Spooky romance books, Valentines decor haul & spooky small business unboxing for Valloween 🌹

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Happy Valloween, friends! In this video, I put my self-knowledge to the test as I try to find horror/horror-adjacent books with romance subplots that I ACTUALLY will enjoy.
Books Mentioned:
🪦 A Long Time Dead (Samara Breger)
💕 Reluctant Immortals (Gwendolyn Kiste)
🪦 Phantom Manor (Marilyn Ross)
💕 Bluebeard's Castle (Anna Biller)
🪦 My Zombie Sweetheart (Christopher Robertson)
Brands Mentioned: Five Below, Twisted Allure
Channels Mentioned:
🪦 Gothic Hearts Book Club creator: ‪@ElizabethSagewood‬
💕 ‪@WickedScorpio‬
🪦 ‪@bookswithtofucado‬
✨ ✨ DON'T FORGET TO LIKE/SUBSCRIBE IF YOU LOVE HORROR & HALLOWEEN! ✨ ✨
connect with me:
🦇 instagram: happyhauntslibr...
💜 wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
🦇 business inquiries: happyhauntslibrary@gmail.com
💜 pango: pangobooks.com/bookstore/happ...
#halloween #horror #horrorbook #booktube #gothicromance #valloween #spookyromance #spookybooks #valentinesday #valentineshaul #romancebooks #romancebooktube #horrorromance #decoratewithme

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Опубликовано:

5 фев 2024

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Комментарии : 60

@nevskislake 5 месяцев назад

I absolutely love how you put together a room for whatever holiday or theme you are going for. I wish I had your eye for aesthetics. I love when you incorporate cocktails, too. Your channel is so unique and just perfect, Lauren! I went through a period where I was reading old gothic novels from the 60's and 70's, and yea, so many of them are products of their time, to say the least. I read one, I can't remember the name, where our main character, who was a copy editor, has to give up her job at the end of the novel and marry some guy, despite showing herself to be clever, resourceful, and pretty badass for a woman of her time, because that would have been the "proper" ending at the time.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Oh my gosh your compliments! Ahhhh! Thank you! Behind the scenes, it can feel a little discouraging not being as "algorithm friendly" with what I publish so it's very impactful when I get comments like that. A huge thank you!! And the vintage gothic novel you describe is so cringe. I am learning that the vintage gothic horror genre is consistently filled with problematic characterizations and plots.

@katrinabrown 5 месяцев назад

Awe!! Your bat sweater is so cute! 💜🦇 I really enjoyed Reluctant Mortals! Gwendolyn Kiste is an author I will always pick up! Oh nooo!! I've been seeing such mixed things about Bluebeard's Castle! But it's cool people are having so many different opinions on it! I love the Love Witch so I'm still excited! I love your decorations 💖💖💖 Ahh!! I'm excited for My Zombie Sweetheart! I love Christopher Robertson books!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I know Bluebeard's Castle is on your TBR and I am really excited to know you're thoughts on it. It's a book I would encourage anyone interested in it to read because everyone's response is different. 😂 It's so entertaining to see!

@thegrimhobbyist 5 месяцев назад

Omg Candy Land! I used to play that game so much as a kid! Also, I was not aware Five Below had horror toys and merch. Time to go shopping haha! And I absolutely love your Valloween decorating and all your Funko Pops! I'm gonna have to pick up My Zombie Sweetheart, it sounds so good!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Yes Five Below has the funko pop hook up!! 👻 Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words 🤗💕💖💗🕷️

@literarylove123 5 месяцев назад

That Irish coffee looks AMAZING! I enjoyed Reluctant Immortals & after reading it, I was inspired to write my final paper in British Lit Seminar on the characters of Bertha and Lucy. I had not previously thought about the degree to which each of these women characters were oppressed and marginalized in the original novels -- especially Bertha -- until I read Kiste's reclaiming of their stories. Bluebeard's Castle did not work for me, but I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on it. Also, I am totally with you on the out of sight/out of mind problem! As always, I absolutely loved this video. Your aesthetic is EVERYTHING!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I love when a book can be so transformative in our reading of such foundational texts like Reluctant Immortals was for you. It made me want to read Jane Eyre through that lens which I haven’t read since high school. (That class was taught by a man who definitely wasn’t offering a feminist lens to our texts lol.)

@Kritz_Reads 5 месяцев назад

your sweater! 💜🦇 Aww, I love your Candyland setup. I played this with my son when he was younger, and yeah...doesn't hit the same as an adult. I'm also currently reading Bluebeard's castle. They just arrived to their new home and I'm starting to get into it more. Took me awhile to realize this was set in current times. My Zombie sweetheart sounds cute!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I saw on the Discord that you might be DNFing Bluebeard's Castle. I totally understand that! I am curious if I had borrowed the book from the library if I would have DNFed it (which I have been doing like crazzzzzzyyy these days). I rarely purchase books and my library didn't have it in any format. It's always the books I highly anticipate and then buy that fail me 😂

@WickedScorpio 5 месяцев назад

I'm so here for this vlog 🙌🙌 Yayyy I'm so glad you liked reluctant immortals!! Yessss, the friendship focus was amazing. The themes were right up my alley. 🔥 Loving the chucky swag!! Bride of chucky is so good and iconic. Bummer about bluebeards castle because I love the cover, but I may skip that one. Oooo I will definitely add zombie sweetheart to my list. I've been wanting to check out more of Christopher Robertson for awhile now

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I am so happy the reluctant immortals was a hit for me!! I notice there's often times books that everyone hates and then I love them haha. (There's only been one that everyone loved but I just couldn't finish and that's Slewfoot... eek! Don't tell on me!!)

@mayatsolova 5 месяцев назад

I love the footage of your San Francisco trip 🤩🤩❤❤OMG the Chucky figurines are so cool.❤❤ I didn’t know that the author of Bluebeard’s castle is the director of The love Witch, I want to give the book a chance just for that reason, but I could see how I might be disappointed as well. 🤭

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Definitely give the book a chance!! The reviews for this one are all over the place so it's really a toss up where you wil land with this one 😂 I have grown to appreciate it a bit more after watching the Love Witch this past week!

@eriebeverly 5 месяцев назад

I also admire the packing ability of the Five Below worker. Hilarious. I did the audiobook for Bluebeard's Castle and while I didn't really care for it all that much I'm glad I got the audio. I can only imagine what having to read it would have been like. I always rec Spring (2014) as the ultimate horror romance movie and then everyone hates me. So, fair warning. And if you liked The Chrysalis you might also like The Silent Land by Graham Joyce.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I just looked up the premise of Silent Land and it's giving Significant Other vibes (couple goes on a hiking trip and I read it as an allegory for a dissolving relationship). I am so IN! Added it to my TBR for next winter 😍 You seriously have the best recs! I am so curious about how your audiobook experience was for BC. There's just something about hearing the inner monologue said out loud that would very likely make me cringe to no end 😂

@SlimeAndSlashers 5 месяцев назад

Oh my goshhhhhh your sweater is amazing 🥹🥹🥹 hahaha I need one! I am so picky of romance too! Oh The Chrysalis sounds so good. I love the San Francisco clips! I went to that same place for Irish coffee 🥰🥰🥰 so good!!! I have a physical copy of Reluctant Immortals and I am not sure it'll work for me because not having read Dracula which I think it references. If you want the physical copy I have, I can send it to you! Otherwise, I think I may just unhaul it eventually! No worries either way - I know you have limited space for books! I love your Chucky swagggg. I loved Candy Land growing up. I love the aesthetic of it 😍 I am obsessed with your conversation hearts mugssss. Your thematic decorations speak to my soul 🤩 I loved your analysis of Bluebeard's Castle. Such complex thoughts 🎉 I am excited to hear your thoughts of My Zombie Sweatheartt because I own that one. I am going to put it on my TBR for sure for Kat's zombiethon this year! Amazing video, Lauren 🔥🔥🔥

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

A moment of silence for those AMAZINGGGG Irish Coffees! That's a total Kelsi move to travel somewhere and find the Irish-y things to do 😂 And I am hoping to do some fun things with Candyland and other fave nostalgic board games during Old School April!! I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!

@maddymoonslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Omg seeing the San Francisco clips made me so homesick in the best way 😭 so nostalgic!!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I loved hearing in your past videos that you grew up in CA! Expect more CA adventures in my videos 👻

@gentlecrocheting 5 месяцев назад

I loved your jumper at the beginning of this vlog! 💜🦇 Reluctant immortals sounds so interesting and I loved your point about female friendships. This was so cozy to watch 😊💕

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching and for leaving such a kind, heart-warming comment 💕

@brooklinslibrary 5 месяцев назад

So unfortunate about A Long Time Dead. The cover is gorgeous 😍 The Lost Girls is now on my radar. Thank you!! 🧛‍♀ 10:18 I would scream 💀. I just know the 5 below worker was having a good time packing your box 🤣 I am so obsessed with the way you decorate your space. It always looks so good!!! 16:23 when books drop these offensive words it really takes me out of the story! 😐 Your heart sweater is so cute!! She's giving Jennifer's Body 💅 Happy Valloween!! I loved this!! 💐💕💟

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Oh my gosh I didn’t even make the Jennifer’s Body connection! We love it!! ❤️🖤❤️🖤 and please read The Lost Girls - I really think you’d love it!!

@thefaeriewilds 5 месяцев назад

The Candyland funkos are so cute. Sad that the gothic books weren't great but ugh I looooved how you talked about the genre conventions and different takes on them.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I can get so nerdy in my videos haha but that's just me! And I have only just "dipped my toes" into the gothic genre. I am so enamored by the settings, atmosphere, etc. I can't wait to read more!!

@ireneeish 5 месяцев назад

Ooouh your takeaways on reluctant immortal makes me want to read it!! Female friendships are soooo important and crucial in our lives.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

That’s why I love you so much!!! 🥰

@midnight-tomes 5 месяцев назад

I love your commitment to seasonal decor! I can't remember if you have talked about reading A Dowry of Blood but I had fun reading that one. Some smut but it's not crazy, it's definitely hard to find "horror romance" that is not just dark erotica basically lol

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Ooo yes I read A Dowry of Blood and LOVED IT! 😍 You definitely understand my horror-romance taste 👻 I think I remember someone saying that they are releasing a Carmilla retellings this month? I really hope so. And thank you so much for watching!!! 🥰

@Julesbooksandthings 5 месяцев назад

Um excuse me ma'am, I did not know Five below had Funko pop! Off to do some shopping. 😂😂 Your Valentine table centerpiece turned out really cute. 🩷

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I KNOW! I was shocked that the Candyland ones were so cheap for the size. I actually have a FiveBelow down the street from me but it's always picked over so I just order the products online, which they are typically very good at stocking enough of the "good" stuff there!

@ireneeish 5 месяцев назад

I love the idea of tabbing the book at 20% to see if you want to DNF it!! I need to implement that in my book reading journey

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Have you ever DNFed a book before?? It’s one of my new superpowers 👻

@bookswithtofucado 5 месяцев назад

i once added a long time dead to my TBR and removed it seconds after cause... that sounded boring LOL i was so stressed about reluctant immortals... the way i screamed YESSSS when u said u liked it 😂i looooved what you said about the book!!!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I don’t see you reading too many romance novels so yes, stay away from A Long Time Dead 🤣

@culturalcobwebs 5 месяцев назад

But can we talk about your fabulous bat jumper?! 🦇Also, using Funko Pops in your centerpiece is a game changer and I am 100% stealing this idea😍 Reluctant Mortals was a great read and I completely agree with your point about female friendships. I kept thinking throughout this video that you might really like They Both Die at the End. It isn't horror, though death does factor in heavily. It's one of those books I still think about and I think one you might enjoy. And I'm not big on romance/horror movies myself but I have heard really good things about Spring (2014). As always, your video vibes are A+ 💅

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Heheeh thank you so much for the kind words, Liz! I started They Both Die at the End per your recommendation and I am about 20% into it. I got to the little twist about the Deathcast situation behind the scenes so I'm thinking maybe the title isn't as true as it's supposed to be.... 🤔 We shall see!

@culturalcobwebs 4 месяца назад

Can't wait to hear your thoughts! It took me a little to get into it and then I was all in. Hope you like it as much as I do 🙂@@happyhauntslibrary

@ireneeish 5 месяцев назад

I feel the same about likening the sweet parts or deconstructing parts of a relationship > the spicy parts in books at least 😅 thanks for your honest reviews!! Gives me a lot of insight on my next read (:

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for watching, Irene!! Are you a big romance reader??

@ArinHoney 4 месяца назад

I looooove your dedication to themed wardrobe 🙏

@happyhauntslibrary 4 месяца назад

Haha thank you! I love a good theme 👻

@letsgoevie 5 месяцев назад

Great video💞 I think Siren Queen by Nghi Vo has a lot of the elements you’re looking for set in 30s old hollywood💙 For more gothic settings Our Hideous Progeny by CE McGill follows Victor Frankensteins great niece and her husband working in paleontology. The Modern Mythos Anomaly by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald has a very slow burn romance between a warlock and vampire that accidentally time travel while escaping from a hunter🖤

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Okay I just looked up the premise of Siren Queen because I have come across it on Libby while searching up books but I didn't really read the premise; I just recognize the cover and OMG I NEED TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP. Using fantastical elements as a metaphor for the predatory nature of Hollywood? Sapphic relationships? Old Hollywood setting? It's a combination that might make me explode with anticipation haha 😂😂 THANK YOU for the recomendation!! And I have Our Hideous Progeny on my TBR for March because that's when I am reading Frankenstein for the first time and I have heard sooo many good things about this retelling! I can't wait to finally get to it 👻

@Alicia-606 5 месяцев назад

Mmm sugar plum white tea. I like that it’s your year of Chuckie 😂 I used to love Candy Land and I love all your thematic candy land vibes. It seems like the reviews are all over the place for Bluebeard’s Castle 👀

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

The winter turns me into a tea person!! I just crave it so much. I bought two more tea boxes since this video released LOL. And where is the candyland retelling horror book of my dreams?! I really do hope that exists!

@Alicia-606 5 месяцев назад

@@happyhauntslibrary There is a book called The Cannibals of Candyland, but… idk if that’s what you’re looking for 😂 I haven’t read it and cannot vouch for it.

@kleffgoeverafter 5 месяцев назад

Love the shirt and figures! Bride of Chucky is my fav! Definitely need to read Lost Girls, it has been on my list for ages.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

I can't wait to finally watch Bride of Chucky for the VERY first time this month (its on my Valloween TBW list) -- in my new t-shirt of course. 👻

@kleffgoeverafter 5 месяцев назад

@@happyhauntslibrary Yes!! Perfect plan!

@unhingedwoman 5 месяцев назад

Loved this video! You def mentioned some I’ve not heard of. I’m trying to get through the more popular mainstream romances on my physical TBR this month that I had added (before I realized I don’t like romance) and it’s not going well at all 😂😂😂

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Oh no! I have tried these myself. Most recently, I tried to read Merry Little Meet Cute via audiobook and it was just so cringe haha. Have you read that one? And thanks so much for watching!!! Wishing you a wonderful February with more successful reads 😂😂

@unhingedwoman 5 месяцев назад

@@happyhauntslibrary no and I probably won’t at this rate lol…

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

@@unhingedwoman 🤣🤣🤣 I feel ya!!

@unhingedwoman 5 месяцев назад

@@happyhauntslibrary I am about 2/3 of the way through “odd blood” by Azalea Crowley. It’s actually very very cute. No smut, paranormal cozy series. Might have found a win!

@ITCamefromthePage 5 месяцев назад

DNF alllll the boooooks. (that don't work for you...obviously read some books...I guess lol) Oh man all gothic books have some pretty awful disability rep...like I don't think I've read a single one with good rep for it haha (not that I've read many but it is like endemic to gothic storytelling where things like mental illness are oftentimes built in plot devices). As such I am only into gothic stories if they are supernatural and have vampires LOL. Great video!

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

DNF all the books! 🤣 and thanks for letting me know that Phantom Manor’s poor disability rep isn’t an outlier but the norm. 😩

@ireneeish 5 месяцев назад

I find it hard to finish reading older novels that use problematic or outdated terms too.

@happyhauntslibrary 5 месяцев назад

Gosh yes it can be so rough!