50 highly specific book recommendations based on YOUR requests

today i'm recommending a LOT of books for all your specific bookish needs :)
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🌺 a b o u t m e
Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 23 year old girl who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave). I live in the Netherlands and go to university, but make booktube videos in my spare time :)
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[@Melisa-cv9ed]

1:28 a book that makes you feel like you are in a studio ghibli movie 2:08 a book that feels like riding the bus late at night 2:34 feminist essays other than trick mirror 2:59 a fantasy stand alone with a deep and beautiful story that leaves you in awe 3:42 dark academia meets studio ghibli 4:25 a classic that gives off ghibli vibes/aesthetics 4:46 a book to read during a sunny spring/summer afternoon whilst having a picnic date 5:09 dark green academia for passionate gardeners 5:51 a fantasy that is both cozy and dark 6:27 something humorous, cynical and heart warming at the same time 7:06 a chill mundane book that taught you a lot about life + some philosophy 8:00 a book that feels like home and is for all ages 8:43 a stand alone underrated ya fantasy with badass female lead 9:17 band 70's-90's 9:45 something that gives you a lump in your throat through the whole book but doesnt quite make you cry 10:12 books with characters that learn to love themselves 10:34 a book that you still think about months after reading 10:59 a book with a teenage nostalgic feeling 11:30 a book that feels like peacefully drowning but you dont want to get above water 12:14 a book about death and dying in a reflective way 12:39 existential crisis go away make me feel like it'll all be okay 13:26 a book about someone who has absolutely no idea what they wanna do in life 14:22 something that happens in a library and revolves around a library 15:09 a dark academia that feels magical 15:30 gothic atmosphere like transylvania castles style with thunders and sleepy hollow vibes but not scary 16:11 a book involving an unhealthy codependent relationship where they mess each other up 17:00 dark academia rivals to lovers 18:06 a dark academia with elements of humor and magic that is not ya 18:38 dark academia but make it sci-fi 19:11 a cozy page turner that is not scary 19:55 monster main character 20:11 woman goes insane 20:37 unhinged woman book 21:25 a book to give us hope for the future 21:50 an easy to read beginner fantasy with some romance 22:43 a fantasy with elemantal magic or elves, fairies and other woodland creatures 23:25 eastern europe, fantasy elements, no romance 23:55 fantasy book where the ending feels like puzzle pieces coming together 24:35 a good fantasy book with a good magic system, little romance to get you out of a reading slump 25:07 book with similar vibe to ATLA 26:01 a fantasy with a prehistoric setting 26:35 a book where different mythologies are real and coexist and it has an adventure element 26:40 a heist but not six of crows 26:43 fantasy with found family, angst, banter and a cool magic system that isnt medieval 27:34 a vague plot but lyrical writing and romance subplot 27:39 books about vibes like the night circus, the starless sea, piranesi 28:14 the hero's friend as the main protagonist 28:54 sapphic grumpy x sunshine romance 29:15 a book that feels like candyfloss 29:34 a romance without a stupid third act conflict 30:21 a book that makes you feel al giggly 30:44 a good sapphic rom-com or fantasy 31:17 short horror stories bases in south america/southeast asia

[@Kristin_35]

Thank you much ✨👌🏾

[@artsy_skies_]

Wow! Thank u

[@AbsurdExistentialist]

My hero

[@beatrizfinoti3519]

THANK U

[@HeVn7LaO]

Thank you very much…

[@juliaabreus]

A classic with ghibli vibes: Heidi! It takes place in Switzerland and Germany, about a 4 year old girl getting to make friends and getting closer to her grandpa

[@youraveragetoxicwaste4781]

It has two sequels too! Heidi grows up and heidi’s children

[@mfrog803]

HEIIIIIDIII!!!

[@opinionation571]

The animated series „Heidi“ was also worked on by Hayao Miyazaki, founder of Studio Ghibli and his experience while working on it served as inspiration for his later works.

[@opinionation571]

Another Classic which I LOVED is „the secret garden“. It gave me major ghibli vibes since it focuses on the inner development of our main character (a young girl) and is very influenced by the wonders of nature and childhood. There’s an amazing audiobook of it on youtube.

[@RoyceKeck]

Classic, my friend 🙂

[@lisadeale]

The last thing I need is more recs but here we are 💗

[@cinnamonteeth]

no literally i have 500+ books on my tbr 😭

[@charlotteivy2591]

Bunny by mona awad fits like half of these prompts: creepy, dark academia, women going crazy, grat writing! more people should read it

[@alexandraramz]

I JUST finished reading Bunny by Awad and I totally agree! This book really blew my mind, I couldn't put it down. I loved it and I hated it and it was so incredibly well written an an absolute mind f*ck

[@limeparticle]

Seconded! I just read it a couple months ago and I can’t stop thinking about it!

[@galinav.k.6517]

I was thinking about this book the whole time while watching the video and then this is the first comment I read lol. Yes!! It's so good that I'm already reading it for the second time after finishing it just a month ago

[@TheBookLeo]

ohh this made it go even higher on my to be read list

[@saige2975]

so true, bunny

[@polina5520]

For “the hero’s friend as the main protagonist” I can definitely recommend “the song of achilles” :)

[@juanfa98]

I was gonna comment this as well, great book

[@Everdinaaa]

I second this!!

[@atlas7240]

Ah yes "friend" :)

[@arrowkempthorne6442]

@@atlas7240 ~ roommates ~

[@arminarlert6011]

This book has a place in my heart that no other book can ever take

[@wardamohamed9351]

timestamp: book title (prompt) :) 1:25: Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler (book that makes you feel like you're in a studio ghilbi movie) 2:07: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (a book that feels like riding the bus late at night) 2:35: Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit / Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (feminist essays other than Trick Mirror) 2:58: Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (fantasy stand-alone w a deep & beautiful story that leaves you in awe) 3:40: Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf (dark academia meets studio ghilbi) 4:25: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (classic that gives off ghilbi vibes/aesthetics) 4:45: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (book to read during a sunny spring/summer afternoon whilst having a picnic date) 5:07: Uprooted by Naomi Novik (dark green academia for passionate gardeners) 5:50: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (fantasy that is both cozy and dark) 6:27: All Systems Red series by Martha Wells (something humourous, cynical and heart-warming at the same time) 7:06: The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff (chill mundane book that taught you a lot about life + some philosophy) 8:00: The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry (a book that feels like home and is for all-ages) 8:44: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (stand alone YA fantasy w badass female lead) 9:19: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (70-90s band) 9:44: Normal People by Sally Rooney (gives u a lump in your throat throughout the whole book but doesn't make u cry) 10:12: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (book w characters that learn to love themselves) 10:33: A Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (book that u still think about months after reading) 11:00: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (book w a teenage nostalgic feeling) 11:30: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh (a book that feels like peacefully drowning but u don't want to get above water) 12:12: Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden (book about death and dying in a reflective way) 12:39: Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre (existential crisis go away make me feel like it'll all be okay) 13:25: Radio Silence by Alice Oseman (book about someone who has absolutely no idea what they wanna do in life) 14:21: The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith (something that happens in a library and revolves around a library) 15:09: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (dark academia that feels magical) 15:30: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (gothic atmosphere like Transylvania castles style w thunder and sleepy hollow vibes but not scary) 16:13: These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever (book involving an unhealthy codependence relationship where they mess each other up) 17:00: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (dark academic rivals to lovers) 18:06: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (dark academia w elements of humor & magic not YA) 18:37: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (dark academia but sci-fi) 19:11: Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young (cozy page turner that's not scary) 19:54: This Savage Song by V.E Schwab (monster main character) 20:11: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (woman goes insane) 20:37: A Certain Hunger by Chelsea Summer (more unhinged women books!) 21:25: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit (a book to give us hope for the future) 21:50: Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo (easy to read/beginner fantasy with some romance) 22:44: The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa (fantasy w elemental magic, fairies, etc) 23:35: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (eastern europe fantasy no romance) 23:55: The Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin (fantasy book where the ending feels like puzzle pieces coming together) 24:34: Shades of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab (good fantasy book w good magic and little romance to get out of reading slump) 25:09: Children of Blood & Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (similar vibe to ATLA) 26:20: Wolf Brother Series by Michele Paver (fantasy story with a prehistoric setting) 26:35: The Gilded Wolves Series by Roshani Chokshi (book where diff mythologies are real and coexist and adventure/found family, angst, banter) 27:34: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (vague plot but lyrical writing and romance subplot) 28:17: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton (hero's friend is the main protagonist) 28:55: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur (sapphic grumpy x sunshine romance) 29:15: Red, White, & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (book that feels like candyfloss) 29:34: Any of Talia Hilbert's books (a romance without a stupid third act conflict) 30:20: Well Met by Jen DeLuca (book that makes u feel all giggly) 30:45: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (good sapphic romcom) 31:15: The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez (short horror stories based in South America/Southeast Asia)

[@wardamohamed9351]

p.s. just wanted to say i loved this video!! it was so much fun to watch! if i've made any mistakes pls feel to correct me :)

[@koroko506]

Thankyou

[@Hanna-po6mt]

Thank you ♥️

[@SuperUzzz]

💞💞💞💞💞

[@HeVn7LaO]

Thank you very much…

[@felicityyoon2612]

When I read `The Little Prince ' it didn't feel like home, I feel isolated, sad and also kinda relate to the little prince. But I agree that it is suitable for all ages. One of my fav of all time.

[@andreacepeda7233]

That’s the magic of the little prince, you can read it in different stages of your life and look at it completely different in each

[@GreenRazzles]

- Baker's Magic by Dianne Zahler - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit - Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay - Piranesi by Susanna Clarke - Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - Uprooted by Naomi Novik - The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - All Systems Red by Martha Wells - The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff - The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Normal People by Sally Rooney - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankel - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh - Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden - Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre - Radio Silence by Alice Osman - The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith - Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo - Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson - These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever - The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake - A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Girls With Sharp Sticks by Susanna Young - This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab - The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers - Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit - Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa - Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - The Broken Earth (trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin - The Darker Shade of Magic (series) by V.E. Schwab - The Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi - Wolf Brothers (series) by Michelle Paver - The Gilded Wolves (series) by Roshani Chokshi - The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi - Rebel of the Sands (trilogy) by Alwyn Hamilton - Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur - Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - The Brown Sisters (trilogy) by Talia Hibbert - Well Met by Jen DeLuca - She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

[@melina7936]

🤌🏼

[@XZBI7]

Doing God’s work 🤌🏼

[@clared5812]

God bless you with a million free books

[@cassgray9340]

Okay, it’s not dark academia, but Anne and Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables definitely fit “academic rivals to lovers.”

[@Knyaspers]

For the Ghibli vibes one I would suggest "How Do You Live?" It's literally going to be Miyazaki's next movie! It was recently translated to English and it's considered a Japanese classic! It's about a school boy making friends and learning things about the world!

[@samapikagautam3178]

Thankyou friend for the recommendation.

[@ChristianRumi]

-death/dying: A Monster Calls -not quite makes you cry: Remains of the Day -don't know what to do in life: Convenience Store Woman -library: Shadow of the Wind, Midnight Library -gothic: 2nd Shadow of the Wind book (Angel's Game) -academia with magic: Wicked -dark academia fantasy (dark as in violent/gory): Nevernight series (has some romance elements that I believe is rivals to lovers) -academia in space: Red Rising, Ender's Game (also continue throughout the series; book 2 has more of a biology/sociology focus on a different planet and is written with Ender as an adult so the themes seem deeper), Old Man's War (more like military academy/political intrigue/learn how to live on a new planet type) -monster main character: Fire (Graceling #2 but works as a standalone) -fantasy with elves/creatures (starts wholesome but gets darker): Kingdom of Back, Wildwood -eastern europe fantasy with no romance: Egg and Spoon (I believe no romance? Otherwise fits well) -prehistoric: haven't read it but Clan of the Cave Bear?

[@moodyfloral6234]

If you love Avatar the Last Airbender because of the elemental magic system, I can recommend the Air Awakens series by Elise Kova. Also a super good beginner fantasy book/series!

[@occasionallyarticulate]

the hero’s friend as the main protagonist: the song of achilles (well they aren’t just friends, but still)

[@rebekahmenn2118]

I can definitely recommend The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. It was so immersive, and the 2nd in the trilogy was even better than the first! ✨

[@j3ssst3r]

I would consider A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik a kind of rivals to lovers dark academia book. It does have sarcastic humor, it is YA, and it is mentioned in the next prompt, BUT I think it also works for the rivals to lovers!

[@Lemonsanidiot]

I mean, is it though? Because, in my opinion, they were never really 'rivals,' per say... it's more they just... were very different people?

[@cme_epicness]

For the “library vibes” prompt I’d recommend The Starless Sea. The main plot of the book revolves around doors that lead to basically an endless underground library, and we follow Zachary as he discovers this new world and meets new people. Highly recommend. A 5 star read for me.

[@J_R186]

So true! It doesn't get more "library" than The Starless Sea. A fantastic book!

[@Hippiepoper]

also Carlo Ruiz Zafón's The Shadow of the Wind

[@karenfausto]

Comentaré en español porque no sé redactar en inglés: Primeramente, me encanta tu canal y este tipo de videos. De aquí, sacó un montón de recomendaciones, ya que solo “Piranesi” y “Los peligros de fumar en la cama” de Mariana Enríquez, eran los únicos conocidos y dentro de mi larga lista de libros por leer. Saludos desde México y gracias ✨❤️

[@sofiavilla2536]

Si te gusta dark academia te recomiendo "Tu nombre después de la lluvia" by Victoria Álvarez

[@charoraimondogarcia]

The dangers of smoking in bed is actually an Argentinian book. I'm half way in to it. It's good, best apreciated if you are from here (I am) or if you know some Argentinian history or have being here (specially in Buenos Aires) because it has a LOT of nods to the city folclore and history. For example, one of the storys makes a nod to the financial crisis of 2001, and the horror of the story was very much real. It's obviously exagerated, but the base of the story takes place there.

[@charoraimondogarcia]

You can read it other wise, but the thing that makes it grate are the nods to the history. Also, not so much a revenge theme so far

[@TheBookLeo]

oh right i misremembered, sorry! thank you for sharing!

[@nozomisouffle]

I was wondering why a book based in Brazil had no Portuguese version, this explains a lot. But I've been looking forward Latin American literature so I'll read it in English or Spanish anyways

[@charo5320]

ay te llamas igual que yo

[@charoraimondogarcia]

@@nozomisouffle If you want more latin american recomendations I have some (I'm currently trying to read more things frome here, so a friend of mine who studies edition recomended some). She told me to read "Kentukis" by Samanta Schweblin, "El hormiguero" by Sergio Aguirre and "Pájaros en la boca y otros cuentos" also by Samanta Schweblin. I didn't read them yet but she has great teaste

[@callielafleur4673]

Just needed to say that I stayed up so late finishing Gilded Wolves based on your recommendation, and I am obsessed. It's gorgeous. The characters are wonderful. Thank you!!

[@TheBookLeo]

aaa that makes me so happy!

[@pendragon2012]

Wow! Thanks, Leonie! I just added about fifteen books to my Amazon TBR list but I really love your energy when doing recommendations. You make me smile. Thought you might be interested to know that I have decided to make a second effort to finish "Crime and Punishment." I read "Brothers Karamazov" years ago and loved it. Have a wonderful week and thanks for the great videos--can't believe that was over half an hour long. Well worth it--very engaging! 🙂

[@TheQuietRiotProductions]

This past week I listened to The Tao of Pooh for the first time. I can’t wait to get my own copy. It’s so sweet. Glad to see you have your copy back.

[@hellomarijke]

Another book with similar vibes like These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever is Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo! I read both books in 2021 and they both became favourites! So if you have read These Violent Delights already and adored it, I think you'd really like Summer Sons as well 😊 Summer Sons takes place in university, involves murder, has sad and self-destructive boys, some romance, ghosts, some streetcar racing, and has a great mystery. It also talks about grief, racism, homophobia, and unhealthy academia culture. I'm sad not many people talk about it because I'm sure so many people will love it!

[@tinadoesntreadthatmuch]

The yellow wallpaper is one of my fav short stories!

[@sciencystuff2106]

I know you don't like Mistborn but I think its also a series which fir everything together at the end like a puzzle and its one of my favorite series

[@farida.a]

Wow! This was a delight to watch. Thanks for all the recommendations, Leonie 💕

[@merin7286]

Best recommendation video I've seen in a long time! Thank you for massively extending my TBR list 😍

[@Haeji-wu3gv]

For anyone wanting to read something Studio Ghibli-esque I would highly recommend Witch Hat Atelier. Gorgeous artwork and an amazing story. You will not regret it ✨

[@jacquelinestauffer5796]

Totally agree with this - I've read all 10 manga books so far and will never abandon this series as long as they keep writing them. The more I read, the better it gets. Highly recommend and very Ghibli-esque in the first few books, but the books get a bit darker as you keep going.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

oh yes that manga is on my TBR!

[@stephaniemarie4946]

Another good one for classics meet studio ghibli is Heidi. It's so adorable and is perfect for that theme. Also I love your videos ❤️

[@paradisin1878]

Your enthusiasm for books makes me want to read more! Love your videos sm💖💖

[@myrme5198]

A book that has studio ghibli vibes is the cat’s chronicles; it’s japanese literature and absolutely beautiful. It’s also very bittersweet and made me and my friend cry so be warned lol.

[@AmandaKrutsick]

Studio Ghibli x Dark Academia - The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin (the magic is run by the seasons, the MC is a witch at a magical school, and the main love interest is really into botany so there's these magical descriptions of his plants and nature and beautiful settings)

[@valentineboudaud1887]

it goes straight to my wishlist !!

[@zeetuslupeedus]

I instantly thought of the Bear and the Nightingale for dark and cozy! Totally fits the bill. To Kill a Kingdom, Daisy Jones and Normal People were great recs for the prompts you were given !

[@isabellalopezlanze1621]

This is the first video of yours that I see and I loved it, I have so many books in my tbr list now but I'm so happy that youtube recommended this. New subscriber!

[@zofiabochenska1240]

Isn't Night Circus sort of dark akademia rivals to lovers? I know it's not literaly academia, but close enough for me, and the vibes are exactly those. For the ghibli vibes iId reccomend "the girl who drunk the moon", beautiful middle grade which touches on very dark topics.

[@Eternallytiredpigeon]

YES OMG!!! I've read the night circus like 5 times and I'll never get enough of it. It's amazing and totally dark academia

[@moodyfloral6234]

A sapphic romance fantasy is Legends & Lattes about a former barbarian orc girl who now wants to open up a coffee shop. It is one of the coziest books ever! The sapphic romance is only the subplot but still very swoony!

[@isabellesousa1618]

i love this! also, your eyeliner is super super pretty!

[@ana-maria.c]

The bear and the nightingale is one of my fav series, it's so atmospheric ♡

[@nadineebada6557]

these recommendations are just SO good!!

[@applepie-sq8mm]

I immediately thought of wolf brother when you mentioned prehistoric fantasy, one of my childhood favourites and definitely worth reading!

[@jmsl910]

you are a book angel! i paused three times & ordered three different books :)

[@veerle826]

For the band rec, I would recommend Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell if you have already read Daisy 😉 it starts a little earlier than the 70s though... And an unexpected dark academia novel: The Betrayals by Bridget Collins (boarding school, magic, rivals, unresolved mysteries to name some topics represented in the book)

[@senku7996]

HUUUUGE RESPECT TO YOU! You gained a new humble subscriber after I watched this vid you really narrowed them down and they are so accurate

[@saniyavirmani6148]

My request was included yay. Thanks for the rec ❤️

[@monica.laurette]

The Iron Fey is one of my favorite series and I love how Julie has written it and made new stories for it as well. She's one of my must-buy authors because of these books.

[@kimberley_f]

I really enjoyed how you matched the cover of girls with sharp sticks. Very aesthetic

[@marzy766]

Love your shirt! If you’re okay with it, I suggest you make fashion content like a look book cuz your outfits generally are amazing 😆

[@angelacanedit]

16:36 YESSSSS so glad you recommended this one because it's the book that was coming to mind for this trope too and it's such an underrated dark academia that hasn't gotten the love it deserves!!

[@cooktorialschannel5058]

So happy you posted a new video about books. Can I also add you are one of the prettiest KZbinr.

[@BellatrixVanDettaZwarts]

I'd love to read a book with an invented language/vocabulary. Watership Down, A Clockwork Orange & Strange the Dreamer have that element and I want more!

[@lyra1147]

Oohh.. Please do let me know if you find any.. I love strange the dreamer too.!

[@77dreimaldie0]

The Eragon saga has a bit of this. Mostly, their spells need to be uttered in "the ancient language"

[@angelamccollister]

I'd say most adult epic fantasy has invented languages/vocab. Wheel of Time is the one that comes to mind right now.

[@luni-luni]

The bone houses is as stand alone fantasy that happens in a magical forest. And Sorcery of thorns is also a stand alone fantasy with a dark academia vibe, both have strong mais characters and a super cool plot.

[@morgan350]

my tbr is already so long and i’m about to add at least twenty more

[@Manish_49]

Titles of the books recommendations also sounds great as well 😆

[@greenplantgrrl]

loved this video! def added tons to my list!

[@michaelasvejdova594]

I'm currently reading Piranesi thanks to you and it's incredible! ☺ Thank you so much for you recommendations.

[@mamoru1836]

Does it get less confusing? Because I read the first pages and I totally do not get it so I put it on hold

[@michaelasvejdova594]

@@mamoru1836 I also didn't get it in the beginning but it gets much better after a while of reading. I'm in the middle of the book and the story is absolutely amazing. You need to give it a try a read the least 70-80 pages.

[@mamoru1836]

@@michaelasvejdova594 I will! Thank you xx

[@pratt28]

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Its definitely not dark academia but an academic rival and lover trope.

[@Hillary429]

Your connection to My Year of Rest and Relaxation was so spot on 😘👌

[@kylamccallum981]

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novak fits the rivals to lovers dark academia prompt!! I am obsessed with this book.

[@TheFarahProject]

This is superior. You naaaaaailed all the prompt recs!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I have had uprooted on my TBR for so long now 👀

[@lezeltunbridge7509]

Best type of recs video ever, thanks for that. Gomna watch this one a few more times to really fine tune which ones I wanna add to my tbr. Probably all of them! 🤣🤣

[@erinlucy]

Tbr is just growing and growing!! 😍 I come back to Mans Search for Meaning so much! Also I can’t believe I still haven’t got to Ishiguro and def need to

[@izzahnewton]

definitely gonna be checking a lot of these out!

[@MariaGRey-ps1zu]

Classic with ghibli vibes: anne of green gables, one of my favorite childhood books but can be read at any age

[@weseethroughyourlies]

your earrings!!! I love them so much!!

[@tajosima]

Loved this!!! I got so many recommendations! Thank you ** for dark academia kinda rivals to lovers and speculative elements: A Lesson In Vengeance

[@CatherineDoII]

I so needed this video! Thanks, it made my day! 💗🤩

[@youtubeosaurus7804]

For a fantasy that’s both cozy and dark I highly recommend House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A Craig. It’s set on an a small fishing island (in Victorian times I believe) and it’s a retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. The sisters find a magical cave which can transport them to wherever they want and they use it to go to balls and dance with mysterious strangers etc. There used to be 12 sisters but they kept dying in different ways and the whole village thinks they’re cursed. The first three quarters of the book are dancing, masquerade balls, beautiful coastal settings, castles etc but towards the end of the book everything gets much darker with hauntings, visions, possessions, murders sort of vibes. And there’s a pretty cute lil romance (not a main part of the story but just a good amount). There’s also an aspect of mythology and gods.

[@PunkIsPowerful]

Hi Leo !! Loved the recs ! Would you ever do a video about Dutch books you would recommend ? I know nothing about Dutch literature but would be interested in hearing about it !!

[@booklanerecommendations]

I'm from the Netherlands. I personally haven't enjoyed Dutch adult literature much: I feel like a lot of the books are boring and/or all about similar topics (World War II, sex, or parent issues), but maybe I just haven't read the right books? I've read quite a few good Dutch children's books though :). One that is translated into English is Minoes, about a cat who has turned into a human woman and helps a shy journalist find news to write about.

[@hi5the31s3]

If anyone has any book recommendations for ‘Fantasy with romance and no miscommunication’, I’d love to hear. I really hate all the stupid conflicts that don’t make any sense(main why I don’t read most romance and has been the reason I’ve stopped reading books half way through because of it.) I just wanna read a good fantasy book with a gooood solid romance 😭

[@privv__3356]

I recommend: strawberry summer by Melissa brayden (if u like sapphic summer love stories) ; the lies we tell ourselves by Robin Talley (sapphic interracial teen romance based on the 1950s) 🥰

[@abbeyroche2983]

I have to say, your recs are top notch 🤌

[@cvbattum]

27:34 a vague plot but lyrical writing and a romance subplot: This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mothar and Max Gladstone. The romance isn't exactly a subplot, but this is such a brilliant book and a solid 5-star read for me.

[@gloriaaaaa]

omg the shirt looks so nice, it suits you.

[@anarchist_cat]

Thank you!! You give the best recs

[@michelleizoco]

I literally CHEERED when you picked the Murderbot series for that one request. It's perfect. Great recommedations!

[@itaty5638]

If anyone is looking done a book that feels or can be relevant to a library I recommend The Cat Who Saved Books. It’s not really set on a library (oops) but actually on a book store with some magical elements. Btw it has a talking cat…hopefully that in to self will encourage you to read it! Really short read also and will surprisingly make you think about books differently. Side note: love all of her recommendations:)

[@sammy970]

Omg the earrings are so cute

[@AkwardLogic101]

Omg I just finished “well met” and it’s so fricken good. Ug, I wanna read it again already lol

[@sofiaramen5483]

I love you for doing this 😔😭

[@wingcastlereads5657]

Thanks for the recommendations!!!

[@Jays-Days]

wow. I will certainly be expanding my literary horizons with this list. I literally saved 48 of those books to my Amazon wish list. thank you so much for all the recommendations. be safe, have fun and I've subscribed so I will see you in the next one.

[@kirathelightworker]

Amazing recs and video!! Thank you 🥰💗

[@IATEALLTHECHEESE]

I love this list! Will def read some of them! Also I'm currently am reading The Folk of the Air series, and it is EVERYTHING I have ever wanted in a book. Enemies to lovers, cottagecore, goblincore, fairycore, royaltycore, dark fantasy politics, a cocky male love interest, a female lead that is strong to hide her vulnerabilities, a sapphic subplot, complicated family dynamics, dark AND light academia. Read the entire first book in half a school day.

[@fallisdying2077]

I just know I'm gonna get so many new book reccs from this video😭😭

[@connnorfan01]

if you like a mystical forest and a story that feels irish folklorey try "silver in the wood". i truly loved it. also for a book that feels like a studio ghibli film try "a psalm for the wild-built" also these two books are quite short if you are looking for a quick read.

[@jasminu4971]

I love the All Systems Red books!!!

[@shittyunicorn539]

for ghibli vibes i recommend the scorpio races! it has the beautiful set up where the characters live that reminded me a lot of ghibli, that intuitive magic (idk how to explain it) and a girl protagonist :3

[@nina.agosthazi]

For the dark academia rivals to lovers, I would recommend "Stalking Jack The Ripper" by Kerri Maniscalco. The book is set in the late 1800s and follows the story of Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a lord's daughter, who is more interested in dissecting dead bodies with her uncle than tea parties. But when a mysterious killer haunts the streets of London killing women and harvesting their organs, Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell, one of her uncle's students and someone she can't stand, try to find out the identity of the man who calls himself Jack the Ripper. It's a fast-paced, exciting story with witty banter and lots of sexual tension between our main protagonists. I highly recommend it!

[@moodyfloral6234]

For sapphic grumpy/sunshine I highly recommend Delilah Green Doesn’t Care!

[@Daisyjones94]

I love your shirt !

[@fernandadiesel8369]

For the enemies to lovers dark academia book I would recommend A Lesson In Vengeance, it's not exactly enemies to lovers but very close to it and the VIBES omg simply perfect

[@julia09moraes]

Let me give some recommendations too! For “chill mundane book about life + philosophy”: Arlington Park from Rachel Cusk (is very good and very unknown ;( ) And for “dark academia + rivals to lovers”: Zodiac Academy, unfortunately is only available on Kindle but is very nice (I discovered about it on booktok lol)

[@renatal.129]

for a classic with ghibli vibes: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett for death/dying but in a reflective way: From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty for the library one: Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon for unhealthy codependent relationship: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (if you're not a coward and see the homoerotic subtext) for cozy page-turner: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

[@skyhideaway]

A very Ghibli aesthetic book that I've always loved is The Secret Garden. It focuses so much on the atmosphere as well as the characters, their interactions, their growth and it's just such a feel-good book that makes you feel so content in the end.

[@karolinelovesyou9041]

For the library books, you should read the midnight library! :)

[@KamoheloM___]

For the friend of hero as main character prompt, I'd also recommend Nghi Vo 'The empress of Salt and Fortune

[@minervamcgonagall8250]

About the chill mundane book with philosophy, I'd recommend Freckles. Bonus, the cover is really prettttyy

[@ifraiftikhar6696]

The Poppy War matches like half of the prompts, and is amazingggg....enemies to lovers, dark academia, mythology, fantasy, inspired by Avatar the last airbender, women going crazy (and literally watching the world burn). Please read it, I don't see it mentioned nearly as much as it deserves

[@izziedias]

I started a certain hunger a couple of months ago. it seemed exactly what I wanted, but the writing style was so far from what I'm used too, specially because it's not translated to my language, so I was reading it in English. and it was so hard to understand what was going on. I dnf'ed, but I really wanna get back to it sometime

[@zynpkrdg]

for a fantasy standalone with a deep and beautiful story that leaves you in awe, i would DEFINITELLY recommend "The Sword of Kaigen", that is one of my favorite books, such a good read. also ELEMENTAL MAGIC TOO!! and "The Little Prince" for a classic with studio ghibli vibes. for easy to read/beginner fantasy with some romance, i'd recommend "An Enchantment of Ravens", it's a short and beautifully written story. this one has fairies and woodland creatures. for books with characters that love to learn themselves, i'd say "Howl's Moving Castle" actually, it's about Sophie accepting and loving herself, even with her white hair. you could just go and watch the ghibli movie too, it's great. for a book that reminds you of ATLA, i didn't read this one, but i heard that Jade Fire Gold is a book for people who thought Zuko and Katara would be great together, i'm planning on giving it a go, maybe you could too.