green/red flags in books

[Laeticia]

cheating trope is a big no for me

[Mei ☽︎]

Oh man, a red flag for me is when I'm not connecting with the dialogue or banter. If it starts to feel awkward or too forced, too formal, that's the quickest way to have me DNF. Another red flag are my big nope tropes: surprise/hidden pregnancy and cheating.

One green flag is the opposite, when I'm loving the dialogue and the writing, and it feels natural somehow, like when I'm feeling really engrossed in the book's worldbuilding or a character's POV! So yeah, I agree with you there: great banter and a great narrator is the best way to keep me invested. 🤣

[ᴺⁱᶜᵒˡᵉ]

My red flag is when the writing is just bland. Like
“I got up and ate breakfast.”
Just like ur texting someone u don’t really wanna text? Ya know what I mean,
“We went down to the lake and watched fireworks.”
It kindve makes me feel bored and uncomfortable, but it definitely gives a good feeling on certain books if used correctly.

My green flag is when like u can already feel the emotion in the first sentence, or you just have a feeling that’s like “this is going to destroy me”. Or when the first chapter is super confusing but then you figure out at the end it’s what happens in the end?

[angeline]

a green flag for me is definitely an intriguing opening line and good world-building (i mostly read fantasy). a red flag would be introducing way too many characters way too early

[emma]

a green flag would be when i read the first paragraph and i can’t put it down and it’s fast paced.

[Teagan]

Red flag would definitely be when they over describe stuff. And also when they majorly change a characters look when I already had a perfect picture of them in my mind.

[Suwebia]

Some supper toxic man are being portrayed as adorable and 'hot' which is a big no for me. They have issues and they have to deal with those issues first! They need therapy. For Example Alex from Twisted Love, I like him but he has issues!!!!

[Suwebia]

Some supper toxic man are being portrayed as adorable and 'hot' which is a big no for me. They have issues and they have to deal with those issues first! They need therapy. For Example Alex from Twisted Love, I like him but he has issues!!!!

[Oopsie]

A red flag is when the cover has a shirtless man on it. A green flag is when the love interest asks for consent before kissing.

[Oopsie]

A red flag is when the cover has a shirtless man on it. A green flag is when the love interest asks for consent before kissing.

[luci ☆]

A huge red flag for me is definitely when I don't seem to 'click' with the main character. If I feel like the MC is super boring and without personality I immediately DNF the book.

[Just_a_book_lover♊❤❤]

red flag: The dialogue is forced and repetitive and when social crisis are added. Also when i don't click with the main characters

green flag: when the first chapter captures me

[Mckayla]

Sexism, fatphobia, and racism just for shock factor. I get that sometimes a book, especially horror like I read, is going to have horrifying elements like this. But if it adds nothing and doesn't need to be there I tend to just give up on it. It just bothers me

[KyoAi]

Red flags: Cursing, s*x, racism, sexism
Green flags: idk

[*jayla*]

🚩: when the character has ZERO personality. immediately no
✅: if a book has good banter between the two main characters

[raichu]

redflag is when they have bad texting scenes 💀

[KyoAi]

Oopsie wrote: "A red flag is when the cover has a shirtless man on it. A green flag is when the love interest asks for consent before kissing."

I like that comment. Exactly what I need to say as well.

[M]

Not going to lie, the latest trend of romance novels having those minimalist, bright-colored, blobby-style of cover. Think the cover of "Beach Read" and all the similar cover afterward. It kind of gives me the idea of, "Oh, this is largely-produced, slightly-smutty generic love story", and I just avoid those kinds of covers now.

My reading-a-book red flag is when the writing itself feels apathetic. If I read a book and even the author sounds like they don't care about what they're writing, why should I be reading it?

[elle]

if a female character is always mentioning how short she is. like just please shut up!