The Perfect Rom-Com is my third time reading Melissa Ferguson and it also happens to be my new favorite by her! I loved that the romance was a slow buThe Perfect Rom-Com is my third time reading Melissa Ferguson and it also happens to be my new favorite by her! I loved that the romance was a slow burn, and that a lot of the book was about Bryony being a ghostwriter. Unfortunately, the woman she is ghostwriting for was horrible, but I loved Bryony and Jack as well as many of the secondary characters. I also thought it was an excellent idea for Ferguson to include her own experiences with teaching ESL by giving it to Bryony as her job while she is also trying to get her own novel published. Those students (as well as her grandma) stole my heart and there were lots of pretty funny scenes featuring them as well.
My recommendation is to go with the audiobook, and you won’t be sorry. Karissa Vacker’s narration for Bryony was absolutely perfect and I had no issues with her pacing or the editing of the audio. It also made the funny bits even more entertaining, and I loved her narration for the other characters as well. The ending was totally unexpected, but I thought it was perfection and though I didn’t love a certain something Jack did, I enjoyed the way he redeemed himself by the end and I was happy with the resolution. This would be a great book to grab for the beach and it will keep you reading from start to finish!
I still can't remember why I made the decision to pick up Confessions by Catherine Airey, but I definitely don't regret it. I don't read literary fictI still can't remember why I made the decision to pick up Confessions by Catherine Airey, but I definitely don't regret it. I don't read literary fiction all that often, but this was a complex and engrossing debut that I sped through in just a couple of days. It took me a while to get a hang of the timelines as well as all of the characters since we are looking at 3 generations of women in the story and connecting secondary characters. Listening to the audio may have contributed to my confusion, but I think it was mostly down to the structure of the book and the inclusion of the Scream School game to some extent.
The audiobook does have a full cast which was nice, and I thought each narrator did a fantastic job. It was a little odd though in that they didn’t really help me to differentiate between all of the characters which obviously doesn’t make much sense. Nevertheless, there is a lot that happens in this book, and it almost felt like women’s fiction at times which I really liked. This is a debut, and Airey took on a huge undertaking with this as her first novel. It was a little clunky for me, but I was very absorbed in both the characters and how it was going to end. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
Christina Dodd is one of my favorite authors thanks to her Cape Charade series which I read the first book of and gave it an easy 5 stars. I have beenChristina Dodd is one of my favorite authors thanks to her Cape Charade series which I read the first book of and gave it an easy 5 stars. I have been trying to read more of her other books now and when I saw Girl Anonymous it was a no brainer for me to read it. I believe this is my first mafia romance book (or maybe second?) and it is fully unique and steamy AF. I loved Maarja and Dante and the tension between the two was off the charts. I will say I was more invested at the beginning of the book and things did get a little weird, but this was such a fun read that I can’t be mad at it.
The audiobook was decent, and I did enjoy Vanessa Johansson as the narrator, but I think this is a book where having duet narration would have made it amazing. I couldn’t really get behind Johanssons� voice for Dante, and hearing a male voice for him would have been ...more
I always love reading an Emma Lord novel, and The Rival was another entertaining and adorable YA romcom from her. While we sense that romance between I always love reading an Emma Lord novel, and The Rival was another entertaining and adorable YA romcom from her. While we sense that romance between Sadie and Seb building with lots of tension, I loved that this also focused on the school they were going to and an imbalance in the system. The romance itself really builds around that, and I thought it was a great way to add depth. I also loved the friendship between Sadie and her bestie Christina as well as Sadie’s relationships with her various family members. They all impacted the story, especially as we get towards the end where Sadie has some important conversations and realizations.
The audiobook gave me mixed feelings and it was mostly down to Jesse Vilinsky’s pacing. It felt a little erratic to me, and I struggled to find a speed to listen to her on that didn’t make the audiobook sound weird. That being said, I did love her narration for the characters, especially the tone she used to voice Rowan, and she was certainly very enthusiastic. The themes in the book were really important, and I loved that they were approached with Lord’s trademark charm and humor. The competition between Sadie and Zeb added to the general tension between them, and this was a very approachable read that kept me engaged. I also happen to have loved the ending which left a smile on my face as the credits rolled.
Read this if you are looking for: Hilarious banter, pancakes (IYKYK), and no spice.
Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin is such a wonderful debut that gave me all of the cozy mystery vibes! Murrin starts off with a quote fromKnife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin is such a wonderful debut that gave me all of the cozy mystery vibes! Murrin starts off with a quote from a Lisa Jewell book which right away told me I was going to love it, and indeed I did. The humor throughout made me laugh several times and I was very much a fan of our MMC Paul. This is a foodie read if there ever was one, and the story is interspersed with recipes that are real, so you can totally jot them down and make them if you would like to.
I am not completely sure what my thoughts are on the audiobook, though I did really enjoy Sebastian Humphreys� narration when he was simply narrating Paul. He did some pretty interesting voices for the other characters, especially the women, and I have no idea if that was on purpose to be funny or if he thought it sounded good. I personally found it weird at times and hilarious at others, so it did work for me to some extent. I do wish there had been something to differentiate the recipes from the rest of the book as it got a little confusing on audio when we would go from the story into a recipe and back again.
The whodunnit was surprising and the eclectic cast of characters made the entire story come alive in the best way. I was glad Murrin included an author’s note at the end, and I was surprised by how much of the book was inspired by real people and locations. I am very curious to see where the rest of the series goes (as this is supposedly book one of the Chef Paul Delamare Mysteries series), and I hope we have not seen the last of Paul.
Read this if you are looking for: a large cast of characters, recipes, and a story that reads like it should be on TV.
Killer Potential by Hannah Deitch is such a wild debut novel, and I loved how unique it is. I don’t think going in blind is a bad idea, but I do thinkKiller Potential by Hannah Deitch is such a wild debut novel, and I loved how unique it is. I don’t think going in blind is a bad idea, but I do think it is important to know that this has literary fiction vibes in the way it makes you think, but also quite a few violent moments. The action is strategically placed throughout the story and the shocking beginning was just a start to the spiral this book takes you on. It is a thrill ride while also being rather introspective, and I enjoyed getting to know these characters better though I can’t say I actually found either of them all that likeable.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, but I thought the pacing was off a bit. Kristen Sieh & Daru Oda did a great job bringing Evie and the mysterious woman (who we later learn the name of) to life, but I had to slow the audiobook down a bit to find the sweet spot of where their narration sounded the most streamlined. The plot is definitely a bit out there, so you do have to suspend some disbelief, and there are flashbacks that sometimes come at seemingly inopportune times that slow things down a bit. They did add more depth though and I loved this quick read that I was into from start to finish.
Read this if you are looking for: A compelling female protagonist, LGBTQ+ representation, and an adventurous read that takes you across the US.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary eBook and advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Swiped is such a fun debut and I am excited to see L.M. Chilton has his next book set to debut in the US in December of this year. Gwen is one of thosSwiped is such a fun debut and I am excited to see L.M. Chilton has his next book set to debut in the US in December of this year. Gwen is one of those female leads that is selfish and judgy but she’s also really relatable and I loved her sarcasm and quick wit. I also loved that this was a fresh take on a thriller with it being a serial killer who is basing their kills off a dating app. Even though this was definitely a far out there plot at times, it is an exciting ride and watching Gwen trying to track down all her previous dates was an adventure in itself. And maybe the best part for me was that I was laughing right at the beginning of the book all the way to the end.
This is a short and quickly (for the most part) paced read, and I loved listening to the audiobook which is narrated by Georgia Maguire. Although I noticed some slight editing issues (see: there we are with hearing mouth sounds again), it didn’t bother me as much as it sometimes does. Probably because I loved listening to Maguire’s narration in general and she made it a very lively and even more entertaining experience. I did think the plot slowed down a bit at one point but then it picked back up again and was a race to the finish. I had a little “I knew it!� moment with killer, but I have to say I didn’t figure it out until very close to the reveal.
Read this if you are looking for chick lit crossed with thriller, a clever storyline, and fantastic dialogue.
Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25 Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐...more
I’m not sure it was the smartest idea for me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook right after Promise Me Sunshine but here we are. Both deal with grief I’m not sure it was the smartest idea for me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook right after Promise Me Sunshine but here we are. Both deal with grief on some level, though I felt like this book took a much more surface level approach to it. I haven’t read Shook’s debut yet, but I definitely want to especially after finishing this. I really enjoyed her writing and there were quite a few LOL moments for me throughout the story. I could tell that this was more of a feminist read (think #MeToo) and she alluded to a certain comedian scandal which I wasn’t sure how I felt about, though I did love the nod to the hilarious Bowen Yang and appreciated where she was going.
The audiobook was a nice way to read the book, and I loved Ferdelle Capistrano as the narrator. It felt like she was made to be the voice of Presley, and I thought she nailed the entire narration right down to all of Presley’s hilarious quips. The various themes of friendship, abuse, and loss balanced each other out, and there was a dash of something like romance as well. The ending was a little abrupt for my liking, but I did enjoy that the biggest focus was on friendship, even when it sometimes comes from the most unlikely of places.
Read this if you are looking for a character-driven story, an insight into the NYC comedy scene, and a slower pace.
The first thing that ran through my head after I finished The Department by Jacqueline Faber, was that it was fuc*ing tragic. This ended up being suchThe first thing that ran through my head after I finished The Department by Jacqueline Faber, was that it was fuc*ing tragic. This ended up being such a hard read to experience and the end left me breathless, depressed, angry, and validated all at the same time. My heart absolutely ached for Lucia, and it was an interesting dynamic switching back and forth between her before (then) viewpoint and Neil in the present.
The audiobook was okay and not my favorite, so if you are thinking about buying or using a credit, I would try to go library or read first. I really enjoyed Spencer Cannon’s narration for Neil, but the only thing I really liked about Tawny Platis� narration was when she voiced Lucia's parents. It was just too rushed and hard to understand for me, which kept my pace at nothing above a 2.5x speed. Mental illness and trauma take centerstage in this book and it is not your average mystery/thriller in the slightest.
Read this if you are looking for dark themes, a thought-provoking read, and a slow pace....more
You will now find me praying to the literary gods that we see more of Clare Leslie Hall's books released in the US because Broken Country might just bYou will now find me praying to the literary gods that we see more of Clare Leslie Hall's books released in the US because Broken Country might just be my favorite book of 2025. This story completely wrecked me, and it is told in such a moving fashion that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster the entire time I was listening to it. This started as a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and I am thrilled that it was such a winner as well as being a Reese’s Book Club pick because it is well deserved. It starts with a dead dog and ends with a dead farmer, but there is so much heartache, hope and love in between.
This is probably one of the tensest books I have read in quite a while (that isn’t a thriller), and I am extremely happy I decided to listen to the audiobook. While we do end up with more than just Beth’s viewpoint, Hattie Morahan is an incredible narrator and I can’t think of a single person who would have been better to voice this book. Her narration made the characters and their emotions the stars of the show, and words cannot express how much I loved listening to her. I found myself saying ‘of course� when we get to the climax and the build up to get there made me a bundle of nerves. Hall wove past, present, and future together with such ease, and her writing kept me glued to the pages.
Read this if you are looking for dual timelines, a sweeping story of love and heartbreak, and vivid imagery.
I have no excuse for why I haven’t read a book by Barbara Davis before, but now that I have experienced her writing through Every Precious and FragileI have no excuse for why I haven’t read a book by Barbara Davis before, but now that I have experienced her writing through Every Precious and Fragile Thing, I will definitely be reading more! This book had so many layers to it and dealt with numerous topics all the way from controversial to just plain sad. I had so many emotions while I was reading this, and I was glad Davis decided to write this with multiple viewpoints. The way they entwined together at the end was everything and left me with my jaw on the floor and a hopeful feeling in my heart.
I found the audiobook to be quite good with Sara Sheckells, Marni Penning, Petrea Burchard, & Sarah Beth Goer narrating and it came very close to being flawless for me. Whoever narrated Helen did a wonderful job with her, but when it came to her mother’s bits it was very screechy and not pleasant to listen to at all. I understood where she was going with her narration, but I would have liked her to not be *quite* so enthusiastic. This is a heavy hitter with a lot of very heavy themes, so I think you need to be in the right headspace to read. However, the mending of relationships and finding what you are meant to do in life was perfection.
Read this if you are looking for shocking secrets, the theme of forgiveness, and relatable characters.
Love Letters to a Serial Killer is Tasha Coryell's debut and I have to say I found it quite enjoyable! Hannah was an interesting character in the sensLove Letters to a Serial Killer is Tasha Coryell's debut and I have to say I found it quite enjoyable! Hannah was an interesting character in the sense that I didn’t really like her, but I didn’t hate her either. Her obsession with William and true crime gets her into trouble in more ways than one, and this storyline tackles what it means to be so obsessed with something that it consumes your life. I didn’t agree with a single decision Hannah made, but her journey from start to finish created a certain kind of experience to say the least.
If you’re trying to decide between reading or listening to the audiobook, I would recommend the audio because Andi Arndt slays as the narrator. She captured Hannah’s character so perfectly that I felt like I was listening to her, and she was spot on with every emotion. I would recommend going into this one as blind as possible, and I do think reading the synopsis would spoil it a little. All you really need to know is true crime, obsession, serial killers, and fun.
Read this if you are looking for a unique debut, bonkers choices, and social commentary.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I love Chelsea Handler so much, and it has been a minute since I read one of her books, so when I saw I'll Have What She's Having I jumped at the chanI love Chelsea Handler so much, and it has been a minute since I read one of her books, so when I saw I'll Have What She's Having I jumped at the chance to read it. I will say this felt a bit more self helpy than her other books, but I still loved it and was more than happy to read her thoughts on life and being a woman. These essays were a mix of informational, hilarious, and thought-provoking, and I learned things about Handler that I had missed since I don’t follow celebrity gossip.
I had to listen to the audiobook since I can’t turn down an opportunity to listen to her sexy smoky voice ...more
I can't remember why I decided to pick up The Weekend Guests by Liza North but I am willing to bet it was based on the gorgeous cover. I am a sucker fI can't remember why I decided to pick up The Weekend Guests by Liza North but I am willing to bet it was based on the gorgeous cover. I am a sucker for a solitary building on the water, and the tagline “Five old friends. A reunion to die for� sounded incredibly ominous and intriguing. I thought it started out strong, but as the book went on, I just found myself not caring at all about the characters or what was going to happen to them. I mostly just finished this one to finish it, and it probably should have been a DNF for me.
The most likely reason I finished was down to listening to the audiobook, and I did enjoy Elliot Chapman & Catrin Walker-Booth’s narration. They narrate for multiple different viewpoints, and I found myself wishing there was one narrator for each character. The Weekend Guests has some very nice atmospheric qualities and I enjoyed the Dorset setting and dual timelines. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for this character-driven story, but it also felt like something I had read before. This is the author’s sophomore novel, and I would be open to checking out whatever she writes next.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐�.5
Read this if you enjoy books that revisit old sins, focus on past trauma, and slow burn explorations of shared guilt....more
After reading The Lodge I definitely need to go back and read Kayla Olson's last novel The Reunion which has been on my TBR for AGES. I loved this booAfter reading The Lodge I definitely need to go back and read Kayla Olson's last novel The Reunion which has been on my TBR for AGES. I loved this book so much and I especially loved the depth in the storyline along with the hint of mystery. Alix was such a great FMC, and I loved the tension between her and Tyler. There aren’t any spicy scenes with is fine with me, and instead I loved the fade to black moments. The drama between Alix and her sister added something extra for me as well and I really enjoyed the family aspect of the book. Friendship was another great theme in the story and Alix’s bestie was a badass and perfect, supportive friend.
The Lodge is a great book to listen to on audio and I loved Andi Arndt, Graham Halstead & Gilli Messer as the narrators. On top of Alix’s POV we also have some great mixed media throughout and I was happy the audiobook had more than just Arndt as Alix. I think it would have been even more incredible with some added sound effects, but it was still very immersive and the perfect accompaniment for the book. I had so many emotions hit me while I was reading this and the conclusion left me with my heart full and a smile on my face. This is the perfect cozy book to curl up with in front of a fire!
Read this if you are looking for a clean romcom, an air of mystery, and an exploration of family dynamics.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I hate to say it, but I think I might be done reading Eva Jurczyk. Her debut was a three star read for me, but as always I am willing to give an authoI hate to say it, but I think I might be done reading Eva Jurczyk. Her debut was a three star read for me, but as always I am willing to give an author another shot and a three is not bad. Unfortunately, That Night in the Library just didn't do it for me. While I could see recommending this to the right person, I personally struggled with it and immediately disliked all of the characters. I didn’t care what was happening to them and just wanted to get to the end so I could figure out why the one died.
I did love the setting and how the group got locked in the rare books library, but the ritual part got a little weird for me. Jurczyk does know how to make her stories very bookish though and that’s one thing I love about her. The biggest reason I made it through this one was probably down to the audiobook, and I was glad we had Hannah Cabell as the narrator (she also narrates The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections). Cabell did a lovely job with her narration and while she couldn’t make me love the characters, she did help me make it through without skimming. Lots of action in this storyline, bodies dropping like flies, and tension so definitely pick it up if you think it sounds good!
Read this if you are looking for dark academia, unlikeable characters, and plenty of shock value!
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a complimentary eBook and advance listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
"Olive had three pet peeves: loud chewers, the word "moist," and... in the number one spot... love."
Any book that starts with 2 of my own pet peeves ("Olive had three pet peeves: loud chewers, the word "moist," and... in the number one spot... love."
Any book that starts with 2 of my own pet peeves (hello loud chewers and the word moist) is bound to be a winner, and that’s exactly what Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis was. I adored Olive and Noah, and while I have become used to instalove in this author’s books that is not what these two had at all. Instead, we revisit an old flame and get a second chance romance that was both entertaining and endearing. The story layers peel back like an onion, until we are left with the hurt and pain that becomes understanding and forgiveness. Not only of other people, but yourself as well. I loved that we got some forced proximity and only-one-bed goodness mixed in as well, and the tension and chemistry between our two MCs was off the charts.
Better Than Friends is written in third person with both Noah and Olive's viewpoints and I think it would have been weird for me to read it, but it came across really well in the audiobook. I always enjoy Andi Arndt’s narration and while it would have been nice to have a male narrator for Noah, it didn’t bother me at all that it was just Arndt. She brought the characters alive in a way only she can, and she was perfectly matched for this book. Another thing I loved was the moments that were literally laugh-out-loud funny, and there was a of couple times I almost had tears in my eyes because I was laughing so hard. Shalvis� writing always clicks with me, and this might be the first time I knowingly read a series out of order. I loved being back in Sunrise Cove (I did read the first 2 books, and this is book 7), and I immediately put the next one on my TBR.
Read this if you enjoy casts of relatable and likeable characters, books that make you laugh, and stories that will tug at your emotions.
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Even though I didn’t start reading Colleen Oakley until 2021, she is easily one of my favorite authors and I picked up Jane and Dan at the End of the Even though I didn’t start reading Colleen Oakley until 2021, she is easily one of my favorite authors and I picked up Jane and Dan at the End of the World without reading the synopsis. I was pleased to learn it was a bookish book, though a hostage situation can’t be described as nice in any form. There is a lot of tension throughout this entire novel which Oakley breaks up with a healthy dose of humor. There is quite a bit of internal monologue as we are in various people’s heads (with Jane being our main), and this ranged from funny to very enlightening for the characters. I really enjoyed the fresh look at marriage, motherhood, and family, and since I am getting closer to midlife myself, that pesky feeling of sometimes wanting something different/more from what you have.
Despite the many viewpoints, I absolutely adored the audiobook and once again Hillary Huber proves she is a talent unlike any other. She managed to capture each of the different character’s essence, and I loved her accent for one person in particular. Plus, she is a straight up delight to listen to. There are strong literary fiction vibes with a hint of mystery (more mysteriousness to be precise) and romance, so I might throw this into the domestic fiction category. I would recommend not reading the synopsis, as it does give most of the plot away, and I was glad I didn’t read it prior to starting. It was much more fun to watch the story unfold, and I loved the ending most of all. I would definitely watch this if it were made into a movie!
Read this if you are looking for a date gone horribly wrong, high-stress shenanigans, and (maybe) a slightly unlikeable FMC though I happened to love her. ...more
I didn't realize until after I read the about the author section that Melissa Larsen's debut was Shutter which is actually a book I loved! I was drawnI didn't realize until after I read the about the author section that Melissa Larsen's debut was Shutter which is actually a book I loved! I was drawn in by the cover of The Lost House and stayed for the mystery and the writing. Tension is thick throughout this entire slow burning story, and I loved that this was set in Iceland. It created a very atmospheric quality that I couldn’t help but love and I was a fan of the way the author brought the landscape to life along with the plot.
The audiobook version is a banger, and it has our talented Saskia Maarleveld at the helm. I love her narration any day, but I think she did an exceptionally good job voicing Agnes and this book as a whole. It was great to listen since the pace is on the slower side, and I would recommend going audio with this one! I don’t know if I was fully a fan of Agnes, but I loved that she was a flawed character just like us. Her hunt for the truth brought along some crazy twists and I was very satisfied with the conclusion. ...more
I have been meaning to read Elinor Lipman's Ms. Demeanor ever since it came out in 2022, but since I'm slow I haven't gotten to it yet. That doesn't mI have been meaning to read Elinor Lipman's Ms. Demeanor ever since it came out in 2022, but since I'm slow I haven't gotten to it yet. That doesn't mean I didn't jump at the chance to read Every Tom, Dick & Harry and I’m so glad I did! I didn’t know what I was missing, and I loved this bighearted romcom filled with themes of family and buried secrets. I laughed continuously throughout the book, and I couldn’t get enough of Lipman’s brand of humor. There is romance mixed in with silly antics, small town drama, and plenty of memorable moments. I loved that the story is centered around an estate sale business and the way the title came through in the book cracked me up.
This is a great book to listen to on audio and I adored Piper Goodeve as the narrator. She was so perfect as the voice of Emma and listening to her made me exceptionally happy. She perfectly captured the tone of the storyline as well as its characters and listening to her narration probably made me laugh even more. The romance is closed door with no spice, so it is perfect for all you Hallmark Christmas movie lovers out there, and while the ending felt a little rushed for my liking, I did love the way everything came together. You might not like this if you don’t enjoy things wrapped up in a neat bow, but for me it was perfect.
Read this if you are on the hunt for something memorable, unique, and goofy!
My Spice Rating: N/A; Closed Door Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐�
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
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