Let’s Chat: Trigger Warnings and Why I Hate Them

According to an online dictionary, a “Trigger Warning” is defined as: A Statement at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc. alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material (often used to introduce a description of such content)

Thankfully I don’t have any topics that are a true “trigger” for me. There are definitely topics that I REALLY, REALLY don’t like reading about…child abuse, child abduction, animal abuse, death of a parent, death of a child, death of a spouse, terminal illness, etc.

I can see how people would most definitely appreciate a warning before they willingly expose themselves to reading something potentially triggering. I would imagine this would especially ring true if they can make those connections in their own life which might make the book feel exceptionally “real”. I completely understand how people could feel like that! However I….

actually really hate trigger warnings.

If you have been a reader of mine for any length of time you know my absolute DETEST for spoilers and often I find trigger warnings to be huge spoilers for me! For example…let’s take the book that I am currently reading:

This is the very first page of the book:

So now I’m reading this book knowing that at any moment someone is about to get sexually assaulted. It has taken my focus away from other story lines and has turned each character into a potential assaulter. Every time a new character is introduced, I immediately wonder if he/she will eventually turn into a rapist! I wish I knew nothing about this part of the book before reading.

My favorite tv show EVER actually had a trigger warning at the very beginning of the episode last week. I found this so strange because if you watch Shameless, you know that EVERY episode contains MULTIPLE potential triggers! I wonder why last week was the first time viewers were “warned”…???

Looking back, I’m wondering if Tampa by Alissa Nutting has any trigger warnings listed at the beginning? That book was HANDS DOWN the most disturbing book I have ever read and although I wouldn’t have wanted to read the triggers ahead of time, I can absolutely see how others would. You can read the synopsis and my review of that vile book HERE.

I feel fortunate that I don’t have any true “triggers”. That said, I can fully appreciate that other people do. What could constitute a “spoiler” for me could be so much more for someone with a true “trigger” and even just reading about a triggering event could be catastrophic for them.

I wish there was a way where people who appreciate trigger warnings could be privy to them and those people who don’t want to know ahead of time…wouldn’t have to??

This is exactly why I never include trigger warnings on any of my reviews (except for Parachutes….it’s literally written on the very first page of the book). I respect other reviewers/bloggers who choose to include these trigger warnings in their reviews but I personally dislike reading reviews which include them if I haven’t yet read the book.

I know my thoughts on this most definitely have the potential to be highly unpopular and that’s totally ok! I’d love to hear your (respectful) thoughts on both sides of this.

Do you appreciate trigger warnings or would you rather read the book (or watch the movie/tv show, etc.) without them? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is filled with love and BOOKS!

Xo,

Jenny

Other Book Coffee Happy “Let’s Chat” posts:

Let’s Chat: Tablet Vs Book Vs Audiobook?

Let’s Chat: When Your Opinion Is The Unpopular One

Let’s Chat: I’m A Monster. Anyone Else?

Let’s Chat: Read the Book First or Watch the Movie First?

Let’s Chat: Spoilers. Love Knowing or Better Blind?

Let’s Chat: Is Reading a Social Hobby?

Let’s Chat: Book Clubs…Yay or Nay?

Let’s Chat: How Long Until You Officially Abandon A Book?

Let’s Chat: Do You Read the Book Synopsis Before You Read the Book?

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

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Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Currently Making Me Happy (#5)

Book Coffee Happy’s newest series where I share the book I’m currently reading, the coffee I’m currently drinking, and 1 thing that is currently making me happy!

Book I’m Currently Reading:

Local Woman Missing {Mary Kubica}

Goodreads Synopsis of Local Woman Missing {Mary Kubica}:

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find…

Before I fell asleep a few nights ago, I decided to pick up this book and read the first few pages….and SEVENTY pages later I turned off my booklight! I. COULD. NOT. STOP. READING.

I actually just finished this book over the weekend and all I can say is WOW.

I can’t wait to review this one alongside Melissa Amster of Chick Lit Central as it gets closer to the book’s release date (I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Readers Copy….it doesn’t release until May). Stay tuned!

Coffee I’m Currently Drinking:

14 years ago Jon and I took a trip to New York and visited the site of my ALL TIME favorite movie, Serendipity (for more about that trip and to see pictures of us there, check out THIS POST). I bought a coffee mug as a souvenir that day and have had it beautifully displayed in a cabinet in our dining room ever since.

A few days ago, I looked at my beautiful souvenir and thought…why have I been STARING at this gorgeous coffee mug for 14 years when I could actually be USING it??? Like so many things in life, if you aren’t using it what’s the point in even having it?!? I opened the doors to our display and promptly put my beautiful mug straight into the dishwasher. Once it was clean, my beautiful mug was filled with coffee for the very first time ever!

I swear this mug makes my coffee taste even more delicious.

It’s a gigantic mug with gorgeous pictures on all sides. Printed along the bottom states the definition of serendipity: The art of making happy discoveries, or finding the unexpectedly pleasant by chance or sagacity

So, so beautiful.

Aaaaand my children think it’s hilarious that Mommy has been drinking from a mug with naked people on it…turns out this mug is making EVERYONE smile over here, lol…

Even the very bottom of the mug is amazing:

Public Service Announcement: If you haven’t seen the movie Serendipity, WATCH THE MOVIE SERENDIPITY. My best friend Amy and I saw it 10 times while it was in still in theaters! Such a special movie that will forever hold a special place in my heart 🙂

Currently Making Me Happy:

SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!!

Chicagoland has been hit with a ridiculous amount of snow recently and I am HERE FOR IT! I have been snow obsessed throughout my entire life and I am absolutely LOVING all of this snow. As I’m typing this, the forecast is anticipating another 8-13 inches TONIGHT! Hell yes! Bring. It. ON.

***It’s worth noting that I may possibly be the one and only adult in all of the Chicagoland area who is happy about all of this snow. My Facebook newsfeed is currently filled with complaints and memes about how awful it is and I’m over here all, “IT’S SNOOOOOOOOOOWING!!!!!!!!”

What are you currently reading?

What coffee are you currently enjoying?

What is 1 thing currently making you HAPPY?

Is it snowing where you live? How do you feel about it?

Xo,

Jenny

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

Book I’m Currently Reading, Book I Recently Read, What Book I Think I’ll Read Next (#20)

I love when Book Coffee Happy can participate in WWW! The Three Ws: What book are you currently reading? What book did you recently finish reading? What book do you think you’ll read next?

Thanks so much to Sam from Taking on a World of Words for hosting this fun weekly post!

What Book Are You Currently Reading?

The Chicken Sisters {KJ Dell’Antonia}

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Three generations. Two chicken shacks. One recipe for disaster.

In tiny Merinac, Kansas, Chicken Mimi’s and Chicken Frannie’s have spent a century vying to serve up the best fried chicken in the state–and the legendary feud between their respective owners, the Moores and the Pogociellos, has lasted just as long. No one feels the impact more than thirty-five-year-old widow Amanda Moore, who grew up working for her mom at Mimi’s before scandalously marrying Frank Pogociello and changing sides to work at Frannie’s. Tired of being caught in the middle, Amanda sends an SOS to Food Wars, the reality TV restaurant competition that promises $100,000 to the winner. But in doing so, she launches both families out of the frying pan and directly into the fire. . .

The last thing Brooklyn-based organizational guru Mae Moore, Amanda’s sister, wants is to go home to Kansas. But when her career implodes, Food Wars becomes her chance to step back into the limelight. Mae is certain she can make the fading Mimi’s look good–even if that pits her against Amanda and Frannie’s. With a greedy producer stoking the flames, their friendly rivalry quickly turns into a game of chicken. Yet when family secrets become public knowledge, the sisters must choose: Will they fight with each other, or for their heritage?

I started reading this book over the weekend and I had posted the following on Facebook:

I will post a full review once I finish reading!

What Book Did You Recently Finish Reading?

Every Last Secret {A.R. Torre}

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

I will have my full review of this book posted on Monday!

What Book Do You Think You’ll Read Next?

Local Woman Missing {Mary Kubica}

Synopsis from Goodreads:

People don’t just disappear without a trace…

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find…

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Yessssssss I can’t WAIT to read this book! The fact that it’s not even being officially released until May is just icing on the cake. I absolutely LOVE Mary Kubica and her newest book sounds so amazing! I will be jointly reviewing this book alongside the wonderful Melissa Amster from Chick Lit Central…can’t wait!

Have you read (or plan to read) any of these 3 books? What did you think (no spoilers)? What are you currently reading? I’d love to hear in the comments below!

Xo,

Jenny

Click on the images below to order through my Amazon link. When you order through this link, I receive a tiny commission.

***Local Girl Missing* isn’t yet available to preorder on Amazon**

Thank you for your support, Xo

This blog is my favorite hobby and I would so love your support! Here are ways you can help my blog to GROW:

*Please share this page with your book and blog loving friends!*

*Subscribe with your email address to my blog (scroll all the way to the bottom of this page on mobile devices OR check the top right of this screen to enter your email address)*

*If you already have a blog, please “follow” mine*

*”Like” my Facebook page (and please comment on, “like”, and share my posts)*

*Follow me on Instagram*

*Follow me on Twitter*

*Subscribe to my YouTube channel*

*Clicking and buying products through my Amazon Affiliate links. The cost to you is exactly the same and I receive a tiny commission off of your purchases.*

*Leaving a positive review on my Facebook page*

The ultimate list of my top book suggestions can be found HERE

The 12 best books I read in 2020 can be found HERE

Book I’m Currently Reading, Coffee I’m Currently Drinking, 1 Thing Currently Making Me Happy (#4)

Book Coffee Happy’s newest series where I share the book I’m currently reading, the coffee I’m currently drinking, and 1 thing that is currently making me happy!