tier ranking my most anticipated books for 2024 (disappointments, best, and worst)

[@caricanread]

my usual disclaimer, these are my opinions as they were at this exact moment of filming lol things change! im already regretting putting intermezzo where it is, it could have been one lower :')

[@lyannabraxton2247]

Literally same, I made a ranking video one time and changed my mind every two seconds haha

[@samlstowell]

An education in Malice was so bad that I left it in a hotel room on purpose. I took it on vacation and didn't even want to bring it home.

[@StephyM.C.]

Whoa.

[@katevenhorst1723]

Oh damn. I too was disappointed, especially because A Dowry of Blood was fantastic!!

[@karleyjags]

me, looking at the brand new copy i bought last month: 😬

[@waxwingsfall]

You legitimately persuaded me to remove this from my tbr

[@jayak3341]

Really??? I thought it was mid, why didn’t you like it very curious. No one if my friends has read it so I need people to talk about it haha

[@MarchL-s1i]

35:10 I totally get this about so many books nowadays! When I can smell the marketable of the book regarding lines, tropes, characters I cannot help but get the ick. I love certain tropes but I don't want to feel spoon fed indulgence.

[@caricanread]

its such a bummer :( especially when you see it literally used in the marketing and you're like oh yeah, she wrote that line thinking of it going viral...

[@joyceheidendal]

I felt this way about Powerless by Lauren Roberts as well!

[@Tay-wj9et]

Yeah, when they introduce themes like they're ao3 tags and you can pinpoint the exact audience it's intended for, it just makes a book so unappealing and weirdly synthetic? Like it's been generated rather than written I guess

[@anablagojeviic]

cari we don't say it enough - we love and appreciate you

[@caricanread]

thank you :''''')

[@alexx5064]

the grumpier you are, the more we understand and empathize. also no need to apologize for being ill! hopefully you’re all better and enjoying the holidays

[@wifeunderthesea]

i’ve been having the absolute worst past few months, but i burst out laughing as soon as you said “weird that it happened twice, allison.” first time i’ve laughed in a long, long time. thanks. 💜

[@vtu_jade]

i’m so happy to see cat sebastian being talked about because she is doing something that I haven’t seen anyone else doing or not as good, she’s one of my favorite authors and people need to read her books they’re simply so good 😔

[@downrighteerie17]

Same!! I've been reading her books since she first started publishing and her consistency is unmatched.

[@DetectiveHalogen]

Cari dropping another video to help me do all my prep work as a chef ; makes 50lbs of onions go by in a breeze

[@moreofvera]

Cari will you make a video on your most anticipated books for 2025???

[@MariaAlexia24]

Once again I love how relaxing your voice is 😅😊 It always helps with my anxiety

[@caricanread]

im happy to hear that :') hopefully i dont whine too much in this one hahahha

[@rosie_pie_14]

THE SCREAM I SCRUMPT WHEN I SAW THIS. i love when cari posts it makes my day 😭

[@livbrock2359]

the courting of bristol keats last scene description has me CRYINGG bc there is absolutely no way

[@ejderhaz]

I love it when the moomin mug makes an appearance in your videos, it's so pretty!!!

[@caricanread]

so glad i brought it home with me :'''')

[@snelebi]

Watching this while doing the dishes and I HAVE THE EXACT SAME MUG IN THE SINK 🤯

[@madel005]

Me watching with a Moomin mug in my hand like "we are hanging out🥰" 😂

[@anniinafrisk8861]

I know right! Seeing it makes my Finnish heart so happy!! (:

[@summerg.2934]

This is making me want to read An Ember in the Ashes again. Sabaa Tahir is chefs kiss 😍. I have not read Heir yet, glad to hear she hasn't lost her touch 😏

[@nina80808]

Watching this at 1.5x speed bc I have 35 minutes before work and I need my daily dose of Cari asap!!! My day is made, I hope you're doing well these days Cari

[@pendragon2012]

Passed my 90th book on this year. Think I can make an even 100 next year? Always enjoy hearing from you, Cari!

[@caricanread]

i am powering through books this week so maybe you can even hit 1-- in 2024! hahah

[@themoonandtosaturn]

so perfectly worded my feelings about an education in malice, especially after i looooved a dowry of blood😭😭 the minute it lost the academic focus i was so so SO sad

[@lbtea7]

An accurate MOOD for this year in reading...but the Emily Wilde books saved this year for me! Also, thank you for all your wonderful book videos this year, Cari 🙂💜

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

wow, i've never been so early. always a good day when cari posts!

[@caricanread]

wahhhhh thank you!!

[@shaunaisazombie]

I think the fact that editors are so overworked during the day doing non-editorial work that they have to do their actual editing work at home after work and not on the clock is the reason so many of these books are let downs.

[@camillereadss]

why is this the case?

[@TobiGirl08]

I mean editors aren't responsible for the content of the book...like the main ideas, plot points and characters

[@downrighteerie17]

You Should Be So Lucky is also one of my favorites of the year!! Cat Sebastian has been an old reliable for me for like a decade, and this one was truly just *chef kiss* wall to wall greatness.

[@Milovatsi]

That book is so good ❤

[@jessicalawson1417]

the casual reference to knotting in Bride really slapped me in the face, lol

[@alexandrajp1054]

I'd love a tier video with your biggest surprises of 2024! Like, those you had no/low expectations on or were skeptical about and turned out to be better than expected

[@emilywilliams4296]

I love your ranking videos! If you’re looking for video suggestions I’d love to see a tier ranking of your fav protagonists or like a “building my dream protagonist” using my fav main characters video ❤

[@oliviaspages]

Not gonna lie a sapphic book recommendations video or tier ranking or reading vlog of all sapphic books would be kinda sick 👀

[@SierraMendoza-y4x]

EXACT THOUGHTS CARI. I WAS TRYING TO GUESS WHAT YOUR RANKINGS WERE AND ALMOST GOT THEM ALL RIGHT ❤

[@violaerbach5566]

Okay, so I finally got to reading The Wild Huntress... I ate it up in one sitting and to say I was shocked by the twist is probably the understatement of the year. I actually loved it but perhaps because I feel it is such a bold and unexpected turn that never in 100 years would I have guessed it. However, I do agree with you, that the motivation is somewhat unexplained. At least it does clash a bit with my understanding of a certain character up to a point, as well as with the same character's behavior at the end of the book... But it is very difficult to express my thoughts without spoiling anything so I should stop :D

[@caricanread]

i feel you! i think it would have been much better if we had a bit more time at the end to come to terms with the twist/character but it felt so short!!

[@violaerbach5566]

@ Yes, especially since it does not make sense given his backstory that I feel we spent quite a lot of time on exploring.

[@ZellyTheJelly]

12:45 "But could I tell you what happened in the end? Could I tell you that I cared? No. No, unfortunatly" was said with such a perfect tone to it 😂

[@Sarah.reads.sometimes]

I discovered Cat Sebastian this year & 1000% agree. I read 3 of her books (including You Should be So Lucky 😍) and loved each of them.

[@chansky8541]

I'm excited to finally get Alecto in 2025 (manifesting, shhhh don't take this shred of hope from me)

[@sighsteph]

i actually cackled out loud at ur review of the courting of bristol keats, the barn's pov took me out and when u talked abt the ending . . tears in my eyes. but also “weird that it happened twice, allison." subscribed bc i love the way u speak, stayed for ur humour sense .. always enjoy ur reviews that genuinely make me laugh 😹💓

[@onithalion4641]

Omg the moomin mug at the beginning, thanks for the tier list ^^

[@genevieveb-t5588]

I would love a video about upcoming books in 2025 you're excited for!

[@morganhyde3225]

The more I reflect on The Courting of Bristol Keats, the more it doesn’t make any sense. I read the Kiss of Deception series off your recommendation about a year ago and loved it!! I was so excited for Bristol and…it feels like a whole different author😭

[@brookereedy8661]

Hi Cari! I know this video is about your most anticipated reads of 2024, but I just wanted to say on a separate note I am so glad you thoroughly enjoyed The Library at Mount Char! It is a book I think about often and I go back every so often to read my favorite snippets or reread it entirely!

[@awpageofabook]

If I did this myself, I'd be putting almost all of them in the mid/let down tier. It was just one of those years for reading.

[@kyrsten_kae]

Yes, amazing, a new Cari video! So happy to be here lol. My year in reading was actually great! I highly recommend the Dark Rise series by C.S. Pacat (please, I'm begging, I think you would love it)

[@yagmur2617]

my favorite place on the internet. so grateful for your videos, happy new year 🎉

[@_rayafterhours]

Ayyyyyee she posted- happy hoildays cari and a happy new year🫶🎄

[@caricanread]

happy new year!!!!

[@NonAnonD]

Yes, Little Thieves #3 is the finale. She was on a podcast with V.E. Schwab and said as much, she could have gone for more but they thought it was good ending point (also something about sales a bit)

[@xxbattleblazexx]

I have to wonder if the publishing industry will bounce back after such a steep and quick decline in the quality of books. I see so many ppl, myself included, complain abt the quality, and yet these books keep making money and being pushed to publishing. I wonder if their target audience, who I believe are ppl who only started reading during the pandemic and aren’t seasoned enough readers, will ever gain higher reading comprehension. Or if they will grow out of these quickly/poorly executed books, and want to reach for more creatively executed novels. Or if they grow out of reading in general bc they never liked reading to begin with, and the same old tropes will eventually grow stale to them. As long as these books sell, I can see them continue to dominant the industry bc they’re easier to sell and consume. If the industry does begin to bounce back, I don’t see it happening for several more years, and it will be slow. It’s rather sad, considering I love reading and hope to publish one day. Writing is an art, and it’s being smeared so blatantly.

[@meganellis9609]

Wow that is a super snobby comment. Just saying

[@xxbattleblazexx]

@@meganellis9609 My tone isn’t the best when I type, but I still stand by what I said. I’m by no means trying to gatekeep reading, or try to make it out to be an “intellectual only” type of hobby. But I am frustrated by ppl on booktok who push the trope-ification of books or say books aren’t political, and at publishers for dumbing down books and regarding their target audience as stupid enough to have to be told everything instead of shown, and for not quality controlling in the editing and beta reading stage of publishing. Reading should be fun for everyone, but everything seems to be trending toward one mainstream, so much so that books are starting to lack originality and blend together. It’s sad to see creativity slowly dying out.

[@dreamcatcher6219]

@@meganellis9609 its really not… booktok’s bad taste is what’s pushing these bad books to be published and for editors to get careless w editing. my prime example for this is tahereh mafi, the way the writing for “this woven series” downgraded from one book to the next is so obvious to most but it’s still considered a good book cuz new readers only care as long as the romance is well written. i admit i care for romance most but i can’t ignore objectively bad plot writing unlike most of booktok and book twitter

[@yelenskareads]

Snobby because you don't like what she said, aka the truth? OK, you sound like the kind of people who want to level down on many things so that those who aren't at the same level don't feel bad about it... Like that had helped anyone. ​@meganellis9609

[@yelenskareads]

​​​@xxbattleblazexx I feel bad you felt the need to apologize about your tone after stating the truth... Maybe if you'd added a smiley it would've been received differently! (**irony**) We are getting dumber by the minute, why shouldn't we say it for what it is. The quality of certain (many*) books getting published recently is an insult to our money and brain. Did you notice that there is a similar dumbing-down that has been happening in TV shows and movies? It's partially due to the fact that those who write scenarios sometimes get a memo that they should "dumb down" certain stories or else some people won't understand what's going on. In recent years, they've also started receiving memos that it's "not second screen enough" - meaning that people who are going to scroll on their phone or do something else while watching the show won't be able to follow. Let that sink in. At what point do we start demanding quality again?

[@nninebyw836]

i read the invocations because of you! and it is the best book of 2024 for me i really like it. can you please please please do a recommendation on something like this? like thriller/horror sapphic witches things i would really appreciate it🥹💖

[@lioness3146]

November really came in at the last moment with a whole BARRAGE of disappointments for us all 😔 Also I was just getting ready for bed in my side of the world, so bless you Cari ♥️ This came at the perfect time

[@caricanread]

the autumn releases are usually my favorite and they were just :'''''(

[@hollym7878]

I'm not a huge fan of the direction that most fantasy books are tending in, so I'm reading a lot of backlisted, older fantasy works at the moment. 😆 I agree that publishing is currently leaning too much into trope-driven works, to its detriment!

[@camryn9377]

I couldn't finish Funny Story. I didn't even make it that far in, but Emily Henry isn't for me, but most contemporary romances aren't. Although, thanks to this video, I now know I need to read Ember in the Ashes before going into Heir. I'll also be trying out T. Kingfisher soon, so hopefully I love them as much as you do. I love Christina Henry, so I am hoping that bodes well for reading T. Kingfisher.

[@rixanoz]

Hope you have a very merry Christmas and happy early birthday!

[@petnamebee]

Most the time i have never read any of the books you talk about- I don't know why but I've been on a sapphic book kick and mostly from my library so less newer books I guess- but the fact that I read the Invocations this year? I was so excited to see something i read on your list!

[@SophieHeflebower]

okay i’ve never heard of cat sebastian but it seems like i need to read that book right now as soon as possible

[@michellecgb]

I feel like a dedicated rant video was in order for The Courting of Bristol Keats 😂

[@caricanread]

I have a live reaction vid of it!

[@michellecgb]

@ I know, I watched it 🫶🏻 It just feels like you have more to say in more of a rant review way than a live reaction way, if that makes sense 😂

[@anth1381]

Glad that you are coming back and stronger than ever ❤️❤️

[@SuperNovacaine44]

I read The Wild Huntress and I LOVED it, I gave it 5 stars. The ending wasn't my favorite, it left me so mad at him, but it evoked big emotions so I still had to rate it so highly!

[@shakira2976]

Girl I'm in the same place with Allison Saft, A Fragile Enchantment looked so good on paper, and then it went splat and there was no saving it.

[@lauracthis]

I LOVED The Wild Huntress!!! 5 stars, give me 14 of them. one of the reasons I really enjoyed it was the fact I happened to read it during the winter solstice, so I was fully immersed in the setting and end of autumn, start of winter vibes. I'm surprised I liked it as much as I did though. normally the thing that happened would leave me feeling more like ?!!? and annoyed, but I think because I really liked Gwydion, I was sort of like "yes, actually be a real tickster". so like you, I really appreciated the choice she made, and it ended up being what I wanted too even though normally it would not be. maybe I feel like the thing that happened just fit with the darker/sinister feeling of the change of seasons and the hunt? it was refreshing to read something where characters make choices that are not good, bad things happen because of them, and they aren't tidily resolved and sort of taken back. I also felt the same way about The Thirteenth Child but I lean more slightly to being let down. the one note pacing/plot was really a struggle for me. I've come to rely on Erin A. Craig for spooky stories that I can't put down, and I wanted this book to be a stand out of the year and it was not for me. for reference some other top books for me this year were Small Favors (probably contributed to my disappointed feelings about Thirteenth Child), My Throat an Open Grave, Where the Dark Stands Still, and Heir. honorable mention to Lady Macbeth, Your Blood My Bones, The Night Ends with Fire, and sort of the Revenant Games. Foul Lady Fortune/Foul Heart Huntsman were good because I just love that world, but sort of dragged.

[@namratashishodia6644]

Waiting for mortal instruments part4❤❤ Happy new year 🎉

[@tattgerine]

I’ve never been so early omg. cozy time!!🧸🎀

[@caricanread]

yeeee thanks for being here!

[@thaisgastaldi1180]

This year has been a good reading year for me (MAYBE bc personal life has been difficult) but it was also a year that I have been VERY critical of some books (i think bc of Cari 😂 I'm fairly easy to impress but there's a couple of books that weren't even Cari's recommendation but I clock things she usually complain in books -- lack of character development for sex scenes sake especially😅) but overall, I loved a lot of books, reread favorites and read outside of my comfort zone. I usually dont expect many releases so i dont get disappointed, but im excited by Emily R. Austin release for january and Grace D. Li release for mid-2025 and then thats it 😂😅 but those are very high expectations ❤

[@cheeseisdelicious4627]

I honestly forgot if you talked about your anticipated books for '25, I try to search my memory and it's so blank..

[@emilybookleaf]

I love your honesty and takes! I felt the same about Funny Story =/ Get good rest and feel better!! ❤

[@sydverse127]

feel so vindicated by a dark and drowning tide being placed where it was, especially on the colonization front. was so disappointing!

[@isabellacartaya7912]

cari posts a tier ranking and i click on it without reading what it’s about and im not going to apologize for that

[@cedartonk3382]

Thanks for inspiring me to read so much this year! I’m excited to continue the momentum :))

[@katie5793]

As a native Michigander!! Yes come visit!!! I have so many local book store recommendations

[@silverscreensparkle]

Instantly liked once I saw your Moomin mug! (+I really enjoy your book videos so safe bet)

[@perseusnova]

i think emily henry being able to write a romance book where the male lead isn't for everyone shows just how well shes able to write different male characters. most male characters tend to fall into like the same 3 categories in romance. everyone has a type in real life, and she is able to translate that into writing form.

[@jessdaniello]

you should be so lucky was one of my favs of the year!!!! so amazing I sobbed

[@odellian606]

cari, I give you a kiss to your forehead for one time mentioning the invocations in an autumn video and because of you it was my favorite read of 2024

[@milicasnow5833]

i got, like, an actual masterclass ad on this video! with neil degrasse tyson! thats awesome how it worked out

[@caricanread]

lol!!!!

[@gabriellabatel]

Thank you for sparing me The Courting of Bristol Keats, that would've TICKED me off, so thanks for taking a hit for the team!

[@afvokvsen]

wooohooooooo 🥰🥰🥰 happy early birthday and happy new year!!! hope u have a lovely time off. thanks so much for providing such great content both for books and vlogs on caricakes. your videos are always beautiful! with much love from Boston, MA ☺️☺️

[@AdiCarin]

Love your Moomintroll mug. 😍

[@michellemachesney1487]

i love your videos & tier ranking is so fun bride is the only ali hazelwood book ive read and i would indeed like 14 more of them lmao i surprisingly loved it even tho it started slow to me

[@DaraCartujano]

These tier ranking videos of yours are the best!!! Looks like we’re all hoping 2025 will be a better reading year 😂

[@abbyfathauer1211]

i’m so glad i wasn’t the only one somewhat disappointed by The Familiar. i didn’t even end up finishing it :(

[@J.Hanna7]

A Crame Among Wolves really hit the spot for me this year. Definitely in my top 3 books of the year.

[@meghanshinn5966]

you should be so lucky was literally one of the best romances i've ever read, let alone this year. wow wow wow twenty stars if i could give it that.

[@감자귀여운]

Thanks for another amazing video Cari!! Happy holidays! Love ya❤

[@caricanread]

happy holidays!!!

[@perseusnova]

i'm glad i'm not the only one who felt this years books generally were not good. such a weird year for reading

[@zee8766]

I don't usually comment but happy holidays/new years Cari

[@TyHauser]

Your Should Be So Lucky was such a fun and beautiful story. My first 5 star book in 2025.

[@kristentejera7160]

love love love your reviews!

[@mattkean1128]

Imagine writing a book and Cari reading it 😯 You may have just inspired me.

[@Sthemingway]

I loved Dowry in Blood; I liked the first half of An Education in Malice...and then it became portions of two other stories or what could have been. I wanna know what happens in Spain, though.

[@brailadonovan1129]

CARI POSTED YAY

[@caricanread]

:''''')

[@willgalarneau5655]

if you like 1920s nyc, pleeeease tell me you've read the diviners. it's catnip for nyc 1920s aesthetics combined with murder mystery/paranormal urban fantasy

[@81dragonmind]

Ooh. Totally unrelated: You have a Moomin mug! 😍

[@faustinagut_]

happy new year Cari! will toast for a better reading year for 2025 hahaha

[@mariama716]

Tempest of tea hurt me SO BAD like the disappointment… I love her though and have hope for book 2

[@delhek4042]

The oddly placed excessive smut is my least favourite new trend, it does nothing to move the plot, sometimes it goes against the core character traits, I don’t want to be there after the first time if there is no longing and pining!

[@KKBeauty113]

okay wait I did not love Heir as much as I hoped... but I also never read An Ember in the Ashes. I was looking all over online and most people said it was okay to read Heir without reading the previous series but listening to you, I'm thinking I may have enjoyed it more if I knew the world and previous characters more. Maybe I'll have to do a reread after I read An Ember.

[@ChanelChapters]

Wild huntress is a fab wild hunt retelling. Love me a trickster character personally, always a wildcard

[@adreamerontherun]

totally agree with an education in malice both for the reasons you mentioned and also the unnecessary two POVs when only one of them was interesting enough and had a tiny bit of character development. Not to mention that i think it wasn't really a dark academia book 🤷🏻‍♀

[@maggieprice357]

Girl I felt that same way about Miles in Funny Story 😂 wasn’t attracted to him at all but was like, “do you girl!”

[@cimoyhatake]

"The future always bright" loveeee this and love all the rant.

[@LeUnicorn1]

Omg I was just looking for one of your videos to watch and you posted!

[@caricanread]

yeeee im here!!

[@Sharleen91]

I feel for "A far wilder magic" what you feel for "A dark and drowning tide". That book and "practical magic" taught me to DNF when I'm not having a good time. Both are books of 2023 that I wish I never read lol!

[@lilystoyanova4900]

The only 2024 release I finished this year was The Reappearance of Rachel Price, which I was so excited for, and it ended up being soooo bad 😫😫😫 I also DNF'd An Education in Malice, but I found even the first part boring while also being extremely annoyed by the use of Carmilla for marketing while the story and the characters have absolutely nothing to do with the original story, like, what do you mean Carmilla is not even the vampire in the story??

[@alisonmahler4759]

My dad just got me the Courting of Bristol for Christmas....now I am hesitant to read it. You and I normally have the same taste. I am going to read it anyway but not high on my TBR

[@alexf6023]

unfortunately cat sebastian just doesnt hit it for me. reserved invocations and where sleeping girls lie; i can see why they mismarketed heir as i just dont have the time for a required reading of four chunky books

[@tashamckinney4158]

Krystal Sutherland (The Invocations and House of Hollow) is legitimately one of my favorite authors that does a twist/reveal/oh snap moment correctly. I never see it coming but upon a reread she sprinkles stuff it so flawlessly that I'm like 😳. Autobuy author for sure.

[@thatgirlnextfloor]

bcoz you mentioned you should be so lucky i looked it up and I saw it's actually book 2, so I read We Could Be So Good first and it's a 5 stars for me!! gosh cat sebastian knows how write love and yearning like ohmygosh yes please more!

[@linds8877]

You had an unintentional pun at the end that I think was beautiful. You said “The ones that came at the end were the worst”