reacting to 1 star reviews of my favourite books

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FAQs:
😭 what happened to your intro? it got copyrighted ://///
🤠 how old are you? 25!
📆 when is your birthday? 18th october 1998 (libra)
🎓 where did you go to university? i studied english at durham!
🔎 where do you live? new york city
💼 what is your job? book critic
🎥 what do you film with? lumix gh5 + canon g7x
👾 what do you use to edit? final cut pro
📫 how do I contact you? [e-mail] or social media!
Video Chapters
00:00 introduction
01:25 Normal People by Sally Rooney
03:16 Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
05:45 Piranesi by Susanna Clark
07:56 Emma by Jane Austen
10:12 [ad] Squarespace
11:02 Sula by Toni Morrison
12:25 Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
14:10 1984 by George Orwell
14:44 A Little Life by Tanya Yanagihara
16:00 wounded puppy
sub count:
📊 1,361,880

[@hellothere1065]

Now do the opposite. You should read 5 star reviews for your least favourite books.

[@hippolyte90]

Yes, please! That would be hilarious🤣

[@LotteAtena]

THISSS!!! YESSS!

[@kaylakrey]

YES

[@aaaamnaaaa]

Oh my god this is genius

[@wronghandlane9665]

YES

[@michellexbeauty9832]

Sometimes the one-star reviewers make points about the books I like and I can’t do anything but agree and move on 😭

[@ellyt3429]

same 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 sometimes it’ll be a book i literally LOVED, but that i can objectively acknowledge won’t be for everybody, and i can’t help but read some reviews (especially the funny ones) and just think yep. ur so right. and then continue on loving the book anyways 😭😭

[@ellyt3429]

even worse is when they make such a good point that i go back and actually detract a star

[@_bookloverr]

and then i physically cant unsee their comment and my love for that book is forever tainted by that one point they made 😭😭

[@disab4649]

Several times I've found things I loved based of of bad reviews. You just have to figure out how people usually insult things you normally like. Ngl pretentious is a code word I look out for XD

[@michellexbeauty9832]

@@ellyt3429 I don’t even consider myself to be someone swayed by others opinion but a lot of reviews make me critically rethink my thoughts and yeah occasionally a star gets docked 😭😭

[@kathrinspies558]

I read a 1-star review of Dante's Inferno and it just said "To many Italian names and places" and that's one of my favorite reviews of all time. It's so stupidly funny to me

[@Mina_Susnjevic]

😂 brilliantly stupid

[@soho6435]

omg hahahaha

[@BritzHerz]

OMG! 😅 that has to be the funniest review ever. Imagine reading a book by an italian author and be appalled by the usage of italian names and places. no words 😅

[@mmmmmmolly]

It's like a bad review of a cookbook i saw where the reviewer didn't like it because there were too many dishes in it that she didn't recognise.

[@martinadevita8342]

I have to say... I'm Italian and I agree

[@halane4790]

I think Jane Austen would love that someone said Emma made them vomit with rage, she would find that HILARIOUS XD

[@dorothyparashi1736]

Because she would knows that the crowd that does not get this message is STUPID

[@blancaherreroespana5035]

"this proves that all men do in those days is be misogynists and wrinkle" SENT ME😭

[@juleslefumiste9204]

and also create an entire civilization you now are leeching off :)

[@blancaherreroespana5035]

@@juleslefumiste9204 uuuuuh someone is cranky and wants to pick up an irrelevant fight in a comment section about something silly that has nothing to do with them! it's ok, it's a pretty popular coping mechanism for miserable people that need attention, not getting more from me though, i recommend touching some grass or taking a nap! hope this helps :)

[@DrunkenEros]

@@juleslefumiste9204 Let's not pretend you could create a civilisation when you can't even spell "leeching" correctly.

[@sambanks9670]

@@juleslefumiste9204u mean cause most of all crime and create wars? if you’re gonna take credit for something take credit for everything

[@juleslefumiste9204]

@@DrunkenEroswhat are you talking about lol

[@sarahhansen8004]

“Maybe we do miss when men just used to go to war and die.” 🤣 iconic

[@taras5534]

Hahaha for real!

[@di4947]

no no no bad idea

[@maryn1776]

cries in ukrainian 😢

[@natchasapsuwan]

i had to take a minute after that one

[@em-w5438]

@@natchasapsuwan Me too!

[@sappho4828]

i can't read negative reviews for books i like bc sometimes they convince me 😭

[@ellyt3429]

nah same like sometimes i’ll give a book a high rating, read a bunch of negative reviews, be like “damn ur right”, and go back to lower my original rating 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@missgreendayfan]

​@@ellyt3429 me AF

[@kayo5291]

@@ellyt3429 Me too, what’s wrong with us? 🥸

[@grff_]

SAME LOL i loved seven husbands but after watching a negative review it had me scratching my head like damn....maybe ur right😭

[@hazelwi]

I loved on earth we're briefly gorgeous but read so many negative reviews I drove myself into a reading slump😭😭

[@Clazz94]

As an aspiring writer, reading 1-star reviews of my absolute favourite books reminds me that no art is universally adored, and that soothes my perfectionism.

[@momentmemos]

Omg i love this! I’m trying to write too and even letting my friends read my stuff is terrifying ahah

[@molasses3850]

"I've read shampoo bottles with more plot twists." 😭😭 frr

[@joeyb5399]

Omg I thought I made this comment 😭

[@molasses3850]

@@joeyb5399 ahaha same pfp. Love to see it :]

[@Yootifully_07]

This is funny coz a shampoo ad just played 😭😭

[@telanos2492]

I clicked because I was curious which book was bland enough to be shamed with this review, and was bitterly disappointed to discover there is no such review featured :(

[@nishthagupta1357]

THIS WAS SO FUNNY😂

[@erinisbold]

The phrase "be misogynist and wrinkle" permanently altered my brain chemistry

[@meikusje]

I'm much better at dealing with 1 star reviews for books I liked than 5 star reviews for books I hated 😂

[@heatherbocks]

For sure! I can usually understand why the things I love wouldn’t work for people.

[@ivyzen8860]

Same! When I see 5 star reviews for books I hated, I always think, "This! This is what's wrong with society!" 😂

[@elliotoliverr]

I read a book where the protagonist’s name meant corn corn corn (I wish I was joking), and it felt like the rip off of every YA dystopian romance ever and I stayed up until midnight fuming that the book had so many 5-star reviews

[@aimeekessell5022]

But why is that so exactly true. 😂

[@bartholomew887]

Me @ every colleen hoover book

[@BooksWithCarah]

"toni morrison get behind me" LMAO ME TOOOOO JACK

[@autism_and_niamh]

"I'm not taking it with a little grain of salt, I'm taking it with a Himalayan salt lamp" I CACKLED, get this man a comedy special asap

[@jil8091]

The amount of times I LOVED a book but the goodreads people shame it to the core😭😭 why does it feel like a personal attack?? Most of the times people just didn't get the point of the book let's be honest

[@devilinred3319]

Also everyone has diferent taste.

[@DrunkenEros]

@@devilinred3319 I feel like taste and quality of the book are different. You can dislike a book and still recognise that it is a well written one.

[@js66613]

@@DrunkenEros Eh, well-written is still somewhat subjective.

[@Mariam-do6jq]

​@@js66613 not really there are standards for different aspects of a book and some of them are objective.

[@navyaanand3475]

"Bad reviews have people bringing out the VOCABULARY" yes, Jack, so accurate and I'm so here for it😂

[@courtneymoore27]

whenever i read a 1 star review for books i love, i like to check what those reviewers give higher ratings to to paint a better picture lol

[@kayo5291]

I do this on Amazon, it’s fascinating! Obviously my house is a mess.

[@Pipapisca]

Im sorry but I laughed so hard at the fact that you assumed someone switched to Spanish 😂 some of us native Spanish speakers use goodreads you know 😅

[@adelechl]

that’s what i thought too hahaha!! like maybe this person is just… a spanish speaker?

[@ttcgr]

his pronunciation genuinely made me so mad it was like the way they pronounced ‘taco’ in the great british bake off all over again

[@laura-sandy1492]

LOL, that’s what I thought too, and the French one as well!

[@loriet4926]

Yeah he looked so ignorant when he said that 🫠

[@YV09876]

I didn't even understand. Because, no me gusto means I don't like myself. 😩

[@shannoncishahayo5567]

there isn't a sequel book to 'normal people', BUT there is a short story that Sally wrote and had published in 2016 called 'At The Clinic' that entails where she would think Marianne and Connell would be in the future after the book's ending!

[@RhiannonT01]

WHAT

[@BritzHerz]

why am I only hearing about this now?! 😮

[@ragingbunny6274]

SHUT UP 🙀 bye going to read it now thank you stranger

[@LudmorHun]

"Easily the worst book I've ever read" the self-restraint from going into their read-list! I could not have managed

[@elinevisser346]

They rated a Colleen Hoover book 5 stars, I think that's all we need to know

[@DumiNihi]

8:26 personally one of my fave insults is calling people odd. Like imaging arguing and being like " what a odd and unfortunate fellow". It's tickles my brain.

[@luisa.mp4]

Two things I wanted to say: firstly JACK PUT A PHONECASE ON, PLEASE!! secondly: I love reading the super long 1 star reviews of a little life they are so incredibly funny, and I do have to say there often spot on, highly recommend

[@-Lotta-]

So true , I love reading long 1 star reviews in general

[@rondoflicflac]

Some of us goodreads users are Spanish speakers 😂 that's probably why that girl wrote her review in Spanish not because she wanted to switch languages ❤😂

[@MrGreyseptember]

i'm ukrainian, and most of the time write reviews in english, though sometimes it's tough to express my thoughts and feelings in a foreign language. especially if they are strong😅

[@generated.name.by.human.]

@@MrGreyseptember NO CUZ I RELATE TO THAT STRONG FEELINGS THINGY SM Like I'm C1/C2 in English but talking in it will never be enough to express strong feelings both of love and hate IT JUST DOESN'T FUCKING WORK LIKE MY FUCKING NATIVE LANGUAGEEE (and it doesn't help that I feel so much more limited in the cusswords domain + there are stupidass words you can't use (I DON'T GET ITTTT IS THAT COMMON IN OTHER LANGUAGES???) Help. I'm not Ukranian tho

[@shannon6160]

The one star review button is just too accessible to some people. Like they just have to hate just to be a hater. And I relate

[@ellyt3429]

me too girl i wish there was a 0 star option a lot of the time bc i’d give it to sooooo many books smh

[@Nebobo]

That thumbnail is accurate AF I'll die a normal people hater.

[@taras5534]

Same, what a shallow book. Lol

[@Lily-sy5gz]

I agree both MCs think they're above the rest of society it made me cringe so bad

[@kruolliver]

I would rather watch paint dry than read that painfully dull book.

[@suspicious_berries]

YES

[@sienna7241]

im with you! definitely wouldnt count myself among ms rooneys fans lets just say that

[@helenfleming611]

The way I would watch anything this man made

[@user-bt8tm9fr3i]

I can't wait to see the light leave Jack's eyes as he watches Salley rooney's books and his favs used as campfire wood

[@manuela0986]

this should be a series!

[@M.sad93]

To me the reviews that really break my heart are the 3 star reviews in books I thought were 5 stars. You know they understood what the book wanted to be and they pick it apart to the point I regret giving 5 stars in the first place.

[@jaweriafahad8930]

What ive picked up from this video is that you like the type of books that peope usually find boring and repetitive. As you said, tells SO MUCH about you LOL

[@skkkkkkyyyy]

not related to the video, but recently i saw you in my dream 😂 nothing weird, you were just the owner of book library in our town where me and my sister were choosing which book to buy and read. i already forgot all the details, but it was wholesome meeting you there 🥹

[@Sad_vibes_on_radio]

Unrelated, but I read a little life when I was 13 and I read it in school and a teacher kept coming up to me to ask if I was okay, and based on the fact that I was reading a little life as a 13 year old, I think we all know the answer.

[@cas9278]

So... Are you okay?

[@YV09876]

But why?

[@jil8091]

I had to read a book for university and I loved it so much. I loved the way it portrayed mental health and impossible love. It felt like the story came right out of my head.... then I went to Uni to discuss the book in my course and omg they all hated it 😭 not even just that they hated the protagonist and called him stupid and they said he should get a life??? Excuse me? I felt personally attacked because he was just like me: desperate and sad 😂😂😭 really got called out by the whole class

[@MayaAs12]

Other people hating on stuff you actually really loved (but were the only one who did) is just AWFUL😂

[@jil8091]

@@MayaAs12 Right?! And it feels so personal too for no reason 😂 My heart was shattered after that class and i'm honestly still mad about it

[@n-dk]

Wow I can only imagine how bad you felt! I wonder if an explanation to people disliking such a protagonist is that he/she reminded them of their fear to be desperate and sad? At least I would guess that they either could not relate or felt uncomfortable to be confronted with how the character was suffering, even though they would maybe have more empathy if a person in their real life had depression or something similar.

[@jil8091]

@@n-dk Yes I guess they just couldn't really relate to those emotions and therefore they just didn't understand the actions of the protagonist. Just like you said they would probably be way more considerate if this scenarios would happen in reality to someone they know.

[@kayo5291]

Those weren’t your people. Your people are out there though. I’m sure of it.

[@ilianarodriguez1715]

Others have pointed out, but many non-english speakers use Goodreads, and write our reviews in our native language (regarding the Spanish and French reviews mentioned here)

[@brookeboswell81]

“Maybe we do miss when all men did was go to war and die” AHAHAHAHAHAHAUSBSBDNDIIDKWBEVEVEVHDU

[@isabelantayhua9375]

"you're glad its finito i thought i was bonito" JAJAJAJAJAJAJJAAJAJAJAJAJAJA

[@maryamjuma1704]

on the contrary i think that ‘vomiting in rage’ is such a compliment i’d love for someone to have such a visceral reaction from my writing

[@junychup]

I recently saw a video where people read each other 1 star reviews from books they loved, and the other person had to guess the book. can't remember the name of the channel rn, unfortunately, but that would be such a fun video with another booktuber!!

[@supremenain7006]

Murphy Napier has done it a few times with her husband, and on Daniel Greene’s channel as well. Those are hilarious videos, I love how she captures the feeling of being personally attacked when someone gives a 1 star review to a book you adore 😂

[@kangaroo9816]

I so agree with the point that sometimes watching a movie adaptation can help you understand the book better - it’s exactly what happened to me with Pride and Prejudice. Watching the movie and brushing shoulders with the fandom really helped me appreciate the book in a way that I couldn’t before!

[@annahoran5097]

a little life is one of my favourite books too, and the macbeth quote slander actually hurt my soul i think i died a little and will never recover🥲

[@suspicious_berries]

one time I was so mad after reading normal people that I published a whole essay on why I disliked it in the Google reviews 💀

[@bones642]

The story about your baby song is so beautiful 🤍 your mom is a literal angel. The world is blessed to have you in it.

[@friedlbonte6209]

i really ADORE this editing style !!!

[@estherwelsch3578]

Goodreads reviewers are just so funny 😭

[@elenaangulo4397]

Hello Jack! I love your videos and your personality ❤ please remember that goodreads is also used by spanish speakers and a lot of us read books originally written in english, it may be a non ironic "No me gustó" 😅. Another thing if you liked Emma I think you may enjoy Iphigenia from the venezuelan writer Teresa de la Parra, the full title of the book is: Iphigenia (the diary of a young lady that wrote because she was bored) it's not for everyone and I don't know how it translates to english but I love it and the protagonist gives me Emma vibes, the themes are different though.

[@Prachie10]

It feels illegal to be this early

[@sarahtom6890]

Mhmm, totally agree

[@gaiamorgosi7181]

I love this, truly, because (and I don't know why) it gives me the courage and comfort to do stuff even if someone might not like this, at the end of the day a lot of people say horrible stuff about our favourites, but we are the proof that things can be liked and disliked by different people.

[@shannahsmith6276]

Omg the shade thrown in this video (both in the reviews and from you) is exactly what I needed today!

[@laurennoakes6561]

'Goodreads is one of the most feral places on the whole internet' made me laugh 😂 so innocent you are, Jack.

[@sandypink7931]

When I say I was having fun till it was time for my favourite book 💀🥲

[@AS-jw5sk]

One of my favourite reviews on goodreads is, to paraphrase, “Murakami’s writing on a plot like Norwegian Wood’s, is like painting the Sistine chapel on a pair of crocs”. I adore that review. I also strongly dislike Norwegian wood.

[@Kristinaxprr]

Not me getting the KZbin notification while checking out your goodreads profile LMAO

[@chantellemilosevic8583]

This was one of your most fun videos yet. Would love a part 2

[@shreya...007]

I was waiting for A Little Life, and I'm so glad you did it, cause I'm right there with you Jack, it's my favourite book

[@tinylittleanj2]

ugh... I loved Piranesi!! I had no idea what it was about, the hype, none of it. I would love to actually see that house... Awesome book. Hands down a fave.

[@cleo816]

oh you're so braveeee I could never 🥲

[@moice4232]

so happy to see you put piranesi as books you love more than anything because i’m currently reading it after your review on it!! 💌

[@madeleinedarnoco5190]

3:41 that story actually is so sweet… it’s one of my mother’s favorites as well

[@manouka]

THAT HAMNET REVIEW WAS HILARIOUS AAA i am dumbfounded, agog, aghast, is marius in love at last

[@summerwoodward8967]

hands down one of my fav videos so far

[@nadinebenjamin1882]

Not the: "I guess we do miss when all men used to do was go to war and die." Had me choking with laughter.

[@josephinecaumeil8360]

When I first read Piranesi, I gave up after about 40 pages, not able to get into it and to stick with the story. After abandoning it for 2 years, I picked it up again, restarted, and didn't put it back down until i finished it. I'm glad I didn't review it the first time around and gave it a second chance - I absolutely adored it on the second read. Just had to be in the right mood for it!

[@nicholasalessandrini1453]

i’m in love with your shirt omg

[@saradeandres2131]

Ngl I zoned out, not because the videos bad but because there’s a lot on my mind. So soothing. this music and your voice is a great backrough filler. I say this with love I promise!!

[@betteregglet]

when you said “Toni Morrison get behind me” !!!!

[@loraserafimova7750]

Jack you should do this more often this was so fun

[@luvmeday]

literally could listen to jack talk about anything

[@Groundedsquirrel]

I adore this concept and its results.

[@MiriamVintageClassics]

I was having a difficult day, had a splitting headache and this video brought me back to life. I am also quite fond of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Emma is my ultimate Jane Austen favorite so that was a treat. One star reviews deserve to be carefully written, specially if you're going against a classic. Such a fun concept and I loved it!

[@Ewalker11]

About to write a 1 star book so jack will review it✨✨

[@katiemclean4086]

Omg I didn’t realise you liked Piranesi and just got SO excited 😭 fave of last year

[@lorithomasscott349]

The editing on this is so funny 😂 great work

[@3rdeye0pen]

Piranesi transformed me from a strictly high fantasy, dragons and gargoyles girly into someone who gives most books a chance. The twist in this book and the last few chapters filled me with such curiosity that I couldnt stop turning the pages

[@YV09876]

They shouldn't have waited to the last pages. I could not get there. 😅

[@3rdeye0pen]

@@YV09876 it's really worth it if you can push through!

[@mohammedarmanulhaq]

Thank u so much Jack for accepting my suggestion to do this video of reacting to 1 star reviews of ur fav books!😇

[@wavylavender]

Off topic but seeing The Road on your shelf is so validating bc I recommended it to my boyfriend as one of my favorites and his review was “huh!”

[@surbhimehta6506]

One day later and I am still laughing at Jack's reactions and crying reading the reviews!

[@gulnaharakter2217]

I love those 1 star reviews of 1984 . Perfection 🤌

[@Cgg_0456]

Not too much into books, but this got me holding back laughter at 4am lol

[@loripraus7463]

I read Hamnet based on your recommendation last year and then promptly bought every other book Maggie O'Farrell has written. I love her so much.

[@shainaensing]

I want you to find more review's by these same people and see what their 5 star reads are.

[@kayo5291]

That might be a bit invasive, but fun!

[@muciSAD]

They probably books that aren't pretentious and that have plot.

[@hummingawayawayaway]

Jack, you really timed this for my deliveroo dinner didn't you because sir, you DELIVERED!

[@cornflakegirl4811]

The intro was already bomb 😂

[@chocolateoreo6489]

Jack is the icon whom I always look forward to watching (: I’m sending you all the great vibes❤

[@nikhilakuchimanchi6803]

jack : talking my brain : WHY DOESN’T HE HAVE A PHONE CASE

[@Pazoo_underscore]

I love your shirt jack!

[@michellevrvckn]

the editing in this is *chef's kiss*

[@salmareads]

your shirt instantly reminded me of The Cather in the Rye's red cover!

[@leahvanzetta]

just discovered this man and i cant stop bingeing

[@cottagecorequeen112]

Saw the Jane Austen edit and felt like your best friend because I ALREADY SAW IT IN THE BROADCAST CHANNEL! YAY

[@zuzu8904]

do a part two please!

[@wonderwoman5528]

The Ronan keating lyric story is SO cute and makes me feel so old to know you were just a baby ! x

[@debbiejefferies]

So funny! Loved this , I am normally polite and state ' it wasn't for me ' will have much more fun with my low reviews !!!

[@ChitChatwithShanum]

Wow, Jack, this video is amazing! 🎉 I'm only 8 years old, but I love books just as much as you do. Your reactions to the 1-star reviews are hilarious and insightful. Can't wait to read some of these books myself one day! 📚✨

[@raytrix1]

Jack your shirt is so fire where is it from?! Also the editing had me laughing

[@Violarya]

as an architect "halls, vestibules, statues, albatross" sounds like the perfect afternoon idk

[@Lola-ec4zd]

That 1 star review of Hamnet which made me realize that maggie used adjectives in threes will always be iconic.

[@camgenet]

I was having a bad morning and you made me laugh. Thank you.

[@Milan_T.]

Alice from The Bookcastle did a similar thing, but instead of just reading and reacting she also tried to predict what aspects of the book some people would hate. And she went into specifics, so I'd like Jack to do this twist too. In this video there were a few vague or general guesses, so I think this would be an interesting upgrade. Love the video, notwithstanding!

[@clareebeee]

I need you to know that I actually laughed out loud at several points during this video.

[@marenhumblebee2736]

Jack you are absolutely correct!!!! This video is some of your best work❤ I absolutely enjoyed myself. And lately I had fallen slightly out of love with you. But you have managed to pull me right back in 😅❤ I am sure you will steal the show at the Met

[@emmaj8337]

today i finished turtles all the way down, liked it, and went to update my goodreads just to find that you sir rated it 2 stars