I’m growing more frustrated with the way books are marketed

Today on Instagram, I saw an announcement of a newly published book, whose title and author name I obviously won't specify. The book was advertised by listing some supposedly well-loved tropes, I kid you not, this was what they wrote: "Strong FMC? Check. Morally gray characters? Check. Enemies to lovers? Check."

And the thing is, it isn't the first time I've seen books advertised this way. I know this is only low literature, but the fact that more and more Bookstagram and TikTok influencers are pushing books like these is deeply concerning to me, especially since the publishing industry appears to be taking cues from the commercial success of these books and the virality potential of similar ones.

The proliferation of fantasy and science fiction, in particular, has been at the centre of these changes. It's really watered down the general quality of writing that young adults (and, weirdly, some full grown adults) are picking up.

I am all for people developing a love of reading, but not when it affects the publishing industry to an increasingly worrisome degree. More and more, the industry has been increasingly implementing these marketing techniques in order to drive sales. It's disturbing.