huge book haul 📖✨🎀 40+ books

[@TheLaura0]

I’m so happy you’re back! Don’t EVER apologize for being excited or saying it 55 times. We are here for it. Love of my afterlife was cute! It would be cute for February :)

[@simplyess]

The Love of My Afterlife was such a good book and there were minor twists that kept the book intriguing

[@lilyc4985]

I had to read Anxious People for school, and it's one of the best books I've ever read! Backman's writing is top tier!

[@nicoleyearsley3452]

When I saw Half a Soul I knew I have to comment. That book was so beautiful. I actually loved it so much that I read it twice this year. It’s cozy and felt like reading a simpler version of a Jane Austen novel. The main character was actually inspired by her desire to represent people on the autism spectrum, which was so beautifully done. Hope you really enjoy that one when you get to it.

[@jessmmassey]

This makes me even more excited for it!

[@lulun1669]

I've been following along on your clear the cart challenge, and I'm so glad you're back! a book haul is def needed for you! You deserve it!!

[@conniedowney1233]

Lovely War was a 5⭐️ for me and I usually avoid historical fiction like the plague. I liked the cover and the fact that Aphrodite narriated it intrigued me. Hope you enjoy it as well 🙂

[@eimajhteb8288]

So excited for you to read yellowface! It was one of my favorites of this year and creates so much conversation about the literary community. Please read it soon I can’t wait to hear your thoughts! So glad your videos are back…I hope you will do the monthly TBR jar videos, I looked forward to them❤

[@danielleverweij5118]

I missed your videos ! Happy you are back ❤

[@jessmmassey]

🥲🫶🏼

[@lamyy678]

My favourites from your haul 🌟 Just Last Night Anxious People Beartown I wish you a great time with these books 🥰❤️ 📚

[@jessmmassey]

Beartown and Anxious People seem to be really loved - I’m excited!

[@LottieSmalley]

The Good Part is soooo good!!! Plus the audiobook is wonderful too 🧡

[@thadjone]

Clearing that TBR cart is seriously so impressive. I am inspired to read what I have

[@jennaleesmith4038]

I’m so happy that you are back!! Im so excited for you to read lovely war it is fantastic

[@jenniferchalker1820]

The Scythe series is INCREDIBLE! There is also Gleanings which is considered 3.5 in the series and it’s a bunch of novellas that supplement the series and I really liked it!

[@laurallivermore]

I highly recommend adding The Last Love Note to a future tbr. This book took me by absolute surprise; it's about grief and love and finding yourself. Really such a great read.

[@mollygross9594]

half a soul is actually part of a trilogy but can definitely be read as a standalone 😊 happy to see you back & looking forward to the clear the cart finale! ⭐️

[@jessmmassey]

Thank you for letting me know! I hope I like it 🥲

[@rosebud7233]

I ADORE Anne of Green Gables! I’m planning to reread it next year. I really enjoyed yellowface and the god of the woods! I also generally enjoy books with time travel, but the ministry of time went way over my head.

[@chellyreadsbooks]

I lost a pet last year and I swear every book I picked up that summer had a grief plot line and I didn’t even plan for that! But it ended up helping me so much!! I’m sorry for your loss and am sending hugs. Welcome back!!

[@jessmmassey]

That’s what happened with my grandma! I was reading The Dead Romantics with my book club during the last week of her life 🥲

[@paulinemuller650]

We missed you! So happy to see that you’re back 🫶

[@lorranysales4186]

So excited to see your videos about pride and prejudice and the scythe… they’re all 5 stars to me

[@emilylightsey6374]

I am sorry for the loss in your family. I read "Little Women" last year as a library book and then HAD to own it. It is long, but so very enjoyable. There were several great quotes if you like to tab or highlight. I grew up watching the movie with Winona Ryder, so I knew the plot, but as we all know, the book was just so much better. It goes through several seasons and several years, but begins at Christmas time. I read "The Spellshop" this year and it is one of my top five of the year. I have heard other people save it for the fall season, but it felt more of a summer read to me, but I live in the deep south so our "fall" doesn't really kick in till late November or December. I think I read it in September, which is summer the sequel for us. Anyways, it is a low stakes fantasy with very loveable characters. Hope you enjoy all your new exciting books!

[@Marthe-b1l]

Im glad youre going to read anne of gables ! They're one of my favorite books.

[@danielavelkova9110]

I absolutely loved the reading list. Wish i could read it again for a first time 😅

[@vanesssxoxo]

Same!!!

[@montanez6860]

So glad you’re back!

[@jessmmassey]

@@montanez6860 thank you 🥲

[@CulinaryCrime]

So glad we will still get at least one or two videos next year. :) Love seeing your updates. Hope you and your family are doing well, and have a great holiday season. :)

[@LottieSmalley]

Heartless hunter is a blast!! The second one (Rebel Witch) comes out in Feb!

[@Chelseamayxxx]

I hope you and your family’s doing the best you can. You have smashed your TBR cart challenge and you should be so proud. Merry Christmas to you and your family ❤ xxx

[@sandyrivers3037]

All the classics you picked are great!

[@kimberlyschroeder7409]

The Cinnamon Bun bookshop is actually a summer read even though the front looks like fall. So you might enjoy that more in the summer. My faves from your list are Emma (classic childhood friends to lovers), Anxious People and Heartless Hunter

[@Joellebradfield]

This setup was so cute!! I love how many nooks and fun spaces you have in your office 😍 loooooved this haul!!! Wrote down a few to add to my 2025 TBR too!

[@heatherdull9168]

The rest of the Scythe series are some of the best dystopian books I’ve ever read in my life! I binged the last two books in like 4 days and those books are CHUNKY!!

[@jessmmassey]

Oooo I’m gonna try to get to those in January then!!!

[@kokychan6118]

love your videos and can't wait for January to see the end of the TBR challenge. I've added some of the books from this vid to my TBR. All the love ❤

[@shandarcey]

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend reading Six Scorched Roses before reading The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King. It’s a little novels that helps give some background on a new character in book 2!!

[@jessmmassey]

good to know - thank you for the heads up! 🫶🏼

[@Kittyzero13426]

The Spellshop is such a cozy fantasy vibe. I am curious on reading The Pumpkin Spice Cafe series as well. Happy reading!!

[@izzykelly9526]

for cinimon bun cafe i recommend reading it in summer as its not a fall book but actualy a summer romance so closer to an august book than anthing (ofc u can read it whenver you want tho )

[@shaylaatiles]

I’ve read most of the books you’ve hauled and they’re all so good!! I have the Spellshop on my TBR as well ☺️

[@kaileenicole-wv4ty]

Lauren graham’s book was so good! I also loved all Laurie Gilmore books I know people don’t but it gave me Gilmore girl vibes with some spice

[@cutestknotss]

OMG YELLOWFACE was one of my fave and most surprising reads of 2024 like when I tell you I read this in 2 hours. im being serious

[@nataliapereyraortiz3910]

Omg i missed you! Glad you're back and okey ❤

[@jessmmassey]

🥲🫶🏼

[@voidislost]

hi jess, so glad to see you again!! fredrik backman is one of my favorite authors and beartown is a complete 5 star series as well so i can 100% recommend all his books if the trigger warnings (in case anyone looks at them) arent something that you need to avoid ^^

[@jessmmassey]

I seriously don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say anything negative about his books - I’m gonna prioritize Beartown in January! 🫶🏼

[@Cpw819]

I’ve actually read about 20 of the books you’ve picked up so wow almost half! Lovely War, Summer Romance, and Somgbird and the Heart of Stone were by far my favorites. Half a Soul is part of a series it’s book 1 in the Regency of Fae. They’ve been sitting on my kindle and I have yet to read them. But great haul I want to read Frederick Backman so bad and I’ve read both of those books from Sophie Cousins too and I loved Is She Really Going Out With Him it was so good!

[@jessmmassey]

Ooo okay so Half a Soul IS a series - thank you for letting me know! 🫶🏼

[@Cpw819]

@ sure of course lol. I know we pick up fantasy books thinking there’s only one and then there’s a prequel series or there’s more books we don’t know about lol. Also really liked The Love Of My Afterlife and Happiness for Beginners. I love Katherine Center and have read 4 books by her this year love them.

[@theliterarylawyer5304]

If you are reading books about grief to get you through a down time, I highly recommend TJ Klune's Under the Whispering Door if you haven't already read it. Got me through some dark times. Also, Anxious People is my fave book of all time. Hope you enjoy it!

[@jessmmassey]

I haven’t read that one - I’m gonna look it up rn! Thank you 🥲🫶🏼

[@coram.6741]

Anxious people is my favorite book of all time. Hoping you like it just as much

[@yagmurugur9904]

glad to see you back! i hope you and your family are okay 💙 and i know the clear the cart challenge hasn't officially ended yet but massive congrats for keeping your word and making so much progress through books you already own without giving in to the temptation of all those shiny new ones. many of us have a lot to learn from you 🤣 you should be really proud of yourself even if you have some books unread by the end. you've already won the challenge in my eyes haha. looking forward to more videos in 2025, happy new year in advance! 💝

[@jessmmassey]

wait this is so nice 😭🥲 thank you!!!

[@stitchedscorpio]

I loved God of the Woods, it’s definitely a family drama, slow atmospheric historical fiction

[@sarabara617]

The Love of my Afterlife is soooo good! I enjoyed it a lot. And both Kennedy Ryan books were phenomenal. Glad to see you back tho! Love your videos! 😊

[@SimplyMinimalKy]

Laurie Gilmore books are so good. I started with her Christmas tree book and then binge read her other two books. If I could read them again for the first time, I wish I read them in order. I think it would have made the reading experience even better, in my opinion. Her books took me 1-2 days at most because I couldn't put them down 😅.

[@jessmmassey]

I wish I had time to read the other 2 first but I’m gonna be reading them in the order you did! 😅

[@kristinakerchief5565]

You with a view was a 5⭐️ read for me! It does deal with grief after the death of the FMC’s grandmother. So good. I DNF’ed Ministry of time- the character’s obsession with the admiral did me in. God of the Woods, Lovely War and Mad Honey are also on my 2025 TBR

[@ollieb.9731]

I adored Half a Soul, it's super readable. It's part of an interconnected standalone series but you don't have to read on if you don't want to.

[@kcriems4813]

I hope you like The Spellshop more than I did - I too got it because how pretty the cover was and DNFd at 70ish%.

[@Minsdipity13]

So happy your back!! Please continue with your passion for books cause I always look forward to your videos!! I hope everything is okay with your nan :((

[@jessmmassey]

@Minsdipity13 this is so kind, thank you 🫶🏼 my sweet grandma passed away on Thanksgiving…I miss her more than I could ever say 🥲😞

[@Minsdipity13]

I’m so sorry for your loss :(( she has become a beautiful angel in the sky 💗 xx

[@MadamMaxine5]

Beartown is heartbreaking (grab your tissue), and so well written. 5 ⭐️read and I will be reading the rest of his catalogue.

[@jessmmassey]

I’m really hoping to get to that one in January - I am eager to read it and I’ll be sure to have my tissues on hand 🥲🤧

[@StarsBookNook]

So many good books! If you're wanting to get into fantasy and read a book about grief you might like House of Frank! It's really comforting and the fantasy elements are really approachable

[@jessmmassey]

I’ve never heard of it! I’m going to look it up - thank you 🥲🫶🏼

[@ABookAffairByShay]

So happy to see you! I recently finished Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and it was such a beautiful story. It’s definitely character driven and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Holidays!

[@jessmmassey]

Oh yay - I LOVE a character driven story so I think I’ll enjoy it then!

[@darleneboudwin9580]

This was fun to watch. I cannot believe you had the willpower not to read them yet. I highly recommend The Reading List. It is not a well-known, popular book, but it is excellent. I love the bond that forms between the older and younger main characters. I also recommend Happiness for Beginners. It is a good romance but also an uplifting story. And finally, I am always recommending Beartown to everyone. It is one of the best books I've ever read. It is so well-crafted, and the characters will stay with you. Have fun with your 2025 TBR!

[@jessmmassey]

It’s a miracle that I didn’t cave in and read any of them honestly 😅😂 I haven’t heard anyone talk about The Reading List so I’m excited to go into it without any preconceived ideas!

[@TabithaCarnes]

Spellshop was soooo cute and cozy! And I am THRILLED that Anne of Green Gables won for Jan, yayyyy!

[@jessmmassey]

Woooo! I’m glad it won too - thank you for putting it in the poll pool! 🫶🏼📖👏🏼

[@ReadingWheNeva]

Frederik Backman is one of my all-time fave authors!

[@jessmmassey]

100% gonna make Beartown a priority in January!!!

[@ReadingWheNeva]

@ I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!! Love you so big!

[@CulinaryCrime]

Anne Of Green Gables is on my January TBR as well. :)

[@Nitteroony]

My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrick Backman is my favorite of his and it features a beautifully done journey of grief. Highly suggest!

[@_ashleylh]

Little Women and Anne of Green Gables are some of my favorite classics! Save Little Women (if you can) until next December. The first part begins and ends at Christmas. Little Women gives me holiday vibes. Its truly worth it and yoyull probably fly through it.

[@jessmmassey]

omg so good to know - thank you! 🫶🏼

[@kadyberrier6686]

I loved Happiness for Beginners!

[@abrareads]

I really liked the reading list.

[@onecraftyheart]

So glad to see you! Loved The Reading List! Loved Before I Let Go and This Could Be Us; looking forward to the 3rd one coming out next year! Just to warn you, they are spicy. Bear town is on my 2025 TBR. Looking forward to your 2025 book videos!

[@jessmmassey]

ooo thank you for the spice warning - I didn’t realize! 🫶🏼

[@Al-jx2qw]

With your planners, you should make some book journals too :)

[@jessmmassey]

That’s a dream of mine 🥲🫶🏼

[@dominiquereinier28]

I’ve read You With a View and Ex-Vows! They are both amazing and not the crying type of romance books. I think you will enjoy them. You will definitely need to read them!

[@Jennifer_lynn_1313]

I have read Mad Honey, Beartown and The God of the Woods. All fabulous literary reads. Memorable for sure. I look forward to your 2025 reviews and recaps!

[@Super1fan82]

Hey Jess I looked up Love at first book and it’s the second in a series. Just wanted you to know!!

[@Super1fan82]

Also I was the one who said that about Ashley Poston. You just made my entire day

[@jessmmassey]

@@Super1fan82 omg I didn’t know that! Guess I have to buy the first one now 🤭📖😂 thank you for letting me know!

[@historywithkaitlynrescino1996]

Thunderhead is 2 and the toll is 3. I’m loving the series as well.

[@jessmmassey]

Thank you for letting me know! I’ll probably read them early on in 2025 - I gotta know what happens 👀

[@heatherdull9168]

@@jessmmasseybe prepared to read #3 IMMEDIATELY after finishing #2. The ending of #2 is CRAZY and you’ll want to jump in to #3 right away! I can’t wait to watch your video talking about them!!!

[@ashleykops3443]

I am so excited for your next video! Have you read Five Survive by Holly Jackson or The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson? They are also great books.

[@jessmmassey]

I haven’t! I loved the a good girl’s guide to murder series when I read it a few years ago though!

[@juliaantes9369]

Love your outfit ❤ so cute

[@jessmmassey]

This is so nice, thank you 🥲🫶🏼

[@kristindelo6061]

Yellowface is excellent. Its like watching a car crash in slow mo, but you cant look away.

[@halliemeyer3490]

I read all three of Annabel Monaghan’s books this year. I liked all of them Nora Goes Off Script 3⭐️ Same Time Next Summer 4 ⭐️ Summer Romance 5 ⭐️. So I can’t wait for you to read the other too and It’s a Love Story.

[@CaseyVReadsAlot]

Those classics are beautiful!! 😍 Where did you get those editions?! ❤

[@jessmmassey]

aren't they stunning!!! I got them on Amazon 🫶 here is a link to a box of a few of them: www.amazon.com/dp/0593623681/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk

[@melissaj8384]

Just finished The Lost Story - 5 stars! Young adult in my opinion. The Spell Shop was cute. Quick read. God of the Woods - great book 5 stars.

[@rachelbosworth2438]

Out of the pumpkin spice cafe series I found that the 3rd one was my least favourite. I loved the other two though and I’ll be carrying on with the series

[@xximareaderxx]

Half a Soul is pretty good, and great if you aren't huge into fantasy, its not to overwhelming

[@allyc6261]

I think it’s a fair assessment that most fantasy books are part of series, which can be a turn off for people new to the genre. If you’d like a recommendation for standalone fantasy novels, maybe try M.L. Wang’s Sword of Kaigen, which I’ve heard is very good.

[@panini4200]

I highly recommend Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. It helped me so much through grieving. There were deaths and terminal diagnoses in my family in a short time span and this book was gifted to me. It was a bit tough to get through because of how raw everything was but it was immensely helpful

[@jessmmassey]

I’m going to look this up - thank you 🥲🫶🏼

[@arianasmithreads]

If you love historical fiction add The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah if you haven’t read already!! SO good!!

[@CulinaryCrime]

I have Beartown on deck for January 1st. It will be my first read of 2025.

[@kristinhal9374]

Cant wait to hear what you think of the god of the woods, it got such raving reviews but I was SO disappointed in it

[@CulinaryCrime]

Hannah Bohnam Young has a new books coming in 2025 about the other couple from Out On A Limb too. ❤

[@jessmmassey]

I have them all pre-ordered 🤭👏🏼

[@nickiburns4095]

I really liked The God of the Woods.

[@brianneholmes6547]

I enjoyed The God of the Woods. There are some parts that you may want to put it down, keep going!

[@rachelbosworth2438]

It always intrigues me why Americans always pronounce fredrik backman’s surname as barkman

[@jessmmassey]

I didn’t realize I did 😂

[@rachelbosworth2438]

@ I think it’s all Americans, at least on booktube anyway. It’s not a criticism by the way, just an observation x