i read tiktok mafia romance books for a week 🤡

[@lindslovely]

My favorite trope now is bad books referencing universally beloved literature as a way of pretending to be a better book

[@OliviaCLTFC]

with movies i call this neil breen syndrome. the book equivalent is, what, e.l. james syndrome?

[@deargodwhyamihere]

I immediately thought of Bella in Twilight being an Brontë/Jane Austen girlie

[@VillainessAO]

When did this ever happen lmao

[@CharlottesShelves]

Amen 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@myweakness1883]

Also "After" mentioning Pride and Prejudice lmao​@@deargodwhyamihere

[@rosewyn1]

There is truly something wild about reading a real actual published novel that is actually just three AO3 fanfics in a trenchcoat

[@nimeano1223]

Only if. But it was wattpad...

[@jynx3dd]

don’t diss my man ao3 like that 😔

[@loveemily1589]

I’ve read some real masterpieces on ao3 that need to be published for the world to see. Unfortunately, it seems only the deep dark trenches of ao3 writing gets published

[@baristaz8834]

​​Ways to increase your chances of finding a good story on ao3: Minimum words: 40-50k Status: complete Make sure the word to chapter ratio makes sense, at least double the number of chapters. For instance, a 10 chapter fic should have at least 20k words. The higher the word count ratio the better. You know it may not be as good or serious if there or 40 chapters and 32k words. Look at the tags, and filter out tags for tropes or ships you don't like. It may take a couple of scrolls to find what you want but I've found a BUNCH of amazing fics with this, at least in the DCU Fandom.​ the filter system is also a lot better than wattpad and a lot easier to navigate. Plus ao3 isn't as bad as wattpad💀, I swear that app is just mostly kids with the worst tropes in mind

[@Pukeprincess]

⁠​⁠@@loveemily1589there are physical copies of all the young boys (the big hp fan series) And also at least one of Jeff the killer that I know about do to Jenny Nicolson

[@Gekoboyy]

the pain when lexi said "she is not a dairy aisle" LMAO

[@spaceorc1397]

I cannot with authors using "cream" to describe female wet/come. It grosses me out SO much.

[@Pukeprincess]

@@spaceorc1397most people use that word???

[@altiuscitius39]

That comment sent me over the edge, I was laughing so hard lmaoooo

[@RandomRikster]

I've never laughed so hard at a video than when she said that

[@rubyharkleroad2796]

Literally about to comment this😂😂😂

[@kaylahaas]

29:33 say what you will - there is something so delightful about this cartoon character of a man with a fanny pack full of grenades. it’s like the author has actually never gone outside or had a conversation. it’s so detached from reality

[@a_niratac]

The way he's written and the way Lexi read him has him looking like Michelangelo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 TV show) in my brain

[@justapseudonym7]

Idk some of the people i see out and about with fanny packs could definitely be hiding grenades in there 😂 me included

[@AnaAce19]

Girl you look EXHAUSTED halfway through the video 😭😭 Shes had enough

[@acidicfishbowl]

Hehe I am sat, comfortable, and ready to get kidnapped by a mafia boss, go clubbing, get kidnapped AGAIN by his rival at the club, and then be saved, BUT THEN actually fall in love with his rival instead of himm!!! 🤭🤭🤭

[@aliowens1870]

If Acotar was a mafia story 😂

[@AlpineSunshine_]

so preppy!!

[@strugglingmultistan14]

That's just 365 days.

[@tabathaalshalhoub1653]

@@strugglingmultistan14exactly!

[@alicethemad1613]

Team Nacho

[@jocelynworley8440]

the day lexi stops posting is the day i delete this app

[@pipyt3409]

this

[@Bobo74808]

Bump

[@Unclebeefstock]

Retweet

[@TheAtroxious]

I don’t use the app, so I guess I’m just chucking my devices out the window should that happen.

[@SpaceBunno]

Me to brother

[@justwhistle]

the occupations of "misogyny" and "knife" one after the other knocked me out

[@z.7354]

Seeing the light leave Lexi's eyes as she continued to talk about Den of Vipers was a trip.

[@abbywolffe4114]

Okay but a mafia man prepping for a shoot-out by making tacos and putting them in a fanny pack is truly so funny to me

[@aesinam]

Of all the less messy food to put in a fanny pack lol

[@dezs.5202]

A mafia man with a Fanny pack alone is goofy asf to me

[@ari8417]

Like at least make burritos my guy

[@jack_stone]

It's like something you'd see in one of those oldies cartoons

[@kimberlyk1795]

watching den of vipers slowly steal the light from your eyes was quite the experience

[@wanderingbelle7]

Bruh. My Irish American family continues to hold grudges against a load of people we’ve never even met (including the whole of England). My dad marrying someone who wasn’t a full blooded Irish woman was like actually a problem. I cannot imagine the solution to a massive feud between the Irish mafia and the Italian mafia being to MIX THEIR BLOODLINES

[@CrysShadow]

"The bartender spikes the orange juice, cause news flash that's still a drink" So many funny quotes in this video but that one in particular really got me lmao

[@ashleys_space]

So many books are getting away with the “ just turned 18” character like we are supposed to think it’s not slightly on some ped0 stuff.

[@Kiterpuss]

It's got the same energy as "an employer who pays you the minimum wage is saying they would pay you less if they wouldn't get in trouble for it." Barely legal is almost creepier than outright underage because at least the latter is self aware. The former is putting thought and planning into it.

[@catalinam36]

yeah, tell that to Penelope Douglas 🤣 i read only the Devil's Night series because that one is somewhat decent, and didn't want to hear about her other books when i saw that the main characters from these books are only 18 and hanging around grown ass adults. also, what's even worse is that she was a teacher before becoming a full time author which gave me the ick so bad

[@platedlizard]

I hate it so much lol, my favorite romance authors always have heroines in their late 20s at the youngest. 18 is practically a child.

[@kodabuck225]

yeah, like even if you wan't them in school still, you can make em go to collage, people of any age can go to college.

[@Classyelll]

The 200,000 word trashy AU that you visit at 10PM and finish into the early morning just hits different, so true bestie

[@anniebodyoutthere]

everything in my body is physically recoiling at the words "mafia romance" but i'll still tune in for you

[@newlynova]

this is how this entire video production process felt for me actually so you're in safe hands

[@stracciatellamango.porfavor]

@@newlynovamood

[@sophiereadstoomuch]

I feel like ‘the bar is in a place worse than hell’ accurately describes this genre

[@goose.hayden]

no haunting Adeline is a crime because that book is so crazy i only trust you, our loyal soilder, to read it

[@swtnr4u475]

She said she won’t because it’s sa.

[@goose.hayden]

@@swtnr4u475 wait it does???

[@Strawbb111]

​@@goose.haydenYES?? 😭 Thats like...half the plot.

[@goose.hayden]

@@Strawbb111 OMFG MB

[@Strawbb111]

@@goose.hayden LMAOOO ITS OKAAAY. ITS OKAAAAAAY

[@i.7525]

the way i was so ready to cozy up with a new lexi vlog and forget about finals season and then the first book starts slandering my entire nation 😭😭 (i'm polish)

[@newlynova]

HAHAHA i am so sorry

[@jermiasmalewski2678]

Oh my god same

[@strawberry2514]

The pictures were a hate crime

[@abs.11.11]

I thought I was prepared for whatever you were about to explain however I could never have been prepared for the smashing stabbing scene

[@madisongreen8573]

I wasn’t prepared for the fact that it happens not even half way through the book 😦

[@_decaysea]

That last one with the "this character has repetitive thoughts because she is high-IQ" line had me speechless for a good ten minutes, lmao. That's not a symptom of high intelligence. That's called rumination, and it's just a symptom of stress. And, sure, you can have a character with obsessive thought patterns, but it is very difficult to do so without annoying the reader or sounding like you're just padding the word count. Which she did not avoid. And then she went out of her way to insult the reader by calling it a "high-IQ" thing like they wouldn't be "high-IQ" enough to know better.

[@teetheatersanonymous]

She went out of her way to write that note but not to fix the repetitive writing 💔

[@Olivia-wg8gv]

I was wondering about that lol. I wonder if she was going for the whole savant thing, since repetition can be associated with autism??? Either way, crazy excuse for repetitive writing 😭

[@happyjellycatsquid]

“My character’s IQ is proportional to my own ineptitude!!”

[@hockeygrrlmuse]

The fact that she felt it was necessary to write a note explaining that the repetition was A Correct Characterization Choice, Actually, was just the reddest of red flags an author's note could possibly be.

[@mermy95]

I went straight to my goodreads account and deleted den of vipers from my tbr. Thank you for your service.

[@sarahday3242]

The cartoons at the front of brutal Prince made me cringe so hard I instinctively closed KZbin

[@newlynova]

LMFAO stop I too should have turned back

[@kaseykaylynn]

“My Mom sold me to One Direction” Hahaha this video is pure fricken gold “me when the mafia men that bought me are hot” *lexi gives us her best sexy face* I DIED!!!! “If capture. Why so hot?” “Then they kidnap a judge to marry Roxxy to all of them well just Roxxy not the guys because that would be gay” hahaha “Then they get a house and paint it black like all their souls” Also side note aren’t these men brothers???? Not only would marriage be gay but also Incest???

[@newlynova]

don't worry only two of them are actually related 🧚‍♀️

[@me-ig5nh]

@@newlynova I'M SORRY?

[@michellehelbig6710]

“She is not a dairy aisle” PLZZZ😭😂 God bless you for always going through the trenches for your viewers.

[@lovelythelexi6787]

THE TACO COMMENT IS LITERALLY SO ONE DIRECTION MAFIA FAN FICTION AND I WILL NEVER UNSEE IT

[@Lyssa827]

I started screaming “NO LEXI” when I saw the cover of den of vipers. You are a warrior for getting through that.

[@scoutpunk]

lexi being audibly on the verge of tears throughout den of vipers was truly the icing on the cake

[@pitchblackkoi]

sometimes i just put on videos out loud while my bf is playing video games in the bg so he will like tune in and out. the way we both just stopped what we were doing when u were explaining some of the stuff from den of vipers. i looked over to see if he was paying attention or if I was just suffering alone and he had paused the game and had his head in his hands. excellent video. now I just wish we cld all forget den of vipers.

[@twilithorse]

The slow, creeping horror I experienced wondering why "RuNyx" sounded so familiar, then remembering they wrote Gothikana (which is also believed to be a fanfic with the serial numbers filed off)

[@Broadwaychica]

....oh not the magic eyes dark academia book...😢

[@oxeyemoth]

its a FANFIC??? LIKE I KNEW IT WAS BAD BUT ALSO FANFIC???

[@67LMcC]

If you are in it for the self-torture (and you DID survive Creedence!), check out the "Vicious Lost Boys" series by Nikki St. Crowe. It's a "why choose" dark fantasy retelling of Peter Pan with a girl who calls herself, no joke, "Winnie W*ore". The best part of the four books - they are super super short. The worst part - well, all of the words, the characters and the plot (using that word lightly). The perfect hate read and maybe a contender for worse than these books. Seriously, she gets smashed by a tree.

[@newlynova]

LMFAOOOOOOO STOP a TREE!??

[@animefreakkitty021]

​@@newlynova I promise she's not exaggerating. Not a little bit. 😂

[@jessicajessica4392]

Not gonna lie, you kinda of sold me these books, I am nothing but CURIOUS.

[@67LMcC]

@@jessicajessica4392 If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can get them that way. The tree smashing happens in the 2nd book. They are seriously all gang b@ng p*rn with no plot at all.

[@rolanslide8509]

I'm not surprised that the last one was a fanfic, considering Runyx also wrote Gothikana which most people agree is a Snape x Harmoine University AU

[@newlynova]

STOPPPP SNAPE X HERMIONE HAHAHAHHAAHHA

[@Rizzliestrizzler]

THE WAY I RAN WHEN I SAW THE NOTIFICATION 😭😭😭😭 was literally debating over which video of yours i was gonna rewatch

[@francescakyanda9182]

Same!

[@francescadidio3619]

the outfit description at 14:50 was so 2014 tumblr that it gave me war flashbacks

[@infamous.beans.]

Losing my mind over roxxane wearing signed killers merch (presumably by mr. Brandon flowers himself), love that for her

[@A-hd1zc]

Having graduated from wattpad university, I think it's so funny that I have never read any mafia romance but I feel like I have read all of them at the same time😂

[@MsCutielover]

I am so sorry for how shitty most of these books were but I will say this video made my weekend. I can’t stop laughing. This truly brightened my day.

[@jayneebustos]

The amount of times “whiskey and sin” was mentioned in the predator was why I suspected it was a fan fiction, so I’m glad we found that out hahah

[@minajordan5359]

Everytime she sais "den of vipers" I hear denim vipers and the thought of snakes in little jeans greatly improved my experience, thank you😊

[@atherafilms]

lexi you're my low commitment (posting a video every two weeks when i'm lucky) long distance best friend!!

[@Aneres225]

I was waiting for Den of Vipers and you did not disappoint. The characters winked so much I though they had eye problems.

[@catprincess]

I didn’t LOVE the predator at first..that being said after reading all the books in the series (5 total) I just fell in love with the characters and story and you can pry these books from my cold dead hands

[@vasseurbeauty]

Ok so random but you NEED to read ‘Sunburn’ … I think you will love it. It’s a sapphic coming of age novel with the most beautiful writing!!

[@newlynova]

this is actually super on my radar!!! it sounds soooo good

[@TheNinjaPOW]

This was one of my favourite books this year! Irish literary fiction is cooking!!

[@lecaratfim]

the segway to the nordvpn sponsorship was SMOOOTH

[@yuuriontepidwater]

Thank you for covering my most frequented tag on AO3.

[@newlynova]

🫡 an honor and a privilege

[@marsarson3620]

28:55 “that would be gay” unfortunate. as i feel every one of these books are missing their full potential 😔

[@addheading]

bound by honor literally broke me in the sense where i wanted to jump off a bridge. i still have trauma.

[@addheading]

i vividly remember the words "he will fvck you bloody" uttered by the woman he cheats on her with

[@newlynova]

🤝 comrades in arms

[@addheading]

@@newlynova i read four books in the series trying to figure out what the russians were planning in the b plot, and came to the conclusions that the russians don't know they're supposed to be planning something

[@BeaBear1407]

I read Misery recently and the fact that Diesel calls her dirty bird just makes me think of Annie in that book😭

[@AMessofPickles]

Oh my god the fanfiction rant at the end was something I SO relate and never had articulated before. The way I *consumed* fanfiction between the ages of 11-16 is truly mind-boggling now as a fully grown adult. But it's also a time that I look back on rather fondly, haha.

[@kattinthehatt8292]

I’m halfway through and I am absolutely ROLLING laughing at your descriptions of Den of Vipers. 😭

[@firehirenightluv]

I literally was thinking, “I wonder if Lexi knows about my immort-ah yep there we go” at 15:18 😂

[@Loxy_-yg1lv]

The suffering you endured is appreciated, now I won't have to wonder about these books and waste my own mental capacity. Thank you for your service.

[@jake-fw3xb]

this is random but i've never really read books since highschool, then i came across your credence video and ended up watching half of your channel, because of this i checked out babel from my local library a couple days ago! thank you so much for inspiring me to start reading again

[@newlynova]

yesss i am so glad

[@demayrest858]

It is really funny to me you could technically say that credence inspired you to start reading again lol

[@SarahForman-di9or]

my whole summer has been watching newly nova on repeat, and I am NOT upset about it

[@NymSagahl]

I love being able to vicariously experience these books thru you, bc i genuinely never would read them myself. And the way I would absolutely EAT UP a "truly deranged/thorough roast" type video of den of vipers

[@Charlate]

“She is not a dairy isle” is iconic honestly

[@Mrsnotsofunny]

Lexi has become my comfort KZbinr I appreciate her so much

[@oazasumraka]

waaar flashbacks when i heard the name Runyx, i truly felt like a sleeper agent

[@danacarlson2181]

unrelated, but your hair (and entire look) was super cute at 2:00

[@ayeshak7983]

The fathers couldn't even finish a bottle of wine in 3 hours. Thats honestly the most unrealistic bit

[@shainadavid9455]

Honestly the “tactical ballet flats” made me starting crying laughing. This video is a gem 🤣🩷

[@howthetidefalls]

Even you describing the smut scene in Den of Vipers terrified me. Thank you for taking one for the team so I never read it.

[@animefreakkitty021]

The way you prefaced the "graphic" scene and I just KNEW which scene you were talking about. 😂 I remember that scene so vividly and it lives rent free in my mond against my will. 😭

[@whitneystratton3952]

I think the only thing worse than reading the Den of Vipers book is listening to the audiobook. I actually hurt myself from falling out of my chair from laughing and cringing so hard.

[@jadedoni6447]

Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated, I had a very fun time here today.

[@amythepandemonium3673]

the face i made when she mentioned being a rocker chick followed by the killers. baby, the killers is rock for theatre kids (i love them btw)

[@jamieb2289]

I can't help but picture, in about 10-15 years from now, a handful of booktubers gathering in a poorly lit room in a church basement somewhere, discussing the trauma they experienced while reading high volumes of booktok recs. Not unlike combat veterans discussing the horrors of war. Loved the video! 😂 Admittedly I don't mind some well written AO3 mafia romance, but I have yet to find an actual published book that slaps the same way. Thank you for yet another gem of a video!

[@maru5259]

Hiii, just wanted to say thank you so much for documenting your periods of struggles. They really helped me cope with my soul crushing A level exam stress knowing that other ppl can also be going through it. It made me feel seen. Thank you so much for displaying the more human side of content creation, it rlly makes a difference :))

[@newlynova]

🫶♥️

[@StarLine317]

Having read Den of Vipers, it's truly validating to see someone else have the terrible experience I did because I hated that so much. I annotated it for my friend as a joke and most of the notes are just "???????"

[@MonalisaCambuanda]

6:55 just talks about drowning so normally 🥲

[@kitsune-c8j]

"Those codes were her Frankenstein"? Tell me she didn't read Frankenstein without telling me lol

[@protectedlands2869]

Some truly wonderful and whimsical earrings in this vid. I kept looking at the wave ones to cope with what I was hearing

[@GaryMcSnail]

The way I stop everything and snuggle in the moment I'm notified about one of your videos

[@sabinekempfe1496]

not to intentionally beg you to walk through hell, but i will now be checking twice daily for a full plot recap of den of vipers. thank you for your service

[@kukrushkant]

NEW LEXI VIDEO AN HOUR AFTER I OFFICIALLY TYPE THE LAST WORDS OF MY MASTER'S THESIS? i feel blessed

[@newlynova]

congratulations 🎉🫶 you are FREE

[@NinesRae]

CONGRATS THATS SO AWESOME!!!!!

[@kukrushkant]

@@NinesRae THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@Jj-lg23]

Den of vipers was the only book that i dnf ed I couldn’t take it anymore it disgusted me profusely 😭 the whole “shes mine she will be my wife im gonna make her mine” FROM ALL FOUR OF THEM 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@lolothesilly]

why on gods green earth would a mafia wedding between two warring families feature a food that the groom is severely allergic to??? would they not just... Not Serve That Food??? is it REALLY a wedding without strawberries!?

[@empalaga]

wow! i’m so early 😭 anyways, just wanted to say that Sophie Lark is honestly the only Dark Romance author I really enjoy. I like her FMCs and the respect she gives them by allowing them to process their feelings and the situations they get into with the MMCs. Every other author seems to gloss over the traumas and turmoils, and go straight to what always ends up being just a watered down version of Stockholm Syndrome. - Just my personal opinion though! 💕

[@margaretschafer8587]

When you said this felt like Wattpad and what you really wanted is AO3 I instantly knew what you meant, how did you describe something so specific so well

[@ipolanikauanoeanuhea3151]

My favorite booktuber blesses us with her sick acting skillls

[@elvira4031]

I read the title and cackled. I’m sending love and prayers, hope you recover LMFAO

[@natguevara2870]

Im so sorry but watching you speedrun the 5 stages of grief during my lunch break is the highlight of my week and it's only monday

[@alireadstoomuch9829]

Living in a place that is still affected by mafia organizations the concept of "mafia romance" makes me want to throw myself in a volcano, but your commentary is the only way I can get through any of it so thank you for your sacrifice 😂

[@dontaecrowder7952]

1st: Congrats on the new apartment, hope its everything and more 2nd: Thank you for enduring the pain of reading these so that i did not have to 3rd: thank you for making a vid long enough for me eat to 4th: "She is not a dairy aisle" is one of my favorite sayings ever now

[@hillarylevi6149]

The way this is going to get me through all my unpacking... thanks for taking one for the team. Your videos are always this perfect blend of chaos and art and humor and I love them so much. Thank you!

[@Kys_jackcrawfish]

The fist book is perfect. The main character slayed like she’s so real. No notes.

[@Kys_jackcrawfish]

Oh oops i didnt know abt the age gap that’s wierd and gross.

[@Vivi-of-the-Void]

the den of vipers struggle was so relatable. "this is not a dairy aisle" both made me feel seen and induced nam-veteran-adjacent flashbacks.

[@Em-27X]

my condolences about like, every book you picked up, thank you for your sacrifice

[@marlenreads]

I have never attempted to read Den of Vipers because the reviews scared me, I am glad I avoided it. Thank you for taking that bullet for us.

[@dezs.5202]

Ngl I both ironically and unironically love books like this. I couldn’t tell you why, it’s not like I haven’t read and enjoyed actually decent books before. I understand how silly and bad and toxic and weird they are, but I can’t help myself. They’re just so fast and stupid, but I almost always have the time of my life.

[@ravenclaw_queen1279]

Occupation: misogyny Favourite drink: idk definitely not orange juice because that’s not a drink

[@junfredpactol5970]

You're so well spoken.... it's make me obsessed with your video..

[@milofellagain7269]

you deserve a congressional medal of honor for this

[@starryaqua]

I picked up Den of Vipers expecting a stupid goofy romance but oh my god the writing was so bad. There was a major editing miss early on and I was like ?? The characterization?? I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thought of My Immortal 💀 you’re so brave for reading past page 50

[@jessicaistired06]

authirs using REAL chapters of the mafia is so crazy one day one of these authors are gonna be found dead

[@EssenceEtienne]

You’re literally my comfort person Lexie. I’m sending you comfort ❤

[@Marchthekoala]

Mafia men gave me whiplash into another timezone. Thank you for your sacrifice😭

[@chericherrylady]

The way I SCREAMED when I got a new video notification. I love you lexiii pls don't ever stop reading bad books

[@stitchedscorpio]

i’m a simple human, i see a Lexi video, i immediately watch and like 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@BelatedBlade]

The amount of pain this video brings and knowing that what is felt is diluted by a degree of separation is WILD