;ten things I want more of in books

I actually had no idea what I was going to write for this blog post, but Book Twitter is going through another round of Drama (TM) and I want to stay far away from that, so let’s do a list of things I would love to see more of in books*. All books. Any books.**

*I was going to do a YA specific list, but I’m an adult and should not be speaking for the actual target audience. I forget sometimes I’m not still a teenager. Whoops.
**This list is in no way exhaustive and only represents my thoughts and feelings on the matter.

ON WE GO!

• Dragons.
  Are you surprised? Dragons make everything better. Space book? Add dragons. Two boys falling in love in front of the Eiffel Tower? Add dragons. Family drama? Add dragons. Instant win.
• Girl love.
  Do I mean girls supporting one another and being friends or do I mean girls falling in love? I mean both. Both in the same book. Hi, take my money.
• Ridiculous villains.
  I mean Doctor Evil levels of ridiculous. Somehow still a supervillain, but Extra (TM) and over the top, and their plans should not work, but somehow do? Added bonus will be quotable gems on the level The Princess Bride quotes have reached.
• Soft cinnamon roll boys.
  Enough with the edgy broody messes, give me soft and sweet boys who talk about their feelings and have actual friendships with the people in their lives and who, when and if they fall in love, actually care about their significant other’s emotional well-being. Also if they bake, that will be wonderful.
• Covers with girls holding weapons.
  There are not enough of this in the world. Honestly, it is almost an instant buy for me. Give a beautiful girl in a ballgown a sword and I will fall in love. Give me a brown woman in a sari or a salwar kameez or ghagra choli holding a talwar or a bow and arrow, and I am HERE FOR IT.
• In-depth food descriptions.
  I don’t know if you know it, but I am 100% a foodie, and I need all the food descriptions, and if you give me recipes too? I will love you for life.
• Sibling in-jokes.
  If you have siblings or sibling-like relationships and don’t have in-jokes or sarcastic comments, then what’s the point? Honestly? WHAT IS THE POINT? (Unless your whole thing is your siblings not getting along, then fine, I’ll allow it.)
• Family dynamics.
  There are not nearly enough fantasy or science-fiction books with families being front and center. A whole family, fighting for one another. Fighting with one another. However this family takes shape, but family, you guys. I love families. Found families can also apply.
• Tropes.
  Fake relationships? Here for it. Enemies to reluctant allies to friends to ‘I would die for this person’ in whatever capacity? Give me. Friends to lovers? Yes, please. Tropes don’t die if you write them well and fresh.
• Pirates.
  Just, give me pirates. Lady pirates on the seas. Pirates in space. Two ladies falling in love. One of them is a pirate. PIRATES AND PIRATE SHIPS AND SWORDS.

You might enjoy some of these, you might not. But you cannot deny that they would make interesting and fun stories, so someone* will enjoy it.

*That someone is me.

What are some of the things you want to see more of in books?