The Stranger at the Wedding is A.E. Gauntlett's debut novel and DANG! It had a couple of twists that made my mouth drop open, as well as being a book I could not put down. I saw readers saying there was nothing groundbreaking here, and while I agree to some extent, it still threw me for a loop, and I loved the deviousness of one of these characters. I don't think I actually liked a single person in the story, but that was fine by me and definitely kept things interesting.
I loved the audiobook and thought Sophie Rundle did a fantastic job. There are a few different viewpoints with quite a few characters, and I will admit it was sometimes hard for me to keep track of them all while I was listening. However, once we were introduced to each of them I found it a bit easier though it may be helpful to keep a list if you go the audiobook route. Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this domestic suspense (I wouldn't call it a thriller) novel, and I will be looking forward to seeing what else Gauntlett writes!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bringI was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bring. This was a slow-burn character-driven work of literary fiction with a mystery element, and while I loved the end and the twists, I don't think it needed to be almost 400 pages. It also moved too slowly for my liking and felt repetitive, but only as far as the same topics being brought up repeatedly. I did appreciate the subject of Agent Orange, and knowing someone who was in the Vietnam War and hearing stories about it previously, made that part really stand out for me even though that piece was relatively small.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed Jennifer Kim as the narrator, but I would have appreciated a full cast for the various viewpoints. That wasn't a huge deal for me, but something I want to point out all the same. Honestly, I was close to a DNF multiple times, but the audiobook kept me going and I HAD to find out what happened with Sunny. I will admit that my attention wandered quite a bit almost the entire time I was listening to What We Kept to Ourselves, but in no way should this stop you from reading. I am definitely in the minority here and did enjoy multiple things including the exploration of secrets. If you enjoy slow burns and character studies with a focus on other cultures, I would still recommend giving this a go.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she didAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she did a wonderful job of using the showing not telling method, almost to the point where sometimes I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but it felt electric all the same. I loved our FMC Evander “Vandy” Myrick, and she was a very relatable character between her quest for justice and the way her dad was the center of her world. Loss of a child is discussed among other things, so I would make sure to check your triggers as this book does get a little dark.
I loved Bahni Turpin as the narrator for the audiobook, and thought she made the entire storyline along with its characters come alive in an exciting way. She was on it during the action scenes as well, and I was impressed with the way she made Vandy shine. I loved how the book was broken down into Vandy's different cases though it also came along with the progression of the plot itself. I love a gritty PI novel, but I also felt like something was missing from this one to keep me from connecting with it fully. ...more
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpo4.5/5
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpoints rotate between Abby and Gia’s manuscript, and if you don’t like the unreliable narrator trope this will not be for you. I loved the way the manuscript and Abby’s viewpoint ended up tying together, and I definitely spent the entire book wondering how true Gia’s story was. The pacing is on the slower side but still steady, and I just completely fell into this world of sex, money, and bad behavior with a dash of mystery.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Marcella Black & Hallie Ricardo and thought they both did a bang-up job. I did like whoever narrated Gia’s manuscript slightly better, but honestly, they were both rockstars and I LOVED the audio even on a (slow for me) 2x speed. Ladykiller was super close to being a 5-star ⭐ read for me had it not been for the rather ambiguous ending. I typically prefer more closure than what I got here, and I literally shook my fist at the end. ...more
I loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a gI loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a great idea for James to take this storyline into a TV show about people doing things they REALLY don't want to do for prize money. I loved Olivia and Chuck even when they were fighting, and their chemistry was off the charts. There is a dab of spice in the book but mostly it was a rom-com with forced proximity and lots of sexual tension. ...more
After seeing countless rave reviews for We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer on Bookstagram, I knew I had to move it up on thAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After seeing countless rave reviews for We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer on Bookstagram, I knew I had to move it up on the list instead of waiting for full-on spooky season. I can hardly believe this is his debut novel, let alone Netflix already picking up the rights to make it a movie. I have a feeling this will be super creepy onscreen if how eerie and disturbing the book was is anything to go by. It kept me on my toes from the very start, and I LOVED the map at the beginning and the various multimedia aspects throughout.
I would highly recommend having a copy of the book but listening on audio as the audiobook was ...more
As with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debutAs with any short story collection, I definitely enjoyed some more than others in Stories I Told My Dead Lover by Jo Paquette. This is her adult debut and I found it interesting that she decided to go with short stories instead of a full-length novel, but who am I to judge, and it piqued my interest all the same. My favorite story of the bunch was Confidence Game which involved something called a Neep. It was one of the most fully formed stories for me, and I would have loved a full book just on that one.
My opinion is that the audiobook is the way to go here and the full cast: Emily Woo Zeller, Joe Hempel, Vikas Adam, Sophie Amoss, Soneela Nankani, Gabra Zackman, Jenn Lee & the author made these stories for me. Their narration was all spot on and I had zero complaints with any of them; plus, I loved that we were told who the narrator was before each story. Most of the endings were a bit ambiguous for my tastes and some were just plain strange, so this was mostly a miss for me. That being said, I would recommend it if you like short story collections and I would certainly read more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Funnily enough, my sister is the one who told me about Middletide and convinced me I should read it because she had been seeing it everywhere. I4.25/5
Funnily enough, my sister is the one who told me about Middletide and convinced me I should read it because she had been seeing it everywhere. It also doesn't hurt that my sister is a huge runner and Sarah Crouch is a professional marathon runner. ...more
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the maxThings Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the max! The bonds of family run deep in this one, and the blend of Willa's quest to find her missing sister plus the alternating viewpoints and general heartbreak and drama created the perfect storm of readability. I listened to this in basically one sitting, and it grabbed me from the first page. I got lost in Collins' writing and I still can't believe this is a debut.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Just Some Stupid Love Story may be Katelyn Doyle's rom-com debut, but it doesn't surprise me that she also writes historical romance under the name ScJust Some Stupid Love Story may be Katelyn Doyle's rom-com debut, but it doesn't surprise me that she also writes historical romance under the name Scarlett Peckham. I knew from the moment I started this book that I was going to love it, and it is everything I love in a rom-com including witty banter, friendship themes, and a whole lotta family tension. Molly and Seth's relationship was full of ups and downs, but I spent the entire time rooting for them to work and I laughed and cried on the road to get there. I would say some of the book is predictable, but other parts of it are not and I loved my time spent in Chicago, California, and Florida as we followed the peaks and valleys of this coupling.
I also loved every moment spent with the audiobook thanks to Christine Lakin & Tim Paige. Lakin and Paige were pure perfection as the voices of Molly and Seth, and I would fully recommend the audio to all of my book listeners out there. The physical copy isn't to be missed either, and those purple sprayed edges make me want a copy sooner rather than later to add to my shelf. The cover made me LOL just like the banter in the book and is a splendid embodiment of the book itself. There is some spice in Just Some Stupid Love Story that I wasn’t expecting, but it doesn’t overtake the storyline, and one wild (very descriptive) scene is something I will probably remember forever. ...more
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall4.25/5
When I saw the cover of The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields I knew I had to read it, and I would say this would make a great spooky season/fall read especially! It is a solid debut full of witchy magic, beautiful imagery, and ultimately romance! Bees and honey take a front seat in the storyline which is nice and unique, and though the pace felt a little slow to me, it picks way up at the end and I couldn't put it down. I would categorize this queer romance as grumpy/sunshine since Marigold is spunky and light, while Lottie is moody and grumpy.
Mia Hutchinson Shaw narrates the audiobook and I thought she did a lovely job. I didn't have any issues understanding her even at a quicker speed (I listened around 3x) and her pacing, tone, and pitch all felt spot on. The Honey Witch is action-packed when we get near the end, and I feel like I said "aw" quite a bit as well. The conclusion was very sweet and will be a crowd pleaser! I also loved that the female leads were compelling and determined and not pushovers in the slightest. I will be keeping my eyes open for future books from Shields for sure! ...more
I hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and whilI hadn't read Yasmin Angoe until I read Not What She Seems, and I definitely think I need to change that! This book was super wild at the end and while it was a slower burn to start, I was completely invested and couldn't wait to see what would happen. Jac is the main viewpoint in the story, and while I didn't always understand or agree with her choices, she was a multifaceted character who was both relatable and frustrating at the same time. She made for an entertaining and interesting FMC and the drama was top-notch.
Jordan Cobb narrates the audiobook, and I would recommend it to all the audio fans out there. I thought Cobb was an excellent narrator, especially for Jac, and she helped keep me on the edge of my seat. The conclusion of Not What She Seems blew my mind a little bit and was completely unexpected. Including Faye’s viewpoint later in the book was a brilliant idea and helped me get a better idea of her character and what was driving her throughout the story since we don't have her viewpoint elsewhere. There were a lot of what I would call stupid decisions being made when I neared the end, but it added lots of suspense, and I couldn't look away.
Thank you to the publishers, author, and Over the River Public Relations for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I am so glad I decided to pick up Annie LeBlanc Is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris because it was a pure delight! I do wish what was going on with bringing a person back from the dead had been explained better in the actual book and not just mentioned in the synopsis, but I caught on pretty quickly and it was a very unique concept for a book. Through Wilson choosing Annie, it brings up a lot of old wounds and Wilson quickly realizes things she didn't before Annie's passing. I loved the journey the story took me on, and the eventual queer romance was very heartwarming.
The audiobook was pure perfection with Georgina Sadler as the narrator and I loved the way she brought Wilson to life. She was fun to listen to, and I thought she did a great job bringing all of the emotions in the storyline front and center. I thought this would be a light and breezy read, but it is a touch heavier, and I thought that brought a lot of depth to the story. I also loved Morris's writing style immediately and it flowed so well! I will definitely be adding this author to my new favorites list.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is most likely going to make my top 10 list of 2024, and it is just the type of heartwarming magical read that makes me The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer is most likely going to make my top 10 list of 2024, and it is just the type of heartwarming magical read that makes me light up. The synopsis states it was inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia and I can definitely see that. I hadn't read the synopsis before reading but that is the vibe I got while reading through and through, and it made me desperately want to do a reread. Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie were some of the most loveable MCs I have ever met, and so many of the secondary characters were as well.
The audiobook would have been incredible with a full cast, but I loved Jorjeana Marie's narration just the same. Her voice was very pleasant and easy to listen to, and she made the story come alive. Some of my favorite parts were the storyteller sections which are an unknown narrator until the end, and I loved the fairy tale quality they provided. Shaffer's writing is vivid and enchanting, and I could have stayed in the world of Shenandoah forever. There is also a lovely queer romance that made my heart happy, but we couldn't get to the end without some pain and suffering as well. I am now an instant fan of this author, and I can't wait to get a copy to add to my shelves. ...more
I wasn't really sure how I wanted to rate Knife River by Justine Champine and I still don’t know if I like my rating. This is a character driven 3.5/5
I wasn't really sure how I wanted to rate Knife River by Justine Champine and I still don’t know if I like my rating. This is a character driven storyline that reminded me a lot of In Cold Blood by the beloved Truman Capote. I didn’t like that book because of how slow and over-the-top descriptive it was, which was the vibe I got from this one except different? I liked the mystery element but that isn’t really as front and center as the character study of Jess and the bonds of sisterhood after a tragedy.
I got to listen to the audiobook which is narrated by Jennifer Pickens, and she is definitely what kept me going. Slow, character-driven books aren’t always my jam and without her this may have been a DNF. However, I am really glad I finished because the ending completely shocked me. I can’t say it made the slowness worth it, but it was up there with twists I didn’t see coming. I also have to admit that Champine’s writing is very expressive and sharp; something I took into consideration when giving Knife River a star rating.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I loved the concept for Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe, and this debut author managed to give us a fun, paranormal romance that is freI loved the concept for Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe, and this debut author managed to give us a fun, paranormal romance that is fresh and new! I am not a conspiracy theorist in the least, so I definitely related more to our FMC Hallie. That being said, I couldn't help but love Hayden's enthusiasm for all things conspiracy-related and got a kick out of hearing the Denver airport mentioned since I live in Colorado and only recently heard about that whole thing myself. I also enjoyed how Hallie evolved as the book went on and was able to stand up against her nasty ex.
I listened to the audiobook that is narrated by Alex Finke and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about her narration. She made Hallie sound a little whiny and I did not like her voices for the guys in the book. I have enjoyed her narration in previous books though and I'm guessing this could have been a me thing. The romance was sweet and believable, although I was a bit surprised to hear the I love yous so fast. All in all, I thought Love and Other Conspiracies was a great debut, and the freshness of the storyline had me hooked. I can't wait to read more from Marlowe!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Malibu Summer is Libby Gill's fiction debut, and what an interesting debut it was! This was such a unique premise with opposites-attract romance,3.5/5
Malibu Summer is Libby Gill's fiction debut, and what an interesting debut it was! This was such a unique premise with opposites-attract romance, found family, and forced proximity. I loved Ivy, and this is the first time I have seen an environmental scientist as the FMC of a romance which made it incredibly refreshing. She is one smart cookie and her intellect shines throughout the story. I wasn't the BIGGEST fan of Conrad, but he was a sweet dad to his stepson, and grief is a huge element since both Ivy and Conrad lost a partner. Hudson was the cutest little boy, and I thought he stole the show here.
The audiobook is narrated by one of my favorites, Thérèse Plummer, and even at the slow for me speed of 2x, her narration was completely on point. She had perfect pacing the entire time and made the speed feel less like a slog and more like a conversational pace. The only things that held me back a bit were parts of the book felt a bit disjointed and I didn't really feel any chemistry between our MCs. However, I did love the friendship between Ivy and Mak, and I appreciated the focus on grief and how healing can take different forms for different people. Gill's background in television shone through as well, and there was plenty I enjoyed!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I still can hardly believe Everything We Never Said is Sloan Harlow's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job with it! This is a young adult noI still can hardly believe Everything We Never Said is Sloan Harlow's debut novel and I think she did an amazing job with it! This is a young adult novel with some spice, but besides the romance, there is plenty of mystery and suspense. I thought it was a thriller going in (and the synopsis says it is one), but I didn't really get that thriller vibe until the last quarter of the book. That's where things started getting super twisted and it blew my mind.
The audiobook for this one is great and something I would highly recommend. Steven Molony, Ferdelle Capistrano & Brittany Pressley were fantastic narrators with Molony voicing Sawyer, Capistrano voicing Ella, and Pressley as the voice of Hayley’s diary. They were all great to listen to even at a (slow to me) 2x speed. One twist I saw coming, but there were a couple of others that shocked the hell out of me. Triggers are present so I would check those out prior to reading, but Everything We Never Said was an engaging YA debut.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I don't know what I was expecting from All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Told inI don't know what I was expecting from All the Summers in Between by Brooke Lea Foster, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Told in dual timelines from Thea’s viewpoint, we explore her and Margot's friendship growing up as well as what happens a decade later when Margot pops into her life again. There is a hint of mystery, but it was mostly a coming-of-age tale mixed with the intricacies of friendship and figuring out what you want in life. There are a couple of triggers in here, so I would recommend checking those out on StoryGraph prior to reading.
I really enjoyed the audiobook and thought Emily Ellet was the perfect choice for the narrator. She made me feel like I was actually in Thea's head and brought her to life perfectly. I was quite surprised by the darkness this story reaches, and I was completely fooled by the cover into thinking this was a beachy read. It really isn’t and would best be enjoyed when you are in the mood for something more serious. All the Summers in Between has a slower pace but one that kept me reading, and I will definitely be checking out more from Foster.
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Loading...
