reading 12+ christmas romance books and slowly becoming the grinch 🎄 rant, review, regret

[@caricanread]

forgot to mention in plight before christmas there is a weird scene at the end that lets us know that together their names equal "eli whitney" aka the inventor of the COTTON GIN (?!!) and that is somehow significant and lovely 😦

[@Silverraine1]

From googling a bit, I found an article about women inventors, which says it was Catherine Greene, according to some 19th-Century accounts, who with her farm mechanic, Eli Whitney, built the first cotton gin.🙄

[@caricanread]

Either way, the cotton gin is in no way something to be romanticized or added in as a weird 'cute moment' ://///

[@Silverraine1]

@@caricanread maybe the author wanted to make a connection with cotton> yarn > knitting> warm sweaters> winter coziness, but yes it doesn't sound cute or romantic, it actually feels terrible after going down a google hole and learning that the invention caused an increase in slavery in America.

[@caricanread]

@@Silverraine1 And for americans (which the author is) its not a rabbit hole for us - we all definitely learned that in school.

[@manicmuffin]

Omg babe our combined names are the same as the 18th-century inventor of the cotton gin, we were meant to beeeee 💞

[@pendragon2012]

I want a movie where the flannel-wearing Christmas tree farmer moves to the big city and learns there is more to life than Christmas, lol.

[@CoffeePotMedia]

Omg!! Yes this is so on point

[@pendragon2012]

@@CoffeePotMedia Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. But the whole "big city success bad, downhome country good" is wearing a little thin lol.

[@jimena6194]

Forget that also give me a girl who has a good work life balance Lmao

[@rellimarual]

I think the producers of these movies think their audience is older women, and they really like the idea of their grown daughters moving back home to find love.

[@thepoetesskhansaa]

Have you guys read Book Lovers by Emily Henry? Not a holiday romance, but the mc is basically the big city girl that keeps getting dumped for the small town romance. So that's kind of similar to this

[@Dombirds]

Do I like Christmas romances? No. Am I going to watch this at least five times? Yes.

[@caricanread]

LOL!

[@marenhumblebee2736]

That’s sweet

[@jackiecostello9301]

so real

[@jorddynfooo]

Same😭 it just her vibes I love to rewatch her videos 🫶

[@Angelareadsalot]

Not all heroes wear capes. Cari out here saving lives from bad smut and boring characters, bless

[@caricanread]

:''''''')

[@JP17500]

I love the fact that she says, “I might not talk as much because I will not be squealing an out a book in the middle of a cafe, I’m not there yet.” Implying that she will, eventually, be there someday. And I hope to be there to see it happen

[@QueenXKnit]

The fact that the author probably chose « Beat » as a name just so that she could pull her « momentum » line: « There can be no beat without a melody »😂

[@josetieneoro]

Lin Manuel Miranda is having hives 😅😂

[@sava-smth]

And that's not even true! And the other way round too... So flop on both levels + cringe mc names. Big L on the author

[@Riley-ek8xs]

I think it might be pronounced bay-aht bc its def a real name. Not sure if the author knows that though 😭

[@lioness3146]

Oh God, Whenever I see Cari this energetic at the beginning of a video I know she’s either gonna have the time of her life or end up regretting EVERYTHING by the halfway mark (*cough* Zodiax Academy *cough*) Either way, I’m cozied into my blanket with a good chup of chai and along for the ride

[@caricanread]

this was definitely a rollercoaster of a vid hahahah

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

I have read 0 Christmas romances so far this year and I'm already a bit of a grinch 🤧

[@caricanread]

its a lifestyle hahahaa

[@foreversmiles179]

the way i was rewatching your old videos instead of reading and then this dropped 🤭🤭

[@caricanread]

omg hahahah after this video, go read!!

[@puppies983]

I came to comment the same thing! Great minds haha

[@fandomnessrandomnessinkansas]

LMAO UR PFP YAS

[@Silverraine1]

I was also supposed to be reading, turned on my laptop to log the previous book I finished and then I saw this🤭

[@taaj_4079]

You're spot on about Tessa Bailey, I picked up one of her novellas recently and thought it was finally a rom com I could get into, and then the characters completely changed and became abusive/male-centric the second they started sleeping together. Like the creepiest dialogue that would have me running to the hills or staging an intervention if it happened to a friend. Granted I'm not so much of a romance reader but it was just beyond weird and I don't understand the appeal. Thank you for taking one for the team for this video, you are putting in the WORK 😅🎄

[@rixanoz]

Do I like Christmas rom coms? No. Do I like romance books at all? No. Do I like watching Cari’s reading reactions and especially Cari’s cringing at smut and dirty talk? I live for it 😂

[@sommermaxwell]

For anyone who is able to contribute, let’s start a holiday treat and coffee fund here to thank Cari for all the laughs and bookish insight this year! ❄️ I’m reading Whiteout for this year’s winter romance and I feel like there are several books that you read that I need to just read to 40% and DNF 🤣 Thank you for trying them all out for us!

[@caricanread]

oh my goodness thank you so much! i will have a hot chocolate in your honor :''''''')

[@lightworthy]

i’ve been using your ACOTAR videos to fall asleep to every night lately, and your reading and plot breakdown videos have become a huge comfort lately especially as someone who can’t really read on my own anymore due to severe migraines, so this came up in my feed at a perfect time since i’m just about to go to bed!

[@hannahloftus8385]

wow, yes, the observation about tessa bailey was spot on! i tried reading fix her up (the main guy is a baseball player, as a baseball fan, i am always looking for baseball romcoms) but i couldn’t finish it because the way the characters become different people during the intimate scenes threw me off 🤣

[@caricanread]

its WILD - i would just be shocked and would start laughing if that ever happened to me like what are you SAYING?! hahahah

[@elizabethatneosen8455]

Lol I had the exact same experience with the exact same book. That's wild

[@michellecgb]

Cari you’re spoiling us with these long videos! ❤❤❤

[@caricanread]

thanks for watching^^

[@Lucy19103]

I truly felt the work you put in for this 🙏 thank you for making my night!❤️

[@caricanread]

oh my goodness thank you :')

[@justinesworld5719]

I don't like rom coms but i am so invested in this video! It's such a fun idea! Thank you for your suffering Cari!

[@caricanread]

hahaha thanks for watching :')

[@violettefemme21]

I read Holiday Romance this year and it was so delightful. I’m reading a sad book now but I’m super excited to read Snowed In next to pick me up after such a sad book.

[@caricanread]

yes snowed in will do the trick!!

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

I adored Kiss Her Once For Me-Alison Cochran does messy dynamics SO well, but my favorite is probably Season of Love, which is an adorable holiday Jewish romance.

[@caricanread]

i remember liking the set up and very end but the in between wasnt for me :/ maybe it needs a reread...when i've recovered from this vid hahahah

[@satinsleeves]

@@caricanread I didn't like Kiss Her Once For Me either!! The romantic lead (Jack) escaped all accountability and, as an ace person, I felt like the demisexual rep was done HORRIBLY.

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

@@satinsleeves I’m Demi, and I thought that aspect was fine. I’ve read worse.

[@satinsleeves]

@Thatdumbgremlin I disagree. The whole premise of the book is that the main character and the love interest fall in love literally in a day and can't get over each other like a year later. That's not Demi

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

@@satinsleeves Maybe not Demisexual, but Demiromantic? Absolutely. Forming emotional bonds is a different experience for everyone. It’s a spectrum.

[@isabelle2782]

You always post when i need it! You were soooooo right about the Holiday trap i couldn't believe we were supposed to find Greta's toxic girlfriend romantic?? It felt like the girlfriend didn't have to grow or learn anything and it was all on Greta to meet her standard instead of them making each other better:/

[@caricanread]

i could make a whole video about how much i hate greta's girlfriend jfc

[@LuanaSantos-sv4fx]

Meu Deus, mulher. Você realmente se ofereceu como tributo e foi até o fim.😂

[@caricanread]

:'''')

[@gabrielafelix8190]

amiga!!! tu é br!

[@abbynvegas]

i don’t usually comment, but ive been binging literally all of your videos over the past few weeks and i’m OBSESSED. kicked my feet when i saw u just posted😫😫

[@Ravencycle21]

I love your videos so much! They always make me smile and brighten my day. I can’t wait until you do the wolves of mercy falls series

[@caricanread]

thank you :')

[@b00kieman]

omg carie thank you for always taking one for the team. also that writing style that switches between first and third person randomly DRIVES ME BONKERS!!!!

[@ishapatel1293]

lovelight farms series will always have a place in my heart i literally cannot wait any longer for the last book

[@morganinwanderland]

I don't even like romcoms, but you were such a brave little soldier and really took one for the team with this back to back romcom (and HOLIDAY romcom at that!) challenge that I had to watch this all the way through🤣Enjoyed every minute too!

[@annae.9708]

Just finished "Holiday Romance" and "Snowed In" yesterday and today. Loved both books but "Holiday Romance" was definitely my number one!!!! ❤ So glad to see you also loved both of the books!!! Thank you for this great video!!

[@jordanbelknap9168]

Cari out here doing the lord’s work. I love a good romcom, but my goodness can it be hard to find them. Excited to check out holiday romance and snowed in!

[@jacsYT]

perfect timing, i’m looking for fun holiday reads

[@caricanread]

❤❤❤

[@bookoffholicbookwart5945]

Ever since the entire "review bomb" episode of Cain corrain came out, I can't help it but think that's how some undeserving books got such high ratings. Guess it's time to finally switch to something much more reliable than goodreads, which works like 2000s internet explorer

[@Kiwisan8]

I feel like walking around a library with a dowsing rod would be more reliable at this point 😂

[@strawberrylime33]

I think you're right. I always add books to my Goodreads list based on average rating, and I stay away from books with a rating lower than 3.60. But the whole rating system could be messed up and I could be missing out on good books.

[@Silverraine1]

Cari, you should've read Christmas mysteries instead😂 🎄🗡 PS: The cafe and pastry shop were so pretty!🧸💕

[@sarahd.3247]

I petition for Christmas mysteries next year ❤ who wants romance when there can be a body under the mistletoe ?!

[@HannahBradders]

I feel you 100% about lgbtq+ romances vs hetero normative ones! I’ve never been a big fan of romance books but about once a year I make an exception for a cute lil lgbtq+ romcom! (P.S. your hair looks amazing in a different way in each clip how do you do that??)

[@NORA5693]

Hi Cari! I had to come back to this video to thank you for recommending Catherine Walsh's Holiday Romance. It was the perfect companion to an otherwise boring and tiring day spent in bed with period cramps! Happy holidays ❤️

[@jenb5029]

Yes to longer vlogs!!! Appreciate you, Cari! ❤

[@annadivergent2439]

I totally agree with you on Holiday Romance! It has actually also managed to be in my top 10 reads of the whole year!

[@caricanread]

so good :''''')

[@honorbound1337]

Ok you’ve expressed why I often prefer queer romances to straight ones: the depth of connection and honestly the trauma-dumping that sometimes happens at the beginning of queer relationships or friendships, which builds a really strong companionship, rather than the lust that I find is often in straight relationships

[@lilly76337]

i love your videos !! never fail to make brighten up my day ❤

[@caricanread]

hahha hope today is a good one too!

[@aryk3946]

Reading the title and I’m already deeply concerned 😂

[@caricanread]

:''''')

[@carolineblueskies]

I literally said "Cari nooo" out loud lol

[@MaïmounaCAMARA-u2t]

I'm going to read Snowed in for sure. Thank you for the review Cari 😘.

[@youngbloods_t]

I don't usually go for holiday romances, but I'm currently reading Three Holidays And A Wedding, and it seems really sweet! It's a Christmas-Hanukkah-Ramadan story that's giving me The Holiday (the movie) vibes - not in plot but more in how different the two female main characters are from each other, and them trying to handle their messy lives with some romance included.

[@kel1477]

I was about to recommend this one; honestly this might end up being my top book of december

[@arianniv6452]

I love Lovelight Farms SO much. You should read the rest of the series, it's good too 🥰

[@atd.a]

omg bless you for making these kind of videos!! i don't pick up a lot of romcom books but i recently read the veronica speedwell books (it's kinda cozy mystery romance) and i enjoyed it sm! the banter is chef's kiss!

[@iyaehsan3840]

Cariii I just love the way you talk, idk y but you just came across as funnier and sassier in this video😂 and i could relate to your emotional wreckage at the end soo much, also i loved that off shoulder top, hope u had fun on the holidays❤

[@lindiemoon]

Giving me all the Christmas vibes without any of the effort. Thank you for your sacrifice 😅

[@tattooedkittykat]

I just finished reading Wrapped with a Beau and it's was HILARIOUS! It was the perfect amount of holiday cheese, romance and a lil spicy 🌶🎄 Recommend if you want a fun holiday read!

[@caricanread]

definitely NEXT year hahah i am tapping out this holiday season

[@tattooedkittykat]

@caricanread totally understandable! This was my first holiday read of the season so I'll probably sneak in a few more before the year is out 😆

[@DimpleD23]

I've been following you religiously for over a year now but tell me why I just came to know that this is not your main channel and cari cakes is 😂 love this❤

[@Space.Panda1805]

I love so much your long videos and ALSO your SUBTITLES Every non-native English Speaker learning English like me is sooo thankful with that 🥺💖

[@melaineeyh]

This video came at the perfect time, thanks so much! I've been feeling under the weather, and this cheered me up :) Keep up the great work, I can't wait for more reading vlogs!

[@dianeal-hakari1479]

We appreciate the sacrifice you went through for the vlog Hope you have a wonderful Christmas🩷

[@angiemettler8770]

I’m glad to finally hear a good review about Lovelight Farms! You made me pick it back up to finish it!

[@breaspencer5835]

Currently reading Tis The Season for Revenge in my book club... I wish I could dnf this book. You absolutely made the right choice because it does not get better.

[@caricanread]

Thoughts and prayers 🥲

[@camilabandera7689]

This video is a complete rollercoaster ride and I loved it.

[@suzannemoore404]

This was so great! By the way, of course you have a real job. Your videos always contain so much work❤

[@Showtunediva]

The whole Lovelight Farms series gets 4 stars from me. I will definitely check out the Catherine Walsh books. TYSM Cari.❤

[@nana127v]

Needed an excuse to procrastinate on studying for finals and here this is, an early Christmas present

[@bookishbia]

I read Holiday Romance this christmas and really enjoyed it I had no idea there was a second one but it’s going straight to my tbr for next year thanks cari!!

[@randomanonymous2613]

excited to spend an hour watching this instead of studying for my final tmrw :’)

[@CAiTLiNx354]

Oh I am loving Holiday Romance. I’m sick in bed all weekend and have to miss a holiday party so this is definitely what I needed. Thank you for your hard work 😅

[@samantharocha5588]

Her obi wan 😂😂😂😂. I just realized this isn’t your main channel, so time to binge it, I think the fact that you live in Korea is so coooool !

[@yourhomie1]

Cari posted! Yaaay 💕

[@caricanread]

🤍🤍🤍

[@nknutson780]

Once again Cari taking one for the team! ❤

[@dreamer626]

Thanks for the entertainment and all the content this year!

[@m.m.7552]

CARI!!! THANK YOU. I just read the once upon a broken heart series and it broke me. It was so good I couldn't get into other books. I tried two that, but DNFed them... I felt a slump coming. I was worried. Then I watched your video and I'm half way into Holiday Romance and I'm obsessed. Slump successfully dogged. Your recommendations are amazing as always

[@FinalGirl228]

Expecting Tessa Dare and getting Tessa Bailey is just cruel. Sincerely, someone else who just finished Wreck the Halls. Edit: I just want to clarify that once I reset my expectations, I was able to enjoy the book for what it was; but as a Romancing the Duke lover I was confused at first lol.

[@joypink5599]

Funnily enough, the name ‘Beat’ doesn’t bother me because ages ago I played an RPG that was themed entirely around music, so all the characters were named after musical things. One of the main characters was an 8 yr old boy named Beat, and he was a little darling. BUT. That name is an absolute MISS outside of contexts like that, HAHA. That’s terrible 😂

[@rachael4408]

I read three holiday romances this Christmas so far, and Lovelight Farms was my favorite! I bought both Catherine Walsh books already and will definitely have to read Holiday Romance next!

[@amt0310]

Came back after a month to tell you that I just read Holiday Romance and Snowed in back to back in 3 days both and I LAUGHED SO MUCH 😂❤ truly enjoyable, thanks for the recs Cari 🙌🏼

[@QueenXKnit]

Thank you Cary for always brining joy and giggles to our life ❤❤❤❤

[@AkiDave]

Guess Wreck the halls was a WRECK 😂🎄

[@caricanread]

should have known by the title hahhaha

[@AkiDave]

@@caricanread lmaaao

[@nastasya989]

Thank you, Cari. This video was funnier than most of mentioned books tied together (and probably multiplied)

[@ExpatNatt]

Just booked surprise last minute flights back to England for Christmas to see my family after years of spending Christmas here in China. Desperately looking for the Christmas book recs for the long haul! Thanks soooo much! ❤

[@chiaraabruzzini]

I'm on my fourth rewatch and at this point I'm CONVINCED that I will be able to recite this as a Christmas poem in front of my family

[@PurpleKya]

I came back to say thank you for the recommendation of Holiday Romance! I finished it today, on Christmas, and it was the perfect holiday read! Like you, I was looking for a great Christmas Romcom to really get me into the season and I was failing miserably but this one was perfection so thank you so much!

[@appelsinpiken]

This made me so happy! ❤ Thank you Cari ❤

[@maheenmohammed7318]

Cari please give the Bromance Book club series a shot! I really enjoyed the series and was looking forward to your review of A Very Merry Bromance :)

[@Dcong16]

Love this series so much!! One of my absolute favorite romances

[@LibertySteelman]

Bestie this put me in the Christmas spirit. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!!🎄🎉

[@Chizekielogb]

your videos are so cozy!!

[@kristenmoore925x]

I can’t thank you enough for volunteering as tribute and taking on this task. I am NOT a romcom girlie, nor am I particularly christmas obsessed, but it seems like every year booktube obsesses over at least a handful of these, and sometimes I get intrigued. Your video confirms my thoughts though; I will continue to enjoy watching other people’s enjoyment of them, and leave them unread myself 😂

[@ulyamoon]

The second book gave me the ICK. You truly are a soldier Cari, doing so much for us🙏

[@jackiejeffords2932]

I’ve wanted a video like this for so long heck yes I’m ready to buckle in 😆😆

[@beingbridgit]

This is my first year reading Christmas romcoms and its been a disappointing experience so far, BUT thank you for recommending Snowed In, because I’m only 3% in and already laughing out loud 😂❤

[@ruthkramer2217]

Fellow Catherine Walsh fan here. I read and loved “Holiday Romance “ last year and was excited to find out what the aloof brother was up to in “Snowed In”.

[@Kai-rc7fw]

I smile every time I see Cari in my recommended

[@wiktoriagrochola3256]

Very excited for this because I DNFd Wreck The Halls and I need to hear your thoughts! 😂

[@jess-ui6zj]

Omg I’m about to go on a 12 hour flight so this video is perfect!!! I have my kindle locked and loaded lol

[@caricanread]

Have a good trip 🥰🥰🥰

[@pleasedtoreadyou]

love love love this video! thank you for doing the lord's work, Cari!😬

[@charleymarie]

36:35 I started reading this beginning of dec then I saw the thumb nail had lovelight farms on it and waiting to finish the book so I could hear your thoughts on it, I loveddd it soo cute 🥰

[@celestepoggioli3634]

I loooved this video! Thanks so much for the effort I was about to buy a Christmas book and you saved me many possible dnf ! I will check out the first two tho, merry Christmas from Italy ❤

[@lucdoodle]

Thank you so much for doing what you do and making so many vids! They're all so amazing!! (also peak content to watch&listen to while drawing XD) my fav bits are when you show hightlights of the book themselves, they're always so funny XD hope you have a good day!

[@sterling2820]

I like how you don’t feel pressure to finish a book if you don’t like it! Like I think seeing you not finish a book (after some of the books you have finished lol) speaks volumes itself.

[@Kokechii]

I feel like you saved me the misery I was about to inflict on myself with some of these books. Because... I basically started the same experiment as you :D So far though I've read Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe which was barely 2/5 stars. But then I read Bell, Book and Christmas candle which was short and really lovely and warm so that saved the day. Now I'm going to discover Catherine Walsh thanks to you! Happy holidays Cari!

[@BrendaMichelleReads]

You are amazing! You made it through!!! I don't usually read romances for many reasons (including a lot of the what your ranted about hahah). I try to read some during the holidays but have read 0 this year lol I laughed OUT LOUD so many times during your video 😂

[@maevem316]

Oh my god, just finished a book yesterday and was thinking of finding a nice holiday romance for the rest of December. Absolutely not my usual reads, so I didn't know where to start, I may use this video as a recommendation to pick something...

[@caricanread]

hope you find one!!

[@PurpleKya]

Thank you so much for this video! In my efforts to find a fun, non smutty Christmas Romcom, I was getting frustrated with dud after dud but I have picked up "Holiday Romance" by Catherine Walsh because of this video and it's been so fun! I've been reading it aloud to my husband who loves Christmas (and romance, though he's loathe to admit it, haha) and we're having a blast together. Lots of laugh out loud moments. So thanks so much for helping me to find the perfect book!

[@deep_space_finn]

Happy Holidays to you too!

[@jeaninearianne]

The only Tessa Bailey book I attempted to read was it happened over one summer and I dropped it so fast because the male MC had all these intense sexual inner monologue/thoughts about the protagonist right off the bat, I was like woah there 😂, I guess I felt like he was sexualizing the female MC like 5 seconds into meeting her and it was just weird or maybe I’m just a slow burn girlie 😅

[@lastinterlude]

kobo is canadas biggest book chains (Indigo) ereader - it has similar stuff to kindle unlimited but not quite as much bc it’s not affiliated with Amazon! (We still have kindles obviously though haha)

[@seraphina969]

I feel so incredibly in line with your holiday books! Holiday Romance is my comfort Christmas book. I read it last year and then read it again this year because I loved it so so much (and it might be an every year book ngl) and I was so excited when Snowed In released this year. I absolutely loved them both SO MUCH. Catherine Walsh is an auto buy Christmas Romancer for me. I read Meet Me Under the Mistletoe last year and I did finish it because I was out of state and it's all I had. The end isn't really better. It was just. Meh. Also I didn't know about the dude joke reading Matthew Prince and I had a paper copy but I did make a dude tracker while reading it and my book club friends were all highly entertained by my dude suffering via text. Tracking them is honestly what got me through that book. Though the end was alright. I really liked Mistletoe Motive but I knew going into it that it was a novella so I think that helped. I liked Lovelight Farms but honestly even though the MC is beyond clueless and the third act conflict kind of upset me but the next one in the series put me into a slump so. Good luck on your next plane trip I hope it hits better for you than it did for me. I recommend Cat Cafe Christmas! I have a few in line to try this year: Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, The Christmas Wish, Three Holidays and a Wedding, So This is Christmas. We shall see.

[@NixanAmbrose]

i have zero interest in romance and do not celebrate christmas but by god i will eat up this video like a buffet dinner