Bonus points if the author first mentions a specific trait, physical build, or whatever else halfway through the novel and totally fucks up my mental image.
I don’t expect a biology model description for each character, but write me something brief and evocative of how they should look, you fucking dork author. I don’t even know how tall she should be, her hair colour, anything. Why are you like this, author?
Yeah exactly!!! To me “using your imagination” is not “I’m giving you nothing so freestyle it until I contradict your mental image”, seriously.
I think it varies by genre, but I see the problem in lots of places & I hate it.