July Wrap Up (2024): new releases, 5 star mysteries, & more!

[@forevermoodreading]

I think talking about why you DNF helps people understand more and more that it's okay to DNF. It can be quick. 👍

[@scottwaters1376]

I like when you give a brief description of why you DNF!

[@scottwaters1376]

Just wanted to thank you for your videos! I look forward to yours because I trust your opinions and Gabby from Gabby reads the most! Better than others I follow and I traditionally enjoy the books you like and recommend!

[@stormofapril]

You have became one of my favourite book channels!

[@kking181]

I always enjoy hearing about DNFs! Unless you DNF it after 10 pages or something, I think it’s worth mentioning. I enjoy hearing reasons for DNF because it gives perspective on why a certain book might not be enjoyable (slow, trigger warning, misleading premise, etc). So please keep mentioning them!

[@lauramichelle6976]

I think DNFs that happen fast or are just not your taste I don’t care either way if you discuss. But DNFs for specific tropes or things that are possible issues (misogyny, lack of quotation marks, newly discovered problems with the author, etc) are things I’m interested in.

[@AndreaGReads]

I second this comment!

[@fancifulimpression]

Agreed! Some DNFs are for reasons I’d like to be aware of so I can not pick up that book and waste my time.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

I like to hear about DNFs and why DNFd 👍

[@ramen8760]

I love hearing about dnfs!

[@TheJessieJoy]

I like hearing what you DNFd. Chances are, if it didn’t grip you right off the bat, it won’t grip us either. 😉

[@CharlotteShelves]

I love how honest you are about hyped-books being 2 stars! I always feel so confused and alienated, in addition to disappointed if I don't enjoy something much hyped? xx

[@sasapejcin3568]

Love to hear about dnf's and reason why! 😁

[@Ludacrystal43]

I like hearing about DNFs. Like others if it happened within the first several pages I dont need to hear about it lol. But otherwise I like hearing why a book was DNF’d

[@lesap8889]

I really like you telling us about your DNF's because your reading tastes really come close to mine, so if you DNF I would dnf as well!

[@AndreaGReads]

Thank you for expressing exactly my thoughts on The God of the Woods!! Was starting to feel like the only one who didn’t love the mystery and the pacing! 😅

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I’ve seen so many people not be a fan of horror movie, so I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@bbwlanas]

Yes you should talk about Dnf IT informs others! could save us the time of reading it or it may make some people pick it up.

[@tammyripp998]

I read Swiped too, agree with your review. Re: DNF inclusion, helpful to know what you bailed on as a time-saver for my TBR.

[@Sadie896]

It's good to hear what made you dnf. If a book is bad enough for you to just stop, people who like similar books as you can save time & money. Good to know.

[@tiffanyplencner6211]

I reckon a one-liner for the DNFs could be helpful? Don't want to dwell, but it is also helpful to know what might not work for similar reading tastes. Also, that blurb! I want that book too!

[@jaimee-kate]

Felt the same way about God of the Woods

[@_rachelreads]

i enjoy hearing about DNFs! also, i think we have opposite tastes bc Done and Dusted, Incidents, and God of the Woods were all 4-5 stars for me, and Horror Movie was a DNF!

[@maryann83]

Swiped looks interesting 😊 will give it a try...10 week wait from my library

[@gabbyreads]

Such a bummer about The God of the Woods 😢 I ended up DNF’ing after like 150 pages? I just thought it was sooooooo slow and I didn’t care 😅 I wanted to love it so bad

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Hahaha yesssss the audio really got me through 😅

[@cassidymoore9052]

Thank you for sharing your feelings on Incidents around the house! I didn’t find it scary or chilling at all and I was starting to feel like I was the only one. You truly are the only booktuber whose taste aligns with my own. When I heard your review of Near the bone, I immediately hit subscribe lol

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

hahah it is so hard to find those of us who didn't enjoy Near the Bone - welcome to the club! 😂

[@MlleGhoul]

Huh! I'll admit that my high expectations for God of the Woods are based on the fact that I have a 27-week wait for it at my library. I feel like that alone is indicative of some promises that it won't be able to keep. After hearing you talk about it, I'm definitely tempering and adjusting those expectations. It's funny, I read both Incidents Around the House and Horror Movie, but I think you and I put them at different ends of the ratings spectrum. Incidents Around the House scared the crap out of me, it reminded me of how weird and scary it is to be a kid and have no idea what's going on or what's expected of me. I think I was a really neurotic kid and I grew to be a pretty neurotic adult, so I was definitely coming to the story with that kind of baggage. And even though I didn't love Horror Movie, you articulated exactly what I love about Paul Tremblay's writing, that sense of ambiguity. Also I think his characters (sort of like Stephen Graham Jones) have this weird, expansive inner landscapes and you spend a lot of time in their heads, and a lot of time in anyone's head is kind of disorienting. I like that about Tremblay's books, I think we see a lot of that in Pallbearer's Club in particular. But even with that too, something about Horror Movie didn't quite work for me. I wish I could pinpoint what it was, but I really just don't know!

[@MMjones6459]

First - I admire your ratings! Too many reviewers feel compelled to rate everything highly. Thanks. For DNF & 1-2 stars, I only need to hear details if the reasoning would help me decide. Hyperbaric treatment is typically used to treat gangrene or sores that aren't healing (diabetics). My opinion on Death in the Air & Murder After the Night Before is that both openings were for marketing purposes which only attracts readers expecting something else. I actually liked those two more than either of Hallett’s.

[@RivetingReads]

Bummer about Incidents Around the House! I really enjoyed it cuz I found it scary but I could see how someone wouldn’t like it!

[@RivetingReads]

I hate when blurbs sound so good and then the book doesn’t give those vibes :/

[@sydneyrrobertson]

The important part of talking about a DNF is the why. You could do a rapid fire, single-reason-why for each book to speed it up.

[@hvxjim1]

One of the best locked room mysteries is The Three Coffins by John Dickson Carr. But it isn't modern at all, it was written in the 30's or 40's and is very old timey. Still a great book. Also check out the White Priory Murders - I probably like it more.

[@notthemostread]

Oh no! I loved Incidents around the house. I am primarliy a lit fic reader who loves slow, mundane stuff. The sense of dread in this was top notch to me 😅

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Haha that makes sense!

[@lorenamunguia-cortez9368]

I like hearing about what you DNF , but don’t necessarily care to know why unless there’s a very specific reason. I’m very interested in Miracle Creek and The Appeal looks so fun!

[@jmf322]

I like hearing DNFs 😊

[@tinaparayil]

I'm so relieved to see someone else that found The God of the Woods as just fine, I gave it 3⭐️. The writing was great, but the pacing, multiple POVs, and jumping timelines weren't for me.

[@AFrolicInTheTomesxx]

I dated a “cowboy” and it was probably my most cringey relationship lol. He was also the biggest Ahole. So I don’t blame you there. I loved incidents around the house lol. I’m also a mother though so it was easy for me to insert my family in this scenario which really gave me the creeps.

[@tysbookcorner]

I like to hear about DNFs because it helps me determine whether or not I should pick up a book especially if I’m on the fence about it 😅 I also don’t understand the hype for Incidents Around the House. I thought the book was fine but the first half was way stronger than the second half and by the end it no longer felt creepy to me….

[@julibaro575]

I like hearing about DNFs and the reasons why, but if you don't have much to say, you could simply mention it quickly and move on to other reviews

[@CaraTheCanadian]

I personally like to hear why people DNF certain books! That way I know what I can/should skip and why :-)

[@KrystleLovesHorror]

I’m reading Boys in the Valley right now, but I’m only like 34% of the way in. Lol. I actually love supernatural/possession stories as they freak me out the most because how do you fight that kinda thing. 👀 Sad to know you didn’t enjoy it, but I definitely see where you are coming from! The prologue got my attention, but it was pretty boring leading up to the possessed man being brought into the orphanage. I’m hoping I enjoy the rest of it, but that makes me worried it will be boring again. lol. Definitely a great writer, though! I’m not finding mistakes and I ALWAYS find mistakes. 😂

[@andrewf7732]

Felt similar to The God in the Woods, though I gave it a bit higher rating. Doesn't feel like it was written for mystery readers, and seems more catered to lit-fic/book club type readers. I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if the main character's parents were more interesting. Thought their characterization/development felt very cliche. Liked the main character. Hated the resolution of the brother mystery, but liked the resolution of the main character mystery. I heard her previous book was really good and I think she writes in a variety of genres. Super excited for both Hallett's and Osman's books next month. Can't believe both have new releases in September.

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

wow I didn't even realize those releases were so close - exciting!

[@addictivegamer102]

Are all of Janice Hallett books you've read have primarily mixed media in them? The Appeal sounds so interesting!

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

Yep they’re all mixed media!

[@Micmezle]

I personally don't care to hear about dnfs unless you've done it because you've learned that the author is a gross human, and/or the book itself is toxic/harmful in some way. as a person who is very fond of romance books, I thought Done and Dusted was okay, I gave it a 3 star, but I loved the next one in the series, I encourage you to give it a try.

[@Audiobook876]

شكرا لك ❤

[@capuchin581]

I agree with others who like to hear about DNFs. It's nice to hear that others also do this. I have DNFd books close to the end because I am no longer enjoying it and there are too many good books to read. But there are some people out there who think DNFing is some sort of sin, and it's nice to normalize it. 😂

[@amandacee113]

I say share DNFs but no explanation needed!

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚📚❤️ You might enjoy Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz.

[@literarylove123]

Oh, my goodness! Yes! Someone else who did not enjoy Incidents Around the House. I found it so boring and repetitive. I was really disappointed in it.

[@jaimee-kate]

Personally I love hearing about why people DNF books, I'm nosy like that idk

[@IPutTheTiffyInJiffy]

I DNF’d Horror Movie. I think I made it to around 75 pages. I just didn’t care about any of the characters or about the plot 😅 But maybe I should give it another go.

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

if you didn't like it by that point, I don't think you should continue hahah

[@IPutTheTiffyInJiffy]

@@ashleyslittlelibrary Thank you for the reply. It’s my first Paul Tremblay book. I’m still open to try his others.

[@jeanninethompson6243]

Skip dnf s unless you read a substantial amount.

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

would love to know why you DNFd A Mask of Flies! 😊

[@ashleyslittlelibrary]

It was a very early/fast DNF because I wasn’t digging the writing style so it wasn’t capturing my attention - might try it again later!

[@the_eerie_faerie_tales]

@@ashleyslittlelibrary ok thanks!

[@notthemostread]

❤📚❤

[@leslienope]

Maybe if you get like 50+% through a book before you DNF (so you do have more to say) talk about it, or if there's something in the book like potential triggers or squicks that you think people should know about before picking it up, mention that. Otherwise, if you feel like it's not worth the time to film and edit you talking about DNFs that's totally understandable. ❤

[@fancifulimpression]

I’d like to hear about DNFs but would be good with a shorter explanation and don’t need to hear about DNFs where you read less than 30%. That’s just my personal opinion.

[@Alewo2735]

I also hated Incidents Around the House! The first half was very promising but it became a boring domestic "thriller" and ended where it should have taken off. Super disappointing!

[@beckyray6548]

I didn’t care for Death in the Air either. Sp pretentious and the ending for was pretty unsatisfying

[@jessicah4631]

Wanna hear why you dnf

[@louisesanto-dontaddnumber]

I would be fine if you don't discuss your DNF. I'm interested in what you read.