This post is a little bit different, because I’d like to get to know you all better! I’ve been reading a lot lately, not that it’s any different, but I’ve been signing up to read and review some authors new books. While this is super exciting (free books! romance!), when I read the blurb provided by the author, I have to really think about what I’m going to read. I don’t want to read a book and not enjoy it, then read a bad review- just because there was something in the book I didn’t like.

For example? Cheating.  I can NOT read a book that has the main character, female or male, cheating on each other. I can sometimes get away with if they’re not together, in the beginning, and them (usually the guy) sleeping with someone else to “forget” the girl. While this bothers me, I can usually get over it while yelling at the guy in my head he’ll regret it. And I do the same if the girl sleeps with another guy to get over the main guy. But if they’re together? And someone cheats? I lose my freaking shit. Not even going to lie.

I read this book last year where the guy gets a chance to play in the minor leagues, and he cheats on his girl(I won’t name the book). I had anxiety for a freaking month after that. I tried to keep reading thinking “no, no NO THIS DIDN’T REALLY HAPPEN!” but it did! (By the way, totally getting anxiety right now thinking about it- cause I’m a weirdo). I had to read the second book just to find out what the outcome of it was- even though I couldn’t finish reading the first book! I don’t know why this bothers me, I was never cheated on, and now I’m engaged to a wonderful man. I can read dark romances, ones with lots of blood and gore, but throw in some cheating and my stomach and head go haywire for a month.

Books with cheating should come with a warning or something.

Reading about people doing drugs does the same thing to me. Drugs are a weird thing for me. Even reading about people smoking a little weed in a book gets me nervous. I have a control issue (see anxiety weirdness from above) so I don’t like drugs. It’s my personal thing, and it doesn’t necessarily stop me from reading a book, but it can deter me from it. It’s one of the reasons I tend to stay away from rock star romances. It’s just not my thing.

Something that will make me drop a book faster than cheating or anything else is abuse by the hero or heroine. Usually, I don’t see physical abuse by either of the main characters, but occasionally I will see mental or emotional abuse. I read a book, granted it was an older romance novel, not a contemporary, where the MC was emotionally abusive and manipulative(I don’t remember the book I read it in high school). One part I remember clearly was the guy was not happy about something the female did, so waited in her house (that he did not have a key to) in the dark, for her to come home. Scared the crap out of her! She was legitimately scared!

I’ve read a ton of alpha male romances. Where the guy is overly possessive and jealous. But none of the guys I’ve read have tried to scare their girl. And when they do, they apologize profusely, explaining what they were trying to do. Everyone loves a good grovel every now and then. The book before? The girl who let me borrow the book got the book back-when I threw it at her. That’s the only scene I remember- but I remember thinking that the guy was a manipulative jerk.

Cheating- I stop reading. Drugs- I just don’t like em. Abuse- oh hell no.

What’s something that makes you drop a book and run?