FAVORITE & LEAST FAVORITE BOOK COUPLES OF 2018

In which I discuss my favorite and least favorite couples of 2018...
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[@sonyadanailova9537]

I just watched 26 min video when I have read none of those books. What can I say... it's Sam so I can't say no.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

:))))

[@annebassman7591]

i've only read around 3 of them myself haha.

[@Jenbebookish]

Totally. Same! I’ve only read a few.

[@horsesrock081]

I felt the same about Jude and Cardan in The Cruel Prince, but DAMN in The Wicked King those two are on a godly level of angsty romance

[@gretal3071]

I ALSO THOUGHT LAZLO WAS GONNA GET WITH THE ALCHEMIST DUDE

[@amyr3293]

Yeah me too

[@wizzteck07]

Me too!! Thyon is a really interesting character and I feel like he should have been way more important

[@nextpageadventure9160]

that would have been so much better

[@dancelikeumathurman8092]

He shouldve

[@valeriasaucedo9223]

ME TOO!!! I was kind of disappointed by that

[@ShalomDove]

I was very lukewarm on “the cruel prince.” As in, I cared enough to check out the sequel but not enough to re-read Cruel Prince in preparation; and I ended up loving “wicked king.” Jude is much more active, both she and Carden get development, and I was actually invested in their relationship, even though I felt like I shouldn’t be. I’m glad you’re planning to give “wicked king” a try! Looking forward to your thoughts when you get there! ❤️

[@blissclair9743]

Yeah, I agree! I liked Cruel Prince. It was okay. Not an awe-inspiring book but I liked it. Then I read Wicked King and it was very good! I really loved it! Cardan really gets more developed in this one and I liked that it doesn't excuse bad behavior but also lets the characters grow despite their wrongdoings. Except for Locke. Locke can die!

[@elinamauno8833]

I live for your section about Children of Blood and Bone :'D Because that was exactly my reaction... haven't read most of the other series you have mentioned, but your rants and gushes are just so entertaining even if I don't know the story :D

[@dragonking184]

“I’m gonna ruffle some feathers with this one” quote of the year hands down. The way you said it just killed me. 😂😂

[@allisonpiazza2317]

Favorite: Barack and Michelle in Becoming (lol but also true story)

[@maya55389]

omg the ship that saved 2018 😂😂😂

[@noelleknippers7813]

I would have loooooooved if Lazlo got with Thyon. That's totally where I thought it was going, too!

[@lilygrant2915]

you know it's a good ship when someone starts moving their hands...I totally feel the bookish love!!

[@theinkedpath9631]

Hi Sam! I am so grateful for this kind of videos. I know there was a bit of drama with the shipping and that stuff but I love watching the couples you care about (or don´t). It gives me perspective and says a lot about your taste (which is apparently very similar to mine, hehe). You need to read and express yourself in the way you feel like it. One way or another I will always support you. Although I tend to avoid hearing you talking about the couples that I want to read about (so your voice is like on or off depending on what book you are talking about). I hope 2019 is the year of the ships for you Sam! Hugs

[@carsoncrouch7895]

For me Lila and Kell were never meant to be more than friends. I literally felt nothing during their love scenes. In fact I felt weird reading it😂 I was WAY more into Rhy and Alucard🤩

[@Loonadance1212]

That eyeshadow look goes so well with your eyes like wow GORGEOUS

[@florallychaotic]

Anytime I watch one of your longer videos (ie. Talking about multiple books) I get so motivated to read so thank you!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

ha thank you!!

[@sherbert48778]

Yes!! I was hoping you would mention Rhy and Alucard! I adore them.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

they are so great

[@shinniex]

My favorite ship was actually a Netflix show. Elite on Netflix was the guilty pleasure of the year for me and it’s all about Guzman and Nadia! Check that out if you haven’t. It’s a Spanish show so watch it with subtitles. The Spanish sure know how to make those ships!

[@mikayuu7793]

shinniex same! I love them sm!

[@nat2002]

Spanish armada

[@ev6564]

I'm loving this couple! I'm watching the show just for them. I'm on the sixth episode already (started just today after remembering this comment), and when she went in towards him I thought "oh well, this is it. a kiss so soon..." but nope. They hugged instead and he had the most beautiful smiles/facial expressions!!!!

[@Jessticulates]

I haven't finished Strange the Dreamer yet but I was so disappointed when I realised who the love story was going to be between because I 100% thought Lazlo had chemistry with Nero, even though Nero is kind of garbage. I hope 2019 is a better shipping year for you! You definitely have me looking foward to reading The Queens of Innis Lear and The Gilded Wolves really soon.

[@chelseas1346]

Victoria Schwab said something on Twitter a couple of days ago promoting the Monsters of Verity duology as a romance free series and like...no? She said their kiss was supposed to represent them being confused about their 'connection' and then moving on, but that didn't come across at all in the narrative to me. They literally just read as any other love interests.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

she loves to backpedal

[@GalacticHoneyBee]

I loved the video (as always) but I think my favorite thing is your eye makeup. It looks like the prettiest sunset.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

thank you :)

[@juuliatumanoff1084]

I soooo agree about Strange the Dreamer and Children of Blood and Bone! Last year was also a really meh shipping year for me mostly and I don't want to spoil The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but the ship in that as well as the relationship between Howl and Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle really saved 2018 for me.

[@SongWitch]

Juulia Tumanoff YES EVELYN HUGO

[@elizabethdevido2081]

These kind of videos of yours are my favorite.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

thank you :)

[@MettelLoves]

* long videos mean longer comments * I FREAKING LOVE THESE VIDEOS! I had no time to just sit down, sip my tea and watch it with 100% concentration for so long that when I hit play today, I was already sad that it was going to end. Honestly, I can't even remember Spinning Silver.. I think I liked it, and now I can't remember it at all. Everything below it, also hardly remember even though I remember insta loving Children of Blood and Bone - now, almost a year later, don't even remember anything. But man, I LOVED THE CRUEL PRINCE! Sorry not sorry. I just liked the fact that.. Cardan was so frustrated about his own interest towards her.. yes, slightly cliché, if you start nitpicking at it but as a fae fan.. I was fully entertained! Also, super excited to read The Gilded Wolves even tho I'm not a huge steam punk vibe fan. And putting Trail of Lightning into my TBR too.. I hope 2019 is an amazing ship year for you!! Wishing all the best for shipping and sailing and ship sailing and gushing and etc! :)

[@user-wc7mo2io9z]

Some of my favorite ships in 2018 were in Nevernight/Godsgrave and I think you'd be all about them. I also read the entire Kate Daniels series (Urban Fantasy, the genre that raised you) and the main ship in that series nourished my SOUL.

[@supernaturalaesthetic6295]

Read The Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling! It's pretty slowburn and has an amazing cast of LGBT characters, wizards and hilarious adventures ( with angst! )

[@lavenderrosecosplay5639]

That sounds really good. I'll have to try it

[@carsoncrouch7895]

Also I read the Grisha trilogy this year and I felt like warm about Mal and Alina:/ like I felt butterflies when the Darkling was around😂

[@lunasunlight3329]

Same here xD I was fine with it at first but with each book and the further I read the least I liked Alina and Mal together 😅

[@ACourtofHooksAndBooks]

I NEED you to read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo you will love it so much! I don't want to say anything because spoilers suck but PLEASE the final romance in that story will have you SOBBING AHHHH

[@HannahCassieBooks]

I really love One Dark Throne series but for the girls and all mystery mainly, have zero care for the actual ships in it cuz you are right, it's one of my recent fav series and I could not really name a single ship in the series :D

[@jaymelynnway]

You'd love the Winternight trilogy, I bet. (The Bear and the Nightingale). SUCH a slow burn romance. Utterly satisfying.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I just read the second book lol

[@jaymelynnway]

@@ThoughtsOnTomes Well I cannot WAIT to hear what you think. I'm almost done with the third book and it has been perfection for me.

[@SuperHappyNotMerry]

I haven't seen anyone on booktube talk about how disappointing strange the dreamer's romance was. During the first fifty pages or so I was also totally getting tons of chemistry from Lazlo and Thyon. (I think that's his name?) When it came to the actual canon couple of Sarai and Lazlo I did not feel any chemistry between them nor did I understand why they were attracted to each other.

[@juliepham3896]

SuperHappyNotMerry they felt very insta love as well :(

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

Sarai has been sheltered her entire life, with the only people she can actually talk to being her siblings. Lazlo is literally the first guy who is not her brother that has ever noticed her, considering that no one can see her when she's doing her dream thing. And Lazlo like her because she's.....hot and mysterious, I guess?

[@laurens5813]

Totally agree about the Strange the Dreamer relationships - you hit the nail on the head with this one

[@elizabethdevido2081]

*My Plain Jane*: "It just has that EYRE to it"

[@sassysarahreads]

Reign the Earth has a ship in it that made my soul happy. Also the ships in the Daughter of the Forest trilogy fuel my soul. Those books! I read Son of Shadows (second book) in 2018 and it was the best ship I came across all year so so good.

[@lavenderrosecosplay5639]

I have been meaning to read daughter of the forest. I love her other book Wildwood Dancing!

[@sassysarahreads]

@@lavenderrosecosplay5639 I haven't read Wildwood Dancing yet, but I think I'm going to love it! I hope you can get to Daughter of the Forest soon!

[@annebassman7591]

For one dark throne that's the audiobooks fault, not the authors. i enjoyed the series and the relationships. The only one I thought was weird was the triangle with joseph sandrin and the two girls; but that actually played a major role plot wise and wasn't just there for entertainment.

[@Shaegeeksout]

I love this video every year! Sorry you had a rough shipping year! At least you had a few that you truly loved! Here's hoping 2019 goes well for you in the ships sailing world! 💖💖💖

[@catarinapimenta9449]

Honestly, your appreciation for the couples on The Queens of Innis Lear was so ON. POINT. I literally screamed when you mentioned Ban and Mars because damn, I needed my ACTUAL triangle.

[@elizabethrobinson6840]

I really kind of agree with you on Monty not deserving Percy but I really did ship them more than I expected too.

[@TheBookSanctum]

Everything you said about Strange The Dreamer is exactly what I thought of it too, the same with Children of Blood And Bone!

[@cristinadaponte5332]

All I gotta say about Strange the Dreamer... read Muse of Nightmares. Your Nero dreams (if not your *Lazlo* and Nero dreams) miiiight be realized. Because honestly, I clocked that chemistry, too, but I was pretty okay with how Laini Taylor played things out in the end.

[@rachelmakrucki3172]

I loved all the couples in the Queen's of Innislear. They were very human and their motivations were realistic. It was a slow paced book but it was one of my favorites for the year.

[@shazanamansoor3565]

I was loving and living for your reactions and explanations for all of these couples - it was very entertaining XD

[@MaggieReads2023]

I've tried to read Holly Black in the past and haven't finished each attempt. I think I will avoid The Cruel Prince because I've come across so many mixed reviews. So thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@dorapoch]

Agreed about Strange the Dreamer. I thought it was going to be between Laslo and that other guy too. I still don't understand why we got so many chapters about them in the beginning

[@emiloubooks6708]

I agree with your opinion about the romance in COBAB.....i wish it had a bit more substance. Hopefully it will develop more in the next book 🤗

[@girlfrommetro]

i read muse of nightmares and right after i came here to watch your review and found out that you haven’t read it yet 😞 really looking forward to it!

[@N332]

I’ve never seen more sadness in your eyes than when you said Cleo and Magnus. Girlllll same

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

HONESTLY MY HEART IS BROKEN

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

Sooo much potential just squandered. Thanks, I hate it.

[@CarlyArlyArla]

YES GIRL I also hated Lazlo and Sarai. Their chapters are PAINFUL.

[@yogiwithabook]

you gave me a little when The Gilded Wolves showed up at the bottom end of this list but then I realized it was also going to be at the top so it's okay haha. I'm so excited to dig into that story, it sounds like everything I want. also yeah, not the biggest fan of Lazlo and Sarai (I loved the alchemist guy whose name I can't remember) but I'm hoping Muse of Nightmares sells me on them finally.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

TGW didn't show up in the bottom! it first showed up in the middle.. idk if Muse of Nightmares will save them for me either, but I'm intrigued enough by the other characters that I think it'll be worth it

[@yogiwithabook]

yes sorry, I meant they showed up before you started talking about couples you actively liked. Strange did have some great side characters, I agree! I think I’m gonna try and do a reread of that before I pick up Muse though because it’s already been over a year and my memory isn’t wonderful. I’d like to be able to pick up all the details Laini Taylor’s gonna be putting down

[@jayr1919]

OMG I JUST GOT THE GILDED WOLVES IN MY OWLCRATE BOX!!!! IM SUPER EXCITED NOW AHHHHHH!!!!!

[@graceoc5613]

Honestly the only ship I could think of that I think you’d also enjoy is one from Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. It was really unexpected and it’s also an f/f ship. Be warned that it is the tiniest part of the first book and they’re not together, there’s just an inkling, but I’m hoping to see it get expanded on in the second book which comes out in 2019. It’s just so sweet that in such a dark time they’re able to find each other, they also make such a good badass thieving team. I also just really love the ancient magic and heists in this book.

[@404-equivalent4]

I hope there's a cute Kettle/Apple scene in Grey Sister to lift up my poor soul after Red Sister. Ugh, I have to continue with the series, so good!

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

oh man you are in for a treat but also a big storm lolol

[@404-equivalent4]

@@ThoughtsOnTomes I am ready.

[@anamoralsb]

You were salty with some of these omg 😂😂 I liked some of the ones you hated but like... LMAO I enjoyed how angry you were about them if that makes sense😂 Love your videos and recs!! I hope 2019 brings you better couples :)

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

lol thank you

[@katiestewart7926]

I don't know if we have the same shipping tastes (I love Jude and Cardan, and Percy and Monty from this list), but books I read last year that had couples I loved were: The Raging Ones, Amberlough, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. There were other books I loved, but either the romance wasn't a focus, or wasn't the reason why I liked the book.

[@anastasiakozlova1766]

Ok the golden wolves wasn’t on my top priorities tbr but now...

[@blissclair9743]

OMG YES! I thought Lazlo and Thyon was going to be a thing too! I got so excited but then that led nowhere so that was...a bit...yeah.

[@ElisaGIH]

I totally, 100% agree about the relationships in The Cruel Prince! I don’t get the obsession with them as a couple in this book TBH. I also agree about Elia+Mars vs. Elia+Ban. I kept going back and forth but by the end I preferred Mars. And Blue and Gansey are just so so lovely and tragically adorable.

[@polka.dotgirl]

I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO AND I'M SO HAPPY IT'S FINALLY HERE

[@stupidseapigeon5668]

Victoria recently said that Kate and August are meant to be platonic

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

Stupid Sea Pigeon she says that now 😒

[@Ashely56]

I felt a little bit of Chemistry between them but it felt forced

[@drlc6051]

Honestly that one bit still read to me as the two of them impulsively reaching for comfort, I still saw them as friends

[@stupidseapigeon5668]

she also said that the whole kissing thing was them misreading the connection they had.

[@jennybucio1558]

When you said that about children of blood and bone being a zutara fanfiction poorly done, I scream...because of the accuracy! I’m so freaking angry, cause they could’ve been amazing but the development of their relationship was just bad and it frustrates me af because they had so much potential ugh! I love this video 💖

[@rebeccar9764]

If you haven't checked it out yet, Mark Lawrence has put out a short story set after Grey Sister titled Bound, with some romance to it as well.

[@elizabethdevido2081]

Lovely video! If you like angst in fictional relationships, you should check out Tarryn Fisher's books.

[@ev6564]

I'm a sucker for angsty romances too lol

[@fictionalives]

i didn't know how much i needed that zelie/inan roast but i really did

[@TheDemonCurupira]

Thank you for the Strange the Dreamer. The most shocking part of the story was Thyon screwing over Lazlo in the first half of the book (I hated him so much) and his partial redemption later was so interesting. That could have developed into something more between them but... nope.

[@scrollsofdragons362]

I feel exactly the same about ships this year in all media, like 2016 was the year of shipping and lately just no. Lazlo and Thyon had so much chemistry, I shipped them both so much but Sarai and Lazlo? Bad insta love, couldn't stand them together. Feel the exact same for COBAB, Furyborn, Conjuring of Light, Our Dark Duet and Grey Sister-can't wait for Holy Sister for a certain ship to become canon. My faves have to be Court and Mykal from The Raging Ones, Will and Patrick from Wake up Married, Miko and Toby from the Mako Shark series. The worst have to be all the ships in KOA and Cruel Prince for being abusive/insta love.

[@booksandcatsandnaps9109]

I felt the exact same about Zélie and Inan, THE EXACT SAME 😩 instalove is definitely my most hated trope. And I have the same problem with VE Schwab, I never know if I’m gonna love her books or not. 2018 was not a good shipping year, like I found almost no new OTPs, which hurts my soul so much 😭

[@artybluegirl]

Oh completely agree with your opinion for Children of Blood and Bone, Strange the Dreamer and Wintersong. All of these either rush and push the characters together or don't develop or show why they'd be into each other?

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

YES UGH

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

The baseline for the attraction is there in Strange the Dreamer, but Taylor doesn't do anything to deepen it or make it more interesting. Here's hoping Muse of Nightmares is better.

[@kittymachine3798]

In Muse of Nightmares, I was quite pleased with how the Alchemist's story played out, I would consider them a mild ship. No way it was a good as it could've been it he and Laszlo had teamed up, but alas...

[@easilydistractedauthor]

Adrian/Nova in Renegades by Marissa Meyer. So cute.

[@Ray.500]

Yesss so excited to watch the video of the year 😌💅

[@Kaosbabe161]

Estrella is said Es-trey-a since it's a Latin themed book. It means star :)

[@jerometerrell4306]

When u held up SCARLET I started screaming!! Lolllll 🤣😭🤣😭🤣😭

[@soot9145]

Does anyone have recommendations about books set in boarding schools?

[@charityyoder9028]

My favorite couple is probably Han and Raids from the seven realms series. I almost couldn't take how angsty they got. I'm totally with you on both children of blood and bond and the cruel prince. Meh indeed. Though it feels like the more I read, the pickier I get about who and how I ship couples. At this point I have specific tastes which don't seem to be met often.

[@KristynRene.]

Eyeshadow is killlllllllllin’ it

[@africankhaleesi5450]

OH MY GOD I THOUGHT LAZLO WAS GONNA END UP WITH THYON NERO TOO 😂😂 I went into this book completely blind, so when they introduced alchemist guy I definitely caught some vibes and chemistry from them. I was so disappointed when i realized it wasn’t going to happen. What a missed opportunity. I read this last week and I loved it but the romance/insta love definitely took some enjoyment out it for me

[@elinamauno8833]

I had to come back and make a second comment because I was finally able to fully finish this video after other stuff was going on :'D Yes Kara and Vincent rep, I just finished the Themis Files series, and was obsessed with it - and I'm happy you liked the romance as I did XD And I appreciate its placement on the list as well since the story isn't that much of a focal point in the book. Also I forgot to say earlier - Kate and August in Our Dark Duet was a mixed feeling for me - I didn't mind them, but I wasn't that interested in a relationship between them because I struggled to like the duology as a whole :/

[@suranimabe3635]

You need to finish off the Lumatere Chronicles my Melina Marchetta. Froi of the exiles has one of my favourite ships ever!

[@alittlelifeofmel5157]

I guess I'm taking The Gilded Wolves to work with me because you and I have similar shipping tastes/reactions and I want to experience this ship ASAP.

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

YESSSS

[@Lucas_ramirez67]

Amina and Lovely Hume from Sea Fire... that book did not get as much attention that it deserved and the girls in love angle was not forced it was natural. This book and those girls were my faves of 2018.

[@melissamott5927]

Someone FINALLY said it about Lazlo and Sarai oh my GOD. The rest of the story was good and Muse is awesome but that insta-love killed me!

[@wendykim5510]

I actually liked Lila and Kell together because they represented (for me) such a power couple, where they didn’t necessarily rely on each other romantically and were both independent individuals, but they were there for each other nonetheless...? Idk, something about their relationship gave me feels lol but I can see why other people would dislike it too

[@jamiekosieracki6947]

My fave ship that I read last year was Cas and Em from the Ruined series.

[@malikasmart7091]

Thank you thank you thank youuuuuu. I was waiting for it. You're the best

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

:)))

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

HAHHAHA WHEN YOURE TALKING ABOUT CoBaB I’m dying 😂

[@jordanfair9979]

I'm glad that you brought up Strange the Dreamer, the insta love is a bit annoying. Also I expected Thyon and Lazlo to get together.

[@rosamartin3395]

what about a court of thorns and roses series??? love ya tho

[@ThoughtsOnTomes]

I didn't read any of those books this year...

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I think Jude was being dumb to trust Locke, because she wanted someone to trust, and was desperate.

[@thecosmicreader4479]

lmao! i love this video. you're so great Sam.

[@jennfierdeehring5363]

Omg just finished Grey Sister... so freakin good. Can not wait for April for Holy...’s@&$’ sister!

[@emilyguerra2174]

have you read the all for the game series? that is a good one for heart clenching couple

[@blissclair9743]

Honestly, I agree! 2018 wasn't a ship year! I bearly loved any of the ships I read about in 2018. They were all mainly okay. Very meh year ship-wise.

[@MortMe0430]

"The disgusting, bitter dregs." Loving the way with words you've got, Sam!

[@mirandasundgaard9819]

Yes, I didn't feel the whole Lazlo or Sarai thing either. It didn't feel genuine to me, it felt forced. Maybe because I listened to the audio book 🤷. The narrator wasn't bad, but I've noticed I rarely feel the same connection to characters with audiobooks compared to when I read physical book.

[@crystalsbookishlife]

I know. You don't want Shadowhunter recs, but the ships in Queen of Air and Darkness have you written ALL OVER THEM. Skip the Mortal Instruments, but the Dark Artifices series is sooooo ship worthy.

[@Thatdumbgremlin]

Kit and Ty are precious.

[@alilbitmads]

ELIANA AND SIMON WERE SO ANNOYING AND WEIRD. ugh sorry i have a lot of feelings when it comes to furyborn.

[@Alithia451]

Best couple: Portia and Fabian from Children of Time?

[@queendsheena1]

Gushing through 2019. Sounds legit.

[@fabiolagarzacreates]

Ditto on Mustang. Dang that relationship was boring.

[@elliemoon88]

lol I'm living for the sass. XD

[@TheLittlebats]

I really don't like the insta love in Daughter of Smoke and Bone (haven't read the rest of the series yet tho) so I'm not too hopeful about the one in Strange the Dreamer if it's the same kinda crap.

[@Ladykaydee57]

I hated the romance with a passion, but If you skim the gross Lazlo/Sarai moments, the rest of the book was really good. I think “Muse” was even better, but again, with much skimming and eye rolling past some spots.

[@ladylizcreates7719]

The dark artifices has a tropy relationship but real slow burn across the 3 books.