Recent YA Reads 

I love your video style Candice. It's like just having a chat with a friend who loves books as much as I do. Your way with words is very calming as well.

I felt something similar with the ending of Only Ever Yours, like it suddenly got over complicated - well, not really overcomplicated, just that the plot took a weird turn. Other than that, I really loved the book, maybe a bit on your face with the symbolism and feminist allegory, but none of that or the inconsistencies you mentioned jumped up to me while reading it. I normally avoid first person, usually it makes it really difficult for me to get into a book, but in this case I barely noticed it, even when I was uncomfortable with freida's thoughts/feelings/actions (as was obviously intended). I read it a few months ago now, so I have a hard time pointing out what really made me love this book so much - it was a quick read, and I just remember reading it and thinking 'yes, this is how it is, this is how we feel at times'. It is such an extreme setting, but the situations and feelings by themselves are not that different.

I absolutely love the way in which your reviews are so well thought through, you have a way of really seeing books on another, much deeper level and considering the wider issues surrounding them which makes your videos so inspiring and thought-provoking. I have just added The Serpent King to my to-read list!

For a second there I thought you said "This is set in a dystopian world where girls are bread"

I'm intrigued by Only Ever Yours. It kind of sounds like something I'd read :)

These YA books sound great! I'm definitely going to read them, especially The Serpent King :)

I've just finished reading all the bright places tonight, and will be looking for some new reads. So perfect timing thank you :)

"All computer touchy touch" made me laugh a lot for some reason :) I read a first person narrative recently that wasn't really working for me either. It's definitely a hit or miss way to tell a story.

I'm definitely going to read Only Ever Yours. I love your analysis of books Candice. You're a big inspiration to me.

The ending of Only Ever Yours was quite... crazy, I definitely wasn't expecting it to just finish like that, and it ended so quickly too. But in a world that disturbingly messed up, I don't know if there was any other way it could've ended. And yes I also really wanted to read more about Isabel and their relationship but ah well

I read only ever yours last year and absolutely loved it! When I was told it was a dystopian novel I instantly thought I was going to hate it, but this book was so different to what I thought and it puts the expectation of woman in a weird/interesting perspective.

I'm excited to pick all of these up, I added them all to my Goodreads TBR :)

Great reviews Candice! Only Ever Yours sounds so interesting, I'll be reading it soon, thanks :)

I never stop to comment halfway thru a video but I really wanna read The Serpent King now! I'm from a small town in Georgia but I'm only a drive away from Tennessee. I love YA and all of the characters seem like I could relate to them in different ways. I'll have to give it a go as well. x :)

I've just finished 'Only Ever Yours' and found it really compelling/ hugely depressing. Just thought I'd mention that I read an interview with Louise O'Neill and she talked about how the female characters were named after beautiful models and actresses- Freida based on Freida Pinto and Isabel on Isabel Lucas. Male characters were named after famous historians and philosophers e.g. Darwin and Socrates. Found this very interesting and I hadn't really considered it whilst reading. I think the whole novel was cleverly written in this respect

I love her shirt omg

Ahhh this reminded me to go and finish my book, I've been too busy recently

Ah yes, I really need more books on my to read list! The Serpent King sounds excellent though. I just finished The Sky is Everywhere which wasn't as good as the other book I've read by that author, but her characters are SO well written. Now onto Pride and Prejudice...

The Serpent King sounds pretty good, and there's a character with my name so that's one reason, I suppose.

The Handmaid's Tale is one of my favourite books so I'll definitely check Only Ever Yours out! :)

I sometimes really hate these videos because they always add so many books to my to-read list! That list is already so damn long!

I really like the sound of The Serpent King. I'm adding that one to my list (which is entirely too long already, but we won't speak of that). Also, I'm curious - have you read More Than This by Patrick Ness?

I loved Only Ever Yours, the ending is bad but she wanted people to want more that she doesn't want to give if that makes sense? Asking for It is sooo much better its just amazing and brutal and I think you'd like it. I also have those bedsheets hahah

I really think you'd love Radio Silence by Alice oseman, I've been reccomending it to everyone because it's so amazing. I find it really hard to explain what it's about so I'll just copy and paste the description from amazon but I will say that something amazing about the book is that the main focus of the book is on a friendship and not about her falling in love. What if everything you set yourself up to be was wrong? Frances has always been a study machine with one goal, elite university. Nothing will stand in her way; not friends, not a guilty secret - not even the person she is on the inside. But when Frances meets Aled, the shy genius behind her favourite podcast, she discovers a new freedom. He unlocks the door to Real Frances and for the first time she experiences true friendship, unafraid to be herself. Then the podcast goes viral and the fragile trust between them is broken. Caught between who she was and who she longs to be, Frances’ dreams come crashing down. Suffocating with guilt, she knows that she has to confront her past… She has to confess why Carys disappeared… Meanwhile at uni, Aled is alone, fighting even darker secrets. It’s only by facing up to your fears that you can overcome them. And it’s only by being your true self that you can find happiness. Frances is going to need every bit of courage she has.

Welp ... Now I have to read the serpent King

1. I love your videos and your reviews, particularly! :D Even if they were longer, I'd love them. 2. I'm happy because, as a non-native-speaker-of-English, I'm getting better at understanding your accent (which is one I don't hear that much, as, say, American accent, for instance, so my ears are less used to understanding it and I really struggled with it at first ^^U). :D 3. I WISH I HAD MONEY TO BUY ALL THREE BOOKS AND READ THEM! Because they all sound interesting and I want to read them right now. But I'm absolutely broke! :(

Completely unrelated to the video, but - you totally look like a Pre-raphaelite model. :)

I LOVE YOU

You did pronounce Quercus correctly. Fun fact: Quercus is the name of the genus that contains oak trees.

I really want to read "The Serpent King" because I live in the racist, homophobic South. Thanks for these reviews, Candice!

Candice, check out When Breath Becomes Air.

Hey, Candice! I have a question for you. Why do you read mostly english language literature? I may not be right, but I've got this impression.

Have you read Asking For It?

you should read Simon and the homosexual agenda, the throne of glass series, and the court of torns and roses.

I've just finished only ever yours, I really didn't enjoy it, I think it's because I read The Handmaid's Tale previously and this just didn't compare for me, it spurred a blog post and a video from me haha.

Do you have a Goodreads account ? :)

Please don't hate me for this as it's not exactly content related but I love this video because that stuffed monkey in the background is the same stuffed monkey my husband gave to me when we first started dating. I've named it, very originally, if I do say so myself, Fuzzy Monkey. Does yours happen to have a name? Or a cool story behind it?

DIL

you're gorgeous just saiyan

loved the video but have to ask.... why are there so many stuffed animals in the bed??