The Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is a treasure, and just what I happened to be in the mood for right now! I felt so many emotions while I was listeningThe Group Trip by Audrey Ingram is a treasure, and just what I happened to be in the mood for right now! I felt so many emotions while I was listening to this, and I feel like I both laughed and cried in equal measure. I loved that this focused on a group of 6 friends and the dual timeline really helps you get a picture of how they ended up where they are now as well as their relationships with each other. I didn't want to put it down, and I could have easily turned this into a one day read.
The audiobook is equally as fantastic as the book itself with Megan Tusing as the narrator, though I will say it helped that the entire story is told from Chloe's viewpoint. I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job than Tusing with these characters, and her voice and style were the perfect fit. There is also plenty of drama in The Group Trip as well as some romance and lots of secrets. I would make sure to check triggers prior to reading but would definitely recommend if you enjoy storylines about friend groups with jaw dropping moments and a beachy vibe! ...more
It's taken me much too long to read a book by Evie Gaughan (AKA Evie Woods) and that feels evident now that I know how much I love her writing. The StIt's taken me much too long to read a book by Evie Gaughan (AKA Evie Woods) and that feels evident now that I know how much I love her writing. The Story Collector was such a charming read, and I loved the setting in Ireland as well as the combination of present-day Sarah reading Anna's diary. I got just as caught up in her story as Sarah did and the two timelines were equally fascinating. The Irish folklore surrounding faeries added a lovely touch of magical realism and this would be the perfect book to read in the dead of winter in front of a fireplace.
Heather O’Sullivan narrates the audiobook for The Story Collector, and I thought she did an outstanding job switching between the Irish and American accents for the characters. I really enjoyed my listening experience and also appreciated the fact that the accent wasn’t so heavy that I couldn’t understand what O’Sullivan was saying. There is a little romance in the story but that isn’t what takes center stage, and I loved that the focus was on the setting and the historical elements. Read this if you enjoy bittersweet endings, the setting as a character, and wonderfully complex characters. ...more
If Anything Happens To Me by Luanne Rice is something I basically decided to read on a whim and I’m quite happy with the way that turned out! I don’t If Anything Happens To Me by Luanne Rice is something I basically decided to read on a whim and I’m quite happy with the way that turned out! I don’t read too much YA anymore, but this was a great mystery/thriller as well as being quite emotional. I also learned something new that may or may not be a real thing, and I loved watching Oli and Iris try to solve the mystery of Eloise’s death. Some moments are quite tense and there is lots of action as well which created a very fast paced ride.
I really enjoyed the audiobook and was a fan of Marli Watson as the narrator. Her voice fit with what I would imagine for someone Oli’s age, and her narration was very smooth and emotive. I couldn’t believe the climax, and I do think you have to suspend a bit of disbelief since I’m not sure everything that happened in here would be possible for the age they are at. Read this if you are in the mood for YA you can consume in one sitting and unreliable narrators! It would also be perfect for a younger audience since it isn't very intense and the sisterhood theme is a touching one....more
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
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
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
Funnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not forFunnily enough, my dentist actually recommended Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger to me, and I honestly don’t think I ever would have picked it up if not for her. Thank goodness she did though, because this book left my heart in my throat and my jaw on the floor. It was a fabulous mix of the supernatural and fiery romance with characters I loved and a twist I didn’t see coming despite the breadcrumbs that are left for the reader.
The audiobook is one of the best I have ever listened to, and Tara Langella & Troy Duran were both incredible narrators. I loved that their voices mingle throughout so it’s like watching something on TV or hearing a conversation as opposed to one sided narration. This is also probably the steamiest book I have ever read, and I would be lying if I said none of it made me blush. Almost all of the steamy scenes did, so prepare yourself for dirty! If you have an open mind when it comes to what you read and you enjoy dark romance, pick this up ASAP!
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
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
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