I'm late to the party once again, so it's a good thing this week's prompt is an easy one: Top Ten Buzzwords or Phrases That Make Me Want to Read (or Avoid) a Book. I think I'm going to do five of each, just for funsies. As always, Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl.

I'll give at least a second glance to any title or plot summary that includes these five words/phrases:

1. Gothic—I love me a moody, atmospheric read!

2. Cozy/Quaint—More and more, this is the vibe I'm craving.

3. Haunted/Ghost—These are pretty much the same thing, so I'm combining them. I'm too wimpy to read much actual horror these days, but I still like a shivery tale as long as it's not TOO creepy.

4. Books/Bookish—I mean, obviously, right?

5. Twisty/Clever/"Knives Out"—What mystery/thriller reader doesn't want to be entertained by a smart, surprising plot? Calling a book "clever" or "twisty" or comparing it to "Knives Out" is an excellent way to turn my head.

Any of these words on a book cover or in a plot summary will have me running for the hills:

1. Spicy/Sexy/Erotic—I'm a prude; what can I say?

2. Spare—Too many details and I get bored, but I'd always rather have too many words in a book than too few. I also prefer clarity over creativity, so I generally find that "spare" books are too minimalistic for my tastes.

3. Zany/Screwball/Oddball—I'm boring. I prefer books that are straightforward and traditional. Unique premises are great, but I get irritated by anything too offbeat or different. (Quirky, I can handle, as long as it's not, you know, too quirky.)

4. Grisly—Mysteries and thrillers are my jam, but if they get too gory, I'm out.

5. Terrifying/Horrifying—Nope! I value my sleep and my sanity.

There you go, five buzzwords on a book that will always tempt me and five that never will. Do we share any? Which buzzwords/phrases attract you? Which do the opposite? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.