Shark Heart brought me so much joy! 🤣 From reading it (and enjoying it), to reading everyone’s thoughts and laughing at everyone’s reactions - it was so fun! 😂
Honestly, Shark Heart brought me a lot of joy too! But I was hoping to enjoy it as much as you did, so it was definitely a disappointment. I still can’t believe Kelly was the one who liked it best after you 😂 I would not have called that.
Oh I loved Lady Susan and I thought it was brilliant. One doesn't come across such a love-to-hate villain every day. 😂 I agree with your thoughts about The Inheritance by LMA, although I didn't strongly dislike it. I'm sure she would have pursued publication of it if she thought it had merit. There's a reason it got shoved into storage! I agree about Dickens and his carol. That book irritated me when I read it last year.
You’re not the only person I’ve heard say they love Lady Susan! That’s why I feel bad it’s on my list 😂 I have a friend who told me it’s her favorite Austen! I’m glad I’m not alone on my thoughts on Mr Dickens and His Carol 🫣😂
Hi, I didn’t really enjoy Keeper of the Bees. Yes it had weird things happen and unrealistic things but it had lots to recommend it too. I really enjoyed how the main character taught the little scout to appreciate being a girl. AND I loved the revenge she got on the cousin who was trying to steal the house. No it wasn’t perfect but it had a lot for discussion! I think I would agree with you on most of those and it made me glad I hadn’t read them. Thank you and happy new year!😊
There were definitely things to love about the book! That’s why it was still a three star for me. But the romance completely pulled me out of the story every time it was a plot point 😂 I can understand why you enjoyed it so much though!
Oh no! The Belton Estate 😂 You had me laughing so hard on some of these. I totally agree with you: Three Men on a Bummel doesn't even read like the same author. I was soooooo bored reading it.
Mr. Dickens and His Carol was a movie so she profited twice - I saw the movie and thought the script writers took artistic liberties so now I know it was in the original book. Ugh, I like Dickens even if he wasn’t a perfect person he took on so much and supported so many people. Hmmm. Glad to have some books taken off my reading list like The Tale of Genji. Happy New Year 🎆
Exactly! Dickens definitely had his flaws and shortcomings (as do we all), but I felt like he was so misrepresented! Glad I could help you cross a few books off your list 😂
I think my #1 most disappointing book of the year was unfortunately my very last book of the year. I started and finished it on Christmas evening. It was The Woods In Midwinter by Susanna Clarke. I was floored by how bad I thought it was 😭. After her last two books becoming all time favorites i expected so much more. It felt like a terribly done picture book, padded out with so many lackluster illustrations and a self-important afterword. I was devastated!
I think that Jane Austen if she'd lived longer wouldn't have wanted 'Lady Susan' published, at least not in the form it is, considering she revised her earlier novels. I like it but I'm a Austen completionist.
I’ve read all of Austen’s major works, but I haven’t read her unfinished books yet. I’m sure a revised Lady Susan would have been much more enjoyable for me!
I would give The Inheritance 3 stars just because it was a sweet story. Old school Nicholas Sparks cozy fluff read. That being said, I totally get you with the lack of character development and whatnot. I didn’t hate it (would be willing to read it again), and I allow for a fair amount of grace due to her age when she wrote it. Plus it’s a decent palate cleanser after heavier books. I didn’t read any of the others you talked about. I don’t even remember which book I liked the least. Reading 24 books from Jan-early March to purge my shelves there were soooo many forgettable books. I just know I’ll never read another Sandra Brown or Janet Evanovich. Not having book subscriptions is a good thing when you’re forgetful and don’t decline the selection 😅 And to the woman who defiled Dickens - Shame.on.You.!! Thank you for reading the book so I didn’t have to. I’m hoping The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl is better than that book was. We shall see (hopefully this year. Lol).
I knew you liked The Inheritance more than I did … I think my cohosts did too lol. I’m just a hater 😜 I don’t like Nicholas Sparks either haha I hope Matthew Pearl is better too! Those look interesting!
@ Ha. I haven’t read a Sparks book in at least a decade (much like Hallmark movies they are predictable fluff). Definitely not my fave, but I’ve read worse. Hahaha I’ll keep you in the loop. I have the Poe one I’ve yet to read, too.
Haha I can’t watch Hallmark movies either. The romantic cheese just ain’t my jam … which is hilarious considering how much I LOVED romance when I was younger 😂
I read the Dickens historical fiction and I liked it but that was before I started reading authors notes and before I knew more about Dickens. I know I would feel the same on a reread or if I was reading it for the first time now.
@beautifulminutiae yeah, that was me but now I wouldn't feel the same and probably be disappointed like you were. I never used to read authors note before 2022 so I was pretty lenient when I read but these days 👀👀 I need things to be historically accurate
My most disappointing books this year were: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Homecoming by Kate Morton, and Remarkably Bright Creatures, which I DNF'd. The time stamps are so funny!
I didn’t enjoy Remarkably Bright Creatures either! It seemed to be quite a booktube darling and I just didn’t understand the hype. Vera Wong was pretty meh for me after having it hyped up, so I get that too.
I didn’t despise it, but I was very annoyed by parts of it 😂 I need Gene Stratton-Porter WITHOUT romance, because that’s always what keeps her books from being higher rated for me.
You shouldn't feel bad about not caring for Lady Susan. Some books are labeled as lesser works for a reason. I was really disappointed in Brave New World. I'm not really a sci-fi girly, but it was not the story I was committing to and frankly just turned weird and tacky. Also Parable of the Sower turned really strange on top of being rather plotless and rambling past a certain point. Things Fall Apart also rather let me down halfway through. I worry sometimes I judge books for not turning out like I wanted. haha
Yes, we are definitely allowed to not like popular or well known books! I hope to read Brave New World within the next couple of years, but people seemed really mixed on it, so I don’t know where I’ll land. I really like classic dystopian though, so I’m hopeful!
Boo on The Belton Estate...boooo on Lady Susan (although i totally understand this one). 😅 I don't blame you one. Bit. On that Dickens rant. This is why I don't read retellings or reimaginings of classics/ my fav books....I get too angry at the deviations the author makes 😅
Haha at least The Belton Estate was in the 3 star section! Maybe I’ll eventually find a novel of his that grips me. At least I found a short story I loved! Yeah, Mr Dickens and His Carol was my mistake 😅 I have a friend who loves Victorian literature who said it was one of her favorite books last year, so I went into it with higher expectations, which made it even more frustrating 😂
@beautifulminutiae yeah those expectations... it's like that video I posted in discord where he talks abt reading slumps and how they actually happen from expectations a lot of the time.
My most disappointing book of 2024 was Lessons in Chemistry. It just wasn’t what I was expecting and I really disliked it. The worst books I read were The Drowning Kind (Paranormal Thriller with many plot holes) and Shady Hollow (maybe I just can’t do cozy, I was so hoping to like it).
I’ve heard so many people love Lessons in Chemistry, so it’s a bummer it didn’t work for you! My book club is reading Shady Hollow this year, so hopefully I’ll enjoy it more than you did (but I struggle with cozy too 😂).
I haven’t read any of these. My most disappointing books: Kazuo Ishiguro’s collection Nocturnes:Five Stories of Music and Nightfall. Ishiguro is one of my favourite modern writers, but I hated the first two stories and ended up DNFing it. The Name of the Wind. I expected so much more from The Name of the Wind because so many people love it. I think the prose in it is really overrated.
@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD I liked everything else I read by him so it was really unexpected. I still have a few of his books I need to get to. The Remains of the Day is on my 2025 TBR.
Shark Heart brought me so much joy! 🤣 From reading it (and enjoying it), to reading everyone’s thoughts and laughing at everyone’s reactions - it was so fun! 😂
Honestly, Shark Heart brought me a lot of joy too! But I was hoping to enjoy it as much as you did, so it was definitely a disappointment. I still can’t believe Kelly was the one who liked it best after you 😂 I would not have called that.
Oh I loved Lady Susan and I thought it was brilliant. One doesn't come across such a love-to-hate villain every day. 😂 I agree with your thoughts about The Inheritance by LMA, although I didn't strongly dislike it. I'm sure she would have pursued publication of it if she thought it had merit. There's a reason it got shoved into storage! I agree about Dickens and his carol. That book irritated me when I read it last year.
You’re not the only person I’ve heard say they love Lady Susan! That’s why I feel bad it’s on my list 😂 I have a friend who told me it’s her favorite Austen! I’m glad I’m not alone on my thoughts on Mr Dickens and His Carol 🫣😂
Hi, I didn’t really enjoy Keeper of the Bees. Yes it had weird things happen and unrealistic things but it had lots to recommend it too. I really enjoyed how the main character taught the little scout to appreciate being a girl. AND I loved the revenge she got on the cousin who was trying to steal the house. No it wasn’t perfect but it had a lot for discussion!
I think I would agree with you on most of those and it made me glad I hadn’t read them.
Thank you and happy new year!😊
There were definitely things to love about the book! That’s why it was still a three star for me. But the romance completely pulled me out of the story every time it was a plot point 😂 I can understand why you enjoyed it so much though!
🥲sad about Mr.Dickens and his Carol it is so frustrating 😩😩
I still remember your review of Shark Heart and the laughter I had😂😂😂
Haha honestly I enjoyed reading Shark Heart … but not for the reasons I was supposed to 😜 That book was NOT supposed to be a comedy 😂😂😂
Oh no! The Belton Estate 😂
You had me laughing so hard on some of these.
I totally agree with you: Three Men on a Bummel doesn't even read like the same author. I was soooooo bored reading it.
To be fair, I don’t think Belton Estate is a bad book. I was just very disappointed, because I want to love Trollope so badly!
Mr. Dickens and His Carol was a movie so she profited twice - I saw the movie and thought the script writers took artistic liberties so now I know it was in the original book. Ugh, I like Dickens even if he wasn’t a perfect person he took on so much and supported so many people. Hmmm.
Glad to have some books taken off my reading list like The Tale of Genji. Happy New Year 🎆
Exactly! Dickens definitely had his flaws and shortcomings (as do we all), but I felt like he was so misrepresented! Glad I could help you cross a few books off your list 😂
I think my #1 most disappointing book of the year was unfortunately my very last book of the year. I started and finished it on Christmas evening. It was The Woods In Midwinter by Susanna Clarke. I was floored by how bad I thought it was 😭. After her last two books becoming all time favorites i expected so much more. It felt like a terribly done picture book, padded out with so many lackluster illustrations and a self-important afterword. I was devastated!
NOOOOOOOOO! My hold for that just came in 😭😭😭😭
@beautifulminutiae I know 😭
@beautifulminutiae but hey you should just try it. It takes like 15 minutes to read. Let me know when you do, what you think
I think that Jane Austen if she'd lived longer wouldn't have wanted 'Lady Susan' published, at least not in the form it is, considering she revised her earlier novels. I like it but I'm a Austen completionist.
I’ve read all of Austen’s major works, but I haven’t read her unfinished books yet. I’m sure a revised Lady Susan would have been much more enjoyable for me!
I would give The Inheritance 3 stars just because it was a sweet story. Old school Nicholas Sparks cozy fluff read. That being said, I totally get you with the lack of character development and whatnot. I didn’t hate it (would be willing to read it again), and I allow for a fair amount of grace due to her age when she wrote it. Plus it’s a decent palate cleanser after heavier books.
I didn’t read any of the others you talked about. I don’t even remember which book I liked the least. Reading 24 books from Jan-early March to purge my shelves there were soooo many forgettable books. I just know I’ll never read another Sandra Brown or Janet Evanovich. Not having book subscriptions is a good thing when you’re forgetful and don’t decline the selection 😅
And to the woman who defiled Dickens - Shame.on.You.!! Thank you for reading the book so I didn’t have to. I’m hoping The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl is better than that book was. We shall see (hopefully this year. Lol).
I knew you liked The Inheritance more than I did … I think my cohosts did too lol. I’m just a hater 😜 I don’t like Nicholas Sparks either haha
I hope Matthew Pearl is better too! Those look interesting!
@ Ha. I haven’t read a Sparks book in at least a decade (much like Hallmark movies they are predictable fluff). Definitely not my fave, but I’ve read worse. Hahaha
I’ll keep you in the loop. I have the Poe one I’ve yet to read, too.
Haha I can’t watch Hallmark movies either. The romantic cheese just ain’t my jam … which is hilarious considering how much I LOVED romance when I was younger 😂
@ S.A.M.E.!!! Although let’s face it, Janette Oakes was the Hallmark version of romance. At least we weren’t reading smutty grocery store paperbacks 😅
@ yes, she absolutely was like Hallmark! I tried to reread one of her books a couple of years ago just for kicks and struggled BIG TIME 😂
I read the Dickens historical fiction and I liked it but that was before I started reading authors notes and before I knew more about Dickens. I know I would feel the same on a reread or if I was reading it for the first time now.
I can see how people who aren’t familiar with Dickens would love it! It’s definitely a feel good story.
@beautifulminutiae yeah, that was me but now I wouldn't feel the same and probably be disappointed like you were. I never used to read authors note before 2022 so I was pretty lenient when I read but these days 👀👀 I need things to be historically accurate
My most disappointing books this year were: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Homecoming by Kate Morton, and Remarkably Bright Creatures, which I DNF'd.
The time stamps are so funny!
I didn’t enjoy Remarkably Bright Creatures either! It seemed to be quite a booktube darling and I just didn’t understand the hype. Vera Wong was pretty meh for me after having it hyped up, so I get that too.
Your timestamps are hilarious! !
Haha I really put thought into them, so thank you
What a great video! You had me laughing out loud.
Haha I’m glad you could laugh at my pain 😂😂😂
YES i feel so validated with The Keeper of the Bees! I DESPISE that book 😂
I didn’t despise it, but I was very annoyed by parts of it 😂 I need Gene Stratton-Porter WITHOUT romance, because that’s always what keeps her books from being higher rated for me.
@@beautifulminutiae 😂
You shouldn't feel bad about not caring for Lady Susan. Some books are labeled as lesser works for a reason.
I was really disappointed in Brave New World. I'm not really a sci-fi girly, but it was not the story I was committing to and frankly just turned weird and tacky. Also Parable of the Sower turned really strange on top of being rather plotless and rambling past a certain point. Things Fall Apart also rather let me down halfway through. I worry sometimes I judge books for not turning out like I wanted. haha
Yes, we are definitely allowed to not like popular or well known books! I hope to read Brave New World within the next couple of years, but people seemed really mixed on it, so I don’t know where I’ll land. I really like classic dystopian though, so I’m hopeful!
Boo on The Belton Estate...boooo on Lady Susan (although i totally understand this one). 😅
I don't blame you one. Bit. On that Dickens rant. This is why I don't read retellings or reimaginings of classics/ my fav books....I get too angry at the deviations the author makes 😅
Haha at least The Belton Estate was in the 3 star section! Maybe I’ll eventually find a novel of his that grips me. At least I found a short story I loved!
Yeah, Mr Dickens and His Carol was my mistake 😅 I have a friend who loves Victorian literature who said it was one of her favorite books last year, so I went into it with higher expectations, which made it even more frustrating 😂
@beautifulminutiae yeah those expectations... it's like that video I posted in discord where he talks abt reading slumps and how they actually happen from expectations a lot of the time.
My most disappointing book of 2024 was Lessons in Chemistry. It just wasn’t what I was expecting and I really disliked it. The worst books I read were The Drowning Kind (Paranormal Thriller with many plot holes) and Shady Hollow (maybe I just can’t do cozy, I was so hoping to like it).
I’ve heard so many people love Lessons in Chemistry, so it’s a bummer it didn’t work for you! My book club is reading Shady Hollow this year, so hopefully I’ll enjoy it more than you did (but I struggle with cozy too 😂).
Sorry I meant I DID enjoy Keeper of the Bees. I should read before sending.😮
No worries. I do that all the time 😂
I haven’t read any of these.
My most disappointing books:
Kazuo Ishiguro’s collection Nocturnes:Five Stories of Music and Nightfall. Ishiguro is one of my favourite modern writers, but I hated the first two stories and ended up DNFing it.
The Name of the Wind. I expected so much more from The Name of the Wind because so many people love it. I think the prose in it is really overrated.
My sister in law hates The Name of the Wind with a passion!
Oh no on Ishiguro!! I've loved 3 of his books that I've read so far.
@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD I liked everything else I read by him so it was really unexpected. I still have a few of his books I need to get to. The Remains of the Day is on my 2025 TBR.
I keep hearing that people love the prose in Name of the Wind! I still plan to read it at some point, so I will temper my expectations a bit