Can I just say I'm so overhelmed and surprised by the number of black hearts in the comments, I truly thought I had a higher subscriber turnover rate than is evident here, and I'm so humbled right now knowing how many of you have stuck with me this long. 🥲

@racheltfisher

2 жыл бұрын

I think I started following you in 2018 🤗

I am not someone who likes YA and Last Night at the Telegraph Club is one of my favorite books of the year. It is absolutely incredible. It's YA historical fiction but is some of the best representation of butch lesbians that I've ever seen. 1000/10

@moonbook12

2 жыл бұрын

Omg I'm currently reading it. So good

@nelesophie174

2 жыл бұрын

Now that is a convincing review! Gotta Go check where I can get that book 😁

@knowthatgirlnextdoor

2 жыл бұрын

I bought it because of Lala's video last year and ADORED it!

@heatherjames-scott1685

2 жыл бұрын

This makes me want to read it. Thanks!

@rozreallyreads

2 жыл бұрын

agree so much!

Long term video idea: read an anthology story everyday for the whole year and see how many anthologies you finish😅

@BooksandLala

2 жыл бұрын

omg that truly is the only answer

I'd be curious to figure out which year's "most anticipated" video was the most successful, meaning which set of books resulted in the highest average rating.

@onceuponascream

2 жыл бұрын

ooo good idea!

@haleydawson11

2 жыл бұрын

+

@lanej.6458

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed, that’s a fun idea!!

I've mostly given up on YA for myself as well, but Last Night at the Telegraph Club was actually really great imo!! 4 stars for me.

Last Night at the Telegraph Club and The Chosen and the Beautiful were both so great. Last Night had such an incredible story and heart and The Chosen was just wonderful Nghi Vo prose and vibes. The only thing about The Chosen is not to get too excited for the magical realism cause it really wasn't well incorporated into the story, but if you go into it for the prose and lovely perspective on a classic then you'll enjoy it

Commenting 6 minutes in to say please please read Last Night at the Telegraph Club! I read very little YA these days but that is one of my absolute faves of the year. It's queer, it's historical fiction, it's beautiful and amazing. 🖤🖤🖤

@phormidable

2 жыл бұрын

YES same here - barely any YA, but I picked this one up and loved it. I heard Malinda Lao is writing a new book in the same universe, but set in the 2010s, and I think Lily and Kat from LNatTG are making an appearance as old gays?? SO COOL

Only because I’m so curious what your thoughts are, I’d vote for Nine Perfect Strangers.

I vote for Last Night at the Telegraph Club, I didn't even realize that debuted this year!! I loved it and if surpassed the typical trope-y YA cookie cutter madness.

I’d love it if you read Last Night At the Telegraph Club - I’ve been so intrigued by it but haven’t seen many reviews! Also Beach Read - since you’ve loved the authors stuff before in a different genre it would be an interesting experiment to see if that would translate into the romance genre, and if not, why not 😊

@KathleenSelden

2 жыл бұрын

I second this reasoning for Beach Read!

I need to make a TBR called "Kayla Made Me Buy It" - I've read a lot but there are still so many to read.

@krispy777

2 жыл бұрын

Haha sounds like my sister

@BRhymesss

2 жыл бұрын

i have a Goodreads shelf for her recommendations 💀

I will always vote for The Darkness Outside Us if that’s an option. It was probably my favorite book of this year, and really doesn’t read like a typical YA.

Kayla, you gotta read Last Night at the Telegraph Club, it’s as beautiful as everyone else in the comments is saying and one of my top books of 2021. And for those considering Beach Read - I was really underwhelmed by it. Instead, Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane addresses similar themes but more skillfully - Emily Henry has even said she wished she wrote it (not a dig at Emily, I’ve liked her other work). Just Last Night is more a book about complicated grief that happens to hint at a romance, rather than the other way around. But it also manages to be genuinely funny and the main character calls herself “an aging goth.” It’s great and I highly recommend it to those on the fence about Beach Read!

@candyisreading8813

2 жыл бұрын

Seconded, I LOVE Mhairi McFarlane!

The Darkness Outside Us was so good! One of the most stressful books I’ve ever read. Some that I haven’t read but I’m interested in are The Last Night at the Telegraph Club, The Weight of Our Sky, and Beach Read!

🖤 Throwing my hat in the ring for The Darkness Outside Us. It was a really unique and well crafted story, but it's kinda hard to sell to people because what the story is really 'about' is sort of a plot twist and I'd love to see someone's unspoiled reactions in a reading vlog. 🖤

You NEED to read The Darkness Outside Us; I feel like it's your perfect YA. It's queer, weird sci-fi, mystery/thriller elements, and the story structure / where it goes is super cool and unusual.

my tbr for you would be 1. Beach Read 2. Our Dark Duet 3. The weight of our sky 4. Last night at the telegraph club 5. How to kill your best friend

I love watching present Kayla cringe at past Kayla. I’m in the “been here since closet unhaul” era, so that 2017 one unlocked memories. 🖤🖤🖤

I selfishly want you to read Beach Read, especially as I wouldn't consider it "just" a romance, similar to A Million Junes, its an exploration of grief and while there IS romance, Emily Henry's work does stand on it's own throughout her work.

🖤 also PLEASE read last night at the telegraph club. i don't read much ya, but last night at the telegraph club was incredible--deeply researched, beautifully written, so affecting. i highly recommend it

i love this "read, didn't love"/"read, loved" format as you skim through these books. it helps me kinda decide which books i want to look into deeper without getting my hopes up, etc.

The Darkness Outside Us was such a great read for me this year, I'd be interested in your thoughts!

@GingerM14

2 жыл бұрын

I read it to and I would love to hear what you think

as someone who loves Beach Read, i think whoever is telling you you'll like it is a liar

Last night at the Telegraph club! Because I may want to read it but you’re probably my deciding factor lol

I’m really excited to watch this vlog. I really would vote for The Darkness Outside Us for the reason to see your thoughts on it and because it was my favorite book of the year. 🖤

Kayla saying “oh I have to listen to you?” to her old self is 💀💀💀😂

Last night at the telegraph club, the chosen and the beautiful, beach read, before she knew him, nine perfect strangers

🖤 "as if I thought putting up a blank box was the answer" 29:37 😂 poor 2016 Kayla getting roasted It's so wild how some books are pretty recent but it feels like they are around forever and some are years old but it feels like they came out just a few months ago. This video definitely made me side-eye my own TBR. 😂

I’ve seen a couple of ”The Darkness Outside Us”, but not enough! That book very unexpectedly broke me this year and I think (even though you’re quite unpredictable in your reading taste sometimes) that you would really like it!

I’m so impressed with how many you read from all those lists. It’s so easy for me to forget about books I was excited for as new ones come out. The exception is if it’s an author I follow closely and love and am loyal to. Also I love the idea of you building your tbr from the ones you haven’t read but don’t feel pressured to read books you really aren’t interested in please!

Last night at the Telegraph Club was one of my Favorites this year, so i recommend IT to everyone 🖤🖤 its a very... Quiet? Story with Lots of nuances

I’d love for you to read The Darkness Outside Us!! I absolutely loved it and I feel like hardly anyone has talked about it! 🖤

the chosen and the beautiful is stunning! truly some of the best writing i read all year. i’m not someone who particularly cares at all about gatsby stories, but that one def stands on it’s own while also adding more depth and nuance to the original, so that’d be my pick! 💛

The Darkness Outside us was marketed kind of weird because they kind of tried to sell it as a romance, which is not the main thing at all! It also has one of your favorite tropes (which I won't spoil) so I think you should read it! Give it a go, please!

I see a bunch of comments raving about Last Night at the Telegraph Club and wanted to echo them. it is so! good! one of my faves of the year

🖤 wow it's been that long, fun to watch how your reading has changed over the years. I vote for adding Last Night at the Telegraph Club only because I think that's the one that showed up in more than one year.

The Swap, Darkness Outside Us, Last Night at the Telegraph Hotel and Before She Knew Him

Funny, you said “now I’m questioning this video” and yet, this was one of my favourite videos of yours lately!!!💞

This was so much fun to watch! In reference to anthologies, I think it would be so fun if you did a video series throughout 2022 in a vlog format where you read an anthology and discussed it, and then read a full length book from one of the authors within the anthology. It could be a new to you author or one you've read before!

@ohwildesoul

2 жыл бұрын

This is such a good idea! 🙌

Omg, Snow in Love is such a throwback! I remember in one of your vlogs, there was an entire debacle with this book where it was shipped to you 6 months too late, and you were surprised it showed up at all!

@Hillary429

2 жыл бұрын

I know exactly which vlog ur talking about lol 🧦🔥❄️

I am so excited to watch this!!!! the robe does look super cozy 🥺🥺

Before She Knew Him, Nine Perfect Strangers, After the End, The Swap, Beach Read

Sia Martinez and The Moonlit Beginning of Everything!!!! 👽🏜🌌

@SophieElaina

2 жыл бұрын

Also, I’d definitely recommend the audiobook!

I can now see how long I've been watching your videos for because I remember adding so many of these books to my wishlist because of your recommendations!

It was not a mess! I’m always surprised at how well thought and planned your videos are.

I just gotta say, I love these flashback videos. I followed you from your old channel because you taught me how to cloth diaper my daughters! Social media is so weird that I sort of feel like I know you even though you have no idea who I am 😂😂😂

🖤 wow some of those older lists are a real blast from the past. Amazing how much our reading changes over the years!

my top 5 are: final draft, empress of all seasons, color outside the lines, sia martinez and the moonlit beginning of everything, bruised by tanya boteju

really recommend the darkness outside us!! i think you would really enjoy it! it has so many elements that you love in books! 🖤

its so wild seeing booktube classics like pre their release:')) makes me emotional looking back like this 🖤

I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on The last Night in the Telegraph club, The Darkness Outside us and Beach Read so that’s what I’m voting for. ❤️

These videos were how I would find new releases and books I missed when they first came out. These videos filled my bookshelves and emptied my wallet haha 🖤

When I started watching, Dress codes for small towns was already a favourite of yours. I have been watching you for almost three years now

I do hope you do a most anticipated for 2022! My birthday is in January and I usually use these lists to pre-order some books as later in the year presents for myself!

last night at the telegraph is so so good

Unbury Carol!!!!! Such an unrated fun ride. It does get a little slow but there was a scene in that book that scared me so bad I slammed the book closed lol! Beach Read was adorable too! It's been fun reading along with you all these years! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

I’ve been here since you were a mommy channel girl! You are the reason I found Booktube! 🖤🖤🖤

🖤🖤🖤 I've loved your channel so much all these years! You continue to put out interesting videos even though we don't have the same reading tastes. Your video A Decade of Books, Booktube, and Life is one of my favorite videos of all time. I still think about it and it's one of the few YT videos that I would rewatch. (I just saved it so I wouldn't have to go looking for it again 😂)

🖤 my votes are 1) last night at the telegraph club, i think you’d love it, 2) the swap bc it looks fun, and 3) zoe spanos, i unexpectedly really enjoyed it and the audio was great with the podcast element

2017 Kayla hello you🖤🖤🖤 (back then you are just Lala lol) I can’t believe I have been watching you for so long already, yet still my favourite booktuber of all time. Appreciated your wholesome content and watching your channel keep growing this past year is such a joy! Here’s to more years 🖤

Also adding a vote for Before She Knew Him because I feel like that might be one of the only Peter Swanson you haven't read? So why not complete his backlist...?

You should read Clare Mackintosh’s 2021 release “Hostage” before giving up on her. It is gripping and tense … and has multiple twists. Loved it.

🖤🖤 so many throwbacks!! This was fun to watch! But also, the Darkness Outside Us is so good!!

I started watching you just before your unhaul series ♥︎. Still one of my favourite series on booktube. So sad when it ended! I do want an update about your TBR closet hehe.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 i absolutely love all your videos reacting to old videos! it feels like such a time capsule moment

🖤🖤🖤 I can't believe how many years I've been subscribed to you! Feels like no time at all!

Fantasy TBR! Our Dark Duet, Mirage Empress of all Seasons, Cerulean. I love when you read books that may be out of your “comfort zone” or not your favorite genres. I love your reactions when you INEVITABLY find a book or two books that you love, especially when you last except it.

the darkness outside us is so good! i preordered it when i saw your video a year ago, definitely worth the read.

I remember being really excited about The Swap and would love to hear your thoughts.

an anthology a month maybe should be added to next year too? a short story to wake up to/fall asleep to and take some books off that tbr shelf :D

Oh Also the Swap since you loved previous Robyn Harding I think and that one was pretty good! And she's Canadian!

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is one I went in knowing nothing and was so surprised and loved it. I feel this author is very underrated and needs more love, covers many important topics and over all a fun read.

This video is giving me closet unhaul vibes! Also cannot recommend The Darkness Outside Us enough! The characters are so well-written, the worldbuilding is awesome, and it has one of the most engaging plots I've read all year.

Well it's nearly 3am where I live but who needs sleep when Kayla posts another video? Love you're vids! 💗💗

I loved this video! Definitely not boring or too long. Reacting to older videos and comparing reading tastes from then and now is such a fun concept! More of these in the future please ☺️

🖤. I read Dress Codes for Small Towns back when, because of you!!!!

Last Night at the Telegraph Club is a must-read book! Others that I would like to see you read include Cool for the Summer, BEACH READ, Love, Hate & Other Filters, and East Coast Girls.

Omg the 2017 most anticipated video brings back MEMORIES. Those books feel so long ago! 🖤🖤

last night at the telegraph club was so good! one of my favourite books of 2021.

🖤🖤🖤🖤 - also I don't know that you would like Beach Read, but you would for sure read it and be like "I for sure understand why other people like this"

🖤🖤🖤 my only vote would be for Beach Read. It’s such a fantastic book!

This was so much fun to watch and you’ve done REALLY well every year the percents were high! I’m going to go through my most anticipated lists now from last years and I am guessing I haven’t done as well lol 🖤

Another great video as always! I remember always loving your videoes, so its so funny to watch all of these again. I have been here since 2016 😍🖤

IM SO EXCITED I CANT WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS GOES edit: while i’ve never read beach read i’d think it’d be interesting for you to try it out!

🖤🖤🖤 these deep dive videos qre some of my faves from you 🥰 I have you're channel to thank for at least 50% of my book collection in the last 5 years

🖤 it’s crazy how fast time flies!!

I started watching you in 2019 but I did go on a few weeks binge of your whole channel and it feels like weve all been through so much since then that I feel like Ive followed you forever 😂

I am going to pick Cerulean because it was my daughter's favorite color before she passed.

fresh ink is soooooooooooo good i read it in one day. i think i actually picked it up bc i saw it behind you on your tbr shelf

This gives me Closet Unhaul vibes; 100% understand why you don't want to spend another year doing that, Kayla, but it was definitely the reason I subscribed and I love how your experiments have continued to evolve

Oh gosh I remember all these videos, I really enjoyed this and can't wait for the vlog 🖤

i can’t believe i’ve been watching you for 6 years! and i can still vividly remember the videos where you read some of these books! 🖤 i’m SO interested to see what your thoughts on the darkness outside us are! i read it in july and immediately thought “Kayla would LOVE this” and then immediately started doubting myself! i feel like it has an equal amount of things you like and things you don’t but i can’t say what because of spoilers so it’s truly a toss up!

i rarely click with YA anymore (im 31) but run by kody keplinger was 5 stars for me when i read it last year, its such a beautiful story of friendship and disability and small town prejudice and it was so heartfelt and real. it made me ugly cry lol.

The Chosen and the Beautiful was 5 stars and a very loose gatsby retelling. The writing is perfect and it has an unexplained magic system. I wish more ppl read it this year!!

@traciehardy7757

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! I loved The Chosen and the Beautiful and I am sad that it doesn’t get as much love as it deserves. The speculative elements were so well woven into the story and the writing was beautiful.

I've been wanting to read The Last Night at the Telegraph club for a while and would love to hear your thoughts? Not to mention it was on your list two different years

You should do this continually with your monthly tbrs so similar to your closet unhaul but watch your jan tbr for the last 5-6 years and pic 1 unread book from each of it hasn’t been read, etc for each month for rest of the year. (assuming you have enough unread ones for content. You maybe have 100% completion of your tbrs haha no idea what the stat would be)

🖤🖤I just love your channel. I’ve been watching your channel for a long time and get some many recommendations. Your family and you put a smile on my face. I love ya girl all the way from Mississippi!!!🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Nine Perfect Strangers, Chorus Rises, Beach Read, Empress of All Seasons, Last Night at the Telegraph Club, and Before She Knew Him. I'm interested in them and value your reviews.

🖤 I can’t remember if I’ve been subscribed since 2016 or 2017… but it was sometime around that era. I know for sure I went back and watched your 2016 videos anyway 😂 it’s crazy to me because my reading tastes have definitely grown and changed too and we both started moving on from YA at about the same time! And btw your videos will never get old 😌