BOOK COMMUNITEA: IS PUBLISHING NOTHING BUT GREAT GOWNS, BEAUTIFUL GOWNS?! [CC]

[@cynthialovesbooks]

"We need a universal income, we need affordable health care, and we deserve good books." - Jess for president! Love your videos.

[@JessOwens]

Thank you thank you. I can’t wait to announce my candidacy 😎😝

[@LunarArsonist]

worst part is that she, a fellow bookworm on youtube, is better than both actual canidates

[@aspiring_recluse]

For me personally, I just can't shell out money for a special edition of a book I've never read before unless maybe it's by an author I absolutely love every single time. I would only ever want special editions of books I've already read and loved and this system mostly isn't set up for that. Maybe those iron editions are better for it since they're presumably older books, but I'm sure they'll still manufacture scarcity to justify charging an arm and a leg and I can see people who busted their butts to get the original being annoyed that here's yet another bigger better version.

[@JessOwens]

I do wish it was back to special editions being for books that have been out a while so you can know if you really want it or not

[@seekingdystopia]

@@JessOwens I 100% agree with this! I've almost pulled the trigger on some of the special edition book subscriptions multiple times, but convince myself not to every time I look at their past books and see how many of those books I wound up not liking.

[@deplorablereader]

The thing that pisses me off is to even have a CHANCE at any of the special editions you have to subscribe to the monthly books which have very mixed reviews. They read the books way beforehand so why can’t they pick better ones?!? Then you have to pay all the extra money for the books you really want because those aren’t the ones included in the sub. I think the prices are pretty good for what you are getting especially when compared to other editions like Subpress or even Goldsboro (when they have leftovers they upcharge for them- sometimes even more than resellers). But releasing SO MANY special editions that could have been the box picks really aggravates me. Why couldn’t you do all the Olivie Blake other than the Atls Paradox in the boxes since you knew people were loving her stuff? Then if you do get a book in the sub box that you enjoy, you have to shell out more to finish the series so the editions match. It just makes no sense and all feels like a cash grab. I stopped all my subs in like April last year and I’m only buying books I’ve already read and loved because shelling out anywhere from $30-75 a month for a year to only like 1-3 of the books makes no sense. Then having to buy the ones I do actually want on top of that? Yea fuck that.

[@booknerd3985]

Some good book news from the Netherlands: About ten years ago a middle grade/YA book series called Hoe overleef ik (How To Survive) written by Francine Oomen came out. It was a series about a girl dealing with all sorts of things and learning about them. Like how to survive going to a new school, how to fall in love, what to do on holiday, etc. It talked about the entire experience of puberty from age 12 to 18 as the main character aged. Last year a guy in his early twenties made a TikTok saying that he needs a new Hoe overleef ik book to explain adulting to him because this shit is hard. The tiktok went a bit viral and the author saw it, and she agreed to write a new book! She interviewed a lot of adults in their early twenties for research, and last week the new book came out! The publisher was a bit too cautious when deciding how many books should be printed, and the first run sold out in a few days. They're rushing a reprint now, and it'll be available again next week. I love it when authors listen to their readers and get rewarded for that!

[@JessOwens]

That’s exciting!!!

[@danielleoliver1734]

Fairyloot could have been really clever when announcing the iron editions by pointing out that Fe is the chemical symbol for iron instead of going for the low hanging fruit that a sword doubles as an I

[@JessOwens]

😆😆 that would’ve been amazing

[@merelymerline]

I had a similar conversation with a friend a couple weeks ago. I think PR packages that come with merch are fine because many other communities like makeup, lifestyle, and fashion receive extra inclusions with products. The issue I’ve noticed is that special editions don’t feel special anymore because even new releases are getting special editions. Used to be 10th anniversary editions or books that were released years ago but publishing don’t let a book marinate anymore. I love the beautiful covers but I’ll only spend money on a special edition if it’s an author I love and am very familiar with their work. Otherwise, it’s a waste of money for me.

[@JessOwens]

Yes they don’t feel special at all 😭 just another edition that’s more expensive

[@Liamliayaum906]

I loved your rant and I agree with it! I think the quality of writing has gone through a huge roller coaster. I've noticed more and more grammatical errors in books. I'm indifferent on special editions. I want to read the book and a special edition makes me not want to because I don't want to ruin it.

[@JessOwens]

The quality of writing has run away 🥲

[@aletheac3400]

I read my special editions. I like having pretty books on my shelves, but ultimately books are for reading. I may not notate in it and be gentle when reading, but mine get read.

[@LilyEvans1996]

Ugh the grammatical errors I can never excuse

[@dimerymichaels3539]

Okay - I see this more often now too!!!!

[@wistfulwriter7]

Yet another way publishers are cutting corners! I don't know what's going on with some of these copyeditors, but it's been abnormally bad lately! Poor authors are STRESSED because it is not their job to catch those little things but they end up doing a lot in a very short amount of time. The turnaround on the author side for copyedits is usually DAYS. O.O

[@crystalnadeau254]

I noticed a problem starting when every new book I read ended up being a 'DNF". Hell, I stopped blindly buying books altogether because I had so many on my shelf that I didn't care to finish. So much wasted money. I renewed my library card and now borrow all my books first, then only buy the ones I enjoyed so I can support those authors. I noticed I avoid most books published past 2010, as well as any author that takes up entire shelves at the library. It's such a sad feeling, but you're right. It's a good thing we still have the older books from a time when writing was actually taken seriously by publishers. I've had much better luck now. For every eight books or so I borrow, I find at least two I loved enough to purchase. I appreciated this rant. You really hit home the problems we're all facing right now when it comes to greedy corporations.

[@KatieColson]

I got more enraged with every second of this video. I was shouting agreements back at the screen as you were ranting. I had to pause it and be like “Katie, girl, calm down. She can’t hear you” 🤣😅

[@KnittingKelsey]

Every time I see special editions, I'm so jealous but also relieved that I'm basically audio and ebook only because then I can't justify buying them. (I know a lot of people don't like ebooks but they're the best, I can have a bajillion of them with me at all times and when I have eyestrain from work or a headache I can just bump the font up to ginormous proportions and read comfortably)

[@aletheac3400]

There are lots of positives to ebooks

[@BooksAndABlanket]

I adore ebooks (preferably on e-ink screens) for the same reasons. Audiobooks were pretty much the only way that I could read when my kids were younger.

[@taryndancer29]

I've saved so much money and space because of e-books!

[@CluelessWonder]

I won a book from a Goodreads giveaway and was so excited. I read one page and stopped because the font was too small. My terrible eyesight and I love ebooks and adjustable font.

[@followthepaint]

As a writer ... got teary around minute 20. I feel seen and called for. Thank you for valuing what's inside and what it takes to get there!! I'm on it.

[@followthepaint]

Also I see and hear you in this and want better for your work experience too!! You deserve more than these dying systems that pressure folks into pieces and I hope you find yourself in a situation soon that honors your whole self.

[@JessOwens]

🫂🫶🏾🩵

[@jj-reads]

This reminds me of when comic book publishers discovered variant covers.

[@peach_levell]

I think having a special edition of a book that hasnt been out for a significant amount of time is really strange. I think publishing is forgetting the most important part about books is not the cover but the content.

[@JessOwens]

They indeed have forgotten

[@yuristeaparty]

I’m glad you said something cause I been dying to talk about it 😬 seeing booktubers with 4 special editions of a book that came out in 2022…. Like these companies are grifting! I feel bad for people who think they need all that especially in this economy when hardcovers are like $30.

[@audria5518]

I love a beautiful book too! I started learning/teaching myself bookbinding and fore edge painting this year just so that I could scratch that itch without having to shell out my life savings for a book I’ve never read before. I also agree with the “mid” writing complaint. Almost all of my GoodReads ratings since late 2021 have been 3s. It’s been sucking the joy out of reading and I’ve had to go back to old books that I’ve loved just to get back into it again.

[@JessOwens]

It’s become so frustrating because so many books are just bland

[@emmac.2314]

I couldn't agree more publishing houses are unwilling to put more effort and more money in refining their output ! Greed and profits seems to be the main engine driving this. That's the obvious reason to me, but some people will always try to shift the blame on ( surprise, surprise) women and their reading tastes. A couple of weeks ago I sat through a video explaining how women were to blame for the state of the sff publishing world because they read too much romantasy and didn't have refined taste and didn't know the classics of the genre🙄

[@catherinekopfauthor7034]

As a self published author and someone who went to school for editing and is now a freelance editor, this entirely captures what I see is wrong in the book world! It really does seem publishing companies are shipping books to be published too fast-and a lot of it does seem like cash grabs going off of works that were successful, only they don’t live up to the original success and are more “copy and paste” or distributed too early. Honestly, I’ve been having trouble getting into trad books because of this, and most of my recent reads have been by indie authors. As one myself, I definitely respect the indie authors that know the trad market just won’t work for them because of the current state of publishing. It’s sad to see. Like you said “beautiful gown, not so on the inside”

[@mariadamore1963]

Not you bringing the Sims into it! 😂 I wish there was a back list subscription box where they made special editions of books people already love!

[@JessOwens]

That would be amazing!!!

[@camilla1234567zz]

I implore people to not get book subscriptions, not only buy pretty books, but go to a library or charity shop, read the blurb and first page or couple of pages of a book and get it based on that, it has always worked better for me then reading others reviews, looking at what's trending and what book influencers recommend

[@Lizzzy91]

I'm subscribe to FL and I have been skipping their adult books bc they're YA and don't really have good ratings on goodreads. I know ratings are subjective but a lot of the 'negative' reviews does have truth in it. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. As a subscriber to book boxes, I would rather they not release boxes every month. I really want them to put effort into looking and CHOOSING better books. Instead of finding reps, they should put more effort into diverse curators.

[@JessOwens]

Yess, if they did every other month, maybe that would be better

[@byMarinaCee]

Love your rants girlie! It’s annoying that most who are getting paid up front to write their books don’t require much editing fees because their 1st drafts are being sent to printing. Publishing knows copies will sell no matter what as too many platforms promote only pretty covers and angst over prose and plot. They drown out those searching for substance.

[@marisagettas]

There are fewer and fewer new releases these days I run to read. Now I wait until reviews from trusted people come in. Meanwhile, I’ll just keep reading backlists of authors like Robin Hobb, James Baldwin, Lorraine Heath, Beverly Jenkins, Kelly Yang, and T. Kingfisher, who have never let me down. Amen to this whole rant, Jess ❤

[@JessOwens]

I definitely need to focus on backlist

[@JiniaParkerMeanwhileinflorida]

All of this. I’ve def started turning more to older books and even dipped into reading self pub because, hell can’t be worse than the unedited stuff traditional publishers are tossing out. Emily Fox has recommended some good older books, I loved Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon! Some of the newest books are nearly unreadable, not all, but a fair amount considering how much we pay for books that lack actually editing. Makes it hard to justify buying before reading. Thanks for voicing this with the ire it deserved!

[@see_emmy_and_jack_read3569]

It's the triple scream for me 😂 Tell 'em Jess!! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@JessOwens]

I had to let it out 😂

[@KittyxKult]

Nigel says “listen mama I’m a celebrity now, and it’s gone to my head. Contact my agent next time”

[@moustik31]

🎵 Yes, you look flyyyyyyy, you look gooooood 🎶 Edit: I agree with all that you said. Books need more editing and writers need more development!

[@JessOwens]

👏🏾👏🏾

[@kellycolby222]

The solution is to buy from indie authors. Go to local conventions and find small publishers and indie authors. That money goes to the person producing the product and we, as the authors and publishers, get to meet our readers in person. It's much more personal and much more satisfying.

[@alieneleni]

seeing you go off like this has been cathartic thank u

[@gabz49242]

First of all: perfect fit for this video. As far as the merchification of books into nothing but the outside, I think it's 100% a function of the shift to social media marketing instead of traditional print/tv marketing. There are people we're supposed to trust telling us how excited they are about these books when they haven't even cracked it open yet. All they know is that there's a stunning exterior and a well-crafted blurb that gets them excited for the book. This is what gets people to buy the book, and I think that publishers only care about getting to that step. After that, even if people don't like it, they've already spent their money. Just think about the kinds of videos that pop up on your feed most often if you follow other Booktubers: it's not in-depth reviews/critiques of different books. The most popular videos are the haul videos and the TBR ones, both of which are just about hyping a book before you know anything of substance about it. I understand not wanting spoilers before you read a book, but I've found it difficult to hunt down channels that talk in more than bubbly platitudes about how they felt about a book, and typically, those channels are not getting views because they're not run by conventionally popular types of people. The re-launch of special editions is such a shameless money-grab, tbh. Sure, they're redoing some special editions that could have been improved, but it's just another scarcity tactic used to force people to pay exorbitant prices for something that is more decoration than a book to be enjoyed because of the author's work.

[@marzipan9]

I've read quite a few popular author's books that absolutely were not edited as much as they could have been because I'm sure the higher ups in the publishing houses said "yeah, people will read it because of the name" and threw it at us half done. It's rididculous.

[@isabellavalentine7268]

So here’s my thing about special editions: there’s too many. It’s echoed in these comments, and I agree- what’s making them special? Everything gets a “special edition” now

[@IFarore]

Omg girl, the Korean sunscreen comment is SO real! Thank you for the rant, I swear I feel like my friends are so sick of hearing me rage about end stage capitalism, but it is literally hell.

[@JessOwens]

🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@martham496]

I so agree about book boxes with the trinkets. I’ve ended up with two boxes that came with stuff along with the book and literally every single thing was useless and kind of tacky. I do love a special edition book though they are art. But the exclusivity of them is a downside because it makes me spend impulsively because I don’t want to miss them. I have some gripes with how Fairyloot is choosing to do things (skip limits and queue system during sales) but also they are a business and obviously they care about profit. People getting made about that are living in lala land thinking Fairyloot isn’t doing whatever they can to make the most money. I really do question if they actually have read some of their adult sub picks because come on guys some of these have been ROUGH.

[@aletheac3400]

Fairyloot has had roughly a special edition sale every week this year And I do end up using about 80% of Owlcrate items because they focus more on usable quality items. And they have stepped up their book customization game this year. They coming for Fairyloot

[@MrRoro_su]

I have dnf so many 2023 debuts, im scared to count 😫

[@angelaholmes8888]

Good for you on dnfing unfortunately I still have wasted time on bad books this year

[@JessOwens]

It’s so frustrating!!

[@camscornerbooks]

“What do you do? Besides asking your intern to convert a document to PDF!” 😂😂😂

[@JessOwens]

You know they’re not doing anything!!

[@camscornerbooks]

@@JessOwens this is so accurate. I’m in IT and I literally get calls from UPPER management asking for help with making bullet lists in Word. I know they’re getting paid so many times more than me but they can’t even function

[@jaimee-kate]

Two debut authors I've been really impressed with this year -- Jade Song (Chlorine) and Carissa Orlando (The September House)

[@jennalouisedreams7002]

So I actually reached out to FL about thier quality of books bc sometimes the stenciling is gorgeous and other times it doesn't look as vibrant or smooth. But it's the publisher that that gets the books made which I actually didn't know. Book boxes... I do get the items and sometimes I love them and other times it's a fail but I wouldn't say it isn't worth my money bc I am deciding to spend my money on essentially a giant blind box. But I really understand and agree with a lot of what you are saying. I do think the process for Fairyloot and other boxes choosing and curating thier books and monthly themes are where I think we are failed sometimes.

[@ctgraphy]

Been reading ARCs for the last couple of years, and 2023's class - You nailed it exactly. They feel rushed and lacking the extra attention needed. Obviously I can't speak for every book, but I think I have DNF'd more ARCs this year than finished. Rolling the dice on unread Special Editions? Absolutely not. Now, if there was a service offering Special Editions on my fav books 5th or 10th anniversaries? I would drop money on that SO FAST. *keeps dreaming*

[@moomin469]

a lot of special edition book companies annoy me like especially fairyloot i hate how you have too be a member (which costs money and they take ages to accept you to be a member) to access pre sales today i tried to pre order a curse for true love special edition and it had this thing where it was in fairy trove if there were any left (from a pre sale for members yesterday ) the public could buy it and i went on the website exactly as it shouldve been added to fairy trove and it wasnt there meaning it had sold out and i just hate how its so inaccessible for people who cant afford spending loads of money on a book each month 😭 i also dont like buying special editions unless ive read the book like i only knew i wanted this special edition because it was the third in the series and i had loved the two other books in the series 😮i also saw someone who hadnt been able to cancel their fairyloot thingy and had spent £100s just so they could get the pre sale for a curse for true love but ended up not being able to get it because it said they werent a member even tho they were 😭😭 honestly i dont trust all special edition book companies

[@jaimee-kate]

Very interesting discussion! There's a constant discussion here on Booktube regarding how it promotes hyper-consumerism. Personally, I don't do special editions or fancy book subscriptions, but I've certainly been tempted and bought a book for a really pretty cover. I would really only do a special edition if it was something REALLY special to me. But I know it's a huge thing in the book community, so I can see how these companies want to capitalize on that.

[@VampireBuddha77]

I totally agree about the half-assed diversity efforts. I've read or have attempted to read so many anticipated releases by authors of color only to find that many of those books don't get the attention/development/editing they deserve. I also think the market is oversaturated b/c anytime something gets popular on tiktok, there's a million books that come out around that one trope (ex. grumpy/sunshine in romance). Lots of focus on quantity over quality in the last few years for the purpose of maximizing profit, YUCK.

[@JessOwens]

YES YES YES

[@VanessaMarieBooks]

This is exactly why I self-publish. The only one that gets to set my deadline is me and I refuse to rush through the process.

[@CarlyUTube]

IT WON’T CHANGE, until people STOP buying all these special editions and that WON’T HAPPEN! It’s the book loving community to blame. The average reader buys a book for what is inside. The Book community Girlies on social media want that PRETTY BOOK to put on their shelves. Will they read it? Maybe/maybe not. It doesn’t even really matter to them. ( I am speaking overall ) So publishers cut back on substance and upgraded on the pretty. The book still sells.

[@elizabethc2496]

So damn true.

[@Dasha-pv1xk]

I personally love the whole iron editions thing. I didn’t get a chance to grab Red Rising/An Ember in the Ashes when they were doing them. Fairyloot wasn’t as popular back a few years ago so sometimes a lot of us get to miss out on some incredible books. Red rising is a great example as the trilogy was extended and Fairyloot are doing books the rest of the books. BUT I do agree there’s been a decline in actual books for the adult books this year. The waitlist is insane. Upping their print runs would solve this issue going forward with special editions.

[@crimebrulee]

I think they should get rid of the author signature or just go digital. Authors already have to sign thousands of books for their subs. Get rid of signatures and up the subscriber count. Just my uneducated opinion 😂

[@Dasha-pv1xk]

@@crimebrulee I agree with you!! Signatures is something I never cared about before and never will

[@JessOwens]

I wish they’d focus on fixing their issues before expanding 🥲

[@sdrawkcabemdaer5]

Forget special editions, I'm at the point where I will not even shell out for a regular hardcover unless it's an author I trust. For anyone new I will wait until it's on Bookoutlet or on a Kindle deal for $3.99 or less. They're just rushing so much junk to print to try and capitalize on the latest trends, and it shows. Though I will say that publishers have really upped their cover art game recently, and it is refreshing after several years of nothing but "woman faces away from camera" variations on every shelf 😂

[@chrysvandork08]

A-Men! This video got me so fired up! I couldn’t agree more with the comments, another edition of books we already have?!?!?! I also don’t want a special edition book I’ve never read, which is what has held me back from engaging with this boxes, and I say this as someone who used to proudly proclaim how many editions of a certain teenage wizard series they had. I think you’re so right, about editing! It’s been so hard to find a book thar was recently published that didn’t need a bit more work, even from some of my long standing favorite authors.

[@raphraphte]

This sums up most my thoughts on publishing at the moment. For sub boxes the only one I like is broken binding because they take a series that's already completed then make a fancy edition so I know in advance if I like it instead of hoping the book is good.

[@raphraphte]

oh and it feels like things are being rushed out before people have a chance to read them so it feels like publishers just want people to buy but not read

[@belovedwinter]

I have nothing special to add to this conversation that hasn't been added in the last like, year, but I fully agree with your passion about this!! I hate it too, ahh! (Screaming at the camera is the realest fr)

[@LittleJoSleep]

Amazing. I laughed and cheered and thought it was so perfect. Best kind of video to get notified about!

[@estherhernandez8332]

Oh my word. I love your videos…this one though…just joined your Patreon

[@Pondemonium89]

you calling out your dog jumpscared me fnmdksm also I am currently at my wfh and was READY for the insert image but NAH 😆😆😆 ANYWAY; you did not stutter 🗣🗣🗣🗣 Loved that speech about capitalism.

[@workinprogress3329]

I love the idea of taking books from 10-15 years ago and making them special editions. This is why I haven’t subscribed yet to a book box. I see lots of romance boxes but how good are the books ???

[@dancesbyk251]

I found your channel last month, and I love your videos and energy sm!

[@AnaCarolinaVanzetta]

Most of the books I've given 5/4 stars this year were backlist ones. Very few books from the last couple of years have been on my favorites list.

[@asmrbookishness]

Down with capitalism!!! Love your mini rant there! Also hard agree that books are not getting edited any more and it’s a GD shame. I have no thoughts on Fairyloot because I cannot afford them. So pretty but I would never spend that kind of money on a book that I haven’t read. And for a fairly recent release that I really enjoyed, which I think you would also like: The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope. It’s criminally under-hyped.

[@ctgraphy]

"The Monsters We Defy" is SO INCREDIBLE. Found Family Heist! In 20s Black DC! With a range of Queer and Disabled (FACIAL DIFFERENCE!) characters and MAGIC. I will yell all day every day about it. ❤❤❤

[@janaedonim]

I really feel you because why do some of the best books I’ve ever read not have special editions? Like. NK Jemisin doesn’t have a single one? Okay. I do think publishers want to push meh books through book boxes bc you notice really good ones are special editions for the special edition boxes? Idk man it’s the greed

[@sarenacampbell9643]

I don't know much about FairyLoot, but I love how Owlcrate sends out surveys to see what subscribers actually want. I don't have a merch level box anymore, but I love how it gives smaller artists large orders.

[@txdave]

I pretty much never buy special editions but I only really read on my iPad through Libby! The Fourth Wing original book has me tempted even though it is not technically a special edition. You need a podcast! You talk about cool discussion topics and I think you would make a great podcast:)

[@aletheac3400]

Ppl be out here selling first print editions of fourth Wing for $300 . I'm like, I liked it, but not $300 worth

[@Financiallyfreeauthor]

Libby has Tress of The Emerald Sea that has the special things like the gorgeous illustrations. I was so delighted to see that

[@taryndancer29]

​@@aletheac3400Honestly Fourth Wing was a 3 star read for me.

[@JessOwens]

🩵🩵🩵

[@s.y.k.a1912]

Every time I see special editions, I get a bit jealous seeing how people can afford them. Though since I'm on the Carousell app (an app where preloved items being sold), I keep seeing how special editions and even the trinkets are on sale there... and many of those sellers selling them it's either because they have no more room for their books or they don't know what to do with the trinkets. It's such a shame, since Fairyloot has such amazing, beautiful books but the quality is dropping and them focusing so much on popular, trendy books which received a lot of negative reviews (which sometimes have truth in them) and not the underrated ones. This is why I'm looking forward to The Broken Binding now (not sure about Owlcrate, since I'm more of a preloved special edition book byer😂) Also YESS TO MORE BOOKS NEED MORE EDITING!! I've read a few now that desperately need a gazillion editors to edit the books! So many marginalized communities books are being published, which it's a good thing, but I cannot even read them without the characters ENTIRE personality is based on their gender, religious beliefs, skin colour, race, disabilities, or sexual orientation!! It's getting redundant now and very repetitive, as if publishers want marginalized communities to create a story that's only focusing on their "being marginalized stories" to get attention from the audience. Hoping for more books that have DEVELOPED characters, amazing plot, and the characters' stories that aren't just based on their "marginalized"-ness🫠

[@s.y.k.a1912]

Oop, this is a long rant. My bad😅

[@dimerymichaels3539]

Oh!!!!!! I remember soapgate 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mithzelluque4754]

because i'm a softcover girlie (😂) i've never been able to invest or celebrate in pretty book buying opportunities like y'all hardcover lovelies. so i'm happy y'all get more of them, but kinda how y'all explained and analyzed the situation at what costs. hope everything is actually straightened out.

[@ScientistsReadingWorld]

I feel the same XD I started doing the same since I will be moving so I wanted to clear my special editions from the boxes and a lot of them were just meh or DNF there are 1 or 2 that are saved. About the FT the pre-sales are chaos and now they announced a new subscription to fantasy romance which I am so confused about it because I feel almost all of the YA picks are like that. I will leave FT this month because I got in the broken binding and they could be more my beach. I will let Illumicrate for a while since they do YA and adult in the same box

[@Momofdom]

One of the worst things is when enough authors of color and gender diverse authors don't sell well enough due to poor editing, or poor marketing someone at the top will think, "see this is why we didn't publish them in the first place. We're not biggots , we're just smart."😑

[@trkavanaughauthor]

I somehow missed this one when it came up, so late to the discussion, but I agree, there’s been a change in how books are produced. I think quick creations of books isn’t necessarily bad in some genres, like romance where things can be fairly paint by numbers, but in something like Fantasy where part of the joy of reading it is feeling like you’re in another world it can lead to a surface deep feeling. I know Fourth Wing was loved by a lot of people, but it’s the turn around on the sequel, Iron Flame, that concerns me. Looking back on Lightlark, I also think it meets my concern. Books aren’t being allowed to marinade in the authors head. Some of these books read like first drafts that never saw a developmental editor, or even got a reread from the author. It’s really worrying from a creative perspective. I wrote an epic fantasy book over the pandemic. It took me more than five drafts to get to the finished product. I was very hard on myself, asked people I trusted to give it to me straight as beta readers and got it edited by a professional. I self published in 2022. I worked really hard to create an enjoyable, well written story on the inside. I have limited resources though. I would expect trad to do better.

[@jaimee-kate]

Also yes I agree that some books are getting through editors with serious issues, but I'm not sure if that's really anything new. I don't know much about publishing but I swear I only genuinely like maybe 1/10 books I read.

[@silviareadsbooks]

I agree with everything you said, especially the part about books coming out with such great potential that just don't deliver on the execution side of things! I want to add that all of this gets paired with the fact that many publishers now more or less pre-make a book's success or failure according to how much and what type of publicity they give it - and those books that get tons of posts etc also are the ones that end up being disappointing, badly edited etc 🥲 also i can't believe you made me think of soap gate in the year of our lord 2023 lmaooo that's the kind of thing you just had to be there for 😭💀

[@JessOwens]

Soap gate will never die!!!

[@rochoa7408]

This!!! This is the reason I am starting to read more self-pub authors cause if the writing ain’t cutting it, then no one is going to be reading it. Now I’m not saying that all self-pub books are great. I’ve read some really terrible ones but there are great authors out there that are the in the fringes of the publishing industry. Moreover, I agree with you with these book boxes releasing special editions for ass books. Beautiful gowns, but nothing of substance is given. But, I think The Broken Binding does release some great books. I’ve been on that damn waitlist for over a year now and I cannot wait for my turn to come. However, some of their public sale special edition books have been kinda awful. The Sun and the Void, How To Sell a Haunted House and Ascension are examples of that. Now I haven’t read them so I can’t really say that but that’s what I heard about them from sources that I trust.

[@searchanddiscover]

i do like the idea of rereleasing exclusive editions. i very much hate all the gatekeeping when it comes to special editions. i do wish we could do away with book box subscriptions and just have more online stores that focus on putting out nice editions of books. this way you can pick and choose what you want.

[@jeridalemay]

"This is not the sun of our youth!" -- An entire sermon 😌 Yes, yes, and yes to everything you said. The roots run deep with this ... situation in publishing. The capital T Thoughts I have, the Opinions: Aggravations galore 😩😭

[@thelibrarianofalexandria6200]

I just finished, the benevolent society of ill mannered ladies by Alison goodman. Not fantasy but historical(okay dont remember atm if you read historical but) a defenite 5 Star read for me. Love the plot,characters, the love story. Nic and the remarkables by Angie Thomas is a great mg fantasy from this year

[@malikamaybe]

I usually don't bother with special editions (especially if I already have a copy of the book) or merch personally, but it doesn't reallyyy bother me? I can remember being a kid and getting little a pencil pouch, rubber wrist band, or some 'lil trinket in relation to a book so yeah it def doesn't feel new. And I'm biased as a writer (not published yet), but I do remember watching an Alexa Donne (author & authortuber) discuss how when a lot of editors left the field, publishing did little to replace them so you have editors with like double or triple the books to work on now than before. These editors are less likely to have the time to give as in-depth feedback and guide an author through editorial/developmental edits as they used to because they are even more overworked and underpaid now. Also, I will say I think that once you are of a certain level like Holly Black (I do like her books) or Sarah J. Maas (I haven't read her published work), whatever you give them is bound to sell regardless so I can imagine that a publisher will be less inclined to have an editor shift or tweak their vision.

[@nadiahcooper]

can I get that Korean sunscreen rec?

[@JessOwens]

My favorite is Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel ! I do not recommend getting it from Amazon. Websites that are legit would be Yes Style, Stylevana or Olive Young 🩵

[@gabbylikestoread]

The only SE I’d consider getting is for books I’ve read before and loved. I have noticed that many of the books being released over the past few years have been getting negative reviews from readers. When did Silver Flames come out again?! 😂 anywho, I read Family Lore recently and enjoyed it. I mainly read backlist and historical fiction so that’s all I have for you lol I.e. I read An Ember in the Ashes and All My Rage this year 🥹 so good! Need to read Shannon’s new release since you’re giving it rave reviews!

[@jasminedeseignora1347]

A good book I’ve read and thought you might like…I don’t have an answer for that ..BUT! I’ve recently read a book called Perfect Peace by Daniel Black about a woman who has 6 boys and really wants to have a girl. She gives birth to the 7th baby and it ends up being another boy, so she decides to raise the baby as a girl anyway! So much discussion about race, colorism, gender roles, and gender. I loved it! This is a book that deserves a special edition!

[@cellotag]

This video in particular came up on my recommended page for your channel and you (and Nigel) have earned another subscriber 😂 Dunno your reading tastes yet (that's what the backlog of vids are for) but I just finished When Women Were Dragons this week and really enjoyed it. Sorcery of Thorns was cute if you like Studio Ghibli. A Magic Steeped in Poison is YA, but the magic system is built on TEA and I was so into it. My ethos on buying books isn't perfect, but I try to utilize the library for new-to-me authors and try to only buy books I'll either a) read again, or b) are releases from authors I know, love, and trust. (Doesn't always work, but here we are.) I also can't really justify the special editions of books that have the same content as the ones that show up in my favorite local used book store. 🤷‍♀That's just me though, folks can buy whatever editions they want. Anyway, off to watch some backlog. Give some pets to Nigel for me!!

[@JessOwens]

🩵🩵🩵

[@coffee8599]

Every time you read "big chance" instead of "big change" made me 😂

[@mariam.319]

THIS. I see so many books with pretty covers even the regular editions and the inside is so so so bad. I need ppl to start writing substance again.

[@MaddieNWarrington]

I truly haven’t been able to get on the hype train for bookish boxes that include trinkets, especially boxes like Fairyloot or OwlCrate where you DON’T know what book you’re getting and you don’t know what books the trinkets will be representing. I love me a good special edition of a book I have already read and LOVE but I also have zero interest in fighting to the death for a special edition. You mean you want me to PAY YOU for the stressful experience of dropping $100+ on a book that I probably won’t open because it’s too pretty? I would also much rather pay money for a book box that has trinkets for a book or author I know. ONE book. ONE author. Like, I really appreciate what Brandy Sandy did with his kickstarter boxes. I split the cost of the biggest package with my partner and it has been SO FUN to get those boxes. The trinkets are useful and really cool BUT they are also for an author we both really love and the books being released, even though we don’t know what they are, are books we certainly don’t have so it’s nbd. What I don’t need are trinkets from a fantasy box that are 90% SJM and Cassandra Claire themed and a book that, while pretty, I might already have or would never have purchased in the first place.

[@MaddieNWarrington]

If anyone reads all of that, thank you and I’m sorry lmao

[@margar3181]

25:32. I felt that! That was catharsis for real!

[@JessOwens]

🩵🩵🩵

[@rachelw.7486]

I'm excited for the iron editions because I'd rather buy a special edition of a book that I already read than have to take the bigger financial risk initially. Hopefully the books chosen for the iron editions are worthwhile. The thing that I think is WILD is amazon pre-orders now having special covers and sprayed edges. Thats...that's too far!

[@camryn9377]

I definitely prefer when books used to get a regular release and then years later would get a special edition. I don't subscribe to any bookish subscription boxes, they have never been affordable to me, but I'll often read books that I own the original paperback or hardcover edition and then if I really liked it and would reread, I'll buy the special edition (if it's nice, of course), but I buy any special edition second hand. The price gouging on some of these special editions is absolutely ridiculous, but occasionally there are some great deals to be found. I also read my special editions, it's a personal preference, because even if I am buying these editions second hand and cheaper, that is a lot of money for me to invest in a copy I am not going to read.

[@keansado]

Why is Jess me today? 😂 went from talking about books to the state of this country and the world love it! I also have a fairyloot sub and a illumicrate sub. I like illumicrate cause you can skip as many months as you want (just stay active every 9 months) Fairyloot only allows four. I’ve also been meh about most of the books they send after reading them so highly thinking of cancelling but the editions outside the sub are amazing and always sell out during early access. I am definitely trying to only keep and buy books i actually like so the fairyloot sub seems such a waste right now.

[@dolphinsrock09]

I defiently agree with you that books on the outside in the recent years have good concept but end up being like a three star when they could be a five because something was not fleshed out. I just got my master degree in Screenwriting which I know is a little different but looking at what is going on there is that companies don't want to take chances they just want to sale something over and over again no mater what the quality of the story is. With that being said there are still stories coming out but if it was not for youtube I would have not heard of them I had to get off of other social media and just focus on youtube because all the stories to me were to surface level but easy to put in a quick 10 sec video saying how pretty the book was.

[@Dana-dl6rf]

There have been some relatively recent YA releases that I LOOOVED after what seemed like a solid few months to a year of mostly bad books. My favorites have been Only a Monster, Gilded, The Secrets We Keep, and This Woven Kingdom (the sequel was one of my favorite books so far this year and I'm dying for the third)

[@currant7_recommends]

Book box and book merch...I remember getting before a vibratir for the smutty PR box. I was emailed and informed that they will send something R rated so to open it in private when I get it. I enjoyed that box and it is one of the most memorable ones I got ever. Hahahaha Re: the Special Editions I agree that I would buy a SE book if I have read and LIKE the book. Ironically, majority of the SE is not good or worth my shelling out my coins. 😢 it is more promo and hype. We match up...same goes for Izzy's and Bethany's for me.

[@readilykatie8312]

LMAO 😂

[@themodishgeek2195]

First, On My Mama IS the moment. Unfortunately you held up a beautiful gown in this video…Forged By Blood. I know!! 😫Fairyloot and the publishers played in our faces with this one. Rarely does one of my anticipated releases get a special edition so I was hyped. 🤡I DNF’d at 30% because it's CLEARLY YA and I’m not in my YA era right now. (Plus, between me and you, it’s not great IMO) The publisher and Fairyloot pushing this as adult is a bamboozle! This may've helped them sell books (especially if Fairyloot didn’t have to take up a YA spot with it) but it was a disservice to the book.

[@JessOwens]

On My Mama IS ITTT 🔥 NOT FORGED BY BLOOD BEING A BEAUTIFUL GOWN NAURRRR

[@tarareads23]

“Great gowns. Beautiful gowns.” 🤣🤣🤣

[@bethloubet4650]

Yes!!!! Preach. Thank you.

[@aletheac3400]

As far as Fairyloot,ppl online are torn over it. Some are excited for it and some are like Fairyloot is trying to do too much and needs to take care of what they are already doing before adding more

[@lordtette]

OMM has been stuck in my head for daysss

[@scheherazade2291]

I don’t think Fairyloot controls how many books they are able to get. Usually that’s determined by the publisher.

[@alairuiz814]

I remember soap gate 😭 it happened before I could even began reading acomaf, and I still did it

[@Elizabeth-uu5tv]

Obsessed with that song. OBSESSED.

[@JessOwens]

I’m singing it ALL DAY EVERY DAY

[@aletheac3400]

overall, there is an influx of special editions/stunning books so they are less special. But just cause the outside has had a glow up, publishing is still a mess and editors overworked so books are more lackluster inside

[@deegill1113]

I love your rant Jess you are the boss!

[@sablestar1956]

I’m brandnew to these book subscriptions . I was so excited and then I got my first book and it was gorgeous but so boring that I cancelled the subscription immediately. I’m not interacting in pretty books, I’m ONLY interested in pretty GREAT books! I just joined the FairyLoot waitlist and the Adult Illumicrate Evernight horror subscription wait list and I’ll see how it goes. 😰

[@netogrof]

I only buy b&n exclusive editions of books I’m interested in. They don’t cost extra and I can walk into any b&n and buy them off the shelf.

[@Kaitydid_Krixtur]

👏🏻 🗣 go off queen!

[@Kaitydid_Krixtur]

This rant was pure gold

[@avsambart]

I do think FL should focus on doing limited runs of previous editions now and again rather than creating a whole new group of editions.

[@MikaylaKennedy]

It doesn't sound like they're going to be the same designs from that press release. I thought they were trying to say the books are going to be redone with more intricate designs