The sweater might have been a poor financial decision, but it still looks great! My worst read books of 2023: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, Supermarket by Bobby Hall, Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James, and Blackout by Ragnar Jónasson
No big loss, unless you want to get into classic American literature (Steinbeck), an ambitious but plodding modern horror book (Hall), a murder mystery twist on Pride and Prejudice (James), or Icelandic noir (Jónasson) haha Also, agreed on Halloween Party not being very good. I love Agatha Christie, but this was very much a later Christie that seemed like she was phoning it in. Would rather recommend The Hollow or Death Comes as the End!
My daughter introduced me to Libby earlier this year, & it's been a godsend! I've been able to trial all these different books & authors that I wanted to read but not to buy, plus support my library. Had several DNF's and found a few new authors, one who has become an absolute fave! I tend to avoid Book-tok and trends generally because I'm an old fart lol (not really, only 51!) but I have little patience for books that don't hook me in within a chapter or so. I've become TOUGH! XD Olivie Blake was one I tentatively trialled, and she went out within a couple of pages lol. Also decided that Brandon Sanderson isn't for me, but looking forward to reading Joe Abercrombie for the 1st time soon! I quite like T. Kingfisher though, and absolutely have fallen head-over-heals in love with the late & great Cormac McCarthy ❤📚😃
I love that you’ve been trying and testing different books via Libby, it’s such an amazing service and a great way to find out what you like and don’t like! I hope I end up like Olivie Blake as I own several of her books but I fear I may not like them like you 😬
@@GavinReadsItAll Haha, I think I'm just extra-super fussy nowdays! I love Libby! It's SO great for when I'm pottering about, listening to books on 2x speed and reading all these great books. I also tried the divisive Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and ended up loving it, and Piranesi by Susannah Clarke, which I also loved, even though I'd pretty much figured out what was going on early! Then, if I absolutely LOVE any Libby books & think I'll reread them, I will buy a pretty version of it 🙂
This is ENTIRELY on me and my not-wholly accurate ears. All I can say is, thank God you weren't actually saying "dog romance" all those times .... I was wondering how on earth I'd missed that particular weird little sub-genre, and then my head clicked in to hearing you properly at speed, and I realized. Dark romance is so, so much better.
Your criticism of Dowry of Blood is so interesting!! It is one of my favorites, I rated it 5 stars and still think of it fondly. I’m doing a reread right now and it will still be 5 stars. I think what this is showing me is that we all process/interpret literature differently. Which I already know but this like made it click in my brain. Because when you say “it feels like one big summary” and we’re not there in the moment, I disagree staunchly because I feel as though I can pick out scenes that prove my point. However - it’s really interesting because it doesn’t mean you’re wrong and I’m right or vice versa, it just means we read the same thing and saw it differently - and could defend it our way too. I know it’s not a shocking revelation, but I am always curious to hear why people don’t like my favorites. I don’t agree with you but I’m certainly not butthurt, haha
i feel the exact same way! the things that book made me feel... it was an incredible experience and i can't wait to re-read it. for me what makes the experience even more impressive is that i have aphantasia (so zero minds eye, nothing going on up there) so it takes a lot for the page to capture my interest since all i have to go on are words and feelings. this makes me pretty picky and particular about an authors writing style because i can't really use my imagination to fill in the blanks in the way that others might! but she did such a fantastic job at painting the scenery that i couldn't put the book down until i had read it cover to cover. there are so many annotations, i could've highlighted entire pages! the use of religious imagery to describe how constanta viewed certain experiences in her life was the cherry on top of that cake.
My best thing of 2023 is being your patron. Best thing of 2024? To continue to be your patron. Yes I’m tipsy, but tipsy or sober, i will always say your brilliant!
To be fair- this jumper looks amazing on you 🤷🏼♀️ And oh-my-god: I remember reading Vampire Diaries as a teenager and I was stuck in the middle of the book for like half a year because I was bored out of my mind reading it.
I just stumbled across this video and you are hilarious and also basically in my head, I had all of the same feelings about the books you mentioned that I had read. I am a new fan of yours! Can’t wait to binge watch all of your other review videos ❤️🤗
one of the very few good things that happened with me is that i discovered this channel thank you for making videos when i take break i watch your videos especially book toast....🥰🥰🥰
For another Agatha Christie book, I can’t recommend Witness for the Prosecution ENOUGH!!! There’s an absolutely amazing play of it on in London in a real courtroom and it’s just FANTASTIC 😍 no spoilers but you could read up until the natural break, make your guess, and then go see the play? Not even for a video if you don’t want, but I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery ❤ was really affordable only £25 for my ticket too 😊
I feel like we all owe Gavin for his sacrifice of not only reading these L.J. Smith books so we don't have to, but having the dedication to finish them. I salute you sir. Without jokes however: great video and I hope your next readingyear is a better one.
Gavin, I just love listening to you when you verbally rip books/series/authors to shreds! :D Thank you for this very entertaining video, even though I do recognize that these books might have caused you physical pain - I hope your 2024 reading year will be better - but I am SO here for more of this as well ;-)
Recognizing that special edition spine in the thumbnail, knowing it’s one of my favorite books this year, and crying inside 😭 (but I love hearing Gavin rant about books, even if I loved them lol )
There is zero actual incest in Cassandra Clare's books lmao. The entire point of telling Clary and Jace they were siblings was to psychologically abuse them. Also I'd wager she was much more inspired to do that by something like Star Wars than she was by LJ Smith. Also I feel like it's fair to say LJ Smith got fired for bad writing lol, it's not like Alloy entertainment has ever aimed to provide quality writing, she got fired because she wasn't obedient enough for their liking.
I'm surprised that we don't see that sweater (jumper) more often, lol. 😂 My worst books of the year are: From a Buick 8- Stephen King Giovanni's Room- James Baldwin Up Jumps the Devil by Michael Poore. I had high hopes for the first 2, but they were highly disappointing. The last book had a brief passage that has to be the most disgusting paragraph I've ever read.
@@GavinReadsItAll It was a struggle for me to finish it. I wanted to diversify the authors and genres I read this year, and I had heard good things about Giovanni's Room. It just failed to keep to me intrigued.
I read that last Gossip Girl book at the end of 2022, and it was so awful! Everybody was cheating on everybody, and all of them are just insufferable. And they’re stopping themselves from being happy.
My cat is called Pumpkin and the only scary thing about him is the god awful smell of his litter box in a morning! So yeah, don’t think I’d find that puppet scary either 😂 xx
i really love the way you say 'book' i've never heard anyone say it like that other than locally where i'm from, everyone else seems to say it differently to us
I felt exactly the same with Halloween Party. I am usually good at solving them but I honestly figured out who the murderer was as soon as the girl was found dead. Or actually before it happened. It was just baf
Same! I found it way too "of the time". None of those assumptions would have been made today... So none of those red herrings were actually red herrings. The only thing that made sense was what was alluded to in the beginning.
i also disliked dowry of blood after going into it with such high hopes. not only bc i too disliked the narration style, but also because my philosphy for adaptations / derivatives (especially for things i love, like dracula) is that there's this anti-sweet spot when it comes to changes that just ruins it for me. if it changes very little, that's obviously great. but also if it changes a massive amount, it goes past annoying me and into me being able to appreciate a different take on the character / story. however if it changes too much to really be a faithful adaptation but not enough to be a fresh unique take, it just annoys me because it could have been a completely original work. for dowry of blood, it changed so much about the original novel (not just bc the wives kill dracula, i knew that going it, but just changes to the established dracula lore) that i couldn't view it through the novel, but it didn't change enough that i could divorce it from the novel and enjoy it on its own. like it didn't feel like it had to be connected to dracula at all and that it was already so original that i would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't tied down by being a derivative work.
Oh, Gavin..your vids make my day ♥️♥️♥️ I'd forgotten "they come undone"..lolol..really enjoyed that video 😁 And I for one like your airport purchased sweater! 🤩
2023 was bad on all fronts, but I'm glad I read some great great books this year. even if everything else failed at least I got to escape in some epic books.
I completely agree with you about Does it Hurt by HD Carlton. It was definitely not my up of tea. If you're looking for a good dark romance author, try Serena Akeroyd. She has a few mafia series (Irish mob, Sicilian mafia, and Russian bratva) as well as MC series. She also has several stand alone books you could taste test.
I read The Vampire Diaries when I was in my early teens, when there were only four books and I loved them. Then I reread them a couple of years ago and seriously questioned my childhood tastes, especially when it came to how much child me shipped Elena and Daemon. Adult me didn't think the books were very good and was glad that younger me never dated if I thought Elena and Damon should have been together.
So crazy how vastly opinions of a book differ, because Finlay Donovan Jumps the gun is my favourite of the series so far! I loved the change of pace, i loved the lack of a love triangle, i loved the location change (the 2nd book was all over the place, and focused on the shitty ex who i could not care about one bit). It was great as an audiobook (paperback sold out everywhere when i wanted to read it)
😂 The sweater & drink just makes this whole video even better! "They can all burn in hell!" 😂 Thank you so much for your honesty - SAVING me! 🤗 Your venting on Hendrix was PERFECT! 😂 Oh my gosh - next time I'll make sure I have a drink as well as I watch! 🍷 THANK YOU! I really didn't like A Dowry of Blood!!! OMG...Shrek Smut????! 😶 I'm sending positive vibes your way for a much better 2024! 🥂
Also if you didn't get what you wanted out of 'How to Sell a Haunted House' there's a TV show called SurrealEstate about a bunch of realtors trying to sell haunted and cursed properties that may be more to your liking! I haven't seen it but the trailers look funny.
okay but I GOTTA SAY, i LOVED LJ Smith’s Night World series. It’s anthology so each book is different but they all intertwine and are supposed to culminate in one big finale book. But the last book was published in 1998 and she kind of forgot this series existed so we haven’t gotten the final book. But I think it’s the only good thing she’s written & it was always her least popular. I also read them all when i was a teenager so maybe i have nostalgia for it but I just really liked the world building and there were stories that you think would be love stories but don’t end up that way in a really refreshing twist about self love. Idk it’s the only series i can read from her. im slightly glad she forgot about it cus id rather never get the finale than get one that’s ghost written or poorly written by her now. I think it works because every story is a standalone with a clear ending so there wasn’t much of her just dragging along characters forever. one or two would make a cameo in the last few books but overall each book is a new story with new characters, mythology, and plot. (also i agree TVD and Secret Circle books are shit)
I don't know if it's the only worthwhile thing she's written, I remember loving the Night World series as a child, but nothing stuck with me like the Forbidden Game trilogy did. I'm not even sure if it's good outside of that very specific time in the 90s; it just lives in the back of my head for all of time. 😂 I absolutely agree that TVD and the Secret Circle are horrific crap though.
Ah this was magical, although I read feel read to filth by Dowry of Blood (because its on my top of the year hhaha) I almost burnt my hand cooking because I burst out laughing at the Barney comment when you mentioned How to Sell A Haunted House
Any novel categorized as Dark romance will always end in romance, if you are looking for something that stays dark and has no happily ever after try looking for novels categorized as horror erotica! Wishing you a better 2024 reading year!
I have this thing with crappy books....You will almost NEVER see a one or two star rating on my goodreads because I just can never make myself get through more than a few chapters of a book if it's stupid lol
I attempted to read the vampire dairies during twilight mania when I was in middle school. I got until Elena became a vampire and just had to quit. I was so annoyed with those books I did not watch the show when it came out.
I LOVED A Dowry of Blood, haha. I don't care for 2nd person either but it didn't bother me in this one. Maybe the audio experience helped? However, I did have a vampire read end up as one of my worst, which is House of Hunger. I liked the concept but I thought the writing was unpleasant. Also Hallowe'en Party was one of my worst reads of the year, as well. It was kind of strangely written, imo. I didn't know that it was one of her last books and I was kind of worried that maybe she wasn't for me, but knowing that encourages me to keep trying more of her books.
Hey Gavin i just saw and interesting looking book on kindle. Its a mystery ghost story i believe. Called Murder at Alcott Manner. Ive not read it. But it looks creepy and fun. Also midlife magical Madness is a first book in a series 😊. Highly recommend that. Even though im still on book 1 lol 😆
I’ve seen so much love for How To Sell a Haunted House and I DNF’d it over half way through. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who struggled with this one.
I thought A Dowry of Blood was okay (I think I gave it 3 stars) but couldn’t describe what was missing for me. You made a really good point about it being more of a summary. Also looking in the mirror being more scary 😂 relatable
my worst books for 2023 were full brutal by kristopher triana (made worse because the recommendation was based on his being able to write female characters well... a liza minnelli lie to be sure!), unboxed by briana morgan (weird dialogue that left me feeling like if tommy wiseau was contracted to produce an ad for one of those cringe anti-drug programs), her body and other parties by carmen maria machado (read to me like someone's grocery list), and bridget jones's diary... which i do not recommend even for the nostalgia! if anything renee zellweger deserves a retroactive oscar for that role because somehow she managed to turn bridget into a charming and likeable character.
I didn't like The Dowry of Blood either! It's guilty of the worst sin of all - lured me with promise of sexy vampires, but then struggled to commit to it in relevant scenes. Final chapter was just so awkward it hurt. Very lukewarm experience, definitely expected more from such a hyped title.
Grady Hendrix always has *great* premises with terrible execution. I was so tempted about Haunted House but I'm not surprised it made this list and I'm not sorry I didn't. What's the opposite of an autobuy author? 😅
I was talking about this with my friend but I also feel like 2023 was a pretty mediocre year for books. The books I was hype about ended up being DNFs or just getting 3 stars. The trashy books I read for fun were decent but nothing that I really got into. Overall, it was mostly a meh year for reading.
One of my worst reads was Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle. I found so much of this book to be so infuriating but also so dull and boring at the same time. I only want Baz's and Kai's plots and no one else. Emory was insufferable and deliberately cruel. I wasn't excited to read this book exactly but i'd heard about it a couple of times and I kept seeing the cover at my local library and so I thought I should give it a shot because I have started getting into particular types but it was just such a big disappointment that it makes me angry.
THANK YOU OMG. So many people I know loved it and it was making me feel like I was crazy because I really disliked the book. I feel much the same about Grady Hendrix, in that HSAHH be the last book of his I’ll probably read 😢. Which sucks because I really loved MBFE and SBCGTSV… but his latest books have been misses for me.
I'll be honest I'm not sure i remember my worst book this year. Because if i don't like a book i have to stop reading it. I can't force myself to read books i don't like ^^;. So I'm sure its a book I DNF'd on kindle unlimited but i don't think i could tell you the name cause it was back in like may More power to readers who can finish books they don't like. Ive done twice for school with 1 book (lord of the flies) and never again 😅
A tiny part of me still wants you to read the Night World series even though it’s by LJ Smith 🌚 The section on How to Sell a Haunted House was fantastic I had to watch it twice🤣🤣
It’s so funny how I loved how to sell a haunted house bc I find dolls and puppets so creepy so for me just imagining the things the puppet did freaked me out lol.
I need to write down the books I DNF because those are the worst books of my year. Top of my head is The Atlas Six sequel (I could barely listen to an hour and I was already annoyed by the ending of the first book) and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (I didn't like the characters and the writing style and spoilers promised no improvement). Hoping for a great 2024!
I really appreciate this video. I tried to like a Secret Circle but I couldn't, I thought it was something wrong with me. It feels good to be affirmed, thank you.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
Had a terrible day, hearing you vent about terrible books will fix that 🥰
Hope you feel better soon 🫶🏼
Me too. Literally watched the vid for the same reason. 😅
‘I know there’s a lot of people that love this book, and that don’t love themselves’ when I say I HOWLED 😂😂😂😂😂 What would we do without Gavin eh? 😂
The sweater might have been a poor financial decision, but it still looks great!
My worst read books of 2023: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, Supermarket by Bobby Hall, Death Comes to Pemberley by PD James, and Blackout by Ragnar Jónasson
I haven’t read any on your list (and probably won’t now)
No big loss, unless you want to get into classic American literature (Steinbeck), an ambitious but plodding modern horror book (Hall), a murder mystery twist on Pride and Prejudice (James), or Icelandic noir (Jónasson) haha
Also, agreed on Halloween Party not being very good. I love Agatha Christie, but this was very much a later Christie that seemed like she was phoning it in. Would rather recommend The Hollow or Death Comes as the End!
I loved Death comes to Pemberly
My daughter introduced me to Libby earlier this year, & it's been a godsend! I've been able to trial all these different books & authors that I wanted to read but not to buy, plus support my library. Had several DNF's and found a few new authors, one who has become an absolute fave!
I tend to avoid Book-tok and trends generally because I'm an old fart lol (not really, only 51!) but I have little patience for books that don't hook me in within a chapter or so. I've become TOUGH! XD
Olivie Blake was one I tentatively trialled, and she went out within a couple of pages lol. Also decided that Brandon Sanderson isn't for me, but looking forward to reading Joe Abercrombie for the 1st time soon!
I quite like T. Kingfisher though, and absolutely have fallen head-over-heals in love with the late & great Cormac McCarthy
❤📚😃
I love that you’ve been trying and testing different books via Libby, it’s such an amazing service and a great way to find out what you like and don’t like! I hope I end up like Olivie Blake as I own several of her books but I fear I may not like them like you 😬
@@GavinReadsItAll Haha, I think I'm just extra-super fussy nowdays! I love Libby! It's SO great for when I'm pottering about, listening to books on 2x speed and reading all these great books. I also tried the divisive Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh and ended up loving it, and Piranesi by Susannah Clarke, which I also loved, even though I'd pretty much figured out what was going on early!
Then, if I absolutely LOVE any Libby books & think I'll reread them, I will buy a pretty version of it 🙂
This is ENTIRELY on me and my not-wholly accurate ears. All I can say is, thank God you weren't actually saying "dog romance" all those times .... I was wondering how on earth I'd missed that particular weird little sub-genre, and then my head clicked in to hearing you properly at speed, and I realized. Dark romance is so, so much better.
The subtitles said “dog” too and I was sooo confused
I heard that at first too 😂 I was concerned
alternative title: gavin becomes more and more animatedly full of rage with each bad book
Your criticism of Dowry of Blood is so interesting!! It is one of my favorites, I rated it 5 stars and still think of it fondly. I’m doing a reread right now and it will still be 5 stars. I think what this is showing me is that we all process/interpret literature differently. Which I already know but this like made it click in my brain. Because when you say “it feels like one big summary” and we’re not there in the moment, I disagree staunchly because I feel as though I can pick out scenes that prove my point. However - it’s really interesting because it doesn’t mean you’re wrong and I’m right or vice versa, it just means we read the same thing and saw it differently - and could defend it our way too. I know it’s not a shocking revelation, but I am always curious to hear why people don’t like my favorites. I don’t agree with you but I’m certainly not butthurt, haha
I’m the same way, I love when people have differing opinions to mine, always makes things more interesting 😄
i feel the exact same way! the things that book made me feel... it was an incredible experience and i can't wait to re-read it. for me what makes the experience even more impressive is that i have aphantasia (so zero minds eye, nothing going on up there) so it takes a lot for the page to capture my interest since all i have to go on are words and feelings. this makes me pretty picky and particular about an authors writing style because i can't really use my imagination to fill in the blanks in the way that others might! but she did such a fantastic job at painting the scenery that i couldn't put the book down until i had read it cover to cover.
there are so many annotations, i could've highlighted entire pages! the use of religious imagery to describe how constanta viewed certain experiences in her life was the cherry on top of that cake.
The way I jumped up and down, clapping, when you mentioned Finlay Donovan! 🎉
The way you turned the video off as soon as I mentioned A Dowry of Blood, I’m sure 😂
@@GavinReadsItAll haha! I watched it. I just chose not to intake any of the information
My best thing of 2023 is being your patron. Best thing of 2024? To continue to be your patron. Yes I’m tipsy, but tipsy or sober, i will always say your brilliant!
Lol 😆 hehe nice 🙂
That sweater was not a mistake! It’s beautiful and it looks great on you!
Go off with Dowry of Blood! 👏🏻 I do not understand the hype with that one, I was so so BORED. 😂
LIV?!?!?!?! 😂😂 HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS ABOUT YOU
@@JanAgaton you just chose to ignore my opinion. 🤭😂 and I don’t blame you for it! Hahaha
To be fair- this jumper looks amazing on you 🤷🏼♀️
And oh-my-god: I remember reading Vampire Diaries as a teenager and I was stuck in the middle of the book for like half a year because I was bored out of my mind reading it.
"i always get disappointed being a power bottom" is my motto for the new year
I just stumbled across this video and you are hilarious and also basically in my head, I had all of the same feelings about the books you mentioned that I had read. I am a new fan of yours! Can’t wait to binge watch all of your other review videos ❤️🤗
Complaining about books is always a fun pastime😆. Great video!
Thank you, and I agree, very cathartic
I cannot wait for you to do an update library tour btw, the new set up looks amazing in the background!
"Maybe God is Gossip Girl"--I am so here for this surprise theological commentary🤣🤣
Love your sweater! This year was an off year of reading for me as well. Here’s to a better year in 2024! 💛
Hoping 2024 is kind to both of us 🥂
one of the very few good things that happened with me is that i discovered this channel thank you for making videos when i take break i watch your videos especially book toast....🥰🥰🥰
Aw thanks so much, glad you’re here!
For another Agatha Christie book, I can’t recommend Witness for the Prosecution ENOUGH!!! There’s an absolutely amazing play of it on in London in a real courtroom and it’s just FANTASTIC 😍 no spoilers but you could read up until the natural break, make your guess, and then go see the play? Not even for a video if you don’t want, but I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery ❤ was really affordable only £25 for my ticket too 😊
I feel like we all owe Gavin for his sacrifice of not only reading these L.J. Smith books so we don't have to, but having the dedication to finish them. I salute you sir.
Without jokes however: great video and I hope your next readingyear is a better one.
Gavin, I just love listening to you when you verbally rip books/series/authors to shreds! :D Thank you for this very entertaining video, even though I do recognize that these books might have caused you physical pain - I hope your 2024 reading year will be better - but I am SO here for more of this as well ;-)
Nothing like a great rant! You are a witty person and so much fun! Thank you for all you do.😁
oh thank god!! i also didn't like A Dowry of Blood and thought i was going crazy with how much everyone loved it!!!
awesome video as always Gavin 💗✨🤞🏻
15:38 “I could’ve solved this book without even reading it.” 🤣🤣🤣
Recognizing that special edition spine in the thumbnail, knowing it’s one of my favorite books this year, and crying inside 😭 (but I love hearing Gavin rant about books, even if I loved them lol )
I look forward to this video every year!
Same, I love seeing everyone’s lists!
"except God, maybe God is gossip girl" lmao 😭
There is zero actual incest in Cassandra Clare's books lmao. The entire point of telling Clary and Jace they were siblings was to psychologically abuse them. Also I'd wager she was much more inspired to do that by something like Star Wars than she was by LJ Smith.
Also I feel like it's fair to say LJ Smith got fired for bad writing lol, it's not like Alloy entertainment has ever aimed to provide quality writing, she got fired because she wasn't obedient enough for their liking.
This is the first video of yours I've watched. You are very funny and I need to watch more of your stuff!
The Paris Apartment, where nobody is likable at all! Blech
I'm surprised that we don't see that sweater (jumper) more often, lol. 😂
My worst books of the year are:
From a Buick 8- Stephen King
Giovanni's Room- James Baldwin
Up Jumps the Devil by Michael Poore.
I had high hopes for the first 2, but they were highly disappointing. The last book had a brief passage that has to be the most disgusting paragraph I've ever read.
Haha I should wear it more 😂and I DNF’ed Giovanni’s Room this year but didn’t include it in my video, but I would have if I included DNFs
@@GavinReadsItAll It was a struggle for me to finish it. I wanted to diversify the authors and genres I read this year, and I had heard good things about Giovanni's Room. It just failed to keep to me intrigued.
@@GavinReadsItAll the fact that you didn't just DNF it, you left it in Paris 😂
Happy holidays
Hope you had a good one!
I read that last Gossip Girl book at the end of 2022, and it was so awful! Everybody was cheating on everybody, and all of them are just insufferable. And they’re stopping themselves from being happy.
My cat is called Pumpkin and the only scary thing about him is the god awful smell of his litter box in a morning! So yeah, don’t think I’d find that puppet scary either 😂 xx
Okay your hair looks especially amazing in this video!? It’s got the perfect little swoop and volume 👏🏻👏🏻 looking good king 👑
Sat down for my lunch break and saw you posted a video, couldn’t click on it fast enough! ☺️
i really love the way you say 'book' i've never heard anyone say it like that other than locally where i'm from, everyone else seems to say it differently to us
I felt exactly the same with Halloween Party. I am usually good at solving them but I honestly figured out who the murderer was as soon as the girl was found dead. Or actually before it happened. It was just baf
Same! I found it way too "of the time". None of those assumptions would have been made today... So none of those red herrings were actually red herrings. The only thing that made sense was what was alluded to in the beginning.
i also disliked dowry of blood after going into it with such high hopes. not only bc i too disliked the narration style, but also because my philosphy for adaptations / derivatives (especially for things i love, like dracula) is that there's this anti-sweet spot when it comes to changes that just ruins it for me. if it changes very little, that's obviously great. but also if it changes a massive amount, it goes past annoying me and into me being able to appreciate a different take on the character / story. however if it changes too much to really be a faithful adaptation but not enough to be a fresh unique take, it just annoys me because it could have been a completely original work.
for dowry of blood, it changed so much about the original novel (not just bc the wives kill dracula, i knew that going it, but just changes to the established dracula lore) that i couldn't view it through the novel, but it didn't change enough that i could divorce it from the novel and enjoy it on its own. like it didn't feel like it had to be connected to dracula at all and that it was already so original that i would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't tied down by being a derivative work.
Love you Gavin Happy New Year! 🎉
Did you just say a 400 QUID jumper?
I DID, I THOUGHT IT WAS 10 QUID
@@GavinReadsItAllto be fair, the sweater looks amazing! Although, I would have paid decent money to see your face when they told you the price. lol
Oh, Gavin..your vids make my day ♥️♥️♥️
I'd forgotten "they come undone"..lolol..really enjoyed that video 😁
And I for one like your airport purchased sweater! 🤩
Your videos always make me cackle! 🤣 Thanks for making my day! Also, I love your jumper. 🥰
2023 was bad on all fronts, but I'm glad I read some great great books this year. even if everything else failed at least I got to escape in some epic books.
Same here!
I completely agree with you about Does it Hurt by HD Carlton. It was definitely not my up of tea. If you're looking for a good dark romance author, try Serena Akeroyd. She has a few mafia series (Irish mob, Sicilian mafia, and Russian bratva) as well as MC series. She also has several stand alone books you could taste test.
Oooo thanks so much for the recommendation
Happy Holidays and here’s to a great 2024 reading arc!
Here’s to a great 2024 for both of us 🥂
@@GavinReadsItAll Thank you!
Hello from Atlanta. Just found your channel! Excited to see more content. I do like your sweater/jumper.
Welcome in, thank you so much for being here 😄
I read The Vampire Diaries when I was in my early teens, when there were only four books and I loved them. Then I reread them a couple of years ago and seriously questioned my childhood tastes, especially when it came to how much child me shipped Elena and Daemon. Adult me didn't think the books were very good and was glad that younger me never dated if I thought Elena and Damon should have been together.
Best thumbnail. I laugh again every time I scroll my subs this evening. Proceeds to take Vampire Diaries off my vampiric reading tbr.
So crazy how vastly opinions of a book differ, because Finlay Donovan Jumps the gun is my favourite of the series so far! I loved the change of pace, i loved the lack of a love triangle, i loved the location change (the 2nd book was all over the place, and focused on the shitty ex who i could not care about one bit). It was great as an audiobook (paperback sold out everywhere when i wanted to read it)
The way I GASPED when you mentioned a dowry of blood
😂 The sweater & drink just makes this whole video even better!
"They can all burn in hell!" 😂
Thank you so much for your honesty - SAVING me! 🤗
Your venting on Hendrix was PERFECT! 😂
Oh my gosh - next time I'll make sure I have a drink as well as I watch! 🍷
THANK YOU! I really didn't like A Dowry of Blood!!!
OMG...Shrek Smut????! 😶
I'm sending positive vibes your way for a much better 2024! 🥂
THAT LIGHTER NEAR THOSE PAGES. GAVIN. NO.
Your description of your reading year is exactly the same as mine
Sorry to hear that 😢 next year will be better for both of us
@@GavinReadsItAll hopefully!
BAHAHAHAHA! You never know how to sell a haunted house 🤣😹😂 😵 💀- You really are one of my favorite humans 😂
Also if you didn't get what you wanted out of 'How to Sell a Haunted House' there's a TV show called SurrealEstate about a bunch of realtors trying to sell haunted and cursed properties that may be more to your liking! I haven't seen it but the trailers look funny.
okay but I GOTTA SAY, i LOVED LJ Smith’s Night World series. It’s anthology so each book is different but they all intertwine and are supposed to culminate in one big finale book.
But the last book was published in 1998 and she kind of forgot this series existed so we haven’t gotten the final book. But I think it’s the only good thing she’s written & it was always her least popular. I also read them all when i was a teenager so maybe i have nostalgia for it but I just really liked the world building and there were stories that you think would be love stories but don’t end up that way in a really refreshing twist about self love. Idk it’s the only series i can read from her. im slightly glad she forgot about it cus id rather never get the finale than get one that’s ghost written or poorly written by her now.
I think it works because every story is a standalone with a clear ending so there wasn’t much of her just dragging along characters forever. one or two would make a cameo in the last few books but overall each book is a new story with new characters, mythology, and plot. (also i agree TVD and Secret Circle books are shit)
I don't know if it's the only worthwhile thing she's written, I remember loving the Night World series as a child, but nothing stuck with me like the Forbidden Game trilogy did. I'm not even sure if it's good outside of that very specific time in the 90s; it just lives in the back of my head for all of time. 😂
I absolutely agree that TVD and the Secret Circle are horrific crap though.
@@ErieMaxwell ahh see i haven’t read the forbidden game books so I can see that. Maybe her old stuff is the good stuff lol
Ah this was magical, although I read feel read to filth by Dowry of Blood (because its on my top of the year hhaha) I almost burnt my hand cooking because I burst out laughing at the Barney comment when you mentioned How to Sell A Haunted House
Any novel categorized as Dark romance will always end in romance, if you are looking for something that stays dark and has no happily ever after try looking for novels categorized as horror erotica! Wishing you a better 2024 reading year!
I feel validated in seeing A Dowry of Blood because I really wasn’t a fan of it either and so many people love it, I don’t understand 😅
SAME!! I barely hear criticism for it but it just didn’t work for me, so I’m glad I’m not alone here 😅
You can claim to be a Grady Hendrix expert, he claimed you'd learn to sell a haunted house. 😅
I have this thing with crappy books....You will almost NEVER see a one or two star rating on my goodreads because I just can never make myself get through more than a few chapters of a book if it's stupid lol
Not agatha christie being on the list 😩 I haven't read this one 😅 but you're torch joke was too funny
Vampire diaries books shouldn’t be taken seriously lol. They’re mostly ridiculous😄 I’m re reading them now and having so much fun 😂
I attempted to read the vampire dairies during twilight mania when I was in middle school. I got until Elena became a vampire and just had to quit. I was so annoyed with those books I did not watch the show when it came out.
I LOVED A Dowry of Blood, haha. I don't care for 2nd person either but it didn't bother me in this one. Maybe the audio experience helped? However, I did have a vampire read end up as one of my worst, which is House of Hunger. I liked the concept but I thought the writing was unpleasant. Also Hallowe'en Party was one of my worst reads of the year, as well. It was kind of strangely written, imo. I didn't know that it was one of her last books and I was kind of worried that maybe she wasn't for me, but knowing that encourages me to keep trying more of her books.
Instant like for that thumbnail.
Double like for that sweater! Looks so good on you 😻
Cheers to a better reading year next year. 🥂
Ayyy I’ll drink to that 🥂
Hey Gavin i just saw and interesting looking book on kindle. Its a mystery ghost story i believe. Called Murder at Alcott Manner. Ive not read it. But it looks creepy and fun. Also midlife magical Madness is a first book in a series 😊. Highly recommend that. Even though im still on book 1 lol 😆
I’ve seen so much love for How To Sell a Haunted House and I DNF’d it over half way through. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who struggled with this one.
I’m glad we are on the same page with that one
I thought A Dowry of Blood was okay (I think I gave it 3 stars) but couldn’t describe what was missing for me. You made a really good point about it being more of a summary.
Also looking in the mirror being more scary 😂 relatable
my worst books for 2023 were full brutal by kristopher triana (made worse because the recommendation was based on his being able to write female characters well... a liza minnelli lie to be sure!), unboxed by briana morgan (weird dialogue that left me feeling like if tommy wiseau was contracted to produce an ad for one of those cringe anti-drug programs), her body and other parties by carmen maria machado (read to me like someone's grocery list), and bridget jones's diary... which i do not recommend even for the nostalgia! if anything renee zellweger deserves a retroactive oscar for that role because somehow she managed to turn bridget into a charming and likeable character.
You always make me laugh sooo hard. Love you! Happy New Year! 🎉❤
I didn't like The Dowry of Blood either! It's guilty of the worst sin of all - lured me with promise of sexy vampires, but then struggled to commit to it in relevant scenes. Final chapter was just so awkward it hurt.
Very lukewarm experience, definitely expected more from such a hyped title.
Grady Hendrix always has *great* premises with terrible execution. I was so tempted about Haunted House but I'm not surprised it made this list and I'm not sorry I didn't. What's the opposite of an autobuy author? 😅
I was talking about this with my friend but I also feel like 2023 was a pretty mediocre year for books. The books I was hype about ended up being DNFs or just getting 3 stars. The trashy books I read for fun were decent but nothing that I really got into. Overall, it was mostly a meh year for reading.
One of my worst reads was Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle. I found so much of this book to be so infuriating but also so dull and boring at the same time. I only want Baz's and Kai's plots and no one else. Emory was insufferable and deliberately cruel. I wasn't excited to read this book exactly but i'd heard about it a couple of times and I kept seeing the cover at my local library and so I thought I should give it a shot because I have started getting into particular types but it was just such a big disappointment that it makes me angry.
THANK YOU OMG. So many people I know loved it and it was making me feel like I was crazy because I really disliked the book. I feel much the same about Grady Hendrix, in that HSAHH be the last book of his I’ll probably read 😢. Which sucks because I really loved MBFE and SBCGTSV… but his latest books have been misses for me.
“The only name I remember is the fuckin’ puppet” 😂 this made me crack up plus I can relate cuz I’m bad at remembering character names
Legit same, it’s hard to remember everyone
Gavin's 2023: LJ Smith gets fired from everything. lol.
Uff.. DoB was lackluster for me too. I was so disappointed.
I'll be honest I'm not sure i remember my worst book this year. Because if i don't like a book i have to stop reading it. I can't force myself to read books i don't like ^^;. So I'm sure its a book I DNF'd on kindle unlimited but i don't think i could tell you the name cause it was back in like may
More power to readers who can finish books they don't like. Ive done twice for school with 1 book (lord of the flies) and never again 😅
Loving the introduction 😅
Decent dark romance incoming: court of the vampire queen by katee robert
Watching this to motivate me and console me as I try to reach Inbox Zero with all my emails (soo overwhelming and tedious omg)
You’ve got this 💪🏼
@@GavinReadsItAll ty 😭🩷
The jumper is cute! Well worth £400 😬😂 loved this video. Sadly I agree on Grady Hendrix - read them all and loved the first few. Siân
So many people have said 2023 was a rough reading year. I wonder why thats so widespread?
I felt the same about Haunting Adeline.. it felt very one sided for me 🥴 which was extra disappearing because I enjoyed the plot.
*disappointing
A tiny part of me still wants you to read the Night World series even though it’s by LJ Smith 🌚
The section on How to Sell a Haunted House was fantastic I had to watch it twice🤣🤣
I really like your sweater Gavin! It may have been financially not great but it looks good.
😂 your rants never disappoint
It’s so funny how I loved how to sell a haunted house bc I find dolls and puppets so creepy so for me just imagining the things the puppet did freaked me out lol.
Got Get in My Swamp for my friends for our Smut bookclub, definitely don’t expect it to be good just thought we could have some fun giggles
I loved Hallowe'en Party 😂 I gave it 4.5 stars
I loved your rant Gavin, you made me cringe and chuckle😆
I need to write down the books I DNF because those are the worst books of my year. Top of my head is The Atlas Six sequel (I could barely listen to an hour and I was already annoyed by the ending of the first book) and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (I didn't like the characters and the writing style and spoilers promised no improvement). Hoping for a great 2024!
Uh oh, I have both on my TBR at some point haha
The only times I've seen 2nd Person work is in Scifi short stories. I don't know what it is, but I've read a few like that I liked.
Haha total agreement on How to Sell a Haunted House 👏🏻👏🏻
I really appreciate this video. I tried to like a Secret Circle but I couldn't, I thought it was something wrong with me. It feels good to be affirmed, thank you.
“I came undone” sent me 🤣🤣