Books I will NEVER be reading, and why.

Okay, so let's dive deeper into that Colleen Hoover quote that lives rent-free in so many of our heads – the infamous 'we both laughed at our son's big balls.' When I first stumbled upon that, my jaw literally dropped. Like, *what*?! I couldn't believe an author, especially one as popular as Colleen Hoover, would write something so... out there. For me, it wasn't just about the words themselves, but what it signaled about the tone and content of her books. Now, for those who haven't delved into the full context (or maybe just heard the viral snippet), it's often cited as 'we both laughed at our son's big balls.' The actual line, from her book It Ends With Us (which, by the way, is one of the titles I've seen everywhere, including covers like *Ugly Love*, *Verity*, and November 9 on many bookshelves), is slightly different. It's more about a character's anger or fury being described with a phrase like 'big dark balls of fury' or similar, not literally about a child's anatomy. But the internet, being the internet, latched onto the most provocative interpretation, and it became a shorthand for perceived awkward or cringe-worthy writing. For me, encountering that quote, even the internet's embellished version, solidified my decision to steer clear of her work. It wasn't just that one phrase; it was the culmination of hearing so many critiques about her romanticizing abusive relationships, which the original article touched upon. When you see something like 'big balls' go viral, it often highlights a disconnect for some readers – a moment where the author's voice or stylistic choices just don't resonate. It makes you question the overall judgment in the writing. I mean, after seeing covers for Maybe Someday or others, I always think back to that one line and wonder if the writing style throughout is similar. It's a dealbreaker for me, and I know I'm not alone in feeling that way. It's funny, isn't it? How a few words can completely turn you off an entire author's bibliography. Before I even considered picking up It Ends With Us – a book that, to be fair, gets a lot of hype on BookTok – hearing about that quote was enough. It got me thinking about the kind of content I actually want to consume. I’m looking for escapism, for stories that transport me, not ones that make me cringe or question the author's judgment on such a fundamental level. I've always been one to give books a chance, but sometimes, a single viral moment, combined with other criticisms (like the romanticization of abuse), just paints a clear picture. It's not about being harsh; it's about knowing your own reading preferences and limits. And for me, that 'big balls' quote, whether literal or metaphorical in its original intent, crossed a line that I wasn't willing to overlook. It just reinforced my desire to stick with my preferred genres and authors who align more with my taste and values. So, if you're like me and that quote left you scratching your head, you're definitely not alone!