Saturday @ Starbucks is a weekly feature hosted by Starbucks & Books Obsession.
This week's topic is:
Plot Pet Peeves with an Iced Vanilla Chai Tea Latte
Drink of the Week: Iced Vanilla Chai Tea Latte
Weather has been amazing in Seattle this week, so I am all about iced drinks this week. This is such a refreshing morning drink and the spiciness of the tea with the sweetness of the vanilla is just right. Now go try one!
Book Topic: Plot Pet Peeves
So as I have been reading a lot of different books over the last few months, it got me thinking about some of the plot topics or elements of a plot that bother me. I know everyone has their own tastes when it comes to books so it is kind of interesting to see what bothers some people that may not be an issue for others. So I thought I would go through a few of mine and I would love to know what some of yours are and if you agree or disagree with mine. Let me know what you think.
Romance Built on Cheating: Cheating in itself is not a topic that bothers me and I don't have any issues with it when it is in a book. My pet peeve is when the primary romance of the story is build off of cheating. It bothers me because I can't immerse myself into the romance because the negative emotions that are pulled from the characters, including guilt and sorrow. When I read a book, I really get into the characters and feel the emotions they are feeling and guilt is a powerful emotion that takes away from the positive emotions and makes it hard for me to really fall for the romance. 
Possessive, Controlling Male Characters: I have to admit that I have read a few books where the male being a little possessive actually worked for me, like in REAL but for the most part this usually just annoys me. It doesn't mean I can't like the book but that aspect of it grinds on my nerves a little. For instance, I really enjoyed Beautiful Disaster but Travis' possessiveness and jealousy with Abby annoyed the shit out of me. I rolled my eyes at him so many times I thought they might stay in they back of my head.
Predictable Mysteries: I don't mind a book that has a predictable plot if it is meant to be that way. What gets to me is a plot that is supposed to have mystery and keep you guessing but is so predictable that you are never even a little surprised. I can certainly still enjoy the book and even really like it but when it is meant to be mysterious but isn't, I don't quite get drawn in like I feel I should have.
Animals: This isn't really a pet peeve but more of a topic that I generally avoid at all costs. I have this major soft spot for animals, especially dogs and I absolutely cannot read a book centered around animals. I can read a sad contemporary or romance book that will make me cry but give me a contemporary novel about a dog that ends up dying at the end and I am a goner. Can't do it, don't care how happy the rest of the book is, the ending will undo me.
I am sure if I sat here all day thinking about all of the books I have read, I could come up with a billion more plot elements that grate on my nerves or don't work for me but these are a few of the major issues that I tend to come across on a more regular basis.
What about you? What plot elements get to you? Do you enjoy any of the plot elements I listed above?
Next week's topic: Discussing Companion Novels
