Most of my books are known to me and my writer friends by the main character's name. My first book GUARDED was known as "Ivy," and DIVIDE AND CONQUER as "Lea" (although it could have been known as "Nieve," since it has two main characters).
But there comes a time when I have to think of a proper title. In both cases, I went for well-known words or phrases which are connected to particular events in the book. In GUARDED, for example, Ivy fights using small metal plates, known as Guards, to focus magic. Due to events in her past, her personality is also somewhat shy and exactly trusting, i.e. guarded.
However, recently I've become aware of a great number of forced titles that are too clever for their own good. To avoid causing offense, I won't name any one book in particular. Instead, I will make them up. Romancing The Bone might be a love story between two dog owners, Romancing The Clone a love story between a widower and the clone of his late wife. Both titles are amusing at first glance and certainly relevant, but I'm not a fan of using wordplays on famous films, books or songs. It seems you're piggybacking on their success. Also, the joke soon wears thin. A story about two bar owners competing in a small village while trying not to give in to their feelings might have enough conflict to catch my interest, but you lose me as a potential reader if you call your book "Bar Wars."
Anyway, don't change your punny book title on my account. Just something to bear in mind, I hope.
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