Lauren
3.5 and rounding up.
I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first, but it was still a great mix of a English manor house story and queer romance. I have found that my favorite type of romance books, are actually just regular fiction that has a compelling story with the relationship sprinkled in. This duology delivers on it.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen, I feel like you'll like these.
I would also HIGHLY recommend the audiobook. Martyn Swain was chef's kiss perfect.
I'd happily pickup a 3rd Doomsday book...perhaps featuring Emily and Barry? (Pretty please!)
***Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
2.5
I really wanted to like this, but I really struggled with Grace the entire book. I find it really infuriating when a character makes all these assumptions rather than just having a conversation with anyone and then they self sabotage and blame others. It was extra frustrating with these two because Phoebe is sooo communicative and really works with Grace to help her get more comfortable verbalizing her thoughts, feelings and needs, and while there ends up being a reason for why Grace has a hard time with it (and I'd like to mention I didn't particularly care for how that was revealed and casually tossed aside). I just really didn't enjoy being in Grace's head very much.
And I don't know if I just don't listen to enough romance (I definitely don't), but the dirty talk in this just didn't work for me, especially the use of the pet name “baby girl”....I had a big ick every time it was used.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
FYI this has all the same problems as all the other King books I've read: racism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, hyper sexualization and the infamous non-ending.
But if you are able to work through that you will find a book that really explores the experience of an American teen boy against a gripping dystopian backdrop.
I am so glad this book crossed my path. Sometime in the last 3 years I became aware of Althea and have become more and more curious about her. This book is exactly what I was looking for. A full biography of one of the most important tennis players to ever enter the sport, and yet so few people are aware of her.
She was #1 ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958, the first African American to win a Grand Slam title (the French Championships), Wimbledon and the US Nationals (precursor of the US Open). She was voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in both years. In all, she won 11 Grand Slam tournaments: five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title.. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).
Despite those incredible accomplishments Althea never received the recognition that other Tennis athletes have, nor the monetary compensation.
Read this book. Learn her story. Share it with others.
It's the bare minimum that Ms. Gibson deserves.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
As a kid, I would have LOVED reading a book like this. I remember when I first started understanding the concept of what a million and a billion meant, and reading this stirred up all those feelings again.
I read this with my 5 year old, and we had a blast counting out the zeros to each number as it got bigger. It made a very complicated concept a lot more understandable and the factoids dispersed throughout were a great way to visualize the sheer enormity of these numbers.
This is the kind of gem I love to find in self published children's books: an easy to read story, sweet illustrations and as a bonus there is also supplemental resources available on the website.
I would recommend this book for kids in the 7-10 range, but younger kids will also learn and enjoy the story as well.
When we finished, I asked my kiddo their thoughts on the book:
“I liked that it helped me understand math better. It was fun learning lots of new facts about the planet and the things that live on it. I think other people should read this book because it's a fun way to learn big numbers, especially if you're interested in space.
***Thank you to Joey Benun for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
3.5 and rounding up.
This read like a fiction book with some romance sprinkled in, which totally worked for me. This walked a nice balance of character development, intriguing sub plot line, and an insightful exploration of personal growth. Since this was sold to me as a romance, I will say, the love scenes didn't really hit the mark for me, but as a couple, I really like Glory and Parkie. I really loved diving into the art/auction world against the backdrop of unraveling the mystery of Lucille's life in Harlem over many decades.
Elle Cleviden really brought all the skills to this narration. Multiple accents, and personalities. Many props to her. I look forward to hearing more.
***Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books, for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
3.5 and rounding up. Lots of twists and turns. It was definitely one of those books that kept me wondering if I had figured out all the reveals up until the end. If you like a slow burn with multiple POVs, flashbacks, unreliable narrators and family thrillers this is the book for you.
This is the second book narrated by Sarah Durham that I've listened to this year, and she did another excellent job especially with the different POVs.
***Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.
2.5 I would have enjoyed this a lot more if it wasn't for the rampant misogyny that the author felt was needed in order to illustrate what kind of person Sharon Nelson is. And yes, I recognize that much of the book features language used from people who were interviewed back in the 90s, which while awful to listen to I can understand was more acceptable back then, but as an author he didn't remain objective and continued to drive that narrative home.
What a missed opportunity to explore the reason Sharon became the person she is. There was a small portion of the book dedicated to abuse she experienced growing up, but no further inspection of the lasting effects of that trauma or the narcissistic, manipulative tactics she displayed time and time again. No, instead we get page after page of slut-shaming diatribes both by those interviewed and story narrative from the author.
Deeply disappointed at the writing because it certainly had the potential to be a fascinating true crime novel about the impacts that a strict religious upbringing, physical abuse, and emotional abandonment, had on Sharon to create the manipulative personality that impacted every person she ever came in contact with.
***Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.
3.5 Solid thriller.
I feel like if you aren't super familiar with the genre this will absolutely keep you on your toes and for the seasoned reader you will enjoying working out the web of mystery.
Don't really want to go too deep into plot points, but I appreciated the exploration of the different relationships and the reasons that the characters make the choices they do.
Great audio narration from Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine.
***Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with the Audiobook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.
This is a hard no from me.
I really liked Jane and the writing was fine, and anything that didn't involved the romance was easily a *** read, but Rochester is a toxic, manipulative, gaslighting prick.
I don't care that he sorta, kinda stops being a complete dick after he loses everything. He's a raging jealous creep even then.
The way psychosis is described in this book is disgusting and offensive. A complete dehumanizing of the person. For instance using the following to describe someone “beastly”, “savage”, “snarling”, “standing up on their hind legs”. WTF.
I really, really don't get why everyone stans this book so hard. From gross classism to unbridled misogyny to straight up abuse. Yuck. No.
I think if you LOVED the newest film adaptation you will love this because it is essentially stills from the film that have been recreated. You would probably rate this 4 or 5 stars.
For me, it wasn't my favorite, since I've only read the book and while it's a pretty accurate adaptation, I don't really like the feeling of looking at images of the movie. At the end of this, there was a sketch an Paul that looks more illustrated, and I think I would have preferred an entire book in that style more.
This is the 2nd book I've gotten that based on an film adaptation and I just don't think they are the right fit for me. But that's not the fault of the book or the art. It's just a me thing.
***Thank you to NetGalley and Legendary Comics for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an unbiased review.
Best suited to a younger audience, but a great adaptation just getting into Sherlock. The art style is really cool and I can't recall seeing it used in another graphic novel I've read.
If you have a young reader (10-14) who enjoys mysteries, this is a great one to pickup.
***Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for providing me with an eBook in exchange for an unbiased review.
3.5
This is the story of old friends who find themselves on a roadtrip that none of them really want to be on. They run into a handful of unexpected obstacles and are managing their feelings towards each other and how their lives haven't turned out quite how they would have hoped.
I enjoyed the over the top vibe of the story and seeing the reveals of the characters backstories and where the narrative takes them.
***Thank you to Netgalley and IDW Publishing/Top Shelf Productions for providing me with a e-book ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
“People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster.”
James Baldwin always leaves me thinking about the words he strings together. If you haven't read anyone of his work before, please, please take this as a sign to start.
