WORST to BEST book of the year so far (2024)
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
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quick reviews for every book i read so far in 2024, ranked from worst to best! for my doing, i've read a lot of books the past 6 months, most of them mediocre, but i'm still very excited to share my thoughts with you :)
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Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 25 year old girl from the Netherlands who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave).
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Can I just say that you are glowing. The hair, the jewelry, the cute dress and nails...I aspire to be this pretty and put together looking lol.
Mate, me too!! 🤗💕
I am in awe of my fav RUclipsrs' looks, I wonder what they use on their skin!! 🤗💕
Girl! You're so gorgeous, Leo is but so are you! 🤗💕
It's also just like... Leo has such a fun personal style? I keep thinking I want to make my style more cottage-core or whatever, but then I just end up putting on a tshirt because I can't be bothered. I aspire to Leo's level of style.
@@whoatemychocolate same. I buy cute clothes, I just rarely wear them.
I came to say the exact same thing! I’m still so obsessed with Leo’s haircut. It fits her so,so well!
flirting way is very casual 😭
Putting Ali Hazelwood above Dostoyevsky is one hell of a power move
It really isn't because ali is literally just a generic romance author like danielle steele who literally nobody's going to care about in like 30 years while dostoyevskys dostoyevsky. And btw imo the stuff she writes is utterly low quality too. She writes the most generic cookie cutter characters with the most generic plots and the actual romance is cookie cutter too. But everything she writes is a instant new York bestseller just because of booktok and corporate publishers.
putting any of these "authors" over Dostoevsky should be a crime.
Dostoevoskys writing and character are more enjoyable then any hazelnut u cannot stand people who read shallow books I forgot her channel was one until I saw ur comment now I'm gonna click off this video
guys she is not ranking the author's writing ability she is ranking her enjoyment of the books chill out
@@chrysoula5226 i know I'm just saying it's not a real power move.
Omg no the fantasy’s you make before you fall asleep at night is most definitely me😂😂😂
Yes, we all have those. 🤭
Same. I was hoping I wasn't the only one who did this
I was this way too and it had been a part of me so much that I would never believe it would end. But after a certain age it ens. Atleast for me. Around the age 27-28
'The Hidden Truths Of Wealth by Oliver Mercer' is a must read for everyone
I thought I was the only one who disliked powerless, I was so confused by the high Goodreads rating for this one
It's so baaaaaadd.
Same I am an avid hater of this book. Lol. I was so let down and don’t understand the hype.
well for starters it has great tropes and interesting plot and people can kind of see the relevance with hunger games so thats why most ppl are obsessed with it
I hate this book. Like, BURNING hatred.
Can you guys explain why its bad😭 i was bout to buy it
It’s so assuring to hear you say that you forgot most of what happened in a book you enjoyed! I feel so self conscious when talking about books with friends and they’re able to remember all these specific details and quotes and I’m just barely hanging into remembering the order of events! I have to read a book two or three times and annotate the heck out of it to remember specific quotes 😂
Same!!
erin morgenstern is such a "no plot just vibes" author and i am here for every single second.
as for book recommendations, I really enjoyed "The Poisons We Drink" by Bethany Baptiste - it's a very raw story of a witch who brews illegal love potions. The magic system is brutal and the whole story is incredibly grounded, an exploration of hate and prejudice in America. One of my favourite parts of the book was its exploration of family, specifically sisterhood. It's gritty and does not shy away from exploring its topics in detail. I really recommend it.
Can confirm reading a Psalm for the Wild Built will send you into a spiral of sci-fi/fantasy coziness like you’ve never seen before.
Saying "grand, immortal beings...like Howl's Moving Castle vibes " is really funny when you remember Howl is canonically just a melodramatic 27-year-old who reminisces about his Welsh rugby days and quotes Hamlet 💀💀💀
I know right 😁 that’s why Howl is the best
WAIT WAIT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO MAKES UP STORIES AS A WAY TO GO TO SLEEP? LET"S GO
Hey Leonie, I love your videos! My favorite book I’ve read so far this year has been Hour of The Witch by Chris Bohjalian. I think you might enjoy it. It’s set in Boston in the year 1662 and is about a young woman named Mary who has an older and abusive husband who she’s trying to divorce. However, while trying to tell the village how her husband treats her she ends up being accused of witchcraft by her servant who fancies her husband. So basically, the whole book is about her trying to get away from her husband while also saving her name and convincing the village that she’s not a witch. It’s not for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. It has a well written female protagonist, a gripping story, the characters are pretty flushed out, the premise is interesting, there’s mystery and romance, it’s well written, and the perfect book if you have any interest in the Salem witch trials. Hope that helps! More awesome books to come!
Added to my TBR!
reminds me of slewfoot a bit
Watching aesthetically pleasing forest-fairy/gremlin book videos while eating plums and hiding in my gremlin/forest-fairy bookish room is such a vibe.
P.s. I recommend Equinox by David Towsey to EVERYONE, it has teeth growing in eye sockets, horror/fantasy and old German town vibes (and also mansions overgrown with ivy)
Just putting that out there ;)
Sounds like a total vibe. Will add that book to my list.
Oh I love this!!! I read Juniper & Thorn and I’ve been looking for something like it so I’ll give this a go!! Thank you 🖤
@@giorgia.m I’ve been wanting to read Juniper & Thorn for a long time! It sounds so amazing honestly.
Anyone else trying to focus on the content of the video but getting distracted cause Leonie is just that pretty?
main reason i'm here. i hardly read. in fact, i actually can't read.
same bro, I be listening to her and getting hypnotized
I once tried to unsubscribe her and I ended up coming back its unevitable
Hey, just wanted to say since I discovered your channel you inspire my reading. Whenever I need new book recommendations, I visit a video of yours and look around. Thank you for existing.
My girl is GLOWING oh my god
Some book recs that I think you will enjoy and will take you out of a reading slump!!!
- five broken blades
- gideon the ninth
- evocation
- the warm hands of ghosts
- under the whispering door
I hope you love them!!!!!
gideon the ninth was sososo gooood that ENDING omg
Yes, Gideon!!
Hi Leo!!
Nice to see you again!
I love the way you talk about your favorite books, your passion is so infectious!!🥰💕🤗🙏
Congrats on the move!! 🤗🤗
I just wanted to say that your videos always make my day better and yesterday my grandmother passed away. Im so glad to have found a new video from you. In all your videos you seem organized, cheerful, and friendly! I really appreciate what you and other youtubers do, thank you Leonie❤
My favorite books this year have been A river enchanted by Rebecca Ross and The wind up bird chronicle by Haruki Murakami❤ such amazing books, totally recommend them💛💛💛
Hoping to see Perfume as a top 5 haven't stopped thinking about it since your cozy FUN 24 hr readathon with your friends. 😂 📚 also can't wait to see the moving vlog content and everyone's fave books list in the comments (this is where I pull out libby, goodreads, and my notes app) 😅🗒
Okay, so here are my favorite books of the year so far:
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
• Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
• Blackouts by Justin Torres
@@magicivy taking notes ivy, they all seem great! thanks!🥰
I just stumbled onto this video, loving the subject of books and you speak with such enthusiasm! Thank you :)
The last time I was this early, I was being born! I love your videos, and feel so lucky to click with only 96 views. You always rec books no one else does, and I love your thoughtfulness and humor. 😊❤
Haha 😅that first line 😂
Man the vibessss in these videos are top notch!!!! ❤
I always use these videos as a book recommendation list because you have such good taste haha
My favorite this year is probably A good land by Nada Awar Jarrar. The Layla's parents moved to Australia because of the war in Lebanon. Layla contemplates doing the same. Except after a while everyone understood the war isn't gonna end anytime soon. Many of Lebanese refugees born abroad have grown up without ever seeing their homeland. Book was published in 2006. At some point Layla wonders that it feels like they don't have a homeland anymore and her bf points out that this sentiment is well-known among the Palestinians who also might never see their homeland peaceful.
I remember the scene where they went to deliver drinking water to refugees during short ceasefire. Every member of the crew knew they might not come back. They barely managed it. Refugees in questin don't have enough water to drink yet alone wash themselves.
your enthusiasm for one dark window convinced me to buy it and i must say i’m really enjoying it so far!!!
your videoes give me so manyyy good book recs tyyy and ur book analysises lep me to write my english esays 💗
'sexy vampires gothic vibes, this should have been a new favorite book' LEONIE!!! have you watched the interview with the vampire tv show????? it's to die for and knowing you're a hannibal girlie i think you'd totally get into it!!!!
wait omg leonie is a hannibal fan?
@@willchar13 yeah! she's mentioned it a couple of times in the past, tho i dont remember which vids exactly
It is 46 minutes past midnight here in the UK but I notice I have missed your upload and so I must watch it now hehe.
I dont know if you’ve heard about Christa Wolf’s “Medea” (“Medea. Stimmen” in German). It’s a retelling from the nineties and within its plot there are topics about women being considered witches, about colonial thoughts and racism and about making women scapegoats of society’s problems. I’m not German so I read it in Spanish and the translation is very good. The one in English is okay, but it is possible that if there’s a dutch version it is better translated. Margaret Atwood has talked about this novel and overall I think you’d like it 👀 It’s also like 200 pages with multiple perspectives of people shitting on / defending Medea. One of my fave books, not very well known, really think you’d enjoy it :)
Thank you, Leonie , for uploading this video now❤ I just kinda broke up with my bf and it was so hard enjoying things lately... but your videos make me happy and satisfied
The Queen has uploaded! Love you
I read the duology of One Dark Window because of you. And I really enjoyed so much! One of the few good books I've read this year that is not a rereading.
is it really good?? Is the plot good?? I'm a picky fantasy reader and found books like the night circus lowkey boring but I really wanted to read this 😭😭 i loved books like cruel prince and hunger games thoo
@@iickie_bloop8813 it's not revolutionary like hunger games, but I really enjoyed the plot. The second book is incredible. I think you should definitely give it a try!
@@luasganzerla ohh okayy tysm for the review!!!!
Im so happy you loved the Parfume aswell, it’s one of my favorite books of all time simply because it’s so descriptive, such a weird but awesome read
why are your videos always so cozy 🥹
My fav was we hunt the flame, you should try it! One of my favs!
i have to say i absolutely love how you incororated those speech patterns into your own speech while talking about wordslut i thought it was really clever 🙏
Love starting my week and work day with a Leonie video 💚🪻⚘️
Love your videos and your fun personality! Not much else to say. I just appreciate you.
I gave up on The Starless Sea about a hundred pages in because the "just vibes" aspect wasn't working for me (though I loved The Night Circus, go figure), but so glad you liked it! Favorite read so far this year has been What My Bones Know, which is pretty grim but also gripping reading. Even if your own family situation is nowhere near as dark as the author's was the book is still a really enlightening look at how abuse can shape people's personalities (and how difficult it is to break out of the habits that people develop as a way to cope with the abuse).
wake up leonie posted rahhhhh!!!!!!!
I was watching some old content of yours because I was in the mood for one of your videos, and boom you upload!
My favorite book of this year is A sweet sting of salt by Rose Sutherland - not sure it'd be your cup of tea, but the characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. Also, I read Less is more by Jason Hickel, a non-fiction book on degrowth that basically blew my mind.
Also, This is how you lose the time war is a fucking amazing book, love that you loved it!
I looooved "Notes on an execution" - That was my favourite book of this year so far!
Your videos are so cozy!
Hey, I am from Germany and I really like your videos. I also read your top book, "Perfume," and I can relate so much. My top book this year is "Pet Sematary." I am a big Stephen King fan, and if you enjoyed the weird vibe of "Perfume," I recommend you my top pick.
My favorite novels this year have been _Ink Blood Sister Scribe_ by Emma Torzs, _ As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow_ by Zoulfa Katouh, _Out of the Ashes_ by Kara Thomas, and _A Touch of Darkness_ by Scarlett St. Clair.
I am re-reading _Middlemarch_ by George Eliot right now.
Happy reading, all. ❤
As long as the lemon trees grow is such an amazing book, it deserves a lot more hype than it gets, it made me fall in love with historical fiction and learn about the Syrian civil war, I'm glad you loved it!
Amazing, Leonie!
I have two recommendations for you:
- The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. About the fourth, half-blood son of the elven emperor who suddenly finds himself the new emperor as his father and brothers unexpectedly die. It's the most wholesome book I've ever read. It's about the main character finding his place at the court he was not raised in, in a role he was not trained for, and with people who do not want him there. It's about him learning to leave behind his abusive childhood. It sounds like Game of Thrones material but it's the opposite. It's wholesome and heartwarming and I reread it every year. Very character focused, the worldbuilding is present but definitely not the focus of the story. The sequels are also amazing.
- The Earthsea books by Ursula le Guin. I know you've read some of her sci-fi, but she also has an amazing fantasy series. Full of flawed characters, interesting magic systems, a dragon or two. It feels so very human.
The Goblin Emperor sounds like a good one!
Great video. I just knew your favorite book so far this year was going to be Perfume.
My favorite so far. :
- Bunny - Mona Awad
- Accidentally Amy - Lynn Painter
- My Policeman - Bethan Roberts
- Conversations with friends - Sally Rooney
- Billy Summers - Stephen King
Butter honey pig bread - Francessa Ekwuyasi
- The pumpkin spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore
- The hedge witch of Foxhall- Anna Bright
- The last love song - Kalie Holford
- Bloom - Kevin Panetta
- Emily wilde's encyclopaedia of faeries- Heather Fawcett
- I had that same dream again - Yoru Sumino
- Hate Mail - Donna Marchetti
Not in love - Ali Hazelwood
omg i LOVED bunny!
I appreciate your review style, Leonie. It's hard to read books in the digital era considering our attention span is short and social media has become the norm. I'm a creative professional but I am getting back into reading for personal reasons. I find the content of these books unique and fun even if I don't relate to the themes from a deeper perspective. The hardest book to understand was by Leigh Burdogo. Also, I went to a local bookstore in my city and found piles of his books kept in a seperate discount section.
A fun fact - I glanced at some of these books as an alternative means for my academic English reading comprehension in IELTS Academic and GRE General test preparation instead of relying on mainstream preparation materials.
I loved The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and Funny Story by Emily Henry this year.
Thank you for all the book recommendations
Started reading the labyrinth of the spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafon this month and fell in love with it instantly. Now I’m committed to the entire series…
Hi Leonie. Loving your critique of books. It sounds like I enjoyed The Familiar more than you did (it featured in my Best Books of 2024 so far video) but our experience with This Is How You Lose The Time War which I was lucky enough to read back in 2019 pre-release sounds very similar. It sure is a special novel, smashing the glass ceiling for thought-provoking fiction. The reader is constantly being challenged; challenged to break out of stereotypical thought patterns and open their mind to possibilities not yet considered. And, the tantalising exchange of wit and metaphor-filled letters -- loved the intellectual romantic suspense!
First of all, you look AMAZING. Summer is treating you wonderfully and love that top/dress on you. Love the reviews and added a few of the books you mentioned to my TBR.
Love your videos! I always get some good recs from them :D I've been loving T Kingfisher's books. After reading Nettle & Bone I started picking up any book of hers I could find. Thornhedge is my fave so far but the What moves the dead/ What feast at night books are close second!
So I actually discovered one of my new favorite books from BTM, and it's called "A Fate Inked in Blood." It is literally so good I would definitely recommend checking it out!
Perfume was so good! Thanks for the rec!
I started reading the blackwater series and it's awesome! A mystery novel combined with a touch of fantasy, super cool
Girl I really needed this rn; I have been hunting for good books and I JUST WANT A 5 STAR READ IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK
I am so happy, that you rated the perfume 5/5. 🤩
It is one of my favorite books of all times and is so well written (I am german, so I cannot speak for the translations)
My book lists has grown so much thanks to finding you last year. That is turning out to be quite a problem since I only read about 18-24 books a year. But i couldn't be more thankful for a problem like that 🥰
Love how you pitch the books as: read this if…don’t read this if… very unique & refreshing (+ often funny) way to get the point across without retelling the synopsis!!
Just got this is how you lose the time war glad to hear your positive review on it😂
the hype for one dark window is SO real i ADOREEE elm and ione im so sad i finished the series
The Murderbot Diaries have been AMAZING in terms of getting me out of a reading slump!
YES they're the perfect mix of fast and emotional!
I agree! The Shepherds King duology was great! Perfume sounds interesting! I love being disturbed 😂
I've been wanting to read Perfume for a while and you definitely made it get higher on my priority list. My 5 star books these year so far are Braiding Sweetgrass and The Bee Sting ❤
I’ve been watching your old videos and wondering if you’ll ever open your Etsy shop back up? Your bookmarks are so pretty! ✨
Before starting the video, I have to say: You look so beautiful! Happy, comfortable with yourself, idk how to explain.
As for the books, I love these videos of favorites!! Chaos seems very interesting, and I really want to read at least 10 that you mentioned 🥹
Love your videos! How do you get book of the month? We can't get it in Ireland, I thought they only deliver to the US.
Hey leo! I just love your videos and how thoughtfully you review every book. I just love that thing about you
Thank you for sharing
I'm loving your hairstyle now ❤❤ you're looking gorgeous and glowing 😍😍
two books in and we are seeing eye to eye on everything, this is my safe space lol ❤
I am OBSESSED with the Encyclopedia of Faeries! Such a great, fun book.
Leonie!!! I love watching your book reviews!
A good suggestion for you to read: Reckless by Cornelia Funke. It’s a series. So fun to read!
I'm a huge fan of your videos and tbh, the only BookTube channel I am excited to watch! Also, I have a recommendation to you.
The duology, "Sands of Arawiya" by Hafsah Faizal. This book is inspired by ancient Arabia. Even though this is the 1st book I've read that is set in the desert, I , I kind of loved it. Hope you'll read this duology and do a review video! I would love to know what you think about this book. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yay, a Leonie video! Always a pleasure to get an update from one of my favorite international readers! Have a great week, Leonie! P.S. If you like Narnia inspired books, check out "Once A Queen" by Sarah Arthur.
my favorite book i've read so far this year was 'they can't kill us till they kill us' by hanif abdurraqib but 'enter ghost' by isabella hammad is a close second!!!!
I must thank you for bringing the Shepherd King books into my orbit. I bought them after seeing you talk about how much you liked Two Twisted Crowns and UUUUGGGGHHHHHH! You weren't lying. 😂 I absolutely loved them! ❤
I am always so happy, when you upload :D
My favorite book of the year was probably Morning Star by Pierce Brown, the third book in the Red Rising Trilogy. Though maybe I find Golden Son just as good. I gave both of those 5 stars (I’d give 6 if possible).
While I had some some issues with the writing in the first book, I absolutely adored it in the second and third.
I thought about giving a short description about the plot, but I don’t think it would do that story justice. If you love stories about revenge and justice and the hardships it brings with it to be able to reach that, if you love stories with characters that feel real and you’ll miss once it is over, if you love amazing plot twists and reveals, gut wrenching battles and conflicts, characters with huge character development, stories that have developments of deep friendships and just as deep archenemies you should read the red rising trilogy :)
Seeing how much you loved One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns, I really highly recommend Hannah Whitten's For the Wolf and For the Throne. It's a wonderful duology about two royal sisters and their situations in life between one being the heir to the kingdom and the other fated to be a religious sacrifice. I don't wanna give too much away but they both have amazingly well done themes and the stories and romances contained in them are just perfectly done in my opinion. And seeing how much of my tbr comes from your channel with so many absolute bangers I think you might also enjoy this duology.
The horror of realization that you enjoyed the knotting bits. 😂 Loved that moment. 😂
My fav reads so far this year definitely include:
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson
and
Homecoming - Yaa Gyasi
Currently reading The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson and so far it's a fun easy read (a bit shallow in some aspects) but it really flows nicely and I hope it finishes off strong!
This encouraged me to look over my year in reading. My two five star books so far were A Study is Drowning my Ava Reid. Which I"m certain is on your TBR if you haven't read it already and The Crimson Moth/Heartless Hunter (it has a UK name and a US name) by Kristen Ciccarelli which was the best enemies to lovers I"ve ever read.
I really wish we could read full fairy tale in the study in drowning.
Perfume was my favourite book for a looong time when i first red it 10 years ago! Love that you gave it 5 stars too😊
Really enjoy your videos❤
I love your earrings!!
The only problem with watching other book tube channels is that it only increases the tbr! Happy reading.
the only purple house in town and half a soul are very cute cozy fantasies (the first one is modern fantasy!) and remarkably bright creatures was really good!
The review of “Bride” was so accurate lmao 😅
I just bought new books after a month of reading slump!
I love your earrings!!
Love this video! I agree with your thoughts on This is How You Lose the Time War-it is confusing, but it’s also so beautiful.
One of my favorite books this year is Just Stab Me Now. It’s a comedic fantasy based on her RUclips Shorts series of the same name, and it’s sooooo good. I recommend it to everyone when I get the chance!
How do you use bookofthemonth in the Netherlands? Every time I go to their website it says they only ship to USA and Canada.. I would love to order some books from them!!
I just read the Scythe Trilogy, definitely recommend for amazing world building!
This year I loved The Shepherd King duology (read it because of your recommendation and tysm, its one of my faves now❤) and Gideon the ninth which was a big surprise... also recently picked up Sally Rooney and Emily Henry and I've been enjoying their books a lot too!
YES ONE DARK WINDOW AND TWO TWISTED CROWNSS!! i just finished reading them and omygod i was so immersed in both books and the writing is just so good I LOVE IT SMMM
ooh i’ve given two books ive read 4 stars this year! Cover Story by Rachel Lacey & Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian! Both took a bit of time to really get into for me but once I was in, I was hooked and enjoyed reading them enough for 4 stars!
Another book I read I gave 5 stars but it was already a book I had partially read previously. Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall was a 5 star read on its own for me but he was able to republish it with an additional story called Chasing the Light which I also gave 5 stars and enjoyed it even more! Both stories are from two different characters pov so it was really lovely to be able to read another perspective and have the entire story feel more complete in that way.
i love your videos❤ wishing you well with your house move❤
Hi Leonie!! I've gotten SO MANY great book recommendations from your videos I feel like I've been on a 5-star reading binge since the beginning of the year when I found your channel! I just wanted to suggest Babel by R.F. Kuang if you haven't read it yet since you like linguistics so much! It really blew me away. Thanks again for the great recommendations and happy reading! :)
5:14 No we all do that. I think. I hope.
When you said that you wished Dowry of Blood was longer, I thought of how I wanted The Starlight Sea to be longer, and then you talked about it. Like yes the vibes are good but it all happens so fast!! I just need more.