This is great, it definitely throws me off reading sometimes when books are marketed towards me in such a typical trope-like way. Joke or not, maybe marketing should be your next move because some of those books got a whole lot more interesting to me when you described them!
i love that! historically fairy tales were very much *not* about the romance, so it seems empowering to embrace that and return to its roots, yet subvert it to make it funny? Sign me up!
Love this! I understand that genre/tropes help readers find what they are looking for. But this feels much more creative, and specific at the same time.
THANK YOU! If we’re in a creative field, why not lean into that? I’m seeing more of “weird girl literature” pop up as a niche subgenre and that is EXACTLY the kind of energy I want more of in our book stores
Reading this helped me zero in on what made me uncomfortable in the last cozy mystery I read. Which is useful because for my first MFA assignment, I have to pick apart the use of tropes in it. Uzma Jalaluddin's Detective Aunty, worth a read. Thanks!
WAIT! I am dying to know what made you uncomfortable about it! it’s really the cozy mysteries that i struggle with! and the wiiiiiide wiiiide realm of fantasy novels.
also - just added to my TBR. Ayesha at Last by the same author has also been hanging on my TBR for far too long.
Substack has made my TBR grow exponentially. I think I need to hole away for a year to catch up... but (!) I'm glad I can help someone else add to theirs :)
When books are marketed to me in this fashion - tropes and all - I do not even consider reading them! But then again, I am a literary historian and I expect a lot of a novel to which I dedicate many hours of my lifetime! On the other hand, choosing the books shortlisted for The Booker Prize, or the Prix Goncourt or the German Buchpreis, I am pretty sure of having a good time with a book. And if I don't - I always stop reading after 50 pages if a book doesn't "speak" to me. Maybe I miss out on great books with my method, so I'll look into some that you are recommending here. If you like,
i can so see that being a challenge - but I believe all the best stories are genre blends! I wonder how outlander queried, given it's HF x Fantasy (right? that'd be Fantasy? Or is time travel more Magical Realism?)
I would settle for HF except that is only used part of the time. It does cover 6 centuries but is anchored in present day. Because of large work count (like Outlander) it looks like I need to try querying as Fantasy. I agree blending genres is very fun. Thanks for your comment.
fwiw - I tried to schedule this for the typical Friday release but I must be on vacation brain already... womp.
This is great, it definitely throws me off reading sometimes when books are marketed towards me in such a typical trope-like way. Joke or not, maybe marketing should be your next move because some of those books got a whole lot more interesting to me when you described them!
LOL thank you - that is high praise because marketing scares the hell out of me. I feel like those who can do it well are geniuses.
I'm all about fractured fairy tales that are not about romance but more about getting folks what they need in a funny way.
i love that! historically fairy tales were very much *not* about the romance, so it seems empowering to embrace that and return to its roots, yet subvert it to make it funny? Sign me up!
Love these. They feel so spot on.
thank you!! I'm glad they resonated :)
Love this! I understand that genre/tropes help readers find what they are looking for. But this feels much more creative, and specific at the same time.
THANK YOU! If we’re in a creative field, why not lean into that? I’m seeing more of “weird girl literature” pop up as a niche subgenre and that is EXACTLY the kind of energy I want more of in our book stores
Love this! Amen! Yes!!!
thank you! & thanks for restacking! :)
Reading this helped me zero in on what made me uncomfortable in the last cozy mystery I read. Which is useful because for my first MFA assignment, I have to pick apart the use of tropes in it. Uzma Jalaluddin's Detective Aunty, worth a read. Thanks!
WAIT! I am dying to know what made you uncomfortable about it! it’s really the cozy mysteries that i struggle with! and the wiiiiiide wiiiide realm of fantasy novels.
also - just added to my TBR. Ayesha at Last by the same author has also been hanging on my TBR for far too long.
Genre rebrand for Midwest authors: Midwest chic mystery. (My books are "The Devil Wears Prada" meets a Wisconsin supper club.)
this sounds SO fun. *immediately adds to tbr*
Thank you! The Backyard Model Mysteries are available on Goodreads and the 'Zon. I hope you enjoy them! ❤️ Great post, btw!
Totally with you on that! I get why we have genres, but let’s shake things up and make it more fun and less restrictive.
I love this BUT for me, Addie LaRue is more mystical/karmic/romantic/bewitching tale of fate vs. free will. Is that a genre?
Let's make it a genre! the world is our literary oyster
Love these!
ABSOLUTELY YES to all of this! I must say this is an excellent reading list *add to TBR pile*
Substack has made my TBR grow exponentially. I think I need to hole away for a year to catch up... but (!) I'm glad I can help someone else add to theirs :)
I am loving these genre rebrands AND adding a few things to my Libby holds…. Thanks as always, BB!
When books are marketed to me in this fashion - tropes and all - I do not even consider reading them! But then again, I am a literary historian and I expect a lot of a novel to which I dedicate many hours of my lifetime! On the other hand, choosing the books shortlisted for The Booker Prize, or the Prix Goncourt or the German Buchpreis, I am pretty sure of having a good time with a book. And if I don't - I always stop reading after 50 pages if a book doesn't "speak" to me. Maybe I miss out on great books with my method, so I'll look into some that you are recommending here. If you like,
check out my international book reviews on https://anettepieper.substack.com/p/across-the-page-international-book-634 anettepieper.substack.com
oh i can't wait to check these out - THANK YOU!
I am glad you took a look! Let me know when you've read one of these…
My ms is Contemporary Historical Fiction with a touch of Fantasy and Magical Realism.
Querying is a challenge.
i can so see that being a challenge - but I believe all the best stories are genre blends! I wonder how outlander queried, given it's HF x Fantasy (right? that'd be Fantasy? Or is time travel more Magical Realism?)
I would settle for HF except that is only used part of the time. It does cover 6 centuries but is anchored in present day. Because of large work count (like Outlander) it looks like I need to try querying as Fantasy. I agree blending genres is very fun. Thanks for your comment.