This was overall an okay adventure. Minnie drives a mobile library with her new cat Eddie. I was drawn to this book, predictably, because of the cat and the desire to read a cozy mystery.

The pace was really slow. I didn't really mind this because I was listening to the audiobook as I often did other things. The book is digestible this way but I did miss some details as I went. This story spends a lot of time meandering around daily life of Minnie who worries about the library and the murder and her own life most of the time. I would have preferred a more condensed, edited read. This book could have been shorter with a more focused lens for me to enjoy it more. The narrative voice was kind of frustrating as she'd either say something totally unrelated or try to crack a joke that would sometimes land with a brief exhale from my nose.

I did laugh at "You can't trust someone named Kyle that chooses to go by Larry"

I was surprised to see that there 10 or 11 more in the series??? And they are all about this length??? I'm not sure I was sold to continue in the series. Would love a shorter, cozier mystery.

PS the audiobook narrator was great! Her cat MURRS were cute and funny.

Cute!!!!

I was recommended this book by my coworker after seeing around the internet. Hefty read! With two more 😱 

Like @bojangles I was surprised that this alien invasion story does not even see alien invasion in the first book. The political drama was engaging to read most of the time though could drag on at points. I wonder the motivations and reasoning of welcoming the aliens to invade. Replacing one regime for another? Idk man. Curious to see how they deal with the now 400 year time span (at this point I’ve begun the sequel and I see we will span those years so strap in babes). 

I thought the chapters in the VR game were really fun, and I enjoyed reading how the characters figured out the THREE BODY PROBLEM 🤪🤪

Another BANGER. This was so cozy and heartfelt and fun. I love the whimsy that the author takes with the magical realism aspects, allowing them to just be without excessive explanation, especially with such a great cast of characters that shine. 

A quick read too as I’ve been slogged with The Dark Forest!

The change in location took me a second to get used to but i enjoyed this read! I’m set to finish the series before the end of the year. Awaiting the 4th at the library. 

I enjoy Kawaguchi’s writing because it’s an easy read. The stories are heartfelt and impactful, more so in the earlier two books but still here. However, I draw issue with how certain details were almost unnecessarily left vague. Why did a character’s sister die of some disease that everyone just “forgot the name of”? The narrative voice is omniscient, no? The sister’s whole story begins because of her sister’s death so just seems weird to dismiss any detail.

Making up for the lackluster final battle in the last volume

I’ve been curious about non-monogamy and wanting to explore it for myself so this book felt like a sense but approachable intro into more practically poly relationships work. It took a while to get to it and then it was centered mostly around couples finding their way into nm? 

As an audiobook, some of the denser parts were harder to take in. I’d love to reflect more on the questions at the ends of the chapters. Some near the end were really interesting. I have a hold for the physical copy at the library so i can note questions for later.  

I enjoyed this but wasn’t wowed. I picked it up on a whim at the library, having heard of the story but knowing no details.

I found the narrator voice to be irritating at times. Miles rambled and maybe that is more accurate to what a person would think in the situation, but for what reason do we need to be accurate or realistic? An example, miles would explain at length a feeling or a memory only to tell us, what he feels is nothing like that. Then why include this? The rambles felt unnecessary as they didn’t build the plot or his character very much. 

The women have no proper role to play in this story. You could remove Becky and it would be pretty much the same which is a shame. Becky was quintessential helpless dame in need of rescue which is boring. 

The author did an alright job creating tension and intrigue but not enough to my liking. 

I wasn’t hooked and really just wanted the sex bc I’m impatient. It’s written well and the mystery is fun but I’m horny and want to read more sex