Come Book Shopping With Me | Solo Bookstore Date + Mini Book Haul 💕📖✨

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Don't know if I can do it to myself.

[00:00:02]There's actually quite a few I've got my eye on. It's about a woman who works in the afterlife and I'm actually very tempted by this and I was myself. It's lilac and I thought it's a pastel so I got to give it a go. Hello my friends. Welcome or welcome back to my channel. If you're new here, my name's Karly and today I'm going to take myself off on a little bit of a solo book shopping trip and I thought I'd take you guys along with me.

[00:00:32]So, this is very impromptu, completely unplanned, but I need to pop into Cardiff today and I thought what why not accidentally fall into water stones and have a little look around and yeah, take you along with me for the ride. I haven't got anything in mind that I want to pick up. I'm just going to have a little browse. I'm hoping it's not going to be too busy, but I've got a feeling it is going to be really busy. It's currently half term in the UK in South Wales anyway, which means all the school children are off, so I think hard is going to be quite busy. So, I'm going to see how it goes. I've also never been book shopping on my own before. I don't think anyway. I've never vlogged it before on my own. So, yeah, we'll just see how it goes. Now, I know I only went book shopping, oh, I don't know, was it like two weeks ago? But I know how much you guys enjoy my book shopping vlogs.

[00:01:24]So, I thought if I'm already in Cardiff and I've got an hour or so to kill, why not slide on in to the old bookshop and have a little nosy. Also, if I've got time, I will go to the works as well because I haven't been to the works for ages. And for anybody that isn't in the UK and doesn't know what the works is, that is more of a kind of like budget.

[00:01:46]It's not just a book shop. They sell like craft supplies and everything. It's a bit of a mish mash of a shop, but they do sell books for very reasonable prices. And yeah, I haven't been to a works for ages, so I could have a little nosy in there. They've usually got a three for £750 offer, I think. Something like that. Three books for £750. So yeah, if I have got the time, I will take you along there as well. And yeah, I think I'm just going to go and get myself sorted and head on into Cardiff.

[00:02:17]This is the book shopping and vlogging fit.

[00:02:22]Let's go. Right, I've made it into Cardiff. I'm actually quite scared to film by myself. I don't know why, cuz it just looks like I'm talking to myself, whereas I'm usually with somebody when I'm vlogging. But yeah, I'm going to go in and have a little look. And all I'm gonna say is if I end up buying something, I'm not gonna be mad.

[00:03:00]I think this has just been released now and I'm coming to see Vishwab this month like in a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

[00:03:06]I actually bought the American cover of this because I'm not fast on the UK cover. I've got this one and I'm actually planning on doing a reading vlog at some point this month where I read this Dark Sisters by Christy Deista and maybe Wolfworth by Tek King Fisher.

[00:03:24]I'm quite excited.

[00:03:26]This actually sounds really good and it's by the same author that wrote Hex, which I read a couple of years ago and really enjoyed. It's about a woman who works in the afterlife and I'm actually very tempted by this.

[00:03:40]Here's Wolfworm. Look at the edges.

[00:03:45]>> How bloody stunning. I've already got this coffee at home. This cover offends me every single time. I'm going to put the American cover on the screen to show you the one I have, but this isn't it.

[00:03:55]This looks and sounds really good. I think it's a billionaire romance. Not really my thing, but give it a go. I actually got this in this month's 99p Kindle deals and it's about Cinderella's evil stepmother like her backstory and I'm very tempted to buy the physical copy even though I haven't read it yet just because I've heard incredible things and it is bloody stunning. I'm so sad I didn't love this more. Look how stunning the cover is, but I only gave it two stars. It was a bit underwhelming unfortunately.

[00:04:27]I have heard really good things about this one as well. Theo of Golden. Let me know if any of you have read it and if you think I'll like it. I'm sorry, but the concept and the cover of this book just gives me the ick every time I see it. This says on the front for fans of Sarah Waters. And I bloody love Sarah Waters. Ba Paris's new book.

[00:04:50]Also tempted. I absolutely love the cover of this book. How stunning. I loved this. This is one of my favorite historical fiction books. is so good.

[00:05:00]This is another one I'm gutted I didn't love because look at the cover.

[00:05:05]I really wanted a trophy copy and I DNFed it. Do you know what? I keep forgetting. I've got a proof copy of this that I had as part of my ticket for the book party last year. I couldn't make the book party, but I had a goodie bag. I think it's like Gothic.

[00:05:23]I'm sure an unforgettable tale of a woman who has lost herself in the poison of vengeance. Doesn't that sound right up my street? There's actually quite a few I've got my eye on. And I was only going to come in just for a look to show you around because I haven't been in this water st and a half, maybe a little bit more.

[00:05:44]And now I've got my eye on a couple. But I have got some water stes points that I could spend.

[00:05:50]So, I I could purchase one or two, you know. I also love the cover of this.

[00:05:59]How stunning is that? I'm not really a romance girly.

[00:06:03]Not like a happily ever after romance anyway. I don't even know what it's about. I'm saying that.

[00:06:10]Yeah. An audacious celebration of love relationships and the women who have historically been shut out of such stories.

[00:06:21]Maybe I'll wait until it's out on paperback. This is this month's book club pick. I still haven't read it yet, but I'm really excited. It's also the first online live stream book club pick, so I'm so excited.

[00:06:37]>> I got this in my last book haul. This is book one.

[00:06:44]Look at the other ones.

[00:06:49]My bloody love. Oh my god, it is so busy in here. It's half term, so all the kids are off school and it's really, really busy. I'm going to go upstairs now and have a look at the fantasy and horror books.

[00:07:27]How stunning is that as well?

[00:07:34]>> I spoke about this in my spring horror releases, I think. Look how tiny it is.

[00:07:41]I'm very tempted. I'm also very tempted by this even though I'm not a sci-fi girly, but I may do the audio of it.

[00:07:50]I've had this run on my TBR for ages and I think it's like a fantasy with a murder mystery, a peculiar crime, a brilliant investigator, a mystery of epic proportions.

[00:08:01]I haven't read it yet. And then that's the sequel. How stunning are these covers as well? My fave.

[00:08:12]This is really good.

[00:08:14]>> I actually read this last week and again, I'm gutted I didn't love it more because I love the cover so much. Look at that. I'm also very tempted by this, but I hate a shiny cover.

[00:08:25]>> Gives me the ick bit of a Marmite book, but I absolutely loved it.

[00:08:31]>> I really want to read this as well. Look at the size of it.

[00:08:35]I loved this book.

[00:08:40]They've got both the Mexican Gothic covers. Which one do you prefer?

[00:08:44]>> I quite like both. People keep recommending this to me and I just don't know if I can do it to myself.

[00:08:52]I'm tempted by this as well. I think I spoke about this in my last shopping blog and it was in hardback and it's out in paperback now.

[00:09:01]But I think the whole magical school element is putting me off. See, I want to read this as well, but I really don't like the UK cover. Again, I much prefer the US cover. So, I may get the US cover instead. Right, I've got three books so far. I'm going to go and have one last look at the new releases and then buy these. Right, I've got my books good secured. I think I'm going to go and have a little look in the works, actually. So, I'll take you there cuz I haven't been to the works for bloody ages and I love me a bargain at the works. Also, I found it so nerve-wracking filming by myself in the bookshop. Honestly, I I hope you could hear me in there because it was absolutely rammed and I was myself.

[00:09:46]I don't know why. How many book shopping vlogs have I filmed? It's so different being on your own because you like you've got nobody to talk to and I think it's more obvious when you're talking then when you're by yourself. People were giving me like side eyes and I was like I'm just having a lovely time with my camera, you know? So yeah, I'm going to go and have a little look in the works now. See if they've got any bargains. I bought three books in Water St. It's actually quite good. I'll show you my haul when I get home. Actually, while I'm walking to the works, I'll show you. I'll turn the camera around because you'll be able to see Cardiff Castle.

[00:10:20]So yeah, that's Cardiff Castle behind me there. Do you know what? I don't think I'm going to have time, but if I have, I'll take you to the romance bookshop as well, which is in the arcade just opposite the castle. But I'm a little bit strapped for time. So I'll see how I go in the works now.

[00:10:37]>> Yeah, we're trying to find it, but the man said he's run out.

[00:10:41]>> I know I said I was done with Freda, but I am very tempted by this one. And I've heard quite good things.

[00:10:58]I really enjoyed this. And it's like a fiverr. Absolute bargain.

[00:11:03]Let's have a look at the three for £750.

[00:11:15]>> Oh my god, I love that as well. £4.

[00:11:17]Absolute bargain. Right, I don't think I'm going to have time to go to the romance bookshop, but I'll take you there next time. I'm done in the works and I may or may not have bought the Freda book. I will show you when I get home. But do you know what? I always find that works considering it's like the only like the main one in Cardiff right in the middle of the city center.

[00:11:37]I always find it rubbish. They never really have a very good selection. Also, it's quite windy, so I don't know if you're going to be able to hear me very well. But yeah, I always find the selection in the one that's more local to me, which is in like a little town, a lot better. I don't know if it's I'm guessing more people are shopping in the one in Cardiff maybe. So the books are selling out quicker but yeah terrible selection and yeah I think I'm just going to go and grab myself a little coffee and a snack and make my way home and I'll show you my little book haul.

[00:12:06]Guys, I just got myself a lilac frappy.

[00:12:09]It's a sweet ooi ube frappy. Never tried it. probably not gonna like it, but it's lilac and I thought it's a pastel, so I'm gonna give it a go. Let's try it.

[00:12:32]>> Oh, I quite like that. I can't actually think what it tastes like, though.

[00:12:38]>> It's nice, though. I don't think there's actually any coffee in it, though, is there? Can anybody confirm? Is there coffee in these? Is there any caffeine in it? I mean, >> big thumbs up. Really like it. Right, I'm back. I've got my little haul. Also, I forgot to say in the intro, I've got a slightly different backdrop going on.

[00:12:59]I've still got my rainbow shelf, but I added in another bookshelf on the end there. Look. And I sorted out. I'm going to give you a proper tour. Do you know what? I've just realized what video my most recent video I think where I counted up my physical TBR. I did all that, gave you a bookshelf tour and then did a massive unhaul of books and took all the books off my shelves, added in another bookcase and rearranged everything. So, I've done a bookshelf tour literally a couple of days ago and now they all look completely different.

[00:13:33]So, yeah, I really, really love how it's looking in here at the moment. And like I said, I am going to give you a proper tour. I don't know how to factor that in now, though. Now, I've already done a bookshelf tour. So, if you've got any ideas, let me know in the comments because do you know what? They just look so good. All this behind me here, can you see? Is all horror and thriller. And I've done it all by rainbow. So, you've got like all color coordinated. It's looking chef's kiss. So, yeah, I will try and show you all that at some point. But yeah, I've got my little water stall. Do you know what? I was actually quite good and quite reserved for me to be honest because there were a lot of new releases in the hardback section. That bit where I was doing a lot of vlogging at the beginning of the vlog is where all the new release hardbacks are and it's where I usually spend most of the time whenever I go into Water St. And there were so many catching my eye, but I was really good. And I didn't buy one hardback. I got a tiny hardback, but that doesn't count cuz it's a teeny tiny hardback. And this not as expensive as the regular hardbacks. I did almost buy Lady Tmaine, but I thought I've got the 99 p Kindle version of it. So, I'm going to try it on Kindle first and then if I like it, I'll buy myself a trophy copy because I do. I really like the sound of that. If I'm I'm hoping as well that you could hear me properly in the bookshop because like I said it was so busy and I was so nervous. So yeah, I haven't had a chance to look through the videos that I filmed in the bookstore. But I'm hoping that you could hear me. Okay. But just in case you couldn't, Lady Tmaine, I think is a book told from Cinderella's stepmother's POV. So it's like her backstory and I'm so intrigued by that.

[00:15:20]Like I grew up with Cinderella and the evil stepmother. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, really really intrigued by that. I was going to say I'm going to try and read it this month, but I know I'm not going to have chance. I've got honestly I've got so much on my plate this month. I have well and truly loaded myself up. But anyway, let me show you my little haul. So I've got four books.

[00:15:39]You probably just had a little sneaky peek of the top one. I did it. What can I even say at this point? I am a walking stinking hypocrite. If I had a pal for every time I said I'm done with Freda's books, I've had enough. They're ridiculous.

[00:15:55]I'm not reading any more Freda books.

[00:15:57]And then what do I do? Go into the works and buy Freda's new book. Although in my defense, so this is my justification.

[00:16:05]One, it was £5. So it was cheap. Cheap and cheerful. Two, it is actually intriguing me. It's about an agony aunt, I think, called Debbie. And I've heard that Debbie is unhinged. And we all know by now I absolutely love me an unhinged character. So I think people write to Debbie as an agony aunt asking for advice and Debbie gives them really unhinged advice. And I'm just really here for those vibes. And three, oh I've got four. Three, as much as some of her books have annoyed me, some of her books I have enjoyed. And I do find them really easy to read and they're very good slump busters most of the time unless they irritate you and end up putting you in a bigger slump. And four, one of my customers collected her order well very recently, week or so ago and she watches my videos and she's a book girly as well and we're always talking for ages on the doorstep about books and she said that she had read it and she's like I actually really liked it and she's like Debbie is very very unhinged.

[00:17:12]So I'm going to give it a go. £5. I'm going to give it a go. So I may try and read that next month. Maybe I could possibly vlog that. blog me reads in a freed see how I get on. And then I got three books in water stes and they're all horror books. Now, do you know what?

[00:17:31]Two of these were already on my radar.

[00:17:33]One of them wasn't, but I saw it, read the blurb, and I was like, "Oh my god."

[00:17:37]Right. So, I'll I'll start with the two that were already on my radar. First up is Temple Fall by RL Boille. And I think I was literally just going to say I think this is a haunted house book. It says, "Feeds off the reader like the best modern haunted houses out there."

[00:17:53]And that's blurbed by Clay Mloud Chapman. Oh, it's been blurbed by Delila S. Dawson as well. Doom and darkness inexplicably bound with hope and heart.

[00:18:04]So, we've got Flynn and her friends plan to spend the night in Temple Fall, a mysterious house upon the moors with a strange history. But their planned night of drinking and teenage deborty twists into a surreal nightmare. In the days that come after, Flynn finds herself trapped as if she never left the house, consumed by the lost secrets of her family past and haunted by the spectre of a Victorian woman.

[00:18:29]Oh my god, I just love anything related to the Victorian era. Oh, it's been blurbed there by Richard Cadri. I've not heard of him. Beautiful pros, a vicious Gothic wonder.

[00:18:41]There's that word Gothic. As soon as I see the word gothic, I disintegrate with excitement. So, yeah, there's that one.

[00:18:48]I also absolutely love the cover of this. How stunning is that? So, that was the first one. The third one was the one I spoke about in the bookshop, Cabaret Flames by Hatche Puo, Hashe Puo. I'm not sure how you pronounce that author's name. Please let me know in the comments if I just completely butchered that. But yeah, I spoke about this in one of my videos last month, I think. Was it upcoming horror books that are being released in spring and this is all about vampires, I think, if I can remember rightly. I think they're called ghouls and I think they go to a cabaret club.

[00:19:28]Yeah, I'll read you a little bit of the blurb. Ghouls can be brutal. Few know this better than Ariadne who lost half her body to their appetites.

[00:19:37]But their brutality is a predictable constant amid Brazil's political chaos.

[00:19:41]Now she treats them in the specialized clinic she inherited from Eric, the mentor who rescued her as a child, trained her in medicine, built her pro prosthesis, that's really hard to say, and disappeared without a trace.

[00:19:55]Ariadne's routine is disturbed when quaint knocks on her door. A charming tattooed ghoul claiming to be Eric's oldest friend. He suspects foul play in Eric's disappearance. And they soon discover Eric sought asylum at Cabaret, an infamous club in Rio de Janeiro frequented by the ghoul elite. Doesn't that sound so bloody good? So yeah, it's all about their friends disappearance and this kind of like ghoul underworld.

[00:20:24]I'm guessing those are the vibes I'm getting anyway. And it's a tiny little horror nolla. I mean $13.99. This was 14 British pounds. But I just bloody love a tiny hardback. They are so cute. How many pages is this?

[00:20:41]172 pages. So that's going to be a nice little palette cleanser. And last but not least, we have got Offspring by Jack Katchchum. So this is the same author that wrote The Girl Next Door, which I read oh a couple of years ago now. And I don't think I can say I enjoyed it, but that was more because of the content of the book and the fact that it was based on a true story. It was, oh my god, it was absolutely horrendous to read. It was so sad. Very harrowing. But this, do you know what? Even though I found The Girl Next Door harrowing and awful to read, I really enjoyed the way it was written. And I've not heard of this one before. I've heard of I was going to say I've heard of is it off season? There's a Halloween type book, almost like a slasher by Jack Katchchum that I've had my eye on, but I've never seen Oh, nearly knocked myself out, but I've never seen this one before. And it says, "The local sheriff of Dead River, Maine, thought he had killed them off 10 years ago. A primitive cave dwelling tribe of cannibalistic savages, but somehow the clan survived to breed, to hunt, to kill, and eat. And now the peaceful residents of this isolated town are fighting for their lives.

[00:21:55]This sounds like it's going to be an absolute gorefest, doesn't it? Oh, there we go. Robert Block Block, is that how you say it? The author of Psycho Offspring may well be the most horrifying book you will ever read.

[00:22:08]That's almost like a mic drop, isn't it?

[00:22:11]Stunning. I mean, it sounds right up my street to be honest. Just when you think the worst has already happened, Jack Ketchum goes yet another shock further.

[00:22:19]I love me a book that shocks you. I love a book as well that claims that it's going to shock you because I'm always so I'm like a moth to a fling. You know when someone says, "Oh, this is the darkest, most disturbing book." I actually saw some of your comments on one of my most recent videos where I spoke about dark and disturbing horror books and so many of you said exactly the same thing. As soon as somebody tells me something is really dark and disturbing, I'm like a magnet. And I think to myself, now I'm intrigued. The morbid curiosity kicks in. So yeah, I'm really, really excited about all of these for very different reasons. Just nearly knocked me camera over as well.

[00:22:59]There's my little haul. I think that's very, very sensible for me. But I mean, I did only go book shopping couple of weeks ago, and I've got a book shopping trip planned at the end of this month, just before my birthday. So, I've got to be mildly reserved and save up my money for my little book shopping trip at the end of the month. But yeah, I hope you enjoyed my little impromptu solo book shopping date. I hope you enjoyed coming along with me. Let me know in the comments if you've read any of the books, any of the books I bought, any of the books I was talking about in the bookshop as well. Let me know if you've read any of those. And let me know if you think I need to add any of them to my TBR. If you did enjoy watching, I would absolutely love it if you could give me a little thumbs up, maybe hit the like button, and if you are new to my channel, if you could hit the subscribe button as well. I would absolutely love it if you decided to stick around. I've got so many fun videos planned over the next couple of weeks. And I'd love to have you if you fancy joining me. And yeah, I'm going to leave it there for now. Thank you so much for hanging out with me today.

[00:24:03]Happy reading and I'll catch you all next time.