Well, well, well… another data collection that is being labeled a “study” that nobody asked for (but we’re still totally reading it). Cloudwards decided to share its data that it has been collecting over the last year along with their sidekick—Google Trends. What does this data actually mean? Is it a surprise that certain states can read? Are we surprised that certain states still have LGBTQIA+ books on their TBR lists?
Methodology Schmeth-odology
Okay, I know I am not the only one that had not heard of Cloudwards until now, but there was an article put out about books, so of course I had to bookmark that bitch faster than the speed of clouds. Meaning, I bookmarked it, then forgot about it for a few days, and then decided to open it again to quandary, What–oh– what is my state’s favorite genre? My guess was a hundred percent on whatever Republican has put out glorifying he who has not spoken out of shame. But that could be recent world events that are skewing my thoughts.
But I digress—according to the Cloudwards website, they offer “software and security experts” to hook you up with the best services that can be offered on the internet. Like VPNs or cloud storage. So they used their cloud-gathering skills along with Google Trends, which can be easily accessed through BigQuery. Thus the internet baby was born telling us of which literacy legends are the most popular in each state. At least they were safe and let us all know that the list isn’t exact. There are a lot of factors that play into us bookworms choosing which genres we prefer to settle down with and forget the world.
Let’s Break It Down, State by State(ish)
So it looks like the South and the Midwest have more in common than their weird-ass casserole recipes. We are a bunch of softies at heart. Who would have guessed? I mean, I don’t blame them. I can totally see my neighbor next door gardening while listening to Do Me a Favor by Cathy Yardley or It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. The southern states need a little love right now, and that is all I see when I look and see that romantic novels are popping off on their top list of reads. I bet their TBR list is sweeter than some Southern sweet tea and served with a side of Watergate salad. Some Northerners call Watergate Salad “Ambrosia,” if you all didn’t know. Just in case you all need some more romance in your lives, I provided links for you all to pick up my favorite romance novels as well as what the article suggested. Thanks for adding more to my TBR list, People magazine.
Let’s move to a bit more confusing part of the data breakdown. Apparently ‘fiction’ readers reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, D.C., Hawaii, Montana, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Which… I mean, I live in a romance genre-loving state, and I do consider the books I read to be fiction. But then Rebecca Yarros was one of the most favored authors, and I would have to say, -Hell to the yes for this. I mean, the mind that came up with The Things We Leave Unfinished AND Forth Wing? Are you freaking kidding me?! So apparently, these states need:
Moving on across this kaleidoscope of states, it looks like most of the North, with a sprinkle of the Midwest and a dash of the West…and Alaska must have a new professor in town who is feeling poetic. Poetry? Really? If there was ever a time to visit Rhode Island, I guess now would be the time. It seems pretty chill up north.
Fantasy is taking a lead in six states, which is no surprise considering ACOTAR coming on the scene along with other epic literary pieces like Fourth Wing. However, I have a feeling that these fantasy readers are reading these books for more than just the epic fight scenes, magic triumphs, and glorious dragons. I have a sneaky feeling that it may also be the bouncing bosoms ‘and six-pack abs all talked about in the sex scenes that dislodge our minds into the most primal parts of our brains. Also, the fantasy genre has also been amazing about including the LGBTQIA+ community with books like Consort of Fire.
The study showed that three lonely states (Iowa, Mississippi, and South Carolina) tend to read books about family. This I am not surprised since there have been some bangers out there. Taking on that search through Google, though, had me wondering if it was children’s books, coming-together books, or full-on Credence-style books that were considered “family-themed.”
Mass-heads (I heard it on Morbid Podcast and fell in love with that is how you refer to someone from Massachusetts) tend to be history fans. As an OG state, this does not surprise me. I do wonder if this was fictional historical tales or if it was more of the non-fictional stories that are more intriguing. As Californians ourselves, they enjoy their overpriced lattes with a good-old mystery. Give me a Freida McFadden novel any day of the week.
The Real Tea—What This Data Actually Says
What it all comes down to for me is that we all have more in common than we really think that we do. Romance may lead the way with a total of twenty-two states loving the genre as hard as it hits in Jennifer Hartmann’s novel, but as an active reader, I know that there is romance in fantasy novels, also known as ‘romantasy.’ Oh, and what about one of my favorite genres, rom-com? Dark romance, anyone? I also think that maybe that genre is also easy on the eyes, as in just easier to read because it is something that we all need as humans, so our brain accepts its embrace that we hope leads to something more *wink wink*. Did no one search for “cozy fantasy with morally gray lesbian witches“? Rude. It is a genre all on its own.
I personally think that we need to give more props to BookTok and Bookstagram to really boost what people read in each state. We cannot underestimate how much social media platforms contribute to the popularity of a genre. Not only do they promote genres, but they are number one on the leaderboards to suddenly boost an author’s popularity, bring new authors into view, and shine a light on communities that were highly underestimated in supporting our economy.
Data Might Be Basic—But We Readers Are Not
Sure, Cloudwards did put out the amazing map below but us, the readers, the one for which they gathered this “data”. The book goblins well–we are emotionally unstable creatures who hoard words into our brains like it is oxygen and cry over fictional characters because they are more real to us than our own situations are ninety-percent of the time. So come on you plot-thirsty queens and kings, you chapter devours, and you cozy chaos consumers-drop your book recs by which state you are from so I can judge–lovingly, of course or find my next favorite novel that I am going to buy in the OG cover AND the exclusive pretty one to show off.
Massive credit to People magazine. You can find the original article here. You can pic up any book that was mentioned so and so much more here.
Most Popular Book Genre in Each U.S. State Map.
Credit :Cloudwards
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