I know it’s not for everyone but I loved Assistant to the Villain so much!

Now I've been offered the opportunity to mention this book one final time: one of worst books of 2024 for me was Christina Henry's "The House that Horror Built." Should be "The House that Bordedom and Unspired Writing Built." A lot of vacuum cleaning and even more dusting off of things that than go bump in the night and do a lot of ridiculous bumping and not much more.

For me, my absolute worst book of 2024 was By a Thread by Lucy Score. I’m sorry to those who love it because I really thought I would too based on people’s reviews. In the first 30 pages I thought it was going to be a 5 star for me. By 50% it was maybe a 3 star and by the end it was a 1 star for me 😭 and I’ve never rated a book so low 🫢. I would be really curious to know what you think Jesse!

I did wonder about the thumbnail. And I love that you brought it up. Great video and I did not feel like you were being too negative. But I haven't read any of those books so who am I to say ...

I had a similar experience with "This Is How You Lose the Time War", always felt I was strange cause everyone else seems to love it so much but I feel validated now! 😅 My least favourite book of the year was definitely "The Maidens". I saw lots of positive reviews, but to methe plot was bland, easy to guess, but also didn't make much sense at the same time (don't wanna say too much in case of spoilers). If you want to be frustrated for a good 300+ pages, read this book! x)

My most disappointing read this year was "Paris, die Liebe und ich" by Virginie Carton...

I don't think that I read any book last year that I die hard loved. However, there were a lot of books that I really enjoyed, for example "Tokyo ever after" by Emiko Jean (ok, i loved that book...), "XOXO" by Axie Oh (just an easy read), "The Romeo & Juliet Society" by Sabine Schoder (it was predictable, but I didn't mind), "The pumpkin spice cafe" by Laurie Gilmore (so cheesy, but just so easy to read), "Dungeons and Drama" by Kristy Boyce (a fun little read), ... I realized just now that most of them are romance books more or less... I guess that was what I craved last year, probably because they are easy to read and I hadn't much time. Two non-romance books I really enjoyed last year were the first book of the Apollo series by Rick Riordan and the last book of the Aurora trilogy by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff. However, I prefer the Illuminae files I read a few years ago.

One of my worst books of 2024 was Winterwood by Shea Earnshaw. I read it for another booktuber’s book club and I didn't see a single person say they liked it at the end

A worst read for me, is Christmas Tree Farm. Everyone loves the series by this author. I read two others, and the author is more into erotica then having believable romances developing. She just has insta-love for her heroine or hero, then self doubt, and self confidence issues as barriers that she throws in the paths. It really is not believable and lacks emotional depth as say ‘The Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow, that booktubers constantly compare her stories to. I do not get invested in the characters, because I have to keep skipping chapters of stuff that does not move the plot along at all.

I didn't read that many books that I didn't like, but With Any Luck, Ashley Poston's novella, was a massive let down, and Funny Story also disappointed me (after loving every other Emily Henry book I felt like the quality in this one changed but I seem to be the only one who thinks that 😅). I was reading (and loving) A Study in Drowning but had to stop because of life and after your comments I'm very curious to see how I'll feel about the ending 👀 Thank you always for your videos! You always remind me how fun (and stress free) reading should be 💕

10:59 How you lose the Time War, easy let Disney take over from the BBC in the production of Doctor Who /s There is another time book that was a short list for the Booker Prize, was there not? The Ministry of Time, which also sounds Whovian to me. So far none of these books have been on my radar. When people started to talk about the Alchemist, I thought they were talking about the Alienist by Caleb Carr. I have not seen the TV show, and my ADHD got bogged down in all the descriptiveness that I did not finish the book, and always have meant to return to it. Maybe I should put it on my 2025 TBR list. It’s already growing. I only read 45 books last year, not including audiobook listens. Some reason in my autistic black and white thinking, listening does not equal reading. The ADHD part of me is hell yes it does, because I can get by some very descriptive chapters by listening instead. However the ASD part wins it.

I read 12 books in 2024 and had 3 that really wasn't that great 🙃 1. Dead Man Talking - Roddy Doyle 2. Saving the Day - Katie Fforde 3. Snowed in With You - Jade Church

You inspired me to start reading again :) Some of my favourites from 2024 are: - All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim. I'm a music teacher, so I loved connecting with this book! It's super sweet, charming, and hard hitting at certain points. - Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. I'm cheating a little bit, I read this in high school about 13 years ago. I remember really liking it, so going back to reread it was lots of fun and still as good as I remember! A novel in letters, with a cutting commentary on government. - Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson. He is one of my favourite authors, the world building is very detailed and easy to understand. It was such an easy book to immerse myself in. - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. The concept of this book was really fascinating, and I was so engrossed trying to piece together the main character's memories. This book went in many different directions that I wasn't expecting it to! - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This is such a heavy book, it was really hard to read at times. The relationships between the characters were really well thought out, the characters felt real.

2024 was actually a pretty good reading year for me. I only gave one book a lower than 3 star rating, and that was Miss Timmins' School for Girls by Nayana Currimbhoy (2 stars).

You inspired me to start reading again :) I started at the beginning of 2024 and wanted to read some popular books/authors to get back into reading. A few of my worst books were: - Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. It was the most boring "thriller" I've ever read. There was too much fatphobia, as well. (I could give a little grace for it at first, considering this book takes place at a health resort, but the high amount of it was so unnecessary, in my opinion) - A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers. I really should've DNF'd this book. The main character was an awful person, nothing redeemable about her. The writing was terrible, I struggled through almost every sentence. - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman. It presents the choice that's made as morally grey, in a way. Not exactly, but I think you're supposed to feel bad for the main characters, but I just ended up hating one of them instead. - A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sorry, Sherlock. I appreciate the impact he's had on the world, but I thought Sherlock was making too many leaps in logic that weren't sound, and I thought he was kind of mean.

Jesse, you’re so allowed to dislike a book and be honest about why. Even if people get upset about it. It’s not harsh to clearly explain why you don’t like it, nor is it even harsh to say that you think a book is not good. Not just that it’s not for you, but that you think it’s just not good.

I haven't read any of these books, but my absolute worst read of 2024 was easily Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas. I just wanted a fun ancient Greek inspired fantasy (because that's what the cover suggested) and instead got a why choose bully romance set not in ancient times, but in the future??? The writing was generally so bad too 😭

Worst books of the year for me: Beautiful People by Mitsukazu Mihara, its a horror anthology manga and it felt so teen edgy and missed the mark for me Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel, I was so into the premise of this and drawn into the mystery but how it's executed left me so disappointed Blue in Green by Anand R.K. and Ram V, this graphic novel is one of the most beautifully illustrated graphic novels I've ever seen which is why its SO upsetting that the writing falls so flat And The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom, this book paused every 3 seconds to remind me what the message is supposed to be and it was infuriating lmao

I loved A Study in Drowning but I totally get what you mean. It feels like most of the mental health representation kind of falls flat when the story takes a certain turn, it would have been so much nicer if it had been different 🥲

Your reviews are my favorite because you do a great job describing the books without giving anything away, so I always feel like I know what I’m getting into! My least favorite book of 2024 was Starter Villain by John Scalzi, which is unfortunate because EVERYBODY around me loved it. The concept is amazing, but I just wasn’t a fan of the execution. I felt like the main character didn’t have any autonomy and was merely a bystander to the events happening around him, and that really hindered the story for me.

That first answer is a sign that you should start reading fantasy again 😏

Ok glad to hear someone else not like This is How You Lose the Time War. I DNFed it really early in cuz I was so confused and not enjoying the writing. But EVERYONE loves it and I’m like am I just missing something? Guess it just wasn’t for me. Sad though cuz I love time travel

Samesies on The Alchemist! “The self help book I didn’t ask for” did not work for me either.

my least favourites- 1) the man who mistook his wife for a hat by oliver sacks 2) the ex talk by rachel Lynn Solomon 3) all by my elf- olivia Dade 4) the turn of the key- Ruth ware

A study in drowning sounded so good and I was so disappointed 😅

I laughed too loud too much after the two hot dogs comment 😂😂

I guess I can feel less badly that I just couldn't get through This Is How You Lose the Time War. I liked the Katee Robert book better than you did -- with or without the extra hot dog.

Funny how many booktubers are choosing to hate the alchemist this past year

only read the alchemist (found it was fine but very forgettable) and this is how you lose the time war (HATED the reading experience, so so confusing and made me feel stupid but the romance was cute) but don't have much interest in the others

Honestly, as much as I enjoy This is How You Lose the Time War and A Study in Drowning (which I am currently rereading and enjoying far more than the first time) I get why people wouldn't like them. I do. I personally have never seen a positive review of Nothing But Blackened Teeth. So I was completely unsurprised this was on your list. I did also love The Salt Grows Heavy, but I decided not to read the author's previous works because I knew it wasn't received well. My worst book was One Dark Window. It was advertised as an adult gothic. It was a fantasy, not necessarily a problem but not what I was looking for at the time. It may have been adult, but it read like a young adult and that always affect my enjoyment if I am expecting an adult book. I dnfed it about 100 pages from the end, and found it completely forgettable except for the magic system.

Most of the books I read in 2024 were good. Not many new favorites, but many that I really liked. Theree were really only three books that didn't hit for me. One I couldn't get into the writing style. One was very flowery but was super predictable and had nothing very interesting to say, at least to me. Both of those books though had very good elements and I just felt really weren't for me. The only book I HATED was called Middletide. It had a terrible mystery that took too long to get started and was dumb once it did. The protagonist was unlikable garbage that everyone in the book praised constantly. And the book simultaniously stereotyped Indigenous people and fetishised them at the same time. Worst book I read by FAR.

I read The Alchemist in High School and remember loving it. I've thought about reading it again, but I've hesitated because I feel like I'm going to ruin that first read of it. Maybe it was the book I needed at the time, and now it wouldn't be. Some of my least favorite books from 2024 are: Artemis by Andy Weir The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

I DNF’d Time War. The writing felt overly pretentious. In their quest to be poetic and lyrical they sacrificed clarity and evocative imagery. I’ve heard the audiobook was better so I may try it again. I ALSO DNF’d Blackened Teeth. It was my first by that author and it gave me such a bad taste I am reluctant to try anything else by her.

If you like slow burn you should read l “sorcery and small magics” it was really good!

Hot take but I didn’t like ACOTAR 😮 You should read it!

I wouldn't wish my worst book of 2024 on anyone. I'm not doing that to you.

Tress of the Emerald sea was my favourite

I am one of those read the ending first people. A happy ending is a must for me, so I feel I am missing out on so many great books, but can’t help myself

I didn't hate How To Lose a Time War, but it was a massive disappointment. I was told by booktube up and down that I would love this book. And I was just kinda meh about all of it, the only part I kinda liked about it was the actual letters Blue and Red wrote to each other. I just kinda tuned out the other parts and kept wondering what all the hype was about.

Study in Drowning was so disappointing. It had SO much potential and I like the world premise. But I wanted ao much MORE. And the romance irked me tbh

It's been awhile, but I don't remember the writing in This Is How You Lose The Time War being all that flowery. I liked it, but don't really have the urge to reread it either. I don't recall seeing any positive reactions to Nothing But Blackened Teeth. I will, probably, try something else by the author, if only because I own their debut, which I recall getting a fairly positive reception.

I’ve read a few of these books and I felt the same way about them. I didn’t like them either. I actually DNF’d Assistant to the Villain. I just got bored with it. 😅

This is How You Lose the Time War is one of my favourites, but I get how it's not for everyone due to the writing style. My least favourite book I read in 2024 was The Once and Future Witches - such a disappointing experience especially because I feel like it had a lot more potential, particularly with its characters.

I read the last book in the Akarnae series by Lynette Noni and it was awesome! Favourite book of the year. Also Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan. So intense and so interesting.

I have been a viewer for YEARS and I have been dying to ask you if you read any old timey classics? Huck Finn, Oliver Twist, The Chrysalids, Great Gatsby, Old Man and The Sea, Heart of Darkness, Tuck Everlasting and the like! Recently, I have been listening to SO MANY older "classics" and I really wanna hear about the ones you love, like, hate, have read more than once, will never read again.

Thank you for making this video. I love being a hater. 😂😂

Thank you for giving me a much needed laugh this morning! My worst book of 2024 was EASILY "Murder at the Bookstore" by Sue Minix. It was the worst cozy mystery I've ever read, simply because a) the villain was SUPER OBVIOUS and b) the MC was a mystery writer who very obviously didn't know who the villain was because she was purposefully overlooking it. Also, "The Cinnamon Bun Book Store." I didn't expect much anyway because the first book wasn't great, but at least that first one had all the fall atmosphere. Any atmosphere in this book was immediately ruined by (often unnecessary) smut. I read both "Spells for Forgetting" and "A Study in Drowning," and absolutely loved them both. But I also realize the characters in both aren't very nuanced, and the reader doesn't quite get what they promised. But I can read a book with "boring" characters as long as I get either a good atmosphere, a good message, or both.

Hi! One of my least favorite books from 2024 is a curse for true love by Stephanie Garber. It was the finale in a trilogy I was loving. She made the mistake of using my most HATED trope (when the hero looses their memories or powers and then you spend the rest of the book waiting for them to get them back) which in this case took 61%! Of the book to achieve. 61%! Stephanie that is too many percent, by the time she got her memories back I was like I don't even care now

Welcome to the Emily Henry train, I love her, she's my Taylor Swift regarding authors. Emily Henry flips a bit some cliches, her characters are strong and they could be people in real life, the way she describes places and food makes me want to visit the area where the story takes place. My 3 fav books of 2024 are Will of the Many, Just For the Summer, and My Year of Rest and Relaxation.

I read 43 books in 2024, and my worst books of the year were What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez and A Market of Dreams and Destiny by Trip Galey. With WtRK, I needed a lot less from the romance and a lot more from the other characters and the actual plot line. The side characters and the main story were far more interesting than what was going on between the 2 main characters. With AMoDaD, the pacing of the story felt very clunky and disjointed, and I needed more actual development in the romance between the 2 main characters.