I really look forward to worst/most disappointing book videos. I love hearing the reasons why people didn’t like books because it may help me set my standards lower and end up liking it, or help me figure out what books I’d like or not based on my opinions of what bothered someone else. I love how subjective reading is!
I didn't hate How To Lose a Time War, but it was a massive disappointment. I was told by booktube up and down that I would love this book. And I was just kinda meh about all of it, the only part I kinda liked about it was the actual letters Blue and Red wrote to each other. I just kinda tuned out the other parts and kept wondering what all the hype was about.
I re-read "This Is How You Lose the Time War" because I thought the same as you, thinking I would "get it" the second time around and nope, it still didn't hit. Not for me!
Great video as always Jesse! I ended up loving This is How You Lose the Time War and I can totally see how its not for everyone. Here are my bottom three books of 2024: - Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin (Translated by Megan McDowell), this short story collection promised stranges houses and yet it was only the people who were strange!!! I wanted weird houses!!! - Killer Instinct by S.E. Green, an older title that had been on my TBR since I got it for like a dollar at Indigo, its about a girl obsessed with serial killers, specifically the serial killer who has haunted her town, and she might be a serial killer too? Terrible twist ending and so abrupt. - The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware, I think I discovered I don't like thrillers, I was nosy and wanted to know what happened to this family but it turned out to be awful and gross and mega sad! Not for me XD
This is How You Lose the Time War is one of my favourites, but I get how it's not for everyone due to the writing style. My least favourite book I read in 2024 was The Once and Future Witches - such a disappointing experience especially because I feel like it had a lot more potential, particularly with its characters.
It's been awhile, but I don't remember the writing in This Is How You Lose The Time War being all that flowery. I liked it, but don't really have the urge to reread it either. I don't recall seeing any positive reactions to Nothing But Blackened Teeth. I will, probably, try something else by the author, if only because I own their debut, which I recall getting a fairly positive reception.
How refreshing to hear you didn't like This Is How You Lose the Time War. I didn't like it at all but everyone I've talked with who also read it, loved it... I think the worst book I read in 2024 was We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets. It was less about horrors of moderating social media and more about characters' drama which I didn't care about at all.
I am one of those read the ending first people. A happy ending is a must for me, so I feel I am missing out on so many great books, but can’t help myself
This is How You Lose the Time War was very underwhelming to me. I'm not sure if it's because it was so hyped or because it was genuinely not that great for me? I couldn't connect to the characters and Red and Blue just seemed like the same person. Maybe that was the intention and I was missing the point entirely? I also wanted to know more about their societies and why they were at war.
I had a similar experience to A Study In Drowning, I LOVED the atmosphere, the settings, the gloomy dark vibes, but it did put me into a reading slump because of the plot and the pacing. But the author has announced a sequel which I want to read! Another let down for me was Immortality by Dana Schwartz, I LOVED the first book Anatomy but the sequel Immortality was such a let down, it felt like I was reading a completely different series and it went in a really odd direction which was such a shame :(
Grady Hendrix is hit and miss. Like How to Sell a Haunted House? Great! Book Clubs Guide yo Slaying Vampires? Pretty good. Final Girl Support Group? Eh. And then my friend said they did not care for Horrorstör.
I read 100 books, and my least favorite books were Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey, The Nanny by Lana Ferguson, All By My Elf by Olivia Dade, We Are Going to Be Pals! by Mark Teague, and The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. And then the book that disappointed me the most was Bride by Ali Hazelwood because I usually love her books, and that one just didn't do it for me.
Jesse, you’re so allowed to dislike a book and be honest about why. Even if people get upset about it. It’s not harsh to clearly explain why you don’t like it, nor is it even harsh to say that you think a book is not good. Not just that it’s not for you, but that you think it’s just not good.
Time war was one of my absolute favorites this year, i find it so funny when people didn’t like it because it’s one of the most life changing romances ive ever read. I understand completely why it’s not for everyone though.
Spells for Forgetting had such an identity crisis. It wasn't witchy enough... The atmosphere after the beginning...where did it go? The second chance romance....so underbaked.
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy these. I had a pretty good reading year. A few books that didn't work for me (in that I didn't connect with them) were: -Sunhead, a graphic novel by Alex Assan -The Never King by Nikki St Crowe -A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St Clair (DNFed early due to the MC)
Thank you for giving me a much needed laugh this morning! My worst book of 2024 was EASILY "Murder at the Bookstore" by Sue Minix. It was the worst cozy mystery I've ever read, simply because a) the villain was SUPER OBVIOUS and b) the MC was a mystery writer who very obviously didn't know who the villain was because she was purposefully overlooking it. Also, "The Cinnamon Bun Book Store." I didn't expect much anyway because the first book wasn't great, but at least that first one had all the fall atmosphere. Any atmosphere in this book was immediately ruined by (often unnecessary) smut. I read both "Spells for Forgetting" and "A Study in Drowning," and absolutely loved them both. But I also realize the characters in both aren't very nuanced, and the reader doesn't quite get what they promised. But I can read a book with "boring" characters as long as I get either a good atmosphere, a good message, or both.
I agree with the keeping books you dont love.. I have a basket near my bookshelf and take them to the free libraries when I have time. No point keeping them ❤
I read 43 books in 2024, and my worst books of the year were What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez and A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey. With WtRK, I needed a lot less from the romance and a lot more from the other characters and the actual plot line. The side characters and the main story were far more interesting than what was going on between the 2 main characters. With AMoDaD, the pacing of the story felt very clunky and disjointed, and I needed more actual development in the romance between the 2 main characters.
Right, it feels like lately, if a book doesn't have romance, it isn't considered a book. Take me back to the days where romance was a side plot or non existant please
Hi! One of my least favorite books from 2024 is a curse for true love by Stephanie Garber. It was the finale in a trilogy I was loving. She made the mistake of using my most HATED trope (when the hero looses their memories or powers and then you spend the rest of the book waiting for them to get them back) which in this case took 61%! Of the book to achieve. 61%! Stephanie that is too many percent, by the time she got her memories back I was like I don't even care now
In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches was without question the worst book I read in 2024, the parts that I kinda liked I no longer remember and unfortunately this book has some quotes that haunt me for all my days. Like when he compared a woman's body part to a warm gun.
my least favourites- 1) the man who mistook his wife for a hat by oliver sacks 2) the ex talk by rachel Lynn Solomon 3) all by my elf- olivia Dade 4) the turn of the key- Ruth ware
I have been a viewer for YEARS and I have been dying to ask you if you read any old timey classics? Huck Finn, Oliver Twist, The Chrysalids, Great Gatsby, Old Man and The Sea, Heart of Darkness, Tuck Everlasting and the like! Recently, I have been listening to SO MANY older "classics" and I really wanna hear about the ones you love, like, hate, have read more than once, will never read again.
Oh god i remember Nothing But Blackened Teeth.... it was so hyped pre-release, and the cover and concept are amazing, but the actual book? What a let down! A nothing-burger that could've been soooo cool.
Three of the worst books I read in 2024 were: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and The Tale of Kore by Amanda L. Rautio. I would love to see you read one of these books in your video.
I read The Alchemist as a pre-teen kid and, strangely, I feel like that was the good age to read it as it made it easier for me to take its lessons seriously. I don't read books I know I'll hate, but there were a few letdowns last year. The biggest ones were Sebastian Fitzek's Therapy and DBC Pierre's Breakfast with the Borgias. And if the first one was just me not heeding to the warnings, the second one really annoyed me.
Now I've been offered the opportunity to mention this book one final time: one of worst books of 2024 for me was Christina Henry's "The House that Horror Built." Should be "The House that Bordedom and Unspired Writing Built." A lot of vacuum cleaning and even more dusting off of things that than go bump in the night and do a lot of ridiculous bumping and not much more.
I know it’s not for everyone but I loved Assistant to the Villain so much! I also agree with you for Spells for Forgetting. It was only ok for me. Not the best I’ve read but not the worst.
I read a study in drowning, and it was really unmemorable. I thought it was decent at the time I read it but now I feel like I’ve no idea who those characters were or what the plot was. I really liked this is how you lose the time war but it was really confusing and I read it twice back to back because the first time it wasn’t clicking for me and on the second read, I really enjoyed it more
Well now I'm questioning everything about hot dog usage... That said, most of these books weren't high on my interest list anyway, and I'm feeling better about removing them entirely, lol. Except for a couple: -I think Assistant to the Villain was exactly what I wanted when I read it in 2023. It was lighthearted, had the dumb office politics that make me laugh (but don't miss now that I work from home), and didn't require any effort on my part. Maybe not the best romance or fantasy, but kinda hit the nostalgia triggers in my brain? I admit I somehow forgot to read the sequel last year, but I know the third book is coming out this summer so I might just save it for a "no thoughts only books" vacation, lol. -Also, I read and loved The Alchemist in the most chill class I had in college, but that was well over a decade ago and I have decided that it's probably never going to be a reread for me. I think your description is pretty spot on, which is probably why it worked for me at the time And while my worst book of 2024 by a mile was Florida by Lauren Groff (the only time Florence Welch has led me astray), I had this three-way tie in second place with A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin, and Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (all of which promised me engrossing characters/plot and good writing, and failed)
The fact that Assistant to the Villain was published is shocking and concerning to me 😬 Oh man, A Study in Drowning was one of my biggest disappointments of the year. Such high expectations, so much actual hatred for the book (ok that’s dramatic I didn’t HATE it) The only books I gave below a 2 last year were Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman and An Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson.
Your reviews are my favorite because you do a great job describing the books without giving anything away, so I always feel like I know what I’m getting into! My least favorite book of 2024 was Starter Villain by John Scalzi, which is unfortunate because EVERYBODY around me loved it. The concept is amazing, but I just wasn’t a fan of the execution. I felt like the main character didn’t have any autonomy and was merely a bystander to the events happening around him, and that really hindered the story for me.
You inspired me to start reading again :) I started at the beginning of 2024 and wanted to read some popular books/authors to get back into reading. A few of my worst books were: - Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. It was the most boring "thriller" I've ever read. There was too much fatphobia, as well. (I could give a little grace for it at first, considering this book takes place at a health resort, but the high amount of it was so unnecessary, in my opinion) - A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers. I really should've DNF'd this book. The main character was an awful person, nothing redeemable about her. The writing was terrible, I struggled through almost every sentence. - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. It presents the choice that's made as morally grey, in a way. Not exactly, but I think you're supposed to feel bad for the main characters, but I just ended up hating one of them instead. - A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sorry, Sherlock. I appreciate the impact he's had on the world, but I thought Sherlock was making too many leaps in logic that weren't sound, and I thought he was kind of mean.
Least favorites: 1) The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. Really disappointing because the concept sounded so good and then it was executed so poorly. 2) The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. I think her books just aren't for me. I didn't like Spells for Forgetting either. I had a really bad reading year overall, though. I only liked 6 of the 26 fiction books I read and then DNFed another 14.
My worst book of 2024 was 'Lore of the Wilds' by Analeigh Sbrana. I went in wanting to love it so much because of the concept and cover, but omg, I haven't had a book "ending twist" enrage me so much in years. Not only did it come out of nowhere and not make any sense, it made the entire book before it completely pointless and I could literally rant about it for an hour 😅 Honourable mentions to my DNF list: 'Sun of Blood and Ruin' by Mariely Lares 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas 'How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying' by Django Wexler
I’m still making my way through This is How You Lose the Time War, started it in October or November 🙈 I’m loving it, but have to take it slow because of the flowery language. Worst books of 2024? Lowest rated was ‘Holy Knit’ by Deborah Alexander, then ‘Captive Prince’ by C S Pacat, and most disappointing read of the year was ‘House of Flame and Shadow’ by Sarah J Maas
I read The Alchemist in High School and remember loving it. I've thought about reading it again, but I've hesitated because I feel like I'm going to ruin that first read of it. Maybe it was the book I needed at the time, and now it wouldn't be. Some of my least favorite books from 2024 are: Artemis by Andy Weir The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
100% agree with Blacken teeth; far better has been everything I have been reading by Ai Jiang, especially Linghun and I Am Ai. She really has done some amazing novellas and short fiction.
I didn't know these books but I'll say one thing... My theory of *bad cover = bad book* is once again proven in the majority of this video... lol Great video though! I love your way of talking about books! Keep going! :)
My worst books of 2024 were Something Happened by Joseph Heller (author of Catch 22) and Dorian by Will Self (a retelling of the Dorian Grey story set in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic).
I didn't read that many books that I didn't like, but With Any Luck, Ashley Poston's novella, was a massive let down, and Funny Story also disappointed me (after loving every other Emily Henry book I felt like the quality in this one changed but I seem to be the only one who thinks that 😅). I was reading (and loving) A Study in Drowning but had to stop because of life and after your comments I'm very curious to see how I'll feel about the ending 👀 Thank you always for your videos! You always remind me how fun (and stress free) reading should be 💕
Jesse, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who didn’t enjoy This Is How You Lose the Time War when I read this book in 2023 I did not enjoy it and I agree it was doing to much . My worst books of 2024 would have to be You Look Better As a Ghost or The Lake by Natasha Preston
I didn’t like Spells for forgetting either, I just thought it was so boring until like chapter 40. My worst books of the year were Spectacular and A Fate Inked in Blood
Paulo Coelho writes a lot of biographical novels, so some of his books tend to be like non-fiction veiled on fiction. (Kind of like how a lot of literary fiction anyway). I just love the wisdom in a lot of literary fiction books. I uploaded my disappointing/worst books read in 2024 video in my channel.
I find it interesting that you found Grady Hendrix's first book so misogynistic cause that's the problem I had still with his most famous books and I was surprised most people didn't see that, though I'm sure it's more subtle now
Some of my worst books include What If It’s Us, Okay Cupid by Mason Deaver (I think this one would interest you with magical realism & it’s not very long!), and The (Fake) Dating Game which you would not like lol
My worst book was „same time next year“ by Tessa Bailey. It’s supposed to be a romance, but I wasn’t sure if it was a thriller instead. With horrible, horrible writing (and I’m not overly sensitive for that, because English isn’t my first language). I like you, so don’t read that for an upcoming video 😅.
One of my worst books of 2024 was Winterwood by Shea Earnshaw. I read it for another booktuber’s book club and I didn't see a single person say they liked it at the end
I also didn’t like “Spells for Forgetting” but I would really recommend her other adult novel “The Unmaking of June Farrow” if you like her writing then this is the book that showcases it well with a good plot and characters
I haven't read any of these books, but my absolute worst read of 2024 was easily Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas. I just wanted a fun ancient Greek inspired fantasy (because that's what the cover suggested) and instead got a why choose bully romance set not in ancient times, but in the future??? The writing was generally so bad too 😭
only read the alchemist (found it was fine but very forgettable) and this is how you lose the time war (HATED the reading experience, so so confusing and made me feel stupid but the romance was cute) but don't have much interest in the others
Oooh I think our reading tastes might overlap more than I thought! I reallyyyy didn't like This is How You Lose the Time War and the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that people are just pretending to like it 🙈 I kept reading because I was hoping it would start to make sense and it just NEVER did 😂 And yes, The Alchemist is definitely a self-help book disguised as a novel 😂
I did wonder about the thumbnail. And I love that you brought it up. Great video and I did not feel like you were being too negative. But I haven't read any of those books so who am I to say ...
I've not read any of the ones you mentioned, but my worst books in 2024 were The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw, An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka, Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch by J.J. Taylor.
I read 12 books in 2024 and had 3 that really wasn't that great 🙃 1. Dead Man Talking - Roddy Doyle 2. Saving the Day - Katie Fforde 3. Snowed in With You - Jade Church
I had a similar experience with "This Is How You Lose the Time War", always felt I was strange cause everyone else seems to love it so much but I feel validated now! 😅 My least favourite book of the year was definitely "The Maidens". I saw lots of positive reviews, but to methe plot was bland, easy to guess, but also didn't make much sense at the same time (don't wanna say too much in case of spoilers). If you want to be frustrated for a good 300+ pages, read this book! x)
I guess I can feel less badly that I just couldn't get through This Is How You Lose the Time War. I liked the Katee Robert book better than you did -- with or without the extra hot dog.
Ok glad to hear someone else not like This is How You Lose the Time War. I DNFed it really early in cuz I was so confused and not enjoying the writing. But EVERYONE loves it and I’m like am I just missing something? Guess it just wasn’t for me. Sad though cuz I love time travel
Most of the books I read in 2024 were good. Not many new favorites, but many that I really liked. Theree were really only three books that didn't hit for me. One I couldn't get into the writing style. One was very flowery but was super predictable and had nothing very interesting to say, at least to me. Both of those books though had very good elements and I just felt really weren't for me. The only book I HATED was called Middletide. It had a terrible mystery that took too long to get started and was dumb once it did. The protagonist was unlikable garbage that everyone in the book praised constantly. And the book simultaniously stereotyped Indigenous people and fetishised them at the same time. Worst book I read by FAR.
Honestly, as much as I enjoy This is How You Lose the Time War and A Study in Drowning (which I am currently rereading and enjoying far more than the first time) I get why people wouldn't like them. I do. I personally have never seen a positive review of Nothing But Blackened Teeth. So I was completely unsurprised this was on your list. I did also love The Salt Grows Heavy, but I decided not to read the author's previous works because I knew it wasn't received well. My worst book was One Dark Window. It was advertised as an adult gothic. It was a fantasy, not necessarily a problem but not what I was looking for at the time. It may have been adult, but it read like a young adult and that always affect my enjoyment if I am expecting an adult book. I dnfed it about 100 pages from the end, and found it completely forgettable except for the magic system.
Worst books of the year for me: Beautiful People by Mitsukazu Mihara, its a horror anthology manga and it felt so teen edgy and missed the mark for me Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, I was so into the premise of this and drawn into the mystery but how it's executed left me so disappointed Blue in Green by Anand R.K. and Ram V, this graphic novel is one of the most beautifully illustrated graphic novels I've ever seen which is why its SO upsetting that the writing falls so flat And The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom, this book paused every 3 seconds to remind me what the message is supposed to be and it was infuriating lmao
I DNF’d Time War. The writing felt overly pretentious. In their quest to be poetic and lyrical they sacrificed clarity and evocative imagery. I’ve heard the audiobook was better so I may try it again. I ALSO DNF’d Blackened Teeth. It was my first by that author and it gave me such a bad taste I am reluctant to try anything else by her.
I have not (yet) read any of these books. I read 45 books in 2024, and *by far* the worst one was My Life With the Walter Boys. I watched the Netflix show and thought it was an acceptable way to clock out of life for an evening, so I figured the book had to be at least halfway decent, but... It's honestly so, so bad. It's worse than the show. Really. And I would not call the show "good". That book was a complete waste of my time.
I’ve read a few of these books and I felt the same way about them. I didn’t like them either. I actually DNF’d Assistant to the Villain. I just got bored with it. 😅
Whalefall was my worst book of 2024🤢 My Goodreads review: This book was just about a guy with daddy issues who just happened to be swallowed by a whale. I was about 32% into the book when the main character FINALLY got swallowed by the whale. I thought the book would pick up from there, but no, he still thought about all the issues between him and his dad. It got to the point where I didn't even care if the main character lived or died. The only reason I didn't dnf was because of the audiobook narrator; He did a good job.
I was really disappointed with Wayward by Emilia Hart. It had potential but i couldn't get past all the obvious bad choices one of the main characters would continually make. Was just too much IMO, lol.
Its not exactly the worst but i am having problems continuing with Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell 😢 love the worldbuilding and the idea in general of the story but....idk!! I am finding it boring when the main characters are present!!😢 for now i am taking a time away and reading other books that ate in my TRL
One of my worst books of 2024 was (sorry, not sorry) "I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons" by Peter S Beagle. I read something like thirty 2024 new releases last year but this one felt like it belongs in the 70s in all the worst ways.
Me: Why would anyone hate on someone just for not liking a book? It's all personal opinion. Me after I see Time War on here: WHAT THE FU-- Seriously Time War is so good :( I really hope you give it another chance. I've read it 3 times now and it gets better each time. The story makes much more sense on the second read and that lets you enjoy the flowery writing more.
I don't think your being mean at all, your voicing your opinion on books you didn't enjoy. And I thank you for sharing your opinion, I like hearing different reviews from book readers about books I think about picking up. 😊
Glad I’m not the only one that didn’t get on with This is how you lose the time war, it seems like everyone raves about it but it was too pretentious for its own good
For me, my absolute worst book of 2024 was By a Thread by Lucy Score. I’m sorry to those who love it because I really thought I would too based on people’s reviews. In the first 30 pages I thought it was going to be a 5 star for me. By 50% it was maybe a 3 star and by the end it was a 1 star for me 😭 and I’ve never rated a book so low 🫢. I would be really curious to know what you think Jesse!
My lowest rated books of 2024 was Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell and The Secret Society of Irregular Witches (so controversial, but I feel like it was too overhyped, not bad but just okay.)
I had a pretty great reading year so I don't have many absolutely awful books. But don't get me wrong, I do have some terrible ones. But let's start with disappointing/forgettable. Starting with one of us is lying. I really couldn't care less for this book, I found it so boring and generic. None of the characters grabbed me, and while I didn't see the plot twist coming, that's because it was absolutely ridiculous. Next is the serial killers wife. I picked this up in a charity shop because it sounded interesting. But the book takes soooooo long to actually get to what it advertises on the front cover. It did have some shocking moments and a plot twist I really didn't see coming, but it's nothing you're missing out on. And the absolute worst of the worst comes down to two categories. Up first, the worst book I actually finished. Which is live and let die by Ian Fleming. Words cannot describe how much of a dumpster fire this book is. It fails at everything. It's boring, it's slow, it's full of characters I hate for the wrong reasons. And the biggest problem. It's so unbelievably racist that it is hard to get through. And worst that I couldn't finish... Fellowship of the ring. Boring. Unbelievably boring. I got to where they meet Aragon and couldn't take it anymore. Idk how anyone can get through these books. For me it was like trying to force myself through a brick wall.
10:59 How you lose the Time War, easy let Disney take over from the BBC in the production of Doctor Who /s There is another time book that was a short list for the Booker Prize, was there not? The Ministry of Time, which also sounds Whovian to me. So far none of these books have been on my radar. When people started to talk about the Alchemist, I thought they were talking about the Alienist by Caleb Carr. I have not seen the TV show, and my ADHD got bogged down in all the descriptiveness that I did not finish the book, and always have meant to return to it. Maybe I should put it on my 2025 TBR list. It’s already growing. I only read 45 books last year, not including audiobook listens. Some reason in my autistic black and white thinking, listening does not equal reading. The ADHD part of me is hell yes it does, because I can get by some very descriptive chapters by listening instead. However the ASD part wins it.
I really look forward to worst/most disappointing book videos. I love hearing the reasons why people didn’t like books because it may help me set my standards lower and end up liking it, or help me figure out what books I’d like or not based on my opinions of what bothered someone else. I love how subjective reading is!
I didn't hate How To Lose a Time War, but it was a massive disappointment. I was told by booktube up and down that I would love this book. And I was just kinda meh about all of it, the only part I kinda liked about it was the actual letters Blue and Red wrote to each other. I just kinda tuned out the other parts and kept wondering what all the hype was about.
I'm getting more annoyed the more I talk about it - I FEEL you!
I re-read "This Is How You Lose the Time War" because I thought the same as you, thinking I would "get it" the second time around and nope, it still didn't hit. Not for me!
I almost chocked on my hot cup of tea while falling off the chair when you mentioned the hotdogs lollll ... omg I love your videos Jesse
Great video as always Jesse! I ended up loving This is How You Lose the Time War and I can totally see how its not for everyone. Here are my bottom three books of 2024:
- Seven Empty Houses by Samanta Schweblin (Translated by Megan McDowell), this short story collection promised stranges houses and yet it was only the people who were strange!!! I wanted weird houses!!!
- Killer Instinct by S.E. Green, an older title that had been on my TBR since I got it for like a dollar at Indigo, its about a girl obsessed with serial killers, specifically the serial killer who has haunted her town, and she might be a serial killer too? Terrible twist ending and so abrupt.
- The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware, I think I discovered I don't like thrillers, I was nosy and wanted to know what happened to this family but it turned out to be awful and gross and mega sad! Not for me XD
This is How You Lose the Time War is one of my favourites, but I get how it's not for everyone due to the writing style. My least favourite book I read in 2024 was The Once and Future Witches - such a disappointing experience especially because I feel like it had a lot more potential, particularly with its characters.
It's been awhile, but I don't remember the writing in This Is How You Lose The Time War being all that flowery.
I liked it, but don't really have the urge to reread it either.
I don't recall seeing any positive reactions to Nothing But Blackened Teeth.
I will, probably, try something else by the author, if only because I own their debut, which I recall getting a fairly positive reception.
How refreshing to hear you didn't like This Is How You Lose the Time War. I didn't like it at all but everyone I've talked with who also read it, loved it...
I think the worst book I read in 2024 was We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets. It was less about horrors of moderating social media and more about characters' drama which I didn't care about at all.
I am one of those read the ending first people. A happy ending is a must for me, so I feel I am missing out on so many great books, but can’t help myself
This is How You Lose the Time War was very underwhelming to me. I'm not sure if it's because it was so hyped or because it was genuinely not that great for me? I couldn't connect to the characters and Red and Blue just seemed like the same person. Maybe that was the intention and I was missing the point entirely? I also wanted to know more about their societies and why they were at war.
I had a similar experience to A Study In Drowning, I LOVED the atmosphere, the settings, the gloomy dark vibes, but it did put me into a reading slump because of the plot and the pacing. But the author has announced a sequel which I want to read!
Another let down for me was Immortality by Dana Schwartz, I LOVED the first book Anatomy but the sequel Immortality was such a let down, it felt like I was reading a completely different series and it went in a really odd direction which was such a shame :(
Grady Hendrix is hit and miss.
Like How to Sell a Haunted House? Great!
Book Clubs Guide yo Slaying Vampires? Pretty good.
Final Girl Support Group? Eh.
And then my friend said they did not care for Horrorstör.
I read 100 books, and my least favorite books were Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey, The Nanny by Lana Ferguson, All By My Elf by Olivia Dade, We Are Going to Be Pals! by Mark Teague, and The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. And then the book that disappointed me the most was Bride by Ali Hazelwood because I usually love her books, and that one just didn't do it for me.
Jesse, you’re so allowed to dislike a book and be honest about why. Even if people get upset about it. It’s not harsh to clearly explain why you don’t like it, nor is it even harsh to say that you think a book is not good. Not just that it’s not for you, but that you think it’s just not good.
Time war was one of my absolute favorites this year, i find it so funny when people didn’t like it because it’s one of the most life changing romances ive ever read. I understand completely why it’s not for everyone though.
Spells for Forgetting had such an identity crisis. It wasn't witchy enough... The atmosphere after the beginning...where did it go? The second chance romance....so underbaked.
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy these. I had a pretty good reading year. A few books that didn't work for me (in that I didn't connect with them) were:
-Sunhead, a graphic novel by Alex Assan
-The Never King by Nikki St Crowe
-A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St Clair (DNFed early due to the MC)
Thank you for giving me a much needed laugh this morning! My worst book of 2024 was EASILY "Murder at the Bookstore" by Sue Minix. It was the worst cozy mystery I've ever read, simply because a) the villain was SUPER OBVIOUS and b) the MC was a mystery writer who very obviously didn't know who the villain was because she was purposefully overlooking it. Also, "The Cinnamon Bun Book Store." I didn't expect much anyway because the first book wasn't great, but at least that first one had all the fall atmosphere. Any atmosphere in this book was immediately ruined by (often unnecessary) smut.
I read both "Spells for Forgetting" and "A Study in Drowning," and absolutely loved them both. But I also realize the characters in both aren't very nuanced, and the reader doesn't quite get what they promised. But I can read a book with "boring" characters as long as I get either a good atmosphere, a good message, or both.
Hey Jesse! Good to see you posting videos! 😊 I thought the old booktube was dying 😢
Jesse has been posting very consistently all last year and beyond :) but Kat is back from a bit of a hiatus so I'm sooo happy over that,
I agree with the keeping books you dont love.. I have a basket near my bookshelf and take them to the free libraries when I have time. No point keeping them ❤
I read 43 books in 2024, and my worst books of the year were What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez and A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey.
With WtRK, I needed a lot less from the romance and a lot more from the other characters and the actual plot line. The side characters and the main story were far more interesting than what was going on between the 2 main characters.
With AMoDaD, the pacing of the story felt very clunky and disjointed, and I needed more actual development in the romance between the 2 main characters.
Right, it feels like lately, if a book doesn't have romance, it isn't considered a book. Take me back to the days where romance was a side plot or non existant please
Hi! One of my least favorite books from 2024 is a curse for true love by Stephanie Garber. It was the finale in a trilogy I was loving. She made the mistake of using my most HATED trope (when the hero looses their memories or powers and then you spend the rest of the book waiting for them to get them back) which in this case took 61%! Of the book to achieve. 61%! Stephanie that is too many percent, by the time she got her memories back I was like I don't even care now
I completely agree with you on 'This is How You Lose the Time War'. I hated that book 😅
i also hated "spells for forgetting" and "a study in drowning" but i'm a lot meaner about them than you were 😂
In the Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches was without question the worst book I read in 2024, the parts that I kinda liked I no longer remember and unfortunately this book has some quotes that haunt me for all my days. Like when he compared a woman's body part to a warm gun.
Totally agree about Spells for Forgetting! It was super disappointing!
my least favourites-
1) the man who mistook his wife for a hat by oliver sacks
2) the ex talk by rachel Lynn Solomon
3) all by my elf- olivia Dade
4) the turn of the key- Ruth ware
I have been a viewer for YEARS and I have been dying to ask you if you read any old timey classics? Huck Finn, Oliver Twist, The Chrysalids, Great Gatsby, Old Man and The Sea, Heart of Darkness, Tuck Everlasting and the like! Recently, I have been listening to SO MANY older "classics" and I really wanna hear about the ones you love, like, hate, have read more than once, will never read again.
Oh god i remember Nothing But Blackened Teeth.... it was so hyped pre-release, and the cover and concept are amazing, but the actual book? What a let down! A nothing-burger that could've been soooo cool.
Study in Drowning was so disappointing. It had SO much potential and I like the world premise. But I wanted ao much MORE. And the romance irked me tbh
Three of the worst books I read in 2024 were: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and The Tale of Kore by Amanda L. Rautio. I would love to see you read one of these books in your video.
I read The Alchemist as a pre-teen kid and, strangely, I feel like that was the good age to read it as it made it easier for me to take its lessons seriously.
I don't read books I know I'll hate, but there were a few letdowns last year. The biggest ones were Sebastian Fitzek's Therapy and DBC Pierre's Breakfast with the Borgias. And if the first one was just me not heeding to the warnings, the second one really annoyed me.
Two hotdogs?? Now that's one too many hotdogs...
Now I've been offered the opportunity to mention this book one final time: one of worst books of 2024 for me was Christina Henry's "The House that Horror Built." Should be "The House that Bordedom and Unspired Writing Built." A lot of vacuum cleaning and even more dusting off of things that than go bump in the night and do a lot of ridiculous bumping and not much more.
I know it’s not for everyone but I loved Assistant to the Villain so much! I also agree with you for Spells for Forgetting. It was only ok for me. Not the best I’ve read but not the worst.
I read a study in drowning, and it was really unmemorable. I thought it was decent at the time I read it but now I feel like I’ve no idea who those characters were or what the plot was.
I really liked this is how you lose the time war but it was really confusing and I read it twice back to back because the first time it wasn’t clicking for me and on the second read, I really enjoyed it more
Well now I'm questioning everything about hot dog usage... That said, most of these books weren't high on my interest list anyway, and I'm feeling better about removing them entirely, lol. Except for a couple:
-I think Assistant to the Villain was exactly what I wanted when I read it in 2023. It was lighthearted, had the dumb office politics that make me laugh (but don't miss now that I work from home), and didn't require any effort on my part. Maybe not the best romance or fantasy, but kinda hit the nostalgia triggers in my brain? I admit I somehow forgot to read the sequel last year, but I know the third book is coming out this summer so I might just save it for a "no thoughts only books" vacation, lol.
-Also, I read and loved The Alchemist in the most chill class I had in college, but that was well over a decade ago and I have decided that it's probably never going to be a reread for me. I think your description is pretty spot on, which is probably why it worked for me at the time
And while my worst book of 2024 by a mile was Florida by Lauren Groff (the only time Florence Welch has led me astray), I had this three-way tie in second place with A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin, and Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo (all of which promised me engrossing characters/plot and good writing, and failed)
Oh no Florence 😂
@@angelk5743 I love Florence, and I love Taylor, and I love their song! I even love catching the reference to this book now! But it was not worth it 🤣
The fact that Assistant to the Villain was published is shocking and concerning to me 😬
Oh man, A Study in Drowning was one of my biggest disappointments of the year. Such high expectations, so much actual hatred for the book (ok that’s dramatic I didn’t HATE it)
The only books I gave below a 2 last year were Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman and An Academy For Liars by Alexis Henderson.
I couldn’t get into „this is how you loose the time war“. I feel so vindicated that you didn’t like it too. It felt like I’m the only one.
Your reviews are my favorite because you do a great job describing the books without giving anything away, so I always feel like I know what I’m getting into!
My least favorite book of 2024 was Starter Villain by John Scalzi, which is unfortunate because EVERYBODY around me loved it. The concept is amazing, but I just wasn’t a fan of the execution. I felt like the main character didn’t have any autonomy and was merely a bystander to the events happening around him, and that really hindered the story for me.
You inspired me to start reading again :) I started at the beginning of 2024 and wanted to read some popular books/authors to get back into reading. A few of my worst books were:
- Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. It was the most boring "thriller" I've ever read. There was too much fatphobia, as well. (I could give a little grace for it at first, considering this book takes place at a health resort, but the high amount of it was so unnecessary, in my opinion)
- A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers. I really should've DNF'd this book. The main character was an awful person, nothing redeemable about her. The writing was terrible, I struggled through almost every sentence.
- The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. It presents the choice that's made as morally grey, in a way. Not exactly, but I think you're supposed to feel bad for the main characters, but I just ended up hating one of them instead.
- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sorry, Sherlock. I appreciate the impact he's had on the world, but I thought Sherlock was making too many leaps in logic that weren't sound, and I thought he was kind of mean.
Least favorites:
1) The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown. Really disappointing because the concept sounded so good and then it was executed so poorly.
2) The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. I think her books just aren't for me. I didn't like Spells for Forgetting either.
I had a really bad reading year overall, though. I only liked 6 of the 26 fiction books I read and then DNFed another 14.
My oldest loved Assistant To the Villian but I haven't tried it yet
A study in drowning sounded so good and I was so disappointed 😅
My worst book of 2024 was 'Lore of the Wilds' by Analeigh Sbrana. I went in wanting to love it so much because of the concept and cover, but omg, I haven't had a book "ending twist" enrage me so much in years. Not only did it come out of nowhere and not make any sense, it made the entire book before it completely pointless and I could literally rant about it for an hour 😅
Honourable mentions to my DNF list:
'Sun of Blood and Ruin' by Mariely Lares
'A Court of Thorns and Roses' by Sarah J. Maas
'How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying' by Django Wexler
I’m still making my way through This is How You Lose the Time War, started it in October or November 🙈 I’m loving it, but have to take it slow because of the flowery language.
Worst books of 2024? Lowest rated was ‘Holy Knit’ by Deborah Alexander, then ‘Captive Prince’ by C S Pacat, and most disappointing read of the year was ‘House of Flame and Shadow’ by Sarah J Maas
I read The Alchemist in High School and remember loving it. I've thought about reading it again, but I've hesitated because I feel like I'm going to ruin that first read of it. Maybe it was the book I needed at the time, and now it wouldn't be.
Some of my least favorite books from 2024 are:
Artemis by Andy Weir
The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig
A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
100% agree with Blacken teeth; far better has been everything I have been reading by Ai Jiang, especially Linghun and I Am Ai. She really has done some amazing novellas and short fiction.
I didn't know these books but I'll say one thing... My theory of *bad cover = bad book* is once again proven in the majority of this video... lol Great video though! I love your way of talking about books! Keep going! :)
My worst books of 2024 were Something Happened by Joseph Heller (author of Catch 22) and Dorian by Will Self (a retelling of the Dorian Grey story set in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic).
I didn't read that many books that I didn't like, but With Any Luck, Ashley Poston's novella, was a massive let down, and Funny Story also disappointed me (after loving every other Emily Henry book I felt like the quality in this one changed but I seem to be the only one who thinks that 😅).
I was reading (and loving) A Study in Drowning but had to stop because of life and after your comments I'm very curious to see how I'll feel about the ending 👀
Thank you always for your videos! You always remind me how fun (and stress free) reading should be 💕
I 💖 the Kero Keroppi mug. 🐸
Jesse, I’m so glad I’m not the only one who didn’t enjoy This Is How You Lose the Time War when I read this book in 2023 I did not enjoy it and I agree it was doing to much . My worst books of 2024 would have to be You Look Better As a Ghost or The Lake by Natasha Preston
I didn’t like Spells for forgetting either, I just thought it was so boring until like chapter 40. My worst books of the year were Spectacular and A Fate Inked in Blood
The pairing by Casey Mcquiston was one of my least favourites from 2024!
Paulo Coelho writes a lot of biographical novels, so some of his books tend to be like non-fiction veiled on fiction. (Kind of like how a lot of literary fiction anyway). I just love the wisdom in a lot of literary fiction books.
I uploaded my disappointing/worst books read in 2024 video in my channel.
Absolutely LOVE the Keroppi mug!
I find it interesting that you found Grady Hendrix's first book so misogynistic cause that's the problem I had still with his most famous books and I was surprised most people didn't see that, though I'm sure it's more subtle now
Some of my worst books include What If It’s Us, Okay Cupid by Mason Deaver (I think this one would interest you with magical realism & it’s not very long!), and The (Fake) Dating Game which you would not like lol
I've read This Is How You Lose the Time War twice and I'm still confused but I love it 😂 It's like the confusion fits the story for me actually idk
My worst book was „same time next year“ by Tessa Bailey. It’s supposed to be a romance, but I wasn’t sure if it was a thriller instead. With horrible, horrible writing (and I’m not overly sensitive for that, because English isn’t my first language). I like you, so don’t read that for an upcoming video 😅.
One of my worst books of 2024 was Winterwood by Shea Earnshaw. I read it for another booktuber’s book club and I didn't see a single person say they liked it at the end
I also didn’t like “Spells for Forgetting” but I would really recommend her other adult novel “The Unmaking of June Farrow” if you like her writing then this is the book that showcases it well with a good plot and characters
I haven't read any of these books, but my absolute worst read of 2024 was easily Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas. I just wanted a fun ancient Greek inspired fantasy (because that's what the cover suggested) and instead got a why choose bully romance set not in ancient times, but in the future??? The writing was generally so bad too 😭
only read the alchemist (found it was fine but very forgettable) and this is how you lose the time war (HATED the reading experience, so so confusing and made me feel stupid but the romance was cute) but don't have much interest in the others
Oooh I think our reading tastes might overlap more than I thought! I reallyyyy didn't like This is How You Lose the Time War and the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that people are just pretending to like it 🙈 I kept reading because I was hoping it would start to make sense and it just NEVER did 😂 And yes, The Alchemist is definitely a self-help book disguised as a novel 😂
I did wonder about the thumbnail. And I love that you brought it up. Great video and I did not feel like you were being too negative. But I haven't read any of those books so who am I to say ...
Two hot dogs! Pffffff hahahahahahahaha!!! I love it, hahahaha!! ❤😂
I laughed too loud too much after the two hot dogs comment 😂😂
I've not read any of the ones you mentioned, but my worst books in 2024 were The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw, An Inheritance of Magic by Benedict Jacka, Medea: Priestess, Princess, Witch by J.J. Taylor.
I read 12 books in 2024 and had 3 that really wasn't that great 🙃
1. Dead Man Talking - Roddy Doyle
2. Saving the Day - Katie Fforde
3. Snowed in With You - Jade Church
Hahaha I can see that with Assistant to the Villain, I did the audio and it was so unserious. I ended up loving it at the time I read it 😂
I had a similar experience with "This Is How You Lose the Time War", always felt I was strange cause everyone else seems to love it so much but I feel validated now! 😅
My least favourite book of the year was definitely "The Maidens". I saw lots of positive reviews, but to methe plot was bland, easy to guess, but also didn't make much sense at the same time (don't wanna say too much in case of spoilers). If you want to be frustrated for a good 300+ pages, read this book! x)
I guess I can feel less badly that I just couldn't get through This Is How You Lose the Time War. I liked the Katee Robert book better than you did -- with or without the extra hot dog.
Ok glad to hear someone else not like This is How You Lose the Time War. I DNFed it really early in cuz I was so confused and not enjoying the writing. But EVERYONE loves it and I’m like am I just missing something? Guess it just wasn’t for me. Sad though cuz I love time travel
Most of the books I read in 2024 were good. Not many new favorites, but many that I really liked. Theree were really only three books that didn't hit for me. One I couldn't get into the writing style. One was very flowery but was super predictable and had nothing very interesting to say, at least to me. Both of those books though had very good elements and I just felt really weren't for me.
The only book I HATED was called Middletide. It had a terrible mystery that took too long to get started and was dumb once it did. The protagonist was unlikable garbage that everyone in the book praised constantly. And the book simultaniously stereotyped Indigenous people and fetishised them at the same time. Worst book I read by FAR.
Honestly, as much as I enjoy This is How You Lose the Time War and A Study in Drowning (which I am currently rereading and enjoying far more than the first time) I get why people wouldn't like them. I do. I personally have never seen a positive review of Nothing But Blackened Teeth. So I was completely unsurprised this was on your list. I did also love The Salt Grows Heavy, but I decided not to read the author's previous works because I knew it wasn't received well. My worst book was One Dark Window. It was advertised as an adult gothic. It was a fantasy, not necessarily a problem but not what I was looking for at the time. It may have been adult, but it read like a young adult and that always affect my enjoyment if I am expecting an adult book. I dnfed it about 100 pages from the end, and found it completely forgettable except for the magic system.
Worst books of the year for me:
Beautiful People by Mitsukazu Mihara, its a horror anthology manga and it felt so teen edgy and missed the mark for me
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, I was so into the premise of this and drawn into the mystery but how it's executed left me so disappointed
Blue in Green by Anand R.K. and Ram V, this graphic novel is one of the most beautifully illustrated graphic novels I've ever seen which is why its SO upsetting that the writing falls so flat
And The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom, this book paused every 3 seconds to remind me what the message is supposed to be and it was infuriating lmao
If you like slow burn you should read l “sorcery and small magics” it was really good!
I DNF’d Time War. The writing felt overly pretentious. In their quest to be poetic and lyrical they sacrificed clarity and evocative imagery.
I’ve heard the audiobook was better so I may try it again.
I ALSO DNF’d Blackened Teeth. It was my first by that author and it gave me such a bad taste I am reluctant to try anything else by her.
I was making myself hotdogs when you said that😭
I have not (yet) read any of these books. I read 45 books in 2024, and *by far* the worst one was My Life With the Walter Boys. I watched the Netflix show and thought it was an acceptable way to clock out of life for an evening, so I figured the book had to be at least halfway decent, but... It's honestly so, so bad. It's worse than the show. Really. And I would not call the show "good". That book was a complete waste of my time.
I’ve read a few of these books and I felt the same way about them. I didn’t like them either. I actually DNF’d Assistant to the Villain. I just got bored with it. 😅
Whalefall was my worst book of 2024🤢
My Goodreads review: This book was just about a guy with daddy issues who just happened to be swallowed by a whale.
I was about 32% into the book when the main character FINALLY got swallowed by the whale. I thought the book would pick up from there, but no, he still thought about all the issues between him and his dad. It got to the point where I didn't even care if the main character lived or died.
The only reason I didn't dnf was because of the audiobook narrator; He did a good job.
I wouldn't wish my worst book of 2024 on anyone. I'm not doing that to you.
that has me extra curious now! lol
I was really disappointed with Wayward by Emilia Hart. It had potential but i couldn't get past all the obvious bad choices one of the main characters would continually make. Was just too much IMO, lol.
Its not exactly the worst but i am having problems continuing with Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell 😢 love the worldbuilding and the idea in general of the story but....idk!! I am finding it boring when the main characters are present!!😢 for now i am taking a time away and reading other books that ate in my TRL
One of my worst books of 2024 was (sorry, not sorry) "I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons" by Peter S Beagle. I read something like thirty 2024 new releases last year but this one felt like it belongs in the 70s in all the worst ways.
Not the point of this video but i love both of your keroppi mugs! Especially the one on the shelf in the background.
Me: Why would anyone hate on someone just for not liking a book? It's all personal opinion.
Me after I see Time War on here: WHAT THE FU--
Seriously Time War is so good :( I really hope you give it another chance. I've read it 3 times now and it gets better each time. The story makes much more sense on the second read and that lets you enjoy the flowery writing more.
I don't think your being mean at all, your voicing your opinion on books you didn't enjoy. And I thank you for sharing your opinion, I like hearing different reviews from book readers about books I think about picking up. 😊
I didn't like This is How You Lose the Time War either. Confusing so I couldn't find it romantic
My most disappointing read this year was "Paris, die Liebe und ich" by Virginie Carton...
Glad I’m not the only one that didn’t get on with This is how you lose the time war, it seems like everyone raves about it but it was too pretentious for its own good
For me, my absolute worst book of 2024 was By a Thread by Lucy Score. I’m sorry to those who love it because I really thought I would too based on people’s reviews. In the first 30 pages I thought it was going to be a 5 star for me. By 50% it was maybe a 3 star and by the end it was a 1 star for me 😭 and I’ve never rated a book so low 🫢. I would be really curious to know what you think Jesse!
My lowest rated books of 2024 was Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell and The Secret Society of Irregular Witches (so controversial, but I feel like it was too overhyped, not bad but just okay.)
My worst book was they both die at the end, i hated everything about this book 😑
I had a pretty great reading year so I don't have many absolutely awful books.
But don't get me wrong, I do have some terrible ones.
But let's start with disappointing/forgettable. Starting with one of us is lying.
I really couldn't care less for this book, I found it so boring and generic. None of the characters grabbed me, and while I didn't see the plot twist coming, that's because it was absolutely ridiculous.
Next is the serial killers wife. I picked this up in a charity shop because it sounded interesting. But the book takes soooooo long to actually get to what it advertises on the front cover. It did have some shocking moments and a plot twist I really didn't see coming, but it's nothing you're missing out on.
And the absolute worst of the worst comes down to two categories.
Up first, the worst book I actually finished. Which is live and let die by Ian Fleming. Words cannot describe how much of a dumpster fire this book is. It fails at everything. It's boring, it's slow, it's full of characters I hate for the wrong reasons. And the biggest problem. It's so unbelievably racist that it is hard to get through.
And worst that I couldn't finish... Fellowship of the ring.
Boring. Unbelievably boring. I got to where they meet Aragon and couldn't take it anymore. Idk how anyone can get through these books. For me it was like trying to force myself through a brick wall.
10:59 How you lose the Time War, easy let Disney take over from the BBC in the production of Doctor Who /s
There is another time book that was a short list for the Booker Prize, was there not? The Ministry of Time, which also sounds Whovian to me.
So far none of these books have been on my radar. When people started to talk about the Alchemist, I thought they were talking about the Alienist by Caleb Carr. I have not seen the TV show, and my ADHD got bogged down in all the descriptiveness that I did not finish the book, and always have meant to return to it. Maybe I should put it on my 2025 TBR list. It’s already growing. I only read 45 books last year, not including audiobook listens. Some reason in my autistic black and white thinking, listening does not equal reading. The ADHD part of me is hell yes it does, because I can get by some very descriptive chapters by listening instead. However the ASD part wins it.