The Anti-Romantic Book Tag: A Discussion of Unwanted Relationships and Shelf Faves

In this article, we'll be discussing the Anti-Romantic Book Tag, where individuals share their least favorite romantic relationships in literature. The tag is not limited to romance novels alone but can be applied to any book that sparks anti-romantic feelings.

The book that sparked my dislike for Alina and Mal's relationship in Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo was, without a doubt, the Grinch. I have always been Pro-Darkling, and their complicated yet toxic relationship is something I just couldn't get on board with. The dynamic between these two characters felt like a toxic cycle of possessiveness and control, making it impossible for me to root for them as a couple.

I'm not alone in my distaste for Alina and Mal's relationship; many readers have expressed similar sentiments about the series. In fact, Leigh Bardugo herself has acknowledged the complexity of their relationship and how it's open to interpretation. For those who share my dislike for this particular pairing, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Moving on to a more lighthearted topic, let's talk about books that have been collecting dust on our shelves for far too long. Have you ever found yourself with a book that you just can't seem to get rid of? For me, one such book is Delirium by Lauren Oliver. I've had this book on my shelf for years, and despite its intriguing premise, I've yet to crack it open. There's something about the premise that's just too enticing, and I'm determined to read it soon.

Another book that's been lingering on my shelf is The Uninvited by Sophie Jordan. This book has appeared on multiple TBR lists over the years, but I've always found myself in a moodless state when it comes to picking it up. Despite its promising premise, I just haven't been able to muster up the enthusiasm to dive into this one.

The world of classics is also replete with books that have been stuck on my shelf for far too long. One particular book that comes to mind is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. I've attempted to read this book three times now, and while it remains one of my favorite novels, something just isn't clicking. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm more familiar with the film adaptation, or maybe it's the sheer weight of expectation surrounding this classic. Whatever the reason, I find myself drawn back to it time and again.

Now, let's talk about characters whose deaths have left us feeling particularly bereft. For me, two such characters are Hestia from Harry Potter and Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars. Both characters left an indelible mark on my heart, making their passing feel like a personal loss.

Hestia's death in the final book of the series still haunts me to this day. Her innocence and purity made her such a compelling character, and I found it heartbreaking that she was taken from us so soon. It's not just her absence that gets to me but also the impact it had on Harry's journey.

Augustus Waters' passing in The Fault in Our Stars is another heart-wrenching moment that has left an indelible mark on my heart. Cole's character was one of those rare gems – witty, charming, and endearing all at once. His untimely departure left me feeling bereft, and I still struggle to come to terms with the fact that he's truly gone.

Moving on from tragic losses, let's talk about a more lighthearted topic: overpopulated bookshelves! For some of us, certain series can be overwhelming in their sheer length. While opinions may vary, two series that I think have expanded beyond their original trilogy status are The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare and The Selection series by Kiera Cass.

While both series have been praised for their world-building and character development, the expansion to multiple books has left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. There's something to be said about leaving well enough alone, especially when it comes to novels that have already mastered their craft.

Finally, let's talk about characters whose personalities are just plain grating. For me, Greg from Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is one such character. His awkwardness and entitlement make him a hard man to root for, and I found myself rolling my eyes at his antics more often than not. There's something to be said about lovable yet infuriating characters – they can be just as compelling as their more likable counterparts.

And that's all for the Anti-Romantic Book Tag! If you've been tagged, feel free to share your own least favorite romantic relationships and shelf faves in the comments below.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhey everyone it's haey and today I'm going to be filming the Grinch book tag so today is my first day of Christmas break finally so in order of Celebration I'm going to be doing this tag which is a little bit of a different Christmas tag it's one where you get to kind of talk about the books that you maybe didn't like so much or things that you didn't like in books um corresponding with kind of pessimistic Christmas things so I thought it seemed really fun and I'm doing it so let's go so just a little disclaimer since this tag is basically complaining about books that you didn't like that's basically the whole premise of it please try and not uh get mad at me for my opinions just because you love a book that I hate does not mean you should be ashamed of it at all I mean everyone has their own opinion I love a lot of books that other people hate so you just do you and I'm going do me question number one half the lights on your Christmas tree burnt out name a book series or character that started off really well but then went downhill so for this one I chose slammed by Colleen Hoover I didn't really enjoy this book all that much it's the first Colleen Hoover book that I did read and I know a lot of people really loved this book but I just I wasn't really that big of a fan and I hate saying that but I really didn't like it that much um I liked it a lot in the beginning but then I didn't like the twist at all it was just too weird for me to it reached way too far I just I didn't like it I'm sorry question number two annoying great Aunt Sally who will not leave you alone name a book that you didn't like but everyone else loves so you just can't get away from it I have three for this one so the first one is Beautiful Creatures by Cammy Garcia and Margaret stole now I know there are a lot of mixed opinions on this book but there really is a lot of people that really really love it I just absolutely hated this book I can't believe I even read it because it's like it's a really big book it's like one of the biggest books I've read read I just did not enjoy this book at all no no I just no I can like I mean I get why people would like it because the concept is pretty interesting I just found this book so boring but so many people love it so I just can't get away next is actually a recent read for me and that is the Winner's curse by Marie rosi I really didn't enjoy this book all much I wouldn't say that I hated it but I definitely didn't love it as much as a lot of people do a lot of people absolutely adore this book and I just felt like it was kind of boring I mean it really could have been great but I felt like the topic of cuz this uh book deals with slavery I felt like that wasn't really dealt with that well I'm going to be filming a review after this video so if you click the link here I it will open in a new window to the review and I'll also link it down below I just yeah I don't know and the final one is probably the one I hate the most and that is matched by Ali Condy I did not enjoy this book whatsoever I thought it was so boring the characters were really annoying it was just really really just not not good nope I hated it question number three your pets keep on knocking over the Christmas decorations can we just appreciate how cute my cat is right here like can't I can't do it name a character that kept on messing everything up for everyone else so first I have two characters from the same book and that is Aspen and America singer from the selection series I absolutely hate Aspen like if you have seen anything ever heard me talk about the selection you know I hate Aspen like I absolutely can't stand him but uh America is just a really annoying protagonist and both of them just keep on messing things up like separately but also together oh my God I can't stand her next is Ruby from The Darkest Minds which is another one of my favorite books specifically in this book Ruby messes things up for Everyone by being selfish and stupid and reasons and you'll know why if you've read this book it's very frustrating question number four you hear your parents putting out the Christmas presents and you realize Santa is not real name a book you were spoiled for so I was spoiled for City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra CLA um I was on Tumblr and I saw something about someone and I found out things and it was really annoying and I was also spoiled for the end of the summer I termed pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han I'm really mad about this cuz I was really looking forward to reading it no question number five it's freezing outside name a main character you just couldn't connect with so for this one I chose Alex from the effit list by Julie hurn I could not stand this main character she was really dumb she made really stupid decisions and she was just kind of super Reckless and I really just couldn't understand her at all and that's why I chose her question number six Mariah carries All I Want For Christmas Is You keeps on playing on the radio and it is giving you anti-romantic feelings name a couple you could not stand so this is actually going to be a little bit of a spoiler for Siege and Storm by leay bardugo so I'm going to put a little picture of the book cover right here and when that appears that means you should mute the video and then when it disappears you can unmute it cuz I'm done talking about it so I could not stand Alina and Mal in this book I just couldn't do it I hated their like relationships so much I am very very much Pro darkling question number seven that scratchy homemade Christmas sweer that you got years ago on Christmas but you just cannot get rid of name me a few books that you just haven't read yet and have been on your shelf forever but you do not have the heart to get rid of so first I have delirium by Lauren Oliver I have had this book for a really long long time and I have meant to read it but I just haven't done it yet I don't know why but I'm not going to get rid of it cuz I do really want to read it next is The Uninvited by Sophie Jordan I've had this book for quite a while it's been on quite a few of my tbrs I just haven't been in the mood to pick it up and finally there are a lot of Classics on my shelf that I haven't read yet and I have had for a really long time but specifically One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken key I have tried to read this three separate times haven't been able to I don't know why I really do want to read it though so it's like it's annoying question number eight grima Got Run Over by a Reindeer name a character death you are just not over so this question is obviously going to have some spoilers but I'm going to put a little picture of my cat down here so when it appears you can mute the video and then when it disappears you can unmute it I am going to be spoiling the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling uh the fult and Our Stars by John Green and and in the afterlife by Alexander Bracken so this is the nearest Harry Potter book that I have because I have I'm reading this one right now I don't know what book it happens in because I haven't gotten to the book yet but I have seen the movies and the death I can't get over in the Harry Potter series is hewig I don't understand why it had to happen it was just so heartbreaking just why why would you kill her she's so innocent I think it happens in the last book but I just just so sad and from in the afterlife I really cannot get over the fact that Cole dies because I absolutely loved him and I just he was such a good character and then he just oh my God it was so heartbreaking I I still can't deal with it I just I can't and finally the obvious one Augustus Waters oh God question number nine the malls are overly crowded with holiday shoppers Namy book series that has too many books in it and this one's going to be kind of an unpopular opinion but I think that the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clair has too many books in it um it just kind of went like it was supposed to be a Trilogy everything was nicely wrapped up in um city of glass and then all of a sudden she's like oh I'm going to write more books and that just kind of bugs me um I just feel like it should have ended after city of glass because it took like a completely different storyline and I just I didn't enjoy the other three as much as I enjoyed the first three I don't know I just that's an unpopular opinion please don't hate me for it and along those same lines I think that the selection series by K Cass has too many books they are adding two more books to this series it was a trilogy but then they decided that they're going to add two more books and that really just kind of gets me because you said it was going to be done and then it's not and it's like what why I don't get it and question number 10 the Grinch name a character that you hate a main character so for this one I chose Greg from me and Earl and the dying girl I could not stand him I just thought he was annoying and a little bit of a prick I just couldn't do it I could not stand him so that is all for this tag today um I tag everyone who hasn't done this yet because I think most people have done it but if you haven't I tag you you can say tagged you and everything so yeah thank you for watching this video and I'll see you guys in the next one byehey everyone it's haey and today I'm going to be filming the Grinch book tag so today is my first day of Christmas break finally so in order of Celebration I'm going to be doing this tag which is a little bit of a different Christmas tag it's one where you get to kind of talk about the books that you maybe didn't like so much or things that you didn't like in books um corresponding with kind of pessimistic Christmas things so I thought it seemed really fun and I'm doing it so let's go so just a little disclaimer since this tag is basically complaining about books that you didn't like that's basically the whole premise of it please try and not uh get mad at me for my opinions just because you love a book that I hate does not mean you should be ashamed of it at all I mean everyone has their own opinion I love a lot of books that other people hate so you just do you and I'm going do me question number one half the lights on your Christmas tree burnt out name a book series or character that started off really well but then went downhill so for this one I chose slammed by Colleen Hoover I didn't really enjoy this book all that much it's the first Colleen Hoover book that I did read and I know a lot of people really loved this book but I just I wasn't really that big of a fan and I hate saying that but I really didn't like it that much um I liked it a lot in the beginning but then I didn't like the twist at all it was just too weird for me to it reached way too far I just I didn't like it I'm sorry question number two annoying great Aunt Sally who will not leave you alone name a book that you didn't like but everyone else loves so you just can't get away from it I have three for this one so the first one is Beautiful Creatures by Cammy Garcia and Margaret stole now I know there are a lot of mixed opinions on this book but there really is a lot of people that really really love it I just absolutely hated this book I can't believe I even read it because it's like it's a really big book it's like one of the biggest books I've read read I just did not enjoy this book at all no no I just no I can like I mean I get why people would like it because the concept is pretty interesting I just found this book so boring but so many people love it so I just can't get away next is actually a recent read for me and that is the Winner's curse by Marie rosi I really didn't enjoy this book all much I wouldn't say that I hated it but I definitely didn't love it as much as a lot of people do a lot of people absolutely adore this book and I just felt like it was kind of boring I mean it really could have been great but I felt like the topic of cuz this uh book deals with slavery I felt like that wasn't really dealt with that well I'm going to be filming a review after this video so if you click the link here I it will open in a new window to the review and I'll also link it down below I just yeah I don't know and the final one is probably the one I hate the most and that is matched by Ali Condy I did not enjoy this book whatsoever I thought it was so boring the characters were really annoying it was just really really just not not good nope I hated it question number three your pets keep on knocking over the Christmas decorations can we just appreciate how cute my cat is right here like can't I can't do it name a character that kept on messing everything up for everyone else so first I have two characters from the same book and that is Aspen and America singer from the selection series I absolutely hate Aspen like if you have seen anything ever heard me talk about the selection you know I hate Aspen like I absolutely can't stand him but uh America is just a really annoying protagonist and both of them just keep on messing things up like separately but also together oh my God I can't stand her next is Ruby from The Darkest Minds which is another one of my favorite books specifically in this book Ruby messes things up for Everyone by being selfish and stupid and reasons and you'll know why if you've read this book it's very frustrating question number four you hear your parents putting out the Christmas presents and you realize Santa is not real name a book you were spoiled for so I was spoiled for City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra CLA um I was on Tumblr and I saw something about someone and I found out things and it was really annoying and I was also spoiled for the end of the summer I termed pretty Trilogy by Jenny Han I'm really mad about this cuz I was really looking forward to reading it no question number five it's freezing outside name a main character you just couldn't connect with so for this one I chose Alex from the effit list by Julie hurn I could not stand this main character she was really dumb she made really stupid decisions and she was just kind of super Reckless and I really just couldn't understand her at all and that's why I chose her question number six Mariah carries All I Want For Christmas Is You keeps on playing on the radio and it is giving you anti-romantic feelings name a couple you could not stand so this is actually going to be a little bit of a spoiler for Siege and Storm by leay bardugo so I'm going to put a little picture of the book cover right here and when that appears that means you should mute the video and then when it disappears you can unmute it cuz I'm done talking about it so I could not stand Alina and Mal in this book I just couldn't do it I hated their like relationships so much I am very very much Pro darkling question number seven that scratchy homemade Christmas sweer that you got years ago on Christmas but you just cannot get rid of name me a few books that you just haven't read yet and have been on your shelf forever but you do not have the heart to get rid of so first I have delirium by Lauren Oliver I have had this book for a really long long time and I have meant to read it but I just haven't done it yet I don't know why but I'm not going to get rid of it cuz I do really want to read it next is The Uninvited by Sophie Jordan I've had this book for quite a while it's been on quite a few of my tbrs I just haven't been in the mood to pick it up and finally there are a lot of Classics on my shelf that I haven't read yet and I have had for a really long time but specifically One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken key I have tried to read this three separate times haven't been able to I don't know why I really do want to read it though so it's like it's annoying question number eight grima Got Run Over by a Reindeer name a character death you are just not over so this question is obviously going to have some spoilers but I'm going to put a little picture of my cat down here so when it appears you can mute the video and then when it disappears you can unmute it I am going to be spoiling the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling uh the fult and Our Stars by John Green and and in the afterlife by Alexander Bracken so this is the nearest Harry Potter book that I have because I have I'm reading this one right now I don't know what book it happens in because I haven't gotten to the book yet but I have seen the movies and the death I can't get over in the Harry Potter series is hewig I don't understand why it had to happen it was just so heartbreaking just why why would you kill her she's so innocent I think it happens in the last book but I just just so sad and from in the afterlife I really cannot get over the fact that Cole dies because I absolutely loved him and I just he was such a good character and then he just oh my God it was so heartbreaking I I still can't deal with it I just I can't and finally the obvious one Augustus Waters oh God question number nine the malls are overly crowded with holiday shoppers Namy book series that has too many books in it and this one's going to be kind of an unpopular opinion but I think that the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clair has too many books in it um it just kind of went like it was supposed to be a Trilogy everything was nicely wrapped up in um city of glass and then all of a sudden she's like oh I'm going to write more books and that just kind of bugs me um I just feel like it should have ended after city of glass because it took like a completely different storyline and I just I didn't enjoy the other three as much as I enjoyed the first three I don't know I just that's an unpopular opinion please don't hate me for it and along those same lines I think that the selection series by K Cass has too many books they are adding two more books to this series it was a trilogy but then they decided that they're going to add two more books and that really just kind of gets me because you said it was going to be done and then it's not and it's like what why I don't get it and question number 10 the Grinch name a character that you hate a main character so for this one I chose Greg from me and Earl and the dying girl I could not stand him I just thought he was annoying and a little bit of a prick I just couldn't do it I could not stand him so that is all for this tag today um I tag everyone who hasn't done this yet because I think most people have done it but if you haven't I tag you you can say tagged you and everything so yeah thank you for watching this video and I'll see you guys in the next one bye\n"