i read 5 popular books i said i'd never read…and i wish i hadn’t 🫠

[@Catmason13]

"They're not enemies, they're not lovers, they're both just fucking stupid." I need this quote on everything

[@davidbru1]

LOLL I DIED WHEN SHE SAID THAT

[@vanjaparipovic924]

This could go to literally all of booktok books

[@skylarwiggin2057]

I WAS ABOUT TO COMMENT THIS LMAO it was the best quote

[@sebswede9005]

But they're both stupidily fucking.

[@LiNestHetalia]

I'll use it to define all my ships, because that's basically true

[@BriannaPasewalk]

Hannah: "I can't think of a worse name for a character" Colleen Hoover: "Let me introduce you to Lilly Blossom-Bloom

[@dotdotdot...176]

Like almost all of the character names in her books are SO BAD 😭

[@pebabmey]

I was about to comment this same thing 💀💀

[@iimuffinsaur]

nah because there is a book and i forget its name but i had to put it down because the LI's name was brick, like i have a high tolerance but brick isnt it

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

This is for real?

[@thefriesofLockeLamora]

​@@lucode7514I always thought it was a meme 😂

[@britnicox3929]

Her name is one step from just being “American Idol” and that gets me every time

[@justcraziithings1151]

why are there no replies

[@luizearaujo5844]

​@@justcraziithings1151she preached. No comments needed.

[@RethaMash]

No comments needed.

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

"Her name is Caroline!'

[@victoriablake3826]

“America Singer- who is a singer- is the worst book name of all time” *Lily Blossom Bloom Blossom- who is a florist- has entered the chat*

[@AClockworkReader]

BYE WHAT IS THIS FROM??

[@victoriablake3826]

@@AClockworkReader She’s the main character from It Ends With Us. Hoover names most of her character with the same ✨zest✨ as a tween fanfic writer who’s just discovered nameberry, but that one is straight up unforgivable.

[@paperbacksgalore]

@@AClockworkReader COLLEEN HOOVER LMAO

[@AClockworkReader]

@@victoriablake3826 NO OMFG 💀💀

[@amaliaflores4033]

@@AClockworkReader PLS MAKE A VIDEO ABOUT COLLEEN HOOVER BOOKS

[@mayochupenjoyer]

acotar sounds like that meme “YA books: There are 2 boys, the protagonist girl HAS to date one, but how can she choose? They are so incredibly different in every way! The boys: _two white guys who look exactly the same but with different colored hair_ ”

[@midnightchiffa]

It's very funny that in your comment the only things that should be different in these boys are there skin color and hair.) like, seriously?..

[@amandaramos_25]

nooo, dont compare them 😭 rhys is really good and tamlin deserves death

[@johnkeller2669]

This just made me laugh so hard lmao

[@paulac.munoztorres]

Plot twist: the boys are gay and dating each other.

[@hoshiuno7530]

@@midnightchiffa fr its annoying and superficial.

[@Artemis.a025]

I've read "it ends with us" by Colleen Hoover and felt like it was just a wattpad story that 14-year-old girls would read. Now that I hear you talking about slammed, I'm pretty sure she's just writing her books for young girls that haven't heard of wattpad.

[@eyesfullofstars13]

I was gonna read it but these comments are hilarious 😂 it seems like a stupid book

[@debbystragier2154]

Meanwhile my 43 year old mom read her books… i feel like there’s a lot of older women who love these books as well.

[@valerijajovanovic2020]

@@debbystragier2154 Of course, your reader age is not necesserelly your real age. You can enjoy things for 13yo's when you're 50, but they are still things for 13yo's. It also depends on your reading past, theory of perception and all

[@salonerkegiyapmakulububaskani]

I've read it too. The writing is a bit better than wattpad. I would like it better if she wrote it when she was 14 but she is a literal adult.

[@ahlamsdiary]

As a 14 year old, I'm offended

[@aeh5109]

The ironic part is: The Red Queen is the best book in the series. It only gets worse.

[@rinnaaaaae]

I'd say Red Queen is the most dynamic but definitely not the best for me🙈

[@Ashely56]

Truely I dnf the 2nd one like 1/4 of the way into it because I was just so bored

[@hannahckirk]

No literally though. I had high hopes for red queen since it is so hyped and I finally read it & it was so forgettable and disappointing 😭 It was like 2.5/5 stars for me, enough that I started the second book but I stopped at like 10% in cause the second one was SO BORING

[@maveicent]

Oh it's the complete opposite for me lol I think the books get better as they go😭😭

[@zofloya]

It rlly does, especially the third book.. it’s so god awful

[@courtney9602]

i ate the entire selection series up in 2013 and gave it 5 stars but watching you tear it to shreds was absolutely hysterical

[@emmas.m]

See, my main issue with the delec series other than the girl on girl hate is the atrocious world building. I did a whole rant on my goodreads, but long story short, I just don't buy that one dude was able to pay off the entire debt of the U.S. And also the fact that the former U.S decided to name him King and then promptly rename the country after him. I'm not trying to sound all 'MURICA and everything, but it just drives me nuts. It just doesn't seem logical that a country so hung up on freedom would hop on the monarchy/dictator train. Rereading it as a 20 year old I was restraining myself from hitting my head against the wall lol

[@Jamangel]

lmaooo

[@violchen9925]

Same i inhaled the books when I was younger

[@moon.2674]

i was so obsessed with it a long time ago

[@Ew_itsGabbie]

I fucking worshipped these books in middle school

[@ceciflores2696]

I can't believe no one has ever called out SJM for basically writing a Howl's Moving Castle fanfic.

[@Squirrel_Cat]

Someone finally said it lmao! Thank you!

[@AnieMontes]

I just read ACOTAR and yes, this is exactly the vibe I got. When I think of Rhysand, I think of Howl.

[@megkrish7568]

Deym this actually makes me wanna read it a little bit😂

[@theanxiousace3783]

"I've seen so many images of Rhysand, all against my own will" Same.

[@bayleecrute]

So many people have said that they dont like rhysand but love drawing him and I feel the same way. Sjm's characters are not great but are so fun to draw

[@s.h.1527]

I hate that he’s described as a biracial black haired man with feline features and yet he is 100% of the time drawn as the same white boy over and over again. And cass and azriel are the same thing

[@DarwinRoger893]

​@@s.h.1527controversial opinion but lol im glad the acotar fandom casts white men as the bat boys. Something tells me that they'd...not be normal about rhys being a brown guy.

[@valeriabernal6122]

Actually, Sarah J Maas said that she listened to the demon god( princess mononokes song) to get inspired to write, so I think your theory that ACOTAR is a fanfic of Howl's Moving Castle can be 100% Right. She’s obviously fan of studio ghibli

[@silvermoonxoxo]

Acotar is a Beauty and the Biest adaptation.

[@Kathywake23]

Jaw dropped. I'll never un read this. DOesn't ruin the book for me, but it does make me think critically about the books I read...........and I don't want to that. Waaaahhhh 😢

[@TheMenasaur]

You’ll never guess what Howl’s Moving Castle ALSO is lol

[@princeapoopoo5787]

A novel inspired by a Ghibli film which is based on a novel. The plot thickens. We gotta go deeper.

[@TheMenasaur]

@@princeapoopoo5787 lololol

[@i.7525]

thank you for pointing out how annoying the "having sex = empowerment" rhetoric is, as an asexual woman it's always been super alienating to me in a lot of feminist spaces

[@BELIEVER78989]

FR

[@anishinaabae]

it's alienating to a lot of us, regardless of whether or not we're asexual.

[@MadelineBuckner]

As another asexual woman, I agree

[@TheVioletMagic29]

It's alienating to women who want a loving partner and emotional connection not just casual meaningless sex

[@daisiesx96]

It’s alienating to me and I’m not asexual lol.

[@naomistarlight6178]

Mark of a good vs bad dystopian novel: is everyone in the oppressed class a saint? In a bad dystopian novel, I can't get over how everyone in the poor struggling class is all honest, kind, hardworking, decent, kind, etc. It's hilarious. Just because you want your underclass to be sympathetic doesn't mean write every underclass character as Gavroche or Eponine. Some of them are also the Thenardier couple. Have some bastards.

[@LiNestHetalia]

And like Épopine has been a very much antipathetic character in the book, also the fact people forget that Javert is as well from the underclass what shows that oppression doesn't work without support of underclass men

[@naomistarlight6178]

@@LiNestHetalia I kind of liked that about The Handmaid's Tale as an example of good dystopian fiction there, the oppressive system in that novel would fall on its face without the active participation of women, who are also the major oppressed group. The writing fell flat for me in some ways in AHT but I did like that aspect of it.

[@jakerockznoodles]

It's the same with any bad novel/series with an "Evil Empire". In reality, there would need to be _some_ way members of the underclass can benefit from the system (even if not as much as the ruling class) in order for them to enable it, and betray people who would seek to stir up rebellion. Forget even the bastards, plenty of people who just want to live their life with minimal resistance are probably going to react with hostility to people trying to disrupt the status quo, even if that status quo is currently screwing them over.

[@naomistarlight6178]

@@jakerockznoodles yeah, it's really moral simplification that ruins books by taking me out of the story...

[@inaju]

Eponine is not a "good" character in the book, that's just the musical version.

[@milahdouh]

as a Muslim woman who wears the hijab i really appreciated you pointing out the uncomfortable language used about her removing her veil to be free since we’re normally told we’re exaggerating analysis like this xx also, loved this video sooo much you’re truly my favourite comfort KZbinr :) xxx

[@abbeyroche2983]

Same! I’m a hijabi too and we do frequently get dismissed when we try to bring awareness to this problem. This type of messaging affects real peoples’ thoughts and attitudes about hijab and modest dress

[@pedrovitor5324]

@@abbeyroche2983 Wait, but muslims isn't different from the actual Islam? If I'm not wrong if you're a girl and go out without a hijab you will be pretty much beaten up in islamic countries. I even saw a case once where two friends were biking through the world and Islamic people decapited both of them specially because the girl wasn't wearing hi jab. Also I remember I saw once a video of a girl who was trying to talk with muslims while they're protesting (I don't remember why) about people not addhering to their culture in England (It was the country If I'm not wrong) and they were constantly calling her a bitch, whore and all those bad names because she wasn't hearing a hijab. I don't know much about islamic culture, but I guess it's pretty easy to say things like you're saying when the country you live don't kill you by not wearing a hijab. I mean, muslims and islamics are different after all, so I understand why maybe you feel sensed by this scene while I was just "Okay girl, but you know that they're, like, very machists at the point you as a woman don't have rights in their culture, right?".

[@sailiealquadacil1284]

I tend to ask people what's worse: A man forcing a woman to wear a veil or smth., or a man prohibiting a woman from wearing one. If people bring up age as an arguing point, I then tell them that I decided to get my ears pierced back in Kindergarten (I was probably 4 around then). My mum wore earrings, her mum wore earrings, it stood to reason that I would, too, one day. Of course, if my mum had been against it, I wouldn't have got them pierced, but the idea was still mine. I even remember the exact location and words that I used.

[@pedrovitor5324]

@@sailiealquadacil1284 Yeah, exactly like that. If someone is being forced to do something they don't want to, so it's clearly wrong. The scene isn't about the hijab, it's about someone freeing themselves. Feeling it's an attack to you because you like to wear hijab is purposefully not understanding a character's arc.

[@LiNestHetalia]

@@pedrovitor5324 I think the point is how western society perceive hijabi as a type of veil that is a symbol of feminine repression? Like sure it's not the main intention of this phrase, but it does this type of reinforcement Also it's pretty much uncomfortable to go around saying what minorities can or not find hurtful or offensive when it's not you who maybe have white women trying teach you how much happier you would be not using hijabi or literally trying take it by force (yeah THIS shit has happened irl)

[@eirinym]

Don't waste your time on Colleen Hoover. Every single book of hers is like that. Every time, people know each other for five seconds and instantly it's inevitable love, there's always SA and gaslighting, the women always end up abused and crying. The men are always written as awful, awful, creepy, possessive characters who just trap the women with toxicity. And she writes it like it's desirable. Please, people, don't want what she seems to want you to want.

[@ashegrey3042]

she writes horror and calls it romance 💀

[@kgal1298]

I cringe when I see teens reading it because I really hope they don't associate love with SA. That's really by biggest issue with her, but I've been in manipulative relationships so I'm old enough to know that that is not okay and that's not love.

[@tesskellogg]

you forgot that the "trapping" so often includes pregnancy?? All these women are really pregnant after one sexual encounter

[@Inky_doodledoo]

She thinks that any woman that gets sexually harassed will turn yet still writes them as *pure* virgins in their 20's

[@lunarinyuna2906]

My favourite thing is that every time you criticise this it's "but in 'It ends with us' it's addressed" great, get yourself a cookie. First of all only because she addresses it in ONE book it doesn't mean the other books are suddenly okay, second of all is it tho? Is it really a book which handels the topic of abuse etc. Well? Don't think so...

[@the_ash_tree]

I feel you on the "losing your virginity changes you, makes you different" thing. The only thing I gained from losing my virginity was a sore hoohah.

[@AClockworkReader]

💀💀💀

[@DreamersArmy]

No one's dick is that important to change any part of who we are lol

[@bellalobela]

The only thing I got was a UTI😔🤘🏼

[@the_ash_tree]

@@bellalobela NICE 👌 ((No, but seriously, that sounds awful and I'm sorry that happened.))

[@evelynhoward783]

When I lost my virginity, I was pretty surprised that I didn't feel any different. The logical part of me knew I wouldn't, but the part of me that grew up reading YA romances thought it would like enlighten me or something 💀 reality was just that I was happy and sore and exactly the same as I was

[@myajayneh]

My problem with Colleen Hoover is that all of her books have the same cycle. It’s a romance where the emotionally manipulated girl who falls in love with an older and abusive man. I just think it sets the wrong precedent for young people about what a relationship is, and that applies for both men and women

[@peterevelin9939]

Nah that not the point. CoHo books aren’t like that. I think you’d have noticed that if you’d read more books from Colleen. Her stories are unique but ofc this is my opinion:)

[@NightOwlReader2790]

@@peterevelin9939 Is that the new way of "You completely missed the point"? When you said the following: "That's not the point.", "If you'd read more...blah blah blah", and "This is just my opinion..." That all sounds very much like "Let me say something offensive and aggressive to you! OH! No offense though!"

[@varshi4979]

also whenever i read her books the relationships are so suffocating to me that afterwards my opinion on relationships is like fully warped. I be like "im glad im not dating someone rn cause who would want all this".

[@peterevelin9939]

@@NightOwlReader2790 jeez. You took that statement offensive when I only pointed out that NOT every CoHo book is about a mentally unstable woman falling in with an abusive man… also I didn’t want to offend anyone with my bull*** ‘that’s not the point bla bla bla’ comment. Some people generalise things and that’s why I said my ‘opinion’ but I think that doesn’t matter because the world is following a new point of view! It just bothers me so much that at some point I get replies to my comments that aren’t even related to the actual topic I was writing about :) for instance a couple of months ago I expressed my opinion about the vaccine and it’s advantages and I got a typical American comment “such a racist you are”. Just explain to me: what made me racist when talking about a freaking vaccine… Okay I’m done, have a nice day! You took it offensive even it wasn’t my purpose to sound like that.

[@sanjanarajesh7359]

@@varshi4979 THANK YOU! i completely avoid her books now because it feels like a contest of "how shitty can i make his actions while still allowing him to get away with it because he says some pretty and manipulative words?" not to mention, every single fmc is a huge doormat and a pushover. genuinely astonishes me how people root for these characters.

[@que1102]

i find it hard to believe that a 21 y/o could qualify as a hs teacher, colleen really just made him that young to make less weird

[@wendyheatherwood]

She could have made him a student teacher / teaching assistant, which would make more sense for his age and make it almost not as bad? Like he'd still be an authority figure, but less of one if that makes sense. Also my personal experience is that they tend to be more casual and friendly with the students than regular teachers, probably because they're closer in age and also usually aren't the ones that have to hand out detentions.

[@koraeliu]

the youngest teacher in my school is 24 and she cant even qualify as a full time teacher IN MIDDLE SCHOOL- she just manages the library and subs

[@banaa9463]

He was supposed to be just a teaching assistant, but the school lacks teachers, so he was sorta promoted out of necessity.

[@Ich-Existiere-Nicht]

​@@wendyheatherwoodYeah, we had an intern once that watched the lessons and helped us with the problems. That would have made more sense I guess.

[@ashegrey3042]

they wouldn’t. they don’t even offer 4 year programs past elementary teaching i know bc i applied for teaching when i was in high school & that was the only option until after finishing 4 years. (i got accepted but ended up going to a different school for addiction counseling instead)

[@RadellasReadingRoom]

The "Blood and Ash" section had me in stitches I'm sorry for your suffering but it was hilarious to watch

[@ffossip]

I felt so much pain for her 🥹

[@iri02802]

True. I was not interested in from Blood and Ash and I am glad that my gut was right 😊

[@alpii00]

I got the book for Christmas from my aunt last year and really wanted to love it because I love her dearly, but couldn’t even get through the first two pages.

[@folshaze]

Hannah: Mare Molly Barrow is the worst character name ever Me: AMERICA SINGER *5 minutes later Hannah: America Singer's parents should get the electric chair for giving her the worst character name of all time

[@Ghoulia17]

As soon as she said the name “maxim screeves” my brain immediately responded with “brumple scrungus,” so I think that one is bad but it has the benefit of making me cackle like a witch

[@princeapoopoo5787]

I think what annoys me about the usage of the name "America", is that it's a dystopian novel. The name itself is fine, but the context would be like idk naming your kid after like Prussia ... or whatever. Edit: The Singer part is completely unforgivable.

[@iyla7479]

I was thinking about Kilorn when she talked about Mare being a bad character name, I somehow never got used to reading that atrocious name in my head throughout the series

[@anniemeridian270]

@@iyla7479 Why do people come up with such name in the first place

[@jeyyran]

aaaaah her name is mare why tf did I hear it as mayor 😂😭

[@pagesinked]

The Colleen Hoover book literally is the plot of Aria and Ezra in Pretty Little Liars omfg.

[@reywilson4337]

It really does sound like it's one of those fanfics where a couple names and details get changed in order to publish.

[@screwgravity100]

ANYONE who enjoyed "Slammed" should read "My dark Vanessa" to see the real, raw nature of studen-teacher "relationships" and understand why romanticizing them is BAD.

[@witchf4ce310]

A 3 year age gap between legal adults is not the same tho as the 40 year old teacher and the child in My Dark Vanessa

[@screwgravity100]

@@witchf4ce310 when it comes to teacher-student grooming, age difference is significantly less important then the actual power imbalance between the teacher and the student. Power imbalance is a powerful tool that makes a student more vonurable to manipulation and exploitation.

[@KitAE0]

@@witchf4ce310 I think it has less to do with age gaps and consent and more about how the power balance in a student/teacher relationship just isn't equal. Of course the balance can always shift in whatever relationship you're in, but you're more likely to find a power imbalance there i.e. sex for better grades, a hold over the students education, basically forms of manipulation, etc. It's the same way with other worker/client relationships too and why some people are fired for it/quit or transfer in order to date the person. I don't think the person in higher power has to necessarily want the relationship to play out that way, I think it's more just the positions themselves, if that makes any sense. 😊

[@amandaredd3057]

no kidding

[@manonstoffels5200]

There is also the series "The teacher" about these kind of relationships

[@baz8484]

the thought of a 21yo teacher is so outlandish to me as a German because there is no way someone that young could be a teacher here. The youngest teacher I ever had was 28 because in Germany it actually takes years to become a teacher because it's such an important job, you have so much responsibility. you have to get a bachelor's and a master's degree and then you have to work as a kind of apprentice teacher for a year plus then a year where you actually teach classes on your own but there's regular check-ins on how good you're teaching and you get grades on your work and only when you've gone through that you're an actual teacher.

[@blue1584]

Even as an American it’s bizarre to me lol, the youngest teacher I ever had was like 25 or 26. Teachers here need a bachelor's degree and teaching certification so it should typically take at least four to five years to get those. It really makes no sense for a high school teacher to only be 21 years old

[@vampvswolf]

@@blue1584 I was a 21 year old high school teacher when I started. I have a bachelor's degree, teacher certificate, student teaching (was a part of our teaching program at the University), mentorship program at the school the first year of teaching, and evaluations every year.

[@anniemeridian270]

True indeed in many other parts of the world. I think the most possible situation for a teacher student relationship to happen might be the TA&student, the age gap could be quite small (imagine a senior college student and a 1st year grad TA), and the TA can quit the class to prevent the situation from getting worse. Although in reality no body would really think of that (in most cases)--college kids have grown out of their fantasies of teachers, and the TA wouldn't have that much interaction with the students as well

[@anniemeridian270]

@@vampvswolf You must be a real genius to achieve that.

[@kathy2539]

My niece was teaching year 7-12 students her first year as fully qualified teacher, she was 21 yo, had BA Honours in teaching yrs p. - 12 qualification! We're in Australia.

[@whitneyhendrix8075]

“Not liking them based off their names might sound judge mental but I’ve gotten to know them too and I do t like their personalities either” haha love it

[@xTheOneToSaveUsAllx]

My read on Swendway is that the author took random letters from SWEden, FinlaND and NorWAY and smooshed them together. I mean, if it worked with shipping, why not apply it to nations...

[@cinnamonbun-]

that makes so much sense and i hate it

[@mayochupenjoyer]

clearly you’ve never heard of countryhumans (/hj, don’t look it up if you want to keep your sanity)

[@cinnamonbun-]

@@mayochupenjoyer as always, the phrase "don't look that up" compelled me to look that up. Did the Hetalia fandom ever truly die?

[@abigaildiamante9096]

Lol one of my favorite webtoons did that, being based in the distance future where several world wars and alliances have happened. Its called Space Boy and it's absolutely incredible

[@HollyHummingbirdriver]

I like how the country named itself using the combination of the country names in English… instead of Norsk, Swedish, and Finnish which would make a LOT more sense. (Also I only speak Norsk so idk what Swedish and Finnish is in their languages.)

[@BriarValley]

Fae mythology is so cool and I love how weird and different from humans they are. Somehow almost every YA book about them has managed to utilize none of it. 😞

[@takitaki202]

Is there a book that you think does a good job utilizing even some fairy lore?

[@sariahd5083]

@@takitaki202 C. J. Cherryh's Arafel's Saga is a good example.

[@BriarValley]

@@takitaki202 I personally haven't really found any, no. 😅 Aside from actual mythology books. I suppose ACOTAR is accurate in that they kidnap humans and such.

[@ladyredl3210]

There's not even any banshees!

[@steponmemelissa9688]

The closest ya I've read to accuracy is the cruel prince. But the most accurate depiction of fae I've seen is in an anime called Mahoutsukai no yome (ancient Magus bride) totally recommend

[@dotdotdot...176]

Ain't no way a _21 year old_ is a full on qualified teacher already, especially for high school level education.

[@cecilie...]

I don't know about the US but in Germany it's actually possible, especially because you already start teaching before having final teaching exam! A friend of mine became fully qualified at 21 but we also did our equivalent of high school / college diploma at 17.

[@nobodysgarden9375]

Tbh that’s actually possible. In my highschool my English teacher was 21 and completely fresh from college. Like this was her first ever experience teaching and oh boy did I feel bad for her cause my classmates took advantage of her lack of experience and tortured that poor woman 😭 but depending on how desperate the school is for new teachers it’s actually possible to have one that young !!

[@Sam-ni7wu]

Totally possible. High schools could offer college courses. I know people who finished their associates in high school. Then did two more years for their bachelor's. So they could have their degree by 19 or 20, depending on what age they graduated.

[@Bernalee.e]

A lot of high-schools take younger teachers. While at least in my country. Older teachers usually work with younger students because they need more time, attention And a lot of patience.

[@HoodwinkFalls]

Thats actually pretty possible.... i hav had several teachers who are 21/22

[@sumayyam822]

I just got emotional hearing you talk about the way that one scene in From Blood and Ash feels anti-hijabi. You explained the anguish Muslim women feel when we're told to just "take it off and be free" so well that my heart was pounding. Thank you for pointing it out and essentially standing up for the fact that it has an inappropriate air to it and that books do not exist in vacuums. I don't know if all hijabis feel like that scene was gross but I definitely do and hearing you pick it up and talk about it without letting it slide was so nice. I knew exactly where you were going as soon as you began talking about it and it honestly just made me happy to listen to.

[@cantrellayne]

As a Muslim from Pakistan, I agree!! ❤️❤️

[@TellMeWhereYoureHiding]

i love Hannah for this

[@rosejasminegwyn-willis824]

I haven't read it but as a hijabi this is not the message I would probably want to read about

[@unprofessionalcritic3107]

Ugh, I haven't read that book because of so many reviewers that I trust saying it's badly written, but I've never heard of this particular scene before. Sounds like a scene written in poor taste. As a hijabi I'm permanently crossing this or any other book by her off of my list.

[@vidyasreeram2587]

I think pro hijab argument comes from a place of extreme privilege. My friend ( who grew up in a muslim household, but isn't muslim anymore) found that scene incredibly accurate at describing her feelings at taking off her hijab. Her parents basically said to her face that women who don't observe hijab shouldn't complain about being sexually abused since they were asking for it. Maybe hijab is something that works for you,but for a lot of women,it IS a symbol of misogynistic oppression. What right do you have to say that these women don't deserve to be heard? Let me also draw your attention to the fact that women in Iran are still fighting laws that mandate compulsory hijab. Yes,COMPULSORY. Is that empowering? Western hijabis reap the benefits of having their rights protected in their countries while denying and minimizing the oppression suffered by women in the Islamic world. That's what makes ME emotional, and probably not I the same way as you.

[@meniiiithings]

" I don't have many thoughts, but I also think that's because the book doesn't have many thoughts" we love savage Hannah. This video is going to be so much fun!!!

[@AlasEtéreas]

I've seen people praising sjm and calling her books "female gaze" and I'm like gurl... the male love interests fucking enslave her, and Rhysand tortures, drugs, gropes, and kisses her without her concent 💀💀💀

[@laramcguire7520]

THANK YOU

[@camsreel5414]

This is probably why i didnt continue her second series

[@jackiehuff7736]

Yes! Exactly

[@RavensEye10]

Tf.. are you sure about that

[@notnaiah]

And they defend the plot saying He HaS a ReAsOn. But he continues to manipulate her until the very end of the series, people like him just because he is the inventor of feminism in the fae world 💀

[@adeleaslan8182]

Red Queen had so much potential it was so sad this whole world was wasted on a main character like Mare Barrow

[@chaotica3455]

RIGHT? I started buying and reading it when it first came out. The first book was incredible and the second was a little ehhh but good enough. The last two? Trainwreck. Idk what happened. Who hurt the author? Who held her at gunpoint? It was SO good. But I couldn't even bring myself to BUY the forth book because the 3rd was so much of a car crash

[@gourisree9991]

Ikr. Upto like 18 chapters it was nice and page turner. And then all of a sudden she just became so stupid to the point,I literally throw my book away. I couldn't really believe anything she does after that. 😭 And don't even get me started with male main characters.

[@prarthanae6305]

i know right that was my first thought when i read it like theres so much they couldve done with the concept and they wasteddddd it

[@braedynthompson8437]

It started so good and then I was like nope I'm done i hate these characters bye

[@adeleaslan8182]

@@braedynthompson8437 honestly the story was so genuinely interesting ( at least in the first book the second book was too slow for me) and I was so confused why I felt a bit let down about the story until I tried rereading and couldn’t stand mare again

[@lenasilva491]

i have this strong feeling the selection was supposed to be just a bachelor royalty au but her literary agent told her to include some political conflict so it could be sold as a ya distopia

[@AClockworkReader]

that actually makes so much sense

[@otrachicadeyoutube6853]

That's actually a great explanation! My 18yo self (who hated every page) is finally at peace. I just felt like she was pretending to make it political but didn't really care enough about it.

[@lunagale1573]

Yeah that makes sense. Because the drama of the bachelor stuff is fun mostly! All the dystopian aspects feel tacked on in sometimes a hilariously awful way. Shout out to that one chapter where we find out there's a rebellion going on in the background and it has next to no relevance again.

[@deboraalmeida9198]

Who else can’t stop reading mare barrow as bone marrow please???😭like it’s a book about blood

[@serosss5708]

I read it as bone marrow in your comment💀💀💀

[@EmyN]

No way this is the reason lol

[@straww_berryyy]

I just realised that it's not bone marrow 💀💀

[@certainnoodlesinapasta.5265]

naw i read bare marrow and thought of bone marrow

[@catpoke9557]

I read it that way in this very comment...

[@anushkasaxena9340]

i think age is a really huge factor in The Selection series. Like I read this when i was 13 and i really liked it cause it was like an intro to romantic novels for me and getting into Y/A novels... and it does get better in the next 2 books. But i always had a biased perspective of a cute prince and princess storyline. you did highlight some really imp issues tho... so many problems edit: Thanks for 1k!! 🥺

[@eastereggggg]

I read it was I was 11 or 12 because my friend recommended it to me, I remember not liking it but saying I did because I require validation 🥲

[@mk.Emilyy]

yes, i read the selection when i was very young, probably one of the first books i ever read, me. I remember enjoying it at the time, nowadays I would probably end up abandoning reading

[@anushka.jadhav]

The selection was the first romance book I read. What you said makes total sense. Now when I look back, I wonder what made me give it 5 stars.

[@paulac.munoztorres]

I’m kind of new to romance and I love a royal setting, so I think I’ll give The Selection a go, even though I’m much older than the target audience.

[@reynajelly]

Same

[@niamh8585]

it’s so bizarre to me that an adult would write a student-teacher novel.. like i associate this archetype with the idle daydreams of teenagers NOOOTTT the active fantasies of grown adult women

[@keri7154]

I can promise as an adult woman who is a teacher, NONE of us are imagining our students as love interests. Bleghhh

[@wingracer1614]

@@keri7154 Yes but these books are not about adult women dreaming of their students, it's about teenage girls dreaming about their hunky teachers.

[@anniemeridian270]

It is because teenagers like such fantasies that the adults write it in their favor to get the money, many genre fictions are like that. That being said, as an adult I do kind of enjoy the wizard mentor and the student vibe relationship. High school setting is too real life for me to associate with crimes...

[@Polyeurythane]

@@wingracer1614 That strangely reminded me that Strange Æons did a Tumblr Deep Dive video about people openly talking about wanting their teachers on Tumblr of all places and how it wasn’t healthy. Like man I love Tumblr for the great fanart and art/ask blogs that aren’t crossposted to Twitter, and the thought that there are wack ass people doing wacky stuff on the same platform always surprises me.

[@nono-gw7qm]

@@Polyeurythane if I remember correctly someone actually got with their teacher in the end. Tumblr used to be wild back in the days hahahah

[@GertrudisBaum]

I kinda get mad when people forgets that How's moving Castle is based on an amazing amazing book, same title, by Diana Wynne Jones. Yes, the movie is really good but it wouldn't exist without the book. She always gets so litlle credit and she was one of the most amazing writters out there.

[@lachemineepingouin3635]

Honestly me too, that entire series is lovely as are a lot of her other works. Have you read Dark Lord of Derkholm?

[@GertrudisBaum]

@@lachemineepingouin3635 Yes! I loved it. And what about the Chrestomanci Series? I've read "The Lives of Christopher Chant" a couple of times

[@lachemineepingouin3635]

@@GertrudisBaum Yes to “The Lives of…” but I should probably check out the other. Still, so happy to see Diana Wynne Jones appreciation!

[@EleiyaUmei]

Book Howl and Sophie are a little toxic though since they fight all the time - even after getting together.

[@robertafain3220]

I love the movie and didn't like the book 😅

[@sp00kygem]

THANK YOU!!!! THE MISOGYNY AND LACK OF WELL-REPRESENTED CONSENT IN SOME OF THESE POPULAR BOOKS IS INSANE!!! So glad to know someone else feels the same about these books.

[@brooklyngrace1576]

Ikr???? I like the selection but i was bothered by the lack of characters of color. America was half-Jewish (her dad shalom was jewish) and there was a black character in the later books but thats really it

[@Alyrael]

@@brooklyngrace1576 Bruh, people are more than skin color and ethnicity/religion. I get these characters are flat, but you're just as bad as the writers if that's one of your concerns.

[@victoroverangels]

@@brooklyngrace1576 the lack of poc characters definitely isn't the reason they're bad

[@ninjaartist1235]

And yet she tells woman oppressed in the Middle East that it’s okay that they are being oppressed and have to cover up cause “it’s their religion.”

[@M.H.I.A.F.T.]

They hold a mirror to a misogynist society. I feel bad for you if you take them at face value.

[@LittleMissTotoro]

I keep trying to convince my book club that SJM does not have an editor, because of the amount of repetitions in her writing - and how large the books have become!

[@teehee-yn3jh]

She has one but she has already admitted she never listens to them🙄. What a wonderful author, am I rite?🙃

[@LadyOndyne]

Because nowadays anyone with a pc and a printer can be an author. But not everyone can be a GOOD author. The problem is when every teen book is a twilighty mess.

[@rachelrobbins1409]

Oh my gosh seriously. The number of trite phrases that are literally copied and pasted throughout every book. It’s a crime.

[@soccerlife8912]

You can’t convince me Hoover didn’t watch Pretty Little Liars, see the Aria and Ezra bar scene followed by the classroom scene, and decide she was going to write a book modeled after it. Student/Teacher stories aren’t new (gross) but the “you seemed so mature” and the English teacher (poetry, close enough) and his student is straight out of Ezra’s creepy handbook.

[@sylviacorvalan7716]

Also, when Aria’s mom finds up she also brings up Ezra’s career so she also stole that part

[@elisandraescobales5195]

you’re completely right about howl’s moving castle! sarah has talked about how it’s her favorite childhood movie. she use to post a lot of the scenes and art on her old tumblr

[@AClockworkReader]

ohhhh 👀👀 that makes a lot of sense! because there’s no way there was no influence hahah

[@marieavril9470]

@@AClockworkReader I hope she stays away from Little Red Riding Hood

[@Lara-mx4cd]

With Crescent City supposedly being inspired by Zootopia I think it's obvious that most of SJM's books are some sort of published fanfiction, just different enough for most people to not immediately notice

[@zee1280]

@@Lara-mx4cd ZOOTOPIA??!?

[@shadowblair9342]

@@zee1280 Ikr Wtf

[@cantrellayne]

As a Muslim, I'm very very happy you pointed out how people are always coming at Muslim women & other women who practice a veil to "free" themselves by leaving their hijab/niqab or them covering themselves. It's frustrating. Stop telling women what to wear! Thank you. This video is fantastic. I love you!!

[@hfq6332]

Exactly like how YOU assume that I'm not free or under some control just becoz "I" decided to wear hijab or cover myself up, I never understood how ppl associate that with hijab, they're just going with the stereotypes put on muslim women

[@cantrellayne]

@@hfq6332 fr 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@mimibelta259]

I think especially in America people tell hijab wearing women to take it off more so because of 9/11 and what hijab wearing women reminds people of what the people who took part in 9/11(even though it was men ) so it’s not that we’re trying to control what you wear but we are still having trauma responses to seeing those who wear head coverings. Please help teach me more on this because I know I’ve said in passing not loud enough for the person to hear but to my parents that hijab wearing women should take it off because they are in America and it calls out to others oh I’m different and when people see someone that is different they attack them

[@cantrellayne]

@@mimibelta259 I'm sorry but that's not a justification. We dont see any Black people or Brown people assaulting or attacking white people because they have "trauma". Why isn't a white teenager or man just as much a threat? They have committed the most crimes and are responsible for more terrorist attacks🤷🏻‍♀️ It's wrong to generalize and be prejudiced against a group. Because if that was the case then we all should be prejudiced against all the white people and all that they've done throughout history. Thank you for being kind while stating your opinion. The answer is simple. Don't judge and if America is really a free land then it should accept its people and their diversity. I'm sorry but some White Americans do have a superiority complex. P.S: Is only a piece of clothing enough to judge somebody entirely? That's not nice at all. It's Islamophobic.

[@mimibelta259]

@@cantrellayne thanks of being kind in your reply I’m trying to learn and teach myself to be unbiased and anti racist because I hate how the world is today it’s because the media and they want us fighting with each other weather is about race ,religion ,or political views

[@ChocolatexCherries3]

"i'm for prison abolition but electric chair" the funniest line in this entire video lmao

[@sienvandewouwer]

"i believe in prison abolishion, but electric chair" might be my new favourite quote (and you were 100% correct)

[@runaru7957]

The love riddle was so annoying in ACOTAR because Feyre couldn’t figure out such an obvious answer lol

[@meridithdemello514]

Fr. As soon as I read it I guessed love and then the answer was revealed a few chapters later and I very loudly said "what did I just f*cking say"

[@koboldcatgirl]

Like, it's fine that Feyre's bad at riddles, even IMO that she misses this riddle (she's not a romantic person, after all). The problem is that as readers, we're trained to search for the most ironic, thematic, narratively cathartic answer. Literally our *first* guess is going to be love, *before we even start reading.* That makes it torture to keep pretending the riddle is hard. The riddle should have been introduced at the very end, as one last taunt.

[@meridithdemello514]

@@koboldcatgirl I also give her a pass because she didn't know how to read and therefore didn't have much experience in figuring out riddles and puzzles and stuff. I feel like it's easier to figure out riddles if you can actually picture the words In your head. It's hard to do that if you aren't an experienced reader

[@rinamarie8703]

Me not knowing the answer when I read the book…..

[@Rikrobat]

I’ve heard the riddle a few times now and I still don’t understand how the answer is obvious. I admit that I’m not good at riddles, so genuinely curious what the thought process is for knowing the answer beyond the “Beauty and the Beast” context, which the characters wouldn’t know.

[@hotcocoandart]

1:06:05 this actually gave me an idea for a story specifically targeting the teenagers who grew up thinking a teacher-student relationship is hot. Start it out and market it as soft and romantic and slowly get more into the horrific aspects and the grooming and how it can effect their lives. It's just an idea, but if it worked it would probably help the problem at least a little.

[@Mekkidolila]

That sounds so cool!!

[@jonasluv945]

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson touches on this topic - slowly takes the rose tinted glasses off the main character as the story progresses. It’s not perfect, but still good!

[@caarline654]

Considering how YOU went over I doubt people would get past the romanticization

[@Lena-zn4re]

@@caarline654 Because it was Penn Badgely… and he’s really hot lol. I’m positive if they had gotten a male lead that was not a physically attractive, the tone of that whole show would shift. But that would never happen, because Hollywood knows eye candy will sell well. Hot murdering stalker >> less than average looking nice guy.

[@EmyN]

I had this idea with 50 Shades of Grey 😂 I would do a romance like theirs and at some point paint it as horror and in the end the protagonist has to escape "Christian"

[@TheHedgehogGiraffe]

Fun fact about The Selection, I read it a few years back on a family beach trip because I think every beach trip needs trashy romance; and I actually picked it up because I was reading the book jackets looking for the one with the WORST main character name and America Singer just took the cake.

[@v_practices]

Unhinged Hannah is my favorite Hannah. 😂 “here’s the thing; it isn’t offensive, really, but it’s potentially offensive to the art of writing and creating a novel” is maybe the best insult I’ve ever heard Lolol

[@ameria_eve]

the fact that your howls moving castle fanfic theory was like true?!?!?! the more you read it just solidified it even more! Its fanfic 100% it just all matched up too much

[@katiemariecohen2781]

Yes queen I wanna see these books torn to SHREDS ❤️‍🔥

[@AClockworkReader]

you better watch the whole from blood and ash section and relive it with me because it was all for you 😭🫠

[@fotimarajabboyeva9437]

@@AClockworkReader hi how old are you?

[@HereInMyVerona]

🤣🤣

[@kindanerdy]

😂😂

[@yaradrawmeraki3702]

@@AClockworkReader 🤣🤣🤣 bless your soul trulyyy🤲🏻

[@liesah9240]

I agree with you about Red Queen's characters being about as bland as white toast. But I do have to give props to Aveyard for something that other authors like to ignore in favor of -aesthetics-: She is able to consider politics. I think that Bardugo does a better job but you can see that Aveyard seriously considers what effects a 16-year-old with powers has on the highest levels of the government, what effects wars have on the economy etc. Many YA and NA authors (yes, mainly SJM) just blatantly ignore the political dimension - which is always important when you write about a person possessing enough either literal or political power to directly influence a country's government, a war, or the economy. It's like they have never heard of political geography, political history, a constitution, or fantasy equivalents. Honestly, how on earth can a hidden city have flourishing trade? If nobody knows that city exists and it's only reachable via water (and you have to cross other countries' water to reach it), how can you trade successfully? It does not make sense. How can a 20-year-old that just learned how to read be seen as a competent leader? Why would it be surprising that countries with different economies and borders have differing interests? This ignorance ends in plot holes and bad writing- and that's a little sad.

[@Kathywake23]

Person (my gender-neutral way of say, "Girl"), my thoughts exactly. I read these books like watching "Keeping up with the Kardasians". They're good because they don't make any sense and aren't rooted in ANY form of reality. Just amazing how quickly they can go from taking themselves seriously to a dmpster fire in 2 seconds. Also, a Fayre factor is how can she be a competent leader if she literally knows nothing about faerie. Like nothing. What's his face barely let her out of the house and her "hunting" skills are really more like basic traps mixed with some main character energy. I'm done with my rant...for now.

[@ladyofnoxus6733]

This! I could care less about the characters of Red Queen but I enjoyed that the politics were intriguing and the world itself. But the story itself fell flat with the 3rd book. I couldn't finish the series.

[@jemnem7234]

@@ladyofnoxus6733 im reading the 3rd book now, and by reading, I really mean it has been sitting on my bedside table half finished and untouched for the past month. i have no motivation to read any more of that book, but I made the mistake of pre-purchasing the 4th and 5th....

[@ladyofnoxus6733]

@@jemnem7234 yeah I only pre bought War storm but haven't touched it since I got it back since it was released. 2018. It's up in my closet collecting dust. Cause I had to force myself to finish reading the 3rd book.

[@misslucri99]

SJM starts good (kind of) with politics, like in the first book when she described what happened before Amaranta, but then she lost politics and like everything else, such something like the plot, in all the sex scenes and the sexual innuendos. Like Freya give Rhysand a bj in the middle of the war

[@elainagilbert7663]

37:30 For future reference, a lady's maid tends to a Lady/Princess/Queen, etc. It's the title of a personal servant to a high-ranking noblewoman and is considered a prominent position. The distinction that was being made is that she isn't a lowly maid who cleans, cooks, and serves others, she's a woman of status, though not high, and is deserving of more respect.

[@DarwinRoger893]

She’s still a maid who has to prepare baths, do chores for the person she’s appointed to, aka a servant nonetheless. Given that JLA named the only poc girl Tawny after her skin tone and made her life revolve around the white protagonist, it’s not excusable.

[@elainagilbert7663]

I wasn't commenting on that. I was clarifying the distinction between a maid and a lady's maid. For a person of color to have that position, by the way, is very rare.@@DarwinRoger893

[@ettaetta439]

​@@DarwinRoger893yes, but Hannah questioned why she was called a lady's maid and not just a maid. The commenter gave the answer why.

[@SasMuffin427]

will smith at the oscars has got nothing on the mind-controlling queen's double slap

[@katietriantafilou695]

Just want to apologise on behalf of crazy Sarah J. Maas fans, I completely get why alot of people don't like her books (and I kind of do see the problems in some of them though it's never bothered me enough to stop reading), have to admit that her books will always be a guilty pleasure for me, but it's completely fine if you don't like them! I don't get why people go after eachother for their interests, so stupid. Let's all just enjoy books!

[@mipaleditx]

Agree! People are so unnecessary defensive sometimes! I also enjoy her books, but I definitely see Hannah's points

[@rosejasminegwyn-willis824]

Yeah I enjoy them but I also see the problems here. And I feel like she is improving on those points so I'll probably still be a fan.

[@katietriantafilou695]

@@rosejasminegwyn-willis824 Yeah, like with the diversity aspect she's definitely improved alot there.

[@aminah930]

I totally agree, well said!

[@kupidrosalindavateri3965]

@@katietriantafilou695 has she?

[@riley-dx4tp]

As a SJM fan I literally cackled through your review of ACOTAR loll. So many people get so defensive about her writing, but once you actually read a wide range of content, it’s really not as good as people think it is. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely LOVE ACOTAR (I read the main trilogy when I was in middle school, so it’s always kind of nostalgic) but after re-reading it… it’s not as mind blowing as so many people say. And that’s okay!! Sometimes books are really only entertaining, and that’s it.

[@emmayounger5430]

The fact that these series were so popular really speaks to the power of young girl’s imagination. We were deadset out here filling out two thirds of a barebones book in our heads. Giving names actual characters, creating romantic tension where there is none, filling out plot holes left right and centre. Young girls are the most powerful beings in the world 😂

[@Wndrlnd9]

This. ❤️😂

[@hfq6332]

No matter how the society always belittles young girls/teenage girls were still so powerful

[@DanielaSacerdoti-e9x]

Old girls too🎉

[@siennariley1950]

never in my life have i heard anybody compare Howl’s Moving Castle to ACOTAR, but i can’t get it out of my head anymore and i never WILL

[@sidneye4911]

I could not bring myself to finish ACOTAR but I did get to the scene where Tamlin comes home in the middle of the night half transformed in his beast form and exhausted after fighting and was immediately like “oh it’s Howl’s Moving Castle” so I 1000% agree with your stance on that

[@KellieValentine]

When you said Kieran means black in Irish, I was thinking...the Irish word for black is 'dubh'. Kieran means 'little dark one' which I feel like is so much worse 😂😂

[@stormeyedselkie]

Ooooh 'dubh' is Scottish Gaelic for black as well! It's interesting to see how similar both languages could be.

[@KellieValentine]

@@stormeyedselkie love learning things like that! I've always felt like Scottish people are kindred spirits with Irish people too so it all makes sense now haha

[@stormeyedselkie]

@@KellieValentine oh absolutely! I'm learning Scottish Gaelic as a language and I have heard that Irish Gaelic is so similar in terms of words and pronunciations. Also, Ireland looks so similar to Scotland it's amazing!!

[@dife_ru]

It’s very similar to the Welsh word, ‘du’!

[@mikip282]

oh my god that is so much worse 💀

[@surayyahmuhammad1767]

pleasantly surprised that the Selection was on here, but you don’t know real pain until you’ve listened to the audiobook. I deserve financial compensation

[@user-vy2hz6fl6x]

Oh my haha

[@sarahmonte1069]

YES!! The audiobook narrator was terrible. SO bland, no expression.

[@amandaredd3057]

I soooo feel that! I have some audios that I got because I loved the written version so much that I could not continue listening to because the narration was so terrible! There are a few good narrators (like Susannah Jones), but it's really a crap-shoot what you'll get. Written words provide so much more... intensity? Authenticity? I can't sum up what I'm trying to relay but I bet you understand!

[@tornado_2063]

I read "slammed" when I was 14 or 15. It's to this day the only Colleen Hoover book, I ever read and ever intend to read. Didn't even bother to read the sequels to "slammed", it's just not my genre at all. The reason I read this book was that I was deeply in love with one of my teachers ( or so I thought, looking back I know now it was more of an unhealthy attachment but anyway). Of course, nothing happened between us, because she was a decent fucking human being and an adult, who kept boundaries in place. I do think, she kinda knew about my unhealthy feelings about her, but never addressed it. She just treated me like any other student and I treated her like any other teacher (or at least I tried. I cringe so hard when I think about this time). It makes my skin crawl to think that there are probably many kids like me out there, who form an unhealthy attachment to a teacher and who might get abused because of it. This woman could have probably done anything to me and I wouldn't have said no to it, regardless if I wanted to or not. I'm lucky she didn't. Anyway, my point is; don't romanticize student-teacher-relationships. Its messy and ugly and complicated and dangerous and nothing to romanticize

[@ashegrey3042]

i’m so sorry you went through this! it makes me so upset that this gets romanticized bc there are so many kids who are just so vulnerable and desperate for affection or even just attention and finally get that from someone who is in a power position over them and takes advantage of that vulnerability. it’s 100% on the *adult* in the situation bc the *literal child* is manipulated and taken advantage of and doesn’t understand that this is unhealthy *especially when books like that exist and movies/shows also romanticize these “relationships”*

[@teleriferchnyfain]

Crushes on teachers are completely normal & neither cringe nor unhealthy. Teachers taking advantage of this is the problematic aspect.

[@dancesophie163]

For the acotar series: in Germany its way better written. So maybe thats why German people like it so much. I have the English special edition and I really dont like it

[@jeannecaelum5167]

oh really? Ive got the first book in my shelf in German and didnt bother picking it up, because the English reviews make the wording sound so atrocious, but if its bearable in German I might even try reading it to the end :D

[@sunreads]

similar in polish, although ppl kind of suffered during the first book and all fell for the 2nd

[@cinnamonbun-]

can you tell me more about why it's better in German? i can't really find that out online

[@dancesophie163]

I dont know who translated the book in german, but it was more adultly written. Not like : there is a tree. The tree is green. Yeah light green is the tree.

[@treceslez]

I haven't read SJM's books translated to my language, but I agree that sometimes YA fantasy reads better when I read the translation instead of the original English version, and that's because translating is very much like re-writing a book and sometimes the translators are better writers than the authors (in fact there are many translators that would like for their names to be on the cover of the book alongside the authors name).

[@SamanthaScorpio]

It's funny, the gender essentialism is basically why I stopped reading ACOTAR, but it didn't really get intolerable for me until the third book. Then everyone just starts making choices because they're "Valerian Males" and they can't control themselves 😩 I enjoyed the first two books a lot, but the third one really turned me off with that S#!t!

[@yulimartorrealba5851]

What is vender assentialism

[@SamanthaScorpio]

@@yulimartorrealba5851 She explains it in the video! But basically it's generalizing that men are one way and women are another and they are very distinct gender categories.

[@queenb2450]

WAIT that's what happened to me - I loved it during high school (the first two) but for some reason, I could not for the life of me finish the third one because I was so over everyone. Even the main characters annoyed me.

[@cf5273]

It so funny how English speakers think that genre is kinda weird. Genre is an everyday in my first language and is not even a thing, I really don’t understand why it makes you feel so uncomfortable.

[@yulimartorrealba5851]

@@cf5273 french

[@itscherylplayz8925]

Hannah: Talking about Red Queen Me:Remembering when someone said she looked like Mother Gothel from Tangled randomly

[@AClockworkReader]

HELP 💀

[@ilyqd]

I was dying at "I don't think I can think of a worse name for a character" knowing that you still had to go through From Blood and Ash lmao. This video is curing all my finals week stress 😭

[@ceciliafeltner6319]

i need the quote "they're not enemies, they're not lovers, they're just fucking stupid" on a hoodie

[@JHyde-tv3if]

A girl I worked with gave me ACOTAR because I just "had to read this masterpiece" I opened it up in the middle somewhere, read one page of low quality, little effort and awkward flirting between two people who seem like they are supposed to know each other and I said "That's enough for... forever." And never touched it again

[@Phantom_Fireside]

smart.. I read the full book.. I wish I hadn't

[@JHyde-tv3if]

@@Phantom_Fireside Honestly I don't like to read so I often will slip through a few pages in the middle of a book and if I don't like that or it doesn't peak my interest more, I won't read it. This was just bad lol

[@Phantom_Fireside]

@JHyde-tv3if yeah that's fair, I only finished it because I was on a waiting list since October last year.. figured I'd at least finish it quickly then pass it on

[@elifg.714]

The Selection is my twilight, I know it's trash but I'm addicted! I love the romantic academia/royalty aesthetic and the plot has some potential but I really wish it was written better. Does anyone have any suggestions for series with a similar soft/femme aesthetic? I've read the Red Queen years ago but thought it was too much of a Hunger Games wannabe...

[@chanelletime]

1 HOUR AND 30 MINUTES?!?!?! How do I log this magnificent piece on Letterboxd?! 😩💚

[@AClockworkReader]

I expect my own imdb page after this 😭

[@yanoizikawa770]

You recommending both yona of the dawn and snow white with red hair made me so happy you have no idea. People really need to watch or read these underrated gems.

[@kalpanamishra12345]

I love those tooo ❣️

[@wluvaditi]

i absolutely agree that this is howls moving castle fic. because i've read the howl's moving castle book too and in that, it implies how sophie was basically a witch all along but her powers strengthen in the end and she embraces it. very similar to how feyre had no powers in the beginning but she is this strong character (im not like the other girls vibe) and then eventually becomes a fae. IM WITH YOU IN THIS AGENDA.

[@AClockworkReader]

yes!!!

[@reminiscentoss681]

@@AClockworkReader This is a minor detail in the grand scheme of things, but Amarantha's name is also similar to the fake name the Witch of the Waste's uses. Lucian strikes me as more of a Michael character with their personalities, appearances, and with how their storyline's play out in both books. Also I hate that you've now put this crack theory into my head and that I'm more than halfway convinced of it🙃

[@countrye3013]

While I don't fully see the how's moving castle theory because I truly to believe it's a dull beauty and the beast retelling (cursed by a witch, solved by 'love' but with some gender essentialism fun thrown in) the coincidences are hilarious. The riddle too, when riddles are a big part in the book is 👌

[@countrye3013]

@@AClockworkReader Have you read the book for How's Moving Castle?

[@maevem316]

@@countrye3013 it might be a bit of both? It's definitely a beauty and the beast retelling, but it's also a Tam Lin retelling too, so I wouldn't be surprised if a third thing got thrown in there, lol

[@Dani_77709]

Ok you saying that everyone has read ACOTAR really gave me a physical reaction. No, not everyone has read it but I FEEL like I've read it through watching all the amazing rant videos (Cindy my queen). Thank you for suffering through this book for us so no one else has to read that....whatever that is.

[@AClockworkReader]

now that I’ve read it I can finally watch Cindy’s video 😭💓

[@user-vy2hz6fl6x]

Haha😭Withcindy and Jess owens rant reviews give me life

[@jacforswear18]

I am currently reading it and… I’m praying it gets better through the series. Because i loved throne of glass for what it was and I’m having a hard time believing the same person read ACOTAR. I have to pause after every other line to yell about how completely stupid the main character is.

[@drunkonbooks10]

@@AClockworkReader omg yes. I considered reading it so I could watch her video but then I was like “nothing is worth that much pain” so I just ended up watching her video

[@takshatangudu8736]

omg yes LMAO CINDY'S RANTS ARE THE BEST SPOILER SUMMARIES😆😆🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ivyvogel2689]

I appreciate you pointing out that stories don't exist in a bubble soooooo much. So many times some readers like to pretend that it's not a factor and use the suspension of disbelief card, so I HIGHLY appreciate that you brought it up 💛

[@claudiacaturegli254]

What you said about SJM stans being extreme is true... I had 'friendships' that literally ended because I started pointing out how many of her themes are problematic and bad. Thank you for going through these books and suffering through them. Great video as always :)

[@riyamishra280]

I personally really enjoyed ACOTAR series , because it's fun to read , it's literally trash but it's entertaining trash in my opinion . But I too saw so many problems in it and I don't like people who can't accept the fact that it's problematic because honey it is .

[@nailo89]

@@riyamishra280 I feel the same as you do. The books are trash, but in a guilty pleasure way. The same way some people binge watch bad TV shows. They’re bad, but they’re entertaining. I feel like her fan base reminds me of Stephanie Meyer fan base with Twilight back in the days. Those of us who enjoy the books, but know that it’s absolutely problematic on so many levels get drowned out by all the hype and intensity of some other fans.

[@jiminvogue1223]

I understand you! The same happened in my friend group (3), i was th only one who had read acotar and my other two friends were reading tog. One of them was crazy obsessed with sjm and when the other friene pointed out some misogynistic things sjm has quoted in heir of fire she literally spat on her and told her to stfu. I was so shocked, I mean Im a big fan of acotar but i would never act like that it someone didn't like acotar

[@chezmichela]

The thing that baffled me more about "slammed" as you were talking, was: how can you be a highschool teacher at 21?? Do they not study and go through training to become a teacher? My boyfriend is studying to become a teacher (here in Germany) started at about 18 and is 23 now, still not done and will probably be a fully done teacher at about 25/26 👀 like what does a 21 y.o. even teach??

[@_indigo_inked]

Pretty sure in America you can just jump right into it after getting a 4 year degree? 21 seems so unlikely but i guess it’s possible since people can easily go from college directly to teaching… America is desperate for teachers to disrespect and pay badly

[@lexfushi8504]

There’s certain classes you can take in high school that can get you a degree far faster

[@Abii_20]

It depend on the country. I had a teacher that was 21 in 11th grade. We don't have 12th grade. I was 16 back then.

[@lightworthy]

there’s a 16 year old full time teacher in america right now actually! she teaches 3rd grade i think, but still. 21 is actually pretty common for a teacher to start, since we graduate normally at 17/18, and a 4 year degree is only the most common, but you can cut that time down by taking college courses in high school, or packing your schedule in certain ways. for the 16 year old, she has i think 3? bachelors degrees already, so while uncommon, there’s a lot of ways a young teacher could happen. i had a strings teacher in high school who was a little older, i wanna say like 25 when he started working there, though he’s now on a list for exactly what you think he did.

[@auraezahra]

I didn't think I could love you more... but girl, when you said that thing about men/people telling Muslim women to take off their hijab, I loved you a thousand times more. (This is coming from a girl who observes hijab and my family members who don't cover their faces/wear a hijab make fun of me for covering my face... I KNOW it's not necessary but damn it just makes me feel safe)

[@spinmearound210]

Which part did she say that? Plss tell

[@lucyisaravenclaw3710]

I absolutely HATE when authors describe characters of color by referencing food. "His skin was the color of the tea I drink with idk my mom and stuff" if you're writing a book and you referenced food to a persons skin than just....no-

[@anniemeridian270]

Is that so I actually think of the names assigned to different colored foundation. I thought this is a tradition in Anglophone world cuz people seemed to be so obsessed with olive skinned beauty in 18-19 century.

[@Artsada-f7f]

@@anniemeridian270 olive skin comes from ancient greek literature, nothing to do with anglophone(?) world

[@ik6non712]

@@anniemeridian270 i think there's a big difference between describing a person's skin colour with olive and other food (like chocolate, tea, etc.). The former is quite a common description for skin tone, whilst using chocolate (amongst other descriptions) usually bears an insinuating meaning behind it, usually sexual but really anything's possible.

[@ik6non712]

@@anniemeridian270 but then again, that's just my thought. Other's might disagree

[@ladytopaz6358]

I keep seeing this critic and as a black girl that writes BIPOC characters and have the skin description usually be something like chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla etc. I would just like to know why it’s so bad. I just like sweet stuff and I just see and use them as skin color descriptors.

[@dreamwishergirl]

Yes, when Rhysand says “there you are, I’ve been looking for you” you find out in the second book he actually WAS, just like Howl’s Moving Castle.

[@AClockworkReader]

👏🏼 👏🏼 this is what I’m saying!! I don’t want to read the next books just to further prove the theory but…..

[@midsummertape]

@@AClockworkReader you should read the next one to prove the point tho😆😆😆

[@brandirae2049]

The second one is the best!

[@lyd7136]

@@AClockworkReader The second one is the worst. Peak cringey. Spare yourself the pain, you’ve already got your answers trust me 😬

[@kyhughes00]

Katy is a real one. Real friends do need their friends to suffer through the same shit they went through. That part really spoke to me. I have forced terrible books onto my friends and they have done the same to me. That's what friends are for

[@harmony2846]

Same! I loved the scenes where they were together-it was so wholesome. 😄

[@Siriuslydevoted]

The only book here that i've read is the Red Queen and I vividly remember being like 1/4 through and going "........ this is zutara. This could be a Zutara fic. This would be BETTER as a zutara fic." and that vibe never left me

[@adeleaslan8182]

Don’t you ever compare the complex and fantastic character of Katara to mare barrow who has the same significance and character of a long empty well, or the complex and cute Zuko to whatever cal is trying and failing to be

[@i.b.l.7665]

THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO LOVE THIS COMMENT THIS MUCH

[@Alea_uncharted]

ACOTAR being Howl’s Moving Castle fic is not where I thought this video would go but I’m also in love with this theory lol

[@Droplet_Day]

If Will was a substitute instead of a full blown teacher the fact that they never met in school until the poetry teacher gave birth or something for an extended sub to work in their place would make so much more sense. They could've had a longer relationship and then found the truth a month or so in and it would be more difficult, and his age would make complete sense as well.

[@EleiyaUmei]

in the book, they find out he's her teacher on her first day of school when their class is about to start and they had met only 1 week before (it's weird that Will wasn't informed about a new student and their name beforehand... probably another attempt by CoHo to make the situation seem less problematic)

[@merphynapier42]

I live for these videos

[@AClockworkReader]

🥹💓

[@maryrose2079]

“These are the men we’re thirsting after?? No wayyyyy” I felt that deep in my soul 😂😂 “Is Lucian a ginger!?” I’m dyingggg! I love you and I love this video.

[@SesshyLover777]

On the whole "loosing ones virginity makes your your true self" part, I had sex and with dudes for a few years before realizing I was gay. Doesn't work in fiction, doesn't work irl! 🤭

[@adamnreader4599]

my final straw with acotar was when i learnt that rhysand (or ricetrash, as i like to call it), the man, oops, male who is supposed to be the final love interest actually TWISTED feyre's bone and made her dance & roofied her without her consent!! like no, you're not gonna make a redeemable character like that, janet.

[@merounelorelei2951]

See, that's not even the *worst* thing he does in the series with her

[@ThaliaVSD]

They really made us think ptsd dude who’s probably having a mental breakdown after watching the girl he likes die in front of him is the worst trash of faerykind or something. like, yeah he’s abusive but the other guys in the series are really not much better and they’re SANE. I just can’t wrap my head around how shit he’s treated compared to the other shit dudes, chill out people just find him a therapist

[@merounelorelei2951]

@@ThaliaVSD I think it doesn't help Tamlin was always gonna lose given who he was based around in SJMs life. Arguably, Rhysand fucks her over more than Tamlin does and he gets away with it because he's never confronted. Even when he's confronted,it just doesn't matter. Like he didn't tell her about her pregnancy, and he got so mad at Nesta for announcing it to Feyre when Feyre wasn't mad at her for that.

[@angelazuniga5445]

Omg thank you!!! I remember that specific part reading the other books and the whole time I was like “we just gonna forget how he drugged her and made her dance on him in front of so many people?!?” like I get tamlin isn’t perfect but like neither is rhysand. And I hate the whole he has to act like an asswhole to save his image like there’s excuses for all his actions and so infuriating like his ptsd after the whole amarantha stuff should make us pity him but tamlins ptsd was like totally ignored like the love of his life was killed right in front of him of course he’s gonna want to protect her. Do I agree with his ways? No but I understand him. Just thinking about it annoys me so I’ll stop here before I go on a whole tangent about this

[@philippahudspeth5104]

Well said! Its was so bad it ruined the entire book for me. I wish I'd never bought the 1st book in the first place. Think I threw it out ages ago. The character is obviously complete and utter trash. But we are supposed to some how be convinced he is more worthy of the girl! And yet the other guy gets crucified for his failings? Ridiculous. Absolute rubbish. My "female" brain says: Hell no. I'd like to keep my sanity. Thank you very much! 😒 (I probably wouldn't personally choose either. Just to be fair )

[@Lizethhc]

I can’t lie ACOTAR isn’t the most complex or a piece of literature masterpiece, BUT it’s the first time in awhile that I’ve gotten this into reading again. My friends and I who love ACOTAR basically sum it up to the feeling of reading Twilight it’s no where near that intense but it brought us that familiar feeling… just made us feel young again haha

[@naomistarlight6178]

Yeah the books on this list are so dumb but if they get people into reading like a "gateway drug" that can be good.

[@Lizethhc]

@@naomistarlight6178 yeah I tend to like these types of books for simple reasons, like the one I stated and also because it’s a simple read not serious at all and it’s just a good distraction from the “real world”. It definitely got me reading and loving books again and maybe I’ll gradually get into books that make you think more lmao. Not just hot vampires/fae people or whatever mythical creature 😂

[@marimendez220]

God, I relate so hard. It's not like, the greatest, but it's been a hot minute since I've been reading (to the tune of years) and it was so easy to pick up and consume the series. It just gave me that simple joy of reading something easy to consume with old, familiar tropes.

[@arrietty1619]

It's a guilty pleasure

[@sophiam.krager3815]

the selection series was what actually got me into reading. It´s an easy read for beginners

[@beatrizdossantos8660]

ACOTAR isn't really the problem. ACOMAF is the real grim reaper. Everytime Rhysand opened his mouth I wanted to set either the book or myself on fire.

[@Vivoo256]

Finally I found someone with a similar opinion 😩 I can’t stand him

[@iri02802]

I myself did not like the third book. I know that Tamlyn is not a good person but the way Feyre takes revenge is just... Did you really have to leave him all alone with no one but Lucian... At first I ate the whole thing up of mates and I still like it as trope but Julie Kagawa's Talon saga made me look differently at soulmates too. Joss Stirling's soulmate serie also acknowledges that not every soulmate couple has an happy ending (and Stirling's series is also less male and female inspired. Yes all the main couples are heterosexual but in the background it is acknowledged that there are also LGTBQ couples. And it's really an adorable series. I would recommend for a fun read 😊)

[@axg3lica]

So real

[@eatingskittles247]

As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the selection series - I find it to be like Taco Bell. It’s bad & you know it’s bad but you still kinda like it anyways 🤷🏻‍♀️ I loved this review 😂

[@samanthahubachek106]

Yes! This 😂

[@jessicar2609]

100%. I did get overly invested in a not so great series, but it was so fun to read!

[@emmas.m]

See, my main issue with the delec series other than the girl on girl hate is the atrocious world building. I did a whole rant on my goodreads, but long story short, I just don't buy that one dude was able to pay off the entire debt of the U.S. And also the fact that the former U.S decided to name him King and then promptly rename the country after him. I'm not trying to sound all 'MURICA and everything, but it just drives me nuts. It just doesn't seem logical that a country so hung up on freedom would hop on the monarchy/dictator train.

[@LivesInHerBooks]

I remember a classmate read the book in grade 3-4 , she let me borrow it. Its like Twilight, its love story isnt that good but something keeps you invested ( like 5 ish years later, still havent fully read it lol its so expensive)

[@lunahollis9734]

Kinda like reality TV

[@VladGrim]

I feel like at a young age (at 14-18 something), young people can't help but praise toxic relationships because they are inexperienced and are not aware of the consequences. The fantasy is cemented until they get in actual relationships and they finally realize (or not) the line between reality and fantasy. My god, how I want to rip open some extremely abusive YA books I read back in the day 😭

[@inaju]

what's worse is it makes some readers want to have similar relationships, which end up traumatizing them for life. source:me

[@sin3358]

Pretty much. I'm only 19 but the only romance books I read are the kind that are cliche BUT healthy and talk about things that are important and realistic. I used to read toxic relationship stories, but now I wonder why I even used to like those. They effed up my mind

[@thewalkingroach]

14, and agree a shit ton lmao

[@a.b.2405]

@@inaju another source: me. 😢

[@_lilyofthevalley_]

Completely agree, a 13 year old

[@freshbrewedasmr3378]

Hulu is making ACOTAR a tv series…….. As a writer myself, books like these that get published is depressing for struggling writers

[@whatsyourname9581]

it's making me so sad actually. Bad books get adapted into even worse shows that are only worth watching for pretty actors and good cgi. The way authors get popular nowadays is by putting the same tropes into a poorly developed fantasy or dystopian setting, making a video about it on TikTok and blowing up with it because the YA market is hugely commercialized and aimed for mass consumption among teenagers who aren't bothered by poor writing yet and just eat up everything for their favourite "tropes". Don't get me wrong, there are certainly a lot of books out there who are good and finally got a chance through this market. But it all makes me feel like anything I'll ever write will be ignored by the masses since it doesn't have a dystopian setting, a love triangle, a mentionable romance plot etc. I miss the times when writing was an art form with uniqueness, not mass-produced for light entertainment

[@freshbrewedasmr3378]

@@whatsyourname9581 I couldn’t have put it better myself

[@iri02802]

I was wondering where the TV series was. Since ACOTAR is so veey popular 😂

[@scottmacconnell592]

If they're not hanging massive fairy dong, then what's even the point, Hulu?

[@camelliabell9046]

The Selection was my FAVORITE book when I was like 13. I re-read it recently, and was surprised by how quickly I grew annoyed with the characters. The Nostalgia Vibe and how much I loved it when I was younger is keeping it on my shelf tho 😂 I Do wanna note tho (you probably already know this, but for anyone who hasn't read the book) that her last name as "Singer" stems from the type of oppression that you see in the book. There's a really strict caste system, and whatever caste you are born into determines your job and basically your entire future. Families were assigned names so they could never move up in society by looking for better jobs. Later in the series, you also meet a boy whos last name is "Trains", because he was born into a really poor family that was assigned to physical labor and industrial work. It isnt just some coincidence that she is a singer and her last name is Singer. Its basically to make it clear what your social standing is, and make it so you can never try to get a better job or work towards a better life. The only way for a girl to change her name is to get married, because she then takes on her husband's last name and caste. The sexism there is slowly addressed throughout the series, and it even addresses how this impacts same-sex couples and encourages hate crimes towards them, because with no lawful marriage between man and woman, there is no legitimate caste or household. The book acknowledges the sexism, as well as how it is less accepted among the younger generation as time goes on (which is fairly accurate to real society tbh)

[@kitsuchii5825]

I read the latter two books first when I was about ten and seeing this book review makes me wanna revisit them but I don't wanna taint my pristine image of them any further lol

[@ju_6484]

same i read the books when i was 13! and now with critical thinking the book got so much worse but i still somehow like the books? its like watching a really bad movie for fun for me

[@Ayaforshort]

The Heir also shows a female lead who has a significant character arc as she chooses a husband. The female characters have great relationships and there are some really great and really awful men. The characters in the 4th and 5th book have distinct personalities and I loved Eadlyn and the man she picks 😉

[@patrochilles6275]

The Red queen series gets wayyy worse. Every character is basically a slight variation of Mare and victoria aveyard runs out of synonyms for red. Reading the 3rd and 4th almost felt oppressive. There are multiple pages paraphrasing how badass mare is and how red the dawn is. Girlie needs a better editor

[@ceciliafonseca4996]

Opressive, damn, you were going through it! haha that's why I'm staying away from this series

[@Tryingtostoptheburnout]

I feel like everyone was hooked with that plot twist at the end. The characters had so much potential as well. All in all Victoria’s stroke of genius with that plot twist made us all read a mediocre series,

[@merlesstorys]

I loved the first book (in German translation), but after that it really fell through. Also I stopped reading the series after the third book, because the prices for books were already so high and the library didn’t have them ready to lend, The writing style just becomes more uninteresting after the first book.

[@pebabmey]

I am a camp counselor, and last year I had to deal with from blood and ash and I ended up lecturing the other counselors on WHY it was so terrible.

[@_sarathedreamer]

“I believe in prison abolition but- ELECTRIC CHAIR” HANNAH 😂😂

[@vedashreemahajan5351]

Hannah the world will remember you for your sacrifice in reading from blood and Ash!😂😂

[@Kruhee]

Sometimes, trendy books make me wonder what didn't get through the selection of publishing companies.

[@jj-lh4rh]

I'm sorry can we please talk about the "this is the skin of a killer, Bella" shirt? Literally the best thing I've ever seen

[@asmoii3450]

snow white with red hair is literally one of the best shoujo anime in existence. it has my whole 💖 SELECTION COULD NEVER-

[@EmilynWood]

Amen.

[@ladybugandcatnoir5335]

IKR I LOVE THAT SHOWW I'M OBSESSED! I REALLY WANT A SEASON 3!!!

[@EmilynWood]

@@ladybugandcatnoir5335 You should read the manga if you haven't yet, it continues the story.

[@ladybugandcatnoir5335]

@@EmilynWood Yea I will actually 😅

[@undercoverfangirl5491]

I know! It made me so interested in botany!

[@ahlamsdiary]

31:12 when you mentioned all these alternatives for "the selection" and "from blood and ash" I was like YES! Yona of the dawn is a really good anime and the manga is still on-going! The series touches on political themes and has romance, comedy and the found-family trope. It gets intense but I completely recommend it. The art is very beautiful. I personally haven't watched the alternative for the selection, but based on the reviews, It's one of the popular shoujos:)!

[@k1tkat-kate]

"I'm a prison abolishonist, but.... Electric chair." HANNAH PLS I'M WHEEZING 🤣🤣🤣 Also THAT DDAENG SHIRT YES MA'AM 👏🏻👏🏻