emmreadsbooks's Reviews (1.28k)

I thought I was going to wholly adore this book, I mean look at the premise! - Girl goes to California to work on her AI app at a school full of fellow nerds. But there were SO many signs that Xia was overlooking when it came to ObjectPermanence and her company. She gets caught up in the glitz and glamour of the Silicon Valley and I can't blame her for that, she's 16. But god did I just want her to open her eyes to what was happening! But I was still so invested in the story, so I gotta give credit where credit is due.

*Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*

This is the perfect academic thriller, mixing One of Us is Lying and They Wish They Were Us into a fun Ivy League themed book. I literally blinked and found myself a third of the way through, it read so fast. There were some parts where it began to drag, and more than a few times I found myself questioning the accuracy of some of the antics. Like how does being a member of Girls who Code make you an expert hacker? But despite that, it was more than just a guilty pleasure book for me so I'll call it a win.

This is an amazing middle grade book with a wider appeal to young adult and adult readers alike. I listened to the audiobook and was astounded by how intricate the worldbuilding was and how it shied away from your typical tropes. We’ve got magicians, weredragons, and talking elevators y’all! Amari is such a great protagonist as she learns to not compare herself to others and to own her truth. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

This was a weird one for sure, but a great choice for someone just starting out with audiobooks. The production value is immense and it clocks in at just under 3 hours. We've got the intrigue of a world without death mixed with the thrills of a missing persons case. I did find it slightly predictable, but it was so short that I didn't really mind. Overall a great intro for me when it came to Audible.

It took me 5 days, but I finally DID it y'all! And let me just start by saying that the name is truly fitting. Jade Legacy goes so much further than the previous 2 books and truly establishes the series as a saga. We continue following Shae, Hilo, and Anden but also get to know Niko, Ru, and Jaya better as more time skips are incorporated. As long as the book may be, there's absolutely nothing that I would cut. It remains one of the most intricately plotted fantasy series that I've ever read, and this one is arguably more intricate than its predecessors. While this book is not for the weak of heart (or ARMS, so heavy!), it's a truly satisfying conclusion.

*Thank you to Orbit Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

I could not put this book down. Like the most unputdownable of unputdownable books, even more than the first one! The sequel keeps all of the feels of the first book, while delving further into the unsavory elements. The mob and murder elements were my favorite parts of Finlay Donovan is Killing It, so I was overjoyed to see them here. This book is the best kind of bonkers that will have you laughing and gasping the whole way through. Add on the classic Cosimano cliffhanger at the end, and I'm already on the hook for book 3.

*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

In the beginning, I wasn't sure about this book. It seemed like a predictable story about entitled teens with insignificant problems. I've never been happier to be wrong. Penny actually LEARNS from her mistakes, eventually corrects them, and grows as a person. Not to mention the hilarity of fake dating with 2 polar opposite personalities. I found myself swooning at Kai and cheering for Penny by the end, plus I'm a sucker for anything to do with Disney. This book is great for someone in search of a sweet YA romance with a side of comedy.

*Thank you to Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*

This book was really fun! I'm a sucker for a good pun, especially when it's a craft beer name. As 2021 goes on, I find myself leaning more towards cozy mysteries that focus on neighborhoods. Here it was Williamsburg and the employees of Untapped Books & Cafe, each interesting enough on their own. Odessa is struggling with her identity as she moves to New York from Louisiana, something I really identify with right now. She just doesn't quit and I love that relentlessness. The cast of characters was fun too, though this mystery seemed a little underdeveloped. I am SO SO excited to read the next one though!

....What? I'm so confused.

Megan Abbott is a must-read for me because she's able to delve into dark psyches so well. No topic is too taboo for her, and that's definitely true in The Turnout. The tension in this book is tauter than ever as we follow the Durant family's fall from grace. Despite her willingness to write about dark themes, I didn't feel as though there was enough tenderness with it. It felt as though the grief of the abused was used merely as a plot element. But that being said, I just couldn't put this audiobook down.

*Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review*

This book is absolutely devastating. I loved the story of Patroclus and Achilles as they grew closer, then met their respective untimely demises. The audiobook for this is phenomenal, whether it's the glorious accent of the narrator or the voices that he did for each character. As a warning, the Trojan War is dark - gory and full of the horrors of combat. Even though I knew the fates of the characters, I kept hoping that it would end differently, which is a feat of Madeline Miller's immersive writing. Overall a gorgeous historical fiction book with enough fantasy elements tied in to keep me engaged.