Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Always fun to check in on the reading year so far, so here's the mid-year book freakout tag!
Booktubers tagged:
@LydiaLostthePlot
@rororeads
@ToBeBlackandLoved
Booktubers running Savidge Prompts:
@SavidgeReads
@louisesavidgemuses4135
See more about the Read Good Challenge (not the 'Good Read Challenge' like I said in the video lol):
youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
And join the Storygraph challenge here:
app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/184091c1-8b06-4cc9-9e7e-f8c7e24bd3ea
The tag originator, IsThatChami, is no longer on YouTube.
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Questions:
1. Best book youβve read so far
2. Best sequel you've read so far
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
5. Biggest disappointment
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
8. Newest fictional crush
9. Newest favourite character
10. Book that made you cry (or saddest book you've read)
11. Book that made you happy
12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year
13. Favourite video you have made so far in this year
14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
15. Books do you need to read by the end of the year
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
π Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #booktag
Always fun to check in on the reading year so far, so here's the mid-year book freakout tag!
Booktubers tagged:
@LydiaLostthePlot
@rororeads
@ToBeBlackandLoved
Booktubers running Savidge Prompts:
@SavidgeReads
@louisesavidgemuses4135
See more about the Read Good Challenge (not the 'Good Read Challenge' like I said in the video lol):
youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
And join the Storygraph challenge here:
app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/184091c1-8b06-4cc9-9e7e-f8c7e24bd3ea
The tag originator, IsThatChami, is no longer on YouTube.
β
Questions:
1. Best book youβve read so far
2. Best sequel you've read so far
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
5. Biggest disappointment
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
8. Newest fictional crush
9. Newest favourite character
10. Book that made you cry (or saddest book you've read)
11. Book that made you happy
12. Favourite book to film adaptation you saw this year
13. Favourite video you have made so far in this year
14. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
15. Books do you need to read by the end of the year
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: instagram.com/benreadsgood
π Storygraph: app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #booktag
![Reading wrap-up β’ Books I read in May
Better late than never - 5 book reviews from what I read in May.
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Books mentioned:
π Son of Nobody, by Yann Martel
π My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein, by Deborah Levy
π The Director, by Daniel Kehlmann (tr. Ross Benjamin)
π As If, by Isabel Waidner
π The Things We Never Say, by Elizabeth Strout
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00:00 Son of Nobody
04:17 My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein
06:09 The Director
09:26 As If
12:05 The Things We Never Say*
*gifted by the publisher
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2026:
https://youtu.be/i50Tr4zRexg
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3717542a-a44b-452b-bbc1-046ae5ec8fab
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube # Reading wrap-up β’ Books I read in May](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/eqJqert-cEc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Cuddy by Benjamin Myers is extraordinary | Spoiler-free book review π
Channelling my inner @rororeads to bring you a standalone review of this absolutely wondrous book: Cuddy, by Benjamin Myers.
I highly, highly recommend reading this book. Dont be intimidated by the start: its a rich and rewarding experience that is greater than the sum of its parts. A true gem that probably should have been nominated for the Booker Prize.
I dont consider anything in this review a spoiler, so Iβve marked it βspoiler-freeβ. But Im not sure of peoples tolerance for plot summaries so please tread carefully!
This video is kindly sponsored by the word arc which I think I use about 3000 times π
For more ficton book recommendations, subscribe today!
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π If you enjoyed this video, give it a like!
πΉ Subscribe to my channel for a new video each week
βοΈ Get in touch at benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π My Amazon wishlist of books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #bookreview Cuddy by Benjamin Myers is extraordinary | Spoiler-free book review π](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fYdgk0Q2CGg/mqdefault.jpg)

![Book bans and a STACKED month of new books (Tokarczuk, Rooney, Powers) β’ This Month in Book News β¨
Happy start-of-autumn month! Its September and heres the book news, including some book ban-related developments, an absurd number of hot new releases (including Sally Rooney, Olga Tokarczuk, Richard Powers, and more) and all the usual bits and bobs.
The word of the month, apparently, is particularly. Please dont count how many times I say it π
Bookloop by Bookshop.org:
https://bookshop.zeercle.com/
Curated Kindle deals list:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3TVIFMVNIAEM1
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00:00 Book news
03:43 Prize news and dates
05:19 New book releases
13:04 Deals
13:35 Books on screen
14:08 Feelgood story
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #booknews Book bans and a STACKED month of new books (Tokarczuk, Rooney, Powers) β’ This Month in Book News β¨](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gXO5fZpBOdY/mqdefault.jpg)
![A reading list for nonfiction November
Some books Im hoping to read for nonfiction November.
Note: I was way off thinking Flanagan won the Booker in 2007. It was 2013!
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Books mentioned:
π The Story of a Heart, by Rachel Clarke
π Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton
π Question 7, by Richard Flanagan
π Challenger, by Adam Higginbotham
π Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, by Carlo Rovelli (tr. Simon Carnell and Erica Segre)
π Stay True, by Hua Hsu
π Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe
π Constructing a Nervous System, by Margo Jefferson
π This House of Grief, by Helen Garner
π The Last Act of Love, by Cathy Rentzenbrink
π Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2025:
https://youtu.be/sl6NEuMRXF4
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/b9e80f78-e8d0-464e-b460-c2e1034dc707
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #nonfiction A reading list for nonfiction November](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gZu_FgZL148/mqdefault.jpg)
![Book prize predictions β’ Goldsmiths Prize and Nobel Prize
You know I love a prize prediction video, so heres another couple to throw in the mix!
The Goldsmiths Prize shortlist is looking for fiction at its most novel and its shortlist will be announced on 2 October.
The Nobel is awarded for a body of work, and well find out this years recipient on 10 October.
If youd like some more informed Nobel predictions, check out @TheDiscoKingOfficials video here:
https://youtu.be/bethsmnLKCU?si=t0IUmiWxHptv0uhj
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00:00 Goldsmiths Prize
05:54 Nobel Prize
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #bookprizes Book prize predictions β’ Goldsmiths Prize and Nobel Prize](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gjHgnUKrexo/mqdefault.jpg)
![5 dystopian novels (ranked by plausibility)
Dystopian books? Apocalyptic books? Post-apocalypic books? Whatever you call them, these 5 novels play out the end of the world and how that might look. I read and ranked these books, and judged how realistic their depiction of the downfall of society felt to me. And a few are definitely recommend reading.
Funnily enough, I read all of these mostly by chance recently. So this also serves as a bit of a reading wrap-up.
I didnt mention this in the video, by @AliceandtheGiantBookshelf did a great video comparing the book and movie of The End We Start From, which you can check out here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaEaOSiYtmo
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Books mentioned:
π Delphi, by Clare Pollard
π Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam
π The Doloriad, by Missouri Williams
π The End We Start From, by Megan Hunter
π Jungle House, by Julianne Pachico
π Severance, by Ling Ma
π Station Eleven, by Emily St John Mandel
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00:00 Why is there so much apocalyptic fiction?
02:37 5th place
05:49 4th place
08:38 3rd place
10:55 2nd place
13:36 1st place
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #dystopianbooks 5 dystopian novels (ranked by plausibility)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hA27Cz9xf48/mqdefault.jpg)
![Books I read in February β’ Reading wrap-up
Five book reviews for February! Perhaps a bit more of a mixed bag than last month though, including a book that actively annoyed me.
Look out for the upcoming 10k giveaway on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
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Creators mentioned:
@FreshlyReadBooks (TBR spin)
@SavidgeReads and @louisesavidgemuses4135 (Savidge Prompts)
@stalkingkafka
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Books mentioned:
π Juice, by Tim Winton
π Three Fires, by Denise Mina
π The List of Suspicious Things, by Jenni Godfrey
π Dengue Boy, by Michel Nieva (tr. Rahul Bery)
π The Sea, by John Banville
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00:00 10k subs plans
01:24 Juice
05:35 Three Fires
08:51 The List of Suspicious Things
12:34 Dengue Boy
16:09 The Sea
18:50 Goals and challenges
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2025:
https://youtu.be/sl6NEuMRXF4
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/b9e80f78-e8d0-464e-b460-c2e1034dc707
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #readingwrapup Books I read in February β’ Reading wrap-up](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hITcXiF59UQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Books I read in March and April β’ Reading wrap-up
9 books in March and 8 in April... but dont worry Im not doing 17 book reviews in this video π Lots of interesting stuff in here though, including International Booker Prize shortlisted books, and some great recent releases.
BookTube Prize reviews:
https://youtu.be/T09-Fm03WI0?si=m42yvhcF-PpHv-Qh
Womens Prize reviews:
https://youtu.be/ArJ0sm5kC1A?si=06BuFlLEFqTQ0ylr
James by Percival Everett review:
https://youtu.be/aFX_E1lEgvo?si=iWFX3J_oWEJKghrN
@TheDiscoKingOfficial review of What Id Rather Not Think About
https://youtu.be/wN-iiCxctcQ?si=CsbIaIW6aOVStJYN
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Books mentioned in this video:
π James, by Percival Everett
π Julia, by Sandra Newman
π True Grit, by Charles Portis
π What Id Rather Not Think About, by Jente Posthuma (translated by Sarah Harvey Timmer)
π The Details, by Ia Genberg (translated by Kira Josefsson)
π The Borrowed Hills, by Scott Preston
π The Spoiled Heart, by Sunjeev Sahota
π Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie
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00:00 Intro
00:39 Julia
03:24 True Grit
05:59 What Id Rather Not Think About
08:56 The Details
10:56 The Borrowed Hills
14:11 The Spoiled Heart
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4eJcfdG8U
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #readingwrapup Books I read in March and April β’ Reading wrap-up](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hS-Z8o-aOCc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Intermezzo by Sally Rooney β’ Book review π
Finally got around to reading Intermezzo by Sally Rooney, and heres my review.
Clip used from Chicken Shop Date by @AmeliaDimoldenberg
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2026:
https://youtu.be/i50Tr4zRexg
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3717542a-a44b-452b-bbc1-046ae5ec8fab
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
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#books #booktube #bookreview Intermezzo by Sally Rooney β’ Book review π](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hkQUjTvPEzE/mqdefault.jpg)
![The best books I read in 2025
Were here again at the end of another year, and here are my 10 favourite books I read in 2025. Plus some honourable mentions that it pained me to leave out.
Hopefully you find some recommendations worth reading in here. Let me know if youve read any, and what your favourite reads of the year have been!
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Standalone reviews of some of these books:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl2V3H5e8qs&list=PLSlUBOJVTh7Mq4NBoIFl2Fd-qCXuU4tgo&index=6
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00:00 Reflections on my reading year
02:05 Honourable mentions
03:24 Rank 10-6
09:37 Rank 5-1
β
Thank you so much for watching.
π Join the Read Good Challenge 2026:
https://youtu.be/AqXiso15hB4?si nh26ud3FChYkLCg
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenges/3717542a-a44b-452b-bbc1-046ae5ec8fab
βοΈ Email: benreadsgood[at]gmail.com
πΈ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benreadsgood/
π Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/benreadsgood
π Amazon wishlist (books that are tricky to get in a physical bookshop in the UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2PGEEC0LPHHDA
β
#books #booktube #readingwrapup The best books I read in 2025](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i50Tr4zRexg/mqdefault.jpg)