Totally addictive.  PURE FUN.  

I started this nineteen-hour audiobook on a whim, and I could not stop listening!  Every free moment was spent with this book in my ears.  And now that I’m finished, I am distraught that it’s over.  HOW will I wait for book 2???  (Answer:  very impatiently.)

So, I guess you could say this book was... is... an obsession for me.  

It’s gritty and full of danger and action packed.  What really captured my attention were the blurred lines between good and evil.  The exploration of Primes and Mods created a world rife with gray areas, and the battle lines between the oppressors and resistance felt timely even as this book is set 150 years in the future.  

But honestly, it was the romance that had me full throttle addicted. I could not get enough of Wren and Cross.  

She’s a feisty female heroine that I could see notes of myself within.  (Who me? A stubborn overthinker?!)  He’s a commanding officer that was bossy and charming and thoughtful.  (The way I DROOLED over him.)  Together they were pure combustion.    The tension was off the charts and the sizzling heat kept me in a chokehold.    

I’m sure you’ve seen rumblings of this being reminiscent of a romantasy that released right about this same timeframe a few years ago.  And to a degree, it is.  But dare I say... for me, this was better.  Even without the dragons.  😱

I don’t read a lot of dystopian romance.  But when I do, this is exactly what I want it to be.  Bingeworthy, compulsive, spicy, and FUN with a hearty side of resistance.   There’s no doubt in my mind that this will be one of THE books of summer.  

🎧 I devoured this audiobook.  Narrator Amanda Dolan hit all the right notes.  Her depiction embodied the danger and tension, and she exuded emotional resonance while maintaining differing tones for each character.  I couldn’t listen to this book fast enough and hope to see Dolan back for the next installment.  

Many thanks to my friends at @prhaudio for the free #gifted copy of this book.  #partner #prhaudiopartner

Last Friday evening you would’ve found me sitting in the sun on my back porch surrounded by freshly potted flowers and chattering birds.  Simply soaking up the beauty of life.  
 
But it wasn’t the flowers or the sun or the birds that had me paused in that moment, deep in thought and full of gratitude.  

It was the fact that I had just read the last lines of Backman’s latest book, My Friends.  

Oh, the way his books nourish my heart!
 
To be clear, it took me a month to get to that point. Why?  Because I savored EACH and EVERY word.  

I let myself truly live in the moments that unfolded with those four friends on that pier so many summers ago.  And it was GLORIOUS.  
 
“Because who can make you grieve for a person you never even knew, so that it hurts this much?”   Backman, of course.  
 
These four teens—the artist, Ted, Joar, and Ali—they aren’t just richly crafted fictional characters full of depth and complexity. No...  They became my friends.  They became part of me.  
 
This book is about finding refuge and the importance of connection.  It’s about the challenges we face and the joys we find in unexpected places.  It’s a richly woven tapestry full of heart and humanity and humor.  
 
And, in Backman’s own words, “Great art is a small break from human despair.”  Yes.  Indeed, Fredrik.  This story was the greatest break and pure manna for my starving soul.  

I’m calling it now: My Friends is my BOTY. 
 
🎧 I read most of this one with my eyes (note all of those tabs!). But I couldn’t resist finishing it alongside Marin Ireland. Her narration exudes the heart and emotion of Backman’s books! 

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.  #atriapartner #partner

Rolling my eyes.  Laughing.  Shaking my head.  Laughing.  Rinse and repeat.  

 

That’s basically me throughout the entirety of this book.  You also could’ve heard me saying things like:  HOW do you get yourself into these situations? This cannot be true.  Do you have a brain?  

 

All joking aside, I became a fan of Comedian Nate Bargatze after I was introduced to him on SNL. (Seriously... the skits of him portraying Washington crossing the Delaware are some of the best of the show. Go watch them if you haven’t.)  

 

His deadpan delivery and quirky, nice guy routine easily entertains.  And in this new book, it’s much the same but with all new stories (except one that was worth repeating).  

 

This book was sarcastic and funny and heartwarming and entertaining.  Some of the stories were absurd, and yet, he managed to make them relatable and amusing.  There was no strong purpose or, truth be told, rhyme or reason to what he shared.  Just a bunch of ramblings.  And yet, it all worked.  

 

Chapters that really delivered:

👏🏻 Bowling 101—where he explains how he failed bowling at community college

👏🏻 You Changed McDonalds—where he prattles over the gall of McD’s updating their value menu

👏🏻 This Is Totally Our Year—where he lavishes love on his favorite undeserving college (you have to listen to his musings or be from the SEC to understand)

 

They say laughter is the best medicine, and I can attest that this book put a big smile on my face and left me uplifted.  

 

🎧 The audiobook is narrated by Bargatze, and it felt as though he was talking directly to me

while he reminisced over... basically any and everything.  He even added in small breaks with snippets of elevator music; in case the listener wasn’t a regular reader.  Bargatze excels at storytelling, and the cadence and tone of his delivery was well honed.  For me, this was a must listen, and I highly recommend the audiobook.  (The audiobook includes a PDF with pictures!)

Many thanks to my friends at @grandcentralpub and @hachetteaudio for the free #gifted copies of this book.  #partner

Eerie.  Unhinged.  Twisted!!

Freddie and Emily are far from the perfect couple.  She has a secret.  He has a secret.  But, after Emily’s near-death experience, they moved to the country for her to recover and, perhaps, start afresh.  Only... their new house, Larkin Lodge, has a secret too.... 

Laced with nods to Poe, Pinborough flawlessly blended psychological suspense and supernatural horror to create a compelling and disturbing storyline that I couldn’t read fast enough.  It was gritty.  It was claustrophobic.  The atmosphere was chilling, and the gothic tones amplified the immense dread within the plot.  

There was a (brief) moment where I questioned whether this book would fall prey to the “unreliable, crazy woman” storyline—which I hate.  But let me assure you without giving anything away, Pinborough did not disappoint.  Also on that note, go in blind.  This one is best enjoyed without knowing too much at the start.

And that ending... THAT ENDING!!!  Oh man.  Jaw dropping. Absolutely brilliant.  Perfectly executed.  

A deliciously sinister book about marriage and murd3r that I thoroughly enjoyed!

🎧 I devoured this audiobook!  Narrated by Audie award winner, Jamie Glover, and Helen Baxendale (Friends), the performances held me captive and amplified the darkness within the plot.  Emily’s terror.  Freddie’s shiftiness.  Each emotion reverberated with authenticity breathing life into the couple and storyline.      

Many thanks to my friends at @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copy of this book.  #partner

Witty, STEAMY, and oh so fun.

Margot is jaded.  Happily ever afters seem to elude her time and again.  And yet, as a famous romance author, she’s the queen of writing them for other people.  But when her sister forces her into a vacation that’s overwrought with romance tropes and a brawny man, it might be enough to soften her cynical heart.  

Oh Forrest.  <Sigh.> He was broody brilliance. I’ve never enjoyed a sleeping bag as much as I did in this camping scene.  🥵   I’m now in search of a candle scented “cedar and muscles” and would consider an Alaskan adventure if he was included.  

This was a romance I cheered for.  I appreciated the complexity of the situation and the layered characters with real life problems.  It felt equally heavy and sweet while also abundantly (ABUNDANTLY) spicy.  

I wasn’t sure about the inclusion of (literally) every single romance trope.  But in the end, it only added to the fun and made the love story that much more bingeworthy.  

It’s worth noting that this one did feel a little drawn out.  I’m sure the caregiver storyline will be relatable to many, but for me, it took over too much of the storyline, seemed a bit clichéd, and, at times, leaned into unhealthy territory.  (Maybe because it was 2 storylines instead of just one? I’m not sure.)

Still, this debut was a hard to put down, easy escape.  I’ll be interested to see what Lavine does next! 

🎧I went back and forth between the audio and print for this read, but more often, I found myself grabbing for the print.  The audiobook is narrated by Tim Paige and Jesse Vilinsky.  Paige’s raspy depiction of Forrest will live rent free in my head. Swoon!  But I found Vilinsky’s narration of Margot to be too breathy, especially in the intimate scenes.  

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the free gifted copies of this book.  #partner

Intense. Suspenseful. Hard to put down. 

This weekend, I drove up to Cleveland to see my mom after she had a bad fall resulting in surgery and rehab. I had hoped to avoid the extremely bad weather that was predicted, but luck wasn’t on my side... unless you count the fact that I had this book in my queue.

I started Witness 8 on audio hoping it would entertain and distract me on my drive. And BOY DID IT! 

With a gripping and fast paced storyline, I was fully engaged with the read (even amid rain I couldn’t see through 😱). The changing POV made the storyline multifaceted and kept me intrigued. But it was the twisty surprises in the plot that had me cheering and expectant of what was to come. 

I found myself in Cleveland around the halfway point, and I gave serious consideration to hunkering down in my car to finish the rest while waiting out the rain. Instead, I tucked my print copy in my raincoat and headed inside... eager to rush to the end of the book. And in between my mom’s PT, OT and nurse interruptions, I did just that. Talk about a read being exactly what was needed in the moment!

I really enjoyed that there was so much more to this mystery than simply finding out the perpetrator. None of the characters were purely good or bad. Varying motivations and perspective gave this legal thriller depth that isn’t often explored. 

I found myself totally enamored by Eddie Flynn, and I’ve already queued up the other reads in this series. (Though I hope to read them in better weather.) 

🎧The audiobook narrated by Adam Sims was perfectly intense and provided the diversion I needed. Sims exceptional depiction well portrayed the high stakes and sharp focus of the storyline. Ultimately though, I think this works best as a tandem read with audio and print. With a large cast, my print copy allowed easier tracking of the storylines and characters. 

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks @atriathrillers and @simon.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book. #partner

Saddle your horses! This western was a HOOT of a good time! 

Haidie Richardson and her younger brother headed out west to gold mining territory in search of their Pa, and their adventure was an action-packed homage to True Grit that had me kicking up my boots. 

At only 14 years old, Haidie was a force to be reckoned with! Smart, sassy, scrappy... I loved watching her outwit full grown men as she navigated territories typically dominated by males. Haddie was full of tenacity and clever earning her place along the wagon train. But it was her devotion to her brother and fervent hope in finding her father that most endeared her to me. 

“I’ve never met a man I admired as much as you. “ –Corny 

This was a vividly depicted, fast-paced tale. I enjoyed the sense of adventure alongside the looming danger. The secondary cast of characters delighted as well. From gamblers to preachers to spinsters... the whole gang added to the fun. And the ending! Perhaps a bit unlikely. Yet, I whooped in enjoyment. 

🎧Narrator Mia Hutcheson-Shaw delivers an engaging, high-energy performance that had me hooked from the start. She well depicted Haidie’s fierceness while giving each of the side characters nuance and distinction. A gold nugget of an audiobook performance!

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book. #partner

A big, goofy grin and a heart overflowing with happiness— that’s an exact description of me finishing this book.  

Last week, I was in desperate need of sunshine, both literal and figurative.  And since the weather wasn’t cooperating, I turned to another tried and true source... Katherine Center and her newest book, The Love Haters.  

Don’t take the title too seriously.  There’s nothing to hate here.  As always, Center delivers a swoon worthy romance full of satisfying sighs and laugh out loud moments while tackling some relatable heart-centered issues.  

Set in the Florida Keys, there’s plenty of summer fun to be found in this read, and no doubt it is ideal for reading by the pool or at the beach.  It’s also important to note that Hutch, our MMC, is a broody and oh-so-fit man in uniform.  Whooo! 🥵  

Center has a way of drawing me into the romance, and watching Hutch and Katie get to know one another and fall irrevocably in love gave me all the butterflies.  It was the perfect mix of sweetness and heat.  

But the most impactful part of the storyline for me was Katie’s journey of self-discovery.  As someone who still struggles with body positivity, I understood Katie’s difficulty with finding the right bathing suit or wanting to throw out the scale.  It was relatable and encouraging, especially as Katie overcame her fears and embraced her body.  

Truth be told, I didn’t love the 3rd act tension inducing narrative.  But the entirety of the storyline couldn’t be undone by that one dynamic for me.  

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the absolute BEST character in the book, a Great Dane named George Bailey.  The way he would LEAP into Katie’s arms every time he saw her.  I was IN LOVE.  

🎧Patti Murin and Katherine Center were MFEO (made for each other).  Murin perfectly embodied the full range of the storyline and breathed life into Katie.  An audiobook homerun, for sure.

Many thanks to my friends at @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted audiobook.

Dark.  Chilling.  All consuming.  

Jessa thought her night couldn’t get any worse.  So, coming home to find a runaway child being chased by a monster of a father was much more than she bargained for.  Still, she couldn’t say no to helping the boy.  But that meant they both had to go on the run.

Cassidy’s writing was engrossing.  The blend of gruesome horror with spine tingling psychological suspense immediately grabbed hold of me.  With every new scene, tension mounted, and the anticipation of what would come next made for an adrenaline-fueled race to the end.  Maybe most frightening was the horrifying sense that, in the end, “no one would be spared,” though maybe not in the way I had first imagined. 

This is a dark and consuming read full of brutality and raw terror. But it’s also an emotionally charged narrative about the ways fear can shape and control us.  This juxtaposition between the two fights—one for sheer survival and the other an introspective one against inner demons—enriched the plot and the messaging.  Because sometimes, it’s hard to decide if what’s in your head is scarier than what’s right in front of you.  

The ending!  Pure brilliance.  So creative and smart.  And listening to Cassidy’s reflections in the afterward heightened the entire experience.  Chef’s kiss.   

This was my first read by Cassidy, but I already have Nestlings and Mary queued up!   

🎧Narrator Helen Laser delivered a nuanced performance that embodied the full range of emotion within this storyline.  From intensity to dread, and from to grief and anguish... Laser amplified the horror elements while maintaining a thoughtful inner dialogue for Jessa.  

Many thanks to my friends at @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.

Swoony. Reflective. Achingly beautiful. Pure sunshine in book form. 

I was a goner for Beach Read. I absolutely adored The People We Meet on Vacation, and I gushed over Funny Story. 

And this one—Great Big Beautiful Life—oh, man! It complexly swept me off my feet and filled my heart to overflowing. 

No doubt, you’ve already seen that this is a departure from her “typical” style. Though, I’d argue that it’s a departure for the better!

It’s still a love story. It’s still a cheer worthy romance with sweltering heat. Henry’s signature wit and charm are showcased throughout. The banter had me blushing and laughing in equal measure. And the chemistry and tension were hot. 

But this book was... MORE. It was everything I’ve come to expect from EmHen and so much more. 

“It’s a love story. Like everything I write, that’s what it comes down to. That’s what matters most to me, about any interview subject: Whom do you love? What makes your heart beat? For whom would you unmake the world, and how would you build a new one?” —Great Big Beautiful Life

Henry maintained the hallmarks of her romance novels while expanding in new and impactful ways. The story within a story narrative created a sweeping saga mixing in elements of family drama and mystery. The additional storyline didn’t hinder the love story at all. Instead, it added a richness and depth that amplified the romance for me. 

And once again, Henry dazzled me and made me feel deeply. 

This read celebrates life and love in such a great big, beautiful way. I closed the last pages uplifted and satisfied with butterflies in my stomach and a great big smile on my face. 

🎧 Julia Whelan has become the voice of Emily Henry’s books for me. Her narration perfectly embodies the emotional resonance and richness of the narrative, and here, it allowed Henry’s layered storytelling to really shine. 

Many thanks to my friends at @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free #gifted copies of this book.