The Worst Books of 2024

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

Greg getting worked up about historical fiction slander is the best thing I've seen all week. Thanks for sharing your original story. I smiled the entire time. ☺️

[@SupposedlyFun]

I got so heated going back into that comment of hers. 😂🤣 I’m happy we made you smile!

[@mariyamak]

Great meet-cute story! Especially appreciate it as a Columbia alum for the Hungarian Pastry Shop reference, very literary given that place's history!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I loved going to the Hungarian Pastry shop when I was a student--even though it could be incredibly difficult to get a table.

[@mariyamak]

@SupposedlyFun I don't even think their pastries are that good, but the atmosphere and hiatory are priceless

[@lisaballew6163]

if you revisit Milkman, read it rather than listen to it. She writes in dialect and "hearing" the Irish speaking voice in your own head feels like some kind of magic. I loved it. It evoked Northern Ireland during the troubles in an intimate and profoundly psychological way that I haven't encountered in literature before.

[@iCarousel]

The story of how you met is SO sweet. ;_; Thank you for sharing, and for another great video!

[@iCarousel]

Also, I think that you shouldn't worry too much about the folks who get up in arms over criticism about a book they like! Honestly they aren't going to be satisfied no matter how gentle the criticism is, or how many disclaimers you make about this being only your personal opinion. Of all the book channels I follow, your criticisms are by far the most considerate. I honestly love the occasional snarky, slightly mean-spirited review, but the cozy nature of your channel is something I also love.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I appreciate that! It's so hard to strike the right tone, and it can be easy to fixate on the people who almost willfully take offense.

[@ehlemke]

Your posts brighten my day - even your “worsts of the year” one!❤

[@angelica351a]

that coffee shop story sounded like a movie!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! That means a lot.

[@xg__garbled]

enjoyed hearing your meet cute. thank you for sharing and congratulations. 🌻🐿

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you!

[@marciajohansson769]

I can see by the comments that I'm not the only one that feels that you gave a great worst of books of the year in the kindest way. Such a pleasant way to spend my snowy New England morning getting ready for the day. I kind of like the family affair videos with Joel and Teddy along for the ride. I really would love to see a baking video. Joel on how to make the shortbread cookies and maybe before next year some Spritz cookies which have always intimidated me.❤ Enjoy your weekend! 37:41

[@SupposedlyFun]

Enjoy your weekend as well and stay warm! We have an idea for a baking video, and it just might involve shortbread. So stay tuned! I don’t know when we’ll film it but it should be soon. I love spritz cookies but have never made them-and I don’t know if Joel has. We may have to experiment!

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Something may happen! Warming! I’ve never made spritz cookies. But have something similar I want to try it’s a butter cookie that is piped!! ❤

[@hanilulu]

Your description of Night Watch sounds like my experience of The World According to Garp. Your meet cute story is so sweet!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you!

[@LouiseReader]

Oh my god, your origin story! Such a delightful surprise at the end there. And Ted Lasso shortbreads - you two are still unbearably cute 15 years later.

[@SupposedlyFun]

🤗😉 Thank you!

[@shannongeier63]

29:37 Me: "Throw the Book Greg!!! Do it!!!" 30:19 Me: "YES!!!!!!"

[@SupposedlyFun]

📕💨

[@bobbykeniston7240]

How nice to hear the story of how you two met. Very sweet. Walking all around New York City after meeting one another--- sounds like one of the "Before Sunrise" movies. Happy Anniversary to your first meet cute!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I never thought of it being like Before Sunrise, but that does fit! Thank you so much.

[@TiggerTellsTales]

I’m reading/listening to Milkman in small chunks. Part of me finds it brilliant and another part of me finds it exhaustingly repetitive so I see why someone might dnf it. I do love its message so far. The Wager got a 5 star from me but I also see why you would need to be in the mood to read it. Like Lord of The Flies, it’s interesting to see what people will do to survive. It was also really well researched. Side note I’m listening to Challenger now on audio and although a bit dry, I’m floored by the amount of research in the book. It’s not just about the challenger disaster but an entire history of NASA. I’d have to read it 100 times to take it all in. So much research in that one too. Loved hearing your story!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I've heard such good things about the Challenger book. I'll have to catch up to it at some point!

[@shannongeier63]

Your meeting story is the cutest story ever!!!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

🤗 Thank you!

[@luvsumbooks]

Love this! Even your worst lists have so many positive moments. And your personal story is heartwarming 💕. Looking forward to your next videos together

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!!

[@altanava]

Happy happy Anniversary I love you both. Great video.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much!!

[@Joan-COYI]

Aww Teddy. He’s gorgeous. What breed is he? I’m in the Uk, an old lesbian who loves your channel but I rarely comment. You guys help me through difficult times, thank you. 2024 was a particularly poor year for new books. I can’t read print so rely on spoken word and therefore the narrator is incredibly important. I worked out roughly how many books I may get to read and I more readily give up on something I’m not fully enjoying.

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you! Teddy is a Welsh Terrier. Most terriers are not as chill as Teddy, so he is a champ! Somewhere beyond the Cerulean See is a great audio! I hope we can help get through 2025 for you!❤❤❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

We are so glad we’ve been able to help you through difficult times. Thank you for telling us. Giving up on books you aren’t enjoying is a blessing. I’ve enjoyed reading so much more now that I’m not forcing anything.

[@jordana99]

Love those stories! And you both loved dogs!

[@SupposedlyFun]

I had actually never had a dog when Joel and I met! He introduced me to my love of dogs.

[@jordana99]

@ My 2 sort of dogs have both been by today! They like to sleep on my front porch. Mexican street dogs adopted by me and my landlord.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@jordana99 I love that!

[@virginiaanderson8875]

I enjoy all sorts of pro’s and cons on your reading, don’t we all react differently to so many books, what makes the world go around, and the ending story of how you two met really made me smile- 😊 so enjoy you two!!🎉

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Amen and happy reading!

[@Roscoethecat]

You'd mentioned Restless Dolly Maunder in early 2024, I think in May. My mother had a pen pal in Australia when she was growing up, starting in the 1940s. She kept in touch with her until the early 2010s when the pen pal died. I would always give my mother a book when I visited her. I live in Chicago, my mother in Cleveland. My mother had been in a nursing home for the last two years. She was so sick and her eyesight was failing, but I knew she could make out the beautiful book cover. I last saw my mother for her 88th birthday in July and she died on September 22. I now have that book. Thank you for helping create that memory. I love the story of how you and Joel met. It was meant to be. Congratulations on 15 years together.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so sorry about your mom, but you got a positive memory with Dolly Maunder. What a great story! It feels like pen pals is a lost concept these days.

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Sorry for your loss! It was a beautiful tradition and memory! Writing letter to others is a lost art! I may have to try to bring it back! ❤

[@SusiFord-w7f]

Thanks so much for sharing your “how we met” story - Happy First Date Anniversary🍾

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you!

[@katrianamacmillan]

I love the story of how you met! What a nice way to end the video. Milkman was the first book I read this year. I appreciate it, but I felt like I was having a seizure while I was reading it which took away from my enjoyment. I wish I would have DNFed until I was in the mood for something more challenging, but I didn’t want to start my year off with a DNF so I persevered

[@SupposedlyFun]

It’s so hard to force something you aren’t enjoying. That was why I put it to the side until I’m ready for a big challenge (but I tried it in March or so).

[@l.georgealexander8330]

I remember hearing a harsh review of a book that interested me so much that I ordered and then read it. I loved it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

That happens! All feedback can be valuable.

[@susiesky1]

Thanks Greg & Joel (what a lovely “How We Met” story!!)! I’m reading Huck Finn as prep for James & am so disappointed. To me, it’s a very boring adventure story. And boring adventure story is usually an oxymoron. 😊 Thanks again!!

[@twokatstabbie]

Had to dnf Huckleberry Finn also

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love our story of how we met. It’s so funny that neither one of us was supposed to be anywhere near that coffee shop that night!

[@dmurfval702]

I feel the same about The Wager. I'm going to try and grab The Ship Beneath the Ice. I loved Endurance, what a great true story. Didn't care for Restless Dolly Maunder either. Sometimes I wish I could throw a book but I do all of my reading on an E reader. Thank you for sharing your how you met story. That's so lovely. Crazy how things that are meant to be, happen.

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Hope you find the book Ship Beneath the ice! The photos are fascinating!!

[@SupposedlyFun]

It is crazy how things seem meant to be sometimes!

[@propagandaangie]

I can see why Milkman would be awkward in audiobook form. The style borders on stream of consciousness at points. For me it was a five star read, probably the best of the year.

[@SupposedlyFun]

When I eventually try again, I may do the physical book. A couple of people have recommended a combo of audio and text, though.

[@runrgrl35]

Greg- You said that last January, you had a hard time starting your reading year. Don’t you think that with all the book awards at the end of the year and then the holidays, it causes a lull at the beginning of the year? I’m struggling with finishing a book I started in December and still can’t seem to get back to….and it’s a”Christmas” book!🤦🏻‍♀️ Happy New Year to you, Joel and Teddy😉

[@SupposedlyFun]

I think there’s a lot of truth there. Book awards, best of lists, and the scramble/pressure to end the reading year on a high-it can be exhausting! I definitely felt it last January.

[@runrgrl35]

@ yup!😉❤️

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Your love story is on my “best of” list.😊

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love how we met. If you at all believe in fate, it feels like a perfect story because neither one of us was supposed to be anywhere near that coffee shop that night. ❤️

[@catherinejager3264]

OMG I love a good love story🥰 and watching the love and the story continue ❤️❤️❤️ Instead of dry January I’m doing Joel January 😁📚

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you! I kid Greg that too much of me is very overwhelming! 😂😂😂❤❤❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love Joel January! ❤️

[@Nina_DP]

Your origin story is amazing! Meant to be. ❤❤❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

It feels like fate, doesn’t it? ❤️

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I loved The Guncle and felt exactly the same about The Guncle Abroad. Too many pithy phrases and not enough meat to the story. I tried The Celebrants and felt like it was going to be a junior Big Chill. Joel. Lily and the Octopus. 😭😭😭 Prepare yourself before reading that book. Get plenty of sleep. Read it under a blanket surrounded with pillows…you’re going to need a soft place to land…

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you! Lily may be hard for me, but hear good things about it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I’m so glad you agreed about Guncle Abroad! I don’t think I could ever do Lily and the Octopus.

[@jryan217]

You guys are delightful, never mind the shortbread!

[@SupposedlyFun]

🤗 Thanks!

[@SandyHartman-zi1wu]

Thank you for mentioning The Five about the victims of Jack the Ripper. It was unbelievably fascinating and educational and heart-breaking. For some reason, Zorrie left me flat. A far better choice is Refuge by Dot Jackson or The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, if you enjoy stories set in the past about strong women.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I do love stories set in the past about strong women, so thanks for the recommendations! Joel loved The Four Winds.

[@larajean1]

OMG! Love the meeting story. So amazing...if the caribbean trip had worked out or Joel's date had happened...you probably wouldn't have ever met. I also hated The Night Watch for so many reasons...the sexual assault scene (I wish, even now, that I had just skipped it), so many ways the story played out just made no sense to me... this was a fun video though! Thanks so much for doing it.

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

So many things could have happen and we never met! That’s one part of why I love Midnight Library so much! Life’s decision can change everything!

[@SupposedlyFun]

If you are at all inclined to believe in date, ours is the perfect meet-cute story for sure. And I’m so glad I’m not alone on Night Watch!

[@Robin-c9p]

Growing up we had both The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on our shelves, so I've read both many times. The difference is that I loved every chapter of Tom Sawyer and read it a hundred times, but after the first time I read it, I only read a few favourite chapters of Huck Finn again. It IS very boring! But Tom Sawyer is still a very funny and exciting book (yes, of course there are words and attitudes etc that will be jarring today, but not quite as much as in Huck Finn, and it helps to think of the historical context...) Even if someone doesn't want to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I'd recommend them to read the first chapter as a stand-alone short story - it's too good to miss! Having said that; we should only read books that interest us, half the time it seems to me that the term "classic" just means old...we don't have to read all old books that's ever been called a classic (by some old guy in the 30s, and it stuck). Brilliant story of how you two met - it was definitely kismet! Congrats on 15 years! 💝

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! Maybe I should try Tom Sawyer at some point to see how I feel about that one.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

Milkman might work best as a text audio combo. I love hearing stories of how people meet 😍

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love our story of how we met. If you’re someone who believes in fate, it feels like a perfect case in point.

[@LaurieInTexas]

Loved your first meet story! I think Jayne Anne Phillips must have genre bias against historical fiction since she doesn't want her books categorized that way. I haven't read any of her books and don't plan to because that attitude is kind of off-putting.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I was clearly very offended. 😂

[@MJ-in-Canada]

Move over Jane-uary. Joel-uary is here!😄

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you! ❤

[@SupposedlyFun]

And it’s here to stay!

[@MMjones6459]

I also was very disappointed in The Guncle Abroad. So many readers were happy with it, but it felt like a money grab. Lily and The Octopus brought tears.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I don’t think I could ever do Lily and the Octopus.

[@schoolbeginsaftercoffee4759]

After you recommended The Guncle and I loved it, I tried Guncle Abroad. I found myself rolling my eyes. A LOT. It was definitely a disappointment.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It seems that a lot of people in the comments have agreed about The Guncle Abroad. So disappointing!

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

It’s an eye roller! 😂

[@jonnie7891]

One of our kind by Nicola Yoon and Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks were my two worst books of the year. I was disappointed because they weren’t very good books and I had high hopes for them too. I don’t know why we have to like “The Classics.” It’s time we started admitting that some of them aren’t very good. Huck Finn is one of those classics. Other than it being an early precursor for ya adventure novels, it doesn’t have much else going for it. James is definitely a standalone.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Huck Finn seems like a cilantro classic-some people just can’t abide it. But the people who love it will go to war to defend it.

[@twokatstabbie]

I've tried Milkman twice and gave up both times

[@SupposedlyFun]

Oof. I’m a little worried that will be my story, too.

[@KurtAnderson812]

I usually skip worst of lists but I can’t not watch a video staring Teddy My most disappointing book of the year was Desert Echoes by Abdi Nazemian Prior to this one Nazemian had always been a favorite but this one just didn’t make the cut (Okay so I posted this before watching the video and it turns out Joel and I were in complete agreement on this one) 😅

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Great minds!! ❤ glad I was not alone.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I still can’t get over the whiplash of going from two consecutive favorite books to a DNF for me. And I’m sorry Teddy wasn’t actually in the video much!

[@neleschneider1080]

Have you ever made a video about books you both absolutely disagreed on?

[@SupposedlyFun]

Weirdly, there aren’t very many of those! I can’t even think of one off the top of my head.

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

There would be very few books on that list! Greg helped me find appreciation of reading again! So I follow his lead a lot.

[@neleschneider1080]

You were meant to be. 😊

[@sallyking373]

You are pronouncing hebridean correctly 😊

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Yay!🎉 I still can’t say it right!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Phew! Thank you for letting me know! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@dhurd4099]

It’s possible that you aren’t the only one who didn’t get along with The Biography of X. On the penultimate day of a four day book sale last summer I counted close to 50 brand new copies of the book unsold. There is a B&N in that town and I wonder if they donated those books to the sale. What does a chain store do with books they can’t sell? You guys warm my ❤️.

[@SupposedlyFun]

@@dhurd4099 That's interesting! And thank you.

[@mradcaqbdb]

OMG! Honestly, who needs books when we got the Greg and Joel (dare I call it) meet-cute story??? OMG! That was fabulous! 💜💜💜 Greg, what has a ghost ever done to you? How can you not love ghosts? They are fabulous! 😉 Joel, what’s the name or author of the Endurance book that you love? Not The Ship Beneath The Ice, the other one. I’m seeing quite a few Endurance books and want to get the right one. And I think I was one of the people who pinged you and said “did you know this book is coming out next week?” Did tippety-tap Teddy get a piece of shortbread? 💜🤎🖤

[@joelmcclanahan9004]

Thank you! Alfred Lansing wrote Endurance! Teddy always gets a little snack when it is good for him! No chocolate!

[@SupposedlyFun]

❤️❤️❤️ You definitely were one of the people! And I don’t know what got me about ghost stories. Maybe I read too many poorly written ones when I was a kid and getting stuff from scholastic book fairs?