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freemindwriting_jelena
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17 reviews
DNF at 53%
I just couldn’t push through anymore. I was so excited after Lights Out, even pre-ordered this one and made a whole day of its release, only to end up feeling disappointed.
I get that authors, especially newer ones, want to include their values when they have the platform, and that’s totally fair. But when it’s done in such an obvious, in-your-face way—and with weak writing—it really turns me off. I don’t even mind the message, but I wish it had been delivered with more subtlety. Also, being “positive” by tearing down other groups isn’t positivity—it’s just the other side of the same toxic coin.
Maybe the plot and characters pick up later, but I honestly doubt it. The characters didn’t feel like real people to me—more like mouthpieces for virtue signaling.
That said, I actually enjoyed the flow of the writing. It was light, fun, and easy to read. The humor worked for me too, especially the scenes with Walter and the roommates—they were genuinely funny and sweet. The found family trope was really well done and gave off cozy vibes I usually love.
Unfortunately, I felt zero chemistry between Lauren and Junior. He just wasn’t appealing to me at all, and with so many sex scenes, it became hard to stay engaged.
Overall, this book definitely made me feel emotions—just not the ones I was hoping for. It’s not for me, but I can see why others might enjoy it.
I just couldn’t push through anymore. I was so excited after Lights Out, even pre-ordered this one and made a whole day of its release, only to end up feeling disappointed.
I get that authors, especially newer ones, want to include their values when they have the platform, and that’s totally fair. But when it’s done in such an obvious, in-your-face way—and with weak writing—it really turns me off. I don’t even mind the message, but I wish it had been delivered with more subtlety. Also, being “positive” by tearing down other groups isn’t positivity—it’s just the other side of the same toxic coin.
Maybe the plot and characters pick up later, but I honestly doubt it. The characters didn’t feel like real people to me—more like mouthpieces for virtue signaling.
That said, I actually enjoyed the flow of the writing. It was light, fun, and easy to read. The humor worked for me too, especially the scenes with Walter and the roommates—they were genuinely funny and sweet. The found family trope was really well done and gave off cozy vibes I usually love.
Unfortunately, I felt zero chemistry between Lauren and Junior. He just wasn’t appealing to me at all, and with so many sex scenes, it became hard to stay engaged.
Overall, this book definitely made me feel emotions—just not the ones I was hoping for. It’s not for me, but I can see why others might enjoy it.
Bad writing, infodumpy, a lot of telling, annoying FMC, sapphic overkill, "twist" obvious from chapter 2, couldn't make myself to continue.
The narrator was great and it was the only thing that kept me going, such a pleasant voice and accent. The story itself is chaotic, doesn't flow well. I miss a sentence or two and have no idea what's the author talking about. There was a lot random, unnecessary information about characters and not enough about those that are important. I just had no interest to find out what was going on. Idea and concept were interesting, but execution was just lacking.
Too complicated to listen to before bed and too boring to listen to while fully conscious, not my cup of tea.
DNF
Couldn't get past the introduction - the narrator was horrible. She enunciates last words in sentences so weirdly, I couldn't hear anything else but that. Reading in a male voice was unlistenable. She was so raspy in combination with strange enuanciation that I wanted to scream.
Couldn't get past the introduction - the narrator was horrible. She enunciates last words in sentences so weirdly, I couldn't hear anything else but that. Reading in a male voice was unlistenable. She was so raspy in combination with strange enuanciation that I wanted to scream.
DNF
I've read the whole series and had just this one left. And it waited for me and waited. For maybe 6 months. Since I'm finisher, I've tried to read it so I can have the complete series. But I just couldn't. I didn't care at all about those characters. I rolled my eyes a lot and decided life is to short to read books that annoy me.
I've read the whole series and had just this one left. And it waited for me and waited. For maybe 6 months. Since I'm finisher, I've tried to read it so I can have the complete series. But I just couldn't. I didn't care at all about those characters. I rolled my eyes a lot and decided life is to short to read books that annoy me.
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The Best New True Crime Stories: Serial Killers (True Story Crime Book, Crime Gift, and for Fans of Mindhunter)
DID NOT FINISH
DNF
Narrator was amazing, such a nice and calming voice, I kept coming back because of him. The stories are also interesting, but it seems I just don't have a stomach for true crime anymore. I barely got through the child rapist and serial killer, and concluded I don't need those kind of information in my life.
Narrator was amazing, such a nice and calming voice, I kept coming back because of him. The stories are also interesting, but it seems I just don't have a stomach for true crime anymore. I barely got through the child rapist and serial killer, and concluded I don't need those kind of information in my life.
DNF
I've listened for more than 2 hours and realized I had no idea what's happening, especially in Russian part of the story. I like how Bryann combines romance with other genres, but this action packed spy story is just not my cup of tea. And a little too much swearing for my taste.
I've listened for more than 2 hours and realized I had no idea what's happening, especially in Russian part of the story. I like how Bryann combines romance with other genres, but this action packed spy story is just not my cup of tea. And a little too much swearing for my taste.
DNF
I spent 4 hours listening to this audiobook, and I truly can’t continue any longer. Admittedly, part of the problem lies with my expectations—I was hoping for a light, romantic comedy to unwind with, but instead, I got a preachy addressing of social justice issues.
While I agree that the topics discussed in the book are important, the execution is so slow and painful. I can’t recall the last time I read about such one-dimensional characters. The "bad guys" are almost cartoonish, and the MC is self-righteous, irritating, and full of opinions on how everyone else should live their lives, yet she can't even stand up to her own mother.
I wanted to DNF the book much sooner, but I said to myself to keep an open mind, hoping that the character development might improve and reveal some complexity. Unfortunately, that's still not happening, and I simply can’t devote 11 hours of my life to a book that frustrates me this much.
I don't even want to mention the love interest, who has as much personality as a lamp in the corner of a room—the MC could have just talked to a mirror and achieved the same effect. The narrator speaks too quickly, but this is easily fixed by slowing down the speed. Otherwise, her performance is excellent, which is perhaps the only redeeming quality of this experience. And it started so good!
I spent 4 hours listening to this audiobook, and I truly can’t continue any longer. Admittedly, part of the problem lies with my expectations—I was hoping for a light, romantic comedy to unwind with, but instead, I got a preachy addressing of social justice issues.
While I agree that the topics discussed in the book are important, the execution is so slow and painful. I can’t recall the last time I read about such one-dimensional characters. The "bad guys" are almost cartoonish, and the MC is self-righteous, irritating, and full of opinions on how everyone else should live their lives, yet she can't even stand up to her own mother.
I wanted to DNF the book much sooner, but I said to myself to keep an open mind, hoping that the character development might improve and reveal some complexity. Unfortunately, that's still not happening, and I simply can’t devote 11 hours of my life to a book that frustrates me this much.
I don't even want to mention the love interest, who has as much personality as a lamp in the corner of a room—the MC could have just talked to a mirror and achieved the same effect. The narrator speaks too quickly, but this is easily fixed by slowing down the speed. Otherwise, her performance is excellent, which is perhaps the only redeeming quality of this experience. And it started so good!