My WORST Books of 2020

[@GavinReadsItAll]

“If you click on this video thinking it’s mean spirited... leave.” Dammit!! *leaves*

[@MirlieTheCat]

One of the disadvantages of 2020 we need to talk more of: I'm so up to date with most people's vlogs and wrap ups, there are hardly any surprises in these kinds of videos 😢

[@kristinandkatieread7548]

Not everyone can love every book! We love this honesty! Great video!

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

Thank you 💚

[@N_Garamond]

Just gonna add to the chorus and say thoughtful critique of works of art are necessary to any artistic culture, and breakdowns of why you didn't like certain books is helpful for us your viewers to know your tastes and viewpoints as well as being entertaining. So yes, just wanted to add that, which you already know but wanted to show my support. Thank you for another good video!

[@LynnetteReads]

The fact that people can't understand that not everyone will like the same thing and have to mean about it is one of the things I dislike the most about social media. Personally as you said I like hearing about books you didn't enjoy it might become a new favourite for me. Also I don't think I have ever heard a booktuber be horrid about a book they either have perfectly reasonable and sound reasons for not liking it or they just say it was not the book for them. Looking forward to the rest of the video now 😄

[@lostbetweenpages]

The Folk of the Air series became an all time favorite of mine when I read it last year. Am I offended that you hated it? Not even a little bit 😂 honestly, people need to relax a little (read: a lot) when it comes to other people's opinions. We love you Ashleigh, keep being honest! ❤️😊

[@JemimaRose]

THIS

[@vivianwakoff]

As an author, I'm fully giving you permission to spill all the tea on all the books! *waves hand in front of Ashleigh in a vague cross-like way* Go forth and throw salt around like freaking confetti, girl!

[@Maria-lt2tk]

My feelings on the cruel prince were the same man , I tried haha , also where's you're top from so lovely , and happy new year!xx

[@JasmineReads]

Oooh Earthsea, interesting!!! We've had that book on our shelves for aaages. Also, what a crazy experience with the comments in the live shows 😭

[@JulEnglefaris]

Watching all the books you disliked in this vid game me flashbacks from the entire year, because I think I watched every vlog in which you read those books lol. Good times. Looking forward to your best books video! Are you going to do a video of showing every 2020 read?

[@LaurenWade]

Off topic, but I really, really, really, really love your blouse! Not tried the Earthsea series, but I really struggled with The Left Hand of Darkness, and it completely put me off LeGuin, I feel your pain!

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

Aw thank you! I’m hesitant to read Left Hand of Darkness now because of Earthsea, but I do own it so I’ll give it a go eventually 😬

[@bookablecharlie5643]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who didn't get on with Cruel Prince😂 Love the video 💕

[@saragouveiaa]

I too am intimidated by hard sci-fi with all its technical aspects, so I read a lot of light sci-fi and I have some recs for you, just in case they might be useful: The Carl Duology by Hank Green, Riot Baby by Tochi Oniebuchi, The Test by Sylvain Neuvel, The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and Stories of your life and others by Ted Chiang. All amazing and the scifi elements are easy to understand!

[@SassyyKassie]

I feel the same exact way about the Aurora Rising (book 1, I stopped there) even though I LOVE the illuminae files. ughhh so disappointing. I did end up liking The Cruel Prince, and have continued with the Wicked King. But Holly Black's writing is hit or miss for me and I never know what I'll get until I try it.

[@peterkarargiris4110]

I always smile when you mention Ursula K Le Guinn. Yeah, all of her books that I've read, manly back in the 80s, I found dull and boring - I've never really bothered with her work since. I would say that her writing is 'dated' . I'm not happy to hear that you received a lot of grief for your Le Guinn reviews. Idolatry is a form of obsession. There's a book called ' Zeus : A Journey Through Greece in the Footsteps of a God,' (2008) by the American travel writer Tom Stone. Part travel book, but mainly it's a biography of Zeus. Stone manages to recount all the major stories that involve Zeus while travelling to places that feature in the god's story. I thoroughly enjoyed his previous, more conventional travel books, but this has impeccable scholarship too and a very engaging style. Might be one to check out. Cheers Ashleigh.

[@andhisnosestuckinabook9171]

Always adore and love your energy ashleigh! You have 100% proven your point about people still wanting to read books from these videos as I now wanna go read the Guinevere deception 😂❤️❤️

[@JulEnglefaris]

Loved the intro. Thanks for being so honest and diplomatic. Authors need to watch this lol. Honestly, NOTHING exists without criticism. NOTHING.

[@zoeann386]

Have you ever looked into the goddess summoning series by P.C. Cast? Not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for in terms of retellings but it's a series of fantasy romance retellings (all standalone) and it has a King Arthur and Hades/Persephone (they're also my faves in the series 💖)

[@kithadfield3732]

I know this video is a bit older but I'm watching your content in a weird chaotic order xD I was wondering if you have/would consider reading other Ursula K LeGuin? I loved Earthsea when I was a child (it was my first epic fantasy, it didn't earn me many friends...) but rereading it as an adult, I found a tad "eh". But I've loved everything else of hers I've picked up, like Left Hand of Darkness I think it is? No pressure obviously but just thought I'd chime in that her books are pretty varied (in my uneducated opinion)

[@traceyanderson7489]

Your experience with Earthsea sounds like mine with Gulliver’s Travels.

[@judithcakelover]

I liked the Cruel Prince and I'm still very curious about The Eartsea 🙈

[@annesbookishcorner]

I felt the same way about Aurora Rising, and your review makes me glad I didn't pick up Aurora Burning after all. I was really disappointed too because, like you, I loved The Illuminae Files! Aurora Rising just didn't do it for me at all, though. There was something about the characters and the supposedly witty banter that had me annoyed more than anything. 😅

[@TheBookishMom]

I feel the same as you about CRuel Prince! I actually put it in my worse books of the year for this year as well lol

[@anniejolynn862]

Have you read A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet? I highly recommend it for getting into sci-fi

[@isabelnano2380]

That’s exactly way I didn’t like cruel prince thank you for putting it in words 😊

[@thiadesg]

I've read all three books on mythology from Stephen Fry on audiobook, and I think that's why it didn't bother me as much about the characters. Troy is super interesting, but the best of the three was definitely Mythos for me. Also, regarding the Earthsea cycle. I pushed myself through it this year too, and when I finished The Other Wind (book 6), I went "why did I read it?" so I can't hold it against you or any of the other hosts for quitting midway through.

[@sarahsperusals]

the guinevere deception was also a huge miss for me, which was so upsetting because it's my favorite cover

[@alyslim5234]

omg i remember reading the cruel prince when it FIRST came out before it got the hype! i just couldn’t with holly black’s writing! i DNFed it! i remember i was in Heathrow, and i bought the ebook version of it, and i just really didn’t like it. i’m glad we agree!

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

It’s been a long time since anyone agreed with me on that one 😂

[@alyslim5234]

yay!! more from ashleigh! lots of love hehe 🥰

[@draigrhosynreads3450]

Don’t like Cruel Prince either - first person I’ve seen that feels the same as me!! It had so much potential - the characters were so promising. But the story didn’t land well with me

[@libbyhanzlik3110]

What fae books do you really love and recommend? Folk of the Air was my intro into fae and I love it but have nothing for comparison. Love your videos!

[@MySUPERkate]

Not a book related comment - but just want to say I love your hair and makeup on this vid! You look stunning!! Xx

[@LiteraryStoner]

I've definitely picked up books because of negative reviews, because what someone else didn't like sounded like something i'd love!

[@mayaolszewska9670]

I FEEL EXACTLY THE SAME ABOUT THE CRUEL PRINCE! I know it's a very unpopular opinion, but I had the same issues with it as you did, as well as the enemies to lovers trope. You didn't finish the book so you didn't even get to the aspect of enemies to lovers, but let me tell you, it wasn't good. I personally enjoy a slow burn enemies to lovers trope but this was so quick that it made it very unconvincing and just bleh. Honestly, I really wanted to love it but I too can't find anything good to say about it.

[@capuletbooks4685]

hiiii !!! what a pity that you didn't enjoy these books, but we all have stories that disappoint us in 2020 indeed. "aurora rising" wasn't a book i enjoyed, i'm sorry to say, so i doubt i'll give the sequel a go. I LOVE "THE CRUEL PRINCE", YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEARTTTT. hahahha kidding, i get that you didn't enjoy it, what you said is totally reasonable. i wish you a lovely 2021 full of great books and good things in life! kisses😍

[@TheMoonCatClub]

Have you ever heard of the book lonely werewolf girl? For some reason I think you would love it!

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

I haven’t! I’ll have a Google

[@TheMoonCatClub]

@@AFrolicThroughFiction also, I love Arthurian retellings so I will pass some of my favs on! I absolutely love your channel 💗

[@clairesmith1945]

Oh my god yes 😂 the guinevere deception was the biggest meh book of the year for me. And the shadows between us was awful 😂 it was so hyped in every capacity I felt as though we were supposed to be impressed/intimidated by everything the main characters did but it had the oppisite effect and couldn't help being reminded of Geoffrey constantly 😂 xx

[@heroinescorner]

Aurora Rising has been on my shelf for AGES and i just never felt the need to read it. and the facts that i find literally no one talks about this series now...yeah i’m not going to waste my time lol.

[@megyrie]

i really loved the shadows between us but i actually completely agree with everything you said haha, the goddamn leggings got on my nerves! I think I loved it because it was so fast paced, fun and it got me out of a huuuge reading slump lol

[@Katherine-jz2zo]

Do you mind making the pictures of the book covers a little bit bigger? My blindass watching this on my phone is struggling to read the smaller writing

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

I can try! I always try to avoid them covering me but I flailed around far too much in this one to do that 😂 I’ll bare in mind for my next video! ☺️

[@bellis.2044]

I finished the cruel prince and the more I thought about it afterwards, the more I hated it. There wasn’t a single character in it that I liked or was interested in. Have you read the retellings of Greek stories by Rick Riordan? They are also in a conversational style and with humor told from Percy's point of view. I really enjoyed them but, like you said, maybe that type of book just isn’t yours.

[@VanillaMoon]

Guinevere deception and the shadow between us I couldn’t agree more was so disappointed by them

[@dwoodw6990]

Not everyone's reading taste is the same. Ninth House was a DNF for me last year and it has showed up on so many peoples favorite lists. That's is ok, I'm not going to be mad about that. I'm not going to love everything you do and you aren't going to love everything I do. That is what makes reading fun. You can have some good conversations about books - both positive and negative.

[@pyrm1022]

Don't be sad about the Cruel Prince. I DNFED it too :) You're not alone! ❤️

[@holireads]

Ashleigh just absolutely slapped with that intro 👏

[@brittany7177]

I always thought I was the only person who didn't care for Cruel Prince!

[@taragardner9042]

Ugh! I disliked Cruel Prince as well! You’re not alone!!!

[@racheldemain1940]

I see it as books that didn't do it for me but I don't know till I have read it .

[@viviish1]

I also DNFed The Cruel Prince and I agree with all of your opinions about it :/

[@LadetteM]

I'm so relieved you didn't like Heroes either. I really didn't like it 😅 and the audiobook gave Greek Heroes Cornish accents. Didn't work for me.

[@sijsij555]

Completely agree with aurora burning and the shadows between us! I also gave aurora rising like 3 stars- barely. I wanted to dnf them both, but managed to slog through them. The most disappointing reads of 2020 honestly😭

[@madelynlevisky3719]

You should read The Ravens if you havent already

[@franzi4854]

It is so important as an honest reviewer also speak about the books which weren't good. I hate when people get mean because you say this is the worst book of 2020 because you just say you don't like the book, not you don't like the author in general. 🙄

[@kjandherbooks]

I thought I liked The Cruel Prince but the more I thought about it the more I hated it 😅 definitely agree with Holly Black’s writing I find it very mediocre and I just don’t enjoy it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@nikolettapr]

The cruel prince is sooooo bad! I don't know why i persevered so much but managed to finish it and I am in a huge reading slump ever since!

[@Nastya-uj9bg]

I had the same problem with Mythos. i did not like his humor there at all!

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

It’s so...weird somehow? Like it just doesn’t fit the book or topic even though he literally wrote it 😂

[@Nastya-uj9bg]

@@AFrolicThroughFiction yes! i love the epic feel of myths. and then there's Stephen with his juvenile humor... just no!

[@cleg78]

Ooooooo been looking forward to this one 🤗🤗🤗 If anyone is arsey towards Ashleigh for having an opinion then like she said click off the video as I will not have bad things said about her for having an opinion...

[@cleg78]

Lol not surprised with Aurora Burning, the first book drove me insane and I hated it wholeheartedly x

[@cleg78]

I started The Cruel Prince but am still waiting to finish it 😂😂😂

[@cleg78]

Wild spark was a difficult book by Vashti to read, once I got in to it then it was fine x

[@cleg78]

I can’t see the thrill or kicks with The Earthsea books, it was a really boring read for me and I didn’t get as far as you did

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

Honestly most of these just evaporated from my brain 😅 and then when I remembered it’s all the annoying parts ahaha

[@Extravaganzation]

Heroes was HORRIBLE!!!! I loved Mythos, but this one just so difficult to get through.

[@SunnyRomanova]

Ehi, I'm not alone not liking "The cruel prince"! What I did not like, was the unhealthy nature of the relationships between the characters. Everyone Is cruel and manipulative! It Is so wrong, and it felt so bad to me. I finished It somehow, buy thanks, I am not taking more!

[@autumnritchie1473]

❤️❤️❤️

[@ariascarlet7736]

💚💚

[@nzrieylee]

well you right, when we don't like it...we don't even want to look at it tho haha :)

[@TheMoonCatClub]

💗

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

The awkward moment when you don’t like my fav book of 2020 LOL 🤪

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

Omg which one 😂

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

@@AFrolicThroughFiction the shadows between us, but I TOTALLY understand and agree with what you said especially about her stupid leggings 😂. I had no idea it had been advertised as “dark” definitely not dark at all 😂

[@lisaf158]

Mine was Holly Black. Ha. But we can still be friends, right?😊

[@michellegonzalez4879]

Never have to explain ur self we all have our opiniom and if ppl dont like it they can just leave. im glad i wasnt the only one who didnt like the cruel prince🤣🤣

[@JustBrowsing2631]

💕

[@gracie9658]

Leggings under a dress ? What is the point ? You can't go the bathroom and it doesn't change anything to the fact that you have a big dress over it that would hinder you. It's a small detail but I hate it when authors try to do something "revolutionary" which makes no sense within the world's society and actually makes the character stupider.

[@AFrolicThroughFiction]

That is actually a very good point 😂😂

[@hopemills3908]

Ahh worst books of the year videos are some of my favorites

[@hopemills3908]

I absolutely LOVE The Cruel Prince but I can 100% see why people don’t vibe with it

[@MayBhank]

I feel bad for laughing after you said you and your friends had to stop doing your own readalong because you were just so done with the series. Also the leggings rant 😂