reading my dnf'd books 👀

[@Andryx98]

All F.T. Lukens feel like a warm hug tbh! I can never get enough of them, they're such a cosy read with added adventure. So This Is Ever After and In Deeper Waters are both books I simply devoured. Now I'm just looking forward to getting my hands in the newest release, Otherworldly, because it also sounds super fun!

[@cathyenfield]

I've been feeling off today and was about to chill to end the day, hating that I didn't have any more videos of yours to catch up with, and like 15 minutes later you're uploading 🥲 thank you thank you

[@gdubs14]

haunting of hill house is my favorite show of all time! my cat is named after one of the characters

[@caspiansvensson]

I like your reading vlogs, they are a perfect mix of updates and cosy b-roll.

[@adrie2408]

I remember soft dnfing house in the cerulean sea and then forced myself to read it during a 3 hr carride and absolutely loved it. Now I do this method now with my soft dnfs

[@heatherleannn]

it sounds like these were great reads to kick off spooky szn 👻 they’re going on the fall tbr! also, the goosebumps “choose your own scare” books were my JAM back in the day

[@alexia0707]

I soft DnFed A Fire Endless last year after finishing A River Enchanted just before. I just went back and finished it last week and so glad I did! Amazing Duology 🔥

[@peace_larva]

omg next you gotta watch haunting of bly manor!!

[@kreadvsdark35]

A Night in Terror Tower is my favourite Goosebumps book and two-part episode

[@RadioFreeKitmo]

Since you loved Spell Bound, I highly recommend So This Is Ever After (also by F.T. Lukens). It was a like a warm hug of a book and was so much fun. I have Spell Bound and am looking forward to reading it after hearing it has similar vibes.

[@jessethereader]

Adding it to my list!!

[@AyceMcGee]

Soooo with the first edition of Goosebumps, #30-42 are generally the harder ones to find. They're not like super rare, but they easily sell for 20-40 (depending on the book) unless you happen to find them in a used bookstore that doesn't know their value. The best places I've been able to collect them from have been Little Free Libraries, especially ones at parks, library sales, and springtime yard sales. Around 25 of the original editions came with some sort of insert like a bookmark, stickers, trading cards, etc. Finding those still attached is something to look out for. Also, there's a musical of The Phantom of the Auditorium and the soundtrack is a banger!

[@alexia0707]

Bonesmith and Ghostsmith are both amazing! It’s a unique magic system about ghosts and bones with some fun characters and quest focused, I found them to be entertaining and just good time overall!

[@whyamigae9666]

I loved Bonesmith I’m waiting for my Fairyloot Ghostsmith to come, I’m not a really big 5 star giver but Bonesmith was five stars 😂

[@alexia0707]

@@whyamigae9666 so am I!! I was too impatient and got it from my library to read it early and it was really good! Nice conclusion to the story 😄

[@jessicaallard9453]

This was such a fun video! I'm glad you ended up enjoying the books you soft-dnfed! For me I just circled back around to Ninth House after soft-dnfing it last year, and I'm SO glad I did because it was a five star read for me!! I also soft-dnfed Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies because I was reading it in the wrong season for the vibes! I'm planning to read it this winter

[@Bookedwithsteph]

Emily Wilde is so good! It’s one of my favorite books of the year.

[@jessicaallard9453]

@@Bookedwithsteph Awesome! I'll let you know what I think of it after I read it!

[@Foxheartbooks]

A couple months ago I did this. Went through all of the books I had started and then got “interrupted” part of the way through by another book. I’m about to need to do it again because I somehow have 8+ partially read books😅

[@readwithrhys]

All of F.T. Lukens books I’ve read (4 through S&S) are so fun and so gooooood!! I love their writing

[@chargalbreth3052]

My niece loved the movie version of Welcome to Dead House when she was about 3. She would do her impression of "Petey Eyes" (the family's dog at the end) 😊

[@iriock]

Jesse, you are such a delight to watch. You have such a light and bright aura. You're putting so much peaceful and pleasant content into this little world you've cultivated here. Thanks for always being a bright spot in my youtube playlist.

[@emmal7510]

I soft dnfed Babel right after I bought it. It's actually the book I'm currently reading.

[@melanieyputo]

Right now I have 3 books that I have started, put down and have no idea when I'm picking them up again, but I want to at some point. "All that's left in the world" by Erik J. Brown, "Iron widow" by Xiran Jay Zhao and "Red, white and royal blue" by Casey McQuiston. I have no idea why my brain doesn't let me pick any of them back up as of now and instead I'm reading other things, because I was enjoying those books 🤣

[@axdja]

absolutely loved the vibes in this video :) and you've inspired me to go back to some books I've dnf'd!

[@paulapfeiler4943]

Bonesmith (the book before Ghostsmith) was so good! I highly recommend it

[@bayman7568]

Another fun and cozy video! I absolutely loved Spellbound! FT Lukens has recently become an insta-buy author for me. Highly recommend So This Is Ever After and The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic.

[@estack24]

As a fellow mood reader, more than half of the books on my Currently Reading shelf in Goodreads are tagged as "On-Hold" which are equivalent to your soft DNF. The problem for me is i start the first quarter/half of a book and then fall out of my mood to continue reading. Some examples are: -Rebel by Marie Lu -Queen of Shadows by SJM -Morning Star by Pierce Brown -Talon by Julie Kagawa And then my two most recent added while attempting to read cozy fantasy. -A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal -The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall Hopefully my Currently Reading shelf will eventually get smaller... One day!

[@marandapratt6116]

I love this video! Can you make more content like this video and the booktuber dnf videos? They are fantastic, and I love seeing your authentic reaction. You are awesome, Jesse, keep up the great work!

[@athenasbibliotheca8099]

I've enjoyed the 2 books I've read by F.T. Lukens. They all give the same feelings you were talking about while reading Spell Bound. I read In Deeper Waters and So This is Ever After. I would recommend both of them. 💖 I actually own both Spell Bound and her newest book Otherworldly. I bought the Illumicrate FT Lukens set. I need to get on reading them.

[@emmal7510]

I just bought a pumpkin mug. It's definitely Halloween season.

[@JessNipper]

Ooh loved the concept of this video. I’m always soft DNFing books at the moment. Spell Bound has been on my tbr for ages, definitely picking it up now after this video. You should definitely also check out In Deeper Waters by F T Lukens. Same low stakes fantasy romance, but with merfolk!

[@ximenaallessandrij.5972]

10:00 Ypu have no idea of how BIG my scream was when I saw that you were holding GIVEN!!!! The anime destroyed me and comfort me in ways that I could never explain, I know it's just a cute love story, but I love the grow in the characters and how healing grief was portrayed through love and passion AAAAH I love it so much, hope you enjoy it as much as I did when you read it ^-^ and if you do, pls consider to watch the anime, is short, the music is really nice and the lyrics!!! ah! Hope I'm not ruinning it for anyone 😅

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

Goosebumps is the reason why I am a reader today.

[@wolfme4030]

I haven’t read Bonesmith yet but I have a beautiful special edition waiting to be read. So glad to see that Ghostsmith is out I’ll be able to binge read them 😁

[@Alewo2735]

2 thoughts: I also struggled with Camp Damascus because of the MC's indoctrination for most of the book. But my main issue that doesn't seem to bother anyone but me and I was SO hoping you'd be on my side, Jesse, is that was a terrible ending! What happens to the kids now?! You can't just end it there! And 2nd, if you want something else that will give you the same vibes you got from Spellbound, I would highly recommend The Lost Story. It was so gorgeous and fairytale-like and so wholesome while also having an adorable romance and still dealing with some dark themes. I friggen adored it!

[@emilyzathey]

If you are wanting to explore more horror I highly recommend books by Andrew Joseph White - his book The Spirit Bares Its Teeth has been my top read this year so far!

[@kittyloveskookies]

if you’re a fellow religious truma girlypop who loves horror, you need to watch midnight mass! it’s created by Mike Flanagan, who also created the haunting of hill house!

[@jessethereader]

noted!!

[@astoldbykat]

I read "Spellbound" in June for Pride Month and I absolutely loved it! It was so cute and sweet, with just the right amount of tension and conflict. It was also nice to see the taller, more traditionally "masculine" character being the sweet puppy-type (Rook had to be a Golden Retriever in a past life). Also, random, but can I just say every time I see a clip with "Tempests and Slaughter" in the background, I always get happy because it means people are still reading Tamora Pierce? Because I've been reading and re-reading her books since about 2000 (my #1 fave author, no contest).

[@bumblemee5661]

i soft dnfed felix ever after bc it didn't catch my attention fast enough when i first started reading (mood reader strugglessss), i'll probably finish it this year

[@pennyspreferences561]

The "Why I'm afraid of bees" goodebumps book loves rent free in my head. I think of it everytime I kill a bee. 😵‍💫🐝

[@juliacash8135]

Some books I have soft DNF’D but will read later are: The Invisable Library by Genevieve Cogman, Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb, and Shift by Hugh Howey (the second book in the silo saga). Honestly from what I can remember of these books I think you might enjoy them.

[@kategrossi8717]

oh! I remember reading Why Im Afraid of Bees Goosebumps books when i was in like 2nd or 3rd grade.. man brought back some memories of long long ago lol

[@amykariaxxi2159]

Those Goosebumps books are SO nostalgic. I remember seeing the whole line of them at the library when I was younger.

[@mellowgre]

Literally finished Spell Bound yesterday, and before that read FT Lukens' newest book Otherworldly. Would also rec!! FT Lukens definitely has a type for her characters but I enjoyed them so much I don't even care

[@irissu02]

I had to check when I heard the name bad kids and I was right there is a cdrama adaptation of this book !!! I have yet to watch it but I've heard VERY GOOD reviews about it so I think you would really love to watch it !!

[@jessethereader]

i’m definitely interested in watching it!! i need to see where i can watch it / stream it.

[@irissu02]

@@jessethereader all of it is available on KZbin for free and legally! It's the good thing about cdrama they put a lot of them for free on KZbin legally!

[@lizellechapman7654]

Looooved Bonesmith!! Gostsmith has been on my TBR since I read the first one!

[@courtsavage]

This was a great concept for a video. I definitely relate to the struggle of being a mood reader and soft DNF’ing because of it. I have so many I want to return to but I think the one I am most eager to return to is a Psalm for the Wild Built

[@sisasuku]

I call "soft DNF" a pause 🤭 But honestly, some tears back I had quite a lot of paused books and it made me a bit anxious. I didn't really want to start new books (because I had so many started!), and so I consciously finished all of my paused books. I never went back to having a pile of paused books in 7 years. And it's nice to not constantly be reminded of unfinished books which are lying around somewhere, waiting for me to spend some time with them.

[@daniellewilliams1459]

Hey Jesse, so growing up I definitely enjoy my time reading the original Goosebump books my all time favorites are Welcome To Dead House, Stay Out Of The Basement, Phantom Of The Opera, Welcome To Horror land, Be Careful What You Wish For, Werewolf Of Fever Swamp, and A Night In Terror Tower ❤ also I’m currently reading 📖 The Mary Shelly Club

[@sesecloud]

you just reminded me that i also didn't finish spell bound. i read So This Is Ever After and In Deeper Waters (both by F.T Lukens) and loved those so i'm hopefull for Spell Bound

[@spaceacekaitlin333]

I’ve read almost all of the Goosebumps books growing up, but the only one I have in my collection is the original print of “Stay Out of the Basement” with the bright green and purple cover and the hand under the door. Still creepy to this day (even though I’m 26). 💜💚

[@jenniferclark677]

Goosebumps is 64 books- One of the childhood series I refuse to part with, along with A Series Of Unfortunate Events Animorphs Bone Chillers and Fright Time! OMG Beware The Snowman!!!!! My very first one! The memories 😊

[@OliviasCatastrophe]

I had a similar can't read / watch some things with magic but then some things are okay?? childhood. I'm glad to hear camp damascus is a good one because it's waiting for me on my shelf. And YAY for loving the haunting of hill house. As a horror fan, that's my favourite tv series of all time.

[@gabriellabatel]

i soft dnf'd dawn by octavia e butler, but i dont wanna stay away for too long

[@Kronkgirl]

I love goosebumps and the original covers

[@spiritofthefaerie]

My favorite F.T. Lukens book is the Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths and Magic. It's one of their older works but it's a really fun story about a boy who unwittingly finds himself as the apprentice to an intermediary between the human and mythical world.

[@nijinoshita3301]

I have soft dnfed so many books like in 2021 I set myself the goal to finish all series I had started at that point, and I did it, it was great, and then since sometime in 2022 I started soft dnfing so many books, like with 0 reason... I am in the middle of like 20 books (probably more x.x ) need to get my shit together honestly xD

[@clancyconnolly495]

I really liked Camp Damascus- I definitely want to check out Bury Your Gays (aka what is sure to be another Jingle from Chuck Tingle 😂). I start books ALL THE TIME and just set them down because my mood changed and I'm not feeling it any more- I know I am going to love the book, but if I am not in the mood then it's gotta wait!

[@amotleyartwkatherine]

Yes, Halloween season starts September 1st. Love the decor. I have soft DNF Shadow of Night. I will get back to it but don't ask me when. You just can't rush these things.

[@thegirlonfiredolls]

wtf they never continued makin more of those illustrated books for percy jackson :O that sucks bc agree it would be cool to read em like that ( they did it for the harry potter books but not percy smh) alsoo lowkey wish they would do these for at least the first 3 hunger games movies.. even tho oct1 theres an illustrated edition of the hunger games comin out but the book is not as big as these and the illustrations are black and white and theres 30 or so of em!

[@genevieveking5078]

I have a pet black cat around my house all year. So I can understand being in the spooky by September. I have read some Goosebumps books in the past. I like The Haunted Mask in the series.

[@LannasMissingLink]

I'd love to know your thoughts on mistborn. I just finished the first book and can't wait to get my teeth into another! I'm sure you already have a video on this book but I'm struggling to find it on your feed

[@eht367]

Okay, but now I need a Beetlejuice Beetlejuice/Goosebumps Goosebumps crossover 😂

[@jessethereader]

i would absolutely be seated for that!

[@DreamAmongStars]

I just recently read Bonesmith (the first book in the House of the Dead duology) and it was SO GOOD! It's a lot of what I love about YA. I definitely recommend it!

[@SarahHulse314]

Hey maybe you'll like them this time around!!!! Good luck

[@squidy2343]

Ooo Bad Kids sounds interesting. I'm in a book club and wondering if it's suitable. 1. Is it scary? 2. Is it particularly violent/gory? I did see something that mentioned "not for the faint of heart". I used to read murder mysteries all the time but those usually aren't too scary. Just curious what people would suggest.

[@pauieeepau]

This makes me wanna start Spell Bound soon. And make a spooky TBR.

[@Kriseaf]

Every Lukens book is a 10/10 and I would recommend you hit up their back catalogue ASAP. 😀

[@banannakis6723]

I tried Camp Damascus because I heard rave reviews and couldn't make it past the first half because of the triggering of the religious memories it brings up. From what I saw it was a well-written book, I just couldn't read it.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Take a shot everytime Jesse says “starting over” 🤪😂

[@Shelf_Improvement]

Great video idea. I need to do this.

[@kingboogy7706]

Wake up, babes! Jesse posted!

[@carrieorsel1340]

If people can decorate for Christmas on November 1st....we can decorate for Halloween in September.....

[@Bucky749]

Maybe use the tune to from the tv show reading rain rainbow the old tv show but use reading update time lyrics. Something like it’s reading update time let’s take about what I thought about this book 📕

[@queenkim8631]

I've never heard of Bad Kids but it sounds so interesting?!?!? Adding to my tbr🤭

[@sonderture]

If you're interested, you should really watch the Chinese drama adaption of The Bad Kids. It's not as dark as the book but it's one of the best Chinese dramas I've seen. (You should also try The Long Night, another drama adaption of a book from Zijin Chen. Ugh just my favorite drama ever, I'm still so devastated by the whole story and how much the characters sacrificed for justice.)

[@JasmineHall-p6q]

I am the same way!!! 😭😭😭😭 I have sooooo many book I’ve started but didn’t finish because the mood changed.

Who can say no to Given?? I also want that on my shelf.

[@zachxallred]

havent been this early in SO LONG

[@twistedlinguistic7347]

Spell Bound sounds fun! If you like short chapters, you might enjoy the Kalix the Werewolf trilogy by Martin Millar

[@kittyloveskookies]

10:34 Is that The Haunted Library on the left top shelf? 🤭

[@jazzumbre3331]

I loved the original Goosebumps books growing up, in fact I have all the originals myself (after a lot of work collecting them as I foolishly gave them away as a teen...the stupid teen phase am I right)

[@ChanelChapters]

With beetlejuice 2 I felt like Monica belluccis character could have been more

[@MidnightreaderYT]

Given has 9 volumes and they are all currently out.

[@spazzystazzy6958]

Jesse.. please tell me that you’ve went on Goodreads and looked at the author of Camp Damascus’s other books because WHAT ARE THOSE TITLES😭😭 you should read more books by them and make a video about your experience 💀

[@mariakalliokoski2758]

Given 🥲❤️ vol 9 is the last one and it just came out (or comes out any day now?)

[@arleneanimated9772]

I soft dnf'd Dune because the writing style kinda bored me. The world building was really interesting but I wasn't so invested in the story. Now, I only started reading it because the movie was coming out and I wanted to do a comparison. So the movie came out when I was halfway through the book and then I later found out that the movie was a part one, it only covered the first half of the book. So I thought 'oh, I'll stop here and watch the movie and then read the second half when the next movie comes out'. Did I do that? Haha no. I did none of that. Have not even see the first movie. But I want to! I still have the book and the bookmark is still where I left off. I want to do all of that, I'm just... not in the mood.