Tag: audiobook

Book Review: Garden of the Cursed (Garden of the Cursed #1) by Katy Rose Pool

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Katy Rose Pool
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

n this thrilling YA fantasy/mystery duology from award-winning author Katy Pool, cursebreaker Marlow Briggs reluctantly pretends to be in love with one of the most powerful nobles in Caraza City to gain entry into an illustrious—and deadly—society that holds clues to her mother’s disappearance. Perfect for fans of Veronica Mars, These Violent Delights, and Chain of Iron.

Since fleeing the gilded halls of Evergarden for the muck-filled canals of the Marshes, Marlow Briggs has made a name for herself as the best godsdamn cursebreaker in Caraza City. But no matter how many cases she solves, she is still haunted by the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

When Adrius Falcrest, Marlow’s old friend and scion of one of Caraza’s most affluent spell-making families, asks her to help break a life-threatening curse, Marlow wants nothing to do with the boy who spurned her a year ago. But a new lead in her mother’s case makes Marlow realize that the only way to get the answers she desperately seeks is to help Adrius and return to Evergarden society—even if it means suffering through a fake love affair with him to avoid drawing suspicion from the conniving Five Families.

As the investigation draws Marlow into a web of deadly secrets and powerful enemies, a shocking truth emerges: Adrius’s curse and her mother’s disappearance may just be clues to an even larger mystery, one that could unravel the very foundations of Caraza and magic itself.

SAVED BY THE ROMANCE.

This was a good series starter. I really enjoyed it and loved the audiobook.

I do think the world building and magic system needed some more explanation. I still feel a bit confused at how everything works and why. It kind of had a dystopian vibe? historical? fantasy? some combination of all three.

The FMC was great though. I liked her character and her perseverance to find out the clues to her mother’s disappearance. I especially loved the romance. Old friends to enemies to fake dating to wanna be lovers to enemies again?! YES PLEASE. So much tension and heat between them. I can’t wait to see where this romance goes.

Just a truly good read and an easy book for me to recommend. It had a lot of elements I continually enjoy seeing in YA books and the ending has me on pins and needles for the conclusion.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: light (but strong)
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical and weapons violence, magical manipulations and violence, low blood/gore, murder

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Book Review: The Comeback Summer by Ali Brady

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 480 pages
Author: Ali Brady
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: May 9th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two sisters have one summer to crush their comfort zones and save their grandmother’s legacy in this sweet, sexy, and heartfelt novel by Ali Brady, author of The Beach Trap .

Hannah and Libby need a miracle. The PR agency they inherited from their grandmother is losing clients left and right, and the sisters are devastated at the thought of closing. The situation seems hopeless—until in walks Lou, an eccentric self-help guru who is looking for a new PR agency. Her business could solve all their problems—but there’s a catch. Whoever works with Lou must complete a twelve-week challenge as part of her “Crush Your Comfort Zone” program.

Hannah, whose worst nightmare is making small talk with strangers, is challenged to go on twelve first dates. Libby, who once claimed to have period cramps for four weeks straight to get out of gym class, is challenged to compete in an obstacle course race. The challenges begin with Hannah helping Libby train and Libby managing the dating app on her sister’s behalf. They’re both making good progress—until Hannah’s first love rolls into town, and Libby accidentally falls for a guy she’s supposed to be setting up with her sister.

Things get even more complicated when secrets come to light, making the sisters question the one relationship they’ve always counted each other. With their company’s future on the line, they can’t afford to fail. But in trying to make a comeback to honor their grandmother, are they pushing themselves down the wrong path?

I ENJOY THIS AUTHOR.

Second book by Ali Brady and I am once again very much a fan. I love the way that sister relationships are combine with romance and self discovery and everything in between. Libby and Hannah both had to learn to stand completely on their own and I looooved seeing that journey for them.

I really liked the romances! Both are totally different and brought a great angle to the general story. There were a lot of tough conversations and heartfelt moments + a little bit of spice. Everything was squeezing my heart and I was very grateful for the HEA at the end.

It’s a fantastic audiobook. It’s a great story. The romance plays a significant role. Just all good things. Looking forward to the next book!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: light strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; low-moderate explicit
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: side character with a parent who has a degenerative disease, mentions of parents divorce, weight/body themes

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Book Review: Woke Up Like This by Amy Lea

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA/Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 273 pages
Author: Amy Lea
Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio
Release Date: October 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

For two high school seniors, it’s seventeen going on thirty—overnight—in a magical romantic comedy about growing up too fast and living in the moment. Planning the perfect prom is one last “to do” on ultra-organized Charlotte Wu’s high school bucket list. So far, so good, if not for a decorating accident that sends Charlotte crash-landing off a ladder, face-first into her obnoxiously ripped archnemesis J. T. Renner. Worse? When Charlotte wakes up, she finds herself in an unfamiliar bed at thirty years old, with her bearded fiancé, Renner, by her side. Either they’ve lost their minds or they’ve been drop-kicked into adulthood, forever trapped in the thirty-year-old bodies of their future selves. With each other as their only constant, Charlotte and Renner discover all that’s changed in the time they’ve missed. Charlotte also learns there’s more to Renner than irritating-jock charm, and that reaching the next milestone isn’t as important as what happens in between. Navigating a series of adventures and a confounding new normal, Charlotte and Renner will do whatever it takes to find a way back to seventeen. But when—and if—they do, what then?

READ IT.

This might be my new favorite Amy Lea book (I’ve read them all at present). Gosh this was so incredibly CHARMING. It had 13 Going On 30 vibes but with a rivals to lovers angle. And BOTH of them end up in a different year together. I thought this was the perfect set up to bring out the FEELS and it delivered.

I loved the banter and snark. It’s that perfect balance of sass while also noticing the intense chemistry between Charlotte and Renner. I was obsessed with them from the get go.

There were also some great themes woven in too. I loved how Charlotte and Renner learned to look deeper and had more understanding towards each other and their situations. I loved them Charlotte learned what it meant to not be walked over by a friend and how to stand up for herself. I loved that this book brought such joy balanced with the heartache that life can be.

This is a charming delight.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low
  • Romance: Kisses; low innuendo
  • Content Warnings: mentions of divorce, loss of a parent

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Book Review: Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 368 pages
Author: Annabel Monaghan
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Benefits of a summer romance: it’s always fun, always brief, and no one gets their heart broken.

There aren’t enough labeled glass containers to contain the mess that is Ali Morris’s life. Her mom died two years ago, then her husband left, and she hasn’t worn pants with a zipper in longer than she cares to remember. She’s a professional organizer whose pantry is a disgrace.

No one is more surprised than Ali when the first time she takes off her wedding ring and puts on pants with hardware—overalls count, right?—she meets someone. Or rather, her dog claims a man for her in the same way he claimed his favorite of her three children: by peeing on him. Ethan smiles at Ali like her pants are just right—like he likes what he sees. The last thing Ali needs is to make her life messier, but there’s no harm in a little Summer Romance. Is there?

JUST WHAT I NEEDED.

I haven’t been getting along with contemporary romances lately and this was the gem I needed to remind me of the goodness they can bring. I loved this book so much!! It was full of heart and doing the hard things and breaking off what isn’t working anymore to find what could be.

The romance had me absolutely smitten. This is how you craft a summer romance. I loved Ethan, he was such a sweetheart and was so KIND. Gosh it was soul melting. And I loved seeing Ali grow and expand and realize how confined she had been for too long. I loved the motherhood aspects as well as the acknowledgement of what she needed as a person to be the best Ali.

There were so many lovely moments throughout. It’s a fast read and an amazing one. I think this is my new favorite from Monaghan. It is a must for summer TBRs!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content Warnings: loss of loved ones, depictions of grief, FMC is going through a divorce

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