When the publisher puts a huge unremovable stamp/stick on the cover of the book or when the cover of the book is just the movie poster, I just want the original book cover with nothing on it

*"THERE ARE NO EXPIRATION DATES ON BOOKS!"* I need that on a t-shirt!

I have NEVER understood why all trilogies and series don’t have the number on the spine, clearly indicating their order! I don’t want to read the third book, I wanna start from the beginning! 😤

I used to be the "How have you never read this book?" person until a friend and I got to talking about the importance of language. Now I'll say things like "You are in for a treat!" because I honestly want people to feel excited about going into a book I love, not feeling judged for not getting around to it until now. As for Reader Icks, I hate when people gatekeep what counts as a "book". Do I prefer physically reading full length chunky novels? Absolutely. Do I still think audiobooks and manga count as reading a book? Heck yes.

What icks me is that when I'm reading an enemies-to-lovers and it turns out to be instant-love, or when I'm reading a fantasy that keeps predicting about 'supposed destruction' and nothing happens in the end, no twist, and the author just ends the book with a cliffhanger. Also, another thing that icks me is people reading classics and thinking they're high class or something.

My biggest pet peeve is when I start to buy a series and then they change the covers halfway through from the original.

Totally agree with “books don’t have expiration dates”. I intentionally do not read just released books. Some books seem like a bad fashion trend until it’s “marinated” awhile then others realize its rating should be different. Also, an ICK for me is when they put a “Netflix “ sticker on it. Especially if you didn’t even know it was made into a movie, series or whatever. It’s like book click bait.

I totally agree with the sizing ick! One of mine is trying to finish buying a series and not being able to complete it with the same cover design set because it was re-designed and you either can't find the og design or they are 2x or more the price.

I agree with the trope one. I remember a time when if you said it was "enemies-to-lovers" for example, ppl were upset at you for spoiling the book (outside of novels studied in school). Nowadays, it seems to have become some sort of marketing strategy, idk. It bothers me to no end. If you tell me the trope, I won't read the book because it's a spoiler for me.

I HATE when people say "I would read more if I had the time." I feel like it insinuates that I'm not doing something productive. Anyone else?

I loved your explanation about why you can’t be a minimalist because “books” - it actually made me laugh out loud. Same, Jesse, same!

YES about the tropes! I'm in the middle of a book just now and it got spoiled because I saw someone talking about the tropes in a 'spoiler free' review by saying it was enemies-to-lovers. It was the first book in the series and it hadn't seemed to be going down that route at all, but as soon as I found out, I knew exactly who it was going to be and that certain other things had to happen for this relationship to form. It's essentially spoiling the ending and takes out the fundamental will-they-won't-they basis of the trope! It's especially annoying in YA since they already follow pretty simple if x, then y. This book was at least trying to lead you down a red herring route which was exciting, but after I read the trope it just stole the enjoyment a bit. There was a massive trend of people doing 'do you want a book with friends, that become lovers, then become enemies, that become reluctant allies again and then back to lovers?'... WHAT?! You basically just told me all the major plot points and their fallout.... like seriously!

Yeeees! I hate snobby readers. I still hate those people who say things like, “idk how anyone could enjoy this book” but I really get the ick from those people who say things like, “how could you not like this book, it’s amazing and perfect!”

Good to hear I’m not the only one that has some of these “icks” as well!

I can’t stand Netflix stickers and it’s worse when they completely stop printing the original covers. Makes me want to cry😿

*reading ick* I want to know as little as possible about a book before I read it while simultaneously knowing enough to gage my interest. It can be a hard thing to balance because I often find out too much (like a trope for example) and it can ruin the potential of a good read 😭

"Even if you have a logical answer, I don't care" -Me, everyday, always Also, im IN LOVE with that shirt!

When authors change the covers in the MIDDLE OF A SERIES!!!!!! It's like oh I have all of the books they look so nice together and then it's immediately a cover change that matches none of the other books. It makes me want to cry sometimes but then I go and buy the books again with the new covers because I'm weak and I need them to match.

Agree with you on most things and, Jesse, your bookshelves are STUNNING.🤩 Ok, my own bookish pet peeve is when publishers abandon books mid series. They just stop translating them. I guess it doesn't apply that much to people in America /Canada/England etc, because most of the best-selling books are already written in english so maybe you've not faced this situation before (you lucky lucky folks😏). For publishing in my country it's completely normal though. Just imagine getting invested in this new wonderful story, starting to love these characters only to find out than the LAST book in the series will never come.. "ok," you think, "it's fine." cuz you can just go and order the origina- ..oh, you've already shared this series with your entire family (where no one speaks English) and now you're all invested.. Damn it, bookish world! *I trusted you and you betrayed me.* Yeah.. Hate that.)

Only og’s remember “Ayo what’s good reader fam”

Listen, I am in bookseller school and recently we had a class about audio books. And the whole "knowing" how they look is a thing. Especially when an author or actor is reading the book and we know them from some other contect and already have preconcieved notions about who they are. So you are definitely onto something there 😅

My biggest ick is when people judge someone for their reading preferences. You can read Twilight, classics from 200 years ago, Divergent, 50 shades, Wattpad. As long as you're enjoying it no one has the right to say anything about it.

I should say the fact that I was very late to booktube! So I related strongly to the fact that "You're so late in reading this book" Because, I'm someone who's constantly late to everything, whether it be books, K-Pop, whatever. But seeing this video made me feel less alone 'cause I feel that this is a problem that most readers face (i'M JUST NOW ON SIEGE AND STORM, JUST NOW IN THE GRISHAVERSE, JUST TO PROVE MY PONT).Thanks, Jesse! u MADE ME FEEL LESS ALONE

Oh yeaaaaahhh - I have FEW reader icks... 1) I HATE when books have weird formats... I just had to return Gallant by V.E Schwab because I couldn't STAND that this book didn't match ANY other I have from Schwab... I'll wait for polish translation because I know it's going to have 'regular' size. 2) I HATE when publisher changes their logo in the middle of publishing some series... 3) I HATE when spines are mismatched (different lettering/mismatched title/author placing) 4) I HATE when paperback covers are made from something like cardboard (really thick paper - not floppy at all) because it's instant 'spine-breaker' for me... 5) I HATE when publishers stop translating books in the middle of a series (or worse... they don't publish LAST book in a series) (I'm from Poland, and sometimes I buy books in original language and sometimes I wait for polish translation) I guess I could go on... But I'll stop here :D

Thank you so much for saying this cuz i agreeeee!! I hate it when people recommend me books based on tropes because i just don't wanna know! It gives away the fun of reading the book.

I’m a slow reader I know this about myself. But when others say “you are still reading that book” mind your own business Nancy let me read at own pace.

I feel like there's a big overlap between the "How have you never read this book" crowd and the people who only read books they see on social media because I can't really see doing that with those random, unpopular books you find at used book stores or in the discount section.

Argh!!! When they add “A Novel” to the title/cover. No ____ we KNOW it’s a novel! Drives me batty. Also, when it’s obvious the author didn’t keep any kind of file on a character. In one book the main female character went from being a very slender blonde with sun kissed skin to being a very curvy mahogany skinned woman with dark hair. I had to keep back tracking to make sure I had the correct character in mind as I read. Printing/assembly errors. Words crooked on the page, fonts the change mid sentence for no reason, words chopped off at the edge of the page, etc.

I’ve always loved reading but just recently discovered booktube, and man it’s increased my love for books. I’ve finally started growing my collection of books I bought myself, not just ones my family owns.

What does my head in the The Obligatory Kiss Scene in books and films. Despite not being a fan of romance I don't mind it (or might even dig it) if has a plot of its own, or if it has actual consequences on the main plot at least. But I really hate it when there's The Obligatory Romance when its not necessary. If I wanted romance I would have picked up a fantasy-romance or a romcom, I don't want it cluttering my dumb crash and burn stuff or whatever

My ick - when someone reads the first line of a book and says it’s trash. Yes the first line is important and is meant to draw your readers in, but at least give the book a chance before throwing it aside. Of course to each their own… I guess my biggest ick is just being judgmental about people’s book choices.

I have noticed that you are very careful to have all the books on a shelf be the same height. I am curious what you do with the books that don't fit? None of my shelves are even because I like to order by author and their different books, editions, paperbacks vs. hardbacks, etc. just are not the same height. Is height one of your purchase criteria? Just curious. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for making it and sharing.

Jesse: "I hate Snow!" Me, a person named Snow, sitting here minding my own business: 🧍🏼‍♀

When people put stickers on the front covers of books! Especially when the sticker covers part of the title or the author's name.

Love your shirt ♥️ it gives the summer vibes🌻🌼🌞

My reader icks is when the publisher decide that THE book you wanted to be translate soooo bad is going to be out 2 weeks maybe . AND THEN they decide to pick another date for it to be release like 2 month later !! (But it is for me , because I am french and my level in english isn't that good so that I can read all off the new release in english and sometimes i can even order the book in my country without extremely prices shipping cost) So I have , sometimes , to wait a lot since a lot of english books are FINALLY french translate to read them.

The Ick of "How can anyone like this?" applies to other things too like games, anime and such. Like you said if you don't like just say "I didn't like it". No need to drag down all the fans along with them.

Books that feel like there are 500 pages between each chapter - and without large enough paragraph or section breaks for me to feel like I can easily step away from the book and know where I stopped. I know it’s 100% me getting in my own head about it, but it feels like I just NEED that clean break before I can peacefully set my book down. I’ve actually started to appreciate a lot of Book of the Month selections for this reason; a majority of their featured books will have chapters that are 4-10 pages long, on average. Makes it way easier for my ADHD ass when I can tell myself, “Alright. If I can read at least ONE full chapter today, that’s good progress.” I find myself in fewer reading slumps when books let me achieve these tiny goals. 😌

This is a hypocritical one, because i do get excited when it happens but when the author makes decisions about their book based on what they know past readers will like. For example meeting Nikolai, genya and zoya in soc. I just dont think it adds to the plot or quality of the book because 9 times out of 10 the story could work without them. I guess it feels “unprofessional” or unnecessary maybe

Oh god... YES! I have some of these icks too! - I also respect other opinions on books, I mean I liked the ACOTAR Series at first.. but now.. I kind of hate it? but I still don't hate on people who really like that series And I just want to say: that shirt looks SO good on you!

When a series switches up the cover style MID series (looking at your Fireborne!)! Like...if I want the series to look pretty on my shelf, I have to go back and buy the first book again so it matches the sequels!

When cover designs/art change in the middle of a series!!! It grinds my gears! 😤

The last one had me instantly thinking about the new book on The Shades of Magic 😂 I was so ready to finish off that series!

Omg he was so chaotic in this video and I can honestly relate I get the chaos urge when things annoy me

When you take a dust jacket off a hardcover and it’s just a plain solid colour underneath, I mean come on, you had so many options 😩😂

The height difference doesn't bother me, unless the books are in the same series. I have one long series, that is just all over the place, height-wise. (Yes it changed publishers over the years. Yes, some of them are book club editions. I still think there's no excuse.)

I love your top!! Just had to say it... I'm feeling down today but looking at you talking about one of my favorite things with such bright and colorful clothing just lifts up my mood a bit

When characters are frusterating as hell when a story takes to chapter 17 to get to the actual plot looking at you bear n the nightingale or when a plot that was promised is otherwise nonexistant.

Not super "ick", but my gosh is it frustrating when all the copies of a book in a store have the movie covers on them. PLEASE then, it becomes impossible to find the original covers ckxbbjdd. Also, when someone gives u a sequel (or another book in a series) and the cover is a completely different version from your other books just 😭🤢😩

The "everything perfect aligned" is... well. Please, don't kill me, but I think is a bit privileged. Outside of USA many of us don't have the "luxury" to have every single book exactly the same. Not every publisher has the same proportions, and even between books of the same publisher, size varies a lot. And also, not many people can afford to have every hardback edition to achieve this perfection, some books are pocket-size, some are from different years (Hidra, the ones that publish Leigh Bardugo in Spain) did something similar, taking the Lotus War books, with the same covers, but different sizes. And people got nuts. You are a VERY lucky person that can afford to have this. I consider myself a pretty privileged person, I have a LOT of books, and I'm quite picky in matters of choosing editions. I even sell or change books to match the edition I want. But every book is, simply, different.

Right now I'm experimenting with an "enemies to lovers" in an unofficial retelling of Dicken's Pickwick Papers. I'm having the time of my life as I'm writing it, even though it's (as of right now) not completely the main focus.

My reading ICK is cover changes and/or height changes of books in the same darn series! Like for real just pick a cohesive theme and stick to it 😂

My first book, "Love, A Baker and A Music Maker" has a found family trope...and I just realized that now...almost a year after it was published! How did I not know that about my own book?! Also, I wholeheartedly agree with the different sizes thing! It irks me!

I don't mind recommending books based on tropes as much as I severely dislike it when it says things like "It's the night circs meets..." because firstly that can set unrealistic expectations, and secondly takes away from the originality of the actual new story.

Book series where the covers/heights don't match is my biggest ICK! I spend so much time trying to figure out if the editions match before buying but it still doesn't always work out or you can't even find such versions. Villain origin story right there

The sizing issue!! I bought a mixed set of the original mortal instruments series when the show came out (which I LOVED and still love), but 1) I think they were mostly UK editions because the typeface and everything is different 2) i should clarify like 1-2 of them were different typefaces, the rest are the US edition 3) the spines make an image and I asked my bf to get me another copy of heavenly fire bc I lost mine… AND THE EDITION IS WAY BIGGER THAN MINE! I mean width AND height so now it sticks out and I feel awful that I asked for it but now it doesn’t match

Book Icks: -non floppy paperbacks -permanent ‘stickers’, adds on covers -ableist readers & their rants about audio/ebooks not being “real books” -books that were set up for a sequel, and then the sequel never comes/takes *years* to publish

I actually kinda like when books have different heights.. Hell, sometimes I purposefully buy hardcovers AND paperbacks for the SAME series. I guess this difference sorta gives them more ✨pizzazz✨ on my shelves.))

OH GODS the trope rec thing, i nevver really thought about it butYES like it gives me EXPECTATIONS, like some places, ok it works cos like if that trope is the whole point like enemies to lovers or something but JUST

Hey Jesse! Idk how or why...you give me summer vibes all through the year..... this shirt and your energy today reminded me it's May...🌼

My biggest reader ick is when I'm reading a book and someone says "Oh, you're reading that? I didn't like it." and then they proceed to list all the reasons why they didn't like it. Spoilers, man! Also, I didn't ask for your opinion yet!

My biggest ick is probably the sleeves on hardcover books. They're always falling off and getting in the way and they're so fragile. In Europe they just print the cover right on the book! I wish that happened in America.

I agree with the sizing issue, especially within a series. I love a series that is mostly in paperback and so far the last book is only in hardback. An ad "sticker" as part of the design- this has been a factor to not buying a book and instead holding off for another cover. Cover changes when the series is not complete is another ick.

To the people who are like “Wow your so late to reading that book” I say, “ Oh really now? I mean you were centuries late Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare but you don’t see me making a fuss about it!” I at least I read the dang book at all! Reading a book doesn’t always have to be when there is hype around it sometimes that TBR drags you down and you just can’t get to it!

My biggest ick is probably when I buy a book in a series in my native language and then they don't translate the rest of the series so I have to get it in english....like the only reason why I get the books in my language is bcs they are like half the price of the english version also I feel u on the different sizes bcs this just happened to me yesterday (I got an order after a month only for one of the books to be a tiny mass market paperback and also that book is the third in a series and I have to get 3 more books from that series and now I'm just stressed bcs I don't know what size I will get next)

when you started talking about the trope part I was verbally agreeing ALL the time, now! I like to watch videos on youtube without saying anything but hey! THAT WAS SO UNDERSTANDABLE.

When authors publish different bonus scenes in different editions (like I want to read all of them, BUT I absolutely don't want to have multiple copies of the same book)

One of my icks is excessively long books. If they’re good, and often they are, then I’m happy coming out of them, but trying to dedicate and convince myself to read a book that’s even over like 600 pages is HARD.

Some books of the same series is not available in paperback and only hardcover while all my other books in that series are paperback. Stiff paperbacks are also a pet peeve.

I really love your shirt. I like how creative your videos are. It's simple, but very entertaining.

1. People who hate on Kindles and Kindle readers 2. Stores putting sale stickers on the covers 3. (One of yours) People saying, "I don't see how anyone could like this book." We all like different things. Most of one of my book clubs likes to read romance, smutty novels. I personally don't like such books, however, I'm just happy to see people reading. Live and let live people!

I hate the pages under the covers of paperbacks that are longer than the covers.

Reader ick: when someone sees what you're reading and says "have you gotten to the part where" and they SPOIL the book or the series (this happened to me with the divergent series. Someone saw me reading the second book and told me what happened in the third book. I never finished the series)

0:32 You sound like Jessie & James from Team Rocket and i'm here for it!

You're so underrated

It’s always a good day when Jesse uploads!

Yes, knowing the trope totally ruins the book I felt your frustration Jesse, you have the right to be mad 😂

Authors/publishers not including page counts on Goodreads. Supplementary: not having page counts on the edition I'm reading/the cover I like best. ... I am obsessed with my page state on Goodreads and also making sure I have the prettiest spread for my end-of-year post.

Same on the minimise cover. Bought a draw your own cover grimmer tales book. I will never draw on it n it looks bland all white 🙈

Really limited runs of special edition covers that sell out ridiculously fast and won’t ever be reprinted *cough* Waterstones matching edition of ‘Carry On’ with the floral hardcover and end pages *cough* … I’m not still bitter 😭

I think the whole thing with underrated is that they say that because even though it’s a bestseller, that was like ago and now nobody is talking about it. That’s how I take it since there’s so many new new books past that,that people flip over and share the heck out, that other books that yeah bestsellers but they aren’t talked about anymore.

one of my pet peeves in the fonts used in books. i recently purchased a copy of the fellowship of the ring. it's the copy that's sold on amazon and the copy that's all over instagram. it's a stunning book, the cover is well made and it looks nice. but upon opening it, the pages feel awful, almost gritty and the font/typeface is very bold and difficult to read. i tried to sit down and read it the other night and couldn't get past two pages because it was hurting my eyes so much. but i haven't seen anyone else mention this so maybe it's just me, but i have so many lesser known books that are from smaller authors and companies and the font is so clear and comfortable. it's just my little personal pet peeve i guess.

I AGREE!! I think if a novella is actually important to understanding a story it’s cancelled. immediately no. delete the whole series.

I am a mood reader, so I would hate getting recommended a book based on a trope and that alone , just tell me the synopses and I will decide if i am interested, book tropes are not the only thing that sells a certain book.or sways me to buy it, I feel that some you tubers do this way too much.

I am just livin for the Taylor references in this vid

I'm not a fan of minimalist covers either, but I prefer them to really bad cgi-ish covers. What icks me out even more is when they put said design on the spine as well so you can't hide it. (for example, the UK covers quite a few of Uncle Rick's books)

Book covers changing mid series or can't find a hardcover so you have to get paper back copy of the first book and the rest of the series is hard cover

My ick: the book takes place in the UK, the narrator (in the book) is a British person, but the audiobook is American/has an American accent (or the other way around 🙄)

Dude. Can’t stand recommendations based on tropes. Half the time they’re calling things tropes that aren’t tropes, and tropes/story beats can be done SO many different ways that saying something follows a “trope” means literally nothing. (Also, what if it’s a trope I don’t like, so I don’t want to read the book based off the trope recommendation, but the way that author does the story beat is one that I would like and now won’t see?) Drives me nuts! Edit: also, reader pet peeve: seeing people needlessly hate on mass market paperbacks. So many books are only available in MMP if you want them as a physical edition (many only ever get a Mass Market release), and by hating on the format people are missing out on many AMAZING books. Also, why hate on them? They’re easy to store, cute, great to travel with, AND cost effective. Perfect little book buddies that just need a little extra caution if you don’t want to wreck them, that’s all.

Thankfully books don't have an expiration date because I read everything way too late, I read Percy Jackson for the first time last year and some of my friends gave me flack for it Also one of my icks is real people on the cover, especially if they are half naked, they just make me not want to read the book and usually they are ugly too

Similar to the audiobook one, I hate knowing what authors look like. Same reason too, I just picture them talking instead of the character.

i totally agree that recs using tropes are SPOILERS! I don't wanna know tropes going in

I disagree on the novella in a series opinion. A novella compared to a novel is only different in its overall page count. There’s nothing in the term novella that suggests it’s not main material, just think of it as the next book in the series but it’s a bit smaller, this also goes for the opinion of going back to something years after main series is done. It’s just more regardless of when it happens. You don’t have to read it. You can have self control. My bookish pet peeve, changing art style of the book covers in a series midway

2:00 OH MY GOSH I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE NIKOLAI DUOLOGY PROBLEM. IM SO SALTY! IM THE ONLY ONE OF MY FRIENDS WITH THIS PROBLEM!

For the tropes - I think the trope is often more on point then not, and it’s often not a spoiler and something that can be picked up from a synopsis so quickly categorizing books into tropes to give out recs makes sense to me

My bookish ick are movie covers of books that aren’t done well! For example, the movie DUFF added a whole new character that didn’t exist in the book, and that character was featured on the movie cover of the book. 😶 Movie covers can be really nice, but sometimes they just aren’t it! And printed stickers on books! Regular stickers it’s like okay, still don’t like them but at least I can remove it. But the printed on ones just ruin the ✨look✨ of the book!

I can totally understand the trope opinion. For me it's not a big deal bc I usually don't choose books based on reccomendations exactly for the reasons you mentioned (i'm Quirky like that lmao). But yea, getting recommendations based on tropes can lead to disappointment bc we're all different and depending on what you enjoy more in a book (plot vs characters, worldbuilding vs plot etc etc) you can end up really disappointed by a book you picked up based on a trope recommendation. (I feel like I repeated myself a lot but I hope this still makes sense 😭😭)

an ick i have definitely has to be when I cant decide wheether a book looks better on the shelf with or without the dust jacket. I always go back and forth and if I think it looks better without it I dont wanna throw away the cover so i keep it in a box somwhere, like its a beautiful ick when both covers are just stunning but i just cant loool

I'm totally the same about the visual of the audiobook narrator's picture messing up my imagining it as the basic character's voice and getting the main character's visual messed up in my head.

I absolutely agree with the trope one . I consider them spoilers and I hate it when someone states them.