I Read the 10 Best Romantasy Books of the Year 💕📚 Goodreads Choice Awards Vlog

[@awpageofabook]

Excited to watch a feature length film of Gavin potentially losing his mind while reading some of these books 😂

[@Hillary429]

Everyone absolutely racing to beat Kayla to post their GoodReads Videos 🤣 📚 💻 🏃‍♀️

[@GavinReadsItAll]

😂😂

[@toribetweenpages]

starting off with the Cheetah Girls sweatshirt is such a massive slay

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Cause we are sisters, we stand together 🫶🏻🎶

[@k2u364]

I couldn’t care less about the top 10 best Romantasy books of 2024 but this is so fun to watch and listen to. You are a great entertainer Gavin 🎉

[@meaganwelch7241]

OMG you are killing me with your descriptions of the spicy scenes, this is why I cannot read romantasy, the language icks me out so bad 😂😂

[@BecxReadz]

You are never too old to read anything, if you can pay for it you can read it and hate it 😅

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I do agree haha

[@iliannal]

Well said 😂

[@paulaburrow7727]

Ash's tail blocking your view from looking at the screen was so relatable 😂 my cat does not let me work either

[@colleenequinn3]

Gav - a feature length film! Absolutely ready to snuggle up and watch this masterpiece!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Appreciate you 🫶🏼

[@avsambart]

I think the best way to think about it is Romantasy is for people who actually want romance, sexy times and/or couples to ship in their fantasy. So now Fantasy is for the girlies who don't want any romance or the absolute minimum of it. The creation of the Romantasy has really been a saving grace for the genre because now it's easier to know which kind of fantasy we're picking up.

[@ReadingNymph]

Spellshop is such a good cosy fantasy, I was so disappointed to see it in the romantasy category. Im glad you had a few good ones, the rants have been amazing 👏

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I wish they’d do a cosy fantasy category in a few years when it’s more popular cause I’m loving it

[@Rainbopagn]

A gay man critiquing straight spice is exactly what I needed 😂😂😂. Trust me Gav, we’re thinking the same things 😂

[@onpagewithlinds]

Yay! So excited I woke up to this. I’m in the same boat as you as having not really read Romantasy - excited for your thoughts!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Good morning my love!!! ❤

[@gabbyreads]

Ahh I’m so glad you found a five star!! 😍

[@Owlisterling]

YES!! This is always how I want booktubers to approach goodreads choice awards reading-- if the series is new to the person I want to see if they will at least enjoy the series! 🎉

[@MilenaReads]

‘Literally don’t beat around the bush’. I’m going to love this vlog 😂

[@ashyjustreads]

I always feel so validated when other people (especially my fave booktubers) admit to disliking Crescent City. I enjoyed the first book and thought the series had potential, but then it felt like SJM didn't know what to do so she just recycled some of her older ideas, characters and plot points, hoping her readers wouldn't notice. ALSO her use of the word "pure" was excessive, and I still get annoyed when I think about it lol

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Yep I feel like as her popularity grew, she started to get more lazy with her writing like she doesn’t really need to try any more

[@Karenseiley]

@ashthebibliophage agreed! The first one was really good. Then it just steadily went down from there.

[@thisbookbelongstopam]

that "one mental breakdown later" sweater??? I NEED IT IN MY LIFE MR HETHERINGTON

[@NinaQuill]

The suspense from Quicksilver being the last one got me on the edge of my seat the whole video 😂😂😂 Romantasy is my favourite genre and it’s so interesting to get your opinion on some of my favourite reads of the year ❤

[@92silviapi]

Love how Bea was keeping you updated with the voting 😂Thank you Gavin, this was really entertaining, just the kind of good distraction I need right now💕 I do agree with some of your opinions, though I have to confess to loving Assistant to the Villain. I went into it expecting a parody, and I had lots of fun reading it. Haven't gotten to the sequel yet (was actually thinking of picking it up yesterday), but I think it is a story you have to go into expecting everything to be ridiculous.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I wish I’d known it was more a parody going into it and had my expectations met haha I went in expecting all the wrong things 😂

[@MishaReadsBooks]

I used to love Romantasy or Fantasy with Romance but in recent time the books are just copy and paste of one another and the quality is questionable 🤐 (pls give authors time to write and editiors thank you). I also have to agree that some of the nominees I wouldnt categorize as Romantasy ❤😊

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I can see your point and it’s why I wouldn’t be able to read romantasy or fantasy romance back to back again, while some were good, there was a lot of same plots, characters, love scenes etc.

[@jennie9]

"It's starting to sound more like a horror movie at that point." You crack me up. Thanks for truly making me laugh out loud and more than once.

[@meggamillion2014]

Love this more casual (& Ash-Heavy) intro. Unrelated, but my gf and I noticed you have a very specific voice/inflection when you greet Ash & my gf will just kinda go “AA-sh!” randomly. My cat Moxi also gets a special greening which I didn’t realize until an old roommate said he was trying to emulate it to get Moxi to listen to him. lol.

[@anikamercier2651]

I agree with Becca’s description of Romantasy but publishers are putting everything under it and it’s so frustrating. Sometimes I love the books sometimes I hate them because of it. I really like A Faith Inked in Blood too and so glad you liked it.

[@bloomwiththestars]

Thanks for this video! I just bought The Spellshop based on your review and I'm excited to try it out. I also watch Lil Indigestion and really enjoy his playthroughs! 😊

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Yay I hope you enjoy it, and I only just discovered Lil Indigestion, so good

[@thefuzzybookdragon]

Fun seeing how this weaves through other vlogs. We all need to take a moment for the toebeans.

[@bookthoughtswitheilish]

Loved the hard work you put into this Gavin! If you wanted to make this a series maybe next year you could do a different category?

[@Pharm2be]

15:14 I’m crying. I fully agree, all of the loin movements are too much.

[@heatherbocks]

I haven’t read any of them and only have A Dark and Drowning Tide on my TBR, but I just know this is going to be an incredibly fun video. Gay titanic retelling?! You’re an icon

[@Lisa-vb3gn]

I couldn’t finish Assistant to a Villain. Gavin, you made a lot of good points when discussing that book!

[@jordyns.booknook]

Just came across your channel and you’ve got a new subscriber. Your personality and descriptions are top tier 😂

[@covergirlbooks]

Yay! I was excited for you to read The Spellshop - so good!

[@laurablakeauthor]

Rotation of synonyms 🤣 I also just finished Quicksilver and gave it 5 stars! I wish we had buddy read it. 🤣

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@laurablakeauthor we seem to have a lot of similar tastes in places, and definitely opposite at times (a study in drowning, Emily Henry etc haha)

[@beautybrainsandbooks]

Your videos always make me happy 😊 like I’m chatting with a friend!

[@magda_mf]

Love the humour 🤣🤣🤣

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Thank you 😂

[@eviechatsandchapters]

Absolutely LOVING seeing Gavin living his best life! ❤

[@shordiiepoo]

You saying Zodiac Academy did “a little bit of this a little bit of that” absolutely floored me! 😂 Great one as always Gav 🤍

[@jaimee-kate]

You are stronger than me lol, I can't bring myself to pick up romantasy even out of curiosity

[@happily_ever_april]

I am a firm believer with romantasy/fantasy romance....don't overthink it. it's the same thing. but romantasy is just a catchy more searchable term for social media.

[@Natali_Talis.Library]

Alot of people get confised with the Romantasy genre, even booksellers. The trick is to look at the second word which tells you the main genre of it. Romantasy - Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy with a Romance subplot (if you remove the romance it should still work) Fantasy Romance - A Romance book in a Fantasy realm/world (Remove the romance and you have nothing)

[@per-c8229]

I thought romantasy implies romance 1st hence romance is the first part of the world while Fantasy romance is when the romance is a secondary plot but still on the front. I am confusion now.

[@Natali_Talis.Library]

@@per-c8229 Great point, English is quite weird and I can't make it sound correct in my head the way you stated - but that doesn't mean I'm right. Its a new genre, so I guess its open to interpretation. I carried out a quick goggle and fond the below which also explain it the way I did, however, I'm sure if I searched I more I would have found contradictory websites. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_fantasy indieauthormagazine.com/living-the-romantasy-genre-tropes-in-romantic-fantasy/ hrmoore.com/blog/fantasy-romance-versus-romantic-fantasy/

[@currentusername3533]

@@per-c8229 adjectives go before nouns. So the story is a fantasy, but it’s romantic so it’s a romantic fantasy. If it’s a romance, but its got fantastical elements, then it’s a fantasy romance.

[@StephLoves]

SIRRRR you have made my year with your review of A Fate Inked in Blood and also Quicksilver. This makes me so sodding happy. ❤

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Aw I love making you happy 🥰

[@DanaAndrade]

When I saw you wanted to read the Zodiac Academy I cried for you 😂

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@DanaAndrade let’s cry together 😭😂

[@Breanakechelle]

That hoodie is everything!! 🥰🥰

[@MoJordanReads]

It's so funny because there were a lot of things you said about Assistant to the Villain that I thought about A Fate Inked in Blood 😂 We definitely agree on The Spellshop though!

[@ossswin]

Gav reading his own notes: sHe'S rEaLlY gOoD!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

😂😂

[@caspiansvensson]

Appreciate the spoiler free, I have some of these on my TBR ❣

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I have been avoiding assistant to the villain, a touch of darkness and also when the moon hatched so thank you for justifying my choice and showing me I made the right choice. I have heard good things about a fate inked in blood but I have been a bit skeptical. But now I will give it a go. I've read spellshop and I agree that it is cosy fantasy and not actually a romantasy. Your reviews for assistant to the villain and zodiac academy cracked me up haha I was laughing out loud! Wow, you loved quicksilver!! I have recently hauled it in so I am going to try it. And I do like vampire romantasy. Glad you got to finish on a high. The first romantasy book I genuinely enjoyed was also a vampire one, The serpent and the wings of night by carissa broadent. And I would recommend that one!

[@ajoellet]

Omg love your Cheetah Girls hoodie! They were everything to me 😂

[@annasophie5932]

Love Ash

[@karamels.excuses8757]

So excited for this! 😁🥰

[@coqui_tasha]

FInally watching this movie!!!!! Love to see the different points of view. Sad to know you didn't love one of my favorite books of the past 2 years but is also refreshing to see that everyone sees the same story differently. Also, this affected my future tbr 100% because books where I wasn't interested, now I will since watching this.

[@justarandomperson4763]

For Assistant to the Villain, it’s like a parody very much the office meets new girl. It was based off of an entertaining series she did (can find 1-60 shorts on KZbin) that was not meant to go in like a romantasy such as court of thorns and roses but she’s poking lots of fun at her own ditziness etc. I went into the book as a fan of chuckling at her shorts, so I had context and expectations. I think those without context are not favoring it because they are picking it up as a straight up romantasy. I hope that helps. It feels like people love it or leave it kind of deal.

[@dorotawinch4954]

@@justarandomperson4763 I get your point, but I hated this book mainly because the writing was really bad, and it was boring as hell.

[@_dayliqht]

with what kind of expectations should one go into this book?

[@dorotawinch4954]

@@_dayliqht I was hoping this book to be funny at the very least (and, apart from two scenes maybe, it wasn’t) and the writing style to be good, but it was just atrocious, it completely put me off reading.

[@justarandomperson4763]

Sorry it took so long to reply. My whole household went down with a bad flu. I treated it like Jill Bearup’s “Just Stab Me” and basically like show or movie novelizations. Since Hannah and Jill’s books began as performance pieces (Hannah has her compilation of shorts 1-60 on KZbin under her name, and Jill made a collection almost like a 46 min movie incl epilogue on her channel of all her pieces) I watched both first (also that’s how I even knew of the books). Then I read the books for that more. Jill’s was such a funny concept and I enjoyed reading the book version of her “show” as books allow just more, as we tend to say “the book was better!” Since we can read internal monologue, get more details, etc. Hannah’s actually layered deeper than her performance shorts. The shorts were funny once I got the flow of ignoring the intros since she naturally did that as each video came out. Her setting seemed fantasy but much more modern but the books laid it out in fantasy. I actually liked having both. The blueprint was true to her shorts while allowing it to develop into an actual trilogy as well. I think if you like Hannah’s performance, you’ll enjoy the books same with Jill’s. Kind of like fans reading Charmed or TVD etc just in a more solo performance level. I hope that helps. I enjoyed both authors, but I never went in blind. I went in as already a fan of both.

[@justarandomperson4763]

I don’t know how to KZbin lol. I keep trying to respond to the person who asked and it goes into general reply? But to daylight and anyone else still interested: JustAli just read the book coming from a perspective of knowing nothing about the book. She gave it four stars and when vlogging said something I should’ve used when describing. She basically said it had the humor slight bubbly cringe of princess bride and I love that. Love princess bride. First time watching as a kid when I was used to more serious fantasy was adjusting and now it’s one of my fav classics. I think it also has the silly vibes of George and the Dragon movie. Hope that helps. My bookclub all loved it. We’re reading two this month and the third when it comes out in August. I have it on my shelf with Just Stab Me, This will be fun, Dating and Dragons, etc those kind of fantasy fun but not near Acotar etc. Different vibes.

[@eruditearchive]

Great video Gavin! I’d argue that the definitions are generally considered the opposite of what you said, at least according to my understanding of the genres here in the States. I feel like the current idea of Romantasy books is that they are usually more YA/New Adult age group books that have more fantasy worldbuilding (ex. Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, Rebecca Yarros, Danielle Jensen), while Fantasy Romance books have generally been shelved with Paranormal Romance books, that is, adult romance novels set in a fantasy/sci-fi/urban fantasy setting with stories that don’t hinge on a lot of world building and focus more on the romance (ex. Ruby Dixon, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Laurell K. Hamilton).

[@anikamercier2651]

Loved this vlog!! I agree with most of your reviews too.

[@MidWestBookLover-jb6jj]

I read the Spell shop and loved it

[@anngee_bby]

The reading vlog I needed, thank you!

[@floydandtotoro]

this was such a great vlog for me! we seem to have the same taste in romantasy so now I know I can follow your recs! 🤩💕 ty!!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@floydandtotoro oh awesome I love that we have the same taste 🙌🏼

[@danielleoliver1734]

Your the only one I’ve seen going through the nominees and not instantly trashing them and calling everything shit so yay 🎉

[@sashamoons868]

Me giggling hearing you dislike Assistant to the villain so much knowing I gave it five stars. I loved the silly, low stake coziness. 😂

[@jenellekernaghan6842]

Gav complaining about the repetition reminds me of the scene in 10 Things I Hate About You when Kat helps the guidance counsel or write her steamy fiction.

[@laurenstobb7453]

I would love it if you did this again with the romance category!!

[@Astilbek]

I 100% left a like for Ash

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Ash appreciates it so much 🫶🏼

[@bananatos8929]

Omg I thought I was the only one who thought Assistant To The Villain was absolute hell!! I legit couldn't even make it passed the prologue before chucking it in my "Library Donations" pile! Also, Gavin, I'm not quite finished with the video yet, so I don't know if you'll ever attempt fantasy romance/romantasy again, but if you do? (Assuming that you haven't read them) may I suggest the Celestial Kingdom duology, or at least the first one, Daughter of The Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan? It's Chinese mythology, with plenty of plot, action, worldbulding, drama, and romance (but the romance isn't really the only main thing driving the plot forward.) If you like it, the second one is called Heart of The Sun Warrior.

[@BlueflameBeck]

The Spellshop was so good!

[@hush9185]

Gav these videos make my mornings

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@hush9185 thank you so much for being here 🙏

[@emmaduchemin]

Having read most of the ZA series, I found your review very funny cause shit hits the fan after book 1 😅 I also hated the first book and its very cringy but it gets so addicting for some reason. I both loathe it and adore it. 😂❤

[@neofytoskaltzidis5472]

Immediately adding two books (The Spell Shop and Quicksilver) on my already overloaded TBR 😩🥰

[@inlesinlet]

I'm kinda blown away by the effort put into this video! Have you read the Whyborne & Griffin series? I read Widdershins (1st book) recently and I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it's certainly been better than a lot of the other romantasy/fantasy with romance books I've read.

[@endlessshelf1614]

Romantasy is ABSOLUTELY romance first and romance-centric. The problem is that there’s a lot of misrepresentation (on both sides) in attempt to bring in more fantasy or romance readers respectively. There’s also books that end up in one category versus the other that are contested by readers as not belonging where they land.

[@jessicaking3065]

Loved this challenge!

[@BecxReadz]

Omg Angel is my fave nickname 😂 now I'm gonna read Phantasma just for that

[@Kittyzero13426]

Always fun to see read book video awards

[@randomname4726]

I have a rabbit like Ash. As soon as I start knitting or gaming, he's on me. And he digs at my arm if I stop patting him. ❤

[@videocandy]

YESSSSS Quicksilver for the win. Also loved that book!

[@jessicaeaster7954]

You enjoyed Quicksilver!!! Now I don’t have to cry!!

[@whitney4244]

I def had to completely change my attitude when reading Assistant to the Villian and take literally nothing seriously so I wouldn't immediately DNF. I didn't even view it as comedy, but as a straight up parody. So I was able to finish it and not hate it BUT I wouldn't say I liked it either lol have zero desire to continue with the series. I can't attach to anything when a story is written with a flippant and absurd tone of voice. I felt nothing for any of the characters lol I'm kind of surprised you loved Quicksilver... I haven't read it but from what I have heard I was starting to lean toward never giving it a chance because it sounded like it was going to just be another generic blah story but maybe I'll still give it a go. As much as I can enjoy it, this genre is so hit or miss for me... It's hard to find stuff that is genuinely well done, in my opinion. If you are ever interested, I like to recommend Annette Marie to people for fantasy romance... mostly because she's an indie self published author (I think) from Canada and I have never seen her talked about by any BookTubers or anything but she's also become a comfort read author for me over the years. Her books are def mainly plot driven books that you could remove the romance from and still have the main story stand alone. But they are quick, engaging reads and at least her four Guild Codex series are still on Kindle Unlimited if you ever wanted to give her a non-committment chance lol Guild Codex: Spellbound is where to start, if so. As always, enjoyed your video and your humor!

[@jaelmoray]

Quicksilver has its issues, but I honestly loved it too. Despite those little holes, I was intrigued enough about the potential for a multiverse direction of a fantasy story and I enjoyed the characters and for that I also gave it a 5. Loved hearing your thoughts on all these books this year! I read mostly science fiction and a lot of really amazing books at that this year. I was very hit or miss when it comes to romantasy reads throughout the year though, yet those I liked I really enjoyed and they were exactly what I needed. While it wasn't on the top list this year, I really enjoyed One Dark Window as well. Didn't end up giving it a 5, due to a lot of little issues I had with it, but I found the overall story interesting and it kept me invested. I agree with you so much on how some authors are really repetitive in their sex scenes and I am with you on the use of the word "slit." I hate it so much. As a writer myself who has written quite a bit of smut, can we please forever retire the use of this word in regards to genitals please. XD

[@moiratuttle3981]

If you like the spell shop definitely read the honey witch. Same sort of cozy fantasy vibes

[@Angela41541]

i mean, hades was never really "the bad guy" in the mythology [apart from like kidnapping persephone but even then there are interpretations that are possible]. if you want a bad guy, you need a story about the other brothers. like let's not forget that it was poseidon sa-ing a girl that led to medusa existing. and i'm not even talking about all the stuff zeus has done. although, i would say, i would so read a zeus/ganymede romance. i've been saying it for years, smb should make a book out of it. let's put hades and persephone to rest for a bit, we have a better kidnapper romance just sitting there, waiting it's chance to shine. like, the man [zeus] literally made the guy immortal. and a cupbearer. and later an f-ing constellation. just to be with him forever. that's some commitment, especially from zeus. the guy must have been good. not just beautiful. and with the fact that all of olympus apparently had nothing but good things to say about him... that is some good bad man/pure boy romance foundation if i've ever seen one xD

[@angelekay3843]

I'm sorry your meetup turned out not to be a date!! 😢 it sounded like a lovely day though, you looked very handsome ❤

[@GavinReadsItAll]

It really was 🥰 I’ll find my fae prince one day

[@brookestrother7504]

I 100% think you should read the top 10 romances for Valentine’s Day!

[@jomurphy5417]

The little "Fuck!" as you realized you also had to film the worst of 2024 was such a fucking mood. I read ACOTAR this year bc my best friend put me up to it as a challenge and we both SUFFERED. could not imagine reading crescent city I think I would combust.

[@AlyciaRunsandReads]

Assistant to the villain was woof for me. My library book club I was the only one that hated it 😮 I was shocked

[@asraaslam3820]

Hey Gavin you should try Danmei which are Chinese bl novels. I would recommend grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation or Heaven official’s blessing.

[@thisisabookchannel]

i read the prologue of Assistant to the Villain and returned it. literally the only time i’ve ever returned a book.

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Absolutely one of the worst prologues, you made the right decision

[@caspiansvensson]

That Romantasy book box book looks like something for Jaderae reads. 🧡

[@Ssophie123]

They are making a movie for Quicksilver!! I'm so glad you liked it and I am so excited to read it finally 😌

[@GavinReadsItAll]

Oh that’s awesome!! Now I’m excited to see it

[@kaitlinmackenzieconner4700]

Gav! i just finished emily wilde's map of the otherlands and it is just as good as the first!!

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

This video makes me so happy 😍

[@hannahblackwellbooks]

Omg Hunt isn’t even a character I totally agree. I liked cc3 but only cuz of a certain character from a certain other series 👀🤣

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@hannahblackwellbooksoh I know what you mean 😉 hehe

[@linzeebee]

Congrats on 95k!!!

[@carolinesch.]

I read so little of the awards this year, and the ones I read didnt make any shortlists like the games gods play which I loved as a straight up romantasy that was promised of the back of the book😅

[@SheeshAleesh0718]

“And she said it at my birthday dinner” 😂😂💀

[@gamezable3535]

As a fantasy reader I have only read Phantasma on this list and I know I’ll have quicksilver on Christmas. Can’t wait to see your thoughts!

[@GavinReadsItAll]

@@gamezable3535 yay I hope you enjoy Quicksilver

[@reading_faerie]

1:30 the cat tail in the way 😂

[@GavinReadsItAll]

He just wouldn’t get lost 😂

[@megantabibvideos]

OMG thank you!!! I did not enjoy Assistant to the Villain and I still don’t understand how there are 3 books!

[@isacami25]

i literally watched the spoiler filled review for cressent city last night. and when i finished this one was recommended lol but it was too late so i went to bed and now i'm here

[@christinaschapters899]

As a Sarah J Maas STAN I agree on 90% of your thoughts on house of flame and shadow! That book upsets me so much. It was one of my most disappointing books of the year and that pains me!

[@BecxReadz]

Alright I'll put a hold on quicksilver from the library. I probably would have voted The Spellshop since either enjoyed it

[@Loonadance1212]

Not you mentionning Galavant 😂 i love that série ❤

[@GavinReadsItAll]

I still listen to the songs every now and then haha

[@SheeshAleesh0718]

The Hades x Persephone series is my fave of all time 😂😂😂 your points are valid though! Persephone is awful in the first book until the end lol

[@liezllovesbooks]

I’m going to give the Quicksilver audiobook a try because I read it on my Kindle and got bored, so I will try the audiobook.