🌷 what i read in april: unhinged girlies and fascist dolphins 🐬

[@baeticat]

"I am the boss, I berate myself" 💀 that hit close to home.

[@awpageofabook]

it's too relatable

[@odysseus2551]

babe, wake up!! ally just posted a new video 💖

[@stopbeingana-hole4151]

“An autistic asexual dolphin.” 😭 I love your channel! You seem like a very cozy relatable human.

[@XxDangerDaysxX]

I don’t comment much, but your content is such a welcome and comforting constant in my life. I lost my granda, my favourite person in the whole world, last week, and it has been so difficult I don’t have the words. Thank you for being such a safe, warm corner of the internet to land in. ❤️

[@kagey7591]

Ally, you are the only channel I follow where I actually take notes, and not just the books you mention, but the recommendations I find in your comment section. Your videos and this cozy community of readers you have created are such a lovely place to visit every Sunday.

[@emmakates]

it breaks my heart but also feels so relatable to hear you say that you feel too “wrong” for the world. it’s so hard to exist in a world that was not built for us and actively makes us feel less than, but i can at least say that your channel and the discord community have helped me so much to feel like i’m okay how i am 💜

[@wereallwallflowers]

I read the Tea Dragon Society books! I treated myself to the box set and I’m SO HAPPY I DID

[@KatieColson]

You are so eloquent! The disclaimer at the beginning really got me because that is exactly what people comment and it’s so sad. Like, don’t be so hard on yourselves for what or how much you’re reading!

[@whylal]

The Mothkeeper is on its way to my local branch for me to pick it up!! One of the graphic novels I'm reading this year for class is Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton. It mainly takes place in Alberta, Canada, where the author moved to for employment from the maritimes to pay off her student loans. I have no idea what to expect, but it'll be interesting to read more about the whole terrible deal going on in my country regarding the oil sands and oil industry

[@wordstowordlessthings]

two 5* reads for me last month! 1. how to keep house while drowning by kc davis -- short, neurodivergent friendly ultra compassionate look at all the unhelpful messages we get and give about cleaning, organizing, and caring for ourselves and how to navigate periods of burnout without compromising our worth. 2. all that's left in the world by erik j. brown -- post-pandemic (not covid), what the heck happens now story about two boys that manages to balance both kind of road trip vibes with humour and romance and harrowing, pulse-pounding deeply affecting stuff. the pacing is so so good and there are things people said off-hand that gave me absolute chills.

[@kimdaniel4539]

I love your forth rightness about neurodivergent and the issues. As a parent of a daughter who has many cognitive challenges including being on the spectrum, adhd and learning processing she isn't able to always advocate for herself and receive services in Florida. So we are her advocates and have all the struggles you mentioned. I will be checking out the Pierce book

[@francescakyanda9182]

YES, I’m autistic (self diagnosed) and I just KNOW that coming out with that specific disclaimer would give me trouble

[@emilyem3]

My world was ROCKED last month by The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. I thought about the characters all day long when I wasn’t reading and genuinely lost sleep over them. ❤

[@poppymaud7614]

Last month my two faves were 'Different Not Less' by Chloe Hayden which is a memoir/non-fic around growing up and thriving as a neurodivergent person - really recommend, was very hopeful and felt like a big hug. I also read The Psalm for the Wild-Built on your recommendation which was incredible!!

[@JessicaBeeler]

I've been meaning to comment for awhile just to mention how much I love the background music choices; they makes my soul happy lol.

[@awpageofabook]

my youtube channel hit 1k this week so life is fun at the moment! yay!

[@fruitloop9581]

congratulations!!😁🙌🎉❤

[@baeticat]

I finished Ms Ice Sandwich today, which was a lovely, cozy read! Excited to pick up more Kawakami

[@isabellehall9217]

My favorite book from April is The Count of Monte Cristo. The edition I borrowed from the library has 1750 pages, but the letters are huge. I enjoyed it, but now I'm kinda burned out from such a long book. Another 5-star was Asylum Road by Olivia Sudjic. It's an amazing and well-written literary fiction.

[@tinaahern8907]

I am so happy I found your channel last month! I have watched a lot of your older videos-there’s so much coziness, books & kitties to catch up on😊 This month I read 8 books. Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls, which is pretty typical of what I like, was probably my favorite. I picked up V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic after finishing her City of Ghosts series in March, and I can’t wait to read the other 2 in this trilogy. Fantasy is new to me, and I feel like I’m opening a door to a whole other world of reading 📖

[@QueenGingerr]

I would recommend checking out poet, Kate Baer. Her most recently collection “And Yet” was stunning and carried that mother/child relationship dynamic.

[@hslotfan]

ally would you consider doing a reading vlog reading subscribers recommendations ? maybe the books we’ve recommended the most that you haven’t read yet !

[@rowan.27]

whenever you ask for poems about nature and celebrating love & gratitude i recommend ross gay!! (i was so excited that a book of his essays is an upcoming book club pick 👀) i do love his essays and his poems are so beautiful and accessible too. very conversational and full of love for life & loved ones which i adore ❤️

[@sib2586]

I would recommend Belonging by bell hooks! It’s essays about her life growing up Black in Kentucky, trying to find her place, and some essays on the environment!

[@tristinrose13]

Always look forward to hanging out with you on sundays 😊 dank je

[@ACupofNicole]

of women and salt was so wonderful and full of amazing representation! i'm so glad you enjoyed it, if you haven't read anything by brit bennett yet (the mothers, the vanishing half) definitely check her out!

[@Namesa1313]

Oooo definitely second The Vanishing Half. So so so good! (Haven’t read The Mothers yet but have heard great things)

[@readingaster]

gezellig is the vibe of your channel actually

[@allisonpaiges]

the ultimate compliment :')

[@sophiaa8454]

Your videos always make my sundays better. Thanks for being so amazing! Last semester I had a course at Uni where we read bell hooks and „Where we stand: Class matters“ really opened my eyes and was very accessible. I‘m currently also reading „All about love: New Visions“, looking forward to your opinion about it. And my favorite read in the month of April was „Real Life“ by Brandon Taylor. Have a wonderful week! 💚

[@danibosman5342]

two videos in and I have officially found another new favourite booktuber 🥰

[@sophieharris3273]

I really recommend Fern Bradys (who's a Scottish comedian) 'Strong Female Character'. She was disagonised with autism in her late twenties early thirties and talks about the struggles of growing up undiagnosed, going to university undiagnosed, etc. It's definitely one of my favourite memoirs.

[@melodye14]

I'm nearly finished with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and I'd definitely recommend it. It's nearly 900 pages but everything has just been such a rich experience. I can definitely see why someone told me it was made into a TV show. Pro tip: Don't skip the footnotes!

[@ChloeTheePayne]

AW how fun the anniversary of a year with ana luisa! i am thrilled to have pre-ordered some snail shirt goodness, and next on the budgeting list one of these days will definitely be some shiny earring sparkles ✨

[@RiaKay91]

Indeed I bought "Laziness does not exists" after I saw it on your video

[@sararoza797]

Poetry recommendation: View with a Grain of Sand by Wisława Szymborska! She's a Polish poet and I loved this collection so much :)

[@hannatebrand9535]

last month i read ace by angela chen! one of the best non-fiction books i´ve ever read. highly highly recommend! and thank you for this chat. been watching your videos every sunday for maybe two months now and oh how i love this new way to end my week

[@hannatebrand9535]

also! i would love to hear what vlogs you enjoy watching sometime! i want to add to this cozy internet corner :))

[@Camila-rg2lh]

April was the month I read the most so far this year but I strugled to find a non-fiction book that got me truly interested. I'll definitely check out Unwell Women now!

[@hannjords]

I read 11 books in April, my favourites being Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson, and the first two books in Deborah Levy's Living Autobiography trilogy.

[@alexandraa23]

it’s always sunday happies when ali posts 🤍

[@meagld]

I'd love more extended size options on the celebrate mundanity merch! I hope you do more in the future because I love your designs and would love a shirt! Thanks for being my favorite comfort channel!

[@allisonpaiges]

both sweatshirts and white t shirts go up to 5XL! :-)

[@fraffee]

Cozy video, my heart is soothed 🥰 Thank you, Ally! My most favorite book I read in April is Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow x 3!! And this May I'm currently reading Laziness Does Not Exist and oh my gosh, Ally, your comments in this video make so much sense especially as I'm reading the book right now. Chronically binge-able though :)

[@matildahoulihan4167]

Sooo interesting to hear your experience with Laziness Does Not Exist. Making me think of what they say so often in the Maintenance Phase podcast - when we realise a problem exists at a systemic/societal level, then the solutions need to be at that level too! I.e. the solution to ableism is not... be gentle and look after yourself but like... let's change society so it's less ableist

[@spc.aesthetic]

I most definitely recommend “Spectrum: Poetry Celebrating Identity”

[@rosegardenmadisonsquare]

I read What Lies in the Woods a few weeks ago and it was crazy! I called one or two of the twists, but I loved it anyway!

[@144jenjen]

I read 7 books in April. My faves were The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera and The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown!

[@novelideea]

Have you read, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating? It's totally an Alli book!

[@allisonpaiges]

yesss it's one of my favorites!

[@Belladonna_Q]

I know it’s been almost two weeks since you posted it, but I’m finally catching up with your videos (yay!), because I didn’t have much time lately, so I’m gonna leave a comment anyway. Mostly because you asked what we read in April, and I read a most peculiar thing and wanted to share. March and April were kind of meh reading-wise, but there were exceptions. Like a Polish epic fantasy poem written in dodecasyllables (I don’t know if this is the correct term; I had to google it, it’s a twelve-syllable thing), which was a wild experience. It was as weird as it sounds. As always, thank you for posting. I started watching your videos about a year and a half ago. I don’t always have the courage to drop a comment, but I really appreciate you. Ok, bye!

[@charissnyder5887]

Just started a psalm for the wild built as per your recommendation and I’m feeling so excited!!!!

[@Namesa1313]

Allison, have you read Still Life by Sarah Winman? I would love to hear your thoughts on it! I think it has some themes that you would enjoy; found family, acceptance, art, and small joys.

[@awpageofabook]

there's also a talking parrot I believe

[@katiemariereads]

I just love your videos so much and seeing you move into your new apartment this month and thrive in your new space has brought me so much joy in that weird parasocial way I feel like I'm cheering my bestie on! Thank you for all the comfort and joy your videos bring ❤

[@kenzievances]

thank you for creating such a comforting space for me to visit every sunday and revisit on the days when i need a little pocket of peace

[@fraklindelanoroosevelt]

I finally read the Seven Husbands of Evenly Hugo and Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter! That was my first Karin Slaughter and I felt like I needed a bleach bath after. Currently almost done with Beautiful World Where Are You.

[@shannonduarte1257]

In April, my favorite reads were The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, Legends & Lattes, and The Grief Keeper (the audiobook reader was amazing in this). Others I enjoyed were The Henna Wars and The Truth Project (definitely loving books in verse, such as Clap When You Land)

[@nummy_nummers]

I'm definitely in my poetry era too - I've read quite a few collections this year and have really enjoyed Denise Riley and Joelle Taylor in particular. Really want to read some Ada Limon!

[@cwasoni]

This video showed up at a great time! I was contemplating what to get my mom for mothers day and decided to take advantage of you code

[@bookblock]

HAHAHAAHHAHHAHA so just after ally said the line about "hey do you want to feel depressed about being a woman in the medical system" 18:54 I got an ad for a local botox clinic ahhahhahahahhahhhahha :)))))))))

[@poppanna]

I read Parable of the Sower last month, which I loved loved loved, and Book of the most precious Substance, which I hated hated hated. 😅

[@SynsBookNook]

I really need to get the Tea Dragon Society books, the artwork is stunning! The best thing I read in April was Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi, it's a horror book but it was very intense and emotional and really struck a chord with me.

[@florendi255]

i have my final exams these next few weeks and your videos honestly serve as my wind down before mondays!

[@jig0thy]

my two personal favourite reads from april we’re don quixote (which i had started back in february, she’s a bigg’n) and ‘reclaiming body trust’ which was a nonfiction book unpacking diet culture that my therapist recommended to me! i loved don quixote so much it’s definitely one of my favourite books of ever now and the body trust book now lives rent free next to my inner critic fighting negative body thoughts with a knife so. i think it was an effective read! most disappointing read last month was tatouine by jean-christophe rehel :/ by its description i was expecting something more staggering and emotional about life and humanity but instead it was kinda just an upsetting narrative by a very sad man now that i’m out of school for the summer hopefully i get to read more ! thanks for the warm cozy vibes as always

[@rosarioreads]

I've just started Pod and the premise sounds so interesting! I haven't gotten to the questionable dolphin scenes yet, a little bit apprehensive about what's to come haha

[@bries5]

I live for your bookshelves, such cozy vibes Currently I'm reading Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo and really enjoying it! I love her writing style and the way she has the characters interact and their dialogue I am reading it directly after finishing the Shadow and Bone Trilogy though so I'm starting to crave something fresh and new, I bought A Little Life not too long ago and I'm excited to give it a try since I've only heard good things about it and I want to branch out into more genres and authors. I really hope I love Yanagihara's writing style because the plots to her other books also sound really interesting to me!

[@sydneywood8455]

your channel is so cozy thank you for being you ❤️❤️

[@tjfmd]

I read 7 books in April which for me is a very good month! My favorite book out of the 7 was Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I was very surprised that I liked it so much, usually sci-fi isn't my thing. I actually ugly cried a few times while reading it which I did not expect when I picked it up 😅 I'll have to pick up The Moth Keeper! I got the Tea Dragon box set after seeing you recommend it and even though I've only read the first one I already know I'll love the second and third too 🥰

[@manoeksbooknook]

My favorite books from April were : Forget me Not by Alyson Derrick (beautiful and emotional sapphic ya contemporary about an Asian American Lesbian in a small religious town who suffers from amnesia after an accident. I can't stop thinking about this one. From one of the author duo of She Gets the Girl) and Eyes, Guts Throat and Bones by Moïra Fowley, a beautiful but weird and creepy sapphic horror story collection!

[@gransattic]

You are one of the only creators whose content I consistently watch all the way through! Love your videos. I have Unwell Women on my stack to read soon and I'm looking forward to it as someone who was just diagnosed with a chronic illness after 6 years of symptoms. Thanks for using your channel to raise awareness about important topics too. xx

[@abiroad]

My favourite read of the last month was Hot Stew by Fiona Mozley! I've not seen it talked about on booktube at all but it's a piece of literary social realism about a brothel in a corner of Soho facing the threat of gentrification. It follows all strata of society as this situation plays out and reading the blurb made me sag a little like I was so prepared for the book to be Hard Work... but it surprised me so much! Once I was into it I was SO into it, it's chronically readable, the people in it feel so real, it's like you get to be a little fly buzzing around London listening into all these conversations. The tone of if reminded me of Zadie Smith which I know isn't exactly Ally's jam so maybe I wouldn't recommend it to Ally... but I would recommend it to Zadie Smith enjoyers.

[@LiliGrosserova]

I only read 7 books last month and felt really bad for it. But I also started a new job and life was just chaotic. Thanks for making it so normal to read less. All of the other booktubers make me feel bad with their 20+ books read in one month ahaha. You're an inspiration!

[@lolapunk20]

Fave April reads: hang the moon Jeannette walls , no exit Taylor adams, all the lonely people mike gayle, all the dangerous things Stacy willingham

[@theeldritchfox]

I just picked up The Moth Keeper after seeing it in the Discord, and I'm so ready to enjoy some cozy refuge for a while!

[@ellakae7]

My fav April read was the Midwhich Cuckoos. Not usually a classic fan but it was so interesting!

[@JimenaBlack]

This week was exhausting and getting to Sunday night to see this video is what kept me motivated today that I had to work all day. I identified so much with being my own boss and exploiting myself 🥴 My favorite book of the month was Are you listening? by Tillie Walden, huge fan of her books since you recommended On a sunbeam

[@emmaopaline]

Thanks for this video ❤ My best reads of the months are : I'm glad miy mom died, hollow city by ransom riggs and what we lost in the fire by Mariana Enriquez

[@georgiastar4688]

last month I finally hopped on the graphic novel train and read the first 3 Saga volumes and the Tea Dragon Society trilogy! it was a WONDERFUL month of reading (we don't talk about when I read The Cheat Sheet, ew)

[@books-n-cats]

i just read "the anthropocence reviewed" becuase of you and i gave it 5 stars!

[@margauxb3591]

If you like accessible poetry I loved Phil Kaye's collection Date & Time! He's a spoken-word poet so you can find performances of most of the poems online (my faves are Repetition, My Grandmother's Ballroom and Teeth). Less nature-forward but did make me cry so...

[@kristenr563]

My favorite from last month was The Five Wounds, so thank you for recommending it in the past!😊

[@oliviadrury4851]

Allie your videos are like a warm hug and ease my anxieties for the week 💕

[@indi2544]

so good bestie proud of u

[@aunttifa4752]

This month I read As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow! It was so good! I felt like I leaned things and got my eyes misty, which to me are two things that make a great book.

[@allisonpaiges]

LOVED that one

[@alyssadawn3]

I just ordered a necklace from ana luisa using your code! It’s so pretty, I can’t wait to get it 😊

[@asjannasj]

I am Dutch and I was so happy to hear you using the word "gezellig" to describe a cozy book 🥲🥰🥰

[@SavidgeReads]

Ha, loved the three rules before you started... brilliant. I struggled with Pod, I am wondering if I need to cast an eye over it again, now I know how it goes I kind of need to reread it. The Bees is BRILLIANT. Sean Hewitt's debut collection is very nature focused, from what I remember. Here's to some favourites this month.

[@laurenmw9629]

I read four books last month. Favourite was To Be Taught, if Fortunate by Becky Chambers. Highly recommend for sci fi lovers

[@kenzievances]

i read forget me not by alyson derrick (debut from co author of she gets the girl) in april it definitely hit hard. it’s a sapphic ya. look at trigger warnings though

[@annabelle42688]

I have been in a real reading slump since I got pregnant, too nauseated or headache prone to read anything new or changing. So I've read a lot less at a slower pace and mostly just rereads of old favorites. In the middle of Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech right now.

[@toweringtbr]

My favorite book this month was a middle grade graphic novel called Zita the Spacegirl. So fun

[@themidnightlibrarian5159]

9 books. Feel good about it. It felt like I read less, so it was a pleasant surprise. Bad Cree by Jessica Johns was my most....surprising book. first half, 2 stars, second half 5 stars and I was sobbing at the end.

[@ajthecosmonaut1870]

Haven't read Pod but I did read Bees and I gave it 5 stars. You follow a bee the whole story that doesn't really fit in with her hive and she struggles to find her place. I think you will like it a whole lot more. I also read A Kind of Spark and Show Us Who You Are by Elle Mcnicoll which I absolutely loved. Autism rep from an autistic author. Basically I would say I had a pretty good reading month!

[@sierraklockow3282]

omg do i have some recommendations for you!!! these are both very high on my tbr and i hope you can read them and tell me if i should too (both are non-fiction)❤ - Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women by Sarah Bargiela with Sophie Standing (Illustrator) - Letters to My Weird Sisters: On Autism and Feminism by Joanne Limburg

[@cescalove]

The Bees is one of my favorite books! I just got so excited and so disappointed so quickly lol because I hadn’t realized she wrote another book in the perspective of an animal! I don’t think I can read The Pod based on what you said about the r scenes. But please read The Bees!

[@CollidedFriends]

My favorite poetry book i ever read thatmade me cry multiple times thati recommend to everyone: Blood Sugar Canto by ire'ne lara silva (she purposely writes her name in lower case) and i got to talk to her and she is SO COOL

[@Fiona_Co]

I managed to read a lot in April but my top books were Tomorrow x3 and Before the Coffee Gets cold!! It was a good reading month 👍

[@regulardragon]

I actually read all about love for my book club last month! And I didn't like it! Shocking to me to be honest, I was so ready to embrace hooks' writing. I still want to engage with her ideas, but this one was a miss for me. Amazing video as always! ❤

[@clairedodson7706]

View with a Grain of Sand by Wislawa Szymborska was a poetry collection that got me through some really hard times. My copy is extremely beat up and well loved and underlined. I wouldn’t call myself a poetry girlie either…and maybe I don’t read the poems how they’re MEANT to be read…but there were some wonderful encouraging heart pulling little nuggets in there. Definitely recommend.

[@gwiazdozlom]

oh my!! Polish author being recommended, always happy to see that

[@LienVNDL]

Wait? I didn’t know the dolphin book was from the same author as the bee book?? Damn. The Bees was a dnf for me though and considering your experience I don’t see myself picking up Pod any time soon.

[@anne-laure6341]

Hi Ally! I didn't get the occasion to comment the first time so here we go haha (sorry in advance for this long-ass message xD) I took note of your poem recommendations and will check Ada Limon out! ❤ if I can add a reco here, I think you'd really enjoy Helium from Rudy Francisco, I believe this is the first poem collection in English I bought and this has become an instant all-time favorite! He combines so well mundane observations and heartbreaking, thought-provoking lines.I couldn't even pick my favorite from the collection, but here are an extract from the opening one: "To anyone brave enough to love me, Do you know the human body is approximately sixty percent water? When I walk into a room full of people, all I see is an ocean." And his poem "Horizon" always makes me feel a thousand different emotions: "I hope I haven't already driven past my greatest moments. I hope there is something beautiful on the horizon that's just as impatient as I am. Something so eager, it wants to meet me halfway. A moment that is diligently staring at its watch, trembling with nervousness, frustrated, and bursting at the seams, wondering what's taking me so long to arrive." I also noted for my TBR Of women and salt, which sounds gorgeous! Any specific CW we should be aware of? My favorite read of April has definitely been The Edge of Anything by Nora Shalaway Carpenter - this has an excellent OCD rep and I was so into the story and the characters that I devoured it in a few days ^^ I got so attached to the characters that I still think about them from time to time, the author did a good job fleshing them out!

[@henitinker8808]

I read some disappointing books in April, but the ones I actually really enjoyed were Quicksand by Nella Larsen (author of Passing) Transgender History by Susan Stryker, Loveless by Alice Oseman and Ace by Angela Chen

[@ireallyamjomarch]

April was also a weird reading month for me, very few standouts. The first was Bug Boys Vol. 1. Was not expecting it to be so flipping cute and Frog and Toad vibes. Someone checked out the second volume from the library before I could get to it and I was upset 😂. The second standout was Pride and Prejudice. I read the annotated version so I got much more out of it than I would’ve otherwise. I thought it was interesting to read about someone who takes pride in their intelligence but then totally convinces themselves how awful someone is, especially since I’ve seen the movie and know how it ends 😊 also the movie gets me every time and twitter was right, Jane Austen forever ruins you for your romantic expectations 😭 P.S. Seeing you wear your merch every video has me so excited… I will be living in mine 🎉

[@corinn2222]

I know this is 6mo late but hi I love you 💕 W.B.Yeats poetry is very simple and nature ish (most Irish poetry is) I like reading him to my kids 😊

[@lasymphoniedespages]

currently reading "la fille de papier" by Guillaume Musso (i'm French). Can't wait to be part of the bookclub when my exams end!!!

[@juliette6704]

Laziness does not exist sounds like a book I should read but that would make me have an existential crisis ☠️

[@kayleigh6966]

11 books baby!! i had a little challenge with a friend to see who could read more this month (i won hehe) favorite was the fifth season by nk jemisin (the ending absolutely rocked my shit) and least favorite was priory of the orange tree (big yikes boring boring boring)

[@ashb5733]

I’ve heard SO MANY people say Priory was boring. I took it off my tbr list. Oh and Fifth Season is so good!