I tried waking up at 5 a.m. to read more for a week 😴📖

[@raelynmarie16]

“I’m grieving what could’ve be” Wow you took the words right out of my mouth. Thanks for being a light in the book community 🤍

[@LottieSmalley]

Aw so glad to hear that, thank you!! 💙📖🫂

[@AbbyAsselin]

this was such a fun video idea 😴💖I totally hear you with your election thoughts, you worded everything so well and last week was definitely one filled with escapism so I'm glad you had this challenge to escape last week to take care of yourself 🫂

[@LottieSmalley]

Thank you, Abby 🫶

[@kimberlyschroeder7409]

I’m Canadian and I cried multiple times that Wednesday. I bought myself a gigantic coffee and immersed myself in a book as well.

[@nicolecastelli2283]

Grieving along with you 💙. Thanks for posting, this definitely helped me feel better today 🫶🏻

[@LottieSmalley]

I’m so glad 💙

[@LindyS1830]

I too am grieving. I went to a great rally on Sunday before, I canvassed, put up signs, wrote postcards, and was so disappointed and fearful. Enjoyed your get up early and read blog, I need to try it. Thank you!📚♥️😴

[@alinasreading]

im so happy you read caraval!! you havvveee to stick with it. it's one of those series that you just have to see through. its so worth it!! love the videos and so sorry about the rough week!! :'(

[@LottieSmalley]

Okay you’re making me wanna tryyyyy to stick with it!!! And thank you 🙏

[@Livvy0123210]

Finally got a kindle and your videos helped convince me to do it! Your videos are so fun and I really enjoy watching them as I get back into reading as an adult.

[@LottieSmalley]

Yayyyy!! So excited for you 🥰 I know you’ll love your kindle! thanks for watching!

[@Sheryle871]

I’m thinking about getting a kindle I’m washing Ching due to a comment made about it

[@Sheryle871]

I’m thinking about getting a kindle I’m washing Ching due to a comment made about itcorection im watching since I saw a comment about the kindle I subscribe d.

[@rebeccapaine3908]

😴 Definitely had similar emotions to you the day after the election. I ended up rereading a favorite series after. I needed a comfort book.

[@LottieSmalley]

Comfort reads are so important!

[@JenniT5123]

I struggled to focus on reading this week too even though I needed the escape from my grief as well, I also turned to magical fantasy with Impossible Creatures! Adding Out On a Limb to my tbr, it sounds so good. Congrats on finishing your latest challenge and hope you got caught up on that sleep debt 😴

[@LottieSmalley]

glad to know it wasn’t just me! thank you! 🙏

[@LorenaHibooks]

Great challenge ! Caraval is on my wishlist ! I don’t know if I could wake up that early though 😂

[@micslibrary]

i sooooo relate to feeling anxious and out of it after tuesday - i really appreciate you being vulnerable and open about it 🥲❤️‍🩹 hope you're feeling better this week, as much as is possible right now 🫶🏻

[@LottieSmalley]

Aw Mic, thank you for the sweet words! glad to know I’m not alone ❤️‍🩹

[@Tula1987]

💡 and 📚 will win in the end 💙

[@thefallybear]

You don’t HAVE to read Caraval first. Like the plot would work either way but it just hits SO much better if you do read that set first.

[@LottieSmalley]

ugh this is what I’ve heard!!!

[@Sheryle871]

I subscribed I enjoyed your content have a blessed week

[@AbbyAsselin]

ok wait im so curious, do you listen to anything when reading on your headphones or just have them on for noise cancelling purposes? i feel like listening to instrumental-esque music would be so helpful for getting in the zone and staying locked in with reading

[@LottieSmalley]

I either do brown noise, a jazz reading playlist, a themed playlist that correlates with the book, or the audiobook for immersive reading! kinda just depends on my mood and the vibe!! 🤍🎧 definitely helps me stay focused!

[@edwardleecaliforniausa]

Good morning happy Wednesday morning to you and I hope you having amazing day and you are amazing supporter

[@LottieSmalley]

Aw thanks for the positivity, I appreciate it! 💖

[@AbbyAsselin]

LOLing at you saying caraval with a southern accent, so real 🤭 & I've had out on a limb on my tbr for like a year, I seriously need to get to it :')

[@LottieSmalley]

I can turn the accent onnn! hahaha AND YES you must read it!!!

[@thaiswinmill2153]

😴 I would have fallen asleep every single morning! I would love to wake up early but I super prioritize my sleep and have a consistent schedule of bed at 10:30-11pm and up at 7am. I worry about messing that up 😂 💙

[@LottieSmalley]

sleep is SO important too!!!

[@HannahAmendola]

took a break from reading out on a limb to watch this vid, and turns out you were reading it too lol -- im loving it as well so far!

[@LottieSmalley]

omg yessss! love it! it’s so good, right?

[@HannahAmendola]

@ yes im obsessed!!

[@jamiestark80]

😴 Thank you for the video! I have four kids so getting up around 5am helps me get some quiet time to read. 😊

[@LottieSmalley]

that is so smart! you’re seriously a rockstar 🤩

[@amyolsen2838]

Love hearing your thoughts on the election! Thank you for this video, I definitely needed some positive distraction from what’s going on. 💕

[@LottieSmalley]

distractions are needed rn! 🩵🙏

[@amariahdiamse3666]

Regarding Caraval, I never read it but I did finish the Once Upon a Broken Heart series and the issues you had with Caraval are the same issues I had with Once Upon a Broken Heart. I think that’s just her style of writing and I thought about diving into Caraval but if it’s the same, I’m not super interested. I also felt that same way about Phamtasma and I thought it was just ok. I felt both these books lacked in character development and it was a bit surface level. I appreciate the review, it helps me know that I personally don’t want to continue reading that author

[@LottieSmalley]

Ooo thanks for sharing!! That’s good to know 💡 I’ve been hearing some mixed reviews about phantasma too!

[@gidgetgrlreading9603]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Wednesday morning, it was a blow for me as well. :( great vlog and thanks for your thoughts on Caraval I'll probably hold off on reading it. I had a hard time focusing last week, I went with a time and true favorite book so I could just escape. I did end up putting Parable of the Sower back on the shelf after Tuesday. Hope you are having a great week this week.

[@LottieSmalley]

Aw, I feel you! definitely was tough to focus on much - glad you found something to help you escape and hope you're having a better week!

[@ErinSullivan]

We love you Lottie, thanks for sharing your thoughts post election as a book lover!!!

[@LottieSmalley]

Aw that means so much, I appreciate you! 🩵🫂

[@pbhh9125]

😴 😴 I really liked this vlog, now I want to try waking up at 5 AM to see if I can wait a little bit before work because yes, having a 9 to 5 job plus everything else that happens in adulthood sometimes makes difficult to make time for reading but I love reading so much so I think I’m going to try these for a week and see how I feel about it.

[@LottieSmalley]

thank you so much! you got this - I believe in you!!

[@jillbellaus385]

I am right there with you

[@michellemaguire841]

😴😴😴 In a bit of a reading slump this week so huge respect for getting up so early 💛

[@LottieSmalley]

thank you! you got this 🙏

[@amandabrown4575]

Just my opinion, I think the first book of caraval was the best out of the 3 I didn't really care for the second or the third book in this trilogy.But it's worth knowing what went on for the one upon a broken heart

[@dafnerohr1321]

Finish the trilogy, it gets better and changes who the main person is. It’s a MUST read before the once upon a broken heart trilogy, which is SO SO SO GOOD!!!!

[@LottieSmalley]

Okay noted!!!

[@amberbrigante5248]

😴😴love you lottie.. I would like to try the challenge but I am not a morning person so I might fail. I have been reading slower than I want to and maybe I could try it and you definitely did great when having a 9 to 5 job too

[@LottieSmalley]

aww thanks!!! It’s definitely a challenge! but you got this, even if it’s just an hour earlier for a day or two 🫶

[@ms.thryyy8607]

Such a great video ❤️ Hoping the audio can be loud a little bit more ❤️

[@LottieSmalley]

thank you!! was it too quiet in some parts? I tried to mix the audio so it was okay 😰

[@AmbercollegeA]

Grieving too ❤ we are together

[@LottieSmalley]

yes 🩵

[@care0116]

I just finished the last book in the OUABH series and definitely felt the same way you did about Caraval. I was very meh, it was fine, not super loving it with Caraval so I was hesitant to continue reading the rest of the series. But I think because Legendary mostly focuses on Donatella's POV, it was different and I liked it more! I Say continue on! You got this 😊

[@LottieSmalley]

Yes I’m defff interested in Tella’s POV 👀 so we will see!! thank you for your thoughts, much appreciated 🙏

[@surahrahmankumar621]

perfect timing

[@LottieSmalley]

so glad 🩷

[@SarahLichtenauer]

😴I was excited about Caraval prior to this video. That's a bummer!

[@ReaderandWriter.]

Read the Once Upon a Broken Heart series. Jacks goes other places and I think it's Caraval. I don't know what Jacks does in the Caraval world but I didn't want to read that and dislike it how I know I will just to know. I love reading books in a series but if it's not following the same story, I'm okay reading out of order. It's like Brandon Sanderson, it's all in the same world but told by different people.

[@LottieSmalley]

jacks wasn’t in this first book yet so still need to meet him!

[@ldleslie]

😴😴 I literally did not read a single book that entire week. I mentally couldn’t do it 😔

[@daniellegl5535]

Totally random but I love your glasses! Can you link them?

[@LottieSmalley]

Omg thank youuu 🤓 they’re actually vintage Gucci frames my Dad got for me for Christmas a few years back so I’m not sure how to find them 😰

[@Schmilerz]

Hi ❤ I am not from the US and was a bit shocked when you said something about one of the parties trying to ban books? Can you give some background? 😢

[@LottieSmalley]

Hi! Here's some relevant information with good sources -- The US Election Is Tearing BookTok Apart: www.wired.com/story/booktok-is-currently-embroiled-in-a-battle-over-the-us-election/

[@TheGofer7]

thank you for speaking on the election, feeling the exact same way all week. love your videos !!

[@LottieSmalley]

comforting to read comments like this, we’re not alone 🤍 thank you for watching!

[@GM-tu7di]

Haven’t read Caraval yet. But Phantasma was a five star for me !!!!

[@LottieSmalley]

It’s a must!!

[@haleyblazekovich9514]

Girls’ girls are grieving with you 🤍

[@LottieSmalley]

so real

[@charlenepodgorski8545]

Question - why the headphones when you read?

[@LottieSmalley]

I have ADHD and headphones can help me focus! I’ll just listen to brown noise or a reading playlist while I read. But without them, little noises like an air conditioner or the laundry can distract me a surprising amount! I find they just help me focus better especially when I’m tired or wired (like I was for a lot of this vlog)! 🥰🎧

[@saalexanderson699]

I read the sample of both once upon a broken heart and caraval (on Libby) and decided not to read further 😬 writing style wasn’t for me I did really like phantasma, except for the spicy scenes (very spicy, which isn’t really my thing) I found those scenes jarring and distracting. Fair amount of cursing in phantasma as well, which I also found distracting as it seemed to be set in early 1900’s. 😴😴

[@djahorry]

😴😴

[@pamelac306]

😴

[@LottieSmalley]

💤

[@alyssalewman7201]

😴😴😴

[@LottieSmalley]

💙💤

[@carriewilson9932]

💤

[@LottieSmalley]

🥱

[@tonya2m14]

😂😴🥱

[@LottieSmalley]

🫶

[@ABookAffairByShay]

😴 Great video! If I woke up at 5am everyday to read, I would crash just like you lol Also, I appreciate you sharing your feelings regarding the election. The following day was also hard for me to comprehend. 🫶🏾

[@LottieSmalley]

thank you! and of course, always comforting to know we’re not alone in that! 🩵

[@PowerOfBooks1902]

😴😴😴

[@LottieSmalley]

❤️🥰

[@reader4evr]

😴

[@LottieSmalley]

🥰🥰

[@lenadublin3453]

🥱😴

[@LottieSmalley]

🫶

[@izziewithay]

😴

[@LottieSmalley]

🩷

[@MonicaE_LMFT]

😴