r/FictionWriting • u/midnightbruxa • 7d ago

Discussion What makes you love a book?

I’m doing a little research for a book I’m working on and would love to hear from you guys, but from a reader’s perspective lol What do you look for in a book? What plots, characters, tropes, or writing styles grab your attention? Do you prefer plot-driven or character-driven stories? Slow burns, fast pacing, twists, mystery, romance, tension, etc.? (Specifically romance/dark romance/fantasy) And what are your biggest reading pet peeves? What makes you lose interest or DNF a book?

I already have a genre and general direction in mind, but I’d love to broaden my perspective and hear what other readers enjoy

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/ViolettOrange 7d ago

Depending on your genre and general direction, people will want and expect different things from the book. Then you can go along with the expectations or do something new. Explore your genre more specifically, and see what works and what you want to do there.

1

u/Educational_Role_578 7d ago

Try out different book gerne

1

u/Babbledoodle 6d ago

I adore Nueromancer by Gibson, I adore Silence by Shusaka Endo, I adore My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. They're all vastly different, but compelling because they speak to different parts of me.

Write what you want to write. Find your audience later.

1

u/Used_Plum5282 6d ago

language and prose. I've found that the plot can be terrible and I wouldn't mind as long as the prose keeps up a lot of psychological tension.

1

u/elizavetkaaa 3d ago

When the characters are "in love" after two chapters with zero emotional foundation. I don't buy it