u/FoxenInTheHenhice

There have been good books hidden behind covers that were... not as good. Or there have been books with lovely covers but the inside did not live up to it (or they were even misleading).

I decided to read {A Pocket of Stars by Laura Rollins} because I found the cover romantic like a still from a film. The characters were younger than what I usually prefer to read about (at 18 and 23) and had known each other as teens. It was a cute overall read and it is the second in the series so perhaps I missed out on stuff.

Give me your prettiest covers and I want to see how much they get me to read the book! I would not count the old bodice-ripper covers (i. e. with half-naked Fabio and a long haired beauty in a medieval-style dress) as my definition of 'pretty'. They are more artistic and aesthetic (and I would be embarrassed reading them in public). For series with covers I consider pretty, I would say all of {Longhope Abbey by Mia Vincy} or {Parish Orphans by Mimi Matthews}.

I posted yesterday asking about books that did not go in the direction you expected. Now I am curious about the books that do not 'spoil' the identity of the MC(s) in the blurb.

The majority of books I have read already tell you who the book will be focused on (and, for series, that is largely the reason why readers and fans of the author would be interested in it if they are popular characters in a previous book). Are there many books in which the blurb does not mention who the other MC is?

The only one that comes to mind is {A Most Forgettable Girl by Alice Coldbreath} that does not name the MMC in the blurb. Interestingly, the blurb was edited after she changed who the MMC would be in the book (so we know it is not going to be the same person who called her 'forgettable'). I know there are others but I cannot recall them.

Bonus if the other MC is very unexpected.

It was not Indomie, Maggi, Knorr, Koka or Nudo. It was another imported brand.

I recall it had a curry flavour and perhaps a chicken flavour but I really only recall eating the former. I really only recall it being available on shops from 2016 or 2017 onwards and I don't know of it is still imported now.

I thought of two books by Tessa Dare which, while reading, I expected (or even hoped) that something would happen in the next chapter(s) which did not happen. That is not specifically a criticism of the books; I was just imagining a different outcome.

{When a Scot Ties the Knot} - It is a fun read but I disliked how the MMC repeatedly brought up that he is blackmailing her with letters which would ruin her reputation and current living situation. And for an objectively childish grievance when she had no idea he existed. When he brings up the letters one last time to stop her from leaving, >!she had already set aside her belongings and castle and divided them as portions for his men so they could marry well and said she did not care who he sent those letters to anymore. That takes the wind out of his sails because she gave him everything he had wanted... and now he's going to feel scummy. And my favourite part as she was preparing to leave: 'You'll understand if I don't write to you.'!< I thought this was great and actually wanted to see the book proceed with that because he had no power over her now but >!she rather easily let it go within a couple of chapters and showed no anger at being blackmailed when he admitted he had never had the letters when he arrived.!<

{Do You Want to Start a Scandal} - I was thinking about the first chapter in which the MCs meet in the library and she warns him that her mother WILL try to matchmake the two of them, likely leading to embarrassment, pain and social ruin. She wants both of them to avoid putting themselves in situations where the two have to meet or see each other to thwart her mother's schemes. He encourages her not to give up her desire for a good husband because she is pretty and vivacious and if a man gave up on her because her reputation, it was his loss. I thought that was sweet and almost expected that the two would part ways but then that she had unintentionally charmed him enough that he would actually try to woo her starting from the next day (leading to an expression of horror on her face because she had been trying to discourage him). It did not happen that way but then I'd forgotten what the blurb said.

Do you have any such moments in which you thought the plot or relationship ship would head in a different direction?