A question that has been on my mind a lot and has been brought up to me a couple of times these past couple weeks is...
What makes a good book a good book?
Some people might say that having a unique and solid plot is what makes a book good. Some might say that it needs to be life-changing, inspirational, filled with metaphorical references...
While most of that is true, especially when it comes to having a solid plot (much needed, of course) but there is only one thing that sells a book to me.
No, actually, what sells the book to me is if it has a really #aesthetically pleasing cover (yes, I judge books by their covers biTE ME). And, of course, if the synopsis sounds cool and it has gotten really good reviews (lol I'm not picky what makes you think that)...
BUT. What really sells me while I'm reading a book are THE CHARACTERS.
Having really great developed characters is an A+ in my book (lol pun).
I don't care if the story is considered cheesy or cliche. If the writer is able to make me fall madly in love with the characters, I'm obviously going to fall in love with the book. Seems pretty logical, right??
Books like Carry On by Rainbow Rowell and To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han are examples of books that didn't need super intense plots or deep metaphorical meanings in order for me to deVOUR THEM LIKE THEY WERE THE LAST SLICE OF PIZZA ON EARTH.
For real, though. I would be totally fine reading a scene with two characters doing nothing except staring at each other inside an empty, colorless room.
BUT ONLY IF I LOVE THOSE CHARACTERS. Which arises another questions...
What makes us love characters?
In order to feel like you need to protect those said characters at all costs, you have to have emotional attachment to them.
What gives us emotional attachment to characters?
I have one word for you and that is: personality.
When a character as a nicely built personality, you are automatically going to love them so much more than a character whose only purpose is to "SAVE THE WORLD". And how is that going to work, you ask? Well, like it would with any other real person. Getting to know them. What is this character's weakness? What is their strength? What makes them bubble with excitement? Do they have a favorite cereal? You could honestly answer the latter all on your own if you feel like you really know the characters.
Examples of characters with strong personalities (so strong that you could probably predict their favorite cereal!):
Simon Snow from Carry On
If there was a cereal with scones in it, that would be Simon's favorite.
Rudy Steiner from The Book Thief
Need I say more?
Lara Jean from To All The Boys I've Loved Before
Even though there were a couple moments where LJ was a little unpredictable, for the most part she was #relatable and just a sweet, refreshing main female character.
Simon Spier from Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda
OREOS!
But that's not the only thing I look for in characters...
I like reading about strong female characters that don't act like males just to have that strong attribute. For example: Celaena Sardothien/Aelin Galathynius from the Throne of Glass series.
Yeah, she may be a trained assassin and long lost queen, but she has fears and weaknesses-- and she's not afraid to say something when she spots an attractive man.
Another thing I like to look for in characters are happy boys. So many guys in YA fiction are portrayed as "muscular" and "serious" to represent their masculinity.
Umm... Yeah, no. I'd actually like to see some hyper boy who can't stop talking about the stars or why he thinks dogs are the best animals on the planet.
I also love seeing characters do something that you'd least expect. Demon hunters going grocery shopping for food supplies? YES.
