This week’s Top Five Wednesday topic is Books to Read Without the Synopsis and I’m here giving you all my thoughts on the Top Five books for that. Now, I will note that the topic seemed more geared toward books where I would be likely to say, “It’s best to go into this one blind,” and my post is more a mixture of that and also THIS SYNOPSIS LIES. Given how upset I get when a book I read doesn’t meet my expectations, I feel like that’s a legitimate reason to put it on this list. So, here we go! In no particular order, but numbered anyway for your convenience: My Top Five Books to Read Without the Synopsis!
1. Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
You may remember that I really enjoyed Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (check spelling) and I may have touched on my annoyance with the marketing of this book. But here’s the thing. A love story, though not necessarily synonymous with a happily ever after, is not the way to market a book that does not have an HEA for the couple. This is especially true when the book IS NOT A LOVE STORY AT ALL. Not just because it doesn’t end with an HEA for the couple–which, for the record, was the right storytelling device–but also because it’s literally about these two people navigating their world crumbling around them and the human experience associated with that. So yes, I understand why it was marketed as a love story because that’s probably the easiest way to describe this, but it’s misleading! Not to mention, in the blurb it tells you that they’re going to go through one of these doors, but they don’t go through a door until you’re like halfway through the book! Clearly I have a lot of feelings about this synopsis.
2. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Let’s talk about The Raven Boys because what is with that synopsis? The book is weird, sure, but like… That synopsis does not do it any amount of justice? At all??? I’m still aggravated by it. Fortunately, I listened to Kayla from BooksandLala talk about it and Cece from ProblemsofaBookNerd rave about them, so I decided to give the series a shot anyway, but seriously, why is that the synopsis? (Oh and surprise! I read The Raven Boys this month. You’ll see my thoughts on Friday!)
3. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Turning to book synopses that tell you something that doesn’t happen for AGES, thereby creating false expectations of the beginning of the book, I just started reading A Darker Shade of Magic, in which the synopsis tells you that Delilah saves Kell’s life, but like, I’m just past page 100 and the two still haven’t met. Like, I get it, sometimes the plot point that really kicks us off happens somewhat far into the book, but I’ve been reading the first 100 pages WAITING for this to happen and it still hasn’t.
4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl. Do not read the synopsis. That book is twisty as heck and any inkling you get about the plot of the book could ruin your enjoyment of the best thriller I’ve ever read. (Is there anyone out there who hasn’t read the book/seen the movie/been spoiled about this book already though? If you haven’t read this book/seen the movie, etc., let me know down below. I’m curious.)
5. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
This synopsis makes you think that the app development competition is going to be way more relevant than it is. Which, if you’re like me, is going to make you more excited about the book. Really, I just don’t like book synopses giving me false expectations of the book because that is RUDE.
Alright, that’s all I’ve got. What do you all think? Any books where you would recommend skipping the synopsis? Let me know in the comments down below!
xx
firewhiskeyreader 