I wanted to like these popular books, but I just didn’t 😢

[@AnotheraccountonYT]

Oh that's "maybe I'm asexual oh no just needed the right man" really gets on my nerves

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Yeah it really gave me the ick in the book. I don’t like that portrayal of ace people

[@aylacrissman3443]

@@CarleyLightfootI have never read the book, so I could be BE VERY WRONG, but could the author been trying to make the character demisexual or was it more of a “getting excited at first sight” kind of thing proving “they only needed the right person” type of deal? Genuinely curious.

[@CarleyLightfoot]

@@aylacrissman3443 I think that’s an interesting idea, and tbf it’s been over a year since I read the book so I can’t really remember enough to speak on that with confidence. What I can say is that I’m demisexual and that’s not the way that I interpreted it personally when I was reading the book, but I think I’d have to reread to give a proper answer to your question and I’m not willing to do that 😂

[@aylacrissman3443]

@@CarleyLightfoot fair enough, and if it didn’t hit you as a demisexual realization/relationship, it probably wasn’t OR it was poorly done. In which case, still an ick and I probably won’t read the book.

[@Jaz_3]

@@aylacrissman3443 I believe in the book olive literally says she doesn’t feel attraction to someone unless she has known them for a while/has a connection which I believe is the literally definition of demisexual so I’m not sure how someone would miss it unless they like blanked out on that part or something

[@captainwinchester8246]

I'll never forgive booktok for telling me that "It Ends With Us" was a romance when really its a book full of trauma, and an abuser just gets away with being the worst person ever

[@YW2324]

Ya not a good book. From what I've heard. Before anyone comes after me lol

[@Island0910]

It was not a good book but you have to read It Starts With Us. SooooOo much better.

[@DenallieDNa]

I like you 😊

[@theamazingdevilstan]

FR

[@mindytaylor4950]

I hated that book. I didn't even wanna take it with me I left it on the plane.

[@user-ip5bf6vf4s]

I'm sorry HE DID WHAT???

[@mendmywings7238]

I had someone almost get my tit on their mouth. With some sort of weird suction thing they were doing with their mouth 0/10 would not recommend I'm only a B though

[@CarleyLightfoot]

😂😂 even if I could find a man who could do that, I don’t think I’d want him to

[@Jae_pap]

That’s is crazy this is why I don’t like smutty books the freak me out

[@annelie3452]

main character probably has A cups 🤧

[@Rosegold1793]

I literally thought the exact same thing and then I just decided for my mental well-being that she has a very small chest because otherwise HOW

[@helizaj2620]

As an asexual person, I'm so sick of hearing "oh you just need to find the right person." Won't be reading that one.

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Absolutely, it was very icky to read that kind of portrayal

[@YumikoMayamine]

Some men justify raping ace women with this argument...

[@ultrakitten674]

I once had a client tell me that, in much more vulgar terms, while I was working with them. I have never fired a client so fast (I am a massage therapist, and she was trans, i was trying to just say something along the lines of "i am part of the community too" as a way of connecting) I hate when i find a character in media who i feel comes off Ace to have the sudden "nope i just didnt find the one" trope get pulled. ugh!

[@ukuleleisabel]

That’s terrible! I’ve read “The Love Hypothesis” and it hints at Olive being demisexual rather than asexual. While the book doesn’t use the term, Olive mentions that she only feels attracted to people she is emotionally close with. There is, however, an asexual character in “Love, Theoretically” (another book by the same author) and I’d be interested to hear if they are represented well.

[@siennahartle9069]

It wouldn’t be so bad if the character came to the conclusion of being demisexual or grey sexual or even if they were a sex positive ace who just enjoyed the physical sensation and/or intimacy, or if they enjoyed making the person they love feel good, but no the protagonist always drops any notion of asexuality 2 seconds after meeting the love interest

[@miraculousmoonsanddragons]

The Love Hypothesis is also a Reylo fanfic and they're not even hiding it because that really is just Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley on the cover lmao

[@blurryeyes316]

Also it's not even that good of a fanfic.

[@gracesull78756]

fr even down to the bun in her hair, like have never been able to unsee the literal reylo fanart cover

[@glitch84-]

Not judging the book because i've not read it (romance is not really my genre), but at first I thought it was a sherlolly fanfic.

[@familyberente1407]

Top it of, the artist who made the cover also is a semi big name amongst Reylo fanartists

[@glitch84-]

@familyberente1407 well.. but i think these kinds of cooperations afe nice. Fanauthors and fanartist helping each others. It's sweet

[@April_2007]

It Ends With Us - took that as my ONLY book to a week long camp, finished it in one evening, it was god awful and offered it up as fire kindling

[@Emotais]

Legend

[@April_2007]

@@Emotais thanks, the Scout leader offered up a Tomahawk to destroy it and boy was it fun!

[@sherlock7898]

Probably the best use of that book 😂

[@notzoenoelle]

did you get to make s'mores over it??

[@April_2007]

@@notzoenoelle yes after we walked an hour to the nearest shop to buy the marshmallows and chocolate biscuits (we didn’t throw the mangled book on it till we got back)

[@gordshorde]

i tend to avoid book tok because of the way i (a sex repulsed ace) have been treated for asking about book recs that didn't involve sex. some people seem to think that me asking for a book without spicy scenes means i think spicy scenes shouldn't exist. when in reality it's just not something i enjoy reading :(

[@hercheshiresmile-1321]

As someone who isn't ace, I also hate sex based books. Just give me a compelling story if they fall in love I can assume, if I think about it at all, it happened behind the curtains. Nothing ruins a book more for me than a detailed sex romp (same with movies actually) 😮‍💨

[@JlNXED]

Honestly feel like a lot of things are over sexualized, I’m not asexual by any means, but I want to enjoy a good romance with a good story in my books and in television without unnecessary sex scenes and graphic portrayals

[@Rosegold1793]

I have found my people. I just find them awkward and I’m MARRIED so it’s not like I disapprove or anything 😅

[@ima-human9593]

As another ace, I resonate with this, but if you really want a book to read I recommend Howls Moving Castle (the novel, not the Studio Ghibli adaptation) it is genuinely one of of my favorite books and super whimsical

[@gordshorde]

@@ima-human9593 currently have that on hold! ☺️

[@princesstm]

No cause i definitely needed these warnings imagine reading and being jumpscared by these lines 😭😭

[@JustDezs]

HE DID WHAT TO HER TITTIE- Can I go with anyone to their therapy appointment 😭

[@valid_sound_and_furious961]

Uuhhhh when the book says "milking me" I don't think this is what it means...

[@notzoenoelle]

i'll take that offer, i could use a friend 😭

[@hannahstrashcan]

NO ONE TALKS ABOUT SNAKE JAW ADAM DRIVER I think everyone is just scared to mention it, but it’s been an inside joke at the book store I work at since I read it 😂😂😂

[@deandean1703]

I recently read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and it was like reading fanfiction! Not that fanfics are bad, but basing a revolution on the shoulders of teen crushes is just so stupid in my opinion. I just dislike when the characters barely have a connection and there comes a "was /anything/ you said true??" moment after a backstab. You've only known him for a month! He's a liar! Get on with it! 🙃🙆‍♂️

[@CarleyLightfoot]

I totally get you! I love reading fanfiction, but when I feel like I’m reading it in a published book I’m less of a fan. I also have a very specific thing of HATING insta love books where they fall deeply in love in the space of a few days/weeks/a month. That’s not love, you just have a crush and yes you can live without them lmao

[@larakinan7081]

I just finished Red Queen yesterday and literally thought the same thing, I even finished the book still waiting for the “amazing plot twist” I heard about and realized the plot twist was what I figured out in the first character meet 💀

[@Madiplankenhorn13]

I read red Queen too, and I feel the same way, there was also not really any like good characters in it.

[@that.dam.moonlark]

I also didn’t like the red queen series. It had so much potential but it just wasn’t my thing :(

[@laaibahsiddiqui2513]

Darling your criticism is invalid It is a very common trope for teens to save the world(harry potter, Percy Jackson, Shatter Me, etc.) but Red Queen is not about saving the world. It's about revolution and making a change. Moreover, Mare was not fixated on Maven. She collected herself and came out stronger than before. She learnt from this betrayal. In my opinion, she is very well written. Series like Shatter Me do not recieve hate though it is such a trash Series with plenty to criticize. Then why does Red Queen recieve this unnecessary hate when it does the same thing but better and minus the poor fl and smut. This comment makes it seem like you haven't even read the book.

[@kelseyjay6542]

Verity. I could not and still can't understand why people freak out over this book. None of the twists were twists- they seemed extremely obvious, except for the very last, which felt very "it was all a dream" to me. It just felt like one of those books where the major issues could have all been avoided if any one of the characters just made normal choices. No one would have concocted that plan and been like, "yeah, that will go off without a hitch." I sat stunned after finishing for all the wrong reasons.

[@almogxchq5282]

I feel you, but I actually enjoyed the concept. I think the whole concept was top-tier, but the execution was disgustingly lackluster. After reading Veridity, it definitely let my creative cogs turn, but I didn't really enjoy the book all that much.

[@GFAprodite]

I Knew The Guy Liked Her. I Did Nott See The Co-Worker's Sabotage.

[@jdnjstar19]

for me it was the summer i turned pretty😭 the summer vibes were there but i hated the main character AND her love interest

[@savannahstewart2501]

Lol which one? She had like three options and lead all of them on at one point or another 😭

[@jdnjstar19]

@@savannahstewart2501 ykw now that you said that this really applies to all of them but ESPECIALLY conrad💀 even his name is stupid i hated that boy sm

[@savannahstewart2501]

@@jdnjstar19 frr when I read the book I was like WHO TF NAMES THEIR SON THAT

[@jubsx_]

@@jdnjstar19FINALLY SOMEONE WHO DOESNT LIKE CONRAD. HE MADE ME SO MAD ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY

[@amaniya2009]

ANY COLLEEN HOOVER BOOK 😭

[@ashrunsaway1134]

Maybe less popular, but "Before the coffee gets cold" was supposed to be a cozy yet psychologically interesting book about grief and healing. Apparently the description was beautiful and you "can't put it down". Genuinely one of the dullest, most 1-dimensional books I've read in my life (it was translated so that could account for the description but STILL)

[@charmeccho]

agreed! I couldn't get past the first few pages, for me the way the characters were described seemed really unnatural and strange. maybe it's a result of the translation but I couldn't deal with it 😂

[@CarleyLightfoot]

I’ve heard of that one, but haven’t read it myself because I’m a big genre girlie. Sorry that Booktok lied to you too 😩

[@sophiezilberm8]

I hated it too lol

[@kari4835]

Same here! A friend gifted it to me as a recommendation and I felt so bad because I genuinely couldn't make it past the first chapter.

[@user-mv8cx8co6e]

huh i really enjoyed that one if i remember right

[@_Dragonrider_]

The Twisted series, by Anna Huang. I felt like the plots are copy pasted from Wattpad. Like, it's so stereotypical stuff, but also she's such a good author that it actually seems good. Honestly, I just see a bunch of wasted talent.

[@sim13729]

Oh my gaawddd....same same same....

[@sim13729]

Similarly Kings of Sins series...

[@farah.868]

The first chapters with Alex genuinely reminded me of Captain Holt every single time he pretended to be straight 😭

[@StrawberryMilk_Demon]

Booktok convinced me to read ACOTAR and I’ve never wished more in my life that I could unread a book.

[@MommaBeeb]

I read the first one and decided I won’t read anymore from that series or author.

[@kostusia]

I was appaled when people praising ACOTAR for shitting on Dune 😅

[@mirjam4234]

I'm sorry, where does the acronym stands for?

[@kostusia]

@@mirjam4234 A Court of Thorns and Roses. I mean it's not super bad but has big plot holes and for me very Mary Sue-ish Not-Like-Other-Girls main charakter

[@OnePieceOfEt]

I dont know if you want to hear İt but book 2 solves some of the plotholes. I Read the first 3 books and İt wasn't an amazing or flawless series as everyone says but book 1 is the worst one 😂

[@isabelleslotte2599]

For me it was twisted love. The amount of power the love interest had was unrealistic and he was pretty much a stalker

[@Harley24986]

That entire series is beyond unhinged lol

[@farah.868]

The first chapters with Alex genuinely reminded me of Captain Holt every single time he pretended to be straight 😭 but yes the whole point was that Alex is f-ed up and that Ava “can fix him” in the first book. Like pls, he’s crazy. Making a business call while being…??? Like that book traumatised me. And my friend over there going crazy over it and saying it was amazing..

[@0-Sweet-Cloud-0]

​@@Harley24986😂😅😅😂😅😂 thats why its called the twisted series

[@dudewhatthewhat8983]

As someone on the Ace spectrum, I would genuinely love it, if they just gave it that little twist of “it’s a spectrum.” Demisexuals are indeed a thing. But no, let’s just pretend that “nah all their previous experiences didn’t count, they just needed the right person.” Also, some Aces do enjoy sex, while still being Ace. The physical pleasure, the intimacy, wanting to please a partner, as well as the simple fact that: little to no sexual attraction =/= no sex drive. I just wish people understood that asexuality is not a strict box, and if you ever feel anything sexual, you are now banished from the ace box. Just let there be nuance dammit.

[@Nol.]

Yeah. My main problem with it is suddenly they are no longer ace, rather than they are still part of the ace spectrum just happen to be demi. It’s fine if they don’t realize that they’re demi, too, which even happened to me. The funny part is that I actually thought I was only on the aromantic spectrum, but then I ended up _actually_ feeling sexual attraction for someone and was like, “huh.” What I previously thought was sexual attraction was just me thinking people looked hot* while at the same time just wanting to have sex (on testosterone and had not been laid once in my entire life) so it was more of me being like, “they’re hot, I guess that would work.” *because people _are_ hot. Doesn’t mean I’m sexually attracted to them, though. Idk if that makes sense

[@Dragonshade64]

@@Nol. That's like Aesthetic attraction right?

[@Miszorov]

Booohooo, everyone needs a special label now but without commitment. Spectrum my ass bruh

[@Nol.]

@@Dragonshade64 probably

[@Sophie-xu6cp]

I would like to clarify that when reading The love hypothesis, nowhere in the book mentioned Asexuality.

[@yelenasong]

Olive mentioned twice that she'd previously thought herself ace, but she'd since realized she wasn't ace, she just needed a pre-existing bond with a person before doing things (demisexuality)

[@Sophie-xu6cp]

@@yelenasong whilst I agree she could be interpretted as Ace for that. Nowhere does it actually say Asexual. Yes it is implied possibly but that is still up to interpretation. The main point is that, exactly as you said, she comes to the conclusion that she does enjoy those activities when there is an emotional connection. I didn't know there was a term for that so thank you for enlightening me! have a good day :)

[@user-ql5wm2wv3h]

As an aromantic asexual I'm so tired of "they just needed the right person" stuff. Can't they create just interesting platonic relationships?

[@brianawong312]

Platonic relationships seem so rare. I love my fair share of romance, but do we really need to shove it in where it doesn't fit? I cannot remember a deep platonic relationship in a book.

[@user-ql5wm2wv3h]

@@brianawong312 yeah! You spoke my mind

[@fruitloopswithfruitontheside]

i haven’t personally read this book but the blurb says it has a queer platonic relationship between two people it’s called “Dear Wendy” by Ann Zhao

[@brianawong312]

@@fruitloopswithfruitontheside Queerplatonic? I'm putting that in my reading list!

[@Check.Mate.X]

I suggest Radio Silence by Alice Oseman! It creates a perfect platonic relationship between two characters, one being ace and neither are into each other.

[@a.z.mtanvirahad3932]

AroAce here, and hearing that "just need the right person" bs was infuriating, not going near that with a ten foot pole now. Thanks for the warning.

[@shinyumbreon696]

I’m a romantic ace and I honestly don’t think the characterization of LH’s Olive as ace who just needs the “right” man is fair. She’s clearly demisexual and explains it herself to the love interest. Her character’s issue is that she has difficulty trusting people and struggles with abandonment because she lost her only family as a teenager. Having trouble getting emotionally close to people interferes with her romantic life because she needs emotional connection to feel sexual attraction. It totally still may not be your thing but I didn’t think it was acephobic. If there’s any criticism of it, Olive does wonder if she’s “broken” a few times because she doesn’t experience primary sexual attraction, but personally I found that pretty relatable since I was in my late 20s before I learned about demisexuality and romantic asexuality and had those thoughts myself. I don’t remember anything implying the love interest “changed” her sexuality.

[@Fixfearnot]

The Spanish love deception was absolutely ass 😭😭

[@katelouise6876]

The cruel prince series now I did buy the first 3 books of that.(my toxic trait is buying a book series because booktok said it was good) I finished the first one and the other two are just sat lonely on the to read bookshelf

[@eydieslovlox7351]

As someone who read the series, I can tell you it isn’t that great. The next two books are pretty good, if you can get past the enemies to lovers. I suggest reading it, the second book makes up for it and the third books’ almost ending isn’t bad, although the actual ending isn’t great. I suggest reading the second book, don’t go to the third if you didn’t like the second.

[@ducklingscap897]

If it had been new you could have tried to donate it to your local library. Many of them do take popular books.

[@jubsx_]

the other books are much better!

[@Darius_Aether]

Haunting Adeline, Zade just gave me major hypocrit vibes because his whole job is killing harassers and R@pists and Pedophiles and thwn he goes and SA's a random woman he saw at a book signing once. Also tbe fact all of the supporting characters enable his behavour and telling Adeline that he is just obsessed with her. Haven't even bought the book or read through the free version online (appently there is one). Instead I resorted to online reviews and explaination deepdive videos because I hate this book so much. (With the power of a thousand suns.)

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Omg DO NOT get me started on Haunting Adeline 😂😂😂 if I ever make a part 2 of this video, Haunting Adeline will be on it. I did listen to the audiobook though and I think that improved my experience because I found it both hilarious and terrible at the same time

[@yaracho8203]

OMG YES THANK YOU

[@almogxchq5282]

I have it downloaded, couldn't make it through the FIRST CHAPTER?! I HATE IT. But my perfectionist self won't let me delete it without reading it. BUT I JUST CANT. Wtf do I do??

[@Pookie.cookie.]

​@@CarleyLightfoot same lol

[@darkacadpresenceinblood]

i haven't actually read that book but like i'm pretty sure that's the point no? everywhere i saw anything about it, the first thing was a disclaimer that it involves that kinda stuff so i was under the impression that it's like. toxic on purpose and you're supposed to read it knowing that (i don't know a whole lot about it so i might be wrong tho)

[@Kay-wp8xf]

HAUNTING ADELINE. I will sing CURSES TO ADELINE FOREVER

[@nomlemons1822]

caraval. i was sad, all that world building just to be like, she didn’t have time to look at it and describe it a bit because there were hot men and we’d rather look at our selection of emotionally unavailable hot men that are 1 underdeveloped and 2 will hide her away from the beautiful world she got cast into for half the book. the plot twists weren’t enough to save it for me.

[@noorahsalah2542]

It was the cruel prince for me. It just felt like the abused girl was falling in love with her abuser. I also wasn't a fan of the main character; she was just too angry and power hungry for my liking

[@katzensindweich3505]

Thank you for the comment. I was tiptoeing around it for a while. I won't pick it up.

[@shwetapandey9106]

The storyline is okay but the love story is not. It's just unconvincing.

[@AverageReader._.]

Not me reading the book right now 🥲

[@user-wp8gs8pz4j]

booktok lied to me about "the cruel prince". I was at my library one time and randomly found it. I had no clue what it was about but saw it was in a fantasy setting and didnt mention romance or anything in it so i gave it a try. didn't even finish. it was like: part one ends in a blaze of glory with the entire royal family dying, being murdered, her family having left beforehand as if they knew something. the murder and betrayal was awesome. then you go to read the second half and after one or two chapters it's like "oh god, their making out again" cue the immediate abandoning the book. and now every time I see it on booktok as such an amazing book, even though I hadn't found out about it through there, it makes me want to throw my mobile device at a window. anyone else feel like this?

[@shinyumbreon696]

I didn’t get it either. I stuck through the series until the end and I think I missed the part where they…..fall in love with each other?! Like he’s a total bully to her, she (correctly) hates him for it, and then all of a sudden they’re making out and oop they’re in love. No real trust or relationship-building, no realizing they were wrong about each other-they’re just in love now, shut up. I don’t even remember an apology (though it’s possible I just zoned out tbh). Honestly it makes Jude look like kind of an idiot.

[@thereptilianartist1376]

I swear Colleen Hoover is the bane of my existence.

[@user-vh2ix8uy2b]

Books that lied to me 👉 1. Shatter Me 2. The Fifth Season 3. Strange the Dreamer 4. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue 5. The Night Circus 6. The Cruel Prince 7. A Court of Thorns and Roses.... many others.

[@user-bs2ch3vz6g]

Shatter me 😭 I didn't like that book

[@Jaz_3]

Sorry but Olive, from the Love Hypothesis, is demisexual which I believe is a type of ace but they aren't the same thing the "right man" didn't come along she had to get to know him more personally before she felt that attraction I don't mean to hate but you can't just erase everyone on the ace spectrum who isn't fully repulsed by sexual attraction

[@demja2468]

Under another comment op said she's demisexual herself lol

[@Jaz_3]

@@demja2468 then why tf is she saying that Olive simply “found the right man” like if you read the book that is not what happens

[@shinyumbreon696]

@@Jaz_3like Olive literally explains that she’s demisexual and what that is, and that she didn’t mind the sex she had before but it didn’t have the emotional connection she needed. And Adam doesn’t push her; he actually backs off until they talk about it and get on the same page. It’s honestly pretty progressive. I might understand this mistake from someone who isn’t aware of ace spectrum but this is a really unfair criticism from someone who does.

[@Jaz_3]

@@shinyumbreon696 exactly like honestly I get it if she didn’t finish the book or blanked out during that part but like you can’t criticize something if you did either of those things she is taking away representation from a group at is severely underrepresented and that’s not even taking into consideration all the people that are ace but not completely repelled by the idea of s*x

[@MegaMackintosh]

I tried giving a booktok a shot when I heard the hook for ‘The Invisible Life of Addie Larue,’ I thought it would be fantastic. Except it wasn’t. Girl straight up preys on on people, gets to know them so when they forget her and meet her again, she can manipulate and exploit them for food and shelter, and especially for sex. It felt borderline rapey to me, but the book seemed to justify it as ‘Well it’s okay because she inspired their art despite her being so sad and lonely, and they forget about her anyways so it all works out!’ Ew. Also, as someone who studies theology as a hobby, the whole thing with that dark spirit who granted Addie’s wish being more ancient and powerful than the Christian God or Satan fell so flat to me, he just felt like every other edgy dude with emotional problems in these types of books that just ends up falling in love with Addie because… reasons. Addie also felt like a mad pixie dream girl who was supposed to fix the sad Jewish boy who was the only one who could remember her. Overall The Invisible Life of Addie Larue had some pretty descriptive writing, and really cool concepts, but it really failed in exploring those concepts, especially with the whole being immortal, almost invincible, always being forgotten thing. All Addie really did in the three hundred years she lived was to be a model for artists, it felt like such a let down. I should’ve learned my lesson with The Invisible Life, because I tried to give booktok one last chance with the book ‘Powerless.’ It straight up reads like a teenager’s Wattpad book. The worldbuilding was weak, lots of telling and not showing, and the characters were so flat and constantly contradicted their own characterization, it was bizarre. The main female lead, Paedyn Gray, is set up to be a girl hiding the fact that she is not an Elite so that she won’t be killed for being an Ordinary by faking mind reading powers. We’re told that she is supposed to keep her head down, to not stand out, to be aware of all that is going on. But then she turns around and starts simultaneously flirting with and borderline threatening the son of the king who had murdered her father, puts a dagger to the prince’s throat, goes out of her way to stand out at a ball by wearing a silver dress when all the other girls wore green, and opens her big fat mouth multiple times. In fact, the author uses the phrase ‘…the words fall out of my mouth before I could stop them’ multiple times. What happened to laying low and being aware of herself? Same deal with the male lead, Prince Kai. We’re told he’s the monstrous enforcer of the kingdom, that he’s been in many battles and has killed many Ordinaries, that his father even put him through torture to harden him, but we’re never shown this. His moral grayness falls completely flat, and his ‘complex layers’ feel so contrived. He’s only a monster when the plot needs him to be, and his monstrousness doesn’t seem to bother or affect Paedyn and any other character. I didn’t bother finishing both of these books, I dropped them after getting halfway through. I don’t trust anything anyone says about books on booktok anymore lol

[@tkobsidia9500]

Thank you for this I generally cant trust book tok cause the books are mostly boring.

[@CarleyLightfoot]

I’ve found some gems on Booktok, but unfortunately I think a lot of the recs don’t really deserve the hype they get. But reading is subjective, so as long as other people enjoyed them it’s fine if 🥲 I just don’t put much stock into really hyped Booktok recs anymore

[@tkobsidia9500]

@@CarleyLightfoot same

[@MsPoliteRants]

Twisted Love. I was SO glad I borrowed it from a friend. My face was contorted in ick the whole time.

[@Pookie.cookie.]

Lol my friend bought every book in twisted series cuz it was on a discount and regretted it

[@MsPoliteRants]

@@Pookie.cookie. Well at least it was discounted lol but still, it sucks when you've invested in something that seems great or has hype and then falls flat. That's why I do library reading as much as I possibly can, or borrow from friends lol. If it's good, I'll buy it out of principle to support the author.

[@farah.868]

I’m glad I read it online. The first chapters with Alex genuinely reminded me of Captain Holt every single time he pretended to be straight 😭 he was crazy and possessive and I understand that maybe he might’ve actually cared abt her but still.. it was too much

[@sydsyd5841]

I hate that series 😂 and I am one who really isn’t that judgey on a whole lot of books but thats series was just dumb

[@ahsjdjsx]

Fourth Wing. Call me a child, but that graphic scene was revolting. Genuinely had me ready to vomit. Also, the main character is flat and just unbearable.

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Oh interesting! I know of the book but know nothing about the plot except dragons I think? I am kind of intrigued about this revolting scene now though 👀

[@smilie3436]

Totally with you on that! As an ace person myself, many spicy scenes are too over the top for me - especially in BookTok books - but the “true” spicy scene and maybe even more so the “peripheral” one (hopefully you know which one I’m referring to…🤢) were truly too much. Frankly that destroyed my trust in booktok recommendations as well as in books involving dragons for the foreseeable future. Again, as an ace person that hurts🤧🐉

[@Idontreallyknowwhatimdoinglol]

The main girl is so irritating. Listening to her makes me want to burn the book so no one else will have to suffer as I did. Like, I shouldn't be rooting for the people trying kill her but I am.

[@ajahart6790]

Hated Fourth Wing. The main character was overall insufferable. The romance was skin deep and I don’t think the “small and disabled” thing was played off well

[@katzensindweich3505]

I know, right? I could not make myself read it. God, I felt so bad for hating it 😂

[@shwetapandey9106]

Oh God! So happy someone agrees with me. Btw, did you also think the main characters are modelled after Daenyrys and Khal?

[@ajahart6790]

@@shwetapandey9106 not sure. I don’t know who that is. Do I sense a book rec?

[@shwetapandey9106]

@@ajahart6790 They are characters from Game of Thrones. People have liked it a lot, but it is too violent for me. Probably the first popular fantasy book involving dragons. But here, I am just talking about the looks of Xaden and Violet. The characterization is different.

[@ajahart6790]

@@shwetapandey9106 aaaaah gotcha. Too X rated for my tastes, so unfortunately I’ll never know how the characters compare

[@MadDogRyan]

4th wing idk how anyone could make me hate a book about dragons but the author managed it felt like light novel you find in the bargain shelf at the bookstore because no wants it and then goes out of print but this one is financially successful

[@cookiekattt]

“But SOMETIMES, booktok lies” I love this quote 😂

[@saragray6151]

It was Powerless that did it for me. Some books just belong to wattpad.

[@blueyedfox9628]

Finally someone said it! That book felt as if the author was 15yo writing down her wet dream she had last night with Hunger Games playing in the backgroung. Full of boring cliches and shallow characters. "Strong female lead" that does absolutely nothing. Overal it is on a level of a teen high school rom com from 2010'. What a dissapointment!

[@ducklingscap897]

For me it was 4th wing. I kind of reads like an AI analyzed all the most popular fantasy book series from the last decade and then just smushed all the popular parts in one book. And of course the heroine has to be special™, her greatest flaw is that she is too kind and her second greatest flaw is that she has a very limiting condition which is never really described in detail and also doesn't limit her at all because she manages to be absolutely amazing at everything despite it...

[@Orange_creamsicle]

the love hypothesis was so bad, i had to dnf

[@ruledbyvenusss]

autoboyography is the only christina lauren book i’ve liked (loved) tbh. i wish they wrote more stuff like that bc im REALLY not into anything else they’ve done

[@Eponine_Sandon]

Olive is demi-sexual and I HATE when people rip on it because it’s the only time EVER anyone has verbalized EXACTLY how I feel and so many people forget that A-sexuality is a spectrum and honestly everytime someone is nasty about it in the love hypothesis it makes me feel invalidated embarrassed and ashamed in my sexuality and has made me realize that the aspec community is not welcoming you don’t fit perfectly inside their box which frankly means they don’t actually think it’s a spectrum at all

[@gothic_nix]

The creator of this video is demisexual

[@kdg.2291]

I'm planning to write a college romance story, but it will be a manga. However, I also want to make it a novel for those who aren't into comics/manga/anime/etc. But a lot of times, I notice romance novels tend to have "spicy" scenes, and my story is more inspired by "From Me to You," which don't have any spicy/ sexual scenes. It's just more of a cute slow burn.

[@jordanrenee3447]

I would definitely be interested in reading it!

[@arielcapaldi1938]

I'm still pissed off about the Unhoneymooners!! It was my worst book of last year 😭

[@galitchesler9073]

everyone obsessing over Fourth Wing like it redefined the fantasy genre and wasn't just basic enemies-to-lovers with a flimsy plot and a dragon backdrop is the reason I don't trust goodreads ratings/reviews

[@A350Airways]

I myself was a PhD dropout, so I knew that Love Hypothesis was going to be no good early into it...

[@princesslove-ph7hh]

Shatter me. • The characters kept making out every second they were alone together. • Each time kenji spoke i felt disconnected from the story (like, his entire speaking style is "broooooo, i haven't seen a chick in like FOREVER, man! You look veryyyy sexy tonight btw 😍😍😍") • The whole thing just felt cliche like there is literally a scene where the dialogue is like "Juliette, i understand you! You have been neglected as a child, I have been neglected as a child. Now join me on the dark side where we can destroy the earth together!!" "NO!!! You are evil and bad and evil 😡😡😡" • i haven't finished the series (not planning to) but i've heard that the main love intrest, aaron r@pes juliette. Idk if this is true but i have heard some ppl say it is so just no. I could go on but those are some of my main points lol. By the end of it i just felt like it's a bongou stray dogs for straight ppl

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Thanks for this, you’ve affirmed my choice to not read this series 😂 I just had a feeling that it wouldn’t live up to the hype for me

[@princesslove-ph7hh]

Coming back a day later to say that the whole touching thing with adam near the beginning rubbed me the wrong way. Like, i'm aware that later it was revealed that he probably had to do this for the government thing (forgot it's name) but it was still played off as romantic and stuff It wasn't anything "too serious" pretty sure he only touched her shoulder or something but still. Different people have different bounderies. Even if juiliette didn't have destorying powers, some people just dislike being touched anywhere at all and you should respect that.

[@conspiracywrldtr7864]

Aaron never did that to Juliette, but it's perfectly fine to not like it for the other reasons (I just wanted to clear that up). Edit: What you might be referring to is when Aaron kissed Juliette because he thought she wanted him to but she actually didn't. It didn't go farther than that as Juliette shot him and ran away. He eventually apologized and explained himself for it later on before they actually got together officially in book 3.

[@princesslove-ph7hh]

@@conspiracywrldtr7864 @@conspiracywrldtr7864 i see, sorry for assuming that. i read that a couple times on reddit after finishing the first book and seeing if anyone agreed with me (idk i was kind of feeling betrayed and wanted to see if anyone agreed with me and if i should read the rest of the series) and saw that like 2 times and then i also saw while scrolling through yt someone saying that he fucks her while she's sleeping to wake her up or something??? I have no clue Also the fact that booktok has a history of romanticising SA so i wouldn't put it to blindly ignore this and just include it in for some spice rating lmao Again, sorry for assuming. Thank you for the correction and have a good day 👍

[@princesslove-ph7hh]

​@@conspiracywrldtr7864 i see, sorry for assuming that. i read that a couple times on reddit after finishing the first book and seeing if anyone agreed with me (idk i was kind of feeling betrayed and wanted to see if anyone agreed with me and if i should read the rest of the series) and saw that like 2 times and then i also saw while scrolling through yt someone saying that he fucks her while she's sleeping to wake her up or something??? I have no clue Also the fact that booktok has a history of romanticising SA so i wouldn't put it to blindly ignore this and just include it in for some spice rating lmao Again, sorry for assuming. Thank you for the correction and have a good day 👍

[@Blue-xn8lc]

i could never get into sarah j mass books! i tried throne of glass and ACOTAR. they both felt really slow

[@hannahmoulton3609]

I started with Acotar… I never understood why she kept wanting to return to her family, I finished the first one but got wind of her love interest switching in the second and decided not to continue

[@Feytouched.Locket]

IT’S SO SLOW, omg. The fact that she doesn’t even get with her proper love interest in book one (from what I heard)? Like, no, illegal, banned

[@darkacadpresenceinblood]

i tried and tried to read ToG but i just didn't like the mc so it was a lost cause😭 she was wayyy too Mary Sue-ish for me, like oh yes here's this athletic hot smart blonde white girl but she's not like other girls bc she has trauma and likes to eat and read🥺 oh also she turns out to be some lost princess idfk i don't remember shit from that series but it was so fucking cliche lol (Chaol my beloved is the only good character from that series, and that one witch (?) called Manon from later books)

[@PurpleKya]

“The Things We Leave Unfinished” by Rebecca Yarros “Divine rivals” by Rebecca Ross “Confess”, “Verity”, and “Reminders of Him” by Colleen Hoover (not sure why I felt the need to keep trying) The Acotar trilogy by Sarah J Maas “Practice Makes Perfect” by Sarah Adams “Still beating” by Jennifer Hartman I could keep going…honestly I think I’ve only read like 2 popular books that I actually really liked. All of the rest have either been very mid or disappointing

[@EggNY0lk]

That first font looks like Geometry Dash font 😂

[@xdani_thethinkingneko]

Wait what...... That one about asexuality really just made my jaw drop. I saw my young cousin reading that who is 15, I'm going to have to have a conversation with her now to clear up the misconceptions in it about asexual people. Asexual people have almost no representation in media, and they get a little sliver of representation, and it's just the rug is pulled out from under them. That is so sickening. In what world did that person think that was okay to write?!?! 💀

[@user-ql5wm2wv3h]

IKR

[@plant_12]

Apparently the mc is demi so it was more a "getting to know the guy first" than a "just needed to find the right man" story. I'm not a first hand source though

[@SprigaTheo]

​@@plant_12yeah as a demi person myself it Very much read to me as demi/accepting that asexuality can be a spectrum instead of the "you can be fixed" tropes I Also despise, but people who were hurt by it are absolutely valid too!!! (It did make me cry in a good way to encounter demisexual characters in romance novels for the first time in such a mainstream book though!!! It reminded me of the relationship that I realized I was demi in which is a very fond memory for me, so I am biased.) It wasn't made super clear within the book and is definitely open to interpretations, and I really do hope we get more sex repulse asexual romance novels eventually! It's so important to normalize!

[@gangsterprincess2]

Literally anything written by Colleen Hoover. Immediate pass for me. Never understood how she got so popular.

[@loki_doki-my5hs]

Probably the ACOTAR series. I think SJM's thoughts when writing this series went like this: Let's make Feyre badass for all of 5 minutes before we introduce a hot fae man and suddenly turn Feyre into a character given purpose through male validation but WE ARE GONNA HIDE THAT WITH POORLY WRITTEN SMUT IN THE STRANGEST OF PLACES. ;)

[@Harley24986]

Fourth Wing...Court of Silver Flames...Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow...I will never get my time back lol

[@TheOneWhoLovesTo_Read_]

this is why I try to avoid spicy/smutty books ;-;

[@estrellaaaaa]

I agree with the fine print that’s genuinely how I felt about it: entertaining but not good lol

[@TTT12510]

One book i was very disappointed with the book 'Ignite me' because everyone said it was amazing and you would love Aaron Warner. Spoiler: I did not.

[@LaurLumos]

I tried ACOTAR, not for the spice, for the love story that everyone seems to love. I got half way through book 3 before completely giving up. The beauty and the beast retelling was fun in the first one, the slow burn was fun in the second one, but after that it got dull and I wasn’t interested in anyone’s story.

[@ameliaandpoetry]

7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo it’s so Boring couldn’t bring myself to finish it

[@CATS_ARE_GODS_LOL]

IM SO GLAD SOMEONE ELSE FEELS THIS WAY I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME

[@RoseTiger-Roblox]

I was going to buy it. I'm so glad I didn't!

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Might have to quietly take this one off my tbr in that case haha

[@joannadzenowski6214]

Nooo,my friend recommended it to me and I don't want to disappoint her😭

[@CATS_ARE_GODS_LOL]

@@joannadzenowski6214 That’s exactly how it started for me 😭

[@natcommon]

I liked the Unhoneymooners but if i reread it, i wouldn't like it as much anymore. Everything you said about it is correct.

[@liberosisworld]

It ends with us C. Hoover & Twisted Love made me feel the same way.

[@zsc310]

In The love hypothesis she never out right said she was asexual so she may have been demi, so she need a connection to feel attracted to him. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Forty2Times]

While I can understand ppl not liking The Love Hypothesis, Demisexuality is on the ace spectrum.

[@henleyjean9025]

Fourth Wing, but especially Iron Flame. Disclaimer: it is totally okay if you like these books, they just feel incredibly overhyped to me.

[@madinlove...]

"A million kisses in your lifetime" No. No. Just no. Had to stop reading after 50pages or so, it was HORRIBLE

[@distevanlinkinkiller]

For me it was Caraval. I had to force myself to finish it. Glad I didnt waste my money buying the book and just checked it out from the library

[@morganjacoby5873]

I've only read two or three books recommend by booktok and i couldn't finish any of them. I had better results by picking random books from the library based on their titles and covers.

[@r.22r]

This is just me, but generally avoiding all tiktok recs works very well. If its popular there, its most likely trash.

[@urlocalparadise]

SO many books that are "dark romance" on book tok is just nasty borderline- snuff stuff and it's so hard to take anything "dark romance booktokers" say - seriously. I can't take it!! 😭😭😭

[@CarleyLightfoot]

Yeah absolutely agree. I don’t go to Booktok at all for dark romance because I despise noncon/dub con in romance and that’s all they seem to rec. It’s not for me

[@Maryam4726-l9p]

Ok I got a listttt of booktok books I hated 1. The Cheat Sheet 2. The Hating Game 3. The soulmate equation 4. The American roommate experiment 5. The unhoneymooners 6. The Spanish love deception I'm sure there are more but that's all I can think of rn...

[@BakedPotatoes2]

Shatter Me ~Juliette was so “Omg I was locked and I have no control of my powers life is so difficult for me” LIKE OKAY WE GOT IT ~I know it was high stakes but it felt low and more focused on the romance ~Juliette in the 5th book ~I feel like it would have been better off ending at ignite me cause everyone’s happy and life is good ~As much as I love Nazeera I felt like too many characters were added after ignite me ~It was a romance book with a dystopian subplot ~I dislike Adam but Aaron did worse things to her and ended up with her all Adam did was having conflicted feelings with her after they broke up (but kicking her out was crap move)

[@pheenic]

Strike 5. Reylo Fanfiction

[@ursamajori]

fourth wing. i had to dnf, later read reviews to see what the plot was and yeah im glad i dropped it…

[@VAVAVOOEY]

I really hated ACoTaR; the writing was super choppy and confusing and the characters are just kinda dumb (in my opinion)

[@Gemsy97]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one who didn’t like the Spanish love deception 😭 that felt like a drag

[@vickilou1998]

I’m currently reading Fourth Wing and it is one of the worst written and plotted books I have ever read. I’m using coloured tabs to mark all the thing I believe to be stupid and nonsensical or bandit written, and almost every single page has at least one tab on it. I refuse to believe that is book won ‘Best Fantasy Book 2023’ because people believed it was actually well written.

[@LadySwampster]

Was deeply disappointed by fourth wing but my lovely husband bought me book 2 in the series so now I gotta read it 😑

[@anyashwan246]

Honestly I have the same feeling about the fine print because I read so much books and I was like where did this get its hype but the love hypnosis and the Spanish love deception were the ones I read after I had just got into reading so I really didn’t know what good books were

[@aichaalhamouti1554]

I totally agree with the fine print!!

[@laaibahsiddiqui2513]

For me it was shatter me because people advertised it as a 5⭐ but it was mostly smut all over. Moreover I hated the part where Juliette says that she had been thinking to lead the omega point when this thought was never revealed to the readers earlier. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ALWAYS IN HER THOUGHTS!

[@pillbobaggins2766]

i don't care what booktok tells me is "good" i just want to know a little about it before i check it out

[@emmahawkins4805]

Fourth Wing. Fourth Wing is by far one of the most painful books I’ve ever had to read. I was lied to🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

[@aquarianfog]

Love this but also really need to know where your glasses are from please?!

[@cameroncallahan8223]

I’m curious to know how you feel about the Bridgerton series (seeing as you own it) cause I’d also classify at certifiably terrible lol

[@jennyr7491]

I thought The inheritance games and shatter me would be amazing bc they’re so hyped up. They were not. 😢

[@Draw.with.illy.]

Booktok lied to me about Fourth wing I haven’t even read it yet but i was told it was about dragons and nothing of smut or anything like that was mentioned why is it that AFTER i buy it that i see every where that its a spicy romance with dragons as a side plot?!!!??

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

Sarah J. Maas, anything Colleen Hoover, and Fourth Wing...I felt so let down.

[@farah.868]

It’s a good thing I always steered clear of those books. My only mistake with them was reading “it ends with us” at 11 😭

[@JustLori14]

Everyone told me that the cruel prince had romance and was so good. I thought it was so boring.

[@Nefferduat]

Honestly I trust booktok 0%, I will get my unhindged book recs from my father and my slightly less unhinged books recs from Tumblr mutuals and sometimes I'll vibe out like I'm 13 at a book store with birthday gift cards burning a hole in my pocket.

[@levis.sutton542]

4th Wing had an annoying and somewhat disturbing romance that brings the plot and character development to a screeching halt, with such lines as “I don’t deserve you, but I will have you.” Yikes

[@cgygflkj]

Mine was Happy Place.

[@naveerarizwan5329]

Thank you! The Spanish love deception is was terrible 😭

[@nonameless2]

Just add Colleen Hoover & SJM to the list and this would be 👌👌👌

[@oblivia7979]

The book that got me to distrust Booktok was Song of Achilles. But I'm also ace and like fantasy, so boktok lies to me constantly. - They did Patroclus really dirty, he was horrendously depressing and meek to read about, while he in the original material was a great strategist and a great warrior. He wasn't a tent princess until suddenly with no explanation hulking out. - I despise when characters are perfect without needing to train. No amount of talent can make you a flawless fighter without a trainer. - The naughty scene felt very icky to read as an adult. Please no naughty scenes with literal children. Odysseus was the only redeeming factor in that book for me, i would have dnf if i didn't buddy read it.

[@gordshorde]

thanks for the heads up! i've got that one on hold but wow. those are pet peeves of mine

[@Varahipatel-1]

Fourth wing and Iron flame wasn’t ALL that exciting, either I’m stupid or the world building was a bit hard to keep up with. Otherwise I look forward to the third book coming out next year.

[@freya1088]

everything by colleen hoover made me feel lied to

[@LOL-ii4mj]

For me it’s : if he had been with me .

[@sittinginacornerihaunt]

incredibly accurate description of the spanish love deception omg?

[@jennyanderson1172]

It was still ok but not great. I liked the American roomate experiment way better (still not amazing, just better)