Weekly Lists #116: Booktube made me do it

So we all have those moments, right? Where you’re just happily watching some Youtube. Nothing special, really. And then, suddenly. It happens. Someone mentions a book. A title, a blurb, a thing they loved about it. And although you’re quietly grumbling, you’re already getting out your phone and opening the Goodreads app. Because you just know: now I have to read it as well. Well, this post is basically devoted entirely to that part of my TBR: the books where Booktube got to me!

1. A Working Theory of Love, Scott Hutchins

“Silicon Valley: home of online start-ups, couture coffee, sexual meditation, and the future. In its midst, Neill Bassett is helping to build the world’s first artificial intelligence – a computer that talks, thinks, lies, and if all goes to plan, feels bad about it too. But when the experiment swerves in an unexpected direction, Neill is forced to confront a few buried feelings of his own – for his ex-wife, for his dead father, for his twenty-first-century life, and for a very twenty-first-century woman called Rachel, who might just hold the answer to it all…” (Goodreads)

I mean, I thought it sounded so great that I went out and bought it. And then I never got round to reading it. Plus, realistically: at this point I don’t even remember which booktuber (most likely) recommended this one. But hey, it’s still standing there on my bookshelves. Ready for whatever moment I feel I might want to grab it!

2. The End of Your Life Book Club, Will Schwalbe

“The inspiring story of a son and his dying mother, who form a “book club” that brings them together as her life comes to a close.

Mary Anne Schwalbe is waiting for her chemotherapy treatments when Will casually asks her what she’s reading. The conversation they have grows into tradition: soon they are reading the same books so they can have something to talk about in the hospital waiting room. The ones they choose range from classic to popular, from fantastic to spiritual, and we hear their passion for reading and their love for each other in their intimate and searching discussions.

A profoundly moving testament to the power of love between a child and parent, and the power of reading in our lives” (Goodreads)

I mean, had I just come across the book in a store, I might still have grabbed it. The title, you know. It just speaks to me. But I didn’t just come across it. I’d heard someone gush about it. And I was in that kind of a mood where a book about someone slowly dying and saying goodbye sounded like a really good idea. So I did get it. So long ago, to be exact, that I now don’t even really remember where I put my copy of it? Oops 🙂

3. Dumplin’, Julie Murphy

“Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart. ” (Goodreads)

I mean, just about everybody heard about this one, didn’t they? At one point, it seemed like I couldn’t even open Twitter, or Instagram, or Youtube, without someone mentioning it.

Plot twist, though: I haven’t bought it yet. For now, it’s got it’s spot on my TBR ànd my TBB (to be bought), and it’s good there. Maybe 2018’ll even be the year I actually get round to it?

4. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour

“Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it’s Amy’s responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn’t ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip – and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar – especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory – but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way.” (Goodreads)

For some reason, this one makes me think of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. I mean, it’s probably just the title.  And realistically, there’s no reason to think I would dislike it. Apart from the fact that I did dislike the playlist-book. But hey, Booktube got behind this one, and I’m entirely too susceptible to recommendations, so on my TBR it stands. As was the case for the previous one: haven’t bought it though. yet.

5. Since You’ve Been Gone

“It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list.

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger? Um…

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane’s list. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go skinny-dipping? Wait…what? ” (Goodreads)

For some reason this makes me think of a John Green book, in its description. In general that would be a good thing, and I’ve heard many good things about the book itself as well. But somehow – I don’t think I’m ready to read it? I don’t know, if you have read it, you should let me know below what you thought!

And there you have it, 5 books I want to read basically just because of booktube. Oh, the joys that place brings me. As I mentioned in last week’s post as well: if there was ever a time to go out and support (small) booktubers, now’s the time. So definitely free to go read that one and subscribe to any of the booktubers I listed. Or any others, of course, if you should come across some you like. Do be sure to let me know below what your recs would be. For booktubers, and for which of these books I should mention first!

-Saar