Every Book I Rated 5 🌟 and Every Book I DNF'd in 2023 🫣

[@lilliewyant4086]

Destiny I am a 71 year old shut in and I look so forward to your videos. I’m so thankful for you. I have read 155 books this year many from your suggestions. I hope you feel better soon. Hugs to you and Charlie.

[@francescatelari]

That’s so sweet!

[@audriedebates1635]

this is too sweet

[@linacoucou3166]

This is the cutest!

[@ajahawa8007]

awww so cute

[@GraceStellaBeauty]

Love this! So sweet❤

[@starrfam12]

I just wanted to say, ( as a 13-year-old) its hard to find YA books that aren't spicy, so i was looking into check and mate and it said it wasn't spicy, so thank you destiny for going into more depth of this book

[@ferlizano]

It is so random right? For a YA book to talk so much about those topics, so unnecessary:(

[@graceblondell7320]

Don’t sleep on middle grade books, there are so many great ones and you don’t have to worry about spice in those. Anne Braden is a great middle grade author.

[@graceblondell7320]

Kikis delivery service, snow and rose, the last mapmaker

[@camilleb4440]

Read Once upon a broken heart

[@breadcrumb7927]

bridget kremmer's letters to the lost and more than we can tell are good ya books! There might be some triggering aspects because the characters are griefing or are traumatized, but i really enjoyed them

[@user-uc6gg1jq6i]

And thats why I follow you, you spoke out about inappropriate material for children ! Respect you for that 💕

[@lunabellestelara]

You had me CRACKING UP this whole video. Your demeanor and sassiness are so endearing and you’re one of the funniest but ALSO most entertaining and interesting KZbinrs I’ve ever watched. I really love to hear your opinion on books! Also obsessed with Charlee🥲 Feel better!! Sending love, likes and support from England xxxxx

[@lauren._chanchan]

feel exactly the same about check and mate! I think it would've been much better off marketed as an adult romance, but still enjoyed it

[@sarah_632]

are the characters underage in that book?? thats so messed up😭

[@lauren._chanchan]

@@sarah_632 no, they're 18 and 20

[@Sabrinatheteenagebish]

I feel like with check and mate it's a hard situation because YA has such a wide range in both age and maturity. I'm 16, I read Icebreaker at 15, and I read mafia romances and stuff like the twisted series all the time, but I know not all people in my age range could/should do that. I'm not going out there actually trying to recreate them. However, I feel like almost all romance readers my age (who still fall into that YA age demographic) want something more sometimes than stuff like the selection. So Check and Mate is great for that older age range wanting something a little more but without full on smut, but it can be too much for the lower age YA readers. I saw a comment saying that YA should be divided into more categories, and I agree, because books like these become a bit of an issue.

[@kurlykaitlyn]

In reality, a lot of teenagers have sex so it’s not completely taboo. It really comes down to the individual but with adult romance on the market, imo YA doesn’t need to have any sex or innuendos because that’s what adult and mature literature is already doing. Young people can read the adult stuff if they’re mature enough for it.

[@rokayaenafielmetni5232]

I agree with u ; there should be more specification in regards to that . the author could've easily put a warning on their book and solve this issue

[@Sabrinatheteenagebish]

@@kurlykaitlyn Yeah ofc a ton of people my age have already had sex, and good for them as long as they're safe. My issue is that I think Ali and others with these types of books want to specifically target like 14/15-18 years olds with their YA books, and the problem with that is that I'm guessing a lot of teens think ALL adult romance is full of smut, and they don't want that, and won't step into the adult section, which would make these books lose their target audience. There's no section for more mature works with closed door scenes. Maybe they should specifically put an age range on the book in the YA section so it doesn't get confusing.

[@ellaesther2007]

This feels like we’re on FaceTime and I love it! 🥰

[@kennbeans]

was so sad about the secret history tbh, but you do you bestie and i love to hear your opinions ❤️ thank you for all of the bookmas content!!

[@kaitlynkleven]

Same!!

[@TheSimikira]

Des your editing lately has been hitting different and i’m LOVING it! the effort in these videos is really showing and you should be so happy with how you’re doing🥰

[@tarynhakvoort4132]

I agree! Loveeee the way she edits!

[@sophied5827]

Richard's winter was my favourite section from The Secret History 😂

[@JH-tv8zg]

Charlies little squeaking is honestly so precious and cute

[@bambi9609]

I definitely feel that Check & Mate was too far for YA, but YA romance is also intended for an older audience (16-20) and never for below 14 year olds generally. 12-13 is middle grade and I definitely feel that publishers and authors should adapt to what they know their audience will be rather than what it should be, but the genre itself was never intended to appeal to children that young until recent years. I remember my first foray into YA romance and literary fiction in around 2014. The themes, humor, and allusions were definitely marketed towards an older teenage/twenty-something audience (ex. Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl which took BookTube by storm around 2016-2018-ish). The Novelry and Girlinthepages both have articles about YA and it’s intended audience and age categories. I think 12-13 year olds, especially those who have reading as a hobby and consequently may need/want more advanced material, are in a tough position where middle grade is too young and YA is too old. I’d just caution criticizing the genre itself, publishers, or authors for not being able to meet that demand as they still have to meet 16-18 year olds who have the maturity to read something raunchier without the explicit adult themes and scenes. As for search terms, some people are trying to popularize splitting YA and middle grade into levels. Lower YA being approx age 11-13, middle YA being 14-16, and upper YA being that 17+ range, which could definitely help with Check & Mate not being grouped in with borderline middle grade YA (like the Selection by Kiera Cass).

[@YW2324]

Interesting 😊

[@renaeeex]

obsessed w the format of this video omg it feels like we’re having a sleepover

[@jillian.jm09]

I defs agree with you on check and mate I was so shocked that those themes were included in it for a YA book

[@emilydigrande4936]

I LOVED the Chestnut Springs series. Some of the best romance books I have ever read

[@SN-bk5xj]

Same! Which one is your favorite?😄

[@emilydigrande4936]

@@SN-bk5xj I’m only partially through the third book but so far the second book has been my favorite. The third is going really well so far tho! Maybe it’ll end up being my new fave 🥰

[@wolfme4030]

The reason I don’t like to dnf books is I’m always open to the ending possibly changing my views. That being said I completely understand not finishing books because of a lack of enjoyment. With regard to The Seven Year Slip, I enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it, but I previously read The Summer of Impossible Things and it had a similar plot with less of a romance main storyline that grabbed me more, I would highly recommend reading it. Finally being a 47 year old male, the demographics and types of books you read aren’t ‘aimed at me’, but you help me keep my eyes open to books like The Boys of Tommen series which I absolutely adore and can’t wait to read Gibsie’s book!!! Keep up the good work so we can buck the trends.

[@Lillyjoy]

Fourth Wing got me out of a big reading slump too! It hooked me and I loved it❤ I had a video idea if you and Sara and Haley read books that we comment you should read 😊

[@alwaysgrace2215]

Me and my family have been sick too. So I'm watching this cozy in my bed as well. Truly feels like I'm chatting with a friend. ❤ hope you feel better.

[@MadisonWingler]

i DNF secret history too. it could. not. get into it! thank you for doing bookmas

[@frshdumbledore2825]

This sit down video is sooo cozy. Love it. By the way thank you that you still published even though you were sick❤

[@ashleykramer7612]

omg destiny, I'm so glad you DNF'd check and mate because I hated it and I feel like everyone else loved it. So I'm glad I'm not the only one that didn't like it

[@ladymcbeath]

This is my first video with you. I am 64 and we do not have the same taste in books (I DNF'd Fourth Wing, violent and boring at the same time) but I hit the subscribe and added some of your 5 stars to my TBR. I totally relate to getting so sucked in to a book I forget it's just words on paper. My husband loves to remind me "You know these people aren't real, right?' Love your energy, Destiny!

[@horrorscope375]

What does dnf mean

[@bubblesofrain]

​@horrorscope375 it means Did Not Finish.

[@silviaamaral497]

Des im loooooving your bookmas so much! how am i going to go on with my days when they're over 😭

[@sloanemmi08]

DESTINY. THE SHOE COLLECTION. ITS EVERYTHING.

[@anastasialobella6140]

I love seeing how passionate people are about books I'm 49 and have been obsessed with books all my life I currently own 2 thousand 500 books in my home library

[@KatieKuo-i8n]

These bookmas videos are the highlight of my day ❤🎄

[@MsLucichen]

The way i drop everything and run to watch your bookmas videos 🤭🎄 love them ❤️

[@Brbdreaming_asmr]

Yesss Daisy Haites The Great Undoing is so good 😭😭 I still randomly think about Julian Haites’ quotes too 🥹

[@kaitlynkleven]

This is such vlog style content I really thought it was gonna be tons of Christmas books like just the sit down chit chats it’s kinda nice :) I definitely ordered a lot of Christmas books that I’m regretting now I’m sure I’ll be reading them until February, I was 100% influenced my booktubers

[@guadilis6640]

your videos bring me such calm and joy🤍🤍thx des im proud of u

[@RachelBesaw]

I just ordered that sweater you’re wearing! and I love your videos so much

[@megl9638]

Hair has been hairing lately girlie ❤ this darker colour really suits you!

[@DHANYAAHSRIGANESH]

I do like you at this point- new subscriberr

[@NeishaSalasBerry]

my dogs save all the noise for when I record anything....

[@melissai0623]

Oh my goodness a book that took me by surprise was Fourth Wing.Also, I tell myself all the time I really want to dragon now. 🤣A book that I just finished reading but I still can’t stop thinking about is Daisy, darker by Alice Feeney really good book, if you haven’t read it, you should definitely read that.

[@finjakeimer]

it’s so crazy, i gave check & mate 4.5 stars and it even followed me into my dreams. maybe it’s because the people around me love chess and that’s why i felt so connected to it, but i really did like the story. also idk if i just skipped over those parts but i only really recognised one spicy scene (which was not needed) 😅. the only thing i disliked was the third act breakup… i guess that just shows how different everyone’s tastes are :))

[@calreadsbooks]

Looove this video concept!! Loving bookmas and so thankful for your dedication and hard work so we can have so much lovely content of yours to enjoy ❤️

[@straverry_tae]

i love how im also in full on comfort mode rn with 3 blankets on me✊

[@mayamartin0813]

when i watch your videos, it genuinely feels like im hanging with one of my best friends 😂❤

[@farsahashmi5081]

We watch your videos because you’re so relatable and your opinions matter to many of us. Thank you for this video and giving me books to add in mt tbr 💗

[@Dannybee3]

Not to sound dramatic but you’re vlogmas is literally my favorite I have ever watched! I’ve loved this video so much especially and all your other ones for this Bookmas have been so cozy and enjoyable to watch! ✨❤️

[@milawilliams3796]

I love how cozy this video feels ❤

[@pavisfrancesca]

OMG SO GLAD YOU SAID THE SECRET HISTORY! New fave x x x

[@maddieschillreff2876]

des dw i HATED the secret history too and thrived on your rant about it

[@najetteroberts5553]

Just found you from Larry's book reviews. So happy I found ya. I am enjoying your recommendations. ❤

[@HesstonandTandem]

I absolutely hated Daisy Jones and the Six… but all your other recommendations are on point 😂

[@Sarahlucyxoxo]

I did too and it feels like such a minority opinion 😅

[@maddyweyman]

I kind of wish you would make more sit down videos during the year regularly, I love watching them!!

[@ashleygunn1036]

I recently finished the Seven year slip and I loved it!!!

[@oakleyanderson6183]

Slay bookmas queen 👸 🎄

[@crystinanna7829]

I so appreciate some of your reasons for the different dnf’s you had. ❤

[@erindobson1429]

your DNF list is so relatable! 🫣😂

[@miahhargrove]

i love videos with des it always feels like we’re on ft

[@jodiek3953]

i DNF'd the secret history too , i really wanted to like it but it was like watching paint dry, it was painfull to read and then it was taunting me sitting on my shelf so i eventually had to unhaul it

[@allison.garcia]

omg the doggie is so cute 💝

[@iiSimply_Bloom]

Thank you Des for your recommendations I always go to the book girlys on YT for recommendations and I can always trust Des!! Thank you for putting spice on there as well its hard ( as a 13-year-old ) to find good no spice books YA books TYYY! 💗

[@alyssamermaid9373]

Can people that rate love and other words so highly pls respond. I genuinely am so confused by all the praise/love for “Love and other words” *spoilers ahead* - the way the books ends is disgusting. It’s implied that Elliott was SA’d but it’s tip toed around by everyone in the book and his feelings are disregarded by literally everyone but especially, the FMC. They had an opportunity to discuss male SA in an educational way and instead disrespected the whole events. Alternatively, if you go down the route of not believing he was SA’d, then what? He cheated on Macey and that’s okay? Genuinely just want to know, for the people who love this book, how they interpret the ending

[@Sarahlucyxoxo]

Thank you!!! I LOVED this book (and I still do) but the end was absolutely NOT it. There were so many things that happened that were glossed over so they could have their “happily ever after” but IMO that made no sense. That was a long romance but for the sake of flushing out everything that was thrown our way at the end, it could have been a little longer.

[@simonevolman4952]

i will say i did interpret it as him being SA’d, but that in the moment that was not the conversation Elliot and Macy needed to have because he was processing learning about Macy’s dad’s death and them getting back together. i do agree that they could’ve talked about it more, but at the same time i’m not sure where in the story it would’ve made sense to have that conversation. i think that given the circumstances of when it comes up (macy is having a panic attack, elliot is overwhelmed processing what he’s learned), it would’ve felt forced to go into depth beyond macy acknowledging that elliot did not cheat on her.

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

@@simonevolman4952 I totally get that, but then I feel like if the auhtor wasn't going to tackle it then she shouldn't have added it in at all because it does victims of male sexual assault a disservice to see that their attacks aren't taken seriously. I feel like the author wrote it for plot development so it didn't seem like Elliot cheated on her, but she could've gone a different route with it.

[@Lsugar-gu2ry]

I totally agree with the true love experiment- it was the first book I ever DNFD and i just couldn’t finish it.

[@alyzaen2134]

I watch ur videos while doing my morning/night routine like u and Good Mythical Morning🤞🤞but yeah it feels like a ft call so thank u for being my source of entertainment for the past couple of months!!

[@Showtunediva]

5:50 I am reading this right now. Honestly I agree with everything you said about the lack of chemistry. Thinking of DNFing this as well.

[@amydwaah]

I love these kinds of videos so much, so chill and cozy. Hope you feel better soon des. ❤

[@j8n305]

The comfy winter cozy cute puppy vibes ❤

[@emilyray4409]

I’m loving all this content!!!! You are slaying!!!!!!

[@kayliebracy]

Says I am the most annoying person on this planet after saying something so relatable

[@Lunaticdoodles]

Ok I keep advocating for this everywhere bc I’m obsessed with them, but if you dnf a book that you bought, trade it at a free little library!! Someone else might like it and then you get to try something else!! I’ve found a great selection of good and popular books at these. Seriously worth it

[@fruittreee6]

I will always automatically watch a new Destiny video!!!!! Loved this vid sm!

[@shaneritchey7891]

i finished book one of the Naturals!!! i have to wait until January to get book two because of money. But i plan on finishing the series. ❤ love your channel! its so calming ❤

[@laurenpineiro4199]

I appreciate your take on overly sexual books cause sometimes it’s just too much and not appropriate or necessary 😂

[@krystal6808]

I LOVED mile high but i def agree that part was difficult to read, especially as someone who grew up in poverty. But i think his growth was worth reading 😊

[@miiisssssyyyy]

I’ve read almost 80 books this year and I only have 2 five stars lol hopefully I have more luck next year now that I know more about my tastes

[@rubyanddelilahandnani]

What were your 5 stars?

[@miiisssssyyyy]

@@rubyanddelilahandnani tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, and fourth wing

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

Girl same, expecpt I've read 101 and I only got 2 five stars!😭

[@isirlasplace91]

I just subscribed to you because your videos are so much fun! I read The Secret History last month and totally loved it but I can see how it wouldn't be some people's cup of tea😂 I'm "strange and unusual" so I loved it LOL!!

[@georgiajoreads]

Loving all your content 🙌🏻🫶🏻

[@peypeyf]

Probably my favorite vlogmas so far❤

[@daneairfan1220]

my god ur so funny!! ive been starting to watch ur videos and theyve been a comfort for me, much love from malaysia des

[@kategrossi8717]

I am with you about the YA category.. When i think of a young adult.. I think of 18-30ish... not young teenagers.. we need to come up with another category for 12-17 year olds..

[@chloecook7949]

THE STICKER ON THE CUP 😂🤦‍♀️ pls why is that making me laugh so much

[@RobynMSocials]

Love u des girl your videos are my comfort videos ❤

[@TheLittleReadingLady]

Omg literally hated that about check and mate too😭 I was like GIRL WE DONT TALK ABOUT THAT STUFF HERE

[@nuzhatchowdhury5385]

girlie your skin is so glowy these days, any new skin care or makeup? or it just the vibes ?

[@rubyanddelilahandnani]

It’s called being in your early 20s 😭

[@nuzhatchowdhury5385]

@@rubyanddelilahandnani could be, but ive noticed her skin getting more glowy since last month, like exponentially prettier.

[@megann6912]

14:32 i watched your favorite series video with my fiance when it came out and i was trying to guess what series each number was. when you got to #1 i went “oh… she read that … THIS year????” hahaha

[@sydneywix7102]

on your channel looking as you posted this!!!!! best surprise!!

[@abbeyjanevlogs]

Love this Des!!!! You’re videos are the best 😍😭🎄

[@rosasnyder7985]

This video was so comfy and cozy I loved every second of it

[@roseybluebell820]

I just love your vibes 😻

[@rokayaenafielmetni5232]

I LOOOVE the amount of comments recommending YA books with no spice to the teenagers in here THE BOOKTUBE COMMUNITY IS LITERALLY THE BEST🖤

[@pomsandbooks]

Gabbyreads also said that she was very surprised about how sexual Check & Mate was for it being labeled YA. I also feel like YA romance should be pretty clean/ closed door romances.

[@urfashionistafriend]

It would be cool if there was a live musical/play of Daisy Jones & The Six, since the book is written like a script

[@mothtotheflame13]

check and mate is so disappointing! but it really sums up what YA is now. like if i were to read a ‘YA’ fantasy/romantasy/romance, a lot of them have smut/sexual content. and for why? if you put smut/sexual content in it, ITS AN ADULT BOOK. we need a YA and a teen rating. ya=15-16+ and teen=12-13+. you can swear, even fade to black in teen, but no explicitness.

[@bambi9609]

It’s because YA (14+, with a 14-16 category and a 17+ category) middle grade (8-13) and New Adult (17+ - branching from NC-17 categorization of sexually explicit movies) have all gotten blended together. Part of the Romantasy issue is that authors started their series as teenagers and so the first books are YA but as they got older and continued writing it became New Adult. Sexually explicit content constitutes an adult rating. Sexually implicit (closed door) content and discussions of sex has always been in the genre of YA, it’s only become taboo in recent years. I feel like the issue is largely because middle grade has declined in quality and sophistication which has led middle grade authors to appeal to child (elementary) audiences, most YA authors to appeal to that open middle grade audience, some YA authors continue appealing to 14+ and 17+ audiences respectively, and New Adult authors trying to capitalize on the recent juvenility of the YA genre by creating series like the sex-filled ACOTAR series and more.

[@leoniemorell6748]

Loved the video destiny!!! Thank you so mich for your effort

[@TrioInfernaleTAT]

I feel like I'm incapable of DNFing books, but I also noticed that it leads to reading slumps for me too. 😭 Atm I have a book that is really hard to read for me. I started only reading a few pages each day and at the same time reading a book that I really enjoy. It helps me with finishing those books anyway. 🙂🥰

[@jolynnsouder7745]

The dog made the video better she just wanted to show her best toys lol

[@Showtunediva]

New subscriber. Here for your book recommendations and your cute dog. I hope you feel better soon!

[@emmaskapetis7603]

Great video as always ❤. We seem to have similar tastes in books when it comes to romance and fantasy.

[@BritneySchweinefus]

Omg that mug is the cutest in the world!! Where is it from?!

[@bookswithjenna]

This is EXACTLY what I needed

[@tracybeasley6682]

I am so proud of you for dnf check mate for good reasons, ❤

[@miahhargrove]

thank you for feeding us w these videos des

[@XOmangoXO]

I was so confused by the justification in the comments when you gave your Goodreads update on Check & Mate

[@Megan.A.Ells.]

I really really liked Check & Mate, BUT I 100% agree it is not YA and should not be marketed that way. Exactly like you said, no 13 year old should be reading that book. Sex and random hookups were talked about sooo much

[@trixiasharmaine]

same! i really enjoyed reading it but i do agree that it should not have been marketed as YA!

[@rokayaenafielmetni5232]

i agree 100% that YA books should be kepr for young adults and steer away from adult topics not only bcz a lot of us go into them with the expectation of there being no spice ( No hate at all to anyone who likes spice in their books cheers to you ) but also bcz a lot of the times parents will allow their kids those books thinking they are safe based on the fact that it's YA .

[@simplyboppingK]

I get where you are coming from but at the time I grew up when p*rn was still on Tumblr... I can guarantee some kids now are finding out about sex that way too.. not saying it's okay, but just something to keep in mind. Also DNFing Mile High? HEART BROKEN. That series is so damn good.