I totally understand the NONstop sad of A Little Life! When I read it a few years ago I don't think I saw it as trauma dumping, but I had to take weeks off reading because it just was too much for where I was mentally at the time. BUT what I love most is the timeline of friendship - over decades - and how we are constantly unmasking our deeper selves, even to those closest to us! Plus I feel there is so rarely a good book on the depth of male friendship.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I totally get that! I really did enjoy the aspect of friendship in a little life!

Your description of the spice you enjoy is exactly what I was trying to explain to someone concerning my own preferences, lol. Thank you! 👍

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

You’re welcome!!

Love Theoretically is better than Love on the Brain. I almost didn't read it, but I think Kalilah D convinced me. Worst books of the year were: Ride or Die by Gail-Agnes Musikavanhu The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Earnshaw The Moonstruck graphic novels by Grace Ellis and Shea Beagle

@imnotobsessedwiththat4162

7 ай бұрын

Oh really? I was going to pick up Disorientation, is it not worth the read?

@dobetterwithchristian4472

7 ай бұрын

@@imnotobsessedwiththat4162 it wasn't for me. I listened to the audiobook, so maybe the narrator had something to do with it. Thisstoryaintover had a completely different experience and it sounded like we read 2 different books lol

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I need to bump up love theoretically on my tbr!

I’m a 53 year old who LOVES spice! If I can get a great plot, then it’s a plus, but if I can’t get at least a lil spice, I tend to check out. I’m reading Icebreaker now and for me, it’s a good mix 😉 At the same time, I can read a Lynn Painter YA and appreciate the limited spice. Or Abby Jimenez, she doesn’t have a ton of spice, but what she does have is good. 💜

@natashamontgomery4443

7 ай бұрын

hi i just was reading some of the comments just wanted to drop a suggestion a writer with 💜and spice mix Robbie Renee Somebody's Wife was really good I did not check out at all 2 day read. have a good day

@onyxlotus6461

7 ай бұрын

​@natashamontgomery4443 that's one that I should add to my tbr. I just bought all of Asia Monique's books with the "flower girls". 😊

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I love love love Abby Jimenez writing!! It’s so fast paced!

THANK YOU FOR THIS! I felt like I was by myself when I didn't like those popular books!

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

You’re not alone!

Now we need 23 best books that you read this year!!!!🎉

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Coming soon!!

So glad you mentioned “Anxious people”. I was super excited for this book based on the reviews and as an avid thriller reader, I was looking to break up the monotony of the usual books I read, but like you said, I felt like this book was too quirky 😅. I put it down and picked up something else. I think I will go back to eventually maybe when I’m more in the mood for something of its kind

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Glad I’m not the only one that this way!

I understand what you mean about spice in books. I prefer little to no spice however, I have read books where there was spice and it few and far between and there was a sincere connection!

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

For sure! Kennedy Ryan’s books are spicy, but I always love the connection the characters have!!

@gabbylikestoread

7 ай бұрын

@@ShawnaciSchroeder that’s what I’ve heard! I still haven’t read a book by her yet 🫢

My worst books ( I almost DNF'd all of them, but they were for a book club, so I slugged through). The Haunting of Alejandra (DNF) The Silent Patient The Nigerwife The First Ladies

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for your intake and input I am a new readerholic. So I have become a real spice reader I have been on a urban fiction or YA romance kick for some time now. I just started reading heavy during Covid. but I have been checking out your videos and have some good TBR. I did like Restore Me I did think they spent to much time hating each other then when they got to the spice it was overwhelming. So many of the books I have read lately are late for many readers. I am on a Christina C. Jones kick right now.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Omg I loooove Christina c jones! Her writing is so so good!

I'm sorry but I can't do a Little Life. I know a lot of people says every reader says you need to do it, but I can't. I can't do it.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

You’re not alone!

Here's my worst books of 2023 End of watch by Stephen king The reunion by kayla Olsen Camp zero The flatshare by beth o'Leary Normal people by sally Rooney A chain of iron and gold Misrule by heather waler sequel to the book malice Poster girl by veronica roth

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Omg I hated normal people too!

It’s sad to see you talk about anxious people but I totally get where people are coming from when the say they didn’t like it.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

6 ай бұрын

It wasn’t for me, but I can see why so many people love it! It has a great message!

I really enjoyed this video. Your videos are always filled with the books you love. I have seen so many booktubers that have negative videos REGULARLY!!! Sometimes I wonder if they actually enjoy anything at all. When this popped up I was like....ok...this must really be horrible. 😂😂😂 Seriously.....thank you so much for the content you give us. ❤

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

You’re welcome!! I’m soooo particular about what I read! I only read books that I really feel like I’ll love. I feel like sometimes people read books recommended to them that they might not enjoy, but I feel like I’d get in a book slump so fast!

I haven’t had a chance to watch this yet. I will after I take kids to school. My question would be what is your most memorable read from the year. Doesn’t have to be most well written or whatever just most memorable.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Oo such a great question! I think the magnolia parks series!

Love light farms pissed me off!!!!! I love spice but the fake that it took her 5 pages of horrible foreplay to get what I think was suppose to be spice and that’s when I knew I needed to dnf

@ShawnaciSchroeder

6 ай бұрын

Omg same! lol that book was not for me

Loved hearing your thoughts about these books!

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

So glad!

My worst books of 2023 - Daisy Jones and the six (2-3 stars) Underlocke( dnf)

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

I wanted to pick up Icebreaker from the library. Now idk

@logann-mackenziefroste563

7 ай бұрын

Yes I totally agree with you on reading Icebreaker 😊

@dianaisme

7 ай бұрын

@@logann-mackenziefroste563 Fair

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Lots of people love it so you might love it too! If you like a lot of spice, I feel like you’ll like it!

@logann-mackenziefroste563

7 ай бұрын

@@ShawnaciSchroeder I am going to give it try and it’s on Libby waitlist. I have fallen in love with Ali Hazelwood books. I love them but I do rate them a 4.5 stars only because the way she descriptions of the male stem characters are just so not accurate for stem guys, and I am stem girlie so I know what stem guys look like and I haven’t met any 6’4” stem guys with six pack abs.

I haven't read Love Is A Revolution but I read Piecing Me Together because Jessica Nicole Dickerson has been raving about it. One my most fantastic reads of 2023. I have a reading vlog of it. 📖 The late 2000s, I suppose insta-love was evidently a thing, even in some of the books that were published in the early 2010s.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Oo I’ll have to check that one out!

Love the sweater where did you get it? Also I love that you leave the yawns and don’t edit it out because I feel like you’re actually talking to me about books

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

So glad you love the little yawns haha.. & I grabbed it from tik tok shop but you can also find it on Etsy!

Can you also do a video of your 5* reads ? 🤩

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Oo yes!

I 💯% agree with your thoughts on A Little Life!

Ohno I'm in the midst of reading all Fredrik Backmans books, I was excited to get to Anxious People :/

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Lots of people have enjoyed it, but it wasn’t for me. You might love it!

I did not like Meet Me at the Lake either and I also only liked the first half of Icebreaker. You should read Heartless and Reckless by Elsie Silver - those were my favorites in the series.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

They’re on my tbr!! I really love Elsie Silvers writing so I’m excited to dive into them!

I don't care for longer romances. Instead of more character development, it seems like there's more unnecessary drama & miscommunication. Do you like romantic suspense at all? They're usually shorter, more action.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I love romantic suspense! I feel like they’re really fast paced which I love!

I didn't like icebreaker at all... Mostly because it was only smut and the female protagonist wasn't likeable at all

@ShawnaciSchroeder

6 ай бұрын

I felt the same way!

Awww I loved the soulmate equation. 😊

I bought the Lonely Hearts Bookclub the other day 😅 I hope I find Mr Grumpy bearable lolol

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Haha definitely let me know what you think! It’s endearing for awhile lol

Noooo so sad that you hated icebreaker but i totally understand, there was a ton of spice and i kinda hated it too i wish they wouldve done other cute romantic things. I loved without merit so much one of my favorite CoHo books, but the incest i understand lol kinda weird but that whole book was weird and it was just amazing. (LAYLA SPOILER) Omg i HATED layla so much it was one of my worst 2023 reads! I hated it until i got to the part where you find out about the soul switching and everything but i hated how he basically cheated on his spouse with a ghost it was so stupid but after the soul switching i thought it was kinda good and when i got done with it i liked it but i still hate it so much lol! I loved hearing about your opinions on the books though! Im so glad you mentioned the books that have a lot of spice for literally no reason lol. I mean i love spice but books with a ton of it nuh uh its so annoying! I need it to be just enough but not too much and i heard the things we hide from the light is the one most people hate and they love the other two so maybe give the other one a try it might be a lot better, im planning on reading that trilogy soon!

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I still plan on reading wildfire because I’ve heard great things about it so I’ll definitely let you know what I think!! So glad we can talk about books together here and that you love hanging out in this space 🥰🫶🏽

"Hmmm I don't like that smh hmm I don't like that smh I don't like that at all"😂its the way you said it that caught me by surprise.. . Really interesting video lol I knew there would be some you wouldn't like but your reaction to them 😂 I'm surprise Excuse me while I ugly cry didn't make the video lol

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Excuse me while I ugly cry was a 3.5/5 star read for me! I still enjoyed a lot of aspects of the book and recommend it!! I just haaaated how she wasn’t connected to her culture which really put me off on a large part of the book! But still an enjoyable read in a lot of parts!

Omg I totally agree with you on the whole $ex situation in “A Little Life”!!!!!

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I was shook!!

Hey fairly new subscriber here may I ask why you don’t like spice?

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

I don’t dislike spice! I just don’t like if the spice is the only connection that the couple has with one another. I like the couple to connect with words of affirmation, quality time, and other love languages. I’ve found that books that have a lot of spice sometimes overtake all other love languages

🤣🤣Layla was a very strange book

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

It really was haha

I think I dodged a bullet on some of these!!

I really didn't like Things We Hide From The Light :/

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Me either!

Not A Little Life!!! 😮

❤❤❤

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

🫶🏽🫶🏽

@chocolateoreo6489

7 ай бұрын

🫶🏿🫶🏿

I just look up Restore Me on Goodreads. One of the genres listed for this book is erotica. Could explain the spice level.

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Oo I had no idea! That’s good to know

@BrooklynBelleReads

7 ай бұрын

I was shocked. Trying to stay away from the overly spicy books right now.@@ShawnaciSchroeder

'a little life' is trauma porn. it's awful.

Worst book this year- The Last Word

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Totally understandable! It’s not for everyone!

Sahwnttasmth you too love you too love you too book 📖 see ❤

@ShawnaciSchroeder

6 ай бұрын

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

also you hate fantastic Mr. fox

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

Haha quirky style of writing isn’t for me

you do not like omega spice you need character and personality

@ShawnaciSchroeder

7 ай бұрын

100%!!