all the (good and bad) books i read in april 2023 ❤️‍🔥 lit fic, thrillers, fantasy, and romance

Go to squarespace.com/caricanread to get a free trial and 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain!
mentioned:
flowerheart
highly suspicious unfairly cute
beasts of a little land
memorial
spice road
cult classic
final girl support group
bone season/pale dreamer
modern divination
the serpent and wings of night
alone with you in the ether
dyscalculia
the bandit queens
eat your heart out
i who have never known men
✨NEW VIDEOS Every Friday 8am KST✨
🍮 Join our Discord: / discord
🦢 My main channel: @caricakes
☕ Donate a coffee?
ko-fi.com/caricakes
💖 FAQ
What’s my job? (Non-teaching job in korea) - bit.ly/3aeNl6x
Where do I live? (Korean apartment tour) - bit.ly/2kJK1Hk
Where am I from? - bit.ly/2xzc7hz
You can also find me here:
Instagram: / caricakez
Bookstagram: / caricanread
Twitter: / caricakes
Website: www.caricakes.net/
Tumblr: / caricanread
StoryGraph: bit.ly/3feHU8Z
Links may be affiliate links, thank you for helping my channel!
all the (good and bad) books i read in april 2023 (lit fic, thrillers, fantasy, and romance)

[@amandacurrul454]

I feel like every time Cari thinks a book is gonna be a stand alone its not. 😂

[@andreacastillo3103]

That is her trauma ahahahahhahs

[@Jenbebookish]

Literally every time. Like at this point I think she can safely assume it’s NOT a standalone if she thinks it is 😂😂

[@Lursss]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jackiejeffords2932]

You always make me aware of so many cool sounding books I’ve never heard of. Your investigative abilities in terms of finding books is immaculate

[@caricanread]

This was a lucky month ahhaha

[@hajrahasan3014]

Honestly I'd love a deep dive on where she gets her recs from. Such cool books

[@jackiejeffords2932]

@@hajrahasan3014 ikr me too

[@saeriiss]

I love when Cari makes this videos, she is such a sweet person and hear she talking about those books, makes wanna read all of them :)

[@caricanread]

omg :')

[@susanjane4646]

I just finished The Ballard of Never After and now will be crying until the 3rd book comes out in September. It's fine, I'm fine

[@mariama716]

Hi quick question: do I have to read the caraval trilogy to read Once upon a broken heart?

[@levinia333]

October* 🥲

[@susanjane4646]

@@mariama716 It does help set up the world in her building, but you could technically get away with not. I personally loved her newest triology better, but it does also provide background for the characters. However, it's up to you :)

[@susanjane4646]

@@levinia333 MAH! TRAGIC!

[@didip1000]

@@mariama716 No, you dont. You can always read a plot summary online to see the back story of one of the characters, but honestly it's entirely unnecessary :)

[@orange_tea]

What a good study break! Also, thanks so much for always putting the title and author in the corner while talking about it! I get lost without that :) and putting a pic of the cover ♡ its a nice visual aide

[@caricanread]

☺️🤍🙏

[@puhno]

im ridiiiiiculously early but IM SO HYPED FOR A 40+MIN VID AHHHHHH

[@caricanread]

gah thank you!!!

[@mais.p]

The edited version of The Bone Season is out this year! As far as i know she has edited it much more than originally intended so it will read quite differently. It's being done as a 10 year anniversary edition, and the whole series will be re-released with light edits 😊

[@charliewrum]

"You make me feel like I’m alive for a fucking reason. Like for once I’m not just a goddamn waste of time.” - Alone with You in The Ether, Olivie Blake

[@charoi9659]

I really appreciate the variety in your wrap-ups!

[@alifeofpoetry]

Love your book wrap ups! Thank you for all the insight! ❤

[@nikitakassier4869]

I always have to have storygraph open to add to my TBR with your videos! You're video's inspired me to read the Clockwork Angel series, which I am LOVING so thank youuuu x

[@leonorpeixoto]

I always look forward to your wrap-ups, love the honesty and really trust your opinions! 😍

[@pleasedtoreadyou]

Cari!! I love this mix of genres! So many books I accidentally on purpose added to my cart and checked out... funny how that happens. 😁

[@bangtananxiety]

Omg I'm gonna be counting down the days and minutes till June. Can't wait to see you telling the story of mortal instruments. I keep rewatching your ACOTAR breakdown videos. Its literally therapy for me. Fingers crossed and counting !!!

[@hiranmayinataraj1220]

On a totally unrelated note, I am obsessed with your earrings collection!

[@darcey1825]

Modern divination is one of my FAVORITES!! Isa is an amazing author and artist! The prose was beautiful

[@Future_cat_lady]

I just finished the serpent and the wings of night and MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: Orelaya was so much chiller at the end than I was. Like after the shit Raihn pulled she was a lot less angry with him than I was. She was all like "I hate him now but I also still love him 🥺" like bestie HE LITERALLY JUST MURDERED YOUR FATHER

[@caricanread]

Yeah i think it was suppose to be shock + realizing she’d been lied to but 😂😂😂

[@Ch0wder66]

I also think it had a lot to do with her conflicted feelings about Vincent, she had said similar things about him like she loved Vincent the Father but hated Vincent the King, so I just think Oraya was deeply conflicted…

[@FogCityASMR]

Yay!! I’ve never heard of any of these (at least from the thumbnail) already making a list on notes 📝 let’s see which ones end up on my “want to read” Q 🥳💖

[@caricanread]

yeeeee!

[@aashikumar8205]

hi cari, i just want to thank you for introducing me to the world of caraval because of that I've read the whole trilogy and now I'm reading the " the ballad of never and after " and now i understand what you were trying tell us or explain us in that video and believe me I'm experiencing every thing that you said. I'm midway through the book and I know that I will regret finishing it. So once again thank you for introducing me to Stephanie Garber and her world.

[@samworley3960]

i’m so excited for the TMI breakdowns ommmmmg

[@therealjojo6139]

I loved the bandit queens!!! So glad you liked it :)

[@walkingwith_dinosaurs]

I relly appreciate you made this (omg 40 minutes🎉) video even though you are very busy rn ❤❤❤

[@nadinegimenez]

This is just what I needed today! Thank you for always warming our hearts with everything that you do, Cari ❤

[@caricanread]

thank YOU for this sweet comment :'''')

[@beberoro1]

I had your reaction the first time I read Alone with you in the ether then so I stopped reading for a couple months when I just had like 20 pages left then I finished it recently and reread immediately after I finished it and it is SO incredibly well written, everything is connected and well thought out and I absolutely loved it the second time around!

[@zoeamz]

Dialogues in The Bandit Queens are so witty! I really enjoyed it.

[@delaniedyer1121]

Cari, you should absolutely do a video where you read the first 5 books in the fever series! It's a paranormal romance, and I really think you'd love it! The romance is so good, but the plot and world building really set it apart 🙏🏼☺️

[@Shajay7]

Cari, you have such a beautiful soul and it's always relaxing to watch your videos!

[@caricanread]

🥹🥹🥹

[@aadim.4076]

Yay Cari, lots of love, recently found your channels and you are shining very brilliantly right now!

[@caricanread]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@Brbdreaming_asmr]

I’ve hear flowerheart & highly suspicious unfairly cute are super cute so I kinda want to read them for summer. I’ve also heard that modern divination & serpent and wings of night are super good so I’ve been wanting to read those too. Always interesting to see you perspective on the books!

[@caricanread]

modern divination put me in a bad reading slump so be careful lol

[@Brbdreaming_asmr]

@@caricanread ooh thank you 🫣 lol

[@aicha72]

First of all your videos make my day ❤ So glad you liked Cult Classic! So funny and satisfying. One of my favourites in 2022!

[@ingvildsvindseth9031]

I have been waiting for this video!

[@caricanread]

💖💖💖

[@jess-ui6zj]

i’m just coming out of a pretty bad reading slump (thanks the fine print xoxo) and i’ve only read 2 books per month but i enjoyed them sooo much! i feel like i actually like reading the book instead of reading it just to finish it.

[@amandadunseith7928]

Just saw this video I didn't know if you were still looking for a dark comedy but Butcher and blackbird is a great one. It is a love story about two serial killers who meet each other and each year they meet once a year to unalive one person someone picks out for them whoever gets the person first is the winner. Definitely had a dexter feel to it as well but if you have a very sensitive stomache would not recommend but it had me laughing out loud in some parts. I was surprised how much I liked it

[@Bookishbrunette]

My birthday is tomorrow and I’ve convinced myself you posted this just for me. Thanks for the early birthday present 😂❤

[@sindhupellakuru4962]

Clicked so quick! Needed some good recs 😊

[@caricanread]

wahhh hope i have some good ones!

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

ooooo so nice to hear about the books you've read this month. I recently read Daughter of No Worlds and I mean there were some good things but I just got really bored. I liked the grumpy sunshine but nothing really kept me engaged. I found myself wanting the time to pass so I could finish it (exactly how I felt with Kingsbane) and I don't even think I finished the last chapter, I just didn't care. I might read The Serpent and the Wings of Night tho because YA fantasy romance is my jam.

[@Toygerloveismine]

Your videos always come at the right time I need to soothe my soul and rest

[@caricanread]

🥹🙏🥹🙏

[@rachelbornhoft7966]

I just finished The Last Tale of the Flower Bride and girrrrlll!!! You are right. The cover and title did the book so dirty. I binge read it in a day and I keep thinking about it.

[@caricanread]

Yes omg 😭🙌

[@samworley3960]

love this🥹🥹 sorry you had an eh month though i hope next month is full of 5 stars!!

[@lavisiondenao7662]

There is violent storm, thunder and rain outside, I'm inside with water to drink and setting my new BuJo while listening to this wrap up. Best way to begin my weekend!

[@HirakoKuyo]

The serpent and the wings of night got me out of my reading slump and i looooved it so much. I bought it after watching your reading vlog and i love the way its written and i liked the characters but now I'm sad that the next book isnt as god. I think i need to read some standalone fantasy to not be disappointed in the next books....

[@CavediverRN]

I love thrillers. Even better when most chapters end in cliff hangers and when the ending is left open to interpretation.

[@pendragon2012]

I've been mostly in the nonfiction genre in April but also reading some mysteries. Tony Hillerman's series set on the Navajo Reservation is amazing. Great video as always, Cari! Enjoy your weekend!

[@caricanread]

Ohhhh noted thank you!

[@charityspov]

Watching this video I thought, “I love how it feels like she’s being 100% authentic to herself.” Just subscribed!

[@emmasbooktherapy]

ohh dycalculia sounds really good!

[@LilyEvansP]

New subscriber, I love hearing you talk! Found your channel with your Acotar summaries

[@caricanread]

thank you so much!!

[@nandarambles2917]

Omg I thought I was the only one that had that issue with Carissa Broadbent! I love her first books but the sequels are always a let down unfortunately

[@caricanread]

thats all i've been hearing from people is that she writes a great book 1 and a 'meh' rest of the series :'''( youre def not alone!

[@charoi9659]

Now I'm a bit scared to start her series :') But I think I'll try anyway, at least to enjoy to first books :D

[@nandarambles2917]

@@charoi9659 it’s still worth the read!

[@charoi9659]

@@nandarambles2917 thank you, I will try!

[@KathyDubs]

I'm reading Alone with You in the Ether right now! About halfway through and working toward a library due date tomorrow (heh). Finished Pineapple Street earlier this week and really enjoyed that one!

[@Windkandi]

I just finished reading ’Fresh Water for Flowers’ by Valérie Perrin and want to recommend it to anyone who’s looking for really really good lit fic. The language is exquisite (read a Swedish translation of the French original), the characters have sooo many dimensions and there is this underlying plot that gives the whole story the feeling of a mystery. So so so good!!

[@deliciouslyxrandom]

No one else knows what I'm talking about when I bring up The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires! Such a great book! My sister got me My Best Friend's Excorcism by the same author and it also just had such a good feel too. To super introspective or horizon broadening, but a fantastic escape nonetheless. I'll definitely add the Final Girl Support Group to my TBR just to see.

[@sophia20020]

loved the video 💗

[@caricanread]

thank you!

[@FloofyMoose]

Ooof the ending on Serpent. And I agree on the sequel. The “novella” (200 pages) Six Scorched Roses was pretty good!

[@erinlangley1553]

love pachinko!!! broke my heart when i read it last year and it’s still broken i think

[@kassidyklein2634]

I also just read the "serpent and wings of night" and its sequel and completely agree with you. I found the second book to drag quite a lot, and the plot felt so whimsical. The battles happened so fast?? Although I like how the author handled grief with her relationship with her father. I've heard good things about Fourth Wing!

[@catlapshyna1236]

Cari you NEED to read the Radiance duology by Grace Draven❤it’s sooooo gooood, I finished the first book this month and the romance was incredible, I giggled the entire book 📚😅

[@rachelzimmermann8249]

I am so surprised you didn’t like the second Carissa Broadbent book! I just finished it and loved it just as much as the first !

[@caricanread]

The plot was just so silly 😂😭 the whole finding god bones things felt like it was just for a subplot but it was actually the main driving action? Very odd

[@kartik3719]

I follow you on Storygraph and I am DYING for your thoughts on Jade City 😭😭

[@caricanread]

👀👀👀

[@jetcarlisle2]

I just read Fourth Wing and it is my favorite fantasy book in years I think you’d love it too :)

[@knocklesjr6187]

i trust u with my life i would read the books u hate just to make sure i also hated them

[@caricanread]

😂😂😂😂

[@kirstenk3391]

Cari !! This is an official request to read Priory of the Orange Tree and A Day of Fallen Night! They're long but worth the effort. I also might have suggested Cult Classic, but truly cannot remember

[@pam7705]

Hi Cari! Ever thinking of reading the Poppy War trilogy? It's such a good series and want to hear your thoughts on it :)

[@clemenec1155]

I don't know if you've ever read it, but i definitely recommend The eight day by Mitsuyo Kakuta ! Oh and also 100% recommend the Mirror Visitor series ! It's very long but omg so good and so well done

[@QueenViolet8]

Ok Girl I’m gonna have to pick up Cult Classic 😮 you have my attention 😝

[@Meow-Meow501]

Hey Cari, would you think about doing a video about audio books? Suggestions of which ones that a real good? And what audio services you like? I hear there are even favorite Audio readers? I haven’t listened to an audio book since it was called ‘books on tape’ and they actually came on video tapes! I’m having a reading slump and wondering if I should try some audio books to get beyond the slump.

[@Sinon99]

Every time I watch your videos my reading q gets longer! I appreciate your reviews and input on the books ❤ I would like to recommend the Raven Rings series by Siri Pettersen. It starts pretty slow but the whole series had me in a chokehold. I would love hearing your opinion on it. Hope you have a fun time in Japan!

[@thelovelydianne9678]

I just finished Malice and Misrule and oh my gosh I recommend

[@tiffanymoton704]

you will loooooooove the priory of the orange tree, just gotta take the leap! its a masterpiece

[@BattleSKY8]

Cari I recommend you dip your toes in translated chinese novels, especially the danmei ones, a lot of them are so rich with mythology, lores, angst, whump, chaos. The genre been gaining a lot of traction in recent years since the good, famous ones start getting official english publication (and these got so famous they're getting live actions dramas even!). It can be confusing when you start since you're not familiar with the terms, but once you sink into it, you will really... Just sink. It'll be nice if these writers get a bit of spotlight, I don't see them recommended anywhere in booktube. In any case, have a fun trip! ✨

[@Silverraine1]

I love danmei, though I prefer the non-angsty ones, and it's so rare to see booktubers talk about it! I have so many favourites but I don't feel they'll ever get any chance of being translated because of this lack of attention. Anyway, this year I actually found a beauty/booktuber @YolandaChenYT who has been making damnei rec videos where she even mentioned some authors that are popular in china, sadly she posts like once every three months.

[@BeryllineBea]

I also read Flowerheart this month and I felt very much like you did. It was cute, but it just didn’t come together for me. I’ve added The Bandit Queens to my tbr! 💜

[@caricanread]

Yeah im excited for their future work but this one wasnt quite all there :/

[@PetitesPenseesPapeterie]

I’m reading Anastasia by Sophie Lark and I am convinced that you would love it! Don’t be fooled by the cover, it’s so good & I can’t believe no one is talking about it!! Also if you liked the serpents & the wings of night, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on Fourth wing (it’s even better)

[@strawberrylime33]

That's on my TBR. I've never read a self published novel. Anastasia is definitely a chonker (what, 700 pages?) so I'm kinda leery but it sounds really good.

[@martinaschiavolin1020]

I Who Have Never Known Men is one of my favourite books ever! Once you finish it I am curious if you'll like it. I was kinda confused and horrified most of the time but I truly loved it

[@aidarodriguez6721]

I read one quote from Dyscalculia and had a bit of a breakdown, so i'm really excited to read it 😅

[@caricanread]

🙏🙏🙏

[@thefairylibrarian3282]

I'm Belgian, so when you said Belgian author, that made me so excited and happy!

[@sophievs8279]

I've been enjoying the Bone Season books (I finished book 3 last month) but they are long and complicated so definitely something I have to read slowly. I think I enjoy them a lot more when I let myself put them down and pick back up rather than forcing myself to read right through.

[@yonnaplease]

I love all your videos! It gives me sooo many recommendations! Have you read Rhapsodic - The Bargainer Series? Gives ACOTAR vibes - being Des (MC) is darker version of Rhysand and Callie (MC) darker Feyre 🥰 love love it

[@sugoicollector]

Thanks Cari for another super interesting video! ✨ Personally, I’m reading Whale by Cheon Myeong-kwan for the Book Club at my local Korean Cultural Center, and I’d love to hear your opinion about it!

[@kitka_n]

Very interesting!

[@mattkean1128]

I'm in the middle of Biography of X by Catherine Lacey. It's fiction, about a widow researching the life of her mysterious artist wife. I'm hoping Greek Lessons is great, I'm looking forward to that one.

[@AdrianasWonderland]

i am about to start flowerheart, very curious to see if i like it

[@leaf8997]

this is so unrelated to your channel but your name is spelled the exact same as mine and no one ever spells their name like that 😭😭 i love that

[@somberhoney]

I really want to check out the Bone Season but I'm gonna wait until more books in the series are out. I'm currently reading Priory of the Orange Tree and it's flying by, like I read almost 200 pages in one day and it did not feel like I got through that much.

[@caricanread]

Oh I thought bone season was done! 🫨

[@lauradellorens9019]

I am not sure if you've already read it but I can trully recommend the Broken Earth series. It's a finished trilogy and all three books won best novel Hugo Awards. They're pretty quick to read but it's such a good story!

[@maxofb7745]

OMG! And I thought it was just me not loving The Atlas Six!

[@Olamelama]

I love Serpent and the Wings of the Night and I started the 2nd book now so let's how this one goes :D I really liked the hunger games vibes so haha (Cassian 2.0 hahaha, I didn't think about it, but make sense)

[@grayish_seven]

what we learnt this month : main plot can become the side plot so bad we just forget what it is hope ur trip went well ~!

[@ladydiamond6611]

YES!!!! Pls read more Talia Hibbet, my favourite author!!!!!

[@genevievereads]

You need to read fourth wing!

[@acrd1035]

Good vid!

[@caricanread]

[@danielleoliver1734]

Theres a 30ish page short story; on the merits of unnaturalness which lists and explains all the clairvoyants in the bone season series, it’s a copy of a pamphlet written by a character in the book

[@kthxbi]

If you liked Memorial, I seriously recommend the film Lilting, which has a slightly similar premise in that the main characters boyfriend has just died and so he decides to try and bond with his boyfriends mother but its complicated by the fact that his boyfriend wasn't out to his mother yet AND she doesn't speak a word of English. Its deeply sad but such a lovely story of these two characters finding a way to grieve together.

[@TheHotaru21]

i also didn't love Final Girl Support Group, but i loved My Best Friend's Exorcism. definitely my fav by Grady Hendricks

[@caricanread]

Thats my next read!

[@rachelz57]

I’m sorry you’ve had so many disappointing reads this month! may i recommend A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske 🧐 it’s an m/m fantasy romance (himbo/grumpy scholar) set in edwardian england. the magic system is interesting without being all over the place, and there’s a pretty solid plot. It’s in line with a lot of the books you’ve been reading but without the pitfalls lol I should also add it’s part of a series with the last book coming out in november, and each book focuses on a different couple

[@catt1705]

I’m begging you to read these violents delights (Micah) you’ll either love it or hate it

[@keychilde]

You didn't read the edited version of The Bone Season. It's not out yet. :) It's the 10 year anniversary version and it comes out later this year. I'm v. excited for it. The rest of the books are incred.

[@saramm3765]

I love Alone with you in the Ether. DNF'd Spice Road early on with the "My eyes bug" line.

[@caricanread]

😂😂😂

[@orchidee8857]

Please please please read The Sword Of Kaigen, it's an amazing fantasy standalone that's really underrated, would love to know your thoughts on it!

[@eurydicereads]

I was so excited to read modern divination but I've heard so many mix reviews on the prose

[@caricanread]

It was just so confusing :''''(

[@lammu1400]

hello cari, i have been watching your videos for nearly a year now and i usually take a lot of recommendations from you! recently i read ‘FOURTH WING’ and i would really like for you to read it because i enjoyed a YA fantasy book in such a long time ((‘:

[@MrEmbryonicjones]

i remember liking final girl support group but feeling like the end fell a bit flat. all the stuff about the main character, her plant, and her fight for survival was pretty great tho. i liked some aspects of the killer reveal; it's playing with some interesting themes and issues, but it also felt a bit too easy if that makes sense. i finished it tho, so i must have had a good time. i also feel like scream 5 copied final girl support group's homework a bit lol

[@caricanread]

Exactly, i was really let down by the ending and anything after we found out who was behind everything :/

[@jorddynfooo]

I was thinking before getting to your review is “I wonder if she has read TSATWON?” And then BAM !!!! Also I didn’t like this book, I was hoping for a funny roast 😭😂 glad you enjoyed it tho!!