Top Ten Tuesday: I Want To See More.....

Hey guys!

It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is your reading wish, things you want to see more of in books. Let's jump right in!

10. Comic relief

Is it just me, or do most contemporary books seriously lack anything in the way of humor? I want to laugh out loud at least a handful of times while reading!

9. Killer side characters

I love a richly developed cast of side characters; they add so much to the story!

8. Pets

A protagonist with a pet makes them 10x more relatable, especially if it's a dog.

7. Semi-functional families

The current trend is to have a small, completely horrible family in books. I'd like to see more parents that aren't totally awful, siblings that mostly get along, ect.

6. Big families

Tying into #7, I'd like to see more larger families...especially ones that aren't religious, wanna-be Duggars (sorry!).

 As the oldest of 7, I laugh when I read a character talking about "all their siblings" when there's 2-4 of them. Amateurs. 

5. Less angst

My god, do normal people really fixate so much on every bad thing that's ever happened to them? Who would want to be around someone that was constantly so damn morbid and moody?

I have a really, really horrible relationship with my biological father. Absolutely retched. It doesn't consume my every thought and action. I've actually worked to heal from it and get over it. Guess there goes my spot as any book heroine, ever. 

4. Faster paces

I want more books that snatch my attention within the first chapter!

3. Long term relationships

Especially when it comes to series.

2. Sex and body positivity

I really don't get the whole shameful, blushing virgin (or very inexperienced) thing that's so popular in the new adult genre. I also don't understand how self conscious every single one of these women are. 

I was raised in a very sex and body positive household, and aside from the requisite teenage years, I've never dealt with physical insecurity. I realize that's the minority, but damn, maybe a little more confidence in books would change that. 

1. Strong characters that grow and develop

I'd like to see some of the strength and character development that's a little more common in paranormal/urban fantasy slip into the contemporary genre.