Welcome to Trending Thursday, a periodic blog feature that looks at a trend I’ve noticed around the YA world.
Today I’m looking at YA Book Title Trends.
Trending Thursday: Say My Name
Book titles that feature characters’ names have been around since … Romeo and Juliet. Or probably even longer. And book titles featuring a character’s first and last names are also not uncommon. Anna Karenina. Oliver Twist. Jane Eyre.
But over the past few months I’ve seen a whole lot of YA titles that feature characters’ first and last names.
Often, but not always, a guy’s name. And the unique YA twist on these might be that the titles aren’t just names – they also describe something about the character. If it’s a guy character, he’s annoying. Or kissable. If it’s a girl, she has something notable — a crush or a list. First, take a look at the books. Then, let’s discuss!
Kissing Max Holden by Katy Upperman (August 2017)
The Foretelling of Georgie Spider by Ambelin Kwaymullina (May 2017)
Why I Loathe Sterling Lane by Ingrid Paulson (June 2017)
Deacon Locke Went to Prom by Brian Katcher (May 2017)
Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel (May 2017)
The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr (January 2017)
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yes (August 2017)
Here Lies Daniel Tate by Cristin Terrill (June 2017)
Wesley James Ruined My Life by Jennifer Honeybourn (July 2017)
My thoughts on this trend:
On the one hand, I like specificity in a title. I find vague titles with a lot of pronouns and articles really hard to remember. On the other hand, I can be bad with names. Very often I finish a book and sit down to review it and can’t remember the main character’s first name. But I find these titles memorable, unless this trend continues and there are way, way too many names to remember.
What is your take on titles with names? Please tell me in comments!
I hadn’t noticed it but you are so right! I don’t mind them though. I agree if there are too many more they will be less memorable and blend even more.
Woah, I didn’t even realize this until now! I can be very bad with names as well, but I feel like a lot of these days are either simple (Max Holden) or unique (Juniper Lemon), which makes it easier for me to recognize and remember them for the time being. So I don’t really mind the trend. I especially like it when they give a tease of what’s to come in the book. For instance looking at Wesley Jame’s, I want to know why he ruined her life, or what’s Flora’s one memory. It definitely captures my attention. Great post! 🙂
I agree – the dramatic ones – like “ruined my life” are memorable!
Now that’s an interesting trend! I had noticed it too.
I like it though because it’s a *trend* but you can still put an original twist on it and not come off like your copying each other. And….I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOOKS unlike other trends. lol
For What It’s Worth
Very true!
I’m torn on this one. I often find that titles with names come off sounding cheesy to me. But sometimes it just works. I just reviewed Kissing Max Holden and the title fit so well. But something like Why I Loathe Sterling Lane just leaves me cold and does nothing to make me want to pick it up.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
Ha ha – maybe you don’t like the name Sterling Lane? I’ve heard great things about the book but that name doesn’t say “cute guy” to me, it says “online housewares store.”
Sterling Lane as an online housewares store… LOL I can totally see it! 🙂