The Unpopular Opinions Book Tag is one of my favourite tags to watch on BookTube, and one of my favourite tags to read on WordPress. I’ve never done it myself, but I’ve always wanted to, so I thought I would give it a go today. I’ve done way too much gushing over 5 star books recently, so I think it’s time for a bit of balance around here, y’know?
Apologies in advance if I trash your favourite book or character. These are just my opinions, and if you loved these books that’s totally okay, they just weren’t for moi! 🙂
Without further ado…
A popular book or series you didn’t like.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I actually DNFd this book 100 pages in because I hated the writing style SO much. Everything was described using nonsensical, douchey metaphors that were so jarring to the narrative, and the romance was just nauseating. You know when there’s a gross couple on the bus eating each other’s faces on the seat in front of yours? It felt like the literary equivalent of that.
A book or series everyone hates but you love.
My answer to this question has to be Twilight. I know, okay, I KNOW that Twilight is shit. But… I will always have a soft spot for it. Twilight was the book that made me fall in love with reading again after spending the majority of my teenage years barely picking up a book. If I hadn’t gotten back into reading, I probably wouldn’t have studied English Literature at university, so, if you think about it, Stephanie Meyer is the reason I have a degree.
An OTP you don’t like.
I’m not going to name names as I don’t want to spoil anything for the very small percentage of people on this planet who have not yet read Harry Potter, but I’m not keen on any of the pairings in this series. Perhaps it’s because I was way more invested in all of the Voldy-dramz, or perhaps it’s because all of my OTPs were non-canon 😉 but I just didn’t really care about any of the romantic subplots in the later books (unless we’re talking “always”.)
A popular genre you never reach for.
I’m going to have to say historical fiction for this one. I own several historical fiction books, but they are gathering dust on my shelves and have been for a good while. I had The Book Thief for approx. a decade before reading it (though I ended up loving it), and I have a feeling it’ll be another ten years before I reach for All the Light we Cannot See; I’ve had it for two years already, and I’m just never excited enough to choose it next.
A beloved character you do not like.
Sorry Chaolaena shippers, but I’m really not a fan of Chaol Westfall from the Throne of Glass series. From the very beginning, I felt like he had his priorities all wrong (what with the whole fierce-loyalty-to-a-barbaric-conquering-dictator thing), and he only continued to disappoint me. The man is a hypocrite because everything he struggles to accept in Celaena, he turns a blind eye to in the King. I hated the way he thought he could pick and choose which parts of Celaena to love. Not cool, man. It’s not love unless you accept a person in their entirety.
A popular author you can’t seem to get into.
Neil Gaiman. I’ve read several of his books now, and, although I think he writes well, and his concepts are always intriguing, I’ve never been able to find an emotional connection with his writing. His books are reasonably entertaining when I read them, but they never leave a lasting impact on me. I finish them, then forget everything I’ve read.
A popular trope you’re tired of seeing.
I am so sick of characters in YA novels who don’t understand how to breathe. How can you hold your breath so many times per chapter without realising you’re doing so? Unfathomable!
A popular series you have no interest in reading.
So many! I have no interest in reading the rest of the Red Queen series (because the first book was just riddled with dystopian and love-triangle clichés.) I also doubt I’ll ever finish the Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series. Let me clarify: I LOVED the first half of the first book, because it was all mysterious, atmospheric, and creepy… But as soon as we had met the peculiar children, all of that tension fizzled out, and I got bored, because there was nothing to anticipate any more. I enjoyed the build up so much more than the reveal, and I’m not all that interested in the story without all that awesome suspense from the beginning.
A movie or TV series you like better than the book.
The Vampire Diaries TV show is infinitely better than the book series. I think it’s partly because the books feel very dated, but mainly because the characters have so much more depth in the TV series. Plus, book-Elena is precocious, irritating, and shallow, but TV Elena is an actually-likeable person. Also, and most importantly, the TV adaptation has Ian Somerhalder. Anything involving Ian Somerhalder wins.
Do you share any of my unpopular opinions? What are some of yours? I’d love to hear from you!
The Mud and Stars Book Blog 
Ahem…historical fiction…Infernal Devices 😉
Haha, okay, well historical fiction with Shadowhunters is a different story ❤ ❤
Funnily enough, I enjoyed the first book, but I doubt I’ll be finishing the Miss Peregrine series either, as I just can’t imagine where the story could go next 🤔
I know exactly what you mean. I think it’s a book that would have worked as a standalone and didn’t need to be a trilogy.
Exactly, I loved the first book, but I just feel like one was enough for me.
Have to agree with you on Harry Potter! For the same reasons, too. There might be ONE canon pairing I liked, but it was a side-character, so I don’t think it counts much. All the others I was pretty “meh” on.
Haha glad I’m not the only one! Oooh which one?
Tonks and Lupin 😀 Not really end-game pairing but I was okay with it happening.
Ahh I had forgotten about Tonks and Lupin. I didn’t mind that pairing either. It’s really the main trio’s pairings I wasn’t a fan of!
Me, too, definitely!
I said Shatter Me for series too! I finished it on principle, but I definitely won’t be reading the rest of the series!
Glad I’m not the only one who felt this way! Did the book get any better?! I think I stopped around 100 pages in.
I really didn’t like Chaol through the Throne of Glass series either. I actually didn’t like Dorian even more than Chaol because Dorian was obsessive and sort of annoying. No wonder why these two were best friends. And I totally agree with Red Queen, even though a friend wants me to read the next one.
I totally agree with you! Chaol and Dorian weren’t very appealing to me as characters
I liked Dorian as a character, but not with Celaena! Their ‘relationship’ felt a bit forced for the sake of including a romance! But definitely agree on Chaol being an unappealing character haha. He made me so angry, but everyone seems to love him so much – I don’t get it!
Glad I’m not alone in this! I didn’t mind Dorian, but I never got on board with him and Celaena. I think I’d rather her kick ass on her own than end up with either of them! Let me know if you end up reading the next book in the Red Queen series – I’m curious to see if it gets any better (although the general consensus seems to be that it doesn’t haha!)
Dorian and Celaena were just a horrible team together. They were too weird and annoying together for me. I’ll make sure I’ll let you know if I end up reading the second book. Who knows when it will be if I decided to!
Exactly – they didn’t make sense together at all. I felt like they were just pushed together for the sake of having a love triangle.
Red Queen and Peregrines! I completely agree I read the first Peculiar children book so i could go watch the movie but it was just a bit of a let down, I stupidly bought a box set so I ave the other two just looking pretty on my shelf XD I read Red Queen and the second book and absolutely hated it not continuing with the series even though everyone seems to love it XD Great Tag ❤
Thanks! 🙂 They certainly are very pretty books, even if they are disappointing! How did the movie compare? And what was the second Red Queen book like? I’ve heard it was even worse haha!
The second red queen made me want to rip the pages out, think book 2 syndrome times a million, the ending was good but not enough to make me put myself through another 300 pages of whiny characters
The movie is actually okay but i love Tim Burtans wackiness he brings to movies, they changed a lot but it worked 🙂
Hahah oh dear that does not sound! The characters got on my nerves enough in the first book, so I think I’d be right with you on the ripping out pages if I read the second. I might check out the Miss Peregrine’s movie sometime, I do love Tim Burton.
I loved the Vampire Diaries tv show! Definitely agree with you about Ian, but as for Elena, there were some instances that I found her irritating. I also agree with you about Chaol. I was angry at him for not accepting Celeana for who she really was and still being loyal to the king.
Ian is amazing ❤ I know what you mean, Elena could be a little bit annoying at times, a little bit holier-than-thou. But she was so much better than book-Elena haha. I had no sympathy whatsoever for book-Elena! I was angry at Chaol too, I spent so much time wanting to slap him. Don't understand why everyone ships him with Celaena when he clearly does not deserve her/cannot accept her for who she really is!
Exactly! It’s nice to know other people feel the same way
Yes I’ve found my vampire diaries friends! 😂x
Yay!! ❤ I'm always looking for more of those in my life!
Whose your favourite? Damon or Stefan? X
Damon ❤ ❤ Always Damon. But I do love Stefan too. I even have a soft spot for Klaus. How about you? xx
Omg yes! Damon has been my fave from the very beginning! And yeah same Klaus and Stefan and also Enzo! X
Omg yes, how could I forget Enzo?! Have you watched The Originals too? I think I’m a couple of seasons behind with that, I’ve only watched the first one. And I still need to finish season 7 of TVD.
I need to watch season 8 of vampire diaries just waiting for it to come out on Netflix and funny you say that as I’m literally watching the originals as I type this, I’m also on season 1 x
TOTALLY agree with the historical fiction genre, I always try and read books from it and 95% of the time they always put me into book slumps, and the other half I fall in love with. I’ve tried to read All The Light We Cannot See THREE GOSH DARN times and I still haven’t gotten more than halfway through it 😞
That is EXACTLY what happens to me. Whenever I read one, I feel so uninspired to pick it up that I just don’t… and then I end up not reading ANYTHING for about a month, because I’m so bad at letting myself give up on a book I’m not enjoying. Hahah you have gotten further than me with All the Light We Cannot See then – I never made it past the first chapter! 😛
I can see where you all are getting at…I had to force myself through some parts of the book but I eventually finished it and OMG it was GORGEOUS!! I really loved it even though I’m not really interested in the hist-fic genre.
Hopefully I will finish it one day and feel the same way 🙂
Shatter Me was TERRIBLE 😂 Not sure how I got through it, honestly. I’m so with you on Harry Potter too. The ONLY canon pairing ship I loved ended up dead 😬 kinda paved the way for me rarely having canon ships, honestly. I rarely read historical fiction either unless it’s mixed with something else. In fact I think the only straight up historical I’ve read is The Book Thief.
Hahah, it really was terrible! I’m so impressed you finished it. Did it get any better? I’m guessing not. Sorry about your HP ship 😥 😥 I can see how that would ruin your trust in canon ships!! The Book Thief is definitely the only historical I’ve read in the past 8 years or something. Like you, I only really reach for it if it’s mixed with another genre, like historical paranormal fantasy or something 🙂
Oh my god! I absolutely love the Vampire Diaries series, but I didn’t even realise that there was books of that series so I am intrigued as I am a book worm 📚🐛 x
I love it too 🙂 Yesss, the books were written in the 90s I believe, so they do feel a bit dated, and the characters don’t have as much depth as they do in the show. But still worth reading if you’re a fan of the show!
Thank you! I’ll look into it! 😂xx
I haven’t seen this book tag but reading yours made me want to do it! 🙂 Which I probably will soon now haha.
I feel like I would agree with you on The Vampire Diaries, but I haven’t read the books yet. but I love the show soooooo much. *Drools over Damon.
I like Chaol Westfall, I’m not super obsessed cause I got pissed with him in like book 2 onwards haha. But I’m actually really keen for his book to come out later this year! I’d like to get to know his character more before I determine whether I love or hate him 🙂
I am OBSESSED with Damon haha. Definitely one of my all time favourite shows. I was pissed with Chaol from book 2 onwards too. Although I’m not a fan of him, I probably will still read his book, because I don’t want to miss out on part of the overall story. Plus, maybe I’ll like him more once I’ve had a chance to get to know him better.
i feel the exact same way, on all of that haha.
Shatter Me and Red Queen were such let downs for me; I expected it to be amazing due to all the hype around it! I totally agree with you about TVD: the tv series were way better than the books!
I know exactly what you mean. I’m too easily misled by the hype! They were massive let-downs. And yess TVD works so much better as a TV show. I think the characters have a lot more depth. In the book they felt a bit one-dimensional to me, and all of the romance was very insta-lovey.
Great post! I agree with you on Chaol. In the beginning, I kind of liked him, but then he just became so meh! Also, I could never get into Neil Gaiman’s books either, and I usually love fantasy.
Completely agree – I liked him in the first book, but from book 2 onwards I found myself either really angry at him, or not really caring about his perspective. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way about Neil Gaiman. I can’t work out what it is that stops me from connecting with his books, but I can never seem to get into them.
I thought I was the only one who didn’t like Shatter Me i was so confused i gave up. I didn’t like the writing style i’m pretty sure that it was a good book but i couldn’t finish that book.
I felt the same way! The writing style really got on my nerves, and some of the metaphors were so over-the-top that they became confusing. Sometimes I wished that just one sentence could be written in plain English!!
Don’t know if these are unpopular opinions, but you might find something you really like.
See what you think.
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I totally agree with your opinion on Shatter Me. I could not even bring myself to pick up another one of the books from that series…the whole “crossing out lines” thing as if it were her diary was great in theory but it was waaayyy overdone. It became really annoying after a while, trying to read through all the lines.
Oh my gosh yes, that was so irritating! I think there was too much style over substance in that book. I definitely won’t be picking up the sequels (or finishing the first book for that matter!)
I completely agree with you about Vampire Diaries. The books were kind of boring and Elena was annoying. I love the show though, and the Originals too.
Yes, they were pretty boring actually! Very slow paced and not much actually happening in each book. The show is amazing ❤ love The Originals too, although I've only watched season one so far.
So happy to see someone equally unenthusiastic about Harry Potter 😉 We are a rare breed!
Haha ahh sorry to disappoint, I’m definitely enthusiastic about Harry Potter, just not so enthusiastic about its romantic subplots!
Oh my gosh, everything that is here is literally me (well, relating to the books you mentioned that I’ve actually read). I think someone needs to kill Chaol with fire and I totally get what you meant about the books Vampire Diaries feeling dated. I personally loved the books, but I read them AFTER I started watching the show and it didn’t even feel close to the same, it’s almost completely different stories. And, y’know, Ian Somerhalder *cough*.
Hahah I’m glad someone feels as passionately about their hatred of Chaol as I do! Yes absolutely – the storyline in the Vampire Diaries books is very different. I also read them after watching the show – maybe I would have liked them more if I had read them first though.
I still love Twilight 🙂
Me too! Glad I’m not the only one. I recognise there are problems with it, but it’s the first book that really got me into YA, and I was SO obsessed with it at the time, so it will always have a place in my heart.
This is a great post – I can totally relate to so many of your responses. I am not a fan of Chaol – and I did not like his relationship with Celaena at all. I had never really thought about the pairings in Harry Potter, but I totally agree. Something just seems off about them.
Definitely! I remember feeling like people were just paired off with each other for the sake of it. Glad to meet another Chaol hater hahaa.
I pretty much liked Twilight too, however I didn’t complete the series. But I would probably hate it if I read it now!
I wish you liked Historical fictions, I am obsessed with them!
Great post! I’m a blogger newbie, but I’ll definitely do this tag soon 😀
Hahaha yeah, if I had never read Twilight as a teenager and picked it up now, I would probably hate it too! But as it was such a big part of my teenage years and got me into reading again, I will always love it, despite its problems!
With historical fiction, it’s not that I don’t like it, it’s more that I never feel like picking it up. But I usually really love it when I do pick it up (I adored The Book Thief!)
I totally agree with you about Chaol! I don’t get how people still ship him with Calaena- he was so annoying in Queen of Shadows. Also, Twilight was the first YA novel I ever read so it introduced to me to this new world that I have been obsessed with ever since. I agree that it’s definitely not the best but I’ll never be able to let it go.
Omg yes, I spent the whole of that book being annoyed beyond belief with Chaol. Glad I’m not the only one who still loves a bit of Twilight. I’ll have to re-read them sometime! 🙂
Love your unpopular opinions! I didn’t like Miss Peregrine’s and I don’t think Red Queen is for me. My teenage self will still like Twilight, but not adult me lol
Thank you! Glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. I liked the first half of Miss Peregrine’s because it was kind of creepy, but once the peculiar children appeared it wasn’t creepy any more so I got bored. Hahaha adult me still has a lot of teenage me in her, so I can’t quite let go!
Yeah no kidding. I was hoping the movie was good because it’s Tim Burton. But lots of the acting felt campy and a rushed plot…did you see the movie?
Yes I watched the movie quite recently – I liked it, it wasn’t the best Tim Burton I’ve ever seen, but I enjoyed it more than the book and thought it was fun! Although I do kind of agree with you about some of the acting!!
Loved this book tag post and yes anything with Damon in it wins hands down 😁
Thank you!! Couldn’t agree more ❤ ❤ I still need to catch up with Season 7, need my Damon fix!
Season 7 is even better, now that Elena is not there in it, Damon is back to being his usual smirky self which is simply irresistible 😁
Ahhh I can’t wait to watch it 😀 I do like Elena and Damon together, but I actually think Damon is a more interesting character when he is single!
Yes I totally agree with you, I mean yes I like Damon and Elena more than I liked Stefan n her but Damon Salvatore, Status Single is 😍