i swapped books w/ my boyfriend | dark academia, fantasy, magical realism

my boyfriend benji and i swap books! i tried something new with this video by leaving it pretty long and doing minimal cuts - let me know what you think! i've never done a book swap before so this was definitely interesting lol. good to see u all again :')
books mentioned:
The Emperor's Soul
The Secret History
Piranesi
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
✎ personal instagram: / chris_middendorf
✎ tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@chrislibrary?...
✎ goodreads: / chris-middendorf
✎ contact: [e-mail]
★ benji's channel: ‪@benjiplant‬
★ benji's instagram: benji_plant...
★ animated intro done by the super talented ‪@RoseenaSakya‬ (@phllegm on instagram)!!
★ intro music: cat shop by Louie Zong

[@afriendofsammy]

Joint CEOs of clear skin

[@lindenir540]

they're hoarding the world's supply of handsomeness 😭

[@TurnipZ]

Honestly!!

[@carmenmonteavaro9528]

You too are so cute together. Enjoyed this vlog

[@balladofahomeschooledboy0514]

@@lindenir540 righttt chris so handsome omg i can't

[@humbulaniyuhwl3761]

Right?

[@Rae-ms8bf]

your guy’s energy together is so comforting

[@mikelmontoya2965]

Am I the only who feels bitterly envious watching such an endearingly sweet & cute gay couple? 😅

[@river7896]

I feel you brother I feel you😔

[@aristheshow]

Y'all ever feel the need of peace in your lives...welcome to ✨the world of benji and chris✨

[@jaydeny4124]

Please DO swap books again! That was very entertaining 40minutes!

[@brighthavens]

I just literally saw a 40 mins video posted on chris's channel and a tear of happiness rolled down my eyes🤌🏻✨🥹

[@chrislibrary]

happy you’re here!!!!

[@moonlightmoonchild1133]

yaaaaaaayyyyyy our dads are back!!!

[@lucasdaniel624]

babe, wake up, new chris' library video just dropped!

[@Pedigru]

I loved this. Intelligent conversation about reasonably good reads.

[@artemis7496]

Piranesi is one of my favorite books of all time. Susanna Clarke literally came and slapped me and made me dig my own grave, sit in it and read the book out loud while she smoked and held a gun to my head. After i finished it she shot me dead and then she buried me. After the first ray of sunshine i came back alive and made my way out of the grave. Thanks to Susanna Clarke i'm a new person now. It's quite scary what she is capable of.

[@karinakang]

Its 12.30am where I am. I have work tomorrow, but you can bet that i'm gonna watch this 41min 17 seconds video right now.

[@chrislibrary]

💞📚

[@sigurdk13]

Saaaaameeee😭😭me right now

[@rvincantsleep]

I'm just smiling the whole time watching you two.🥰

[@good4uabcdefu]

a 41 minute video?? oh we are fed for this month

[@moonwalker2324]

You guys are SO CUTE. You're melting my heart gahh

[@HeyAstor]

Chris is so cute. I love his personality/shyness 😂❤

[@nirjabhatt469]

I love this interaction of fellow introverts. It's extremely cozy and calm, like a cup of tea on a rainy night.

[@wrustria]

41 minutes i am in heaven(im obsessed with you two😭❤️). Ive been reading Mistborn era 2 recently

[@tushabeasumpta9850]

I love the way Benji & Chris always look at each other and burst out laughing...❤❤❤tears😅😂

[@taragirsch4374]

I'm so glad this was suggested to me out of the blue, you both have such great energy

[@chrislibrary]

so happy you’re here! thank you!!!💞

[@risg4me]

I am a huge Piranesi fan! That is an elite book right there. Also, you both are so cute together.

[@bblithe]

Yess I was waiting for this! Whenever you upload, it makes my day 🫶

[@jessicabowers4811]

I’ve loved Benji for years I had no idea you guys were together😭❤️❤️

[@camillereadss]

i’ve been following benji since my plant journey started and now you guys are making videos together?? my heart 🥹🥹 love from a small booktuber ❤

[@user-xc9ou3qc5w]

Well all that' matters is they found true love and found someone they were actually Happy with and that' is amazing least I no the truth and nothing Left to stick around for enjoy your time with each other happy for you guys

[@josephglass6054]

your relationship makes my heart feel really full and gives me so much hope

[@patrickbraue4644]

So glad I found your channel! Your vibes and calming energy are just the thing I need to decompress after a rough day and I want to start reading ❤

[@dawnnicholson9675]

It's lovely to see you both so happy together.. So comforting to watch.. Loved this book swap. ❤❤✨✨

[@ussfhenx]

its been 20 mins trying to express how you guys makes me feel but no words are enough, y'all make me so happy

[@MelodiedeVivre]

Both of your tastes in books: impeccable

[@victoria4]

I’m so glad to see a new video from you!

[@LeafyConversations]

I love you two your so genuine, so happy it your energy comes through the screen. ❤

[@vv.7044]

omg thank you for saving my day i needed my comfort youtubers 😭😭😭💖

[@Winoinmyheart]

Yes, you absolutely should do this again!

[@jacobemagee6002]

Been a long time fan of you guys and just so happy to see you posting more on this channel pls keep it up! Definitely took some book recommendations watching this!!

[@amarsingh122]

loved everything about this video!! please continue!

[@luqmanhakim6538]

aaaa you guys inspire me a lot!! will be reading everything you guys listed :3

[@vorgebrauchschutteln3859]

nice video. You both have calming voices, but you still get so much excitement across. I skipped a bit of the The Emperor's Soul review, but just because I put in on my tbr to read it myself.

[@LANAisLORDE]

Please you both are so adorable 😭 I'm obsessed ❤️

[@gabrielm2234]

A 40-min VIDEO??? YES PLEASE!!!

[@RoseenaSakya]

I just thoroughly enjoyed this!!!

[@civilizeddiva]

It's lovely to see you back. Looking forward to more content. Best.

[@SilentLay]

This become my comfort video. For Anytime. Thank you!

[@mrtm1970]

This is my nephew, Christopher and SO proud of him and YES they are amazing cute together!!!

[@lucy.ballerhadia]

aww i loved this long vid of book yapping!! i'd love to see more in the future :D u two are effortlessly funny i found myself giggling throughout hahah; welcome back to youtube chris :D!

[@chrislibrary]

thank you lucy :)))

[@pman2916]

Good to see you again Chris. No need to be nervous Chris, you're doing great! Hey Benji😊

[@vivinaproperty7767]

your videos are always so refreshing (and ruin my wallet with these book recs)

[@choni_forever7051]

i really love and appreciate the calmness of your videos

[@chrislibrary]

thank you :’)

[@Coolycalm]

I can't believe i watched the whole video without even knowing it was 40 minutes lol...love this energy✨✨

[@amandinhasales]

Ok, I will start to read books for fun again, not just work books. You guys are so cute🤩 (This video called me single in 5 different languages)

[@markherowin7799]

i started reading more books because of your chanel 🪴 you two look so cute together btw 🥰 more videos to come 💫

[@Amystudio]

This came up in my recommended and I’m like “real life heartstopper!!!” You guys reminded me of them 😭💕😭

[@pradeepakakunuri9297]

We definitely want another swap video

[@dogjay9450]

Woaaahhhhh! New vid!

[@leonduplessis]

I really enjoyed this so much. I have to say that for me at a young age I read mythology books and the classics, then as i grew up my tastes expanded into mysteries and fiction novels. My younger brother was the one that got me into science fiction novels as I was not to interested in them for a long time. I think it was when I had finished high school and I was a little bored that he gave me a science fiction book to read. Now I have a varied library of books but I really enjoy mysteries very much.

[@dcdszgage2125]

This was adorable!

[@keeslooksandbooks4631]

I loved this, Ihope y'all do this again!

[@GrafPattingham]

I don't really care for the books but you guys have such a sweet, calming energy

[@johnbricemarcaida5796]

why am I smiling the entire video??? 🥹

[@AsmrLofiSessions]

My wait is over... Yay!

[@little_arson]

Omg you are so adorable 🥰🥰 it was the coziest 41 minutes of my life!

[@chrisss3233]

Awww u guys my favourites 😭

[@anahi278]

i dont read books, but after watching this video i have the urge to become a bookworm again :) this was such a fun concept! cant wait for more videos

[@beniarosid7186]

Chris is like a shy person.. so cute

[@coypat1300]

Hello! following both you and so proud of you both, because of your relationship and what we can know you from your videos and sharing. Thank you for sharing your lives and interests with us. ❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@chrispnw2547]

Hi Chris.... I subscribed to your channel and noticed a while back you had some content but am glad to see you are adding new content. Take your time and build up at a pace that suits you BUT we book readers look forward to your perspective. I'm an old man and love that you and Benji can pursue your dreams doing thing you love and still live well. 🙏

[@deegrows7589]

Fun video! Look forward to next one!

[@The_zaniest]

:0 Mistborn is so cultured of your boyfriend dude, all the books he mentioned really are amazing

[@arielrr]

i love yalls pet chihuahua so cute 😊

[@michaelblake8498]

Hi Chris & Benji, you should read the book entitled "The Graveyard Book", this is also written by Neil Gaiman. Basically a young boy hangs out in a graveyard to evade a man who has murdered his family. Whilst there he makes friends with the dead people who are buried there. An amazing book😊

[@chrislibrary]

I talk about this book in my spooky book video! I loved it!

[@1101naomi]

Piranesi is so so good!

[@Dieppaloveplants]

I looove both of you i feel like u guys are my kids ❤❤❤❤

[@ThePpabloO]

I have been waiting for a long time to see you both doing book-related content and I am really enjoying it as much as I can! If you ever want to get started with poetry (which is definitely shorter than most novels) I would like to recommend to both of you "Night sky with exit wounds" by Ocean Vuong. All I can say is that I bought it by accident on amazon 😅 and as someone who is not experienced at all with poetry I fell in love with it.

[@janiceklaasen]

My favourite kind of videos

[@banrions]

this was a fun little challenge!

[@charennoerida]

omg, your boyfriend's vlog in vietnam was recommended to me now this video is recommended to me, cuteee.

[@keiichifuruya]

I'm glad I read Piranesi already because there were quite a bit of spoilers in that synopsis 😂😂😂 you two are so cute.❤❤

[@chrislibrary]

WE WARNED U!!!

[@keiichifuruya]

I KNOWWWWWWWW😂

[@awb37]

Love to see more video's on your channel❤❤

[@karinaromay8388]

Love your videos❤❤

[@lucasdaniel624]

Just an idea, but wouldn't it be nice if Chris carried out a bookclub, or something of that sort? Like recommended a book to viewers and in 1 or 2 month's time released a video talking about the book? something pretty chill I'd love that

[@Hep.F]

I Love you guys and Theo! I did not even know you had your own Channel Chris! Why didn't I??? Ofcourse I subscribed to your Channel!! Love yas!!! Going to settle in and Enjoy this Video! Thankyou! ❤🐾📚🌿🇨🇦

[@user-fw1vf9bn4y]

Yay thank you for the vid I liked it a lot yayy

[@luka5160]

i read like the first 40 pages of piranesi and gave up too,,, maybe this a sign to get back to it 🤧

[@user-vs7nv8mo4e]

CHRIS NEEDS TO TAKE BENJI TO LONDON TO SEE THE PLAY BASED ON THE BOOK....OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE......

[@VixinatorsVideos]

omg Piranesi is sooo so good.

[@chrislibrary]

i loooove it

[@yasspanda2559]

You guys speak in lowercaps and I find it so soothing ✨😌✨

[@lilacfields]

i have been hearing so much about piranesi recently! maybe i should finally pick it up…

[@mauddouglasa]

Finnaaallyyyyyy

[@martinaschiavolin1020]

You guys are so cute❤

[@dwimmery]

Oh my! The Ocean at the end of the lane... I totally forgot about this book, I read it a long time ago and it was such a weird experience I though I was the only one x) I feel weirdly happy to share this feeling

[@grff_]

Ocean made me feel super weird as i was reading it and after i finished it, but as the weeks went by it became one of my favorites from Neil and in general. I read a lot of his stuff before it and knew his life so i immediately noticed he put a lot of himself in that book. I have seen people absolutely dislike it tho, so definitely you have to be a cretain kind of person to enjoy it i guess LOL I still recommend it to anyone who will listen to me talk about Neil, there's something so unique about it. Fun fact, i thought it was funny that you recommended a book by Neil and Neil's favorite book (Piranessi)!😢

[@asmasayyad6175]

Its always fun to read as well be with people who read.😀 I love reading fiction. Sometimes I too just stop reading...many a times the author seems to disappoint or has a completely different style of writing. But eventually I come back and continue ...

[@runaroberts3217]

Swap again in a future video plz! Would be interested to see how your recommendations develop having done this video 📚

[@yonedakou3935]

36:09 that little laugh 😂😂 . . . . Thanks for sharing.

[@PierroCh5]

The co-holders of the world's prettiest smiles title are having a book club moment.

[@karensicard7304]

You guys need to read the Gold finch by Donna Tart. Another good one.

[@martharechy1610]

Have you all read any Tanya French? I think you would love them. My fav is “The Likeness”.

[@stefania9490]

The karmic circle that Neil Gaiman book went through ahah

[@angelicatitus]

I really liked Piranesi. I actually read it again a second time not long after I finished it the first time

[@PetraEmmy]

I am reading Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher and it was a recommendation from Fern. Its very different than what I have read but I am enjoying it.

[@tyoonie.b]

if you ever have the chance to watch the ocean at the end of the lane stage show, you two have to go! it genuinely was incredible i had goosebumps… benji may be a lil too scared

[@SKOceanicFE]

We want Chris to read more Cosmere !!!