reading my most anticipated books to thaw my cold winter heart ⛄️ 

welcome to this new challenge i call “winter” its where i make it through every day of winter (and read book) 🙏

“I love it when men lose” is such a relatable statement❤

The reactions to check & mate were so amazing

You know what book would really fit this theme??? Credence… because they have to stay in the mansion during the winter. Sounds perfect to me.

Beartown is a standalone to me, i know what happens in book 3 but if i dont read it it doesn't happen in my head

You've hit the nail on the head regarding the comma splices, it's definitely because of the original text and a translation choice. As a native speaker of both English and Swedish, the use of commas is one of the things that fascinate and frustrate me most about the differences between my languages. I'm not a linguist or an expert in any way, so take my rambling with a grain of salt though! Comma splices (satsradningar) are a lot more acceptable in Swedish than they are in English. The comma is 'stronger' in Swedish, which means that it's used quite differently and, relevantly, allows for a broader usage of comma splicing. In Swedish, comma splices where the clauses are directly related are not only permissable but sometimes preferable. In this case the comma acts like a semi-colon would in English. I've seen maybe five semi-colons in all Swedish language novels I've ever read, and I've read a lot. I haven't read The Winners yet in either language, but I have read other Backman and know he likes a good satsradning. I've also read portions of the English translation of Beartown and remember the use of semi-colons really standing out to me. If the comma splices are mostly of this related-clauses nature that's probably why. The 'stronger' comma means that it's also omitted in a lot of places where it would almost certainly be used in English. A huge part of translating English to Swedish and vice versa is figuring out where to add/remove/replace commas, and as someone whose first drafts are a mix of Swedish and English I've gotten so much feedback from teachers in Sweden that I use commas too freely, 'like a madman'. On the other hand, I'm prone to comma splicing in English and growing up in the UK I was told off by teachers for that. So I have a lot of sympathy for the translator, who either made the choice to preserve this difference in language or just wasn't as effective at translating punctuation this time around.

I agree with you about Ali Hazelwood. Normally contemporary romances just annoy me but her books actually make me giddy

Day 2 of asking for a closet haul specifically of your cardigans/sweaters bc I need to know where you shop please and thank you Angel

"Only one bed? In my fractured fairytale????" Fav quote so far 💛🤣

finding this channel has been such a blessing. keep making great vids:)

Holy what?? Did lexi post two videos in one week?? I'm dreaming. Best week ever ❤❤

Check and Mate is SO GOOD. The tension between Mallory and Nolan was just 😙🤌

I've said it and I'll say it again, Fredrik Backman understands human emotion better than any other living author. He rips my heart out every book and I say THANK YOU

Would you ever consider doing a detailed analysis of the Beartown trilogy? I do not have the mental strength to read it but I so badly want to know all your deepest opinions on it!!

i'm not an original author but the way you gush over books and just absolutely live with it is genuinely inspiring me to go back to writing a fic i've been holding off on, ur joy is infectious

seeing lexi so happy, and giggly, and excited abt check & mate has warmed my heart omg ilysm ahh 🫶🫶🫶😍😍

I also loved Check & Mate and it was such a surprise because I didn’t really enjoy Ali Hazelwood’s other books. It was a solid 4 and I added 0.5 because I actually played chess for years and just love to see female representations here (loved the Queen’s Gambit as well of course). Happy to see you also give it a 4.5!

i've only read beartown and refused to read the others because i was not mentally prepared for that. but the things you complained about make me want to finally read it. i loved the characters so much. The book deals so well with what hockey culture is like and i think of this series constantly now with the 2018 wjc hockey canada case.

The pure joy I am experiencing watching you talk about Check & Mate. We MUST make room for fun

The way you talk literally massages my brain 😭

The way you react to Check & Mate is exactly how I act when I'm reading a book I love

a study in drowning truly lives in my head rent free. I totally see why some people found the plot predictable or had issues with this book, but to me, it's one of those five stars where the vibes and way this book made feel outweighs anything that could possibly be a flaw

There's no world where I could see your excitement over Check and Mate and not instantly add to TBR. I'm currently 49% into Babel per your recommendation and *eating it up*

the stark contrast of the vibes between 8:31 and 31:20 is killing me LMAO

your giggilng to the romance is literally me reading any romance, specifically nick and bree in legendborn

I felt the same way with the translation of the winners!!! I had to get used to it as well but it was really strange

OH MY GAWD THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FELT READING CHECK AND MATE!! That book was EVERYTHING! Ali Hazelwood puts some kind of drugs in her books because I literally cannot put them down when I pick them up.

I have been WAITING for your review on Check & Mate after I finished it. So happy you enjoyed it and reacted to it like I did!! 😭😭😭❤

Hooray new Lexi vid! Just wanted to say: I followed you on TikTok first and then here and I want to thank you for kindling my fire for reading again. I’m starting off slow and at my own pace with books I think I’ll love, but your energy is infectious and I hope to maybe pick up a book recommendation from you some day on my reading journey! Thanks! 😊

they fact that i see your vid just after finishing check& mate AHHHHHH i literally feel the exact same about the book and so glad that i could see someone else review it !!!!!

I find your thoughts on The Winners really interesting ! I must admit, Backman is my absolute favorite contemporary author and I do tend to love anything he writes regardless of the pacing, so a 700 hundred pages novel about whatever happening in Beartown was everything I hoped for. The first book is wonderful, complete and cohesive, that’s for sure. However, if some plot points were not so interesting for me in book 2 ans 3, I felt like they gave us a more complete scenery. Like, hockey is at the core of the city, so hockey IS politics, school, people. And the latter books hit me so hard because the solidarity, the stories, ends up forming such a large ensemble. I had the time of my life seeing those characters evolving and some, including Amat and the Anderssons, were handled so well with their journeys that I can’t blame Backman for rambling about politics and gangs for a bit too long. But I do agree that they heavily rely on the emotional impact and character portrayals that happened in book one ! I would still say that the longer it felt, the more I imagined how dreadful it was for those inhabitants.

I absolutely love ur book reviews and voice it's seriously so calming to me

I LOVE your cloud and sun earrings!!!!

I anticipate these videos so much. The way you talk about books is so relatable

i ended up dnf'ing the winners for the exact same reason! beartown means so much to me and i was a little ambivalent to us vs them so i didn't want to harbor any negative feelings toward anyone in the series

My new fave booktuber hands down. I havent read in so long bc of reading anxiety in general..but ur enthusiasm and descriptions remind me how much i love words, poetry, and stories. Thank you for gracing this secluded realm with such lively, relatable, and exquisite content. May your days be fortuitous, merry, and protected in all ways.

im so glad you had a great time for most of this reading vlog!! you made me want to read check & mate. and im a lot more excited for the study in drowing too. :) 33:06 i live jow your hair complemented your earrings!! the sun side seemed to have more highlights probably because of the way it was curled. and the rainy cloud has more dark hair. pretty coo!! 🤩

I literally can only listen to so many people talk about certain things and only found two other people I can listen to hours on end talk about books I have never read and may never read. Idk wat it is but I just really like the way you talk about things and your explanations make so much sense to me. Don’t ever change. Thank you for making content

You are such an iconic human being and so fun to watch! Thank you genuinely posting and being so honest and funny❤

love your channel and you soo much! highlight of my day to see a new vid pop up - also, love the editing with the different colors for the guy, girl, and narrator!

your videos always have such a cozy vibe! i love the way you express yourself. the way you talk so passionately about the books you read makes me want to immediately pick up a book as well. thank you for bringing my love of reading back :)

You always have the best earrings! The black and white koi fish set is so cute!!

You’ve quickly become my favorite booktuber! I love your silly and cute reactions and just smiled throughout this video. I loved Queen’s Gambit too so the first book you shared sounds so good!! 👀

Tbh I want a book room tour! I’m so invested with the cozy vibes!!

Thanks, gonna use this video as my sole lifeline in this moment of emotional and physical decay. What a nice, safe space you’ve made for us 😙💗✨

You have thoroughly convinced me to read check and mate (which i was not ever planning on reading) sometimes a good romance is so nice. Also now i am so excited to read A Study in Drowning and i have it sitting on my shelf waiting for me :) ty for a great video to make my bad day better

I love watching your reactions to these.

25:41 not only does the hair pop off but I’m obsessed with your earrings!!! Also you’re just so pretty and your makeup is *chefs kisses* 😘 🤏🫰

i’m so so so lucky i found you on tiktok, been here for a couple months and the sheer quantity of books i’ve bought n loved based on your recs and reviews is borderline terrifying!! thank u as always 🙏🙏🙏

Lexi, you're doing wonders for rekindling my love for reading! Thanks so much :) Looking forward to the next upload

girl i love every single one of your videos. thank you so much

I just finished Check & Mate and it’s the most fun I’ve had reading a book in months ahhh I love them

I’m freezinggg rn so when I saw u post I got so excited!! gonna make some hot chocolate and feel cozy while watching 💞

i also read all my anticipated reads in january. time to slump for the remainder of the year! 😎

This made my day 10x better. All smiles during the Check & Mate section. I loved it too!

I think you might be my new favorite booktuber. I felt every emotion alongside you while watching this - I was excited and giddy with you during the first book and I FELT your pain during the last one. I was boutta cry with you and I've never even heard of this book series 💔 you are just such a fun personality and I'm gonna binge all your videos now lmao 🩷

been wanting to read check and mate for so long. can't wait to see your review!

Currently in bed sick, so happy to watch one of your videos❤️👏

Yes yes yes thank you for this. Didn’t realize I needed another Lexi video this week and yet I did

I’ve really never found another book related content creator that I enjoy listening to as much as you,,, thank you for uploading these videos they’ve really become a source of joy (and book recs lol) for me

God, I found your channel yesterday and I am now obsessed with you and everything you say 😂 the vibes are so immaculate that I did my nails while watching some videos 😂 you got me on your team ma'am ❤️

Another banger of a video, Lexi! Your Twisted Love and Credence videos are in heavy rotation to this day in this house lol. Can’t wait for the next spoilery deep dive!! Hope you’re doing well and staying warm in all that snow ❤

The way I watch these videos to vicariously read while having no time is honetly healing my soul 🤞💗

quite literally gasped at your earrings in the winners wrap-up. a genuine slay. thanks for your hard work, loved the video! you do non-spoiler vlogs so well!

I just love your channel and videos!! Just finished Legendborn and loveeeedd it! You get me through the workday and always expand my ever growing to read list because I know I will like it if u like it!! Thank you Lexi!

i'm so glad i followed you here from tiktok. your videos are so fun and relaxing. i put them on while crocheting or cleaning my room and (though i probably get distracted more) it helps me get through chores easier. also i love the puzzle updates as someone who doesn't like puzzles because i am not patient enough lol. keep making these great videos!

I love your taylor swift artwork! it is so classy

i ADORE the way you articulate your thoughts!!! you are the substitute for MY silly little podcasts!! ❤

your videos make me so happy, Lexi, thank u

i´m obsessed with your videos, the´re amazing!!!

another day another lexi video slay. i have now been fully influenced to read beartown

Ok I’ve never really felt drawn to Ali Hazelwood’s books in the past but the way you talk about check & mate has me SO TEMPTED, it sounds so cute 😭

Your videos are my favorite 🫶🏻 thanks for being you

I’m loving the hand held camera vlogging 🔥

No you’re so right. On paper, Ali Hazelwood is everything I hate in romance. But somehow I love her books more than I can explain in words

CHECK AND MATE IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE I AM OBSESSED WITH IT I AM IN LOVE SCREAMING OVER IT NONSTOP

Lexi, have you read Gothikana? If you have, I’d love to see a summary video like the Twisted Love and Credence videos at some point in the future!

I was so confused about the from blood and ash picture but I laughed so hard. I listened to that book and the others and omg the amount of repeating in those was insane!

I haven’t watched the video yet, but Check + Mate might be my second favorite Ali Hazelwood book! (I started TLH before it got popular on booktok.) It’s so well done, and the characters made me so emotional!

I LOVED A Study in Drowning!

I love watching you feeling sooo elated and giggling over a book. Thank you for the reco, I want to swoon too 😆

I enjoy your vlogs!

A Study in Drowning was acc one of my fave books last year, made me cry my little eyes out

I didn't love The Love Hypothesis, but I adored Check & Mate! It was so good! 🤩

I already wanted to read check & mate and A study drowning but now they are a must!

I absolutely adored a study in drowning. Think about it almost daily 😻

I've never clicked on a youtube notification faster. You are my favorite book reviewer🥰

Your hair always looks so on point 😍 not jealous at all 😂

I look forward to your videos so much

Reading and puzzles? Never thought I’d see my dream in a wonderfully unsuspected RU-vidr. Ur videos give me life ❤

I'm reading Beartown right now, based on your recommendation from a past video. 🤗 Thank you for that Lexi. There's this foreboding dread throughout.

winters give me the atmosphere required to unleash my inner villian (im sobbing under my blanket at a book)

i looovvveee ur videos i found u on tiktok first and i started coming here becuz i just couldn’t get enough like ur reviews r so fun and u talk in such a perfect way for my brain and i always bing watch ur videos and always come back to them and rewatch them but im just rly glad i found u and i just wanted to say i really enjoy ur videos and also congrats on the 100k subscribers i was here when there was abt 60k and it grew so fast!

my fave booktuber😚

loved this loosely strung together thematic ✨experience✨ and honestly it taking two months to happen feels very ❄️seasonal❄️ bc who is getting Anything Done during the winter (not me, I am but a seasonally affected smudge of a person). I love that you loved check & mate because so I I!!!! There is ABSOLUTELY a VERY REAL and irrational possibility that Nolan is my favorite of Ali's MMC's and that's crazy because I really was all in for Jack from Love Theoretically before the beginning of this month. The book was so fucking fun and it is EXACTLY what we needed in the wintertime. I am currently actively reading A Study in Drowning because of your winter TBR video and I'm really enjoying it. Will be back whenever I finish it to watch that video section bc I know there aren't any spoilers but I'm one of the sickos who will glom onto even the vaguest spoiler so I must abstain. Finally I *almost* bought that exact New Yorker puzzle from the bookstore so I'm glad I got to live vicariously through you for 10 seconds. saved this video as my little treat for the end of the day 🫡 thank you for sharing and motivating me to pick up one of the 5 books I'm reading rn.

I love the thumb nail. ❤ You can see you put a lot of effort in it.

pausing to say i bought check and mate and then was just not gonna read it bc i saw one bad review on it (never read her books, ever but bought this one) but as a lover of the queens gambit this has convinced me to read it ASAP

I have owned The Winners since the week it was released in 2021 and I have YET to pick it up! I just love the series so much and I don't want it to be over. Plus I just get worried about all these beloved characters & what they are going to go through next and quickly move on to another book. This year I'm hoping I'll finally pick it up! Great video as always :) And the hair was INDEED POPPIN'!

You posting early is the best thing that could have happened❤

just blessed me with yet another reason to procrastinate my final college paper 😁