the Finlay Donavan series for me is a good escape series because it has all the tropes even though it's far-fetched. It's the witty wackiness that I love :)
While I love the thumbnail, I personally think the wax lips would have made a very fun thumbnail as well. 😂😂 I had to pause the video and show my husband as I was laughing so hard. Love your videos, and have to say that I felt this one so much. The sudden onset pimple, the period ordering of candy, and the hockey was my life for many years. Thanks for always being so relatable and real. 💕
obsessed with your hair throughout this video!! so glad you loved the veronica speedwell sequel! i've been loving that the series have been getting the attention it deserves the last year 💗
Just so you know, the Veronica Speedwell is highly characters focused until at least book 5 where I think the focus shifts slightly more towards the plot. But also, important to know, book 4 is the best.
I live in Ontario and seeing those French toast sticks I was like “well we won’t have them here” and it turns out WE DO. Thank you for spreading the word, I’ll be trying those ASAP 😂
I'm so happy that you finally read Four Aunties and a Wedding because I have thoughts LOL. For me the reason why four aunties and a wedding didn't work was because it just felt like Jesse Q Sutanto took all the things that people loved about the first book like the aunties dynamics and the overdramatic of situation and 100x it and it was super obnoxious. I thought Meddy was such a poor character in book 2, she felt very passive to me. Also I think it didn't help that the interaction between Meddy and her partner was nonexistent. It just felt like he was just there to pop in and make some comments and he was so much more involved in the first book and I liked their relationship in the first book so this just felt like the author left out a really important character. The aunties were frustrating, I say this as someone who has had to deal with wild aunties lol. The book just fell flat.
ugh 100% agree! I loved the first book but the second one was kind of silly just to be silly, and I felt there was no substance to the plot + the lack of communication was so irritating!!
‘A Curious Beginning’ was the first book I read in January (yes I read it because of you haha) and so far I’ve read the first three in the series. I really like the mysteries and the slow-burn, as well as all the science talk and such so it’s kind of the perfect series for me. The title of the third book is actually pretty descriptive but not sure about the rest of them
After reading A good day to pie I immediatly had to watch Zumbo's Just Desserts again, because the baking parts of the novel reminded me so much of that show 😄 I agree with you though, that most of the time, cozy mysteries have a great hook for the first book that doesn't carry over well into a whole bunch of sequels.
Totally agree about the Canadian fast food deficiencies. Hooray for period French toast :-) I felt like the first Finlay Donovan had Pink Panther vibes, which I loved. Haven’t read the other two yet. I listened to both of the Aunties books on audio, and I think the accents she did made it for me.
After you talked about Veronica speedwell series I went and read 5 of them. Veronica and stoker are my comfort characters and I love their banter and how they work together. I will say the mysteries for me have been quite forgettable but I stick around for Veronica, stoker and his brothers too.
oh man, I live in the hometown of Moon Pies, so you trying that is cracking me up. Banana definitely is not the most popular flavor, but i love that one. haha.
Moon Pies taste so much better (imo) when you throw them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds and then eat them while the marshmallow is all warm and gooey. I used to love them when I was younger, but as I've gotten older, I've found them to be waaayy too sweet.
I highly recommend the Wisteria Witches series for a cozy mystery. She's a librarian and single mother who discovers she's a witch. Her daughter is sixteen and an old soul. They're both absolutely quirky, and Zara is the definition of an unreliable narrator. The librarian puns make me laugh out loud regularly. I think you'd enjoy the weirdness. There are paranormal references, all equally strange though. I'm starting book three this month, and I loved the first two.
I feel the same about Findlay Donavan. I loved the first book. The second book was really fun. The third book, though, I felt like nothing happened. It was still kind of fun, but mostly, I was waiting for it to be over.
I had the same thoughts on four aunties and a wedding so I was very happy that vera wong turns things around, its my fav book from her so far, cant wait for you to read it
Hi Kayla!! I just discovered your channel this year and I just want to say I love how creative and fun your videos are!!! I bought the first three books of the veronica speedwell series but haven't read yet. Good to know your still interested in it.
Really like this series. 😊 I'm interested to try reading more light-hearted mystery I think I'll enjoy reading cosy mysteries since I'm liking mystery/ thriller shows
i love Veronica Speedwell! I read this whole series (up until the most recent) after seeing you read the first one. my favorite is the 4th and my least favorite was the 6th
dial A for aunties: it totally feels like an episode of I love Lucy where Lucy and Ethel try to hide a dead body from Ricky and Fred the whole time and keep almost getting caught during some insane zany wacky I love Lucy type of thing. lol. I loved the insanity of it all
moon piesssss 😻 I think they're a southern US thing. I grew up on them... but I haven't had one in years because I'm afraid they'll taste different than my memories ....
Just for the record, I hate moon pies too. 🤢 The wax lips you chew like gum, but the wax will not hold up like gum. I love that you bought a candy box and shared it!
I have started so many cozy mystery series but I'm bad about continuing on with them! I just read The Golden Spoon and it is sort of a cozy mystery and a standalone.
I feel similar to you. After I read the second cozy book in a series, I don't feel inclined to continue on in the series, with maybe the exception for Finlay. But I have a feeling after I read the third I won't continue on. The other books in cozy mystery series just don't scratch my itch I guess.
Kayla, I've been meaning to recommend you the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts, but I always forget. It's about 4 women (each of them gets a book) that run a wedding planning business! The books all feature a lot of wedding stuff and the romances are really good. I think you would like it a lot!
Hey, Kayla! Yeah, Four Aunties and a Wedding is something. I gave it two stars, despite loving Dial A for Aunties. Oh well! As for Finlay, I'm stopping at the third, but I may change my mind when the fourth arrives. Who knows?
I have a Good Day to Pie sitting on my shelf and I LOVED Magic, Lies & Deadly Pies so much that I’m scared to read the second one. I am also scared to watch this video in case you don’t love the second book lol
I would have to be obsessed with a cozy mystery to physically buy it, in my mind they are kindle or audio only, not sure why. I think like mist mysteries and thrillers I’m not going to reread them so if I want a physical copy to read I’ll hunt one down from my library
it's so funny you mentioned the price of the deadly pies sequel because the video where you read the 1st one I went to order it and went absolutely not at that price! have had the paperback pre-ordered ever since hahah
Good choice tbh. I pre ordered the second book bc I was so obsessed with the first one and the two books DONT EVEN MATCH 😭 one is matte, one is shiny. the font is totally different on the two books. and the second book has a 2 on the spine since it’s the second book, but the first one doesn’t have a 1 lmao. I can’t deal with it
I love the Veronica Speedwell series but I don’t think I could differentiate between titles and their plots EXCEPT for A Treacherous Curse, because “curse” is a huge part of the plot.
I love cozy mysteries so I love this. I'd love someone to compare Aurora Teagarden mysteries books vs show because that's one I haven't seen anyone do and I desperately want someone to talk about it haha
Haha I just realized that the Veronica Speedwell series and A Curious Beginning were the same thing… there are people later to the party than you Kayla 😂
Have you heard of Agatha Raisin? It's got a TV-movie and a show. As someone who tried to read the first book, I prefer the adaptation. It's Peak cozy mystery.
oh my god, hilarious coincidence, just as i was watching your game of cones clip sirens started going off outside and your face changed, then i realized sirens were going off for you too. what are the odds?
I like the Bar tender guy in the Finlay Donovan series. I don't really want her with the cop, although I think that who she will end up with at the end. And I definitely don't like her ex-husband. But I haven't read the 3rd book yet.
not kidding at all... i am always invested in stories about liam's hockey
🤗🤗🤗
Yes I came here to say “I CARE!”
same
Legitimately always rooting for him to do well in Kayla's little updates
"Technically I'm allergic." absolutely almost caused me to lose the sip of smoothie I had just taken hahaha
I absolutely broke out into hives later that day 💅
@@BooksandLala omg hope your alright 😮
“I’m here to read, and you’re here to watch” - done and dusted 😂
Came for the mystery books, stayed for the hockey update and candy haul.
😂😂😂. Same
Veronica Speedwell remains supreme!!!
The third and fourth books of the Veronica Speedwell series are my favorites in the series thus far!!! I swear it gets even better from here
With the Veronica Speedwell books, the title makes sense after you read it. It's like a secret club you join.
"I don't read the synopsis of books enough to know what they are about"
I have never related to a quote more :)
the Finlay Donavan series for me is a good escape series because it has all the tropes even though it's far-fetched. It's the witty wackiness that I love :)
While I love the thumbnail, I personally think the wax lips would have made a very fun thumbnail as well. 😂😂 I had to pause the video and show my husband as I was laughing so hard. Love your videos, and have to say that I felt this one so much. The sudden onset pimple, the period ordering of candy, and the hockey was my life for many years. Thanks for always being so relatable and real. 💕
The way I scream-laughed when you mentioned criminal minds 😅
obsessed with your hair throughout this video!! so glad you loved the veronica speedwell sequel! i've been loving that the series have been getting the attention it deserves the last year 💗
i loooove the veronica speedwell series! i actually prefer the audio books over the physical experience, the narrator does a fantastic job
I can't wait to do them via audio. I already know I love that narrator 😍😍
I never read cozy mysteries but I will always watch Kayla’s videos anyway! ❤️📚
Just so you know, the Veronica Speedwell is highly characters focused until at least book 5 where I think the focus shifts slightly more towards the plot. But also, important to know, book 4 is the best.
I live in Ontario and seeing those French toast sticks I was like “well we won’t have them here” and it turns out WE DO. Thank you for spreading the word, I’ll be trying those ASAP 😂
We don't even have Wendy's in Quebec outside of Montreal. I had to check. The one closer to my city is in the US :')
This just convinced me to read the first Veronica Speedwell book!!
Kayla always drops a new video right when we need it most.
I'm a mango smoothie gal too! I loved A Game of Cones 💙 I liked Abby Collette's style of letting you solve things with the sleuth too!
I did start Veronica Speedwell after you and keep telling myself to start book two but haven't yet, so that message felt directed right at me. Lol
Literally same lol
I'm so happy that you finally read Four Aunties and a Wedding because I have thoughts LOL. For me the reason why four aunties and a wedding didn't work was because it just felt like Jesse Q Sutanto took all the things that people loved about the first book like the aunties dynamics and the overdramatic of situation and 100x it and it was super obnoxious. I thought Meddy was such a poor character in book 2, she felt very passive to me. Also I think it didn't help that the interaction between Meddy and her partner was nonexistent. It just felt like he was just there to pop in and make some comments and he was so much more involved in the first book and I liked their relationship in the first book so this just felt like the author left out a really important character. The aunties were frustrating, I say this as someone who has had to deal with wild aunties lol. The book just fell flat.
ugh 100% agree! I loved the first book but the second one was kind of silly just to be silly, and I felt there was no substance to the plot + the lack of communication was so irritating!!
I was dying while listening to the gentleman's club part of A Perilous Undertaking. The narrator made Stoker's embarrassment so hilarious.
For cozy mysteries i LOVEEE a good girls guide to murder series and the truly devious series
I love how layered all your videos are. Such a comfort channel and you make me feel more well-read than I am 😅
I've been waiting for this! *Turn it up* 🤣
‘A Curious Beginning’ was the first book I read in January (yes I read it because of you haha) and so far I’ve read the first three in the series. I really like the mysteries and the slow-burn, as well as all the science talk and such so it’s kind of the perfect series for me. The title of the third book is actually pretty descriptive but not sure about the rest of them
After reading A good day to pie I immediatly had to watch Zumbo's Just Desserts again, because the baking parts of the novel reminded me so much of that show 😄
I agree with you though, that most of the time, cozy mysteries have a great hook for the first book that doesn't carry over well into a whole bunch of sequels.
Totally agree about the Canadian fast food deficiencies. Hooray for period French toast :-)
I felt like the first Finlay Donovan had Pink Panther vibes, which I loved. Haven’t read the other two yet.
I listened to both of the Aunties books on audio, and I think the accents she did made it for me.
Just put Finlay Donovan is Killing It on my Library TBR. :) OMG the wax lips made me truly laugh out loud.
The dial A for auntie sounds like my preference 😄💖 I like that it relates to a family that seems close yet has lots going on 😂
After you talked about Veronica speedwell series I went and read 5 of them. Veronica and stoker are my comfort characters and I love their banter and how they work together. I will say the mysteries for me have been quite forgettable but I stick around for Veronica, stoker and his brothers too.
ALWAYS want to hear about Liam’s hockey!!!!!
oh man, I live in the hometown of Moon Pies, so you trying that is cracking me up. Banana definitely is not the most popular flavor, but i love that one. haha.
I have not even read the first book in the Veronica Speedwell series but this made me more interested in picking it up sooner than later!
ok now just dying to know what it was you were waiting for on criminal minds!
Same! Ahaha
Right? Is Kayla a JJ/Reid shipper?
I came to the comments hoping this would be addressed because I’m SO curious 👀😂
God I need to read the Finlay series 😤
Moon Pies taste so much better (imo) when you throw them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds and then eat them while the marshmallow is all warm and gooey.
I used to love them when I was younger, but as I've gotten older, I've found them to be waaayy too sweet.
the way I dropped everything I was doing to watch this video!
I highly recommend the Wisteria Witches series for a cozy mystery. She's a librarian and single mother who discovers she's a witch. Her daughter is sixteen and an old soul. They're both absolutely quirky, and Zara is the definition of an unreliable narrator. The librarian puns make me laugh out loud regularly. I think you'd enjoy the weirdness. There are paranormal references, all equally strange though. I'm starting book three this month, and I loved the first two.
The banana moon pie isn't the original flavor. It's originally covered in chocolate if you want to try them again
I feel the same about Findlay Donavan. I loved the first book. The second book was really fun. The third book, though, I felt like nothing happened. It was still kind of fun, but mostly, I was waiting for it to be over.
My five month old was enamored with you for this entire video 😂 she has good taste 🫶
I had the same thoughts on four aunties and a wedding so I was very happy that vera wong turns things around, its my fav book from her so far, cant wait for you to read it
Hi Kayla!! I just discovered your channel this year and I just want to say I love how creative and fun your videos are!!! I bought the first three books of the veronica speedwell series but haven't read yet. Good to know your still interested in it.
Another one!?!?😮😮😮 YES!!🙌🏻
BTW I love hearing about Liam. My son is close to his age and is a goalie. So it’s fun to see you talk about hockey.
❤❤ poor Liam that’s got to be hard glad you had a good seasonal.
I have very similar views on Finlay 3 and Four Aunties, but I haven't read Pies 2 yet, so I'm excited for that one! It just came in from my library!
Just want to say that your hair looks SO GOOD... and I need to try those french toast sticks asap.
Vera Wong was fun and felt very different :)
2 videos in one day??? 😍
Really like this series. 😊 I'm interested to try reading more light-hearted mystery I think I'll enjoy reading cosy mysteries since I'm liking mystery/ thriller shows
i love Veronica Speedwell! I read this whole series (up until the most recent) after seeing you read the first one. my favorite is the 4th and my least favorite was the 6th
Moon pies are a southern thing! Honestly, if you’re interested in them, try the Strawberries or the Lemon (it’s seasonal)
dial A for aunties: it totally feels like an episode of I love Lucy where Lucy and Ethel try to hide a dead body from Ricky and Fred the whole time and keep almost getting caught during some insane zany wacky I love Lucy type of thing. lol. I loved the insanity of it all
20:03 I’m now desperate to know what you wanted to happen in Criminal Minds 😂
Can't wait to read Veronica speedwell 😍😍. As always a superior reading vlog 🥰
I felt this same way about the second Aunties book. I spent most of the book sad that their wedding day was ruined.
I recommend Against the Currant! A family bakery gets wrapped up in a murder mystery and it includes 2 recipes ❤️
moon piesssss 😻 I think they're a southern US thing. I grew up on them... but I haven't had one in years because I'm afraid they'll taste different than my memories ....
I'm reading Magic, Lies and Deadly Pies and I"m really enjoying it!
We always care about Kid Lala's hockey career! Keep it coming :)
road trip book, cozy, feels zany like dial a for aunties... the bette davis club
Just for the record, I hate moon pies too. 🤢
The wax lips you chew like gum, but the wax will not hold up like gum.
I love that you bought a candy box and shared it!
I have started so many cozy mystery series but I'm bad about continuing on with them! I just read The Golden Spoon and it is sort of a cozy mystery and a standalone.
kayla this video came at the perfect time, really needed it❤️
French toast in Australia is more savoury than in other countries.
oh and as others have said, I too am absolutely invested in the liam hockey updates
This makes me wanna try to read cozy mystery 😀 technically I have read that before but not in a while.
Interesting that a lot of the books have that Tiffany green or other blue green vibes .
I feel similar to you. After I read the second cozy book in a series, I don't feel inclined to continue on in the series, with maybe the exception for Finlay. But I have a feeling after I read the third I won't continue on. The other books in cozy mystery series just don't scratch my itch I guess.
Kayla, I've been meaning to recommend you the Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts, but I always forget. It's about 4 women (each of them gets a book) that run a wedding planning business! The books all feature a lot of wedding stuff and the romances are really good. I think you would like it a lot!
Omg I love this series 😂
Hey, Kayla! Yeah, Four Aunties and a Wedding is something. I gave it two stars, despite loving Dial A for Aunties. Oh well! As for Finlay, I'm stopping at the third, but I may change my mind when the fourth arrives. Who knows?
It's been a while since I read the first Veronica Speedwell book. Do I need to reread or get a recap before reading the second?
Moon pies are huge in the south lol the Chocolate ones are great 😅
I have a Good Day to Pie sitting on my shelf and I LOVED Magic, Lies & Deadly Pies so much that I’m scared to read the second one. I am also scared to watch this video in case you don’t love the second book lol
Personally I preferred the third Abby Collette book over A Game of Cones. So, since you gave this one 4 stars I’d recommend continuing
Thumbnail queen 👑
I would have to be obsessed with a cozy mystery to physically buy it, in my mind they are kindle or audio only, not sure why. I think like mist mysteries and thrillers I’m not going to reread them so if I want a physical copy to read I’ll hunt one down from my library
it's so funny you mentioned the price of the deadly pies sequel because the video where you read the 1st one I went to order it and went absolutely not at that price! have had the paperback pre-ordered ever since hahah
Good choice tbh. I pre ordered the second book bc I was so obsessed with the first one and the two books DONT EVEN MATCH 😭 one is matte, one is shiny. the font is totally different on the two books. and the second book has a 2 on the spine since it’s the second book, but the first one doesn’t have a 1 lmao. I can’t deal with it
You need to read The Bandit Queens. So good. Set in a village in India.
I really want to read that one! It's also been longlisted for the women's prize!
Same!
idk if this helps, but I enjoy your vlogs regardless of how “successful” they turn out
yes, we love Liam content! 🥰
I love the Veronica Speedwell series but I don’t think I could differentiate between titles and their plots EXCEPT for A Treacherous Curse, because “curse” is a huge part of the plot.
You need the chocolate moon pies!!!!!!
two videos one day omg
You need to try "the great witches bake off" series by Nancy Warren
The only cozy mystery I really loved
Great vlog! Really fun
omg perfect i recently left a comment telling you to read a good day to pie on another video! i hope you liked it 🫣
I love cozy mysteries so I love this. I'd love someone to compare Aurora Teagarden mysteries books vs show because that's one I haven't seen anyone do and I desperately want someone to talk about it haha
Please add the lady hardcastle mysteries to your cosy mystery reading!!
I've read the first one 💕 I think I gave it a 3⭐
Haha I just realized that the Veronica Speedwell series and A Curious Beginning were the same thing… there are people later to the party than you Kayla 😂
Moon Poe is from the “green mile”. Book and movie.
Have you heard of Agatha Raisin? It's got a TV-movie and a show. As someone who tried to read the first book, I prefer the adaptation. It's Peak cozy mystery.
oh my god, hilarious coincidence, just as i was watching your game of cones clip sirens started going off outside and your face changed, then i realized sirens were going off for you too. what are the odds?
What is the site where you got all the candy?
Please “everyone on my family has killed someone” by Benjamin Stevenson - an Aussie comedian and mystery author
The author Elle posted that this police academy for writers is a real thing she's attended... 😂
i'm eating a mango while i watch this
Keep going with Veronica Speedwell. They get so good, this one is my least favorite of them all so far. I’m currently reading book 8.
I like the Bar tender guy in the Finlay Donovan series. I don't really want her with the cop, although I think that who she will end up with at the end. And I definitely don't like her ex-husband. But I haven't read the 3rd book yet.