Comments Control What I Read 😅 Books I've Never Heard Of

[@KatieColson]

Every time you create a book cover I’m over here screaming “she’s a whole ARTIST! She’s a wizard.”

[@taliw7736]

Yep 😂

[@WishAtElevenEleven]

Ok but why are your hastily thrown together book cover ideas better than almost any actual book covers?!

[@brightsidegirl]

Someone needs to hire this woman for covers stat 🤣

[@1802andrada]

I think she's a graphic designer so it makes sense 😭

[@devonmunn5728]

​@@1802andradashe's a graphic designer?

[@1802andrada]

@@devonmunn5728 yes, from what i remember from a few years back ☀️

[@nicolefegan]

Okay I LOVE your mock-up cover for The Last, that's incredible!!

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

Me too. I feel like she should do commission rebindings for book covers because I'd pay for a hard cover of that

[@meghanwalsh8952]

I thought this.... I actually thought 'id buy the crap out of a book with that cover ' .... 😂

[@Darkxangel08]

Me too!!!

[@readem_blog]

same!! I would pick that up lol

[@Romey301]

I came to say this ! Took the words right out 😊

[@pariah_haven]

Date ideas I love the A-Z idea to mix up dates! C - Craft Brewery D - Dress up ( thrift store outfits) E- Escape Room F - Farmers Market

[@taliw7736]

Lovely I like that

[@brightsidegirl]

Great ideas. I said Cat Cafe 🤣

[@pariah_haven]

@@brightsidegirl Cat Café is on my bucket list for sure!

[@brightsidegirl]

Me too and I'm not even the biggest cat fan but it sounds so fun!

[@jangeltrain]

Kayla how do you have such amazing photoshop skills?!? So impressed every time you design covers

[@brightsidegirl]

It's seriously impressive!

[@human9460]

It kinda was her job XD

[@kate-ne]

Making cover predictions is the bonus points that were not part of the required assignment but made it a 5.0 GPA instead of a 4 😋

[@erebus7242]

Alphabet date ideas: C-cat Cafe D- Dessert bar E-Eat somewhere new F-Flowers (I’m leaving it a little vague, ideally I’d say picnic in a flower field) Hope u enjoy some of these :) I might come back to edit/reply to this comment with more letters when I think of them

[@LoQualityReads]

Your cover for The Last is better than the actual cover!

[@riankoch9126]

I kind of love that this blog didn’t have a bunch of wins and losses. Just “here I am, reading books that are all right.” It’s kind of nice to see that side of booktube

[@SantReads]

Woah, The Last cover that you created is AMAZING.

[@meem3538]

Until this moment I had no clue jasmine could be purple! I've only ever seen yellow and white in South Asia. I learned something today.

[@jillypepper_]

Love the alphabet date idea!! C - cooking class! Or if not a class, then cook together (but that may be too normal lol) D - dinner theater E - escape room!

[@andreakoopman]

C- cookie decorating class (or any kind of class that teaches you something your interested in) D- dinner and a show (murder mystery dinner/ or movie) E- explore (go somewhere new in your town that you've always wanted to visit and go around - like an outdoor mall area with lots of places)

[@BRhymesss]

I love that the timing of this posting worked that I was just sitting down for lunch at work

[@eduurs]

watching Lala's videos gives me the feeling that I never know what timeline I'm on, what she's reading now, what was read a month ago or if I'm watching a video from the future (and I love it)

[@POSSIBLYDYL]

84 Charring Cross Road was my membership jar pick! Glad you liked it!

[@itll_be_owlright]

I love when you do cover predictions or book cover designing in general! ^_^

[@taliw7736]

Same!! Love cover art and the time she tried to create covers by memory 😂❤

[@amandaplaysthesims]

Parable of the Sower. I'm sure you've probably read it and I've just never seen you review it, but it's a wonderful apocolyptic, established "after" society. Wonderful!!

[@SheilaSanchezblog]

C - cooking class, comedy show, classic music concert; D- dancing, dinner and a movie/show; E - Art exhibit, equestrian date (horse riding). About your quest for a 5 star romance, have you read Abby Jimenez?

[@hannahandherstories]

I love the Alphabet dating idea! That is such a cute way to keep things fresh and fun. C could be for “city,” as in city park, D could be for a drag show, or maybe a diner, for sharing a mikshake with two straws, and E could be something eclectic, like going to an estate sale or something equestrian-horseback riding! Also, have you ever seen the film The Handmaiden? It’s a good example of women’s love prevailing and has some interesting twists.

[@suzannethurman6146]

The movie for 84 Charing Cross Road is really good. It stars Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft.

[@gabbyreads]

I love how you included trying to guess what the cover would look like because I had also never heard of half of these books so it was fun to be surprised with you to see what the covers actually ended up looking like 😍 I love love love your cover of the Last!! It was so much better than the original haha

[@witchymary5246]

I love The Jasmine Throne, I'm obsessed with Priya and Malini and Tasha Suris prose is so beautiful! I kinda expected that you wouldn't love it because it's very high fantasy with a lot of POVs. I have to disagree with the moral greyness though, Malini is definitly morally grey, especially in the second book. The second book also features more of their relationship and how far they would go for eachother

[@SantReads]

I see 84 Charing Cross road and Seven Moons of Maali Almeida and I'm EXCITED!!!! now I'm going to shut up and watch.

[@andreluissoriano]

Oh shit. Never thought you’d read Seven Moons. It won the 2022 Booker Prize and deservedly so. Sad you didnt like it that much. It’s for sure going to my top 10 books of this year.

[@andreapadilla347]

oh my god rob, kayla’s favorite color is PINK for the love of god 😂

[@andreapadilla347]

ok so he knows now hahaha

[@AdrianneChristineBooks]

Can you please read recommendations from people that include their recommendation résumé. For example “I recommend book A because of XYZ and I’ve previously correctly predicted you would like books B, C and D.” I really think there are viewers who can correctly predict your 5 star reads! Also, the title Why Fish Don’t Exist is about why fish literally don’t exist as a category of living things. Do you remember her example about if different creatures went to live on top of a mountain- it was mind blowing and one of the only things I liked about the book. Another great video as always! 💜

[@KristinKravesBooks]

I've discovered that I also love romances set around wedding planning! I think Forget Me Not by Julie Soto is my new favourite ❤

[@Annie-le9ke]

I found Seven Moons in a little free library at the beach a few weeks ago and am so excited to dive into it! Cannot wait to hear your thoughts :D

[@abbytaegusuga]

Your book covers are amazing!!! A whole artist!!! I could watch you design these forever lol

[@nihao2486]

highly recommend simon jiminez's the vanished birds - has time travel, kind of light scifi (it feels more literary), queer bipoc characters, BEAUTIFUL prose! also ive been in the middle of the seven moons for months now,, i should really get back to it LOL

[@StephanieNics]

To Rob: Stargate SG-1 is one of my favorite shows! Excellent choice, you can never re-watch it too many times.

[@rhilou32]

Alphabet Dates! C - Cookery / Cocktail Class. Cinema. Comedy Show. D - Double Date with a mutual friend couple. E - Early Riser (go for breakfast together) F - Forts! (build a blanket/pillow fort at home and watch a movie or something)

[@SydBookWorrom]

The sheer skill you have in every aspect of this production is incredible *chefs kiss*

[@meljstephan]

Date ideas. Some of these are lame. I'm very single: C - Craft store and pick out a craft to do together D - Drive in movie theater E - Escape Room F - Farmer's market G - Game night H - Hiking I - Ice cream at the park J - Jigsaw puzzles and junk food K - Kayaking L - Live music M - Massages N - Nursery (the plant kind) O - Orchard P - Picnic Q - Quiet night in R - Recreate old photos together S - Starbucks and a stroll T - Thrift store hunt U - Upscale restaurant V - Volunteer together W - Wine and canvas X - 😅😏 Y - KZbin watch party Z - Zoo

[@victoria9663]

Oh my gosh I just thought "wouldn't it be awesome if my comment was mentioned" and then one second later I got a jolt of adrenaline when you said my name! 🤣 Before I hear your thoughts on the wedding season, I just gotta say that it was SO not the book for me but it seemed like it would fit you better. So curious if you like it or not Yep your opinion was the same as mine but I liked it even less than you...ah well, I guess it was worth a shot 😆. Thanks so much for choosing it though, this made my night 🥰

[@Bonbookreviews]

Dating Ideas - C - Camping D -Dancing Lessons E - Escape Room F - Flea Market G - Game Night Love this idea and having not been on a date with my partner in like 12 months since having a baby I 100% will be stealing

[@kyrasaturn]

Always love rob involvement ✅ hi Kayla! Thank you for making my day better 💕

[@taliw7736]

Yesss lol 😂🎉

[@valentinabunnell1862]

Another romance book with a wedding setting that is my favorite romance of the year so far: Forget Me Not by Julie Soto. The main character is a wedding planner and the love interest does florals :))))

[@quolwy]

No hate to The Jasmine Throne, but I'm SO GLAD you talked about not vibing with it for a large portion. I spent weeks trying to read it and I felt like it was soooo dusty slow and boring, and because at no point did I ever come to care about the characters, it really made me struggle to care later on in the story. So many reviews talked about how amazing it was and I thought I must've been crazy for not enjoying it.

[@LilTheLah]

I love your cover predictions so much! The video could have worked without them but it is such a fun part in your videos that I always look forward to.

[@hrhkittkatt]

c-Choral concert, camping, comedy show, cat cafe, cooking class or just class in general, car show. D- drive in movie, dance class or dancing in general, darts at a bar, driving range (golf) E- escape room, estate sales (make a game out of it), exhibits (art, history, science), experiments (try wacky science experiments or experiment with food combos)

[@earthtoelya]

the way I was SEATED ... to find out if Rob got your favorite color right

[@kkaaccyy]

C=Candle making class D=Dancing (ooo maybe salsa or line dancing) E= Escape Room

[@Leja015]

I've been in a gigantic reading slump but watching your videos always motivates me so much 🥺🌷

[@Abookandacup]

You predicting or guessing covers is the best thing ever 😍

[@jessical3151]

Letter dates: C - craft? Could you go to a couples craft night? Painting or pottery? Oh those could work for P as well. D - desserts? Yum E - escape room? Or evening stroll? Also some for later S - stargazing or snowshoeing (depends on the season) H - hike W - wine tasting M - mini golf

[@desireemclaughlin1455]

I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this book a couple times, but I think you might really like The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston. It’s a romance that has themes surrounding death and grief, and also characters who are in the book industry…it was one of my favorites last year but I haven’t heard many people really talking about it, especially recently. I haven’t finished the video yet so I don’t know how you ended up feeling about the Denise Williams book, but I think a previous book of hers, How to Fail at Flirting, is a stronger book, and I think it also fits in to one of your categories (pretty sure the heroine is a list-maker). That one does come with a content warning for domestic a*buse, just FYI.

[@katecollins2471]

I’ve heard this is good! I just picked up the seven year slip so I’m starting with that one and if I like it, im going to try the drad romantics!

[@desireemclaughlin1455]

@@katecollins2471 I have the seven year slip right next to me. Can’t wait to dive into it. 😁

[@alanabrandt1553]

BABE WAKE UP LALA POSTED

[@beccadoingstuff]

Kayla if you ever want to do this again, i have been dying to hear your thoughts on Baby & Solo for sooo long! I haven’t heard anyone else talk about it, but it has to be one of my favorite books ever :)

[@kate-ne]

Lulu Miller is a host of the (incredible) podcast RadioLab and there are a couple different episodes I would recommend checking out for further context on the book! One is same title as the book--Why Fish Don't Exist, but another called The Wordless Place which came out after she wrote the book. Lulu is an incredible storyteller and I think you will really love that second episode and maybe connect with it! :)

[@heyyouyou1000]

Omg i used to listen to this podcast years ago and recently i was trying to remember the name and i couldnt for the life of me. Every episode was so good!!

[@passmethatbook]

Am I the only one to perk up at Stargate SG 1? ❤️ Great vlog as always! Can't wait for the next one!

[@Ladililn]

I've seen Why Fish Don't Exist around but never would've guessed it was about David Starr Jordan... As soon as you mentioned the name, I was like, "Wait, Stanford's first president/incredibly racist eugenicist-ichthyologist?? The one who possibly helped cover up or possibly even murder Jane Stanford, cofounder of the university? THAT guy?" Now I'm kinda tempted to pick it up

[@elizalovestoread]

YAYYYY this is about to make my lunch break so much better

[@taliw7736]

Oooh yess another movie length Kayla vlog. I'll come back to this fun and wonderfulness

[@Liz-cs8vd]

I'm back to recommend "I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself" again I really think you'll enjoy it

[@MilenaReads]

Okay your covers are so good! I definitely preferred the one you made for The Last, stunning.

[@ChiChiBell]

Your covers are always better than the official releases 😂

[@joyahawkrose3984]

For the dates: C could be camping or build a campfire, cooking class D could be dancing

[@MoodyMegReads]

You're SO good at designing covers!!!

[@echavez4647]

D- has to be for dancing of course!

[@awildernessofbooks]

CYCLING! You mentioned getting a bike and it starts with C 😄

[@swieradnatasha]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR A VIDEOOOOO 🥳🥳

[@coopersanders2440]

C - Cook a new meal. D - Drive somewhere new? E - Elephant. (Up to your interpretation...) F - Facials

[@512dancergrl]

I would read your version of The Last just on cover alone...

[@Ladililn]

I read The Last when it came out, and the conclusion I came to was that I'd been expecting/wanting a murder mystery with a backdrop of postapocalypse life, and what I got was a postapocalyptic book with a slight murder mystery subplot 😅 excited to find out what you think of it!

[@lisagna7234]

That's funny, it was the opposite for me, wanted a postapocalyptic book and got a murder mystery 😂

[@kellyreadingbooks]

“Maybe we’ll fall in love” 😂❤

[@just_a_passengerr]

For a C date a cooking class would be super fun!

[@hamandeggs23]

I want to recommend a book about books that maybe counts as an informative memoir. Its called Tolstoy and the Purple Chair. Its about a woman who has lost her sister and has been dealing with the geief by doing aa many things as she can, living life to the fullest. She realizes its an unsustainable pace and decides to take a year to just read. She reads a book everyday leaves a review for them. For the books that stand out most to her she includes it in the book, so its part memoir, part book review collection.

[@CoffeeOverApples]

the cover you made for the last was actually stunning lol.

[@Riley5908]

That cover for The Last was incredible!

[@aaliyah5265]

The blue floral halter top you’re wearing is so cute and looks amazing on you!

[@13cgh]

C- ceramics (go make pottery) D- Dancing E - Enchiladas

[@HandSanitizerAttack]

Kayla, @ 12:40, you look so pretty. The blue color and floral design suit you. Then we get a hint of edgy from the tattoo peeking out. And your hair? Stunning. The subtle lip gives an efficient pop. @ 19:10, the top right book cover is like the one you predicted. Nice! I haven't heard of a grumpy-grumpy romance dynamic before. And the takeaway after the first meeting was that the woman had a nice neck. What? Flabbergasted at that. 😆

[@catherinecervone]

STARGATE SG1 ARE YOU KIDDING?? My fav show ever and nobody else knows it!

[@katie2295]

It would take me 80 years to do the graphics that Kayla did in seconds 🤯

[@SantReads]

Oh no, I'm so sorry Maali Almeida didn't work for you. But that's okay. Different books for different people right? I loved it though and made a whole ass video as to why I did. And I'll link it here so that people can get an idea of why this book worked for me so much. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIrPZqxjf9-rh8k

[@Biobotica]

Not that you're looking for romance recs right now, but I recently read Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall and LOVED it! It's funny, has bi rep, and is set in a Great British Bake Off type show. It was a good time. And 84 Charing Cross Road is one of my all-time favorites!

[@teresa.nguyen]

Kayla I've been dying to recommend you Forget Me Not by Julie Soto!!! It has wedding planning, the heroine is a wedding planner/designer, the hero is a florist. A little bit of grumpy/sunshine. A little bit of angst, so maybe not your usual romcom that you love but I think it's angsty throughout the book that it doesn't get switch tones. Follows our heroine who has to work with a florist who happens to be her ex on a high profile wedding that is very important if she wants her career to take off. Okay you're amazing! Great video!!! Obsessed with your book covers predictions, that was fun! I hope your romance journey gets better!

[@Melissa-yd2yp]

D Date- my SO and I love to play disc golf together! You can usually pick up a few used discs at second hand sports stores and such.

[@colby840]

I was so curious about how you’d feel about The Last! I read it last year and enjoyed it, but have totally been wondering if I enjoyed it more because I never read the genre before. Like it didn’t feel like anything super new or special, but that was great for someone who never really reads mystery/thrillers

[@TheNovelSanctuary]

C - Camping D - Dancing E - Eating out at a new restaurant

[@christinepopowich6575]

I looooove the cover design segment! :)

[@mariet647]

Alphabet date idea! C- Cat cafe! D - Drive (go on a nice scenic drive just the two of you!)

[@Alex18630]

There’s another cover, I think it’s the UK one, of 84 Charing Cross road where it’s very similar to your prediction 😊

[@JayceonMiddleton-f4m]

Woah, The Last cover that you created is AMAZING.. Your cover for The Last is better than the actual cover!.

[@wormdoodles]

C- concert (go to a pub with live music or one of those free/cheap outdoor concerts) D- dancing (maybe take a ballroom class?) E- explore (go some place you've never been before) Also, I feel like you would love Joy Williams. She writes these very strange, almost dreamy literary fiction novels that have very loose plots but typically deal with the environment, death, grief, motherhood, and girls/women. I'd recommend either The Quick and the Dead or The Changeling!

[@whitneyhendrix8075]

Your cover of 7 moons is GORGEOUS

[@leilanijenna]

C- Cafe D- Dancing E- Exercise (bike riding or jogging) F- Fishing on the lake

[@Sophie_Milagros]

You are so dang talented! Most of your mock ups I liked more than the actual covers 😂

[@heathermalmal9943]

Crafts, Dancing, Eating 😅 17:24

[@The_Reading_Wren]

I need to acknowledge that Rob is watching Stargate SG1!!!!!!!!!!!! A fave of mine, and I'm currently rewatching it.

[@aspumoni6177]

I love your book cover prediction videos! So fun!!

[@moonbook12]

I just started a book that fit your nonfiction which is My Life In Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler ( on page 67 ) and love it. Which reminds me little bit Our Wife Under The Sea but nonfiction

[@paperbacksgalore]

ahhh you used my comment that’s so fun!!

[@samanthahubachek106]

“Can I PLEASE” 😂😂😂❤

[@emmanarotzky6565]

Oh, I assumed “why fish don’t exist” title came from the fact that “fish” isn’t a class and the only group that contains everything we call ‘fish’ also contains all vertebrates, so either fish don’t exist or all vertebrates are technically fish.

[@NancyLiliG]

C- Cat cafe date with coloring books D- Dancing! (Square dancing?! Disco!!) E- Escape room!

[@cuppiesaur]

Stargate SG1 is SO AWESOME ❤❤❤❤

[@colleennewey]

First for alphabet dates: C-cats (animal shelter) or cars (car show or race). D- disco skate. Also, for apocalyptic books, I really recommend trying Good Neighbors! World isn’t ending, but it’s a future with how climate change is affecting societies and also showing polarizing characters. Really fascinating!!