Tag: audiobook

ALC Book Review: Unapologetic Love Story by Elle McNicoll

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★.75
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Elle McNicoll
Publisher: Saturday Books
Release Date: October 13th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The dazzling debut new adult romance novel from bestselling author, Elle McNicoll. For fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers, this is big-hearted and full of bite!

An unapologetic celebration of love, relationships, and the women who have historically been shut out of such stories, until now . . . Elle McNicoll is about to become everyone’s favorite new name in new adult romance.

Enter Raina Lewis, London’s hottest It Girl – effortlessly cool, endlessly intriguing, and beloved for her smash-hit podcast spotlighting autistic women. But not everyone’s convinced by the hype. Investigative journalist and ‘King of Cancel Culture’, Tom Branimir is sure there’s more to Raina than meets the eye. He’s determined to uncover her secret. That is… if he can just manage not to fall for her first.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREW ON ME.

I loved the way this story was approached. There were a lot of important themes and topics touched about for neurodiverse women. And I liked that at the forefront of the plot. The writing is good and I would be interested to read future books from this author. I also thought the audiobook narrator did a great job but I do wish there had been a separate narrator for Tom’s occasional POV’s. While I can’t speak to every thing in here there were moments where I was like YES THAT’S HOW IT FEELS and I love when a book does that. Raina was a great FMC.

As someone who is kind of tired by everyone having a podcast I didn’t love the continual conversations with podcasts, media, socials, etc. The amount of podcast content that comes across my feed already is plenty. But if you like these things, totally go for it. I think it will hit the spot.

I definitely needed a slower burn. 50%? Nah. I don’t feel like Raina and Tom actually had enough conversations and moments together to start adding spice. He’s very infatuated from the get go which felt insta-love adjacent? Though like I mentioned, it did grow on me. I did not like the third act whatsoever. The usual. BUT I did like the groveling from Tom and the grand gesture worked for me. That at least felt genuine to the plot in place.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: moderate-high
  • Romance: 3ish+ open door
  • Content warnings: ableism, misogyny, bullying, body shaming, eating disorder, toxic friendships

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Non-fiction
Length: 311 pages
Author: Mel Robbins
Publisher: Hay House LLC
Release Date: December 24th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands—and this book will show you exactly how to do it.

In her latest groundbreaking book, The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins—New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most respected experts on motivation, confidence, and mindset—teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly YOU. Your happiness. Your goals. Your life.

Using the same no-nonsense, science-backed approach that’s made The Mel Robbins Podcast a global sensation, Robbins explains why The Let Them Theory is already loved by millions and how you can apply it in eight key areas of your life to make the biggest impact. Within a few pages, you’ll realize how much energy and time you’ve been wasting trying to control the wrong things—at work, in relationships, and in pursuing your goals—and how this is keeping you from the happiness and success you deserve.

Written as an easy-to-understand guide, Robbins shares relatable stories from her own life, highlights key takeaways, relevant research and introduces you to world-renowned experts in psychology, neuroscience, relationships, happiness, and ancient wisdom who champion The Let Them Theory every step of the way.

Learn how

Stop wasting energy on things you can’t control. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Break free from fear and self-doubt. Release the grip of people’s expectations. Build the best friendships of your life. Create the love you deserve. Pursue what truly matters to you with confidence. Build resilience against everyday stressors and distractions. Define your own path to success, joy, and fulfillment. . . and so much more.

The Let Them Theory will forever change the way you think about relationships, control, and personal power. Whether you want to advance your career, motivate others to change, take creative risks, find deeper connections, build better habits, start a new chapter, or simply create more happiness in your life and relationships, this book gives you the mindset and tools to unlock your full potential.

I ACTUALLY LIKED THIS A LOT.

I’m someone who doesn’t love self-help books because they rarely come off genuinely helpful. But it’s been years since I’ve read one and after I suggested my husband pick this up, I said I’d read it too, and I’m glad I did!

I think this truly had many sentiments that are applicable and realistic. I appreciated that this never made me feel like I was already failing. The stories are relatable and the science and research was laid out in an easy to understand format. There were multiple chapters that I felt like I could use the let them, let me reminder and have already used it in my life.

If you want help in feeling some peace and to stop letting everything around you dictate how you feel, I say it’s worth the read. I liked the audiobook (read by the author) but physical would have been nice to mark some passages.

Overall audience notes:

  • Non-fiction / self-help
  • Language: low

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: The Assassin’s Way by J.M. Kearl

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★.25
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 442 pages
Author: J.M. Kearl
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 18th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Never go out at night. Lock the doors. Ignore the screams.Those are the rules Aesira lives by to survive the monsters that stalk her village. But everything changes when it’s revealed she’s been born with the power to fight the vampires she’s spent her life fearing.

Aesira is thrust into the elite and secretive League of Assassins, where mercy is weakness and fear is forbidden. Now her survival depends on her ruthless trainer, Vander – the most dangerous assassin of them all. And the only thing more lethal than his blade is the desire he awakens in her.

Because the greatest threat in Nighthaven might not be the monsters lurking in the dark…

It might be him.

VERY GOOD.

I had a good time with this one. It felt like a different vampire romance than I’ve read and I loved seeing the story unfold. I should have caught on more but I also liked that I kept myself in the dark. It made the big moments all the more intense.

The world building was solid and I’m intrigued to see how that, alongside the magic system expands in book two. It’s not overtly complicated and it’s even better when there’s not copious info dumping.

I liked Aesira as a main character. She’s a pretty typical fantasy FMC with no skills and no romantic experience, but it’s fine. Aesira learns well and I liked her relationship with her family a lot.

Aesira’s chemistry with Vander was good. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that this was a genuine slow burn. I know that Kearl tends to do open door romances so BLESSSSS that this is actually dragged out and you can feel the tension slowly ramping up and building. I have missed plots like this!!!

Also, the audiobook is duet narration so highly recommend that too. It is great. I also eye ball read this one so you honestly can’t go wrong with either option. Can’t wait for book two!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones, blood/gore depiction, physical and weapons altercation

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph

Book Review: A Land So Wide by Erin A. Craig

GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★
Audience: Fantasy Horror Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Erin A. Craig
Publisher: Pantheon
Release Date: September 2nd, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child comes an irresistible blend of dark fairytale and romantic fantasy.

The town of Mistaken has a secret…and it’s up to one woman to uncover the truth, confront her past, and save the man she loves.

Like everyone else in the settlement of Mistaken, Greer Mackenzie is trapped. Founded by an ambitious lumber merchant, the village is blessed with rich natural resources that have made its people prosperous—but at a cost. The same woods that have lined the townsfolks’ pockets harbor dangerous beasts: wolves, bears, and the Bright-Eyeds—monsters beyond description who have rained utter destruction down on nearby settlements. But Mistaken’s founders made a deal with the mysterious Benevolence: the Warding Stones that surround the town will keep the Bright-Eyeds out—and the town’s citizens in. Anyone who spends a night within Mistaken’s borders belongs to it forever.

Greer, a mapmaker and eccentric dreamer, has always ached to explore the world outside, even though she knows she and her longtime love, Ellis Beaufort, will never see it. Until, on the day she and Ellis are meant to finally begin their lives together, Greer watches in horror as her beloved disappears beyond the Warding Stones, pursued by a monstrous creature. Determined to rescue Ellis, she figures out a way to defy Mistaken’s curse and begins a trek through the cold and pitiless wilderness. But there, Greer is hunted, not only by the ruthless Bright-Eyeds but by the secret truths behind Mistaken’s founding and her own origins.

Playfully drawing from Scottish folklore, Erin A. Craig’s adult debut is both a deeply atmospheric and profoundly romantic exploration of freedom versus security: a stunning celebration of one woman’s relentless bravery on a quest to reclaim her lost love—and seize her own future.

WHY THOUGH?

I didn’t know how I felt about this book for most of the story. It was some amalgamation of horror and young adult and romance and mystery? But I guess I thought it would end a certain way and when it didn’t I was left rather bereft.

And now I’m just noticing that this was an adult debut? I did not think that for but maybe two seconds (during an almost love scene) that this was older than YA. I’m honestly surprised and think that was the problem too. The writing didn’t feel adult.

There’s some good scenes and what not and I didn’t hate reading it, I just wasn’t fully engaged either. Not my favorite from this author.

Overall audience notes:

  • Adult Horror
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 1-2ish open door
  • Violence: moderate

Instagram || Goodreads || The StoryGraph