If you know me, you’ll know that I LOVE learning about cults and last year I started learning about MLMs aka cults for ‘huns’

IMO - 
A great resource on the language behind the cults. I think many assumed that this would be a resource on all of the facts on cults, but I like this take on it. The linguistics behind cults are really the foundation behind each group and how men and women turn into cult leaders. 

The layout that Amanda chose to share the information really worked in my opinion. Plus, her inclusion of what started her interest in cults, which was her dad being raised in Synanon (‼️), was a good hook to peak the interest for anyone that knows of that cult. 

From the background of how language is the basis behind starting a cult, to covering two of the most well known cults: Jonestown (The Peoples Temple) and Heaven's Gate, Scientology (with a personal story), to MLMs (i.e Young Living, LuLaRoe, etc.), and fitness cults. 

Overall, I recommend this read to anyone that is looking to learn more about the linguistics behind the cult. One fault I had with this was that I wish there would’ve been more about Synanon since she had a connection to that. I find that to be a cult that’s heavily based on a linguistics from its founding and it would’ve been nice to learn more. 

If you’ve ever seen these in your life…congrats you’ve either participated in an MLM cult or seen one: LuLaRoe, YoungLiving, doTerra, ItWorks, BeachBody, Tastefully Simple, Mary Kay, Monat and Arbonne (and many more). 

Documentary recommendations: 
LuLaRich
Scientology and the Aftermath 
Going Clear 
The Vow
Seduced

Podcast Recommendations:
Life After MLM
Scientology: Fair Game
Escaping NXIVM
Cults by Parcast
Sinisterhood
Downline
Sounds Like MLM but Okay

 Fun fact - a boss babe from Arbonne slid into my DMs on January 6th DURING the insurrection and asked me to buy.

My response? “You’re really going to ask that during an insurrection we’re all watching on live TV? Absolutely not”

I’ve been interested in this case since I saw it on an episode of Snapped and decided to choose this for a buddy read that I host for true crime books.

Overall, I’m disappointed by the multitude of grammatical errors in that book and that it stops before her trial with zero update.

If you’re interested in this case, just try to find the Snapped episode or a podcast episode on it instead.

My first Sally Rooney quickly became a DNF.

*Ducks to avoid rotten apples from Sally Rooney stans*

I want my time back and my battery life back in my AirPods. I didn’t survive a pandemic to read this.

It’s my first SR so I went in with zero expectations and was met with floor level plot and character development.

It became a hate read at 9% into the audiobook.

Kept listening a little bit to see if I could get into it - I couldn’t. Officially DNF at 17%. 

This will be a book for someone, but it’s clearly not up my alley. Maybe it is a book that’s much better as a physical read?

A purely character driven novel that left me zoning out and losing my spot. Let’s add in that I found myself not caring about any of the characters. The emails (the epistolary portion) gave nothing to the plot (is there actually a plot?) and I found myself zoning out even more.

A soap opera-esque novel with too much dependence on underdeveloped characters and too many emails that contributed nothing moving the book forward. 

Will I still pick up Normal People? Ehhhhh someone convince me 

I’m not entirely convinced that something actually happened in this book, but I was hooked from the start.

Mystery surrounding a tennis family set in Australia with mixed POV and dual timelines? I’m sold.

Joy just wants a grandchild from one of her four children now that she and her husband, Stan, have retired and sold their tennis business. Instead, a woman named Savannah enters their life and drama ensues after bombs are dropped at a family meal. Just a few months later, Joy goes missing on Valentine’s Day. What happened and who is responsable? 

Two children think the Dad may be responsible and the other two think he has nothing to do with it. Who is right?

The twists did sometimes catch me off guard and as soon as I was caught off guard, there would be another narrator from either the past or the ‘now’. I liked that the plot didn’t feel stale even though it didn’t cover much time. 

I enjoyed the banter surrounding the family regarding each of them and their tennis careers (or lack thereof) plus the inclusion of changing family dynamics. 

Moriarty got the gossip that happens on the tennis court spot on - and honestly I had to laugh because I could picture this exact banter at my tennis club. 

Oh, and the ending? Well that caused my jaw to drop and a “What the hell?” to leave my mouth. I even rewound my audiobook to make sure I was hearing the narrator correctly. 

Also, here are some title ideas that make more sense because apples weren’t actually mentioned that much:

Game, Set, Poor Communication

Mixed Doubles and Mixed Signals

Confusion Off the Court

Thank you NetGalley, Kira Jane Buxton, and Grand Central Publishing for a galley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't think I could fall in love with S.T and his friends anymore than I did in Hollow Kingdom, but here I am, loving this book even more than I loved Book 1.

If you enjoyed Hollow Kingdom, I highly recommend picking up Feral Creatures ASAP. I dare you not to be put under the spell of S.T and his beloved 'last MoFo' nestling as they journey from Alaska back to Washington to find S.T's murder with the help of creatures that you wouldn't expect while they also battle the changed ones. Kira once again knocked it out of the park with this clever interpretation of what happens to the animal kingdom when humans are basically erased due to a pandemic illness spread by technology screens.

With some reprises of many characters from Hollow Kingdom, I couldn't stop myself from shouting out the names of various characters I loved - I won't spoil who you'll meet again in this one. You'll have to see for yourself.

Feral Creatures will have you wondering, what does it mean to be a crow?

Tip: Don’t start reading this while in a bad mood because you may be very annoyed with the characters at first and may considering DNFing.

I had considered DNFing, but stuck with it and I’m so glad I did. This was my first Tessa Bailey and I’ll happily read more!

I also could not help but picture Alexis from Schitt’s Creek with one of the guys from Deadliest Catch and that just makes me laugh every single time 🤣