For me cheating and questionable consent is only acceptable when it’s a thriller and/or a character you’re not supposed to like, I’ll never understand why these topics are in romance books 😅
Totally agree with "if he had been with me". I read that book over two years ago and I felt very similar to you. Like you said the wiring felt so stilted and lacked a lot of substance considering the topic of this book. The FMC annoyed the crap out of me. And I just didn't care for the "male lead" (if I'm remembering correctly he was barely in the book anyway). Just wasn't for me. And similar with "Binding 13", I can't really say much cuz I got 6% in and then lowkey gave up. I had other things going on, so I don't think I was able to give it a fair chance, but I remember the main thing that made me put it down was the writing. It felt very "wattpad-y" to me and I just couldn't do it. Which sucks cuz I think character study books can be great and even entertaining, but the ones that seem to be popular on booktok (not deragorty) are filled with unlikeable characters (to me). I didn't gel with "Addicted" or "Magnolia Parks" either.
I’m 60 pages into binding 13 and I agree about the age difference between the characters. Reading it makes me feel icky and I’m considering just dnf-ing. (Also idk if it’s just me but the age gap and the fact they always bring up how she’s so small for her age, gave me super senior vibes.)
Mine has to be The Simple Wild. It made me angry for an entire week!!! The father, the mother and the shit love interest. Gosh I hate when I’m excited for a book and it end up a letdown.
Once upon a broken heart definitely reads as a middle grade book, didn't enjoy it either 😅 I did enjoy phantasma quite a lot though, especially the atmosphere like you mentioned, it was so so beautiful and i appreciated the ocd representation 🖤🥀
I feel you deeply with the Tessa Bailey thoughts! I used to enjoy her books and now I cannot make it through a page without cringing. Same with Lauren Asher (though have always felt that way about her books).
My honest-to-god hate book was "Murder at the Bookstore" by Sue Minix. It was my first read of 2024, and oh man was it bad. The mystery was weak, the killer was extremely obvious, and the "detective" was a complete failure and WILLFULLY ignorant of who the killer was. She's supposed to be this great mystery writer, and she didn't see ANY of the extremely obvious clues????? Uh....what?
Som of my worst books of the year were: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova, and my DNF’s for the year were: The Tale of Kore by Amanda L. Rautio, Artemis by Andy Weir, A Spoonful of Magic by Irene Radford, and The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. I did not like any of these books but if other people did that’s great. Read them at your own risk.
I agree with you on a few books! I recently read Binding 13 the other day. I liked it, but it felt like the same circle of events kept happening over & over again. It tired me out & I just wanted it over. I have keeping 13 on my shelf which I'm hesitant to pick up now. I also agree on If He Had Been With Me. The fmc acted like she was 4 the whole time, but I think she was 16. She annoyed the crap out of me & the writing itself read at a middle school level. Also Old Flames New Fortunes I agree as well. I loved the town & aesthetic. But I HATED the side characters. I also hated how much the mcs argued & then instantly fell back in love so fast after we had one conversation to clear up what happened in the past. I am interested in book 2 but if I don't like it, I won't be continuing that series.
I GUESSED YOUR WIRST BOOK I TRULY DIDNT THINK THERE WAS ANY OTHER OPTION I re watch the video you read it in because I find it SO funny and it makes me laugh so much
i agree with first down, that was my worst book i read last year due to the personality of the mmc how he just thought he was better than everyone and his way of talking to women. it gave me the ick. however i also didn’t like the writing style of it found it too over descriptive in parts and wasnt enough in parts that needed description.
Omg youre so right, I liked Binding 13 and Keeping 13, but I didn't really like the whole "Oh shes so small" part. I read Saving 6 a little while ago and I LOVED it, totally recommend reading those🥰
I have Phantasma on my TBR so I'm intrigued to see how I find it now because you might be the first person I've seen who hasn't enjoyed it. But cohesiveness is quite important to me. The plot holes in Quicksilver almost ruined that one for me for example.
Fun video. I was happy, Ellen, when you permitted the word “hate” to be uttered as I got the feeling that that was the real emotion you felt reading those last couple books. 😂 I’m not endorsing that emotion but sometimes it is how we feel about something (awful).
@@mickeyhank Yes! Although I do agree "hate" is a strong word, but it should be seen as derogatory. The idea of having to remain overly positive on books is unrealistic. As long as they're respectful, I feel like people should be able to convey their feelings on a book freely whether they're negative, positive, or indifferent.
@@squidwardtentacles7144 Agreed, squidward! Hate in this context is about a piece of writing, not about a person and it is not carrying out a violent action upon an individual. It describes an intensity of a negative reaction to something that someone else created, for a reason(s). And Ellen had her reasons for hating the books -- she said what they were I believe. People can have knee-jerk reactions to just words but we need to unpack the context, and hear the explanation for the intensity of the emotion, which Ellen provided. So, we're on the same page here! Like you, I am defending Ellen in this context. 🙂
I didn’t like Phantasma either. It felt painfully predictable with a lust driven romance like you said. Also, the way this was advertised as a Danny Phantom romance was a lie 😐 Only similarity was the physical description of the main guy lol
I knew you didn’t like Under Locke but I’m still surprised it’s the first one ! I’m so bad at knowing what you read this year because I would’ve thought you read the ballad of something in 2023, and I also thought phantasma would be higher
Breakaway was the best in the series from grace reily In my humble opinion, I don't think anybody really likes firstdown, i though it was okay...... but yeeeah wasn't that good hahah 😅
It is actually enemies to lovers but not slow burn. Yes they do get together early in but they don’t stay together. They end up as enemies again and that where the enemies to lovers fully comes in. I really think you should give it a shot.
Ellen when you first read the ballad of never after and didn’t like it I was soo shocked like everyone on booktok RAVES about it. So when I finally got around to reading it.. I also didn’t like it 😭😭 which is crazy caused I LOOVED Caraval and I very much am in the age demographic for OUABH but I too didn’t see the rs between evangaline and jacks. Really thought the book was below mid and was soo disappointed. So thank you for sharing your honest review cause it makes me feel as tho I ain’t crazy with my own opinion haha ❤️🫡
For me cheating and questionable consent is only acceptable when it’s a thriller and/or a character you’re not supposed to like, I’ll never understand why these topics are in romance books 😅
omg we love a rant session from ellen 🫶😭
Totally agree with "if he had been with me". I read that book over two years ago and I felt very similar to you. Like you said the wiring felt so stilted and lacked a lot of substance considering the topic of this book. The FMC annoyed the crap out of me. And I just didn't care for the "male lead" (if I'm remembering correctly he was barely in the book anyway). Just wasn't for me.
And similar with "Binding 13", I can't really say much cuz I got 6% in and then lowkey gave up. I had other things going on, so I don't think I was able to give it a fair chance, but I remember the main thing that made me put it down was the writing. It felt very "wattpad-y" to me and I just couldn't do it. Which sucks cuz I think character study books can be great and even entertaining, but the ones that seem to be popular on booktok (not deragorty) are filled with unlikeable characters (to me). I didn't gel with "Addicted" or "Magnolia Parks" either.
I’m 60 pages into binding 13 and I agree about the age difference between the characters. Reading it makes me feel icky and I’m considering just dnf-ing. (Also idk if it’s just me but the age gap and the fact they always bring up how she’s so small for her age, gave me super senior vibes.)
Hair looks FLAWLESS
@@abbysmith9168 omg thank you🥹🥹
Mine has to be The Simple Wild. It made me angry for an entire week!!! The father, the mother and the shit love interest. Gosh I hate when I’m excited for a book and it end up a letdown.
20:15 as a fifteen year old who loves caraval and this series that’s honestly valid lol 😭
Once upon a broken heart definitely reads as a middle grade book, didn't enjoy it either 😅 I did enjoy phantasma quite a lot though, especially the atmosphere like you mentioned, it was so so beautiful and i appreciated the ocd representation 🖤🥀
i like ouabh but i’m fifteen and i still like middle grade sometimes so maybe that’s why 😭
The way I knew straight away the worst book you read was going to be underlocked 🤣🤣
I feel you deeply with the Tessa Bailey thoughts! I used to enjoy her books and now I cannot make it through a page without cringing. Same with Lauren Asher (though have always felt that way about her books).
I also wasn't a fan of Phantasma I'm so glad I'm not alone in my feelings
My honest-to-god hate book was "Murder at the Bookstore" by Sue Minix. It was my first read of 2024, and oh man was it bad. The mystery was weak, the killer was extremely obvious, and the "detective" was a complete failure and WILLFULLY ignorant of who the killer was. She's supposed to be this great mystery writer, and she didn't see ANY of the extremely obvious clues????? Uh....what?
Som of my worst books of the year were: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova, and my DNF’s for the year were: The Tale of Kore by Amanda L. Rautio, Artemis by Andy Weir, A Spoonful of Magic by Irene Radford, and The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. I did not like any of these books but if other people did that’s great. Read them at your own risk.
I agree with you on a few books! I recently read Binding 13 the other day. I liked it, but it felt like the same circle of events kept happening over & over again. It tired me out & I just wanted it over. I have keeping 13 on my shelf which I'm hesitant to pick up now. I also agree on If He Had Been With Me. The fmc acted like she was 4 the whole time, but I think she was 16. She annoyed the crap out of me & the writing itself read at a middle school level. Also Old Flames New Fortunes I agree as well. I loved the town & aesthetic. But I HATED the side characters. I also hated how much the mcs argued & then instantly fell back in love so fast after we had one conversation to clear up what happened in the past. I am interested in book 2 but if I don't like it, I won't be continuing that series.
I GUESSED YOUR WIRST BOOK I TRULY DIDNT THINK THERE WAS ANY OTHER OPTION I re watch the video you read it in because I find it SO funny and it makes me laugh so much
i agree with first down, that was my worst book i read last year due to the personality of the mmc how he just thought he was better than everyone and his way of talking to women. it gave me the ick. however i also didn’t like the writing style of it found it too over descriptive in parts and wasnt enough in parts that needed description.
Omg youre so right, I liked Binding 13 and Keeping 13, but I didn't really like the whole "Oh shes so small" part. I read Saving 6 a little while ago and I LOVED it, totally recommend reading those🥰
I feel the exact same about binding 13! I wanted to like it so bad and even pushed through some of it before dnfing. it just wasn’t for me.
ELLEN SUNDAY, And what a treat of a video
omg i just checked the release date of under locke and it was released on my birthday 😭😭 (not the year i was born i am old) i feel disrespected 💀
I have Phantasma on my TBR so I'm intrigued to see how I find it now because you might be the first person I've seen who hasn't enjoyed it. But cohesiveness is quite important to me. The plot holes in Quicksilver almost ruined that one for me for example.
Fun video. I was happy, Ellen, when you permitted the word “hate” to be uttered as I got the feeling that that was the real emotion you felt reading those last couple books. 😂 I’m not endorsing that emotion but sometimes it is how we feel about something (awful).
@@mickeyhank Yes! Although I do agree "hate" is a strong word, but it should be seen as derogatory. The idea of having to remain overly positive on books is unrealistic. As long as they're respectful, I feel like people should be able to convey their feelings on a book freely whether they're negative, positive, or indifferent.
@@squidwardtentacles7144 Agreed, squidward! Hate in this context is about a piece of writing, not about a person and it is not carrying out a violent action upon an individual. It describes an intensity of a negative reaction to something that someone else created, for a reason(s). And Ellen had her reasons for hating the books -- she said what they were I believe. People can have knee-jerk reactions to just words but we need to unpack the context, and hear the explanation for the intensity of the emotion, which Ellen provided. So, we're on the same page here! Like you, I am defending Ellen in this context. 🙂
@@mickeyhank Yes! You're so good with words! You worded that perfectly!💕
@@squidwardtentacles7144 Thanks :). You got me going with the excellent ideas in your first post! I tried to expand upon them❣
I would have been shocked if Under Locke wasn’t number 1
I literally could not agree more with Phantasma it was terribleeee! the romance was so bad haha
i didn’t read many books this year, my lowest rated was fourth wing, it was alright but nothing too special imo
I didn’t like Phantasma either. It felt painfully predictable with a lust driven romance like you said. Also, the way this was advertised as a Danny Phantom romance was a lie 😐 Only similarity was the physical description of the main guy lol
Agree with old flames & new fortunes 😭 really struggled through that one too!
I knew you didn’t like Under Locke but I’m still surprised it’s the first one ! I’m so bad at knowing what you read this year because I would’ve thought you read the ballad of something in 2023, and I also thought phantasma would be higher
My worst book of the year was Bridgerton: The Duke and I. I made it to the first banter scene and thought it was so bad I DNF'd it.
Hey ellen i luv your book content sm!
The one book I didn’t like that I think is overrated is Check & Mate 😱
I appreciate your honesty when reviewing even if you don’t like or vibe with a book. 📚
My worst and only 0-star book of 2024 was That Summer by Sarah Dessen.
Cheers, Ellen, you are the cutest! I am so glad to see we have a few similarities!
Another fun one! I'M OFFICIALLY CAUGHT UP!! WOOHOO!!! 💜 xoxo Emma
Breakaway was the best in the series from grace reily
In my humble opinion,
I don't think anybody really likes firstdown, i though it was okay...... but yeeeah wasn't that good hahah 😅
How is my neighbor stole Christmas not on here 😂 hahaha
i read it after i filmed this video!
@@bookswithellenlol! Saved by the bell! 😂
Okay removing Dance of Thieves from my tbr... why do people keep lying about things being enemies to lovers slow burn? Sigh
It is actually enemies to lovers but not slow burn. Yes they do get together early in but they don’t stay together. They end up as enemies again and that where the enemies to lovers fully comes in. I really think you should give it a shot.
i liked dance of thieves however i read it when i was thirteen so do with that what you will 😭🙏
ELLEN SUNDAY!!!
oh im excited for this video
❤❤❤❤❤
love ya
Ellen when you first read the ballad of never after and didn’t like it I was soo shocked like everyone on booktok RAVES about it. So when I finally got around to reading it.. I also didn’t like it 😭😭 which is crazy caused I LOOVED Caraval and I very much am in the age demographic for OUABH but I too didn’t see the rs between evangaline and jacks. Really thought the book was below mid and was soo disappointed. So thank you for sharing your honest review cause it makes me feel as tho I ain’t crazy with my own opinion haha ❤️🫡
Let’s gooo