The Hitchcock Hotel is officially my favorite Stephanie Wrobel book to date and I'm not even a Hitchcock fan! I loved the quotes and other things thatThe Hitchcock Hotel is officially my favorite Stephanie Wrobel book to date and I'm not even a Hitchcock fan! I loved the quotes and other things that were all about Hitchcock including what I'm sure is a lot of nods to his movies throughout the book. I initially liked some of the characters, but as the book went on, I realized this “friend” group was not very nice. To each other and their general behavior. The more secrets that were revealed the viler you will think these people are, but man were they entertaining.
The audiobook really makes this story shine, and I loved Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan & Helen Lloyd as the narrators. While there aren’t any fun sound effects or things like that, the way the voices were blended into the experience were fantastic and I can’t imagine reading it would have hit quite the same way. Wrobel really nailed her twists in the book, and I was impressed by so many. Just when you think you know what is coming the tables get turned and it created that ...more
Alexis Henderson has been on my TBR for a minute, but I decided to finally pull the trigger on this author and pick up An Academy for Liars. This is aAlexis Henderson has been on my TBR for a minute, but I decided to finally pull the trigger on this author and pick up An Academy for Liars. This is a story of epic proportions, and I was completely consumed by the world of Drayton College. Dark academia is one of my favorite genres, and Henderson took things to a whole new level with this gothic and magical version of one.
I would highly recommend going the audiobook route with this one as Tracie Frank brought every bit of both the characters and setting to life. Her narration was very passionate, and I felt like I was feeling everything our FMC Lennon was. This was occasionally a disturbing read, and things do get a tad grotesque at times, but it all felt true to the storyline and wasn’t overwhelming. Read this if you enjoy dark academia blended with gothic and southern elements, horror, and the paranormal!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
When I saw Good Boy by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen I thought it was a new book, but in fact it is a book that initially came out in 2017 and was repWhen I saw Good Boy by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen I thought it was a new book, but in fact it is a book that initially came out in 2017 and was reprinted with a new cover. I love when spicy books come out with illustrated covers, and I never would have picked this up based on the original. I am a sucker for a cute cover, but don’t let this one fool you because the spice starts immediately, and Blake has a very dirty mind. There is lots of dirty talk (at least on his end) but I loved how the spice was blended with some serious elements.
I loved the audiobook and was a huge fan of Teddy Hamilton and Tanya Eby as the narrators. I love Hamilton as it is, but he was perfection as the voice of Blake, and I though Eby complemented Jess’s character nicely. Good Boy is the start of the WAGs series but it looks like it is a spin-off of another by the same authors. I didn’t feel lost at all, and it worked well as a standalone. Even though there are two authors, Kennedy and Bowen made everything seamless and it never felt like 2 people wrote it. I loved the characters and will definitely be reading more from this duo!
I haven't read anything by Jayne Allen before, but I was in the mood for something Christmassy and decided that would be The Most Wonderful Time! WhilI haven't read anything by Jayne Allen before, but I was in the mood for something Christmassy and decided that would be The Most Wonderful Time! While this wasn't brimming with holiday cheer as I had hoped, it was a nice romance that was both humorous and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed Ramona and Chelsea's viewpoints, and I loved that we get something different from each of them after they swap homes for a week. Ramona's refusal to accept her fiancé breaking up with her and Chelsea's creative funk get put into a different perspective after they see how the other lives and meet people in each other’s lives.
The Most Wonderful Time is solid on audio and while it wasn't anything I would call special, I really enjoyed listening to Mela Lee and I thought she did a great job differentiating her voice between the two female characters. At times it felt like there were 2 narrators instead of 1 and that is something I always like! The end isn’t necessarily wrapped up in a pretty HEA, but it was very realistic and left me feeling hopeful for Ramona and Chelsea. I would recommend this if you enjoy books that focus on family and reflection and are set around the holidays instead of focusing on them. ...more
I haven't read anything by Jennifer Probst before but when Get Red PR reached out to me and I read the blurb, there was no way I was going to say no. I haven't read anything by Jennifer Probst before but when Get Red PR reached out to me and I read the blurb, there was no way I was going to say no. I love bookish books, especially those that have the POV of an author, and Book of the Month made for a super fun time. Part romantic comedy and part steamy romance, this was just what I needed right now, and I enjoyed it immensely. Brick balanced Aspen out perfectly with his gruff exterior but cinnamon roll inside, and I think I loved him even more than Aspen.
I listened to the audiobook while I followed along in the book, and I would recommend the audio if you love audio as much as I do. Alexander Cendese and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw perfectly embodied Brick and Aspen, though I would say Cendese's female voice could use a little work. ...more
Take Me Home is Melanie Sweeney's debut novel, and I can already say I will be there for anything else she writes. This was a funny and adventurous roTake Me Home is Melanie Sweeney's debut novel, and I can already say I will be there for anything else she writes. This was a funny and adventurous romance filled with tropes like only-one-bed, forced proximity, he falls first, and frenemies-to-lovers. I loved Ash and Hazel despite their flaws, and this is the type of couple I was rooting for even when they weren’t on the same page at all. The family elements of the book were very relatable as well, and I enjoyed the way our MCs grew by the end of the story.
The audiobook was lovely as well, and I definitely enjoyed Zachary Webber’s narration more than other books I have listened to with him as of late. Brittany Pressley was perfection as the voice of Hazel, and I especially loved the parts with texting between the two MCs being a back and forth with both narrators. Take Me Home is set around Christmas, so it also managed to bring a certain air of holiday cheer with it. Very solid and funny debut novel!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already loveI have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already love how pacy and bingeable her books are, but this was also off the charts suspenseful, and I especially loved the dual viewpoints between Molly and her daughter Nicole. The twists left me reeling and I ended up with my jaw on the floor because I did NOT see the climax coming. Not even a little bit.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Thérèse Plummer and as usual she was a joy to listen to. It would have been nice to have a viewpoint for both the mom and daughter, but I loved Plummer's narration all the same and thought she was the perfect choice to voice the audio. Don't Look for Me is very mysterious, and the tension builds all the way until that earth shaking ending. This is now my favorite book by Walker!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
When I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me bWhen I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. I'm glad I did because this was a fast-paced, short, and very engrossing read that I read almost in its entirety before we got home. I will say it, I did not like a single character and sometimes I almost downright hated Florence. She is incredibly selfish, has an addiction problem, and sleeps with random men, some of whom are married. But her love and devotion to her son never wavered even in the face of something potentially terrible, so I guess she wasn’t all bad.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Once again, I can't remember where I saw Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy but as soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to read it. The title, cover viOnce again, I can't remember where I saw Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy but as soon as I saw the cover I knew I had to read it. The title, cover vibes, and words "supernatural terror-fest" will always draw me in and that is indeed what happened here. Now, I don't think I would actually call this a real terror-fest since it was pretty subdued in comparison to other books I have read, but it was definitely creepy, and I loved this for a "lighter" spooky season read.
When I saw there was an audiobook I had to go that route, and I was a big fan of the narrator Flora Montgomery. I thought she did a superb job bringing the spookiness of the story to life, and she was a great match for Niamh's character in the book. I didn't read the synopsis, so I hadn't realized this was a young adult novel, but that fact became very obvious once I found out our FMC was 16. Overall, I thought this was a really fun read, and I loved the weird little book that is Last One to Die....more
Can a person/author be a happy place? If so, I think mine is officially Victoria Lavine. Any Trope but You may be a debut novel but I would never peg Can a person/author be a happy place? If so, I think mine is officially Victoria Lavine. Any Trope but You may be a debut novel but I would never peg it as one, and Margot and Forrest's story stole my heart. The title is quite literal in the respect that this book is jam PACKED with the standard romance tropes, and Margot as a romance author definitely thinks Forrest is too good to be true. There is some excellent sexual tension between the two and my god did things get spicy.
Not only did I ugly cry during the ending, but I also teared up multiple times and it’s kind of ridiculous how beautiful Lavine made this book. There is chronic pain rep (so important!) and a sisterly bond between Margot and Savannah that will probably make some people jealous. You can tell that the author loves the romance community, and this is basically a love letter to romance readers everywhere. I loved every minute of this moving and hilarious read, and I will definitely be buying a finished copy once it is out in the world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I'm not sure why, but I hadn't heard of Morgan Richter until I started seeing The Divide all over #Bookstagram. That is really what convinced me to reI'm not sure why, but I hadn't heard of Morgan Richter until I started seeing The Divide all over #Bookstagram. That is really what convinced me to read it, and I'm glad I did because I loved this mysterious literary thriller. I found our FMC Jenny to be a very sympathetic character, and even though she is technically a grifter (she even admits she’s not really psychic), she is a very loveable one.
I’m sure part of the reason I enjoyed The Divide so much was from listening to the audiobook and having Hillary Huber as the narrator. I have never heard anything that I haven’t liked with Huber at the helm, and she narrated the heck out of Jenny and this book in general. The climax really surprised me, but I did think the last chapter ended very abruptly. Maybe Richter is leaving the door open for another?! I loved Jenny, the glimpse into Hollywood, and the mystery of Gena. Overall, this was a very solid read for me, and I would love a follow-up to see where Jenny is now!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath right away but instead the author sets the scene and the characters first and it is off to a bit of a slow start in that aspect. As we get closer to the end that definitely changes though and then heads are indeed rolling and there is gore and violence aplenty. My favorite character of them all is definitely Willow's favorite actress (Juniper?), and she was a badass until the very end.
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!...more
I have had Darcy Coates on my TBR for ages and have purchased (but not read) so many books by her. Well, I decided this spooky season was going to be I have had Darcy Coates on my TBR for ages and have purchased (but not read) so many books by her. Well, I decided this spooky season was going to be the one for me and started with Ghost Camera! This is a collection of short stories that are mostly new, with the title story being one of the first she ever wrote. Make sure you get the author’s note in the front of the book for more detail on that, but thankfully it was included in the audiobook format as well. As with any collection of short stories, I enjoyed some more than others but the majority of them were utterly fantastic and super creepy.
The audiobook is narrated by Vanessa Moyen who did an amazing job bringing every single story to life. A full cast COULD have been better as with some short story collections, but she was so easy and enjoyable to listen to that it didn’t bother me. My favorites of the bunch were Ghost Camera, Untamed Things, and A Box of Tapes which also happen to be on the longer side of all of them. I felt like they had the most character development and fully formed storylines, and they were also very suspenseful and chilling. That being said, I loved all of them except for one which was good, just not my favorite, so that was a win in my book. Read this if you enjoy horror, short stories, weirdness, and feeling on edge! ...more
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca was such a fun read, and it makes me want to check out this authors backlist immediately! I’ve had Well Met on my TBRHaunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca was such a fun read, and it makes me want to check out this authors backlist immediately! I’ve had Well Met on my TBR since it came out, and that will have to change. This was such a fresh way to write a romance, and not only did I fall in love with Cassie and Nick, but I fell in love with small town Florida and the mythical world of Boneyard Key. DeLuca did an amazing job bringing Florida to life making it clear she has indeed lived there, and she made me very curious about the Publix chicken tender sub. I loved the ghosty vibes in the book, and this would make the perfect pick for spooky season if you were looking for something on the lighter side with romance.
I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator Jeannie Sheneman, but I would have preferred a separate narrator for Nick’s viewpoint. It was sometimes harder to tell whose POV I was in on audio since the chapters weren’t titled with the character, and as much as I loved Sheneman, dual narration here would have been the key to a 5-star audio. While I definitely laughed almost constantly, there were also lots of heartwarming moments and a dash of more sensitive topics as well. There is a little bit of spice in this one, but nothing too crazy, and it was a delightfully new rom-com. It looks like this could be the start of a new series, and I really hope it is because I would love to go back to Boneyard Key and its inhabitants – including the ghosts! ...more
Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a debut novel, and it is one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time. It is both satire and speculative fiction, two genres that I am not usually a fan of under normal circumstances, but here they were perfection. And let’s not forget dystopian since the sun explodes and it is the end of the world as Dan knows it. Filled with quirky characters, action, and humor, this was a fun ride that would make a great beach read if you can get over the fact it’s about the end of the world happening on an island.
The audiobook is the way to go for Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, and I thought Stephen R. Thorne was the perfect fit for Dan. He brought the storyline and characters to life in the best possible way, and I could feel every single emotion through his lively narration. The audio is clear and crisp as well, and delivery was on point! I loved the journey Dan goes on personally as well throughout the story and the way his underachieving turns into something different. His relationship with Mara is on center stage and I enjoyed watching them navigate the ups and downs of their circumstances with humor and determination. There is also a big twist that in hindsight I probably should have seen coming, but I didn’t, and I loved it. Read this if you want something different and funny while still having serious moments and an air of mystery....more
John Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The PasseJohn Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The Passengers, The Marriage Act, The One, etc., and I'm really glad I started at the beginning of publication with those books to fully appreciate the dystopian world-building that is going on across the board. There are also easter eggs that are not to be missed throughout! The Family Experiment looked at what could happen if we had the ability to create AI children in a metaverse and using a VR headset actually parent these children. It happens in an accelerated timeframe on reality TV, but the concept is there and it's scary to think about with AI being so prominent these days.
The layout of the book screams for a full cast on the audiobook, so I was happy that that is exactly what we got! Clare Corbett, Clifford Samuel, Eilidh Beaton, Joshua Riley, Justin Avoth, Thomas Judd, & Nneka Okoye all did an incredible job and even though there are a lot of characters, I think the audio is the way to go and I was never confused. Along with mixed media that brought fantastic sound effects with the audio, we also have viewpoints from the various couples as well as others. There were some great jaw-dropping moments and twisty twists, and it made me think about that Tamagotchi I had a million years ago as a kid. If you enjoy dystopian worlds, thrillers, sci-fi, and a dash of speculative fiction this is the book for you, and I highly recommend starting with the oldest publication dates and working your way through!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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 love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to fiI love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Merged review:
I love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just oI have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just over 200 pages, and though it was about the same main character throughout (a ghostwriter whom we never learn the name of) it almost felt like short stories. The story's structure is also interesting with it being broken into 3 time periods: May 15 - July 1, July 1-14, and July 15 - x. Clearly a continuous storyline, but it was like we got a look into various aspects of this woman's life. I got lost in the Florida setting, and I am sure some (many? ...more
I became instantly obsessed with Grace Reilly after reading First Down and I knew I had to read the rest of the series. Breakaway is book 2 of the BeyI became instantly obsessed with Grace Reilly after reading First Down and I knew I had to read the rest of the series. Breakaway is book 2 of the Beyond the Play series, and while this can be read completely as a standalone, I prefer reading in order and I liked the nod to characters from the previous book. This was a particularly spicy read, but the scenes were perfection, and I thought they were done very well. I was expecting it to be a bit funnier than it actually was, making this more of a contemporary romance than romcom.
The audiobook was everything I could have hoped for, and Brian Meslar & Faith Clark were fantastic narrators. I especially loved the dual narration during the texting between Cooper and Penny, and it's that something extra that can truly make a good audiobook great. Highly recommend! The best part of all was no third act breakup and this couple actually communicated like they should. It was steamy and heartwarming, and the reason behind that sex bucket list was ...more
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