I was better prepared this time for the type of story I would be getting with this 2nd book in the “Agnes Sharp” series, and consequently, en3 ½ stars
I was better prepared this time for the type of story I would be getting with this 2nd book in the “Agnes Sharp” series, and consequently, enjoyed it more. Not surprisingly, the story was a complete farce, but that is exactly what I expected it to be. I think one really needs to be in the mood for this type of thing in order to enjoy it… I was and I did.
I have a couple of criticisms:
Whover produced this audiobook needed to do a better job indicating the paragraph breaks. I can’t tell you how many times I became completely baffled, and had to back the story up after something appeared seemingly out of the blue.
Also, I could have done without all the dream sequences. I felt they were a distraction and added nothing to the story except more confusion.
Well, this novel absolutely did its job! It kept me listening to it every chance I got… and even when I should have been doing something el4 1/2 stars
Well, this novel absolutely did its job! It kept me listening to it every chance I got… and even when I should have been doing something else. I seriously thought this this book might be in contention for my ‘Favorite Book of the Year”, but alas, it was not to be.
Unfortunately, I had several problems with the ending. MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD (view spoiler)[
1. Even if Daisy did not feel that she could go to the police, and thought that her drunkard of a husband would be of no help, do you really expect me to believe that Daisy would not tell her best friend – the hostess of the party – that she had been raped by one of the party guests? Because even if Daisy doubted that the police would believe her story (because of he said/she said), surely her best friend would believe her. At the very least the rapist would no longer still be in their social circle and invited to all their mutual social events.
2. Are you telling me that the “hold” the rapist had over Daisy – that he was Millie’s father – could have easily been debunked by a DNA test, and she never did it? She just continued to allow herself to be blackmailed by him so that her daughter would never think she had been conceived by a rapist.
3. I have never heard of anyone successfully artificially inseminating themselves by trying to manually insert someone else’s used semen into their own vagina. With no syringe in sight… and not even a turkey baster! (hide spoiler)]
Oh well, the first 90% of the novel was fantastic. And both narrators were outstanding.
I have found a new favorite author and I am officially excited! This book lived up to my high expectations after having read (and thoroughly enjoyed) I have found a new favorite author and I am officially excited! This book lived up to my high expectations after having read (and thoroughly enjoyed) the first one in the series 'Woman Last Seen'.
I am delighted that the author decided to pen this continuation, because I was not ready to leave Kylie, Mark, Daan, Fiona, Ollie and Seb. I REALLY wanted (needed?) to know what was going to happen to each of them.
I have two words for the author... [image] Both read and listened to, and I give a slight edge to the audiobook.
If I were a teenaged girl / young woman I would have absolutely loved this, and rated it 10 stars!
It would not have bothered me at all that this was If I were a teenaged girl / young woman I would have absolutely loved this, and rated it 10 stars!
It would not have bothered me at all that this was a completely cliched story that held absolutely NO surprises whatsoever. I also would not have challenged Miles actions near the end of the book that were COMPLETELY out of character, but that were necessary to complete the story arc.
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Ms. Henry has a very engaging style of writing that many will enjoy (as did I). Julia Whelan's excellent narration adds to the pleasure.
Audiobook Narrator - Julia Whelan - Excellent Duration: 11:23:04...more
This was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward tThis was a delight to listen to, and bumps my four star rating up to a full 5 stars. It was an excellent choice for my book club, and I look forward to a lively discussion.
NOTE: So glad I did not read the book blurb before starting the book.
If a story would benefit from an over-the-top theatrical reading style, than follow this author's lead and hire Katherine Kellgren. She excels at thisIf a story would benefit from an over-the-top theatrical reading style, than follow this author's lead and hire Katherine Kellgren. She excels at this type of narration, and provides distinctly different and dramatic voices for all the various characters. She greatly adds to the humor in the story.
I thought the novel itself was overly long (especially for children), and my attention started to seriously flag. I probably would have skimmed the last 100 pages or so had it not been for the excellent narration,
3 stars for the author 5 stars for the narrator
Audiobook Narrated by Katherine Kellgren Duration: 08:07:37 Audie Award Nominee...more
I had gotten notified by my library that my Hold on this was ready, so I downloaded it and began listening. I wasn’t really in the mood for Chick-Lit,I had gotten notified by my library that my Hold on this was ready, so I downloaded it and began listening. I wasn’t really in the mood for Chick-Lit, and at first was not so impressed. I initially thought YAWN “same old / same old”, but I changed my mind as the story quickly began to grow on me.
A large part of the appeal for me was the narration. It was perfect for Hannah, and highlighted her adorable quirkiness. I thought Hannah was charming and completely likeable, and she was very easy to root for. I also adored her counterpart Jack. The author made him unbelievably perfect, and how can you NOT love a hero like that? The dialog between the two of them was loads of fun.
Even though quite a bit of the story was predictable, and parts of it were cringeworthy (like the Thanksgiving scene - UGH!), I ultimately found myself really enjoying the novel. I was perfectly happy listening to this every chance I got.
“Always awake by 6am, up by 6.30am at the latest. Comes from years in the army. On exercise we trained our m3 1/2 stars
I liked the understated humor.
“Always awake by 6am, up by 6.30am at the latest. Comes from years in the army. On exercise we trained our men the same way. Bowel movement at 7am and on with the day.” He coughs and returns to the crossword and Janice wonders if he is regretting sharing the last part.
And you gotta love names like Mrs. YeahYeahYeah and Mr. NoNoNotNow ...more
I was utterly charmed by the innocence and naivete of the 5 puppets… the King, the Wolf, the Boy, the Girl and the Owl. The story was enhanced by one I was utterly charmed by the innocence and naivete of the 5 puppets… the King, the Wolf, the Boy, the Girl and the Owl. The story was enhanced by one of the most perfect narrations I have ever listened to.
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Audiobook Allan Corduner – Narrator Duration: 01:39:29...more
This was a really tightly plotted thriller. The only reason I don’t give it the full 5 stars is because throughout the book, I had a hard tim4 ½ stars
This was a really tightly plotted thriller. The only reason I don’t give it the full 5 stars is because throughout the book, I had a hard time believing that this young, untrained girl could obtain the skills necessary to her job in such a short amount of time.
I really thought this was going to be a 5 star book. It had won the GoodReads Choice Award for Best Fiction of 2023, there was a lot of positive buzz I really thought this was going to be a 5 star book. It had won the GoodReads Choice Award for Best Fiction of 2023, there was a lot of positive buzz around it, and most of the reviews were glowing. Alas, it was not to be.
The novel started out strongly, and I was thoroughly engrossed in it. About halfway through, I started to REALLY dislike Juniper (yes, I know that I was supposed to), and got tired of her total distain for everyone and everything. The story devolved mostly into boring repetitiveness, and I couldn’t wait for the story to be over. It was a slog to finish it.
I cannot believe that this was considered the best novel of 2023.
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Audiobook Helen Laser - Narrator Duration: 08:39:16...more
This was absolutely wonderful, and a propitious start for my first book of 2024.
When I first started listening to this second book in the series, I tThis was absolutely wonderful, and a propitious start for my first book of 2024.
When I first started listening to this second book in the series, I thought to myself “been there, done that”. But I quickly came to realize that the book was not just a clone of “A Dog's Purpose”. It was a separate and distinct story all of its own, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
There is a third book in the series, but since I cannot locate an audiobook version I am loathe to read a hard copy because the narrator was OUTSTANDING and really added to my enjoyment of both novels.
Audiobook Narrator – George K. Wilson Duration: 10:27:20...more
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be 3 ½ stars
Even though this was a story that centered on misery, heartache and betrayal, there was something compulsively readable about it. I would be shocked if this does not get nominated for a GoodReads Choice Award next fall.
I have to say that I WAS disappointed that the story was so completely predictable, and not really nuanced.
This author has not disappointed me yet! This was another one of her novels that I just could not put down. The narration was also outstand4 1/2 stars
This author has not disappointed me yet! This was another one of her novels that I just could not put down. The narration was also outstanding, and added immensely to my enjoyment.
I am deducting 1/2 a star because I thought that the most interesting character in the book was underdeveloped, and should have had more of a presence in the story.
Audiobook FLLS Narrated by Kirsten Potter - Narrator Duration: 07:50:57...more
This book tried too hard to be “quirky”. It was frequently nonsensical, and I found my mind often wandering when listening to the audiobook.
There was This book tried too hard to be “quirky”. It was frequently nonsensical, and I found my mind often wandering when listening to the audiobook.
There was definitely a pattern to the writing. A character would remember something important, forget it in a dementia induced haze at a somewhat crucial moment, and then remember it sometime later as if a light bulb went off over their heads. Plus, the author employed just about every looney tunes stereotype known to exist for seniors. At time it made for frustrating reading.
I had no idea what was happening for much of the novel. Everything was continually crazy, and my attention kept going in and out because so much of it did not make much sense. I could not help but wonder at the purpose of Hetty and Brexit. Were they supposed to be zany comic relief? If so, they fell abysmally short. They did not add much at all to the story other than to underline “quirkiness”.
The story was mildly amusing, but I didn’t get any laugh-out-loud moments. The ending was very good however, so I am glad I stuck with it. If there is going to be a sequel, I would probably read it.
Both read and listened to, and I preferred reading the hard copy. Even though the narration was excellent, I found I focused better on the story when looking at the written word.
Audiobook Narrated by Moira Quirk Duration: 12:04:49
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