Your WORST Books of the Year!! 😬

[@princepeterwolf]

Hailey I've been watching your channel for years and I think it's brilliant that you decided to make these polls, it makes your channel so much more inclusive and open to discussion. Congrats on pulling this off, I cannot imagine having to think, plan, execute videos for every day during December, so that in itself is already a feat to be proud of!

[@MeggIsAwesome]

Hiding away as The Night Circus is one of my all time faves 🫣

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

Apparently EVERY Ali Hazelwood has the tall man/tiny woman thing. Chandler Ainsley here on youtube calls it the teacup chihuahua -- I mean, it's accurate 😂

[@skynoodle4623]

Teacup chihuahua? I'm sorry if I am being stupid but would you mind explaining what this means please? 😅

[@jennawapstra3504]

this is true. i have read her entire backlist at this point and they ALL have it. it’s really strange

[@o_o-lj1ym]

Like it’s just the way she keeps emphasizing it with repetitive metaphors that’s the problem. It gets weird. Nothing wrong with having height preferences though. But like the way it’s written... I can’t Not to mention how the short girl thing is borderline infantilism.

[@Loganm0213]

Honestly, i'm so glad IEWU is on here. I've only seen people giving it 5 stars with the description that it "completely destroyed them" and I was SO confused. The way it was hyped up, i thought it would be the most amazing romance of the century.

[@hannahyalea]

I liked IEWU, but I wouldn’t consider it a romance novel even though it was marketed as one, because of what happens throughout and the way it ends. I’d consider it more as a contemporary fiction novel than anything. ***WARNING: SPOILERS*** While I was reading it, I began to assume Lily ended up with Ryle at the end and it was some BS “happily ever after” ending even though he physically abused her throughout the book, and THAT’S why a lot of people on booktube must hate it.. so I was ready to hate it and the ending too. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see Lily decide to divorce Ryle in the end, and essentially break that cycle of abuse. I liked the way it explored the complicated feelings that come from being hurt by someone you love and how it’s not always as black and white, or as easy, as simply leaving your abuser right away. That being said, I thought the way it was written - especially the dialogue - absolutely wasn’t perfect and was definitely even cringey / unrealistic to how people actually talk to each other at times. The sex / flirting / banter felt kind of like cheap entertainment a lot of the time - but it was entertainment, nonetheless. I read the book in about 2 days since it was an easy read. Even though it wasn’t a masterclass in the way it was written, it was overall better than I was expecting, and I think so many people enjoy it because it’s so easy to read. Are there more well written novels out there about DV and surviving/overcoming abuse? Certainly, I’m sure. It might not be 5-stars for me, but IEWU is still a book that shows how it’s possible to leave your abuser and for things to still turn out okay, in a very easily accessible way to many with how it’s written. So I appreciated it overall. Just my take!

[@daphneesorelcoupal4631]

I read Gallant and really enjoyed it. It read as a crossover between The Secret Garden and Coraline with a touch of Wednesday. So yes, the voice was younger than a YA, but the character has gone through so much that it's a mature middle grade if that makes sense. Also, the main character is deaf and uses ASL so I really liked that added representation. The author picked an older man's voice for the audiobook to respect the fact she is deaf and not speaking in the book. I listened to it on a rainy weekend during spring and it was a solid 4 stars for me ♡

[@andraste6746]

I agree. I loved it

[@jkmacrunnel]

I really liked it too! Very atmospheric. A solide 4 star read for me.

[@francescathomas3502]

About Atlas Six. I'm going to have to agree with your readers here. Hailey, you said you hate slow books. This is actually a VERY Slow book. I put it down months ago. I think I got about 1/4 of the way thru, and I just cannot be bothered to pick it back up. Very very slow!!! I may have to call this a DNF!!

[@davancerda]

I have to agree The summer I turned pretty was the WORST book I’ve read this year

[@melanie6759]

Personally I loved Gallant! It didn’t really seem to be middle grade to me? It may not have had the ruthlessness like Vicious, but it still had some dark tones. I also loved reading a book with a deaf main character so that was nice to see! Also it’s not a graphic novel but it does have illustrations throughout

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my worst books of 2022 1. Toll the hounds 2. Reapers gale 3. Rythm of war by Brandon Sanderson 4. Husband material by alexis hall 5. Cell by Stephen king 6. The regulators by Stephen king 7. From a Buick 8 by Stephen king 8. The bone orchard by Sarah Mueller 9. For the throne by hannah whitten 10. The war of two queens by Jennifer l armentrout

[@ryanhansenn]

Just came back across your channel for the first time in a couple years and WOW you are such an evolved version of yourself! As respectfully as possible, you have grown so much in confidence and how you present yourself and your content, it's really cool to see :D Happy holidays!

[@TheTbear103]

Every time I read a colleen Hoover book, I wonder why I wasted my time. She's just NOT for me. I didn't like the summer I turned pretty. I feel Tessa Bailey's are a typical 4 star fun read. Not my fave, no hate tho. I also liked every summer after

[@lexsshelf]

Love how you have been incorporating everyone's opinions!

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I get that about enemies to loves/ hate to lovers. My mother actually really dislikes that trope. She finds it unbelievable and predictable most of the time, and I would have to agree. I feel like it is not an easy thing to write and a lot of people skip over a lot of necessary steps to get to the romance and as a result, they don't actually develop it into a relationship. What they get is banter and angst, but that's it. It becomes unsatisfying and a poor conclusion for these characters and their relationship to one another. And if anything, it feels like people are getting even lazier with it, and it just results in a lot of underdeveloped pairings that people eat up and boost because it is enemies to lovers while ignoring if it is actually a good relationship or story.

[@BoldBookNerd]

I read Verity the year it came out. Knew that it wasn't a romance going in. For a thriller or dark contemporary, l found it SO boring. I predicted the ending as well, after read the first third of the book.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Verity is truly bad 😬

[@carolinerichards_]

I kind of love that a lot of the books in this video are also in the best books of the year video too. I feel like some of the most popular books are also very polarizing and I enjoy hearing different opinions

[@nicoledrew9991]

I love this video and the last video asking for opinions. It’s interesting seeing how everyone’s reading tastes are different. I also love your earrings by the way, have to find something similar for sure. Love your bookmas content and brings a smile to my face every time. 🎉

[@beckajanse754]

Verity was my least favorite of the year by far. Not because it was dark, but because the writing is so juvenile and the ending was so, so stupid.

[@onefocus5882]

Love your editing and the way your put this video together! I love how you incorporated people’s feedback/opinions on why they didn’t like the book!

[@dori.6213]

The Love Hypothesis was SUCH a letdown. I was also very disappointed in the Silent Patient and Red white & royal blue..

[@debbystragier2154]

I read Red White & Royal Blue in 2021 and I totally agree. I still don’t get what the hype is around that book.

[@chariotmoon]

my least favorite book of the year was it ends with us. i’m never picking up another colleen hoover book… ever.

[@meljstephan]

I didn't mind Gallant because I had heard that it was essentially a middle-grade lower stakes dark fantasy, so I didn't expect otherwise. It definitely wasn't life changing, but the cover was really pretty

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I actually quite liked Gallant. I didn't expect to. V.E. Schwab is very much a hit or miss author for me, with more misses than hits. I love their concepts but they don't always deliver on the execution. I did not see a single positive review for Gallant, but I still wanted to give it a try and it so hard to find actually gothic recommendations and this seemed gothic to me. And I ended up really enjoying it? It may have been the fact that my expectations were very low and it just exceeded it and became a nice surprise, but I also loved how it was a slow quiet story, I loved the way it was written and the voice of our main character, and I wasn't sure where the book was going at times. There were some reveals I guessed, but I was actually curious to see what would happen next. I loved this world and this house, and what we ended up getting, and how it all concluded. I don't know if I would reread it, but I actually do see this book as underrated because it isn't as bad as everyone else is saying. It is more about if it is for your taste in books. You shouldn't;t read it though, you would not enjoy it.

[@debbystragier2154]

I came back to this video after reading The Atlas Six just to say the say that your readers were right. It’s only the beginning of this year but it already feels like my worst book of this year.

[@callmecristal]

The Atlas Six was so hyped and I also found it very boring. I kept losing interest and had to force myself to keep reading. I almost DNF'd a few times. But i would just skim some parts to try to "fast forward" through it. Definitely my biggest let down of the year!

[@leilanibabydoll]

I hated Normal People SO much! I'm glad I'm not alone at all with my opinion. Loathed every bit of it and it still annoys me I read it lol

[@shaynaparker3337]

I am loving bookmas this year, and being involved in the videos through your google form is so fun! Also, your hair looks so good in this video

[@shawnamonroe]

The Atlas Six is way over-hyped IMP - it isn’t a competition like it is advertised. It’s more of a scientific journey with unlikeable characters. I felt misled. But I also wanted to know what happened

[@meloveschocolate]

So happy none of te books I read are on this list lol

[@amandah82]

Verity is my all time worst book. It brings out my inner rage.

[@sarahhansen8004]

Agreed. I wish I was on IG to have responded to this list and voted Verity. Nobody in the book behaves the way a normal human would. And they’re supposed to be sort of ordinary, excluding Verity. Loathed it.

[@amandah82]

@@sarahhansen8004 not a day has passed by since I read it earlier this year that I don’t regret the time I spent reading it. I could have used those hours for so many other better written books but I stuck with it, thinking it would get better and it just got worse.

[@mirandamayo2987]

Gallant was my least favourite too. My first V. E. Schwab book as well!

[@dg9531]

I was really looking forward to reading Gallant.....I did hate the Spanish Deception, and it reminded me of why I just don't read romance novels.

[@concertjunkie973]

Some of my least favorites were , my husbands wife, the golden couple , rock paper scissors

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Poor Ali Hazelwood being on the list twice lol 😂

[@pattypegueros5607]

Hello Hailey. I'm glad you are making these videos again, I am always looking forward to these videos they are so enjoyable. About Verity I did not find that book predictable at all it had so many plot twists and turns.

[@emilyc9266]

Haha I felt the same as you at the end of every summer after. I was just like yay they’re happy!! But in hindsight I can see that they had some issues to discuss hahah

[@e-nev]

Eek! I actually really enjoyed a lot of books on this list, haha! It's interesting...it seems like it's a lot of books that had super flawed characters. Atlas Six, Verity, Every Summer After, It Ends With Us. But personally I found those stories compelling because of the less than perfect protags we follow.

[@lucygaweda3396]

I'm surprised Holly Black's Book of Night isn't on this list. I didn't read it but I've heard so many people say they were very disappointed with that one.

[@reagan2347]

Ugh that's so true about Ali Hazelwood. It wouldn't be a big deal if she didn't keep force feeding us how smol and helpess the FMC is🥴 and this is coming from me, a 5' even/90lb woman. So it's not a relatability problem for me. And LOTB seemed almost identical to TLH to me.

[@bread4322]

helpp the “pick holes with a strainer” 😭

[@rebar351]

My least favorite/most disappointing read was light lark by Alex Aster! I was so hyped for this book but whole scenes that Alex talked about on her Instagram were missing and the writing was just bad!

[@emilyboman6023]

Every Summer After & One Italian Summer were 2 of my favorites of the year 😅😅 and Normal People is one of my all times faves lol. whooooops guess i have bad taste hahaha

[@Books_BrewsandBeyond]

I have heard mixed reviews about The Atlas Six but I am still keen to read it and I'm hoping I won't find it boring. I actually didn't mind The Love Hypothesis even though it was a bit dragged out in places.

[@kacelove]

Actually, if I had to pick a least favorite book, I'd also pick Gallant. It's not the book I read with the lowest rating-V.E. can write so I gave them three stars for that alone-but it really was so boring. I was disappointed by it

[@kylieegreer]

I have tried reading The Summer I Turned Pretty several times for years and have never been able to finish it. I definitely agree with what people are saying about belly and just feeling bored while reading. The show was great though!!!

[@emmal7510]

The Atlas Six seems to be really polarizing. I just couldn't get into the writing, but I've seen more positive reviews than negative ones.

[@asmrdreamland200]

…about “Twisted Love”….this genre is mostly not romantic…it is NOT supposed to be realistic and it is full of sexual desires, fantasies and mostly toxic relationships (possessiveness or physical violence)…I believe this book has a trop …touch her and you die…and that is the point with these books…the title itself gives a clue that this is a toxic love and you will not introduce the guy to your parents 😉 enjoy 😊🤩

[@cheyennebreedijk5208]

I can understand why people didn’t like the summer I turned pretty The show was so much better Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed the book, but it could have been so much better The show gave us a glimpse in the version it could have been

[@monikareadss792]

Just started watching the video, but I gotta say, your whole look is STUNNING💓🩷

[@kylieegreer]

The Final Gambit was such a let down for me. I feel like it was one of my most anticipated books but it left me wanting so much more. I’m not sure if it was just me but I was really disappointed.😢

[@WatermelonSugar1209]

I read the kindle sample of the Spanish love deception and even that was intolerable

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I have read The Atlas Six and I found it lacking. I think the way people describe this book a lot of the time is inaccurate. It doesn't have pretentious writing or pretentious characters. The characters do feel natural but at the same time they don't have a lot of depth of exploration of their characters. And yes, I admit I liked the world building, in particular the magic system, but you more touch upon the magic system than anything and it is barely there. As for story and plot, there is barely anything there. And I wouldn't;t surprised if some people actually really disliked the ending, because reflecting on it...I have certain thoughts but it will spoil it and I am not going to say it. If I am being fully honest I think you would be bored with this book because there is not much actually going on and it is a character-driven story. I don't think I would describe this book as boring, but I can understand how people would.

[@strawberrylime33]

Hi! When you're talking about Love on the Brain: Did u mean that the male character is always this big hulking strong man and the female character is always super petite and skinny and therefore desirable? If that's what u meant, uggghh, I hate that trope!

[@rebar351]

I hated from blood and Ash I DNF’d it. I just did not like the characters or writing at all

[@BlairBoggletrot]

My least favourite this year was The First To Die At The End by Adam Silvera

[@BooksToAshes]

I haven't watched a video from you in so long, and am so happy to be catching up again 💙 I DNF'd Night Circus when I read it a few years ago, it's nice to see I'm not the only one who didn't love it like everyone else. I really thought Book of Night by Holly Black would be up here, a lot of people disliked it and it was released this year so I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't.

[@luziafortuna2372]

I loved Verity!!! The one Collen Hoover that i liked😁

[@MsLPSFOREVER]

I loved the concept of Gallant. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't anything super groundbreaking for me. Definitely a decent story though.

[@emmaskapetis7603]

I've read six of these books and most of them this year lol😂

[@anonymous_penguin2206]

god i couldn't stand normal people. i buddy read it with some friends and then they got super busy and we had to pause reading and i was so glad. one of my friends was obsessed with the book and i was arguing with her because there was nothing good i saw about the book. the characters were boring, the writing was hard to read, the timeline was hard to follow despite the fact that every chapter is just the month and year? it also felt like there was no character growth at all and there were so many times where if they had spent 2 minutes talking, entire chapters about them being Depressed tm could have been taken out

[@KLC228]

I'm not a romance reader at all and could do without in books most of the time but I will say I LOVE enemies to lovers for some reason but it has to be done right and most of the time I feel like it's not.

[@yam288]

i love this concept, it's so unique and fun!!

[@BrebearMckae]

In general, for me, I like that you do these community driven videos- BUT I would love to see a different twist on your commentary with this one- like maybe you GUESSING the order of which is the most votes for least favorite, like you try to put them in order! Then go through and reveal some of the comments as to why. That would give more variation to the video, bc a lot of what you end up saying after you read the comment is along the lines of “I get that” and “I don’t like books doing that either” type things-the switch would make it more reaction-y and interactive feeling, give you more of a roll other than just reading off the comments, especially for the ones you haven’t read so you don’t have as much to say about them. Just an idea!💕

[@heartit6242]

Ok I know we’re talking about books here but can I just say how pretty you look 😍😍 I love the hair and makeup and uhhh the purple top really brings everything together your so beautiful love u ♥️♥️🤧

[@maria.chitoiu]

bro I just realised that the cover you put in the video for Ugly Love was taken from a Romanian edition and I was like... do my eyes deceive me or does that cover actually have "despre fata urata ai iubirii" written on it lol

[@trinc9015]

I didn’t like night circus either.

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

most of things I've heard about fbaa is that it's way too long. and also that it's stupid.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I really enjoyed From blood and ash is and the second and third book but I absolutely hated the fourth book in the series

[@soniapatel2255]

I didn't find Gallant boring at all and am so shocked people disliked it so much!! I thought it was a really beautiful book (and marketed correctly as a MG fantasy)

[@shakiba.amrrrr]

It happened one summer and Ugly Love were the absolute worst books I’ve read in the past two years. Full of cringe-forced and toxicity

[@anaannci94]

Trying really hard not to get pissed off because some of my favorite books are on this list. :(

[@vampvswolf]

The Night Circus and The Cruel Prince were totally over hyped for me. I enjoyed the description in the Night Circus, but that was it and the Cruel Prince was just ok.

[@caitlyn.m.t9618]

I love The Night Circus but I am surprised to see it is as popular as it is, because it is for a very particular audience, and I just happen to be it. Apparently this audience is bigger than I thought it was, but I also knew as I read it that there would be just as many negative reviews as positive. And even looking on GoodReads, I am seeing that. As for the cruel prince. I enjoyed it, but it is overhyped and overrated and also misadvertised. People focus on the romance when talking about it so people think it is more romance heavy than it is. But it is also my least favourite of Holly Black's fae works. I prefer the other stories, and the other characters, meanwhile here I just don't care about any of the things that builds the trilogy. I don't why I loved it to the degree I did, but I would not reread it and it hurts a little to see it more popular than her other fae works.

[@StormReads]

These didn't surprise me as I have seen a lot of these on people's worst or disappointed list.

[@sleuthytv1228]

I feel like people just hate popular books lol. It's just a thing.

[@AishiD]

Holly crape! A lot of my favourite books ended up in the worst book of the year list! Do I have that bad taste? 🥺 Love your look by the way😍...

[@angelaholmes8888]

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to books 🤔

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

ooh this is going to be i n t e r e s t i n g!!!

[@andraste6746]

You should read Gallant, those people don’t know what they are talking about 😂. But I loathed Normal People and everyone raves about it so I loved reading the negative reviews for that.

[@e.6650]

i’m so happy to see that my worst reads are in the list ahahahahsh

[@georgiefarr1094]

I read alot of good books this year but the one worst book I read was Coraline by Neil Gaiman because I don't have a reason for this but Coraline sadly wasn't for me. I prefer the movie than the book 🖤🖤

[@micaellyalves3367]

Hailey! I've been watching bookmas for about 6-7 years now, and it's still super exciting! But I didn't ended up filling out the form this year however, I'm SO happy I'm not alone in hating the Love Hypothesis lol. After hearing how large the male interest was about 50 times, I said if this book mentioned it one more time I'd quit lol and surely enough it did on the next page. But anyway, as a woman in stem, the rep in this book SUCKED. The main character was so unrealistically stupid in my opinion, it was all just very forced.

[@francescathomas3502]

You asked "What's with the huge man - tiny woman thing?" That has to do with DNA and Neanderthals!! And also Safety and protection. Take me for example. I am a "tiny women". I am 5 feet 4 inches tall and I always knew that I wanted to marry a man who was at least 6 feet tall. My spouse is 6 feet 1 inch tall. Our son is 6 feet tall. Hubby and I are about the same height when we are sitting down, but when we stand up the 9 inch difference is quite large and obvious!! It goes back to neanderthal DNA. You know. That part of your DNA that companies like Ancestry and 23 & me test for these days!! LOL Small female needs a big tough protector!! It's as simple as that!!

[@autumford]

Hailey, do you have a PO Box? I'd like to send you a Christmas card :)

[@BrebearMckae]

Gallant is not a graphic novel. In general, for me, I like that you do these community driven videos- BUT I would love to see a different twist on your commentary with this one- like maybe you GUESSING the order of which is the most votes for least favorite, like you try to put them in order! Then go through and reveal some of the comments as to why. That would give more variation to the video, bc a lot of what you end up saying after you read the comment is along the lines of “I get that” and “I don’t like books doing that either” type things-the switch would make it more reaction-y and interactive feeling, give you more of a roll other than just reading off the comments, especially for the ones you haven’t read so you don’t have as much to say about them. Just an idea!💕

[@jojoba-k4b]

WHAT i loved twisted love

[@nohealanïkaiaskyerosewoodconte]

The book I absolutely hated of 2022 is number the stars by Lois Lowry I wasn't impressed at all. I rated it a 3 stars.

[@chiaraturci2024]

The show rendition of The summer i turned pretty is a hundred times better than the book. I tried to excuse her behaviour in the book due to her age, but no, she is just terrible

[@Sarah-eg6wr]

your hair is beautiful

[@Aylin_Niazai]

The Spanish Love Deception was one of my favourites of 2021!!

[@jennawar13]

I’m so confused Gallant wasn’t a graphic novel or an adult book It was YA (unless she came out with a graphic novel version?) and I agree it definitely reads like young YA or middle grade as some said but idk I’d say young YA is a fine age category for it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it wasn’t my favorite by her I definitely prefer villains or Addie LaRue aka her adult books

[@SailorJaszie]

I really want to read Verity but now I'm questioning that because Home Before Dark by Riley Sager was spooky for me 😧 I'll go into it with an open mind. When you said horny I stopped what I was doing and went WHAT?!? I would be uncomfortable too saying that word. It is never good for a book to put anyone into a reading slump. I am interested in reading My Killer Vacation now. Gotta see what all the hype is about. Everytime I hear MEH I think of the Emoji movie. It's been that way ever since I saw it and everytime you say MEH I can't help but smile and giggle and go MEH myself 😄 It would confuse me sooooooo much not to have " marks. I saw someone mentioning how the lack of " marks confused them and they had to keep back tracking to figure out what were " statements. CoHo is definitely a love or hate author. I've heard A LOT about quite a few of her books over the last few months with Verity topping that list.

[@brae9030]

Say what?! I personally found From Blood and Ash to be really good and I have continued the series. I’m on the 4th one currently. But I can understand the whole smut in interesting plot moments haha.

[@pookya8714]

Haha I feel the same way! Still haven’t read the third book cause I got spoiled twice, so now I’m scared 😫

[@brae9030]

@@pookya8714 I swear it’s so good. It does have a little bit of a slow start but around the middle and the end it gets so good! Lemme tell you I was shocked! But yes I recommend reading it still!

[@pookya8714]

@@brae9030 Ahhh okay thank you for the motivation!!

[@Jupitertx79]

Lol I didn't read not one of these books and I don't trust tiktok reads nope nope nope

[@tanv5778]

I see Collen Hoover, I like the video, I subscribe the channel ☺️

[@amritasengupta5251]

Ohmy God I hated the night circus. What a pointless book it was. 😴 Ok who goes into verity thinking it's a romance? It's not the book's fault if readers are just stupid. Oh my my. To all the boys was a one star read for me. I should have dnfd it. I love V E Schwab but gallant was pretty pointless . Normal people is a mess. And not in a good way.

[@vishwatharunachalame1202]

Even today first to comment 😁

[@avidreader1527]

I seriously doubt the honesty of this list . And Hailey , please write a book honey , so that we can discuss and criticize your writing in detail . I wonder if you could write a single page about anything at all worth reading ...

[@louisity]

I love Verity! 🤎 Watch for my disappointing books read in 2022 video to know which book(s) disappointed me/was the worst.

[@xutzii9370]

I want to see a romance where the girl is taller than the boy, and it’s not a huge part of the plot. As a tall girl, I feel like I’m incapable of loving cause ‘relationships’ with me look more like a joke..🥲