I bought your best book recommendations! || December Book Haul 2023

[@arya0553]

Emily, have you ever considered doing like a „grwm“ kind of video, while you talk about the books you finished that month? Or an „get unready with me“, if you film more in the evening… we would get the best of both worlds, literally, some books and Beauty with Emily Fox 😍♥️

[@morenaglow]

Love this

[@federubiowenk2859]

That’s a great idea

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

I have been enjoying my skincare lately 🧐

[@conniescove5497]

Beauty and books mashup yeeeeessss

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

+1 upvote! I actually really like get-unready-with-me content these days. I don't mind being influenced into good skincare... but goodness knows, I don't need to fall in love with more lip products haha

[@ashleylyon84]

I have a 6 hour plane ride coming up. You have convinced me to read Blood Over Bright Haven. I have downloaded it for the plane and beach!

[@anavargas2837]

Positive you’ll love it!!

[@oliviajoolz5149]

In germany books in german are price bound (they cost the same in every store) and relatively expensive (paperback ~15€, hardcover start at 20€). But books in English are comparatively cheap, especially online (paperpack 10-15€) and they're not price bound so I always buy my books when the stores have their semi regular 20% sales and pay like 8-10€ per paperback

[@natasja8201]

Same! I’m from the Netherlands and Dutch books are crazy expensive too, that’s why I read the most of them in English

[@nerdlounge_at]

Prices have risen to ridiculous levels in Europe too… the sequel to fourth wing costs 32€, which (according to Google) is more than 46 Canadian dollars. Before i thought twice about buying a book because of my tbr pile, now it’s because of the price… and sometimes the tbr pile 🙈

[@hayleypc123]

I live in the Uk and although Waterstones is the most popular book store, I use The works for a lot of mine. I bought the flawless series for £2.50 each and the entire Never after series for £20

[@msellenandrea]

Emily Wilde is set in winter so perfect to start the year with ☺️

[@jennawar13]

Me audibly yelling YES when you held up Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries lol this was my favorite book of 2023 I doubt anything I read in December will surpass it and I am eagerly awaiting the next volume

[@judithcakelover]

Blood Over Bright Haven is high on my want to read list also because I adored The Sword of Kaigen I was a sobbing mess with that book.❤

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Prepare yourself with this one too 😅

[@judithcakelover]

@@BookswithEmilyFox I'll make sure I have some tissues close to me then 😆

[@whitney4244]

Lol your comment about buying the self-published book to shove down our throats 🤣 I totally get that. I feel that way about the Red Winter trilogy by Annette Marie (self published Canadian author!) and try to talk ppl into reading it all the time for a good adventure slow romance coming of age story. My fav comfort read 🥰 Those Jane Austen mysteries are gorgeous! I'm very curious now about those...

[@MLLatUtube]

I loved Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers! A great found family. I also really liked Emily Wilde's Encycopadia of Faeries. And I must look into Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

[@devlyn873]

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers was so much fun!

[@dominikasedlackova9163]

I'm from the Czech Republic and books are sooo expensive in here. For example The Way of Kings (hardback) by Brandon Sanderson in Czech translation is for 799 CZK (about 48 CAD). Not all books cost this ridiculous price but usually it's about 300 - 500 CZK (16 - 30 CAD) for a new book. Which is even more crazy than in Canada comparing our wages..

[@tungstensmum1491]

Emily Wilde turned out to be one of my favourites of the year - it was just such a good time. Definitely read it ASAP, it’s perfect for Dec/January

[@AEJ-1-2]

"10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World" is amazing.

[@Rachel-6016]

In Australia, new books are also pretty $$$ which is why I mainly buy second hand. For reference an older backlist paperback book will be 22.99 (the cheapest option), newer large paperbacks are 32.99 and hardbacks are anywhere between 30-60 (all in AUD, which I think is similar to the Canadian dollar). Buying new releases all the time would be so expensive 😭

[@Elsa_ingenue]

I even have been influenced by your own comment section on reading The Will of The Many aha I put it on my TBR sooo fast

[@SadieRuin]

Mariana Enriquez is amazing, I love her stuff. It’s very atmospheric.

[@fine_nib_witch]

So excited for you to read The Will of the Many! I just finished it a few days ago and can't stop talking about it to anyone who will listen. I am so stoked for book 2. It's definitely a cliff hanger at the end, but also in the best of ways. I had a "wait what? what do you mean? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" moment at the end. I hope you like it! I kept thinking of you whenever we were in the school too, cause you always talk about how much you like that trope. Fair warning, it's told in first person present, so sometimes it gets a little grating, but I stopped noticing eventually.

[@diri07]

Just to reassure you I quite enjoyed Vera Wong 😁 it was giving me “Legend and lattes” vibes even though there was no magic in it. I’d say the mystery is the weakest part in it, but I see the potential if there will be more books! Oh and oh my god, I just read “The other Bennet sister” this past week after you mentioned it in one of your videos and I think it became one of my favourite books of 2023. For me it perfectly encapsulated the feeling that reading Jane Austen gives me.

[@blauwks3230]

Emily Wildes Encyclopaedia of faeries is an amazing read for the winter!

[@aaishah6743]

The island of missing trees is one of my favourites

[@jadeduffy84]

In Ireland so prices in euros € Paperbacks go from 12.25 for the standard size to 19.50 for larger 'trade' paperback. Hardcovers range from 15.50 for smaller size to 23.50 for standard size. *random selection of book prices from my local indie shop

[@Jamteaa]

The book you've recommended so much - Blood Over Bright Haven - is 30 dollars in Japan (normally around 20). I can't with these prices 😭But you've said so many good things about it, that I might give in and buy it in the end haha. About the Island of Missing Trees, I bought it thinking I will love it, but just couldn't get into the parts that are told from the perspective of a tree. (Not a spoiler btw, it says so in the description.) But maybe it will be up your alley! Looking forward to your reviews :)

[@Phillybookfairy]

I am most excited to read the 38 minutes, island of missing trees and now I am adding that first one to my tbr it sounds great and your fav from last year the apocalyptic one!

[@eettis]

there's this brazilian book called "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas", which starts with the character dying and then recounting his whole life. it's a classic, so it can be very hit or miss, but i think it's worth the read.

[@Beach652]

The Will of the Many is massive; very daunting, lol!

[@kimdaniel4539]

I just finished Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone and it was so good! I had the audio and it was so funny. And the ending was a surprise. Hope you like it

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

How was the narrator? I adore audiobooks! They let me listen & knit at the same time.

[@VeraFran]

​@@Chaotic_Pixiethe narrator is great.

[@kimdaniel4539]

Yes the narrator brings the story to life.

[@gregahunt]

great video, emily. i love booktubers that introduce me to new stuff

[@jucijuicy]

since you mentioned books with the main character dying at the beginning, you may like "Posthumous memoirs of Bras Cubas", which is a brazilian classic where the narrator writes the book after his own death, reminiscing and commenting on his life before death! very quotable and touching, also quite funny at times

[@Anna2187_]

so excited for you to read the will of the many! when you read vera wong's unsolicited guide for murders, i highly recommend listening to the audiobook - it elevated the book for me

[@carolinec3951]

I don't necessarily always share your taste, but ALWAYS love watching your videos. To answer your question, I bought 3 books recently in US. Paperback $16.95 USD = $23.05 Canadian. Mass Market Paperback $8.99 USD = $12.23 Canadian. Hardback $28.00 USD = $38.08 Canadian. I prefer to buy from thrift stores, but lately those shelves are pretty bare.

[@Rainbopagn]

That’s about the costs around here in the mid eastern part of the States. (Reference: live in WV, travel to east OH, TN, Ocean City often)

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

Yes but sometimes there are other costs as well, not just conversion, but more freight, etc., since canada is so big. Trade paperbacks are anywhere from 24 to 28$, but you're right on with hardcovers in the 38$ range. A lot of us shop at Costco where the prices are less, or online, and even in stores the biggest hyped books will be 30% off right off the top.

[@Rainbopagn]

Have you read NK Jemisin’s How Long Until Black Future Month? I know short story collections aren’t always your thing but the queen can’t do wrong!! Also: if you want cozy, character dies in the beginning, Mitch Alboms Five People You Meet in Heaven and the sequel are *chef’s kiss*. Cozy but heartbreaking at times.

[@sam.my.m]

I was secretly hoping you would have included A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles as part of this haul. Maybe the next one? 😅

[@MoJordanReads]

Omg I actually can't believe you haven't read Emily Wilde, lol. I hate to build expectations, but I'm 100% sure you will really enjoy your time with that one.

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

I really hope so!!!

[@roevardotter]

That one is so cool ❤

[@NatalyaVins-blueflower775]

I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia. I'm going to read the sequel and everything else the author wrote.

[@chiarabertoldi2992]

Me too! Can’t wait for the sequel

[@romalibra_books]

Emily Wilde is so wintery it’s perfect for the Christmas season ❄️🌨️

[@e-nev]

I loved Emily Wilde! It had the wit and banter of Jane Austen, but has whimsical faerie lore tossed in. I just read an arc of the sequel and thought it was just as good too.

[@veronique5199]

I just finished 10 minutes and 38 seconds and it was really beautiful. The first half of that book was so impactful

[@CUTIEE109]

I love these kinds of videos, added a couple to my TBR! You should definitely check out The Book That Wouldn't Burn by Mark Lawrence. I finished it a few days ago and it made it on my fav 2023 reads

[@MichelleCR223]

I LOVED Emily Wilde and I hope you enjoy it too! I got an arc of book 2 and it was also excellent 🥰

[@TheObsessiveBookseller]

I love this! I’m planning to read most of those too now haha.

[@TheObsessiveBookseller]

Hierarchy was such a good one, hope you love it

[@h.a.leuschel7491]

Thank you so much for your recommendation of ‘Blood over Bright Haven’. I’m reading it at the moment and am loving it 🥰

[@sullivc5]

If you like Simone st James, you might like Susanna Kearsley. Try named of the dragon for a cozy winter read or shadowy horses for spring/summer. As a bonus they were published awhile ago, so if your library doesn't have them, you should be able to find a used copy

[@whoisthis4030]

I just finished a duology of short stories called An Elder Lady Is Up to No Good and An Elder Lady Must Not Be Crossed and they were good. They translated from Swedish. The MC is in her late 80s and never married. I think you would like it. And the ending is touching.

[@erinh7450]

Book with someone who died at the beginning (well, actually just before the beginning): Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Excellent, recommend.

[@Beaureads24]

The Haunting of Maddie Clare was good read. She is a good writer.

[@Romance_Realms]

Will definately be looking to read " the will of the many" love really thick books in my head i immediately think must have good world building !

[@laurahailstone5835]

My favourites have been The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, Blood Over Bright Haven by ML Wang and thanks to your recommendation I who have never known men. I really enjoyed The Will of the Many and Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, hope you enjoy them too.

[@louisathellama]

I loved Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries! It's so funny that you wanted the UK edition because I've been holding off on buying it because I think the US cover is so much nicer 😆

[@ErinEPeterson1]

Non fiction: Empire of Pain!!! So interesting and compulsively readable. Can’t wait to pick up this authors backlist

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

It's been on my library waiting list for so long... the audiobook is like 18h? So I keep pushing it back lol

[@Weihnachtsgans1]

I second that! I listened to the audiobook this year too and it is the best nonfiction i have ever read, plus the narrator is really good!

[@kbird6208]

Say Nothing is also excellent. Rogues was OK but since it was drawn from his journalism, I'd read at least versions of some of it before.

[@leticiatoraci9855]

I'm curious about Emily Wilde's and The Will of the Many. And I have this problem often with speaking German which is my third language.

[@Carmen-vw4kd]

The audiobook for Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone is excellent. The narrator does a brilliant job.

[@MizzInterpreted]

Yes! It's one of my top reads this year and the audio elevated the experience. For people who haven't read it there is a lot of breaking the fourth wall so if that isn't something you like the book probably won't work for you.

[@SuSi-zq8hw]

My favorites of 2023 (until now) are Project Hail Mary and The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. Since you already read those (I think) I recommend Light Chaser from Peter F. Hamilton and Gareth L. Powell. It is a great space opera, told within 173 pages without missing anything. special mention: Foster from Clair Keegan (very heartwarming)

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

I’m terrified of Hamiltons books… they’re huge lol

[@SuSi-zq8hw]

Me too :) !! But that's what's so great about this one. It's only 173 pages long. Great to check out his work without committing to a huge book.@@BookswithEmilyFox

[@juditkovacse]

Recommendation for older female main character, that's also translated from Spanish: Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro. It is a bit of a thriller, but it is more tense than action packed. But the book itself is great. Highly recommend that one. I am trying to learn Spanish myself, mainly because of stuff that I've read in translation from Spanish. Both books from Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries. There is a huge variety there to choose from.

[@jenniferbngo]

Books here in the Philippines are about ~1000 for paperbacks. Minimum DAILY wage in the city capital is 570 pesos 😅

[@CadenaDanger]

I hope you love Elif Shafak, she is so good. She has a large backlist if you decide she is for you. Her essay, How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division, was a breath of fresh air in 2020.

[@shellykeyes8389]

Nice book haul! Lots of interesting choices…I was able to snag Garden Spells from my local library, so very excited to read it after your recommendation.

[@suzannemoore404]

I'm reading Emily Wilde right now. I think you will either really like it or love it!

[@zara6472]

I read the Bone Saga trilogy after your recommendation and LOVED it so I shall be picking up your best read Blood Over Bright Haven

[@quarrel79]

Haha we had Target in Canada but it failed and they shut down all stores about 8 years ago.

[@alo7491]

Emily Wilde was my fav book of the year!!! Very much vibes over plot (there’s still plot) but I’m so excited to see ur review💗💗💗

[@LesleyvanderLaar]

Emily Wilde's is so cute! One of my favourites.

[@theworddegree]

Love seeing you pick up some Australian books!

[@MoJordanReads]

My top favorites of 2023, that aren't sequels, would be Happy Place by Emily Henry, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi, and Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. Past favorites that I'd, personally, love to see you read would be Radiance by Grace Draven, Winter's Fury by AE Rayne, and The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

[@cIaimthestars]

I LOVED The Will of the Many, and also really enjoyed Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (the audiobook was so funny) and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

[@Chaotic_Pixie]

How was the narrator?

[@cIaimthestars]

@@Chaotic_Pixie I thought they were great

[@czai_]

you had me checking the exchange rate when you talked about how pricey books are and yeah, i feel you!! i've been hoping to get the hardcover of Light Bringer here in my country and it costs more than that. we have an export edition which is like 20USD but i really want the hardcover for this one!

[@comicbelief]

Some ten years ago, books in Brazil were at a reasonable price. I’d say 10-20 dollars on average. Then Amazon arrived with a website for the Brazilian market. And sold books at ridiculously low prices. Very soon, every other bookstore chain was going bankrupt, closing their doors. And then, as was to be expected, Amazon prices skyrocketed. Some books go for 30-40 dollars, but popular new releases can easily cost over 40.

[@shleshadamse5256]

Hey Emily! You need to read 'The last house on needless street' by Catriona Ward.. it's soo good..i think u'l definitely love it..

[@katietatey]

I can't wait to hear about Encyclopedia of Fairies. That is way out of my usual genres but it sounds really cool (and I love the cover haha).

[@seanbriere8428]

I read Island of Missing Trees this year and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My best book this year was Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I don't ever cry during a book but it had me sobbing at one point.

[@imaginarycosmetics]

Since you mentioned continuing series and reading from an older woman's pov, I would also recommend City of Blades. I'm curious about Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, but I'm not sure if I would like it😂 I'll definitely wait for your review.

[@Kellas_Kat]

My all time favorite book is Green Rider by Kristen Britain. Our main girl stumbles upon a murdered King's messenger, so she ends up taking his horse and continuing his critical mission. There are elves, magic, a lurking evil menace, mystery of a lost civilization, and later in the series time travel. The original book is 25 years old and she's still writing the series (the books are giant at this point), and I still love them. The author is a former park ranger, and she does a fantastic job of describing the medieval/fantasy forest world.

[@novisob2233]

Have you read Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky? Most reviews for it are like: Jane Austen character goes to war. 😆 It's really good, and I feel like it might be your vibe

[@slytherinslioness]

I bought Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone based on someone’s recommendation in your comments! It was $1.99 for the ebook last week. I think that’ll be my first book to read in 2024.

Yeah books in Brazil are quite expensive as well, in fact a report came out today and the main barrier for reading is the price! Both for readers and non-readers, and that's a complaint across all social classes 😢

[@tennille9dawn]

I'm in Canada too - and yes, so expensive! Everyone has been raving about The Will of the Many so it was my birthday present to myself and that was all. It's the most expensive book I have I think, but there are a lot that price now it seems which is why I go for sales or used as much as possible.

[@ilsaingrid]

I just read The Island of Missing Trees last weekend and I loved it. Her other book is on my shelf, and now I’m a bit more eager to read it.

[@skarrlettewinter6669]

I've never read any of those, but I've been interested in most of them for a while. My favorite book of all time happens to be a children's picture book my grandma used to read to me. It's basically a retelling of Cinderella, but it's with indigenous peoples culture and as a person of color I absolutely loved seeing that story flipped into a different culture. (The name of the book is The Rough-Face Girl by Matt Rafe and David Shannon)

[@Sayantika_Sarkar]

Depending on the store in India, paperback books can range from 300 to 1000 INR, roughly 4.90 to 16/17 Canadian dollars. While hardcovers tend to be pricier, the overall cost doesn't seem excessively high. To discover underrated books at a lower price, one might need to wait a few months post-release or opt for ebooks.

[@doreen7729]

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton! Dystopian climate fic with a sapphic romance + there are cats?! Think you could like it 🧡

[@natcommon]

So excited for you to read The Will of the Many and Emily Wilde. :)

[@kartik3719]

Ahh I'm so honored that you took my recommendation and bought some Elif Shafak books! 😭❤ I hope you enjoy both of them

[@sirgnome]

I think one of my best reads of the year was The Reading List. It’s a found community story about people connecting over books, growing as people, working through grief, etc. (none of them were one for reading in the beginning). I cried, and my heart was so full by the end. I’m pretty sure most (if not all) of the characters are poc.

[@MediocreAtBesd]

I really wanna read that one!

[@corinajurcul5663]

Just wanted to say thank you for recommending Blood over Bright Haven. Got the ebook after your vlog and loved it. I really want to read The Will of the Many too. I personally loved The Island of Missing Trees and enjoyed Emily Wilde. Happy reading 😊

[@astronot92]

I wish I could get books I'm interested in for a dollar, I'm so jealous🥰

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

Some months are better than others but when I look at the prices of new books… I definitely feel lucky to have access to used books!

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

I haven't read any of those except for The Other Bennet Sister, which was excellent! Such a rich story :)

[@dianeal-hakari1479]

Emily I get you 😢it’s so expensive to get books in Australia as well

[@radudumanovschi3387]

Books usually cost somewhere between 8-9 USD. There are also books that are ridiculously expensive ($25). The most expensive one I bought was somewhere close to 15 USD. Books in Romania are a convenience.

[@anikamercier2651]

I’ve like Vera it’s kinda cozy and fun!! You need to read The Will of the Many first!

[@julialockart]

Mur Lafferty's Station Eternity is a Sci-Fi Murder Mystery that I would recommend book 2 recently came out as well. :) Love your videos and opinions on books and always look to you for new books to get

[@fidato_]

Sword of the kaigen and blood bright over haven are my favorites reads of the year

[@katiedalton9841]

Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone is such a good book!! I think you’ll enjoy it as far as mystery/thriller vibes. I love that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The audiobook was a delight.

[@onfaerystories]

So many of these sound so interesting to me too! I've heard of Elif Shafak and I wonder if her works would work for me. That concept of a character dying at the beginning of a book does sound appealing to me. The only novel I've read based on that was "The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas" by Machado de Assis, which is a Portuguese classic (the narrator tells you from the start that he died). Someone I follow (you probably know Merphy Napier) loved it, but I read a French translation of it and I didn't find it funny or interesting in the least, and I've been wondering if it might have been the translation (though I'm not really into nihilistic humour in general, so..). 👀. On that list, I'm particularly curious about your thoughts on 10 Minutes, Patrick Ness (I've heard his concepts are quite unique), and The Will of The Many (I know it'll be in the top 3 of Petrik Leo's favorite read of 2023!).

[@irenevanbenthem9419]

If you would like more translations from the spanish language maybe you would like, Carlos Ruiz Saffon, shadow of the wind is his most popular work. Also the YA novel Fractured from Megan Miranda, starts with the main character dying. 😅

[@book_dealer]

I know a book, where the character dies at the beginning, i think its called under the whispering door :)

[@Elsa_ingenue]

here paperback books range from 12 euros to 25, and hardbacks from 25 to 40 at most for special editions. but must people earn not more than 1,5k euros a month and the cost of life is sky high so it’s another world entirely lol

[@BookswithEmilyFox]

I thought books were cheaper in Europe!

[@fidato_]

The books in my country are super expensive cos we also have to pay import duty, gst, etc. We can eat at a luxury restaurant in the same amount.

[@mayralex18]

Books in Mexico are expensive yeah, most books would cost around 300-400MX which is 23.38- 31.17CAD; I searched up a chunky book to give you an example of a price similar to "the will of the many" and Ken follet's "the armor of light" is 52.13CAD. Im assuming that the price increase is in some part due to the translation work and also is worth mentioning that the minimum wage that someone can earn DAILY is less than 300MX

[@msellenandrea]

Ive seen hardbacks in Norway for the equivalent of 56cad.. Some even more 😭 and why I read mainly kindle deals and order from the UK 😂

[@paularowinska1330]

"The Island of Missing Trees" is beautiful!