LaylaConversationscelebrity likeness / food comparisons / good-description / heroes / metaphor / othering / psychological insights / unappealing descriptions35 Comments

Layla: I’m starting off this conversation about hero descriptions with one anecdote and two questions. The anecdote is about a book I recently picked up, Erin Satie’s Book of Love. Jennie did a fabulous review of it. I usually love Erin Satie’s books, but there was a description of the ... more >

JanineConversationsbad outcome / bodice rippers / breakup / character death / HEA / reader expectations / reader response26 Comments

There was recently a hullabaloo about Devil in Disguise, Lisa Kleypas’ historical romance, around the time of its release in July. Here’s what one Goodreads reviewer said in her review: Fourteen years ago, I drove like a madwoman an hour away to my nearest B&N with a cranky teething baby ... more >

JanineConversationsbook titles / book-covers / chat / grammar / marketing / publishing trends18 Comments

Recently, Jayne, myself and a friend of ours (someone who writes grammar textbooks) had this conversation: Jayne: I just started The Ex Hex and am hoping for a cutesy rom-com. We’ll see what I get. Janine: Have you noticed how The [Adjective] [Noun] titles have become a trend in contemporary ... more >

JanineConversations / Letters of Opinionabortion / Alaska / Texas18 Comments

Recently a Berkley publicist sent me an email highlighting several books coming out in December 2021. I was struck by the number of books mentioned that were set in Alaska. Here are brief excerpts from their descriptions on Amazon: Love and Let Bark by Alanna Martin (Hearts of Alaska Book ... more >

JanineConversationsbook marketing / false advertising / publishing trends / reader expectations18 Comments

Janine: In our recent joint review of Helen Hoang’s The Heart Principle, Jayne and I expressed our dismay over the way the book is marketed, and over missold books more generally: Jayne: I also feel that in my opinion, this is more a women’s fiction book albeit one with strong ... more >