Tag: audiobook

Book Review: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Thriller
Length: 384 pages
Author: Lisa Jewell
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: August 8th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

WHOA.

First, hats off to the audio production. I loved that this was full cast with sound effects. Really brought up the sinister vibes and creeped me out in the way you hope a thriller accomplishes.

I couldn’t believe half the things I was hearing as this story unfolded. It was twisted, a bit dark, and I was very intrigued to see the fallout. I feel like there is SO MUCH that could be unpacked here and watching the lines crisscross and blur kept me on edge.

It did feel a little slow for me towards the end when the reveals started happening. I hit this mindset where I was thinking, stop beating around the bush and just tell me. Which is probably why I’m not a huge thriller reader. But I’m definitely not mad I picked this one up, I thought it was worth the hype I’ve been seeing.

Overall audience notes:

  • Thriller
  • Language: moderate
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: Paedophilia & adult-minor relationships, child abuse, alcoholism, alcohol consumption & abuse, murder, kidnapping, stalking mentioned

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Book Review: Apprentice to the Villain (Assistant to the Villain #2) by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 336 pages
Author: Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: August 8th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

NOTICE TO STAFF: There has been a disturbing increase in cheeriness, sprightly behavior, and overall optimism of late. Please resume your former dark, ominous terrors at your earliest convenience. —Mgmt

Evie Sage has never been happier to be the assistant to The Villain. Who would have thought that working for an outrageously handsome (shhh, bad for his brand) evil overlord would be so rewarding? Still, the business of being bad is demanding, the forces of good are annoyingly persistent, and said forbidding boss is somewhat…er, out-of-evil-office.

But Rennedawn is in grave trouble, and all signs—Kingsley’s included—point to catastrophe. Something peculiar is happening with the kingdom’s magic, and it’s made The Villain’s manor vulnerable to their enemies…including their nemesis, the king.

Now it’s time for Evie to face her greatest challenge: protecting The Villain’s lair, all of his nefarious works, and maybe (provided no one finds out) the entire kingdom. No pressure, Evie.

It’s time to step out of her comfort zone and learn new skills. Like treason. Dagger work. Conspiring with the enemy. It’s all so…so…delightfully fun.

But what happens when the assistant to The Villain is ready to become his apprentice?

WELL THIS WAS FUN.

I know you could throw me a handful of reasons why you didn’t like this book or what it was missing, etc. etc. BUT, I gotta say, I love that this takes me out of my usual and brings me a good smile and chuckle. The banter was still amazing and I loved the nuanced aspects of this series. It was swoony with a fantastic slow burn and I absolutely loved having multiple points of view.

I wasn’t sure where the plot was going to go because it starts off fast from the previous and kind of settle that score (for the moment). I ended up loving the progression and found myself increasingly invested and wanting more. This is quirky and just brings me joy.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: heated make-outs with touching
  • Violence: moderate

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Book Review: Blade Breaker (Realm Breaker #2) by Victoria Aveyard

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 578 pages
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: June 28th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The fate of the world rests on a blade’s edge.

Fighting beside her band of unlikely companions, Corayne is learning to embrace her ancient lineage and wield her father’s powerful sword.

But while she successfully closed one of the Spindles, her journey is far from over.

Queen Erida’s army marches across Allward with her consort, Taristan, right beside them, opening more portals into nightmarish worlds, razing kingdoms to the ground.

Corayne has no choice but to assemble an army of her own if she’s to save the realm as she knows it. But perilous lands await her and the companions, and they face assassins, otherworldly beasts, and tempestuous seas all as they rally a divided Ward to fight behind them.

But Taristan has unleashed an evil far more wicked than his corpse armies. Something deadly waits in the shadows; something that might consume the world before there’s any hope for victory.

WHO KNEW.

I’m here with another five star read for this series and I’m as surprised as you are. I have been really loving the audiobooks and the whole way this world is set-up. It’s complicated and intricate and I love that we got to explore the world a lot more in the second book.

NOT TO MENTION. This series currently has me cheering on the villains and I don’t know what to do with that information. I’m kick your feet in the air giddy whenever Taristan is on page. LIKE HOW. It’s fine. I’m here for it. Though I’m also so very curious how that plot line will work out in the finale.

This is the kind of epic fantasy I really enjoy and I also appreciate that it is a true young adult book too. There’s twists and big action scenes. Quiet moments and political intrigue. It’s been great, can’t wait for more!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: closed door (between a married couple)
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, mass murder and war themes

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Book Review: Haunted Ever After (Boneyard Key #1) by Jen DeLuca

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Jen DeLuca
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 13th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s love at first haunting in a seaside town that raises everyone’s spirits from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.

Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she’s catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.

As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don’t get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie’s worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing… and Nick’s afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.

Thank you LibroFM for the gifted audiobook.

CHARMING & HAUNTING.

I love Jen DeLuca romances but didn’t know what I was specifically getting into when I went into this one. I think the paranormal/ghost aspects worked genuinely well. It was woven seamlessly into the plot and I thought it was a charming piece to the overall story. It kind of has that cozy mystery vibe but with a little more of a romance focus.

I loved the small town setting and the smoothness of the audiobook was an easy listen. The romance was sweet. I liked that Nick owned a coffee shop and Cassie was the girl from the big city. I thought there was a great set-up for future books in this series. The side characters (including the ghosts) were such good addition. The moody vibes of this book were exactly what I was after and I can’t wait for more.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Contemporary Romance
  • Language: moderate, scattered throughout
  • Romance: 2 open door
  • Content Warnings: mentions of infertility, exorcism/seance scenes

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