You’re not alone Erin! We Used to Live Here was so mid for me. I felt like I read a different book from everyone else! I’ll keep it though cause I enjoy the cover haha. Maybe I’ll appreciate it when I’m older. 😂 SGJ’s books ALSO confuse me. I feel so stupid when I read them, but like you - I am always dragged in due to the amazing plots! That all being said, I’m weird and I think I will always support him and buy his books as indigenous horror almost always hits for me, and I want to support that community as much as possible. Love your look today and appreciate your opinions!! ❤
Your review of tell me I’m worthless was PERFECT. It was so tough to get through even a page with the slurs and the overall subject matter. I think I DNFd around the 5-10%
I 100% agree on Incidents Around the House, I felt crazy with everyone saying it was the scariest thing they ever read. With all the monologuing i really just felt like the author wants a Mike Flanagan adaptation so bad and wrote around that concept.
I feel the same way about Stephen Graham Jones - I’ve read a couple of his books now and hated them all so I’ve realized his writing is just not for me. I also don’t feel like I’d like incidents around the house 😅 following the perspective of a child and with ridiculous language in a horror book is gonna be a no from me.
Hi, Erin, happy new year. :) Incidents Around House was more popular because audio version was narrated by a child and apparently that made it scarier and I wondered if it was made the difference because I dnf-ed it. And SGJ's writing, especially dialogues are hard to get into and they lean very "bro" to me in some cases. Sometimes the plot works for me enough not to bother me and in some cases, this book in particular, it makes me dnf. You are not alone.
Happy new year!!! 🖤 oh interesting! Someone else in a comment said the audiobook was a woman pretending to do a kid’s voice. That’s a great way to put SGJ’s dialogue, very bro heavy!
Hi Erin, greetings from Toronto 🇨🇦. Happy New Year! Thanks for the interesting video; it’s often useful to have a ‘don’t read’ list than a ‘do read’ list! I agree with you about Stephen Graham Jones: I’ve tried his work and just can’t get into his writing style. I’ve heard mostly bad things about Horror Movie. I tried reading Tremblay’s Pallbearer’s Club a few months ago and DNF‘d it. I DNF’d two other novels this year: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas (boring, and uninteresting characters) and Luckenbooth by Jenni Fagan (writing style). Also, I haven’t read The Cipher, but I like Kathe Koja’s short stories. Good reading to you in 2025! P.S. I will subscribe as soon as this is sent.
Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favorite authors. I get that for some, his writing style is hard to get into. I also just started We Used To Live Here yesterday and I am about 30 pages in. It has my interest so far, hopefully I end up liking it.
He truly has a great reputation and I’m sure his stuff is actually amazing for those that love his style! I hope you end up loving We Used to Live Here!!
I’ve heard too many people saying incidents around the house is sucks so I won’t even think of picking that one up! We used to live here though, that one has mixed reviews some people hate it and some people loved it so I’m interested to see what all the fuss is all about😅
We used to live here was one of my favorite books of this year. It was the only book I read this year that actually scared me other than stolen Tongues. But I definitely agree with you on someone in the Attic. That was my works book of the year. I hated everything about that book.
Totally agree with you on all of these except Incidents Around The House, I didn't find that book scary but I did find it an enjoyable read but I so agree with every single other book you mentioned. I'm glad I'm not the only one that sometimes doesn't follow suit on the hype wagon as far as the book We Used to Live Here.... it was so hyped up and it was 0% scary didn't enjoy it
Finally someone who didn't like The Cipher! So many reviewers act like it's a masterpiece, but it was just so boring and all the characters were really annoying. After about 50 pages, every page was literally the same and nothing new was happening
I do agree on We used to leave here. That characters was so stupid and made the most frustrating decisions I read in a book for a while. What a waste of time.
I feel the exact same way about we used to live here. I forced myself to listen all the way through and I was mad, like actually angry, about how bad it was.
I totally agree with you on the incidents around the house and we used to live here. I absolutely couldn’t stand the incidents around the house. The parents were awful and the monster only popped up in the story to keep the reader engaged and keep reading the book.
Ooof, The Cipher is legit one of my favorite horror novels, everything is just so viscerally dirty and awful, it's like being plunged into a septic tank. I completely understand how that is not an experience most people would WANT to have, but I appreciated the level of just raw depravity it sunk to, it's what I appreciate in that segment of weird nineties horror. On the other hand, I too had issues with I Was a Teenage Slasher, the way it was written made me feel oddly removed from the action, that I couldn't really get a firm enough grasp on what was happening because of the worldview we were seeing everything from. Also also, weird that you're a Silent Hill fan but hate We Used to Live Here, because the whole time I got the feeling that I was reading a Silent Hill game. Whoever told you it was a Home Invasion story was doing a you a WILD disservice.
Yeah didn’t get those feelings from The Cipher or We Used to Live Here! Never felt like Silent Hill at alllllll. The book itself was more marketed as a home invasion horror in the beginning of its publication, so that was a flop.
@ErinMegan I felt the universe being shaped by others desires and being constantly pulled between worlds where things you know to be true just don't exist anymore felt so Silent Hill 2/3, but I completely understand if that wasn't your experience! I completely get that it's a book that's certainly not for everyone.
We have such similar feelings regarding these books! Some of them I can't believe are so popular and on many best of 2024 books. I dnf'd We Used to Live Here because I hated it from the beginning.
I love SGJ's Indian Lake Trilogy and a few of his short stories, but I did not care for I Was A Teenage Slasher at all. I loved We Used to Live Here, but I totally understand why it doesn't work for everyone. Ugh, I loathed Horror Movie and The Pallbearers Club. I wish I had DNF both. I miss Paul Tremblay's older style of writing, too. I didn't care for Angel of the Underground, either. I share your feelings about Incidents Around the House. What a letdown! OMG, yes about the whole "daddo" thing. Also, the kid is eight and seemed more like a four-year-old to me. It was ridiculous.
Erin I feel like we are in need of a Darcy Coates cleanse. I’m thinking of rereading the black winter series this year because I keep thinking about how fun it was.
Stephen graham jones books are more enjoyable on audiobook. The Babysitter Lives is the only one ive read. I can see myself not enjoying reading a physical copy of his book.
When I tell you I HATED, We Used To Live Here for the exact same reason. Everyone I follow loves this book, and I'm just looking at it like, "Did we read the same book"? I feel so validated now haha
omg about the "daddo" comment, i TOTALLY understand you LOL. i legitimately cannot deal with "child speak" in books. i hate it so much and that would absolutely make me dnf a book so you're totally justified haha.
I'm glad I am not the only one that hated We Used to Live Here. I can't believe how hyped it is. I usually love a good psychological horror, but that wasn't it for me. The only other one on your list that I have read is Horror Movie. I listened to the audiobook and that one I did like. I do plan on reading Incidents Around the House still. I started a sample of it on audiobook and will probably continue eventually. But there are definitely other things Id like to get to first.
It took me 3 months to finish I Was a Teenage Slasher... I did like the idea of it but it was hard to follow. Also, We Used to Live Here was NOTHING like Get Out or Parasite.
aaaah not 3 of these books being on my tbr 🤣 i also didn't found 'horror movie' pretty boring, but i'm hoping you have the unpopular opinion when it comes to we used to live here, incidents around the house and tell me i'm worthless 🤣🤣
I’m so glad you said that about Incidents Around the House. I HATED the kid calling her dad Daddo. I had to DNF the book because of that. I was listening to the audio book and it was horrible. The woman reading the book tried to do a kids voice and it was cringe worthy and then when she said Daddo that was it for me.
Actually, I used to call my father "daddo" until I was like 27... I'm kidding, I absolutely did not do that😁😁😁 My goodness, "Incidents..." was one of my worst reads this year. When I finished it, I had to stomp around my apartment for a while, just trying to get all the frustrated energy out of my body, because that one did not work for me on any level - the repetition, the endless "oh no, other mommy, we have to go! Oh no, other mommy found us, we have to go", the monologues, the characters. I mean, I have nothing against unlikeable characters, or characters making bad decisions, but I have to have some little sliver of likeability, but there was just nothing there. And the ending! I kept reading the darn thing, because I had seen so many people comment on how great the ending was so I hoped it might redeem the book, and when I finally reached the ending, all I could think was what? That was it? I saw that coming from page 2! Not because I'm especially clever, it was just the most predictable way to end the story: Well, at least the book made me feel something, I'll give it that... So many books have been a weak "meh" for me this year, so I guess I prefer an anger-read. Hearing about other people's bad reding experiences feels like a I'm not alone-hug 😃 I hope next year will look up for both of us. I'm reading "We Came To Welcome You" now, and I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would, so that's positive.
Marie!!! I didn’t see this was you at first and was like nooooo 😭😭😭 I knew you hated this one too! 😂 I can’t wait to read We Came to Welcome You! I have high hopes for it.
@ErinMegan Oh yes, it's me, going off on a little Incidents-rant.... 😂 I hope you enjoy We Came to Welcome You! Its very light on the horror, but I find it interesting and a bit eerie.
My worst book of 2024 was probably Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh - this book promises poisoned bread driving a town mad and instead we get the cringiest love triangle ever.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
You’re not alone Erin! We Used to Live Here was so mid for me. I felt like I read a different book from everyone else! I’ll keep it though cause I enjoy the cover haha. Maybe I’ll appreciate it when I’m older. 😂
SGJ’s books ALSO confuse me. I feel so stupid when I read them, but like you - I am always dragged in due to the amazing plots! That all being said, I’m weird and I think I will always support him and buy his books as indigenous horror almost always hits for me, and I want to support that community as much as possible.
Love your look today and appreciate your opinions!! ❤
Your review of tell me I’m worthless was PERFECT. It was so tough to get through even a page with the slurs and the overall subject matter. I think I DNFd around the 5-10%
I truly don’t know how I didn’t dnf! It was such a tough book to get through. 🥲
Honestly, hearing the kid says “daddo” just made me take that book off my TBR! 😂😂😂
Omg 😂 it was actually so irritating. You might like it, but definitely beware of the use of “daddo.” 😂😂😂
I 100% agree on Incidents Around the House, I felt crazy with everyone saying it was the scariest thing they ever read. With all the monologuing i really just felt like the author wants a Mike Flanagan adaptation so bad and wrote around that concept.
I felt the same way! I was shocked and confused. It was truly one of those moments where I thought, “am I reading the same book?” 😂
I feel the same way about Stephen Graham Jones - I’ve read a couple of his books now and hated them all so I’ve realized his writing is just not for me. I also don’t feel like I’d like incidents around the house 😅 following the perspective of a child and with ridiculous language in a horror book is gonna be a no from me.
It sucks when a popular author just doesn’t work for us. 😭 yeah I was definitely worried that the child perspective wouldn’t work, which was correct.
Hi, Erin, happy new year. :) Incidents Around House was more popular because audio version was narrated by a child and apparently that made it scarier and I wondered if it was made the difference because I dnf-ed it. And SGJ's writing, especially dialogues are hard to get into and they lean very "bro" to me in some cases. Sometimes the plot works for me enough not to bother me and in some cases, this book in particular, it makes me dnf. You are not alone.
Happy new year!!! 🖤 oh interesting! Someone else in a comment said the audiobook was a woman pretending to do a kid’s voice.
That’s a great way to put SGJ’s dialogue, very bro heavy!
Hi Erin, greetings from Toronto 🇨🇦. Happy New Year! Thanks for the interesting video; it’s often useful to have a ‘don’t read’ list than a ‘do read’ list! I agree with you about Stephen Graham Jones: I’ve tried his work and just can’t get into his writing style. I’ve heard mostly bad things about Horror Movie. I tried reading Tremblay’s Pallbearer’s Club a few months ago and DNF‘d it. I DNF’d two other novels this year: Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas (boring, and uninteresting characters) and Luckenbooth by Jenni Fagan (writing style). Also, I haven’t read The Cipher, but I like Kathe Koja’s short stories.
Good reading to you in 2025!
P.S. I will subscribe as soon as this is sent.
Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favorite authors. I get that for some, his writing style is hard to get into. I also just started We Used To Live Here yesterday and I am about 30 pages in. It has my interest so far, hopefully I end up liking it.
He truly has a great reputation and I’m sure his stuff is actually amazing for those that love his style! I hope you end up loving We Used to Live Here!!
I’ve heard too many people saying incidents around the house is sucks so I won’t even think of picking that one up! We used to live here though, that one has mixed reviews some people hate it and some people loved it so I’m interested to see what all the fuss is all about😅
Oh really? I must not have seen them talk about it! I thought I was the only one. 😅 I hope you end up liking We Used to Live Here!!
Black lipstick looks 🔥 on you 🖤
Omg thank you so much!! 🥹🖤
We used to live here was one of my favorite books of this year. It was the only book I read this year that actually scared me other than stolen Tongues. But I definitely agree with you on someone in the Attic. That was my works book of the year. I hated everything about that book.
Ooh Stolen Tongues was a fun read!! I’m sorry you also hated Someone in the Attic. It was a rough read.
Totally agree with you on all of these except Incidents Around The House, I didn't find that book scary but I did find it an enjoyable read but I so agree with every single other book you mentioned. I'm glad I'm not the only one that sometimes doesn't follow suit on the hype wagon as far as the book We Used to Live Here.... it was so hyped up and it was 0% scary didn't enjoy it
I’m glad you enjoyed Incidents Around the House! Sorry you were in the same boat as me with the others. ☹️
Hated incidents around the house but loved we used to live here
Finally someone who didn't like The Cipher! So many reviewers act like it's a masterpiece, but it was just so boring and all the characters were really annoying. After about 50 pages, every page was literally the same and nothing new was happening
That’s exactly how I felt! I definitely get why some people like it, but it was just not my kind of horror at all.
I do agree on We used to leave here. That characters was so stupid and made the most frustrating decisions I read in a book for a while. What a waste of time.
Omg I know! So frustrating to read!
hope this year's reading is much better for you!! also congratulations on your engagement ^_^ where is your shirt from btw??
Aw thank you so much!! 🖤🖤 my shirt is from graveyard goods!
I feel the exact same way about we used to live here. I forced myself to listen all the way through and I was mad, like actually angry, about how bad it was.
That was me at the end. I kept hoping the end would pull it together, but instead it made me angry!
I get so excited when Erin uploads
I love all your videos so much☺️
Aw thank you so much!! 🥹🖤
I totally agree with you on the incidents around the house and we used to live here. I absolutely couldn’t stand the incidents around the house. The parents were awful and the monster only popped up in the story to keep the reader engaged and keep reading the book.
Yessss! I was really disappointed that incidents around the house kept focusing on the parents instead of the scary demon/monster.
I loved House of Leaves but I was a pretentious teenager when I read it lol. I think that helped
Hahah to be fair, I probably would’ve liked it as a teenager too. 😂
Totally respect your opinion but We Used To Live Here straight up changed my brain chemistry, I'm obsessed with that book 😅
I haven't seen anyone sell that book to me in a convincing way lol. They usually say something like this.
@Horrorbabe4 I wasn't trying to sell it to you or anyone, just stating that I loved the book.
@@bluetheon ok? Lol.
I loved the book too!! My favorite book of the year! I totally understand her criticisms of it though.
Stephen Graham Jones is an author I do not enjoy either. They make me feel stupid
Ooof, The Cipher is legit one of my favorite horror novels, everything is just so viscerally dirty and awful, it's like being plunged into a septic tank. I completely understand how that is not an experience most people would WANT to have, but I appreciated the level of just raw depravity it sunk to, it's what I appreciate in that segment of weird nineties horror.
On the other hand, I too had issues with I Was a Teenage Slasher, the way it was written made me feel oddly removed from the action, that I couldn't really get a firm enough grasp on what was happening because of the worldview we were seeing everything from.
Also also, weird that you're a Silent Hill fan but hate We Used to Live Here, because the whole time I got the feeling that I was reading a Silent Hill game. Whoever told you it was a Home Invasion story was doing a you a WILD disservice.
Yeah didn’t get those feelings from The Cipher or We Used to Live Here! Never felt like Silent Hill at alllllll. The book itself was more marketed as a home invasion horror in the beginning of its publication, so that was a flop.
@ErinMegan I felt the universe being shaped by others desires and being constantly pulled between worlds where things you know to be true just don't exist anymore felt so Silent Hill 2/3, but I completely understand if that wasn't your experience! I completely get that it's a book that's certainly not for everyone.
We have such similar feelings regarding these books! Some of them I can't believe are so popular and on many best of 2024 books. I dnf'd We Used to Live Here because I hated it from the beginning.
Ugh, I’m mad I didn’t dnf it. I wasted so much time reading it. 😅
I love SGJ's Indian Lake Trilogy and a few of his short stories, but I did not care for I Was A Teenage Slasher at all. I loved We Used to Live Here, but I totally understand why it doesn't work for everyone. Ugh, I loathed Horror Movie and The Pallbearers Club. I wish I had DNF both. I miss Paul Tremblay's older style of writing, too. I didn't care for Angel of the Underground, either. I share your feelings about Incidents Around the House. What a letdown! OMG, yes about the whole "daddo" thing. Also, the kid is eight and seemed more like a four-year-old to me. It was ridiculous.
“A Giant Eye Roll”… LOL! 🤣
😂😂😂😂
Erin I feel like we are in need of a Darcy Coates cleanse. I’m thinking of rereading the black winter series this year because I keep thinking about how fun it was.
Yessss! I need her to bring me out this terrible reading year! Rereading the black winter series would be perfect right now!
The two books I think I over-rated was definitely We Used To Live Here and Incidents Around The House. I gave both a generous 3 star.
Yeah I tend to do that with books that are super popular. I think I feel like it’s me being a hater and they’re actually good. 😂
Stephen graham jones books are more enjoyable on audiobook. The Babysitter Lives is the only one ive read. I can see myself not enjoying reading a physical copy of his book.
That makes sense! I don’t listen to audiobooks, so that’s probably why. Maybe I’ll give it a try in the future!
When I tell you I HATED, We Used To Live Here for the exact same reason. Everyone I follow loves this book, and I'm just looking at it like, "Did we read the same book"? I feel so validated now haha
Thank god someone else gets it!!! I was worried it was just me. 😂
Funny because I compare Corrine to We use To live here. I haven’t read Incidents Around the House yet
I hope you enjoy it!
omg about the "daddo" comment, i TOTALLY understand you LOL. i legitimately cannot deal with "child speak" in books. i hate it so much and that would absolutely make me dnf a book so you're totally justified haha.
Literally!! Why do they do it if they have no idea how children actually talk. 😭😭 it ruins the whole thing.
Now I don't feel so bad about never starting the wishing game 😂 hopefully this new year brings better books to come for you 🙏
Haha it might’ve just been a me thing to be fair! 😅 I hope so friend! I hope 2025 has great books for you as well! 🖤
Stephen Graham Jones is very overrated.
Wow! We have very similar Worst Book lists, right down to giving Head Full of Ghosts 5 stars and hating Horror Movie
Oooh that’s so cool! I love when I have the same reading opinions as others. ❤
I'm glad I am not the only one that hated We Used to Live Here. I can't believe how hyped it is. I usually love a good psychological horror, but that wasn't it for me. The only other one on your list that I have read is Horror Movie. I listened to the audiobook and that one I did like. I do plan on reading Incidents Around the House still. I started a sample of it on audiobook and will probably continue eventually. But there are definitely other things Id like to get to first.
Yeah it was not what I expected at all from the description and comparisons. 😭 I truly hope you enjoy Incidents Around the House!!
Incidents around the house is my 1 worst book of the year. Idk why everyone is in love with that book. Glad to hear you are with me too. 😊
I’m so glad it’s not just me! 😂
It took me 3 months to finish I Was a Teenage Slasher... I did like the idea of it but it was hard to follow.
Also, We Used to Live Here was NOTHING like Get Out or Parasite.
Omg 3 months! At least you finished it though. 😂
Right? I was bamboozled by those comparisons. 😭
aaaah not 3 of these books being on my tbr 🤣 i also didn't found 'horror movie' pretty boring, but i'm hoping you have the unpopular opinion when it comes to we used to live here, incidents around the house and tell me i'm worthless 🤣🤣
I actually have seen more people disagree than agree with me, so I think you’re good. 😂
I’m so glad you said that about Incidents Around the House. I HATED the kid calling her dad Daddo. I had to DNF the book because of that. I was listening to the audio book and it was horrible. The woman reading the book tried to do a kids voice and it was cringe worthy and then when she said Daddo that was it for me.
Right?? It was so weird! It completely ruined the child perspective and took me out of the story. Such an odd word choice!
Actually, I used to call my father "daddo" until I was like 27... I'm kidding, I absolutely did not do that😁😁😁 My goodness, "Incidents..." was one of my worst reads this year. When I finished it, I had to stomp around my apartment for a while, just trying to get all the frustrated energy out of my body, because that one did not work for me on any level - the repetition, the endless "oh no, other mommy, we have to go! Oh no, other mommy found us, we have to go", the monologues, the characters. I mean, I have nothing against unlikeable characters, or characters making bad decisions, but I have to have some little sliver of likeability, but there was just nothing there. And the ending! I kept reading the darn thing, because I had seen so many people comment on how great the ending was so I hoped it might redeem the book, and when I finally reached the ending, all I could think was what? That was it? I saw that coming from page 2! Not because I'm especially clever, it was just the most predictable way to end the story:
Well, at least the book made me feel something, I'll give it that... So many books have been a weak "meh" for me this year, so I guess I prefer an anger-read. Hearing about other people's bad reding experiences feels like a I'm not alone-hug 😃
I hope next year will look up for both of us. I'm reading "We Came To Welcome You" now, and I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would, so that's positive.
I think books that make us mad usually do that because they have potential in some way
Marie!!! I didn’t see this was you at first and was like nooooo 😭😭😭 I knew you hated this one too! 😂 I can’t wait to read We Came to Welcome You! I have high hopes for it.
@ErinMegan Oh yes, it's me, going off on a little Incidents-rant.... 😂 I hope you enjoy We Came to Welcome You! Its very light on the horror, but I find it interesting and a bit eerie.
lol We have such opposite tastes that I get excited about any video about books you hate😄😄...*Adds to TBR*
Hahaha I love this!! At least you’re getting something out of the video! 😂
My worst book of 2024 was probably Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh - this book promises poisoned bread driving a town mad and instead we get the cringiest love triangle ever.
Nooooo I’ve been wanting to read this one! Ugh, so sad.
@ I found it really slow - I definitely wish I DNFed but I kept hoping for something different.
I had about 30 books that disappointed me this year which is not too bad I guess because i read 157 books in 2024
Definitely not too bad at all!
If We Used to Live Here has no haters then I am dead.
So real
I thought you were very nice giving Josh Malerman's book 3 stars. I absolutely hated that book.
Hahah thank you! I was probably too nice. 😅
I dnfed tell me I’m worthless
Did not work for me
I really should have!
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
Too bad it didn't work for you. I liked The Wishing Game.
I couldn't stand the narrator in Horror Movie😅 Definitely not a fan either.
Oh gosh, I’m glad I didn’t listen to it then! 🥲
One of us knows SUCKED so badly lol
So so so disappointing!
Tfs