house of flame & shadow, bridgerton, and other bad books i read this month | february wrap up

aaron's HOFAS vlog: • is HOUSE OF FLAME AND ...
giving authors a second chance: • is giving authors a se...
february new release vlog: • I Found a 5⭐️ STAR Feb...
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BUS INQ: [e-mail]
FAQS
◈ Where do you put your dust jackets?! - they're in a storage container in my closet
◈ Where are your bookshelves from? - ikea billy bookcases with trim pieces added to the front
◈ What's your skincare routine? - current faves are linked in my amazon shop
◈ What do you use to film on? - canon r8 or sony zv1 mark 2
◈ Where do you get your audiobooks - library, libro.fm, audible plus
◈ Where is your necklace/bracelet/ring from?- Ferkos Fine Jewelry usually

[@alireadstoomuch9829]

YES THANK YOU editing is an integral part of publishing a book, you can totally see when authors begin ignoring their input and it's maddenig

[@laurlovesliterature]

ALSO THE THUMBNAILS LATELY HAVE BEEN *chefs kiss*

[@KathyDubs]

"The place which she's at....which is dead." Crying.

[@CassidysYT]

I've been saying this for awhile that ever since SJM became really popular her books have gone downhill. I've always wondered, "What happened to the editors? Why are they giving her free reign? This book needs their help!" I always just assumed that perhaps the editors let her do whatever she wants simply because she's popular now. I hadn't ever considered the idea that she's just ignoring her editors completely. Which is absolutely INSANE to me! Unfortunately though, I don't think we'll ever see a change unless SJM has a book that completely flops (even though the CC series was a flop to me). Because the more popular an author becomes, the more fans you have to excuse your poor writing habits that you adopt in your popularity, since "the fans will buy, read, and love anything I write now". Always love your content, Chandler! Love it even more when we agree. 🤣

[@HezzahVee]

I was shocked when I read the first book of CC at just how bad it was. The last thing I had read by her was Throne of Glass way before it was popular. I remembered really enjoying that series and recommending it to everyone. Sarah was skilled at world building, character development, and building stakes and tension. So when I saw she was finally releasing an adult series years later I was stoked. There was NONE of that skilled writing in CC. It was a bit staggering. I had to force myself to get through it and ended up skipping whole sections. I too, had the thought of "was this edited?" Because it was 300 pages too long and felt like someone's first draft!! Why would you ever ignore edits or decide to do away with the process????? It shows and that's insanity.

[@CassidysYT]

@@HezzahVee I 100% agree with you! I also read her books before she became massively hyped. Like I could walk into a library and check out her books as I read them because they were always available (definitely not the case now). When I read ACOSF, that was the first time I was really disappointed in a SJM novel. It's like she threw the baby out with the bath water on that one because every essential part of what made me love her previous books (plot, character development, action sequences, relationships, etc.) was MIA. Since then, everything she has released has been subpar. CC is by far her weakest series (and contains her weakest main characters as I just never cared for Bryce or Hunt -- in fact, I actually really dislike Bryce) as every single one of those books did not need to be as long as they were and needed much more thorough edits. It just sucks because I know this is likely going to be the new norm for her books since not enough people are unhappy with her current work for her to make a change, and I hate it because I miss what her work used to be.

[@typeonereader]

This makes me feel great about DNFing Crescent city a couple years ago, good to know I'm not missing out!

[@lacocoy9811]

Could you pretty please do a video of books with spring vibes? Like contemporary romances involving gardening or flowers or nature

[@celly589]

I love how you go off on books, even ones I have never and probably will never read 😂

[@laurlovesliterature]

the ladies rewrite the rules has such a beautiful cover wowowowo. also love the classic car video. your videos make my sundays ❤

[@kaylawolf8928]

I would def recommend Butcher and Blackbird for March. It's not a new release but it's an absolutely wild ride that I need other people to experience it

[@adriannamorgan540]

I loved this book so much 😂 it was absolutely nuts but sometimes you just need that lol

[@Chelsea2023K]

Nora Goes Off Script made no sense, it was so strange and honestly weird that she let a random man stay in her house where her kids are.

[@72cay]

The screech, I screeched when you talked about thoughtless by S.C Stephens. I first read that book when I was 13 and I thought it was the best book ever but I reread again at 22 and realized this book wasn’t as great as I thought because it did get repetitive a lot of times. Love your videos!

[@chelsea2591]

Ahahahah. I read Thoughtless yearssssss ago when I was like 19 and I LOVEDDDD IT! I tried rereading it in Feb and I was like what absolute shit is this book 🫣😭😭 I’m disappointed in younger me 😂😂😂

[@courtney9602]

the ways i've seen kartik spelled varies in pronunciation, but it's usually with a light t sound, somewhere between a t and a th, especially if it's spelled karthik. took me lots of practice (fyi, i'm white, but i work in a school with an 80% indian student population)

[@PistachioGold]

The ladies rewrite the rules sounds like such fun❤❤ I also cannot await the next Bridgerton season, glad that I skipped the books 😂

[@LC-fx2lo]

I'm officially feeling regretful for requesting all 3 Crescent City books for Christmas. Womp, womp, Woooomp.

[@sarahh7466]

LMAO Thoughtless was the first non-YA romance I read and 17 year old me thought it was the peak of writing. In hindsight it was pretty awful, but it has a special place in my heart.

[@02kircher]

Thank you! I can’t read past the first book of the house of flame book

[@kreskova1]

I love your reviews so much❤ great work!

[@lindseymeek4111]

The comedy was PEAK in this video 😂

[@Marissa_Is_Reading]

I’m currently reading the Bridgerton series and 100% agree the adaptation is WAY better than the books. I have yet to give one 4+ stars so I think your 4 is generous 😆 However, reading them after loving (and rewatching often) the adaptation I do think they are fun reads, imagining the actors, scenery and costumes, and I listen to the Bridgerton playlist when reading. A good, easy, palate cleansing series. CC1 is a 6/5 read for me, I had to take a lap after hearing your opinion 😆

[@TheBookBaron]

The Art of Scandal is so good! So steamy and emotional and messy. Yummy ☺️

[@dianaandthebookhunt]

I read Tastes like Shakkar because of your recommendation and I really liked it. I liked it more than Dating Dr. Dill

[@KateMarion]

Hahahahaha absolutely loved your CC rant 😂I actually liked the first one and then it went downhill from there for me, Bryce was just another insufferable FMC (WHY ARE THERE SO MANY 😢) Love your thumbnail by the way! I need to figure out how to do that lol ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@annajo6576]

i absolutely had to dnf nora goes off script for the same reason you disliked it. it felt like the author wanted to put out a crazy rom-com but there was way too much ... reality? in the story that i couldn't do it. also i've had say you'll be mine on hold at the library forever and my hold better come thru soooon!

[@larissabatista7564]

shakkar is sugar in farsi and you pronounced it correctly! 😊

[@booklover466]

In addition to book series recommendations that is much better than Crescent City with much more mature and lovable characters set in combination of magical and modern world is Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrew!

[@chandlerainsley]

yes totally

[@evebananas]

Totally agree that CC was a huge disappointment. Bryce is super annoying and only got worse through the series.

[@TheSimbulUK]

I genuinely do not understand how a person can read several books in one day and manage to process/remember any of them. I dont mean this as a criticism, it just really baffles me. I could never 😂

[@chandlerainsley]

it’s my job!! as in this is what i do all day 😅 totally valid question lol

[@MeeshaK]

50% into CC1 and I'll take this as my sign to DNF. I've never been a fan of SJMs other two female MCs because all they give is self-insert, over-powered, "chosen-one" BS (unpopular opinion - I know) and I expected no different from Bryce. But what saved her other two series for me were her amazing "side" characters, but this one doesn't even have that. Also, your opinion on Bridgerton is correct - objectively

[@oddspongeout]

What's the series you recommended over Crescent City? You went a little fast at that part and I couldn't write down what you said!

[@camilleroberts2888]

The Guild Hunters by Nalini Singh

[@ashleyoreads]

The only thing i cared about in CC3 was Jesiba PERIOD. I guess i also cared about lydia and Ithan. but jesiba above all else. the info dumping and power ups that end up having was just not it. 2 stars and thats because i just love jesiba and finding out more about her LOL

[@FourPawsandaBook]

"if you like the show Scandal..." say less

[@chocolateoreo6489]

You are such an icon❤

[@onewisteria]

Can you please tell in which video you reviewed nightingale by Kristen hannah

[@chandlerainsley]

i have no idea lmao

[@okie_dokie_artichokie6106]

Hi, who is the author you recommended ?

[@chandlerainsley]

not sure which you’re referring to but maybe Nalini Singh?

[@okie_dokie_artichokie6106]

@@chandlerainsley it was the one you recommended instead of crescent city

[@chandlerainsley]

yes Nalini Singh!

[@MelLovesMoviesAndBooks]

I DNFed Romancing Mr. Bridgerton 🤣. Colin suckssssssss.

[@listenwithprecious]

The books are very different from the show

[@chandlerainsley]

thankfully

[@poorthinsss]

Bridgerton books are stupid an sexist. It is very obvious that they were written in 2000s by a middle aged woman 😂

[@Greeneggsnblam]

You give away way too many spoilers

[@chandlerainsley]

i don't really believe in spoilers unless it's a reveal for a mystery thriller

[@nishmamedagoni8549]

Likee what is even spoilers in a romance book 😂😂