VLOG | using a book recommendation service again

[@katelynpace5503]

(I will never give up commenting this idea lol) I would love to see a challenge where you get a friend to pick and wrap a few books for you where you can’t see the cover, title page, or spine and you read those books. That way you have absolutely no preconceived notions of the book.

[@AndreaBetzabe]

yes i love this idea !!!

[@katelynpace5503]

@@AndreaBetzabe thank you!!

[@meghannpalmer7417]

Love this too

[@jordanresendes8868]

It would also be fun if at the end she tried to guess the book titles

[@katelynpace5503]

@@jordanresendes8868 Yes!!! I’ve been commenting this idea for months. I’m not giving up lol

[@annawilson2406]

“You can see my peanut butter cup wrappers but atleast you know I’m happy” is a mood 😂

[@karlasuarez18]

so true

[@dara-renee]

@@michaelgabs9885 go away

[@BooksandLala]

shout out to being demonetized for 10 seconds of *~sPoOky sCarY sKeLeTonS*~

[@vanessagarza4139]

You should get paid extra for working while pretty much dying....I felt for you during your sick clips. Hoping you’re feeling better! Thanks for the video!

[@julesnar1175]

If you had a patreon I for sure would have subscribed! KZbin really sucks for its monetization scheme

[@BooksandLala]

@@julesnar1175 I mean it's fully my fault for knowingly using someone else's content haha. I'm currently trying to edit it within the youtube app so we'll see if it works and the copyright strike vanishes ✨

[@RinaPranoto]

@@julesnar1175 I would too!

[@sarahlamarche5866]

+1 for Patreon :)

[@shereadsmysteries]

Just a reminder, too, if anyone is interested in book recs but can not afford to pay a service for them, recommendations, also known as readers’ advisory, is a free service librarians provide as part of the library! You can always check in there! I love giving recommendations and trying to find books for patrons, but new technology has often prevented people from coming in and asking for readers’ advisory services.

[@vanessahbaker9682]

Thank you for this!!!

[@kathyarrr]

W00T Librarians Rool!!

[@Allrileydup]

OMG thank you for mentioning this! It was my favorite part of working at a library! Go talk to your local librarians!

[@sk8tie]

If any of you are in Canada, Indigo also offers this for free on their website! I got some great recommendations, most of them Canadian authors!

[@11Juliet]

We Ride Upon Sticks: a girls' field hockey team summons the devil to make it to state finals Kayla: why does this sound like nonfiction [delirious laughter]

[@BooksandLala]

HahaahahHahahahHHAHAHAHA

[@sabrina.lnd95]

Is there something Kayla isn't telling us about her past in field hockey? 🤔

[@chelseybun]

Only Kayla would apologize that her thumbnail makes her video look more interesting than it is.

[@jjcinnaberry]

guys.. i think the Black Flamingo is in verse 😳😳

[@BooksandLala]

I'm not *positive*, but I think you're right

[@BizzlMix]

It is and it is perfect 💜

[@aless.andra9620]

For the next round, can you request Chelsey again? It seems like she got your taste figured out perfectly💕

[@alicetremblay2427]

Nobody’s that beautiful when they’re sick 😭

[@CeciliaReads]

"If you liked Bunny..." Me: *immediately buys book*

[@sk8tie]

me

[@astellus]

I laughed my ass off at work in my library when you said you took the plastic off the book. I freaking LOVE that you have the tape we use to cover your tracks. Bwahahaha. Man, I don't know why, but that just made my day.

[@WishAtElevenEleven]

Just wanted to say that reading books and watching your videos has helped so much with my depression recently, and I wanted to say thanks 📚🖤

[@gabbyreads]

I’ve never heard of We Ride Upon Sticks but after comparing it to Bunny I’m like 👀

[@natcommon]

Also, as a librarian, I did gasp when you took the plastic off.

[@nebula402]

Same! I died a little inside thinking about how many book jackets I’ve had to fix/replace after circulation. 😫

[@Dhor16]

Lol our libraries don't put plastic on to begin with

[@mrgreenleafx]

That's why in Germany libraries just glue them on 😂

[@natcommon]

@@mrgreenleafx I’ve worked at two different libraries. One has glued them on and the other uses tape.

[@mrgreenleafx]

@@natcommon Oh that's interesting!

[@CallaLaelPhotography]

My kind of Sunday night... a Lala vlog. 😁

[@Ponderingbooks]

Ann Putnam is a real person from the Salem Witch Trials. I’m so fascinated by your discussion on all of these books! So glad you shared the video despite the missing footage! 🥰

[@Neverrgreen]

Those spines look beautiful together! I love the burgundy chunk knit sweater!!

[@TheSunriseInside]

Thank you SO MUCH for mentioning that we should support Black owned businesses consistently & not just when someone gets murdered & white people feel bad!!!

[@lilifane]

I was hoping you would do a follow up recommendations video, so I’m really glad you decided to post this despite of the deleted footage. Loved it and will have to check out some of these books. I’ve also tried the service after your first video and my first round of recommendations was okay. I gave it another try and just finished my second round of books. It was amazing! So now I wonder if they get better at understanding what you want with time and am excited for a third round. :D

[@BookishRealm]

LALA YOU DID NOT TAKE OFF THE PLASTIC lmao!! That lowkey gave me flashbacks of some interesting stories of how people return library books.

[@BooksandLala]

I KNEW you'd come in here and clock me for this! I take it back. Hahahahahaha I'm so sorry- pretend this never happened! 🦋

[@aoifeoconnell]

Hearing you rave about books you loved just makes me excited to read more honestly!

[@khadijasaltaccount2921]

Seeing you sick probably on too much DayQuil starting "We Ride Upon Sticks" made me laugh so hard so here are some funny moments: "Librarians don't come for me... I haven't done this in a very long time and I won't do this again." "What was this even about?" "Quan Barry... QuAn BeRrY?" "Wha...'The author as the 'Danvers HS Marching Band Baton Mascot'... WhAt DoEs ThAt MeAn?" "There's a witch" "Should I memorize all these people?" "Girl Corry and Boy Corry?" "Is ThIs ReAl?" "Abby Poot-man...Putman...Putnam?" "Is this book real?" "I'm too stupid for this, I just flipped to a page that said 'p*nis breath'" "Maybe I should just sleep instead." and the last one: "Now you can see all my peanut butter cup wrappers, but at least you know I'm happy ;)"

[@amyjones6848]

This comment is a complete round up of what's made me smile in the past 48 hours.

[@itsmalachimusic]

she’s iconic

[@toemasito]

So freaking excited for this video! Regardless of the tech issues, I know it’s gonna be great! Def gonna take a stab at the book rec service! Love you Kayla 💕☺️

[@chanelletime]

Omg no :( not footage deleting :( i’m so glad you could make something out of it 🥺🥺 i’m excited to watch this

[@mackenzieyeager2782]

Book Riot, a company affiliated with this service, ALSO has a podcast where people send in requests and get tailored book recommendations. It's called Get Booked and it's pretty good!

[@zoeyprasad]

Your like the second person I follow on booktube that doesn't spoil books. I love your videos and I love how you read books that people have gave less then 4 stars to and you explain them in a better point of view as to why you liked the book . I just love love watching your videos

[@stephdeolives]

As a teacher, I fall into this habit of apologizing in advance for a lesson that might not be that fun or interesting, and I'm trying to break that habit, which is why I've noticed how much you apologize for your content. I hope you don't feel the need to apologize to us! Your content is interesting because YOU are interesting. I have NEVER agreed with any of your negative assessments of your own footage. I always look forward to watching your videos!

[@KirstyWardBooks]

Oooh narrated by Robin Miles means you can’t go wrong! Such a fantastic narrator that I deliberately seek out at this point. I particularly loved her narration of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. She has narrated many fantastic books though, including some NK Jemisin ones too!

[@ericavandegrift6219]

I’m just catching up on a bunch of your videos while wrapping Christmas gifts and I saw this 40 minute video and I got super excited because I won’t have to stop and scroll for a new video in 5 minutes lol

[@kobrien95]

omg I’m so glad you loved we ride upon sticks!!!! as someone from MA who played field hockey in high school it was legit a perfect depiction of that and I feel like the authenticity of it just made the experience of reading it that much better. so weird but so perfect!!!!

[@ferventfei]

your videos always feel so safe to me because it can be some form of escapism but without ignoring everything that is happening in the world (i dont think i worded it correctly)

[@31ninetyeighty]

Damn I will be broke by the end of the year . I need to buy we ride upon the sticks. Wow I love your description and I did love Catherine house too. Bunny is already on the list too. Thank you so much

[@bauplbn3749]

ive been rewatching all your recent videos while i write a majory essay, it makes me feel calm and in my element. i also watch your videos so i can fall asleep because your voice is so beautiful !! 🤍

[@allisoniwatake]

i love we ride upon sticks! I picked it up this summer at a thrift store because I liked the cover and it was brand new. i couldn't stop thinking about it and i lent it to my friend and she loved it too. i think it would be so much fun to adapt into a movie (which could go very wrong but still fun)

[@SundayLaughs]

Im someone on insta that voted you to just upload the vlog and im SO GLAD YOU DID!!!! Or else these 40 mins of content would be gone, ugh can't wait to watch this as my morning routine tomorrow

[@emilisamojloska2439]

I can't explain why, but I feel like you would love the collection of Mary Westmacott books (that Agatha Christie wrote under a pen name.) they're so underrated and I rarely hear anyone talk about them and they're such masterpieces. I highly recommend them, especially Absent in the Spring, A Daughter's A Daughter and Unfinished Portrait.

[@deepfriedcynic]

“You can see all my peanut butter cup wrappers, but at least you know I’m happy.” Big mood.

[@abbybeck3370]

i’ve seen you mention we ride upon sticks in so many videos and haven’t been interested but smth about your reactions to it while sick and out of it have me so hyped to try it

[@chelseamorgana]

So glad you loved We Ride Upon Sticks! I thought you might! It was five stars for me, too. I also haven’t seen it being hyped and it definitely deserves the hype!

[@AshleyLBergg]

omg when you said for fans of bunny, catherine house, and heathers i audible gasped and immediately added to my goodreads hahaha. maybe my 3 favorite things e v er

[@Just.one.paige2024]

I'm in disbelief that you took the plastic off the library book! I love it! Im a linrary worker and that is too funny! Now I'm wondering if this happens a lot! I will say that dust jackets are the worst and whoever decided they were a good idea needs a good knock on the head

[@KittyxKult]

I love your videos but girrrrllll as a former libarian and bookseller, seeing that dog-ear and taking off the library wrap made me want to cry (but at least you put it back on after!). But I think Chelsea did a super great job with recommendations, knowing We Ride Upon Sticks was one of your favorites (that was also one of the first books I picked up because of your videos!)

[@skeletonkeybooks]

I am probably the last person on the planet to need to pay for book recommendations, but I signed up for this as a birthday present to myself this summer. I'm on my second round of recs and am extremely pleased. We Ride Upon Sticks is on the Sirens reading challenge that was unveiled this morning, so I will definitely be reading that one in the coming year. It sounds so good!

[@myamaxwell3959]

This video made my Sunday so much better as I've been recovering from surgery the last week and you always make me smile

[@sleepingbooks5626]

Oh how I love Lala finding a new weird book to love

[@amyjones6848]

Honestly, the 30 minute mark where you're losing your mind about "We Ride Upon Sticks" is probably the funniest thing i've seen this week. dayquil is a hell of a drug.

[@katieannwicked]

So ready for this! 😁 You posting a long vlog just made my sunday night, thank you!! ❤❤❤

[@wasserklaenge3667]

The timing of the "booksandlala" lettering in this one and in the last videos too is just perfect! 😄 well done! 😉

[@nicoleglasson8615]

I love Robin Miles as a narrator. She does NK Jemisins Broken Earth trilogy and also the City We Became and they're incredible. In the City We Became the voice of the villain is my absolute favourite it's so creepy. She uses that particular voice for the copyright message at the end and even that was super compelling 😅 .

[@nikolasfox3445]

THAT'S why I recognized the voice! Thank you!

[@ashleyclark1680]

I’m so glad you loved We Ride Upon Sticks. I read it earlier this year and loved it and haven’t really seen it anywhere and haven’t seen anyone talking about it. It’s so fun and weird.

[@chloeurbanczyk2999]

So... Speaking of book recommendations... I just fell head over heals with the new book release PIRANESI a few days ago, and ever since I finished it I’ve been wondering- Would Lala like this? (Because, like, I think you would- especially now, since my mom read it, and she somehow interpreted the entire story 100% differently from I did... And I need to know which way you would read it.... And it’s amazing).... Anyway, thank you for the upload, I love love love your videos!

[@aubreyjdickens]

your love of weird ass books never ceases to make me happy

[@laurafinocchiarostudios]

Ahhh I want to do this!! It’s so indulgent but sounds like so much fun, maybe for my birthday or something lol

[@racquelmp4783]

Haven't watched in full but the same happened to me with Black Flamingo didn't know or remember that it was verse, finished it in one day and loved it

[@kelliculbertson1125]

OMG I definitely have some claw pics from when I was little. 🤣 gotta love being born in 86’

[@TheThreeBookshelves]

I told my husband about this and said it would be a great gift, and he got me a year subscription for my birthday. 😄 Thanks for the idea, Kayla! I can’t wait to get my first recs!

[@SamanthaPlansandReads]

I’m a librarian and I literally gasped when you said you took off the protective cover but also they are literally the worst when you’re trying to take a photo of the book so I don’t blame you 😂

[@rebecca3762]

I went to an event at the Edinburgh Book Festival called 'Speaking Up' and Dean Atta and Elizabeth Acevedo were speaking together and they each read from Black Flamingo/Poet X, so it was very cool to hear you make that connection! I looked to see if the event was available online anywhere but couldn't find it

[@sandrapandalesque8903]

When you see this video after knowing kayla's feelings and ratings of we ride upon sticks.. So excited to experience her discovering it!

[@beckyduff]

I also have ordered from A Different Booklist! Have you ordered from Iron Dog books? They are in Vancouver and Indigenous-owned. I lived in Ft.Mac, Alberta, and get my books within the week!

[@amyjones6848]

I LOVE this service, i use it whenever i want some variety that i wouldn't necessarily pick. I've gotten 2 rounds of picks and loved 4 of the 6 books recommended!

[@lalita1127]

I just realized the other day that my local library has started a really similar service and seeing this video makes me think I really need to try it out now/

[@loruffa]

We Ride Upon Sticks is the Belletrist pick this month, which is the first tike I've seen much buzz for it. I've seen people recommend it before too, I just haven't gotten to it yet. So happy you loved The Black Flamingo too! I love it so much

[@loruffa]

Also Chelsea is amazing

[@katekay]

I love this TBR series 🤩

[@marchforth3515]

Idk if people know how risky it is for businesses to have a sudden influx of support, only to lose a majority of it so I’m glad you mentioned that

[@whitney8002]

I was rewatching old Lala videos and clicked off for this one 💕

[@christinelagueux8155]

I ordered the Good House because of another book tuber''s recommendation. I was so excited to see that on your TBR recommendations. Also We Ride Upon Sticks sounds like my kind of book. I am an 80s kid so now I want to read it and I love weird books too. :)

[@beearedee]

I’d love to see a video of what weird books you think beginners should start out with. Especially the ones you say are like the other ones. I want to read all of them but don’t know where to start

[@maia_gaia]

I've used mytbr twice now, and both times the recs were really great. Thanks for putting them on my radar!

[@KendraWinchester]

Oh yay! I am a TBR bibliologist and this makes me so happy.

[@romxilda]

This has got to be my favourite thing that you do and this video is just what I needed this morning; thank you Kayla!

[@crystalsbookishlife]

Literally the highlight of my day, thank you Kayla 💕

[@princesskittyXx]

I haven't read the black flamingo but I know it will make cry. People finding themselves and being okay with themselves fills me with so much joy.

[@emmibobable]

My mum still does the claw 😂😂😂 it’s partially when I grew out my fringe 😂

[@bennie1223]

I have a question if anyone be kind enough to answer. At 34:00 she compares Catherine house to Bunny. If I understand things right, Bunny is a low fantasy book, is Catherine house as well?

[@animetouch940]

I hope you do this again, Kayla 😁 and with Chelsea too

[@Kay-wp8xf]

My dream job is to work full time for a book rec service, I would get to read books and tell people what I think they would enjoy. It would be AMAZING.

[@nevermind5175]

I fall in love with your hair more and more in each video 😍

[@whitneyhendrix8075]

Audiobook sample while vlog B roll plays 😍😍😍

[@katelynpace5503]

This should be a monthly video!!

[@pucksandpaperbacks]

the field hockey book sounds so good and I've been meaning to get around to the black flamingo after hearing Dean talk about it!

[@haaaleyyyyable]

WOOHOOO HAPPY SUNDAY NIGHT 😇

[@CheyenneWyntarArt]

I’ve been wanting to try this service since your first video about it. I’ve seen a few other people try it out with mixed success but I’m manic and want new books so YOLO or whatever 😎🤙🏻

[@emersynstroud2466]

love this series!!!!

[@CompletelyMelanie]

Hope you get to feeling better soon! So glad your reading turned out so well. Are you going to do a Part 3? I think it is really cool seeing what they recommend for you. Chelsea did a great job!

[@mariaperez9301]

For some reason I can't access the subscription service. The website keeps returning an error. I hope they fix it soon because I really feel like getting a few recommendations.

[@SabrinaHawk]

My momma rocked those dang banana clips

[@mpsensha]

Good things come in threes, the colours of the spines are work wonderfully together, so it had to be a good pick. 😁

[@amberinoface]

okay, okay. you won me over on the two books i havent read yet

[@isabellao18]

If you love hard-hitting YA contemporaries, I think you'll love A Breath Too Late by Rocky Callen and This Is My America by Kim Johnson- especially A Breath Too Late, which is very underrated! It has a lot of things in it you like... I think, lol.

[@gaiaathena-books]

I loved The Black Flamingo! I'm glad all three of these recommendations worked out so well for you!

[@AdrianneChristineBooks]

Your videos bring me so much joy 😭. I have hundreds of books on my tbr but why am I so tempted to use this service 🤔

[@mybookishdelights4767]

My son and I just tried that TikTok pepper thing... and it was freaking tasty! We used the same Cheetos. So good!

[@starry_worlds]

I'm gonna try this at some point. It sounds fun. Also We Ride Upon Sticks sounds interesting. I've added it to my TBR.

[@ferventfei]

i wasnt having the greatest day but i saw from your instagram that you uploaded and i just want to say THANK YOU.

[@daniellew544]

I read follow me to Ground because of how much you liked it and I am obsessed it was the perfect amount of weird I needed!!!

[@frederiquel7022]

The shirt at 34:03 is fire!!! always love your style but this one was particularly cute! :) Extremely enjoyable video, once again

[@peachykeenchy8194]

i thought that too!

[@BookedandBusy]

So glad you posted it AND had 2 five star reads!

[@abbeyroche2983]

This is the best vlog of all time

[@powerpuff4ever]

You should check out Storygraph! It’s a goodreads alternative in beta and it seems like its going to be pretty good for grabbing reading stats and like it takes more about reading preferences into account than just genres (plus you can rate on a point scale because you just type in the stars). It would be cool to see your impression