Mumble mumbe this book was the mayo equivalent if it was a condiment.
For how long this lasted, the world building and character development was reallMumble mumbe this book was the mayo equivalent if it was a condiment.
For how long this lasted, the world building and character development was really lacking. There are different London universes, but we barely get anything from them besides. Red London is red. They speak a different language in Grey London. Flowers. A rock.
Both main characters were also just mayo on wonder bread. One was -insert chosen boy trope here- and the other was -insert badass girl who takes no shit here-. There's potential, but for how many words were used to write this story there was not much said, which drives me nuts.
I think I would have liked this one more if I read it when I was younger, but this really didn't do anything for me, and I'm bummed! I've heard so much praise for the series and I am very meh about it....more
More nerdy DnD related romance! MX, some pining, some emo hair flipping of "I'm not worthy of you" vibes. Both MCs work at the board gamAudio review:
More nerdy DnD related romance! MX, some pining, some emo hair flipping of "I'm not worthy of you" vibes. Both MCs work at the board game cafe, one is also an artist (but doesn't like to show his work) with lots of inner angst and is a bit of a grump/stays to himself. The other MC is finishing up their college degree and dealing with grief. Like book 1, this book deals with parents that are addicts, CW for that. One of the MC's siblings also died from an overdose. There's also discussion on consent when drinking, which I appreciated.
There were some issues with the audio either skipping or repeating the same sentence a couple times, which sounds like a production issue. Brennan Rossi is a new to me narrator, and it was fine. Some of the women voices were meh, but outside of the repeats, this was ok.
Not my favorite in the series, but still an emotionally angsty read. Also am always here for my nonbinary leads, wooo. This has more "this was a book that I read" energy more than anything. ...more
Surprisingly cute and nerdy wlw romance! One MC owns a board game cafe, loves DnD, and has a very sweet found family of other nerds. The other MC receSurprisingly cute and nerdy wlw romance! One MC owns a board game cafe, loves DnD, and has a very sweet found family of other nerds. The other MC recently moved to the city, rents a room from the other MC, plays roller derby, and is getting out of a crappy relationship.
This had roommates, strangers to friends to lovers, found family, board games, and some sweetness, some strap on shenanigans. Also, Amy Kennedy is a new to me narrator that I enjoyed.
I'm just riding out my 2024 slump, and this was readable (listenable?) for me, which I'm calling a win.
CW for alcoholic parent, shitty ex who is homophobic, slurs, crappy ex-friends, misogyny at work ...more
This writing is not working for me. A mix of too many descriptive words not adding anything to the conversation, meh chemistry between the leDNF @26%
This writing is not working for me. A mix of too many descriptive words not adding anything to the conversation, meh chemistry between the leads, miscommunication slash hidden identity trope that's way too obvious, lackluster comes to mind.
Also - negative points for a gruesome first couple chapters with on page animal death. A deer in a snare and lots of description on how to end it's suffering was not how I was expecting to start my Sunday morning read of a romance book. I also don't want to be that guy fact checking, but a deer isn't the first animal to come to mind for getting caught in a snare, but I wasn't around in the medieval ages, so what do I know.
CW for homophobia and parents being bigots. ...more
RA and one of the guys in the dorm, friends to lovers, OTT lead, idiots who don't know the other is into them, lots of horoscope talk, fake 3.5 stars
RA and one of the guys in the dorm, friends to lovers, OTT lead, idiots who don't know the other is into them, lots of horoscope talk, fake fiances, lots of 'platonic' friend cuddling and hanging out, everyone already thinks they're dating, big flirt x uptight pairing.
This was a nice and easy read, had little actual drama or conflict, just miscommunication of the leads not telling the other that they are in love.
The narration was rough though - something about the accents/voices for the leads didn't work for me. ...more
I'm continuing on with my epistolary rabbit hole I've gone down! Fantasy romance, trans & cis men, pregnancy and lots of kiddo content in here. (No onI'm continuing on with my epistolary rabbit hole I've gone down! Fantasy romance, trans & cis men, pregnancy and lots of kiddo content in here. (No on page birth though.)
The pacing in this threw me off a bit. The first 50% is the MCs relationship development/fucking/dating casually, then the next 40% they're separated and sending letters back and forth, then the last 10% is a very abrupt ending that was too rushed for me. This was a rare situation where I didn't care for the letter elements either, especially since each lead was keeping vital information from the other. Usually the epistolary elements give some deep intimacy elements, but this was just the letter equivalent of sexting and withholding important discussions (for example, being pregnant and getting injured.)
I do love Derr's world building, and love that there's this "shrug, whatever gender you want to be is cool" element to the society. Each person chooses who they want to be, and it's not dependent on genitals. Love that! I was missing a bit on the romance side, and the plot wasn't the most interesting of the series, but this audio kept my attention which I'll count as a win!
I will say reading reviews for this book has the transphobes coming out of the woodwork. Trans men are men, someone who enjoys jewelry and doing things to their hair doesn't turn this into a hetero relationship. A man with a vulva doesn't make this a "straight romance in disguise." Disappointed but not surprised with some of the top rated reviews being so hamfisted....more
I want to read something else from this author - I really am intrigued with the topics and world building in their book, however thiDNF around 50%ish
I want to read something else from this author - I really am intrigued with the topics and world building in their book, however this book is just suffering from 'debut book' syndrome. Some editing needed, less info dumping, there's two plotlines going on and both are moving at a glacial pace.
I did love the castellano used throughout this within the world, and thought there was some interesting elements included that I hope gets further explored - "blood quantum", racism, colorism, and othering parallels to IRL experiences. Nonconsent of medical procedures. There's a lot to unpack in this.
However, I am bored with the actual plot and back and forth POV's of "then she did this. then she saw that. she then went here and did this" where the reader gets breadcrumbs. Too slow for me, and a bit too in the weeds.
Will be trying out a non-debut from the author though! ...more
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I lInsert Ben Affleck chain smoking meme....
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I love you" moments, more rabbit mask killer case - there were some big reveals in this one. Still hate Sila though.
Great narration as usual. Also good for the side characters getting in some pegging. Good for them indeed!...more
This had an interesting plot and premise, but fell a bit flat for me. I think Joel Leslie did a great job on the narration. I3.5 stars, rounded down.
This had an interesting plot and premise, but fell a bit flat for me. I think Joel Leslie did a great job on the narration. I just wasn't convinced on the actual plot and romance aspects.
There's a one-sided enemies to lovers going on, where Kit is in this rivalry against his step-brother, Ethan. Kit is dramatique, over the top, and could really benefit from a communications course. All of his one sided bickering at Ethan started to get old for me, especially when Ethan barely put up any resistance on showing/saying that he was into Kit for ages. The tension wasn't there for the amount of 'enemies' Kit claimed they were.
The plot in this was both Indiana Jones adventure and dragged on in areas. This wasn't quite grasping me as an action popcorn story, I wasn't a jungle adventure slash travel adventure piece, and this didn't feel like an uber romantic story, just something kind of in between. ...more
This series!! Such a hidden gem. If the writing of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree didn't work for you, but you still want to read abouAudio review
This series!! Such a hidden gem. If the writing of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree didn't work for you, but you still want to read about cozy vibes of a business running and the patrons inside (also set in a fantasy world) - highly recommend this novella series.
Emily Woo Zeller does a great job narrating. The writing dips into the weeds on cooking in a restaurant and serving the patrons, but in an all vibes no plot comforting way. There's magic, there's regulars, there's pineapple upside down cake. This was the cozy I needed....more
This was super cute! Childhood best friends, both pining for the other, working together on a Jane Austen themed tour service. Short enouAudio review
This was super cute! Childhood best friends, both pining for the other, working together on a Jane Austen themed tour service. Short enough where the romance feels complete, and where the pining/miscommunication isn't overbearing. Low angst, no breakups/conflicts, an explicit sex scene.
Joel Leslie is hit or miss for me, and this one was a hit. Maybe his 2 hour long audios are the key for maximum enjoyment! ...more
This had a really interesting premise - nonbinary ace healer who does blood magic on their patients, a mysterious blood bruising disease 3.5ish stars
This had a really interesting premise - nonbinary ace healer who does blood magic on their patients, a mysterious blood bruising disease wreaking havoc on the town. Trans brother and his struggles with puberty and binding. Mentoring a young and powerful young blood mage and teaching her how to use her power. Themes of colonialism and immigration. Persian inspired world building and magic. All super interesting!
The plot however kind of fell off for me. I guessed the surprise about halfway through. Things were a bit anticlimactic and the mystery didn't end up feeling very satisfying.
I definitely want to read more stories this author comes up with. Wished this had a bit more to it!...more
I feel like if you're going to make an "all vibes no plot" story, the vibes have to be good? And these weren't for me I feel like if you're going to make an "all vibes no plot" story, the vibes have to be good? And these weren't for me ...more
Going into this without reading blurbs or anything - this was a wild time. Dracula and his coven of sires, through the POV of his wife. The writing waGoing into this without reading blurbs or anything - this was a wild time. Dracula and his coven of sires, through the POV of his wife. The writing was great, plot was a bit light, but the handling of a toxic emotionally manipulative partner written through the POV of the person in love with them was tragically great.
I'd read a whole book just with the sired 3 vampires, which are already in a little poly relationship. Loved the normalization of bisexuality throughout this.
Lots of imagery and descriptions of the locations the group moves too throughout the centuries.
Abby Craden narrates this too? Love it.
Check out CWs - there's lots of blood, blood drinking, death/on page killing. Emotional abuse, manipulative & toxic partner, lots of gaslighting. The sex scenes in this are a mix of closed door and vague open door non-explicit. Also ancient vampire siring an 18 year old, in case huge age gaps aren't your thing. This isn't a genre romance, but has romantic elements. ...more
No rating for memoirs - who am I to judge their life?
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I enjoy this creator's content - Madeline No rating for memoirs - who am I to judge their life?
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I enjoy this creator's content - Madeline does a great job of providing information and breaking things down on her platform. I think I need to see her facial expressions and hand movements in order to fully connect with her though. This audio tone felt very humble braggy + tying morality to every decision + so much emphasis on evil capitalism. Yes. I got that based on her material and the book title, lol. Her narration did not work for me, which was a bummer.
On the content, I would have liked this a bit better if there was more cohesion of the economic tips and tricks with her memoir and upbringing. It was a bit jarring after listening to a chapter about her growing up in Fresno or in a toxic relationship to have a how to rent an apartment 101 tidbit at the end of the chapter. I think adding in those tips (many of which I've heard a bunch already just by knowing her content) kind of messed with the book's impact - this could have been a super interesting memoir without the money tips.
Overall - if you also know this creator, I'd recommend grabbing an ebook/physical book (she has lots of library copies, which is great to see), and skimming over the end of chapter tips to get to the memoir pieces.
CWs for suicide, grief, loss of partner, among other things. ...more
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