The good: Besides the fact that Heather O’Sullivan is an excellent narrator, I'm very glad I opted to listen to A Feather So Black rather than3.5 Stars
The good: Besides the fact that Heather O’Sullivan is an excellent narrator, I'm very glad I opted to listen to A Feather So Black rather than reading it since I would not have pronounced most of the names correctly. I enjoyed Fia as a main character for the most part and loved all of the folklore/mythology references, some of which I was familiar with and some were completely new to me. It felt surprisingly character driven for a fantasy book, the mission often felt secondary to the relationships between characters. The story had a bit of spice but nothing too crazy. I thoroughly enjoyed the world-building, I love a good Fair Folk world.
The not so good: I'm always a little bit skeptical of books written in first person POV because they so easily can fall into the trap of a repetitive inner monologue. Fia and Rogan often had the same discussions over and over again and it was difficult not to lose interest. The pacing in the middle half of the book was pretty slow and the side characters fell a bit flat unfortunately.
Overall, this is more of a 3.5 star book to me. I enjoyed A Feather So Black and would consider continuing the series.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc!...more
I have not read Yes & I Love You so I can attest that it is not necessary to have read the first book in this series. I loved Andi and Hill's characteI have not read Yes & I Love You so I can attest that it is not necessary to have read the first book in this series. I loved Andi and Hill's characters. It was so refreshing to see characters who have to deal with past traumas and a life-changing injury. My one complaint is how anti-climactic the climax was which kept this from being a higher rating. That being said, I still couldn't put it down and plan to read other books in the series.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc....more
I was unexpectedly unable to stop listening to A Convenient Marriage by Jeevani Charika. Nikki Patel is an excellent narrator for this story 4.5 Stars
I was unexpectedly unable to stop listening to A Convenient Marriage by Jeevani Charika. Nikki Patel is an excellent narrator for this story and brought Chaya and Gimhana to life. Chaya and Gim both struggle with their own wants that stand in stark contrast of the conservative Sri Lankan expectations and values. I was delighted to discover that this isn't a book about marriage, not really, but about friendship and family.
It is told in a non-linear fashion which made it a little difficult when listening if I wasn't paying close attention to the year but for the purposes of the plot, I think it was the best way for the story to unfold.
The ending made me genuinely smile as it wrapped it up and I'm more than a little sad it's over. Overall, this is a great read and I can't believe I haven't heard more about this book.
"Life is messy. We're all trying to get through it the best we can."
Thanks so much to Negalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc!...more
We Are the Brennans is an intriguing family saga told from multiple points-of-view of, you guessed it, the Brennan family (and Kale). I defin3.5 Stars
We Are the Brennans is an intriguing family saga told from multiple points-of-view of, you guessed it, the Brennan family (and Kale). I definitely agree with the comparison to The Nest in the description and my own real complaint is that I wanted to get to know the characters more. Each one is a flawed but good person in their own way with their own side story and while the story moves at a steady pace, it is on the shorter side.
That being said, I was very surprised it's a debut book and while reading, I could perfectly picture We Are the Brennans as a movie adaptation, similar to The Family Stone.
I thought it was an interesting choice to have only one narrator for the whole story. It made it feel more like Sunday's story I think rather than that of the Brennan family as a whole. If I were to reread, I would want to try reading rather than listening.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for the e-arc!...more
The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young is an intriguing story of the renowned Roth family we met in Namesake. The all-too-brief encounter in Name3.75 Stars
The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young is an intriguing story of the renowned Roth family we met in Namesake. The all-too-brief encounter in Namesake didn't even scratch the surface of the complex family relationships seen in The Last Legacy. I love a good crime family plot and the Roth family did not disappoint. I was continually reminded of Six of Crows as I listened and couldn't put it down.
Bryn is cunning and fierce as she navigates finding her way in the Roth family. I would love to read more about the Roth family's history. There is a lot about the family that is still shrouded in mystery. I think what kept this from being a higher rating for me was the romance. It wasn't insta-love but lacked the depth I wanted.
Suzy Jackson is the perfect narrator for Bryn and I'm so glad I chose to listen instead of read.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook arc!...more
I couldn't get enough of this biographical novel! I knew a little about Mary Wollstonecraft having read about her in college but the basic p4.5 Stars!
I couldn't get enough of this biographical novel! I knew a little about Mary Wollstonecraft having read about her in college but the basic plot of her life was unknown to me, other than the fact that she is the mother of Mary Shelley. I enjoyed the structure of the book immensely! Mary Wollstonecraft is telling her newborn daughter about her life as she slowly dies after a difficult birth with chapters from the point of view of the midwife, Mrs. B, are mixed in.
Ell Potter was a wonderful narrator and brought Samantha Silva's lyrical writing to life. I immediately want to research everything there is to know about this progressive and influential woman.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio-arc!...more
Sweethand by N.G. Peltier was a fun contemporary romance that is perfect for summer. Cherisse and Kieran are a classic enemies to lovers pair and 3.75
Sweethand by N.G. Peltier was a fun contemporary romance that is perfect for summer. Cherisse and Kieran are a classic enemies to lovers pair and were delightful to read about. I enjoyed the secondary characters quite a bit and loved that it's set in Trinidad. And how cute is this cover??
The main thing that kept this from being a 4 star read or higher for me was the dialogue. Sometimes it was just a little too over the top for me. Otherwise, Sweethand is a cute, steamy romance you won't regret reading.
Chrystal Bethell was an excellent narrator for the story!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio-arc!...more
I haven't enjoyed a contemporary romance book this much since The Hating Game! Eve Brown and Jacob Wayne were so cute I couldn't stand it. I loved thaI haven't enjoyed a contemporary romance book this much since The Hating Game! Eve Brown and Jacob Wayne were so cute I couldn't stand it. I loved that the story mostly takes place at a B&B and the fact that it's all because Eve hit Jacob with her car is hilarious.
I haven't read either of the other books in the Brown Sisters series but I'm definitely going to now and didn't feel at all like I was missing out not having already read them. I know this is the last book but I think Talia Hibbert should explore Jacob's friends next *hint hint*
I loved the autistic representation and body positivity included as well. Overall, Act Your Age, Eve Brown is an excellent read to kick off the summer with!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher!...more
This is such a good series! It can easily be read as one long, continuous book with a prologue.
It's a tale of adventure and magic set in the same worlThis is such a good series! It can easily be read as one long, continuous book with a prologue.
It's a tale of adventure and magic set in the same world as Alisha Klapheke's Enchanting the Elven Mage and Kingdoms of Lore series but I can attest that it can be read without reading either.
Despite being 5 books long, the series is still under a thousand pages but has more world-building than some series 2 and 3 times as long. I really enjoyed Vahly, Arcturus, and Nyx's characters and was intrigued by every encounter with the Sea Kynd. It added extra depth to experience the story unfolding from both Vahly and the Sea Kynd's points of view also.
If you enjoy bingeing a series, this is one is very bingeable!...more
Ariadne is perfect for fans of The Silence of the Girls! Ariadne explores the sad fates that befall mortal women time and time again when the4.5 Stars
Ariadne is perfect for fans of The Silence of the Girls! Ariadne explores the sad fates that befall mortal women time and time again when they have the misfortune of catching the eye of a God. I enjoyed the addition of Phaedra's point-of-view as I knew little of the mythology surrounding her. If Ariadne is the cautionary tale for what happens when gods get involved, Phaedra is the sadder story of what it meant to be a woman who was forever subjected to the whims of men.
Like Circe and other mythology retellings I have read, it is a slower read and takes time to become invested but the story was no less enjoyable for the slower pacing.
Barrie Kreinik is a wonderful narrator for this book!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio-arc!...more
What an intense read! I knew immediately that I was going to love this book when I heard Mozhan Marno's voice. She is the perfect narrator for Sitara What an intense read! I knew immediately that I was going to love this book when I heard Mozhan Marno's voice. She is the perfect narrator for Sitara and I will definitely be researching to see if she narrates any other books.
The writing is absolutely poetic! If I'd been reading an e-copy, it would have been full of highlighted sentences that caught my attention. Sitara/Aryana is wonderfully complex and haunted by the trauma of her past and it fills the story with sorrow and heartache. I enjoyed the structure of the story and was glad the past and present weren't unfolding simultaneously. This book is so well-written that it's easy to believe Sitara/Aryana, Antonia and Tilly are real people.
This is the perfect book for fans of The Kite Runner and historical cultural fiction! I've never read any of Nadia Hashimi's other books but that will be changing post-haste.
"Afghanistan’s secret weapon has always been her women."
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio ARC!...more
This is very What a Girl Wants/Princess Dairies with a dash of Crazy Rich Asians and I loved it! The premise isn't unique but I loved the mu3.75 stars
This is very What a Girl Wants/Princess Dairies with a dash of Crazy Rich Asians and I loved it! The premise isn't unique but I loved the multicultural and Own Voices aspect of it. I found myself drawing more parallel's to What a Girl Wants than Princess Diaries actually, especially after Akio quotes a line from the movie, albeit not verbatim.
Izumi's hilarious inner monologue and witty banter with Akio were delightful. I love when the love-interest has a surprising and dry sense of humor. I also liked that the emphasis was more on Izumi getting in touch with her Japanese heritage than on all the rules of being royalty.
I was so glad to see that despite being by herself in Japan, Izumi's gal pals were still crazy supportive of her. It's a shame they didn't get more screen time but the plot didn't allow for that much.
Ali Ahn is an excellent narrator and really embodied Izumi's personality.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!...more
I really loved the first half of the book. It reads like an enjoyable contemporary that addresses serious issues like assault and racism. Mexican FolkI really loved the first half of the book. It reads like an enjoyable contemporary that addresses serious issues like assault and racism. Mexican Folklore is blended in seamlessly and those aspects were my favorite part.
I actually struggled through the second half with the aliens. I kept putting it down and coming back to it due to not being able to get into the new alien aspect. I'm usually SFF fan but this wasn't hitting the spot for me. If anything, it was detracting from the folklore and family aspect I was enjoying so much.
I also didn't love that it's split into 200+ short chapters.
Overall, this probably more of a 3.5-3.75 star book for me.
Thanks so much to Libro.fm and Simon and Schuster Audio for the audiobook!...more
This made for an excellent audiobook! It's read by the author himself and really adds to the authenticity and intimacy of the story which was extremelThis made for an excellent audiobook! It's read by the author himself and really adds to the authenticity and intimacy of the story which was extremely powerful, heart wrenching, moving and every term in between. Yohance is the quintessential success story. He was fortunate enough to have people in his life who helped him along the way but at the end of the day, it was his drive that allowed him to claw his way out. I look forward to hearing the rest of the story in books 2 and 3.
Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc!...more
This was a really cute read! I was skeptical of the senior citizen romance but it Eileen is sassy and I love her. I am always down for a go4.25 Stars!
This was a really cute read! I was skeptical of the senior citizen romance but it Eileen is sassy and I love her. I am always down for a good life swap story and this really made me want to watch The Holiday. I wasn't as interested in Leena's arc but it wrapped up nicely and I would 100% love to live in Hamleigh. It was full of self discovery, grief, family and humor.
Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones are great narrators but Alison Steadman was absolutely perfect for the role of Eileen.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, the Publisher, and Libro.fm for the arcs!...more
I enjoyed this overall! I love a good Middle Eastern inspired fantasy and this one didn't disappoint in that regard. I think this could have been a r I enjoyed this overall! I love a good Middle Eastern inspired fantasy and this one didn't disappoint in that regard. I think this could have been a really fantastic duology, a la Renee Ahdieh, and characters could have been fleshed out a little more but it's still a solid read for a standalone. What kept this from being a 5 star read for me was that while it was dark and twisty, the emphasis was more on the twisty than the dark. I wanted more out of Soraya as an anti-heroine and at times found myself just plain rooting for her to just become a villain.
By the end, I also found myself getting annoyed by the constant use of some variation of the phrase "as if they could read my mind" or "somehow I just knew. . ." It was one of those things that once I noticed it, it seemed like I was seeing it constantly....more
Sam Glasbrenner
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