Things I hate in romance and romantasy books. Books in general but you know, I am a romance reader first and foremost.
1.
Incredibly well informed conversations of labels and sexuality between characters who WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. I don't mind it for contemporary characters who for example work with queer people, but mafia thugs?? That man will think pansexuality is attraction to kitchen ware and demisexuality has got something to do with jeans. It takes me out of the story SO FAST when they start hurling labels at each other in very calm and informed manner, like they read tumblr every day. NO! STOP IT!!
That man knows how to do every crime, has committed half of them and grown up in the homophobia, he will not discuss sexuality like me and my queer friend group at a dinner party. He still thinks dogs are boys and cats are girls.
2.
Modern terms for gender and sexuality in romantasy (or fantasy in general). What do you mean this character is nonbinary? I love that they are but can we figure out something else? It just takes me instantly out of the world, it just feels way too modern... And we are inventing new words for our fantasy worlds anyway, so why not for that. Take inspiration from words like muusu (Finnish, shortened from muunsukupuolinen lit. trans. other gender), two spirit etc. Find your own word! Or just use androgynous. That's also fine.
I guess this also goes for all terms of sexuality, even gay or straight. And usually people valiantly avoid using these, but why does nonbinary slip in there then?
3.
Pop culture references. I fucking hate them. LOATHE THEM. If you mention Doctor Who or, god forbid, Harry Potter in your book, I will scream. Don't you dare fucking name that band. Don't even think naming that song. And mentioning TUMBLR? Jail. Straight to JAIL.
The references date the book, sometimes makes them age poorly, take the people who don't know the reference out of the book, make the people who know it cringe. Make up a band or a movie or show. Be vague about it. It can't be that integral to the plot to have the reference. Go watch Shrek movies. They make tons and tons of pop culture references without naming SHIT and those who don't know the reference are non the wiser.
If you MUST include songs, make a separate appendix page for a playlist.
4.
This is unfortunately a specific call out, but if your book is called "The Lost Art of Seducing ---" and your characters move in together in CHAPTER THREE, you need to be stopped and I hate you a little bit. What Art of Seduction?? They breathed in the same room???
Anyway, those are the ones that I have been stewing on past couple of days. These my opinions, you are welcomed to have other ones. And yes, I could NDF a book with tropes and things I don't like, but I ain't a quitter and like complaining about bad books way too much.