My Unpopular Book Opinions // Bookmas Day 10
Every reader has opinions they know will divide the room. These are mine. I’m not saying I’m right, but I am saying they came after a lot of “food for thought”, as they say.
1. Hardbacks Are Superior
I know so many people who wait patiently for the paperback release, and I understand why. They’re cheaper, lighter, easier to travel with. But for me, nothing beats a hardback.
There’s something almost traditional about them, like you’re holding something meant to last. The larger size doesn’t bother me at all. If anything, it feels more immersive. And I love the choice of keeping the dust jacket on or stripping it back to a beautiful naked cover.
Do hardbacks look better aesthetically? Yes. Is that the most important thing? Probably not. But I like it. It scratches that very specific part of my brain that enjoys order, beauty, and a shelf that feels intentional.
2. Series Covers Have to Match
I don’t care if they’re paperback or hardback, the covers must match.
Not identical, but cohesive. Same tone, font andspine layout. Author name and title the same way round. When publishers change the artwork or colour scheme halfway through a series, something inside me short-circuits.
If a series gets redesigned mid-run, I will rebuy it. I know some people love mismatched covers or don’t think it’s “that deep”, but for me it physically puts my teeth on edge. A mismatched series feels unfinished, like a sentence without punctuation. The covers have to match. This is not negotiable.
3. Spice Does Not Belong in YA
This one always sparks debate. For me, Young Adult is 13–18. New Adult sits more comfortably in that 18–24 bracket. Light spice in New Adult? Fine. Expected, even. But spice in YA makes me deeply uncomfortable.
Yes, I personally read a spicy book or two at 16. And honestly? I wish I hadn’t. It altered my brain chemistry in ways I now cringe at. It gave me a warped idea of relationships, intimacy, and expectations at an age when hormones and identity are already doing enough damage on their own.
Those topics should be explored, but in age-appropriate ways. Spicier content at that belongs in educational discussion, and safe frameworks, not romanticised and packaged as entertainment for teens.
4. Movie & TV Covers Need To Stop
I am so, so tired of movie and TV tie-in covers. An artist worked hard to design that original cover. It reflected the tone, themes, and soul of the book. So why does the movie poster suddenly get slapped on every edition once it’s adapted?
I don’t want a still from a film or the actors’ faces. I don’t want a reminder of an adaptation that might not even be good. Leave the book covers alone. Let books look like books.
5. Snapping The Spine Is A Crime
I hate cracked spines. Hate them. I know books aren’t meant to stay pristine forever, and I’m not saying they should be locked behind glass. But bending the cover back, folding the book in half, aggressively snapping the spine? Absolutely not.
Those cracks on the cover physically put me off. They feel violent. This is also, shockingly, another reason I prefer hardbacks. They’re sturdier, they age better, and they don’t demand spine sacrifice just to be readable.
6. E-Books & Special Editions Are Quietly Ruining Publishing
Let me be clear: I am not anti e-readers or special editions. I understand accessibility, convenience, and joy. This is an observation, not an attack.
But I’ve noticed two big trends:
- People wait for special editions, or skip the physical book entirely if they can’t get one.
- People buy the e-book because it releases earlier… and then still don’t read it before the physical copy comes out.
The result? Regular hardbacks and paperbacks sitting untouched on shelves.
This feels more like a publisher issue than a consumer one, but I do think readers should pause and ask why they’re buying a book.
- Are you buying the e-book just because it’s early, even though it’ll sit unread?
- Are you buying the special edition for the story, or because it’s pretty?
If it’s 100% about the story, why wait? Why skip the standard edition entirely?
7. You Can Boycott An Author, Just Don’t Make It Your Entire Personality
You are absolutely allowed to choose not to read an author based on personal morals or values. That’s valid. Full stop.
But we live in a time where social media makes it easy to shout from the rooftops, and sometimes it becomes all someone talks about. Every video, post and caption.
At that point, it stops being about books and starts being a campaign page, which is fine, if that’s what you want your space to be. But don’t then expect everyone else to engage with it or agree with you.
Many of us have book-only accounts (myself included). Those spaces are for reading, stories, and escapism. If I unfollow or disengage, it’s not because I’m uneducated or burying my head, it’s because I want a simpler book space.
Snap judgments, assumptions, and moral superiority are becoming far too common in book communities, and honestly? It’s exhausting.
And those are my unpopular book opinions! Do you agree with any of them?Are there any you strongly disagree with? Comment below.
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As always, thanks for reading…
