my first booktube video 🫣 did I read everything from my first book haul? 

Thank you to Holzkern :) check them out here www.holzkern.com/emmie and use the code emmie to get 15% off your order!

started tearing up when u said “she is gonna think it’s her fault” god i want to hug young emma, and also want to hug u, for u are so strong for overcoming all the challenges u had in ur life at that time. i love u 🥺🤍

Seeing you mourn your past self was incredibly bittersweet to watch. I developed an autoimmune disease about 4 years ago now and I still think back to the before often. It is hard to look at your healthier, happier, naive self knowing what you are going to go through and how much it changed you and your life. I think that is the hardest part. Knowing how something like that is the impetus for such personal change (but also hopefully, some growth in spite of it all).

yes to the video about making a TBR with your oldest books you haven't yet read 💌🐛

I remember discovering your channel during quarantine and ended up going way back and watching all of your videos from the VERY beginning. Watching your videos was the highlight of my quarantine🤍

the creases in that Dune spine are so aesthetic you'd think they were part of the design lol

I’m imagining past Emma living in an alternate timeline, sweltering under the hot Egyptian sun on an archaeological dig brushing dirt off of ancient bones.

Hey Emma, not sure if you remember me but I've been an avid viewer even before you reached 100 subscribers, I think. I've seen all your old videos. They're endearing, sincere. It was in 2019, I was fresh out of college, armed only with my English literature degree, nursing a broken heart, trying to figure out my place in the world. Fast forward to today and it's been nearly two years since I left my first job as an instructor teaching literature to wide-eyed young adults. I'm about to graduate law school in a year or so. I love growing up and loving reading alongside you! I always felt at home in this corner of the internet. Luv this community. Thank you, Emma. All the love, Mae

“We are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday” Samuel Beckett. Huge hug for old Emma and also one for ‘today’ Emma.

You’re being a little hard on past Emma! She was an adorable gem! I binge watched all her videos after randomly seeing one of her first ones pop up and have never ever stopped watching. So proud of her and you and it’s been an absolute pleasure watching you grow! Love you so much! XOXO

I know how important and emotional this video was to you Emma. It is truly very hard to look back at yourself years back, and see how things changed, many of which were entirely out of your control. You are so brave, and your bravery helps me keep going to. I am so happy i came across you, you have no idea how much you affected me, im always waiting for your uploads. Thank you, and I am proud of the Emma with us today

Would you ever make a video regarding your concussion? I'm curious, I suffered a concussion too (in a sledding accident) and it completely knocked me out, I only remember waking up in the hospital and believing that I was in a new hotel room. Very hard to deal with.

I love coming home to your videos

Only 9 min in, seeing you tear up seeing your past self and knowing the life that was to come. If that ain’t a dang feeling 🥺 you’ve created a wonderful community through reading and books so I hope you look back fondly but are also able to see your now and be proud of everything you’ve done regardless of any adversity’s you faced! 😊 you rock and thanks for kindling a desire in me to read more and more!

You know, back then, when you told us about your concussion, I didn't understood why you felt kinda down with all the symptons. Recently I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in my brain, and now I completely understand where your pain seeing your past self comes from. But you did so much amazing stuff ever since, and thank you for being the kind friend of the internet who also likes books

love u emma! using first comment privileges to say.. i'd love a podcast where you go more in-depth on your favourite books or tell us funny stories about your cats or give writing advice or anything. i'd tune the hell in.

Oh Emma! I completely recognize those emotions welling up. I’m a couple years older than you and also majored in English, at U of T. I had undiagnosed hypothyroidism for my entire undergrad, and it meant I couldn’t have the “university experience” that we all dream of. I felt like I was the problem instead of honouring my needs. And I really resented what I had “missed out on” for the longest time. But we all have our unique paths, and yours has been beautiful ❤️

i will not allow any slander for young emma! she was so so lovely please 😭💘

Now Emma mimicking young Emma is pure fun! Let's have them together more often, haha. But seriously, Emma, even though you don't know me, you've always been there-through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I'm truly grateful to you, this channel, and this wonderful community! Here's to more power to you and everyone ❤️

As always, I appreciate the candid discussion on brain injury and how it has impacted your life. I remember last year when I was stuck in bed and in a similar situation to how you were, only able to listen to audiobooks and deal with brain fog and fatigue, you genuinely helped me feel less alone. We all deserve so much compassion for ourselves, it is such a shame that so often we can only give it to ourselves in hindsight.

You are a real person: changing as time flies by and yet, quite the same. You have gathered an incredible amount of people who appreciate what you have to say and who you are. Be proud. I am sure your parents are. ❤

Don't be hard on yourself Emmie - you were lovely starting from that first video to today.......there is absolutely nothing in that first video to be embarrassed about , be proud ........just look how many viewers you have , who I am sure feel the same way xoxoxo

alternate versions of my past self are always haunting me so seeing this and seeing you mourn for little emma back then made me really emotional, i too suffered from a brain injury and can understand how much it can affect you long term, you're really strong, much love emma ❤

I have my blog from my high school years still online and I sometimes go back and read stuff there. (I'm 32 years old now.) I am just so happy that I didn't delete that blog like I almost did a couple of times in college. I have so much love for that girl and also it is amazing to see how much some things changed and how much some things stayed absolutely the same. I love my life and who I am right now, that's why I have so much love for every version of me that led me to current me. I am glad you could experience that too. Huge hugs to all versions of you from all versions of me!

that one point perspective intro was truly probably the reason I subscribed

Hi Emmie! I have followed you since that cute first video from 2019. Please consider making your old videos public because they are SO comforting to me because of the nostalgia they bring me! 2019 was a huge year for me, it was extraordinary and your videos were always there, so my memories from that year include all your videos and the happiness they added to that happy year. I love you girl

You've got to start somewhere, and that was a good start! It's cool to see how much your videos have evolved, but there was already so much she did well! Sending hugs to both Emmas

Seeing you hugging the old you is reassuring. Thank you for doing that.

You helped me find the courage to read big books during a really rough experience of depression and I thank you (and Carolyn Marie) for that, so, I, contrary to you, absolutely hope that people see the oldest videos.

You've grown so much and even though we're strangers on the internet, I feel so proud of you for all that you've overcome. You are so strong, you deserve so much happiness, and we all love and support you, Emma! 💛

this is so nostalgic! i remember i used to watch a video of yours in which you were writing your novel in a cabin and it helped me a lot to keep me motivated and do university work

Accidentally found your channel this year and I’m glad I decided to stay. Once a cutie always a cutie 💞

Heartbreaking to know what you went through with your concussion and the pandemic. You are so strong, sending so much love

seeing the camera fall in real time actually made me laugh because for a solid 5 seconds before i was like "wait why are we panning down"

I love when people do a “reading the oldest book on their TBR” video!

so excited for you to read lighthousekeeping! one of my absolute favourites, totally enthralled me when i read it in 2020 and was such a beacon (ha) in that year

Aww, you've come so far but you were clearly always wholesome and adorable.

I was kind of hoping for some really dated Canadian slang 😜 This was so sweet 🌻

This was so sweet 🥰! I discovered your channel during quarantine. Sometime during this quarantine you became my favorite companion, because my whole family got sick with COVID-19 one after the other. I was the last one standing, so while taking care of them, I had also to stay alone for most of the day. I ate my meals watching your videos. I drank my coffee while seeing your recommendations. COVID left me with an awful Brainfog, that made me relate greatly to your experience with the after concussion symptoms. I couldn't imagine not being able to read as much as I wanted. Finding difficulty in understanding what I read or even in forming good coherent sentences myself as I used to do, was an unimaginable challenge. This was the raw materials of nightmares for someone like me. I'm glad tremendously that you overcame it, or at least the worst part of it. You were a great source of comfort and inspiration for me at that time. For that I've always wanted to thank you. ❤❤ Of course you are still an absolute favorite 😃 Sending you lots and lots of love from Egypt. ♥

I was also not expecting to get emotional from this, but seeing you tear up and hearing 'she is gonna think its her own fault' oh my did that get me going, I wish I could give you both a hug for overcoming everything!

Your channel is literally one of my go-to places here in yt. Your videos are always my kind of medicine whenever I feel exhausted and stressed..I've been watching your videos since 2021. Thank you for creating this channel and thank you for recommending good books and sharing slices of your life. My reading taste has changed because of you. Thank you Emma! I hope you continue doing videos and I wish you good health and happiness❤

I went to college full time and worked two jobs while earning my bachelor's and master's degrees . I am often saddened about how much I missed out on because I was so busy and so tired. 😥

I love this. So much excitement in you then, so much kindness now. It would be great if you could share more of your early privated videos.

it’s so crazy how i still remember subscribing to you when you had around 10k subscribers. here i am still watching and enjoying your videos. so happy with your growth!

This video was so emotional to watch :') Thank you for sharing something so vulnerable and also for sharing your love of books and your life all these years. We have shared a lot of mutual experiences and it made me really teary seeing you reflect on your past self, made me reflect on my own younger self too. Sending you all my love Emmie, you are so brave and thank you again for bringing us along on this journey :)❤

this was so sweet and nostalgic! as a long time viewer I'm sending you hugs, for me your videos are a safe space to feel all the feelings and I appreciate that you share both your books and your life

I actually remember watching this video when I was back-watching your stuff back in late 2019/2020. Your content was so comforting to me during covid and uni ❤❤

It's amazing to see how far you come! I started watching you back in 2020 and they've brought such a source of comfort

Thank you for sharing this video.. It must have been such a vulnerable moment, but also a precious one. Btw, your voice/intonation is authentic (in both versions) and this is so important 😊

when the intro of the old video played i was thought it sounded so similar to one point perspective and then you said it was that. i love that song so much

Emma, as always, this is such relevant content. Thank you. Being able to look back and recognize the challenges, illusions, happy, sad and bittersweet memories can be overwhelming, but it is precisely what makes us grow and reflect upon our existence. Being alive might be something tough sometimes, but it can also be so, so beautiful and meaningful. I hope you can face each difficult moment in your journey with the certainty that you can always count on us to support you through the beauty and the terror of it all. ❤

This was so fun and lovely, Emma. I've been watching your videos for years, but I missed the very beginning. So sweet to see you when you were just starting out. You made me tear up when you teared up. Sending you hugs!

What an uplifting and emotional video! Thank you, Emma! I have loved your channel for a long time and you keep putting out videos that are so heartwarming and motivating and just fantastically lovely. So glad I found you and to be part of this community :)

This just made me realize I've been watching you since the very beginning and you're still one of my favorite channels! I'm mostly a silent watcher and this is my first comment but just wanted to express my appreciation after all this time

just put this on while i was cooking and eating,,,i did not expect to get this emotional especially at the end pls only started watching ur videos maybe late last year but they're already so dear to me bc they help me relax and take a break from college 🥺 hope everything goes well for everyone here 🫶

Thank you for this video Emma! I loved everything about this sm, from you having some fun looking back at yourself as well as showing yourself some self love, this was truly beautiful

Love the frequent uploads, thank you for always providing cozy and fun content ☺️ Hope you are doing well!

I love seeing your well-worn copy of Firebringer on your shelf in the last few videos! It was my favourite book in elementary school, I just re-read it last year and it was so nostalgic :) It's always fun and bittersweet to look back on past versions of ourselves, thank you for sharing!

Getting home after a long day at work and this feels like a hug

This is a fantastic idea for a video, Emma! personal yet relatable. This brings me back to my younger self and all the feels. Sending a big ol' hug your way

I didnt know your debut in this community was in 2019! Watching this video made me remember my young self that followed your channel then, just right out of Uni and at one of the lowest points in my life struggling with all the post-academic existential anxiety a fresh grad could have. Your love for reading had reminded me of my own love for books too--and that really kept me going. :) A big big thank you for all that your channel has done for me :)

It's a beautiful thing, hearing you say you're proud of yourself.

Why did I not expect this to turn so emotional so quickly. Sending you the biggest, softest hug from Hamburg (Germany), Emma! 🫂

I just love how you're so natural even at that time. You're perfect!

I'm also proud of tiny Emma. She is so sweet 🥰

Aw, this was just the sweetest Your chanell is what got me back into reading after it was pretty much wrecked for me (ironically enough, by a medical incident and all that follows) and gave me a new and easier approach to literature so it's really pleasent watching your growth as well

i cannot believe this video !! i have spent a lot of time watching your channel and listening to what you love. i am so pleased to see a silly video like this from you

I've been eyeing your watch since the beginning of the video! I checked their website and loved Themis! I wished there's more review videos about Holzkern.

It was so nice seeing you be kind to you past self

I remember discouvering you in 2020 and How much I loved your videos since, you've changed the way I read books and how easily you became my comfort read, I even got "War and Peace" in the edition that you've read so I can be the same as you and I've been reading it in the past couple of days and watching you W&P videos along side it all, I'm so glad I got to experience finding such an amazing person!! and I'm proud of how long you've come..!! I love you so much and I'm on the lookout for what's to come on the channel ❣

Yesss! Make them public! I'll watch all of them happily 🥹

started tearing up right when you did. ugh i love you so much emma

So wholesome, you’ve grown beautifully

Oh, Emma! You're the one that got me to widen my book knowledge and horizons (specifically classics) when I wanted to branch out of the Percy Jackson series, which were the only books I knew at the time. I was only into fanfiction when my older sister recommended it to me during quarantine. You're my introduction to booktube AND continued my journey to the wonderful world that is literature. It's only been a year but you've been my absolute comfort! I love your voice, your skits, your family, your love for language, literature, snow, winter. I love your fondness of nature and animals and Carolyn. I wish I could go hug both past Emma and you.

I absolutely loved this throwback! Baby Emma was already cute and amazing! Can't find a best booktube! 💖☺️

I remember going back and actually watching this video when I first started interacting with your channel 🥺🩵

I feel you...I recently read through old diaries from pre-pandemic, when I just finished my uni degree and had so many ideas and dreams. NONE of them came true! But, that being said, I'm living my dream life now and I probably never would have had the courage to go for it without the whole pandemic crossing all life plans. So, there might have been bad things coming your way, but I'm quite sure there were also plenty of awesome things that you never would have thought to happen! ❤

Love this, so great to see how much you've grown ❤ more revisits of old vids plz 🙏 xx

love these kinds of videos! Every creator grows so much and it's so nice to see how far you've come 💕

Omg 😍😍😍😍 I have watched every single video on your channel and some of them I always go back to 💕

I love al of your videos! I'd love to see a video about your experiences studying literature as I'm currently researching courses! :)

Fab idea for a video! Nice and relaxing to watch before I go back in to work tomorrow 😢.

I've been pushing myself to get back into reading. Mainly I've been listening to and reading non-fiction. You certainly fan that firey passion in me to read even more. So, thank you for that. Also, I never on camera in my videos, but you've inspired me to maybe to an impromptu haul video (on movies, though, because that's the focus on my channel but I guess I could also do it on books about movies, too). Excited about this new possibility. Anyway, thank you for the positivity and the inspiration! Stay awesome!

I started watching your videos in summer of 2020 as I was recovering from a pretty serious surgery, your channel distracted me through a difficult time :) I really loved following the evolution of your channel, without you I wouldn't have gone back to reading as I do now ! you can be really proud of what you've achieved these past few years

Awww sweet. Thanks so much Emma ! That was a interesting video

You're the best thing I've ever found on the Internet, you can never make a bad video . Loved it !

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is so good! Tom Stoppards is just brilliant

This was simultaneously so sad and so sweet, hearing you talk about baby Emma not knowing how much she'd lose, and blaming yourself was honestly heartbreaking.

would love to see a video on the egyptian lit books you read!

I've been watching your videos since 2020❤

I love how kind you are to you past self, for some its really hard, and its really important for mental health to do so.

Love this concept and also although, I know it's not practical nor intentional but looking at messy bookshelves just make my heart happy!

Just finished reading R&G are dead for class, i think you would love it Emma!

Hi Emma, Love your synopses they’re so comprehensive. A great source of tests are the BRITTANICA QUIZZES .So type in the latter and main page will furnish you with a whole host of Subjects. Go into literature, and choose from a wide array of topics within. When you have finished you can scroll laterally within that to get more questions. I thought I would slot that in your latest blog as you asked for suggestions on quizzes when you did some a while back. I did so enjoy them so much and wish you would do more( when you have the time). You make them funny and you with Carolyn are hilarious. Cheers Paul

This was such a trip to watch, it was both emotional and inspiring to watch. You have grown so much since then! Also it was very nice of Grendel to bring you a little gift in the middle of the video, such a thoughtful young man. 😂

Hey Emma: I thought I say hello, and wish you all the best with LotR. It must be such a pleasure to read something that's just really good and not a chore! As for your video idea, it was nice and I do remember finding your channel when you had about 14k subs in 2019. You were recording from your parents car and I loved that you loved 100 Years, one of my all time favs. As for the content, all I can say is that there is online a series of lecture delivered by a visiting professor from Italy at Yale on the Divine Comedy. It's well worth watching, at least for the INferno portion because after you hear it you understand that Dante wrote a love poem which can be summed up as: "I'd go through Hell for you." Of course, I agree that he did have a marvellous sense of humor.

yr outfit is so cute and summery🌷☘️🐚

I started watching your channel in late 2020 and it was pretty much life-changing for me. Made me reconsider lots of things in life. Saved my life, in a way. It always feels sort of weird to look at past self after experiencing a disabling event, I think. I pretty much lost ability to automatically get absorbed in books around 2015 because of trauma and I usually have brute force focus which is really exhausting. So when before I usually could read for hours, now I only read in about 10 minute sessions before I start getting tired. For a few years, like, 2015-2018 I would also struggle to read at all because of distress. So, I read very slowly and if I try hard, I usually finish about one book per month. At some point I noticed that I keep accumulating books way faster than I read them. I sort of have a vague ideas of times when I used to look forward to next thing I would read and trying to find it in library or order it. Sometimes I encounter page-turners that manage to draw me in but it's very rare, especially that at some point I also started seeking out more ambitious books. I try to read more manga and graphic novels besides books to get more reading. But I remember how bitter it was to see that in 2012 I have read, like, 100 books. When it comes to Lovecraft one of his best works is At the Mountains of Madness, really worth reading. It even has fossils! Would be great if you'd unearth your older videos!

Im starting a booktube channel of my own this month this was perfect timing for motivation (If you're wondering it's a review of some of the books in your world tour book club( a 3 pt. Series)

I've been here since the beginning of 2020 and watching u grow and now watching this has been crazyyy 🫶