Bookish Pet Peeves (Part One)

Welcome to The Reading Room! I’m so happy you’re here!

Every reader has them.

Those little things that probably shouldn’t bother us that much, but somehow still do. The things that can take a perfectly good reading experience and have us sitting there thinking, “who approved this?”

I have plenty of bookish opinions, but today we are talking about two very specific pet peeves that I will absolutely be standing on.

When Chapters Aren’t Labeled

Let me be clear: I do not need chapter titles.

You don’t have to come up with something poetic or mysterious like, The Night Everything Changed or Where We Go From Here.

Nope.

Just give me:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Hell, give me roman numerals. I just need SOMETHING.

That’s it. That’s all I’m asking.

Because when chapters aren’t labeled, I turn the page and suddenly I’m just… somewhere in the book.

Maybe I want to know where I stopped reading. Maybe I’m flipping back to find a scene. Maybe I just like knowing exactly how far I’ve made it.

Instead, I’m siting there thinking “Okay… what chapter is this?”

And don’t even get me started on trying to tell someone ‘Oh, you have to read the part in Chapter 14.”

WHAT CHAPTER 14?!

Listen, authors, I love you. I respect your creative choices. But please number your chapters. I am not asking for much.

When Series Aren’t Labeled on the Spine

If a book is part of a series, PLEASE TELL ME.

And preferably, tell me somewhere I can actually see it while I’m standing in a bookstore.

There is nothing worse than picking up a book because the cover looks amazing, taking it home, getting excited to start it, and then realizing…

it’s Book 3.

BOOK. THREE.

And I somehow missed that very important piece of information.

Now I’m standing there wondering how I managed to accidentally enter the middle of an entire fictional universe.

Listen, I know I can look it up. I know Google exists. I know there are apps and websites that can ell me what order the books go in, but should I have to investigate every book before I buy it??

Put it on the spine!

“Book 2” would be enoihg. I don’t need a flashing neon sign. Just give me a fighting chance. Because accidentally buying the second book in a series is on thing.

Accidentally reading it before realizing it’s the second book?

That’s a completely different level of betrayal.

So, dear book publishers, authors, designers, and whoever else needs. to hear this:

Number the chapters. Label the series.

It’s the little things.

And apparently, these are my little things, lol.

Until next time, keep turning the page 🤍