RWRB worth the hype? sci-fi adventures & drawing characters from books i read in june

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let's review and discuss all the books i read in the month of june! a bunch of wonderful romance novels, a hard sci-fi and a dnf. Hope you enjoy!
reviews for:
• The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren
• Red White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuinston
• Neuromancer - William Gibson
• She drives me Crazy - Kelly Quindlen
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🌺 a b o u t m e
Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 23 year old girl who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave). I live in the Netherlands and go to university, but make booktube videos in my spare time :)
🌹 m u s i c
• KZbin Audio Library

[@marenoops6455]

HOW IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT HER SIX OF CROWS BOOK EARRING AHHHHHH GOALS

[@helinkaya5442]

OMG I JUST REALIZED

[@sawmea5308]

Leonie drawing beautiful things while talking about books is just everybody's peak dark academia dream/vibes 📚🖤

[@jaja231]

Red, White & Royal Blue is actually the first romance book AND the first book I read in English! I couldn't have chosen a better book!

[@luuuuux_]

It was my first romance book as well! And the funny thing is, I read it on Valentine’s Day, which was just the greatest.

[@lea2767]

i read it on election day which was also great 😁

[@ohohnenyeoo2654]

Awww, this thread is so cute 💕 warms my heart

[@luuuuux_]

I nearly screamed when I saw Red, White and Royal Blue on the thumbnail.

[@stevelawrence8945]

It would be interesting to see some of the anatomical illustrations you have drawn as part of your Neurobiology notes. I find such higly accurate technical drawings to be very artistic. A suggestion from a viewer 5000 miles and 6 Time Zones away in the USA

[@neetjeeinhorn8193]

I found the third act conflict of She Drives Me Crazy very unique and refreshing. I loved how understanding Irene was with Scottie. If you are looking for recommendation, I would suggest Hani and Ishu's guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar, it's another sapphic fake dating story and one of my favourite reads this year!

[@poisonedyoyo]

The third act is killing anythign good about the book. The only worthwhile thing that has happened in this book thus far is Irene and Scottie's kiss in public that was encouraged by HOney Belle and tons of onlookers. I'm 26 pages from the end and I highly doubt anything can change. I did just finish two contemporay Sapphic romances that had the relationship not really start until the last page, BUT the difference is that eachof the couples in those two books had tons of cute moments. This pair had one. Also the whole thing with DAphne and profanity is trash, in fact this whole books profanity levels are awful. I read Cool For the Summer right before this and it also had that issue to a degree, but it wasn't this bad and the cute moments between Jasmine and Larissa made up for it. Also Cool For the Summer actually had characters worth spending time with. I like Irene because she's adorable and a cheerleader, but without the real vibe with Scottie, just stuff we are told that Honey Belle read off of them, no no NO. And seriously, one of the girls invovled in this so-called relationship was just drunk with the girl she liked before that she did things with, and the other one had the girl she dated tear her down WHILE THEY WERE DATING? Are you kidding me? And I have to slug through stupid stuff about her best friend's college application essay instead of seeing Scottie and Irene get together which is the WHOLE PIONT of reading this book! The one positive I can say is that this trash is scaring me away from doing YA contemporary romance if people expect it to have profanity and for the author to wast e the readr's time and not even bring the couple together until maybe the last page, hint that that might not even happen, and go even further by suggesting that their relaitonship may notlast, ultra DISGUSTING. Cool For the Summer had a cool minor character in Shannon. Well, I say minor but she did have an important role, so I guess she' a main, just not in there super, super heavily. But seriously, other works of fiction I can even like the mean girl but even Charlotte has nothing to her. But the way that Scottie jibes at Irene makes me sick. Millie also bothered me jibing at Flora, but at least most of that was in her head, so that made it a little easier to swallow. Scottie does this stupid stuff OUT LOUD. Gross gross gross. And there wasn't really any needling with Larissa and Jasmine, just a misunderstanding. And also the wedge of an empty-meaning relationship that Larissa had been dreaming about for ages come to life. Why does a book with such a pretty cover have to be so bad? I'm tempted to keep the book jacket and get rid of the worthless contents. I can type the kiss scene if I want to re-read it again, because THAT at least, is beautiful.

[@user-yu7pf8fc6j]

​@@poisonedyoyooh wow

[@angelazeiler6838]

If want to read some hyped, fluffy and cosy fantasy book, you can go for "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by T.J. Klune. One of my favs of the last five years 😍

[@PinkieMilkie]

the unhoneymooners was maybe a 3.5 star for me, the last third of the book was so out of nowhere and the "problem" between the main couple really wasnt resolved, they never talked about it and it really feels as if the authors just created a "problem" for the sake of romance tropes

[@kavya3292]

Yesssss thank you I felt the same

[@luuuuux_]

And the art oh my gods, it’s beautiful. You draw so well.

[@Alerie__]

Best part of my Saturdays !

[@luuuuux_]

And the SoC earring!!!

[@Erika-pq7ip]

Stunning!! Though I don't like the book

[@mateoazcueta]

Next month I need a drawing of Marcus Aurelius lol

[@tlouitas]

if neuromancer didn’t work for you i’d really recommend project hail mary if you haven’t read it! there’s a lot of technical science stuff in there too, but it’s sticking with one concept and the science stuff is actually pretty easy to grasp if you take it a bit more slowly. also, it’s a really fun book

[@jamesduggan7200]

Hey: tbh I thought that the one earring was a new look. Personally, I like romance too but find I am unwilling to make time for them. I tend to punish myself with difficult books, which is rewarding but yes I do miss a good meets girl, gets girl, loses girl, gets girl story. Reading what I've just written I wonder if it's safe but that's life. Thanks for the video.

[@pari7038]

I'm so glad you finally read Red, White & Royal Blue. I know it's not that realistic but I just love it so much

[@aishacoolgirl]

I definitely recommend Josh and Hazels Guide to Not Dating or Love & Other Words! Both are by Christina Lauren and it’s definitely their best work :)

[@ashirali2620]

Every Saturday, right on que! Thanks Leonie 😊

[@mac8697]

I started reading Neuromancer when you uploaded your "reading intimidating books" vlog and I DNFd it when I was about 80 pages in. I love reading sci-fi and have read a lot of classic sci-fi books, but this one was impossible to read for me. Honestly, kudos to you for pushing through and actually finishing it. And your Molly design is super cute!

[@SunriseFireberry]

97.5K. On slippery slope to 100K and utube silver play button. Leo power!

[@stephaniehernandez4280]

Better than the movies is SUCH A GOOD ROMANCE BOOK. I highly recommended

[@cerilavinia7488]

Who’s it by? x

[@anapaulanavarro3606]

@@cerilavinia7488 Lynn Painter!!

[@addisonmiddleton1816]

Gosh, those drawings are STUNNING!!!

[@underhypedandoverrated]

I completely agree about Red, White, & Royal Blue. I read In December 2020. Little did I know what an opportune time to read it at that time was.

[@fahmimasnunashraf4565]

I swear this came into my life at EXACTLY the right time! Thank you soo much Leonie.

[@liesadventure]

I would have loved to see you draw Alex tbh. I also love that somehow every Dutch speaking person (myself included) struggles with the title Red White and Royal Blue.

[@congruencerespects-xcation]

Totally agree that some nonfiction books should just be essays. To be fair I'm sure many actually started as essays or articles and then a publisher said, let's have a book!

[@millierock9177]

every time you draw you say you aren't an artist, and then proceed to make incredible art

[@oliviajt]

I am just about to read Red, White and Royal Blue! I am just reading Crooked Kingdom right now. I love myself a good romance LGBTQ book

[@Catiedid51]

That is such a cool idea!! Gonna have to start adding doodles inspired by books in my reading journal.

[@loveisanopendoor3532]

The best fake dating is the Hunger Games. The best love triangle too...what a perfect book series.

[@jus_sanguinis]

"Hunger games"? You mean that teen dystopia? Many people say the book and the movie are bad.

[@Anita-nw5ts]

@@jus_sanguinis I don't know if I would say it's the best fake dating... or the best love triangle because I really didn't like the love triangle. But the book series in and of itself really is perfect. I have read the books multiple times and over a span of at least ten years and I still love them. The movies are a different topic but I would always recommend reading the books.

[@loveisanopendoor3532]

Jus Sanguinis yeah the teen dystopia, the books are perfection and so well paced and written. I don’t particularly remember the movies but the books are phenomenal. I would highly recommend it.

[@jus_sanguinis]

@@Anita-nw5ts Ok, I hear you, darling.

[@jus_sanguinis]

@@loveisanopendoor3532 Ok, I hear you, sweet heart.

[@hillaryskleenex9909]

haven’t even finished the video yet, but i love your editing style!!

[@jennys.9592]

I just finished Unhoneymooners and I have to agree with the other comments. The first half of the book was so good and I actually was laughing out loud at some parts but the argument in the second half of the book was kinda annoying to me? It bothered me so much that he didn't believe her and it made him so unsympathetic. I totally didn't care about him as the love interest at that point but you know that they end up together bc it's just that kind of a book. Epiloguee aren't my thing either. I can imagine them being happily ever after so I don't need a "hey that us 2 years after and we're going to marry hehe" Penelope Douglas does the same

[@danieladamico5485]

If you enjoyed Red, White and Royal Blue you should read One Last Stop by the same author. It's very sweet and fun, annnd it also involves time travel.

[@marcellademelofalcione]

Let me just say that I LOVE your SoC earrings. Really. Btw, loved the video (it's definetly my favourite YT notification

[@thenerdsidexo736]

"The unhoneymooners" was a 3 stars to me. I didn't like the ending as well, and the whole set up felt like it missed something. I highly recommend "Love and other words" by Christina Lauren. One of the best romance books I ever read!

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

Oooo I would love if you showed more of your drawings! You’re so talented!

[@jaydas8976]

I really enjoyed the unhoneymooners but I will say that towards the end I didn’t enjoy it as much. I just got so annoyed that he didn’t believe her about what she was saying but I’m glad that he eventually turned around and saw her side of things. The ending was a bit underwhelming but I still really liked the book

[@yusrababamia7382]

I really love this style of video and always find your opinions to be so thoughtful and insightful. I actually started reading again this month after a bit of a reading slump and managed to finish two really great books: The Starless Sea and To Kill A Kingdom (which I bought for my birthday after I watched your reading vlog). I really appreciate and love your videos and have you to thank for getting me excited about reading again- I am also a student in the biosciences but I always felt like I couldn't make time to read but seeing you read at our own pace and make time for reading despite your busy schedule really motivated me to do the same. Sending much love

[@mariaeduardamelo1164]

I was watching your videos right now and I happy I have one more to watch

[@stephaniecurtiss6804]

I completely agree with your thoughts on Neuromancer. I also struggled to keep track of what was happening and got lost in all of the unexplained technological elements. The characters also were so uninteresting that it made it hard for me to care about the confused plot.

[@Veerletjuhful]

"it's like it's written in greyscale" such a good description!

[@whyistheskyyellow8681]

That Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog picture really be the first thing that stood out to me 1:47

[@mattkean1128]

It's a drawing vlog, it's a book review, she's doing it all folks! Recent sci-fi I'm thinking of picking up: Becky Chambers whose books sound like cozy reads about a space ship crew. Martha Wells MurderBot, which everyone raves about. I just started A Memory Called Empire, and it actually reminds me of Ninth House, but instead of a girl who can talk to ghosts investigating yale houses, it's a girl who can talk to the implant of an ambassador's mind in her head, while investigating his death on another planet. 👀

[@theresaj5685]

If you liked RWRB you should read Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall! A really fun fake dating MM romcom

[@hellyjay9781]

Oh yes. "Boyfriend material" is thus far the best romance book I've read. 😍

[@aditi7692]

your artwork is stunning!!

[@ComeUndun.]

Fade to black sounds perfect for me :) Guess I'll pick up The Unhoneymooners.

[@alicearchianii]

I felt just like you felt reading Neuromancer while reading Dune!! Just didn’t notice the plot twists

[@camilaloff7676]

What a cozy video 💖💖

[@Oaxara]

COMPLETELY agree about Neuromancer. I only got 15 pages in and had to stop, it was too much all at once.

[@joa2332]

i also read the unhoneymooners this month and i was also sort of disappointed with the end, and ethan was kinda meh but i laughed a lot and since i had to fit one more book in the last days of the month this one was the best option since it’s so short and i could read it in less than 3 days

[@kathrynallan]

Loved the video as always! If you want to try another si-fi novel I'm not a regular reader of this genre either but I recently read A Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green and loved it so would recommend that! RW&RB is high up on my tbr so looking forward to getting to that soon!

[@samuelleask1132]

I freaking love your editing style

[@andreagranja4045]

About Scootie i think that Shes a great example of what highschool stupidness was in some kind of level, I sometimes remember things I did back then and just want to chop my head off thinking wtf was going through my head

[@HMSmueller]

Yes! So many non fiction books could have just been essays

[@aimun5255]

My fav books so far this year have been The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (really good dark academia x fantasy, wouldnt be surprised if it ends up with a cult following like the secret history), Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke and for romance, Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater (a super cute regency era fantasy romance, kinda reminiscent of Jane Austen, a series of 2 so far but can be read as standalone), I was pleasantly surprised by this author bc I too have a hard time with romance book but these were great

[@adya5604]

THE SIX OF CROWS EARRING

[@anjalixg]

this video just…came at the best fucking time. i finished rereading rw&rb in june and i have how to do nothing on my july TBR. AND i’m also looking at reading more and more lgbt+ ya, specifically girlxgirl! I MEAN??? perfect fucking timing.

[@liesadventure]

Leonie I really would love to hear your opinion on One Day by David Nicholls. I think you'll either love it or absolutely hate it. 😂 The Dutch version is fantastic as well.

[@n.j.1894]

You should try the tragic side of romance; it is not always fluffy and happy.

[@aoi6075]

The wuthering heights

[@ScullyPop]

This is some of my favorite book content.

[@haikuhaikyuu8124]

I would highly recommend Ruinsong by Julia Ember!

[@whoatemychocolate]

Leonie yeets away her pen (did I use that right?), and that exact second, there's an ad 😂 Talk about building tension.

[@emi-il5si]

you should try the falling in love montage! it’s a ya sapphic romance and it’s one of my favorites

[@TheBookLeo]

i've heard great things about it so i might try it!

[@angelawesneski5029]

If you'd be willing to try another Christina Lauren, I just read The Soulmate Equation and really enjoyed it.

[@sanvi1294]

I LOVE YOUR EARINGSSSSS

[@katelynmay3889]

I LOVE YOUR EARRINGS OMG OMG

[@ilfak4986]

she drives me crazy was not really what i expected but in a good way. also absolutely love this kind of videos!! and also- im pretty sure it was mentioned in another video but what was the name of the paintings on the walls??

[@TheBookLeo]

wanderer above the sea of fog!

[@ilfak4986]

@@TheBookLeo thank you so much!!

[@ellaswerts3921]

if you want to read more romance you should definitely read people we meet on vacation by emily henry!!

[@patriciakuttel5276]

Aaaaaa you should read The Spanish Love Decepción by Elena Armas!!!

[@jk_945]

I need to know how to make or find earrings like that bc I’m obsessed

[@Lillyjoy]

can you show us more of the drawing next time? you barely showed it and we couldn't see the drawing until the end. I just love your art!

[@fleaaaaaa]

Great video! Long time viewer, first time commenting

[@ComeUndun.]

I started How To Do Nothing, and dnf'd it before the end of the first chapter. 🙃

[@Kristenisfullybookd]

The same thing happened to me with romance book. Read a couple that made me question if maybe I liked them... and went down a hole of reading them. Now I include a couple here and there each month. Really great palate cleansers btwn heavy fantasy. If you don't want not too happy romance check out Beach Read by Emily Henry

[@emilymoran9152]

For anyone who thinks they don't like sci-fi books, here are character and culture-focused options I would recommend: Basically anything by Ursula LeGuin, but "The Birthday of the World" is a good introduction because it has a bunch of short stories in different settings, including several where assumptions of how human relationships work are different (ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2020/10/re-read-review-four-short-stories-by.html ) and a novella-length story about a generation ship that encounters an unexpected problem that is, once again, more social than technological (ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2021/01/re-read-review-paradises-lost-by-ursula.html ). "An Unkindness of Ghosts" is a darker generation ship story, where the society in the ship resembles the antebellum South. I really love the main character, Aster, an autistic lower-decks doctor and unlikely agent of change (ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2021/02/first-impressions-reviews-unkindness-of.html ). In "Lagoon", shape-shifting aliens land in Lagos, Nigeria. The first individuals they make contact with include a swordfish, a female marine biologist, a soldier, and a popular rapper. I loved 95% of this book...but there was one set of characters who don't get an ending and that REALLY annoyed me (ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2021/01/lagoon-by-nnedi-okorafor.html ). "This is how you lose the time war" is a short but gorgeous book about an enemies-to-lovers relationship between two women from competing alternate futures, one technological one more nature-based. (ajungleoftales.blogspot.com/2020/10/first-impressions-review-this-is-how.html )

[@mariafernandapereiraaraujo6304]

clicked bc i just read she drives me crazy, wanted to see what you thought about the book

[@Christinka888]

I have to say I really liked How to do nothing and I think the way I've seen it presented on booktube is kinda unfair. It's definately not a self-help book and it is not just about social media and how we spend our time. It is about attention in a much broader sense. I liked the exploration of I-it vs I-Thou perceptions, and I found the way science, art and love for nature was intertwined there, connenections made between seemingly unrelated things that are fascinating even on their own and even more when put into context. I've learned about concepts and authors I want to get to know more about, for example bioregionalism, Thoreau, Houriet's tour de communes.. I almost dnfed as well, bc I was kinda put off by the introduction because it seemed too long without saying much and I was afraid what I've heard before would be true but I am so glad I continued - it was totally worth it!

[@ruan1384]

I really wish I had enjoyed Red, White and Royal Blue as much as everyone else did. I 2.5/5'd the hell out of this book.

[@claragarcia5088]

What about Crime and Punishment? Are you still reading it?

[@alyssabat]

i feel like i'm the only one who absolutely hated red, white & royal blue

[@muskaan1129]

I love your videos ❤️❤️

[@jus_sanguinis]

Pretty good drawing.

[@CaptainCarlsen]

I found Red, White and Royal Blue to be incredibly boring tbh. Wish I enjoyed is as much as everyone else seems to do

[@nickkiebonaria6158]

Is she drives me crazy good tho because I'm getting it and want to hope it's good ?

[@annemargarethd.a.k.filicke7919]

You look so geekly magnificent with one earing ☺😍♥️

[@_echointhevoid_]

hey btw christina lauren is two people (Christina and lauren). you referred to them as she in this video so idk if you were aware. its obviously not important but just so you know lol

[@TheBookLeo]

oh i didn't know, thanks for telling me!

[@_echointhevoid_]

@@TheBookLeo no problem ❤

[@harshita4265]

I really want leo to read from blood and ash! 🦋✨🌚

[@TheBookLeo]

i want to read it so bad but i honestly cannot find it anywhere

[@euanfreeman179]

@21:05 I'm pretty sure you have a poltergeist... O:

[@rockingmona9834]

I'm trying really hard to listen her but the six of crows earring distracting me

[@jaydas8976]

Haha same, I just love it

[@paularodriguez726]

After the massage scene on the Unhoneymooners it's such a crime that it's fade to black. I hate fade to black romances :((((((

[@Julie_ao]

😍

[@anjalixg]

SHUT UP WAIT I WANT THOSE EARRINGS