumn and holiday ones for winter but as for beach reads…I like a good contemporary romance for summer time. What happened to spring?! lol…are there no books for spring? I guess spring break would include beach reads also.

What’s your favorite season?

I like all things about fall even though there isn’t much seasonal changes here where I live. But I love when pumpkin flavored foods makes it way into the grocery stores and I really love Halloween. The longer nights make me want to get cozy to read also.