Tier Ranking 10 Years of Favourites 🏆 (+ also Eyeballs & Book Club Reads)

[@sararoza797]

"the inside of my own body is none of my business" real lol

[@Taralovescoloring]

I want that stitched on a freaking pillow 😂😂

[@strugglingbookaholic1245]

I saw this comment before I saw Kayla say that and I was thinking “how did this come up” but now I get it 😂

[@peachykeenchy]

i always say “if i could be a sentient patch of haze, i would be”

[@Hillary429]

We need a 2025 “reading in spite of the ball” reading vlog 👁️

[@riankoch9126]

The final Emily Wilde has eyeballs on it so this could work

[@HannahWoycik]

i would love to do another month of novellas! it was so fun hearing everyone's thoughts about multiple stories and they had a bit more meat to them to discuss than the anthology stories.

[@vivaamanda]

The commentary on the eyeball ranking is so unhinged and I love it 😂

[@Rachel-6016]

repeating very seriously “in spite of the ball” is cracking me up 😂

[@polka.dotgirl]

I would love another novella month for the Literally Dead book club! I really liked the idea of being able to pick as many of the choices as we were interested in, which could be just one if that’s how we felt! And personally I pick up short story collections more than novellas so having the excuse to venture outside my usual is always good!

[@tayrocks22]

Your eyeball tier ranking is the best. I just started wearing contacts in late September and touching my eyes is less scary now. However, that does NOT mean I wanna think about them. I also did not realize that red 1984 cover was an eyeball. Thank you for teaching me something today. 😂💀

[@apenaro0813]

No matter where I'm at with my own personal reading, you are my comfort channel and as soon I come back here my love for books and stories is reignited.

[@avsambart]

"I will never financially recover from this" is literally every aspect of my life, including books, in 2024. 2024 has been such a bad year in every meaning of the word and in every way.

[@sararoza797]

right?? i genuinely feel like the universe was completely misaligned this year it was so bad

[@cat.book.nook.]

Have you ever ranked animals on the covers? I'd watch that!

[@xoxokas]

omg the eyeball tier ranking was hilarious and made me feel the urge to tell you about this giant eyeball sculpture in the middle of downtown Dallas. it's been there for like a decade and it's just sitting on a plot of grass in the middle of regular ol office buildings and stuff. IT'S FREAKY.

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I love that you added a new tier!!

[@MelpoReads]

21:35 not me yelling “pardon?!?” and you moving it back up

[@kylieweitz]

I think a cozy (such as Vera Wong or Finlay) would be good to have on the list each year.

[@miranda4073]

I loved the novella month, so I'd be down for another round like that! Also, I loved The God of the Woods so you are not alone there.

[@TheeKookyWildflower]

Girl, you're right! I yelled at you about 2022, lol. Kindred and The Fifth Season alone had you living your best life. Don't you put that as nothing to write home about!!!

[@KristinKravesBooks]

I'll never get tired of tier ranking videos. They are so much fun! The eyeball ranking killed me 😂

[@greenonionbabey]

I literally watched your tier ranking video from last year while I was decorating my christmas tree earlier today..... my mind Also my favorite book club picks of this year were the Night Guest and Sisters of the Lost Nation! I also did really enjoy Night Watching but it wasn't like, ground breaking. I would personally enjoy more novellas next year, I thought it was fun and I liked how varied they were

[@smittenforfiction]

My LDBC ratings: Out There Screaming - 5 stars Vera Wong - 5 stars Nightwatching - 3 stars Sisters of the Lost Nation - 4 stars You Know What You Did - 2 stars Middle of the Night - 2 stars I Was a Teenage Slasher - 5 Stars The God of the Woods - 5 stars This is Where We Talk Things Out - 3 stars Graveyard Shift - 3 stars The Night Guest - 4 stars An Academy for Liars - 2 stars Average = 3.6 Solid! Found lots of 5-star reads and can't wait to read more from those authors.

[@emilydean563]

This eyeball ranking just unlocked a memory from childhood where a kid with a glass eye had it fly out on the school bus and it was just rolling around. I probably screamed louder than I should have

[@okaywhatev4]

Absolutely love the eyeball tier ranking and how niche it is

[@marijevanderveen0504]

Kayla, I swear that you need to read S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Horst. It's a book written about a book, with footnotes that tell a story, with also the story of the writer interwoven in it. It also has lose papers and stuff inside of it, so it's full of clues and as immersive as House of Leaves but also feels like Shadow of the Wind

[@kate-ne]

I read the Little Devil in America after you raved about it and LOVED IT. And then also read his backlist They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, which was a pop punk music dream. I'm currently waiting for the audiobook for his new release, There's Always This Year, and hope to get it before the year is up! Anyways all that to say I'm so glad you stumbled across that book in the store and picked it up kind of by random so that it also introduced me to a new favorite author too

[@holireads]

Almost fainted at my eye test this week, you are not alone. 👀

[@KaitlynMayReads]

Night Watching was one of my favorite picks you've chosen for book club!

[@elskabee]

same!

[@BellesLibrary]

I agree!!

[@reneeelich4893]

i didn't even realize that one 1984 cover was an eyeball.

[@sdg3639]

Nightwatching and This is where we talk things out were my fav book club reads this year

[@laurafinocchiarostudios]

I’ve found some of my all time favorite books because of your book club! That’s so cool I can’t believe it’s been 5 years

[@beckyduff]

Your descriptions of the eyeball covers was everything! I was one of the rare people who actually liked Middle of the Night 🤫🙈

[@kelley.s]

100% agree with all of your eyeballs takes, no notes. The 3 novella month was fun, I would love to do that again!

[@vera8404]

A Reign of Vipers was an indie book that was awe-inspiring. Serious Game of Thrones vibes on steroids. LOL! I read 3 of your favorites. I love your taste!!

[@natasagajic1061]

No no, I am fully in agreement with you that all covers for The Eyes are the Best Part should be in the bottomest of the bottom ties possible

[@NancyLiliG]

I wasn’t able to attend any of the book club live shows this year, which I guess resulted in me not realizing that I did actually read all of the picks this year. Feeling good! Accidental win! My fave: Vera Wong & God of the Woods.

[@awpageofabook]

If I tier ranked some of my old favourite books, I would probably be giving my younger self side-eye 😂

[@theotherveronica]

i was on booktube for a couple of years back in the day (around when kayla first started too) and this has inspired me to go back and see what i ranked as my top books. i have a feeling it’s going to be either embarrassing or just confusing 😂

[@phix27]

I really liked the novella month! I didn't enjoy the short story collection but I'm not a short story collection person.

[@MelpoReads]

Loved the anthology and novella months!!

[@Catsandcamera]

I'm the same with this year's reading, I've read some great books, but I don't have any I think of as best books ever

[@priscilla.t.a]

I Was a Teenage Slasher is my favorite Literally Dead Book Club pick of the year. I guess it's an unpopular opinion, but my second favorite was Nightwatching. I adored the novella month and would love to do it again next year.

[@TheNovelSanctuary]

YAYAYAYAY im so happy you loved the Liz Moore

[@mslaureenslibrary]

I would love to see 2025 on the teir ranking next year. My favorite Literally Dead Bookclub pick was Vera Wang. I think it's going to be in my top 10 for the year. I liked the anthology over the three novellas.

[@Anna-m7y9n]

Justice for Nightwatching! I would definitely move it to the solid category. Edit: commented too soon, it should go to decent.

[@Jordan_lcm]

The God of the Woods, Nightwatching, and The Night Guest were my favorite book club picks this year! Loved the variety of titles for 2024 😊

[@CulinaryCrime]

I feel like looking at the books over the years, many of the choices get more unique and obscure every year. :) I love it, because I love hearing about the books that aren't everyone's five stars. ❤

[@hollysenchantedbooks]

I JUST watched the Middle of the Night bookclub live yesterday, and yes- u all hated it 😂😂😂

[@CherreePanda]

I would love to see you read Agnes Sharp’s Sunset Years (elderly cosy mystery) especially since book 2 is coming out. I think people would love it maybe more than Vera Wong based on the criticisms I heard. Also it’s crazy that I’ve been consistently watching since 2017. Where did the time go?!

[@samantharose1001]

Good luck with the Goodreads, Kayla!!

[@rachel43274]

The novella month was fun but it did stress me out a little to time it right with library holds

[@lumensapace]

The eyeball ranking was so funny!

[@CulinaryCrime]

My favorite of these from this year has to be I was A Teenage Slasher. Such a great read.

[@theotherveronica]

first- i’d definitely like to do another month of novellas. it exposed me to stuff i wouldn’t have otherwise read and i really loved that! secondly, i’m curious if you could elaborate on some of the controversy of some of the books from 2016. i obviously know about Colleen Hoover but the rest i’m mostly ignorant about but like to be informed!

[@KiraKiera]

The UK cover of 'The Eyes Are The Best Part' (the simplistic one with the eyeball in the mouth) was the only eyeball cover that gave me a physical 'ick' feeling 🫣

[@Bookishbroccoli1]

I promise next year I’ll read and participate in your bookclub more. This year I only did God of the Woods and LOVED it

[@CulinaryCrime]

I actually enjoyed Middle Of The Night. And I know some people who have said it was there favorite Riley Sager. I think for me it's in the middle of his books.

[@myronemmaturner]

Could you switch the colors of the great and iconic tiers 😂 i've been obsessed with it lol Also i would do another anthology for the bookclub, the first one didn't go well for me but i liked discovering new authors with everyone

[@chriswildfire]

Oh no you loved it ends with us hated the ending of that book your reading has definitely improved you’re brave to show some these 😂

[@RoseArnoldd]

My favourite read from the book club this year was Nightwatching!! (Though I haven’t read the SGJ yet, wanted to wait for summer in the southern hemisphere - library hold can’t come soon enough 🤗) As for novella collections and short stories - I vote both! I think make both an annual thing 💛🥰

[@maskedmarvel09]

I’m currently reading the alternative cover of the eyes are the best part. I find it less intense than the other due to the cartoonishnish and less viscera, but also hurts my jaw haha

[@SallySimply]

I loved having a month of novellas! Even before I was slated to co-host, I was really into that idea, and the discussions that came from it were super fun. (I'd be down to co-host again, just sayiiiiing)

[@annieblock5396]

Loved the novella book club month and would be excited if there was another one in 2025! Not as excited for short story collection.

[@gabbyreads]

The eyeball cover tier ranking is top tier content 😂

[@Adharamoon]

I think I just like rant reviews bc the Academy for liars was one of my favorite live shows

[@rachelapalmieri]

My favorite picks from this year were Nightwatching & The Night Guest 😻

[@BookReviewsWithBecky]

So many on here I enjoyed! 🤩🤩

[@danielleoliver1734]

The Vivian Shaw book is the 4th in a series, it’s following a doctor for monsters and the series is fun, almost cozy fantasy vibes but not coz monsters

[@feliciajohnson6412]

Oooh so excited for this one!

[@rachelapalmieri]

Not me gagging at the eyeball section

[@abbybeck3370]

I was so defensive of The God of the Woods during the live show lmao

[@Bookishbroccoli1]

I realize that we read so many of the same books-then I’m like obviously, I come to you for recs lol

[@amandajune97]

The missed opportunity to put Yellowface in the “bombastic side eye” tier because the cover is literally giving side eye 😂😭😭😭

[@marisagettas]

So fun! The eyeball Tier ranking, especially!!

[@thebookgeek87]

We is one of my favorite covers. I bought it simply because of the cover lol

[@heatherbenza5185]

The god of the woods was a 4.5 for me. I guess I was out of the loop and didn’t realize so many felt meh.

[@AmyElizabethReads]

I kept waiting for the novella Sleep Donation by Karen Russell to show up. I think you'd like the book but you would absolutely hate the cover. It's very veiny. Luckily there are alternate covers if you ever pick it up😆

[@caro7000]

I would really like another short story collection! For some reason the novellas felt like too much commitment for me.

[@jaimee-kate]

My vote is for Novella month! (I do not have good luck with anthologies)

[@pucksandpaperbacks]

I just read Sisters of the Lost Nation and thought it was incredible!

[@sashamoons868]

Omg. Do eyeballs make me cringe as much as you? Yes. Did I watch the entirety of this vid? Also yes. 😭😅

[@theborky]

every time i see the cover of fetch the bolt cutters by fiona apple i think it’s you cause your eyes are so similar

[@daydreamingcase]

I'd love another novellas month. I couldn't participate in this one because I was reading House of Leaves and I had so much fomo

[@katherinesdimensionalreading]

Strange New World is the 4th in a series just so you know, but the first one was decent, I think. The love interest is baffling though

[@AlyciaRunsandReads]

Night watching was my first book club read and I loved it. Gave me so much anxiety Favorite was I was a teenage slasher 😂

[@ariane1159]

You need to complete 1984!!

[@Breanakechelle]

Vera Wong is hilarious! I still think about that body outline 😂

[@beearedee]

The outline is so iconic 😂 that’s one of the few mysteries I think I could reread and still enjoy it!

[@amelialouise9089]

yeonmi park jump scare

[@CulinaryCrime]

I personally am not a fan of short story collections. They stress me out. 😂 They generally have some really good stories and some I don't enjoy, and I never know how to rate them, or how I feel about them overall.

[@HannahWoycik]

kayla where did you get your sweater from? it looks soooo cozy!!

[@encyclopediaofelizabeth]

I was giggling so much at yohr face while ranking the worst eye balls. I hope you update this in the future. 😂

[@AdyGrafovna]

I actually REALLY loved Out There Screaming. I seem to be in the minority, but I had a great time reading most of those stories.

[@shreyabooked9309]

It was so hard to look at the screen when the eyeball ranking was going on. 😅

[@Emmzz4071]

I think you have a phobia of eyeballs Kayla 😂

[@laurenstobb7453]

If I were to do my version of the eyeball ranking, it would be book covers with sloths on them.... ugh 🤮 they make me gag. Nothing worse really. Luckily, there are not many books with those on the cover!

[@emiliefalardeau7581]

If you hate eyeballs, I stronly suggest you avoid the short movie El Perro Andaluz by Dalí, the eyeball scene scarred me for life

[@NovelsWithNicole]

my wild take is that the middle of the night was LIGHTYEARS better than the god of the woods 💁🏽‍♀️ 😅

[@HannahWoycik]

@@NovelsWithNicole i agree!! middle of the night was 4.5 for me and i dnf'd the god of the woods

[@Ashley-my2vu]

Hard agree

[@sashabray2937]

Please bring back the novelas!

[@astronot92]

The ball is tolera-ball 😂

[@lynsiedaniels3275]

34:54 Of the Flesh is giving Jackbox Fibbage #iykyk

[@max-reads]

I liked doing novellas

[@VeraFran]

I hate eyeballs on covers. I also hate having to go to the eye doctor *shudders* Kayla, I think The Night Guest should have been in the Great category. Just saying.

[@robinmitchells]

It makes me sad to see how sad you are whenever you talk about this year’s average rating cuz I know how it feels. Last year was the first year I started tracking my reading and I ended up with a 3.45 average 🙃 I read a lot of great books that year, including a few that became some of my all time favorites, but apparently I read even more stinkers. However this year I have a 3.67! And it may go up before the year is over since I’ve got a few 5-star titles in my tbr I’m really excited about! Fingers crossed next year gives you the same luck if not better!

[@Horrorbabe4]

Changing how you go about picking your books can help

[@jaimee-kate]

2024 has also been a flop reading year for me. Idk what's going on rn