Better Book Titles

 I have often heard of people getting upset when a book series doesn’t match — like, the physicality of it. Hardcover/softcover, matching colors/designs, being the same size (that’s a big one)… but I don’t often hear people talk about what I’m here to complain about, which is when book titles in series seem so out of left field.

I’m thinking of 2 collections in particular. They aren’t even series, but they are by the same author. So maybe I have nothing to complain about. But better titles were right there so I am going to go on about it.

The first one I’ll bring up is the author that was on my radar longer: Mary Roach. She writes hilarious and interesting non-fiction science books on bizarre topics. Her first was on dead human bodies. Yep.

Her list:
Stiff (cadavers)
Spook (ghosts)
Bonk (sex)
Packing for Mars (space)
Gulp (alimentary canal)
Grunt (military)
Fuzz (animals vs. law)

You see the one that stands out there, right? All are punchy one-word titles that allude to the book’s topic while underlining its curiosity. But Packing for Mars? The book is not even solely focused on Mars; it is so much more expansive.

So I propose a new title: Launch

With the cover design, the meaning of the word is clear while still not being too on-the-nose. It’s not a common word, but still evocative. All much like her other books. My dear Mary, please persuade your publisher to adopt this new title. I will absolutely buy the new version to replace my copy of Packing for Mars. Thank you.

The other author I’ve discovered much more recently is Emily Henry. I haven’t read all of her books yet, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what I’ve read so far and plan to read more. She writes hilarious and touching contemporary romances with legitimate complications that lead to emotional depth.

Her adult list is:
Beach Read
People We Meet on Vacation
Book Lovers
Happy Place
Funny Story

Again, you can clearly see the one that does not belong. And again, People We Meet on Vacation isn’t even a good title for the story itself! The UK title is You and Me on Vacation which is a better fit for the story, but again, still does not match the punchy two-word titles of the rest of the collection. Those wonderful titles that are easy to remember, describe the books (at least, the ones I’ve read so far), and even play on the tropes that they slightly satirize.

Another good title for Book Lovers would have been Small Town, but I’m not here to pick on Book Lovers because that title is already on brand. But People We Meet on Vacation must go.

Might I suggest… Friend Trip.

It plays on the word “friendship”, alludes to the characters’ travels, and [SPOILER ALERT] the trip that their relationship goes on as it moves from friends to lovers.

Friend Trip is my number one choice, but a close second would be Vacation Days (a popular term in the workforce and how we follow the two main characters). I would also accept Buddy System (a popular tactic for staying safe in a new/unfamiliar environment like foreign countries or, arguably, new levels of relationships), and maybe even Meet Route (a vacation-y play on the term “meet cute” and could again allude to the journey their relationship takes).

Please, Emily, would you consider changing the title of your 2021 release? You can take all the credit for the new name, if you want. I would just love to see that title fit in with the rest of your fantastic contemporary romance stories.

Thank you all for listening to my brilliant ideas! (Also known as indulging me in my rant.)

Disclaimer: This is posted with comedic intentions. I understand and appreciate all the

thought and hard work that goes into writing and publishing books. I mean no disrespect and hope this will be received in jest. Emily and Mary, I love your books and the teams that brought them to me!