As much as we love books, us bookworms are able to find a thousand different things to be annoyed about with them. Some of these are personal opinions, but many are common annoyances across the board and we seem to have a global consensus about them being annoying. To express my annoyance, I’m here with a book tag called the I’m So Annoyed Book Tag, which was created by the YouTube channel Books I’m Not Reading, and for which I’ve done a video for on my own YouTube channel here: The Melodramatic Bookworm is Annoyed.
Without any further ado, let’s dive right into these very interesting questions that are bound to end up in steam coming out of my ears. 😛
1. Do publishers ever do things that you find annoying? Share an example.
Oh absolutely! Look, I know it’s part of the business and all, but come on! Publishing’s first order of business should be to not piss off readers, the people who give you business in the first place. But go off, I guess. 
A few things that they do that annoys me are:
- Mismatched heights of books in a series: I mean, it’s not like publishers don’t have the previous books for reference! Use a scale!
- Mismatched covers for a series: WHY would you do something like this in the first place?
- Changing covers halfway through a series: *bombastic side-eyeing them*
- Movie tie-in editions: The book came first. Just because they’re making a movie out of the story doesn’t mean you completely disregard the original book! I mean, I get it, there’s a whole side of business right there that is rather bloodthirsty. But leave books alone, please, I beg of you. Or if you can’t do that, at least don’t wipe out all the original book covers in favor of the movie tie-in editions. Please!
2. Have you ever been annoyed by a spoiler? Even something as simple as someone else telling you there’s a great twist?
I. Hate. Spoilers. I hate them with a passion and I will forever be annoyed with those who give them out. Because it’s one thing to want them for yourself but to foist them on someone who doesn’t want them? *eyes narrowing*
So basically: That’s my secret, Captain. I’m always annoyed by spoilers.
3. Have you ever been annoyed by what you discovered in a Little Free Library, a book sale or used bookstore? Tell us what you found and why it was so annoying.
I haven’t come across any Little Free Libraries here but there have been a couple of things I find annoying about book sales, not bookstores. About book sales on websites, I have received pirated and damaged copies before, which bummed me out even though it is easy enough to get replacements. Damaged copies are still ok. It’s the pirated copies that annoy the heck out of me.
4. When it comes to short story collections, are you annoyed if there’s a novella in the middle of the collection?
Oh gosh, yes! This is supposed to be a SHORT STORY collection! What is a full-blown novella doing in the middle of these cute-length stories? Nope, go be your own self in your own book.
5. Deckled edges: beautiful or annoying?
Visually, they’re beautiful. But texturally, they can be SO annoying. Imagine getting a paper cut because you turned the page wrong. I mean, this is a possibility even otherwise, but deckled edges just take it to the next level.
6. Other people’s annotations in a used book or library book: Annoying or are you OK with it?
Used book? Sure. It was their book, they did what they wanted with it.
Library book? I’d be furious. It is more than annoying because it’s not their property to be doing stuff like that. It’s more book vandalism in the case of library books than anything.
7. If there’s a series or a collection of certain kinds of books (like an imprint) and changes are made, are you annoyed or OK with it? If yes, give us an example.
More than anything, I’m annoyed by height differences, something I have spoken about in a previous question before. One huge example (pun not intended) is The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. The first three books were cute and nice. Then came book 4, like it had taken steroids or something, and it towers over the other three. I’ll be so pissed if it goes back to the previous size for book 5.
Another series that comes to mind is The Poppy War series. Books 1 & 2 were one size, like Jaya, and then came book 3, like Amitabh. WHY, publishers, why?!
8. Do the decisions of characters in a novel ever annoy you? Share the book and what decisions you found annoying.
Okay, this happens way more often than I like, but then again, they are characters, they’re supposed to find their way by making stupid decisions yada yada yada. I understand that, but it doesn’t stop me from getting annoyed at them. Especially the miscommunication trope. Like… JUST TALK! You KNOW that the miscommunication is causing the problems. Why won’t you solve it by talking?!
One example that comes to mind is Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez. I read this in February this year and every time the characters assumed anything, I had steam coming out of my ears. I have a problem with Abby Jimenez wanting all her female characters to have babies, but this sort of superseded it, it was so bad.
9. Are you ever annoyed by how someone organizes their books? What do you find annoying?
Nah, if it’s someone’s personal library, I don’t get annoyed. Because they might have their own system I don’t know about and I’m not about to upend their system.
Bookstores and libraries on the other hand – oooof! People leaving books all haphazardly after pulling them out of shelves will always irk me a little. I get it, you don’t work there, but unless you are disabled and are not able to do it, at least put it back like you found it, man. It’s not that difficult. There have been so many times when I’ve been to a bookstore or library and started stacking books, and my husband would jokingly say, “hey, you don’t work here, you know.”
10. Share something bookish that you find annoying.
Small font. My eyes aren’t what they once were and small font makes me put the book back before they can say ‘tiny print’. But even if my eyes were okay, why would I want to squint at a page when I want to relax by reading? I know it’s a whole other conversation in the publishing industry, but come on, man!
So that was my I’m So Annoyed Book Tag. What did you think of this book tag? What are your answers to these questions? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
If you’d like to watch this book tag instead, here’s where you can: The Melodramatic Bookworm is Annoyed.
I’ll see you in the next blog post.
Until next time, keep reading, keep watching, and add melodrama to your life!
The Melodramatic Bookworm 
Publishers changing the covers partway through a series is the thing I hate most. Especially if it’s a new series as it’s impossible to get a complete set. Hate different heights too 😀
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