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
Vincent Tirado wasn't on my radar before but they sure are now! I quite enjoyed We Came to Welcome You and it is both eerie and atmospheric in equal mVincent Tirado wasn't on my radar before but they sure are now! I quite enjoyed We Came to Welcome You and it is both eerie and atmospheric in equal measures. I was expecting it to be a lot grosser than it actually was, and really this was just a very bizarre and cultish feeling read that made me feel a little bit like I was in an upside down version of The Stepford Wives (literally thinking about Stranger Things). There is a lot to unpack here, and I think it would make a great pick for a book club discussion.
The audiobook was pretty meh for me, and I wasn’t a huge fan of iiKane. She was ok most of the time, but other times her narration just felt really disjointed to me and I think reading with the eyes would be a better route to go for some people. However, I will say she did an excellent job of capturing the character’s various dialects throughout. I had to listen to the last chapter a couple of times, and I still don’t think I fully understand what happened there. It’s not tied up in a pretty bow and it felt rather ominous, but man was it unique. I would definitely read more from Tirado.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....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
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
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
I don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fastI don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fast-paced, super bingeable, and filled with jaw-dropping twists that I never saw coming. Some parts were tough to read, and I appreciated Williams including triggers at the beginning of the book in a dear reader section. If you have triggers, I would be sure to read it as there are definitely a few in here. The two main viewpoints in the beginning are Jolene (Jo) and her husband Dominic, but then it flips around midway, and we have more female POVs. I loved the way that and some focus on the past made the story flow and it certainly kept me on my toes.
The entire audiobook is narrated by Sable Lyn & Roderick Ross with Ross narrating Dominic and Lyn narrating all the female viewpoints. Thankfully, Williams labeled each chapter, so I didn’t have any confusion over whose POV I was in. I loved Ross’ narration and I just love his voice in general. Lyn was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and while I liked her narration, I didn’t love it. She had pauses in odd spots throughout, and it just felt pretty unnatural overall instead of flowing. I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline, and I think besides knowing triggers, The Bitter Truth is best to go into as blind as possible. I loved the strong friendship that was in the book as well and that bond is something I don’t get to see too often in thrillers, so I was happy. If you are in the mood for something that is dark, twisty, and packs a punch this is it! ...more
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in!4.25/5
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in! It was a 1-day read for me and once I started, I just couldn't put it down. Through various viewpoints, we get lots of twists and turns as well as some fantastic suspense. I had no idea until after I was done that this is a retelling of Henry VIII and his many wives set in the present-day as a rich businessman instead of royalty. After reading about him further I could see so many similarities, and I loved how Olson brought him and all that craziness into life in a crime novel.
One of the ways I was able to turn An Inconvenient Wife into a one-sitting read was thanks to the audiobook, and while a full cast would have been helpful for all of the different POVs, Nikki Thomas still knocked it out of the park. I thought she did a great job changing her voice up for the various characters and she was a delight to listen to. While the reader finds out rather early on part of what is going on, there is still much to discover and lies to unravel. The ending gave me actual chills, and I sure love it when an author can do that....more
Third act breakup here we go! I've Got My Mind Set on Brew by debut author Stephanie Jayne has boss girl energy thanks to Kat perusing her love of brewing beer and has a unique premise set against the backdrop of a brewpub named Resistance. I loved that each chapter started with a different kind of beer along with a brief description and sometimes a fun quip. I honestly wouldn't mind owning a copy just so I have those chapter headings. ...more
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's otheAudiobook Rating: 5/5
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!
I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. ...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
I've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This liI've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This lived up to every expectation I could have had for it, and it completely blew my mind! ...more
The Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfecThe Ride of Her Life BY Jennifer Dugan is an endearing and delightful queer romance filled with family drama and friendships that aren't always perfect. I loved the uniqueness of this enemies-to-lovers grumpy/sunshine storyline, and I felt like I learned something about horse barns and the rodeo along the way. It felt like a bit of déjà vu reading about a rodeo in this book after recently finishing Homebound, and I am learning how much I love cowboy/cowgirl-esque romances (and can I just mention the cowboy hat scene? ...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
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
I will read everything Emily Giffin writes, hands down, no question, no reading the synopsis. So, I had no idea what The Summer Pact was going to be aI will read everything Emily Giffin writes, hands down, no question, no reading the synopsis. So, I had no idea what The Summer Pact was going to be about or just how moving it was going to be. Essentially (and I think this is important to know) it is about three friends who make a pact to always come to each other when they are feeling down/depressed after their other friend commits suicide. This later leads them to come together after Hannah makes a very startling discovery about her fiancé. I loved the friendship theme of this book and there are many heartbreaking moments layered on top of humor and camaraderie that you just don't find anywhere except your true friends.
I loved the audiobook, and I thought Karissa Vacker, Alex McKenna & JD Jackson were the perfect narrators for Hannah, Lainey, and Tyson. I normally listen at a 3x speed, but because I was on the PRHA app I could only be at a 2x, and man was I glad these narrators were so on point. Some voice actors are brutal to listen to at a 2x, but not Vacker, McKenna, and Jackson! They were perfection in every way and definitely enhanced my experience. Also though, McKenna's narration of Hannah as Lainey made her sound extremely whiny, and it made me LOL. This was a very dark read which I wasn't expecting, so don't let that cute sunshiny cover fool you!
I received an advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I love Ellery Lloyd but I have to say I was a little hesitant going into The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. I heard there were a lot of characters I love Ellery Lloyd but I have to say I was a little hesitant going into The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby. I heard there were a lot of characters on top of time jumps, and I was very worried I would get confused especially since I was listening to the audio. It turns out I had absolutely nothing to worry about and I loved this captivating tale full of dirty laundry and revenge. I love when art takes center stage in a novel even though I know nothing about it, and that is certainly what happened here. I wish it had been an even larger part of the storyline, but as it was, I still loved it.
Nneka Okoye, Joshua Akehurst & Eleanor Jackson narrate the audiobook and I have to say I enjoyed each one immensely. I loved that Juliette, Caroline, and Patrick all got a voice in this book, and I would say I actually enjoyed Juliette's POV the most. I also loved how they each tied together, and this is a complex plot with lots of moving parts. This author duo never disappoints, and I felt like The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby was different from their other work but just as well executed. I heard this was a follow-up to The Club but honestly, I have zero idea how. I would say you definitely don't need to read that first to get this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have loved every single Beatriz Williams novel I have ever read, be it with her fellow authors Karen White and Lauren Willig or solo, she never disaI have loved every single Beatriz Williams novel I have ever read, be it with her fellow authors Karen White and Lauren Willig or solo, she never disappoints. Husbands & Lovers was no different though I did have my doubts in the beginning. Despite the dual timelines of Mallory and Hannah, it moved pretty slowly for me until I had about a quarter of the book left which is when all of the secrets started coming out. Both timelines then started getting really intense and I liked that Williams added a couple more POV's at the end as well. I wouldn’t necessarily have needed them, but I loved them. ...more
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