Tell Me Something Tuesday is a fun weekly meme hosted by Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings that gives bloggers a chance to chat about everything from books to social issues and get to know each other better. It’s a big ‘ol group effort meme, so anyone who has an idea for a topic is encouraged to either email Heidi or leave a comment during the week’s stop.
This week’s question is from Brooke at The Cover Contessa:
What are some of the books that frustrated you so much after you completed reading them that you felt like hurling the book at the wall?
Oh. Man. Where can I begin? My biggest, Mount Everest-sized pet peeve is an unexpected, horrible cliffhanger and I’ve read a lot of them recently, so many that I’ve created a special shelf at Goodreads to keep track of which authors write them so I know to stay away from them. Then there are the non-HEAs, the late character deaths and the ridiculous deus ex machina to drive me crazy. I could list a dozen, but here are just a few high(low)lights:
Fury by Elizabeth Miles
I had a stomachache for a good part of the book anyway, but the ending killed me and I couldn’t believe I was dumb enough to even finish the book. It was horrible, depressing and stuck in my head for ages. My Kindle-toss in this case wouldn’t have been so much out of frustration, but out of disgust. At the story or myself, I still don’t know.
Naked by Megan Hart
Confession: I don’t always love Hart’s books because the characters’ relationships are so complicated. I thought I was safe enough with Naked because it was the end of this particular grouping of characters, the others paired off happily and with this couple, their issues were pretty clear and nothing new for a romance. Then out of the blue, Hart dropped a bomb on me that threw their HEA in doubt. So much that even though it was there on the page, I’ll never believe in it. It ruined the entire book for me and aside from one non-romance book by Hart, marked the last time I’ll read anything by her. 
The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen
I’m calling this one a Kindle-Saver. I bought it and decided I couldn’t read it when I found out how it ended – on the mother of all cliffhangers. Literally, a giant event happens; after a book so angsty it rips your heart out and kicks it around, there’s this awful event and you turn the page and…it’s over. Tune in to part 2. Buy the next installment. That’s so cruel, especially when Sorensen got picked up by a publisher and now her release dates have all been pushed back.
It’s hard to do, but I’m trying very hard to avoid super-angsty looking series’ right now, trying to find standalones and continuing series that I’ve read before. It doesn’t guarantee that I won’t be frustrated by books, but it sure cuts down on the chances.
I actually like when there isn’t always a HEA. Maybe it’s the sadist in me, but unhappily ever afters make me happy sometimes. >:D
Ah, and I’ve heard about the awful cliffhanger in Sorensen’s book.
Oh, I am glad you still posted your TMST! Hugs! Yep! We are in agreement. Cliffhangers suck! I am not reading Fury now. I heard it was very dark and add in a cliffhanger, no thanks. Thanks for the heads up on the Sorensen book, I bought it and was planning on reading it soon but if it has a dreadful cliffie no thanks, I will let it sit on my Kindle. I don’t need any more cliffhangers these days! Give me an ENDING!
I investigate books so thoroughly now that I rarely hit throw against the wall levels of frustration but Mockingjay was one for me. That was the most disappointed I ever was with a book.
I need a concrete conclusion or I get upset so any book that doesn’t have one gets me all fired up. I’m glad to be forewarned about Callie & Kayden because I was debating downloading it for review. High angst and cliffhangers are popular right now but they leave me depressed and then I just don’t want to read the series anymore.