Member Reviews
April C, Reviewer
YA AUDIOBOOKS PART 2
JULY 15, 2019 LEAVE A COMMENT
I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
YA audiobooks part 2Imprison the Sky by A.C. Gaughen
Also by this author: Scarlet, Lady Thief, Reign the Earth
Series: The Elementae #2
Also in this series: Reign the Earth
Narrator: Maya Saroya
Length: 12 Hours 49 Minutes
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on January 22, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Young Adult, Fantasy & Magic
Pages: 320
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781681191157
Goodreads
four-stars
"[A] fantasy romance in the vein of books by Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh." - School Library Journal on Reign the Earth
The sweeping Elementae series continues with a heroine so powerful she can command the sky . . .
Stolen from her family as a child, Aspasia has clawed her way up the ranks of Cyrus's black market empire to captain her own trading vessel--and she risks it all every time she uses her powerful magic to free as many women, children, and Elementae from slavery as she can.
But Cyrus is close to uncovering her secrets--not only that Aspasia is a wind Elementa with the ability to sail her ship through the sky, but that she is also searching for her lost family. And if Aspasia can't find her younger siblings before Cyrus does, she will never be able to break free.
Armed with her loyal crew full of Elementae and a new recruit who controls an intriguing power, Aspasia finds herself in the center of a brewing war that spans every inch of the ocean, and her power alone may not be enough to save her friends, family, and freedom.
WHAT DID I THINK OF IMPRISON THE SKY BY AC GAUGHEN?
Imprison The Sky by AC Gaughen takes readers right to the seas among other places in the world of the Elementae. This is the kind of book that I think could standalone. However, you’ll enjoy your time with it so much more if you read Reign The Earth first. This book mostly features a new cast of characters. We have Asp (short for Aspasia) who is the new lead character instead of continuing with Shalia.
Asp captains a ship. She’s sort of under the employ of a Slaver named Cyrus. Only, Asp subverts her “job” by freeing women, children, and Elementae. Her ship is crewed by those that she has freed (they have a choice in this job, by the way). So, anyways, Asp is on a mission to find her missing siblings. She hopes to find them before Cyrus. Meanwhile, she’s crossed paths with this guy who has an Elementae power that is completely new to her. Oh, and Asp has an Elementae power that helps her to control the sky.
The plotting behind this book is legitimate. I think it moves quickly. I found myself genuinely caring about the characters too – especially Asp and Kairos. However, I would say I did not retain 100% of what I had listened to.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
For some reason, this audiobook did not entirely gel with me. It just was not as good as Reign The Earth on audiobook merits. The narration felt slow and I did tune in and out. Even sped up to 2x, I still kind of felt like it was slow. The audiobook is narrated by Maya Saroya who was new to me as a narrator. Maybe it was that I was not used to her voice. I think at this point I am going to try to read Imprison The Sky via physical or ebook in the future just to try and retain more information.
I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Get Even by Gretchen McNeil
Series: Don't Get Mad #1
Narrator: Tavia Gilbert
Length: 9 Hours 55 Minutes
Published by Harper Collins on September 16, 2014
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Social Themes, Death & Dying, Friendship
Pages: 400
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780062260864
Goodreads
three-stars
The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil’s witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process.
Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common—at least that’s what they’d like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They’re all members of Don’t Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school’s bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.
When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked “DGM” card in his hands, the girls realize that they’re not as anonymous as they thought—and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to lose.
WHAT DID I THINK OF GET EVEN BY GRETCHEN MCNEIL?
Get Even by Gretchen McNeil really solidifies just how much I enjoy McNeil’s books. I mean are they my absolute favorite ever, no. However, I know that I can read her books and get a thrill out of them. I will always associate her books as YA thrillers (or horror for a few). So, this audiobook was 100% what I had expected and hoped for.
Get Even is a story of revenge. It’s about this group of four girls who go to a private school and right wrongs. The girls are not at all in the same social circle and you would not expect them to be friends. That works perfectly for their revenge group called Don’t Get Mad, as it is like a cell where no one is going to associate them with each other. And so, they do small things to get revenge on bullies and school administrators. It is all well and fine until one of their targets ends up dead with a DGM card. This means someone has figured what DGM is and well is using their name for evil. Someone is going to get caught and the stakes are high.
So, it’s been a year and a half since I listened to this book, Get Even. Here’s what I can say — I very much enjoy revenge stories. I also like YA thrillers as it turns out. So, for me, this book worked very well. I think that people who enjoy revenge books will enjoy this one, plus there’s a pretty good sequel to check out, which I ended up listening to immediately next and also enjoying.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Get Even is narrated by Tavia Gilbert. It’s nine hours and fifty five minutes long. I listened to this initially via Hoopla, and can’t guarantee it is still on there (especially if your library went for the plan with no Harper audios like mine did). Gilbert does an admirable job bringing McNeil’s story to life. I remember not feeling bored and having a wandering mind while reading. I’d definitely recommend if you want a thrilling listen.
I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
YA audiobooks part 2The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles) by Amy Spalding
Also by this author: The Reece Malcolm List, , Kissing Ted Callahan (and Other Guys), Ink is Thicker Than Water
Narrator: Cassandra Morris
Length: 6 Hours 30 Minutes
Published by Simon and Schuster on April 3, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, LGBT, Social Themes, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Fashion & Beauty, Humorous
Pages: 284
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781510727670
Goodreads
four-stars
Seventeen, fashion-obsessed, and gay, Abby Ives has always been content playing the sidekick in other people’s lives. While her friends and sister have plunged headfirst into the world of dating and romances, Abby’s been happy to focus on her plus-size style blog and her dreams of taking the fashion industry by storm. When she lands a great internship at her favorite boutique, she’s thrilled to take the first step toward her dream career. Then she falls for her fellow intern, Jordi Perez. Hard. And now she’s competing against the girl she’s kissing to win the coveted paid job at the end of the internship.
But really, nothing this summer is going as planned. She also unwittingly becomes friends with Jax, a lacrosseplaying bro-type who wants her help finding the best burger in Los Angeles, and she’s struggling to prove to her mother—the city’s celebrity health nut—that she’s perfectly content with who she is.
Just as Abby starts to feel like she’s no longer the sidekick in her own life, Jordi’s photography surprisingly puts her in the spotlight. Instead of feeling like she’s landed a starring role, Abby feels betrayed. Can Abby find a way to reconcile her positive yet private sense of self with the image others have of her?
WHAT DID I THINK OF THE SUMMER OF JORDI PEREZ (AND THE BEST BURGER IN LOS ANGELES)?
Basically any book written by Amy Spalding is A-Okay in my estimation. The Summer Of Jordi Perez (And The Best Burger In Los Angeles) is the second Amy Spalding book I’ve read this year. It’s different from her other books in that the main character is a lesbian (which is great). Abby is a character who is easy to care about and root for. She’s really into fashion and runs her own blog for plus size fashion. This summer she is working an internship that she hopes to turn into a job. However, she’s competing with another girl for that job, Jordi Perez.
Yet, Jordi is really cool with a little bit of a reputation. Anyways, Abby ends up crushing on Jordi. Meanwhile, she has this friend that she’s going around rating burgers with to find the best burger in LA. What results is a fun story of summer and first love. The chemistry between Abby and Jordi is excellent. The pace is quite quick too. On the whole, this is the kind of book that’s great for your beach bag.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of The Summer Of Jordi Perez (And The Best Burger In Los Angeles) is narrated by Cassandra Morris. It is six hours and thirty minutes long. Talk about a FAST listen. Of course, I listened via Hoopla and if your library has the paired down version of Hoopla, this one is still on there. It’s worth a Hoopla borrow. I think Morris’s narration skews a little young, but on the whole it does work for this book. I’d recommend if you want to try an audiobook but do not want to commit for a long time.
The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg
Published by Scholastic Inc. on February 26, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, LGBT
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9781338215526
Goodreads
* "Konigsberg demonstrates once again why he is one of the major voices in LGBTQ literature." -- Booklist, starred review
Max: Chill. Sports. Video games. Gay and not a big deal, not to him, not to his mom, not to his buddies. And a secret: An encounter with an older kid that makes it hard to breathe, one that he doesn't want to think about, ever.
Jordan: The opposite of chill. Poetry. His "wives" and the Chandler Mall. Never been kissed and searching for Mr. Right, who probably won't like him anyway. And a secret: A spiraling out of control mother, and the knowledge that he's the only one who can keep the family from falling apart.
Throw in a rickety, 1980s-era food truck called Coq Au Vinny. Add in prickly pears, cloud eggs, and a murky idea of what's considered locally sourced and organic. Place it all in Mesa, Arizona, in June, where the temp regularly hits 114. And top it off with a touch of undeniable chemistry between utter opposites.
Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they're willing to risk -- to get the thing they want the most.
WHAT DID I THINK OF THE MUSIC OF WHAT HAPPENS BY BILL KONIGSBERG?
I genuinely think that The Music Of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED. This book was incredible. It is wild to me that I have not seen more people talking about it. Readers who liked Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe would probably enjoy this book. But beyond the comparison, I think the dual narrators were an excellent choice. This book is all about vulnerability and love and difficult situations.
The Music Of What Happens is about Max and Jordan. Max is essentially a dudebro who happens to be gay, which totally isn’t a big deal for him. He lives with his mother while his father lives elsewhere because his parents are divorced. Max is on the baseball team and has a pretty core group of guy friends. Jordan also lives with his mother as his father died. Jordan’s best friends are two girls that he was in a play or musical with, that he refers to as his wives. Anyways, Jordan’s dad had bought a food truck, and so because his mom is so far behind on the mortgage, they decide to take the food truck on the road again. Max ends up applying to work at and is hired on the food truck. From there, Max and Jordan really get to know each other and develop a friendship possibly into something more.
I know I am being vague. However, this book really is just genuinely excellent. I am very much a character driven reader (as long as the plot also back it up — I can’t do slow or boring). Personally, The Music Of What Happens was satisfying on that front. It details these traumas that Jordan and Max have been through along with addressing toxic masculinity among other things. And well, there’s some hope and learning and growth. Just believe you me, when I say you should pick this quiet book up, I mean it with all my heart.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
I keep going on about this book and excellence. I will continue that by saying the audiobook is one I highly recommend. Hoopla has The Music Of What Happens via audio, and there’s a possibility you can get it on Overdrive or via Audible. The audiobook has two narrators – Anthony Ray Perez and Joel Froomkin. Perez narrates the chapters from Max’s point of view and Froomkin narrates the chapters from Jordan’s point of view. Both really inhabit their characters and I think are a key piece to why I loved this book so much. FYI, the audiobook is 9 hours and 17 minutes long, I listened to it sped up and completely do not hesitate to recommend this via audio.
I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
There's Something about Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Also by this author: From Twinkle, with Love
Narrator: Vikas Adam, Soneela Nankani
Length: 11 Hours 36 Minutes
Published by Simon and Schuster on May 14, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy, People & Places, United States, Asian American, Family
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook, ARC
Source: Library, Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9781534416802
Goodreads
five-stars
“Adorable, joyous.” —BuzzFeed
“I’m head-over-heels for this charming, funny, romantic, life-affirming book.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Leah on the Offbeat
The irresistible companion novel to the New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi, which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish, and a confident, self-proclaimed fat athlete named Sweetie as they both discover what love means to them.
Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.
The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?
Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.
Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.
Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?
WHAT DID I THINK OF THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE BY SANDHYA MENON?
At this point in my life I am basically obsessed with the books by Sandhya Menon. There’s Something About Sweetie is the third book I’ve read by Menon and oh my goodness. THEY KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. It almost isn’t fair, because other contemporary YA books will be compared and these books are a hard act to follow. Can I just say that I love that teens of color are getting fun contemporary books that hopefully can act as mirrors for them? I know YA still has such a long way to go, but compared to the early 2000s when all there was out there was Born Confused, what a time to be alive and a reader.
So, if you haven’t read When Dimple Met Rishi, you will be at a tiny bit of a disadvantage going into this book. You see, There’s Something About Sweetie stars Rishi’s brother Ashish as the love interest and there’s a brief appearance of both Rishi and Dimple. FYI I love seeing what cherished characters are up to in future books. This book is about Sweetie who is a track star who happens to be fat. Sweetie is okay with it, but her mother is not. Anyways, she ends up meeting Ashish’s mom who then is like oh Sweetie is so nice, let me set her up with Ashish. Only Sweetie’s mom is all, NO. But somehow there ends up being this dating contract and it’s super adorable.
I love these books. I love that the drama is low stakes. What Menon does so well is characterization. By the end I was so thrilled and happy for Sweetie and Ashish. Also, they have really excellent friend groups too which helped with my enjoyment of this book. Readers in need of a happy book should ABSOLUTELY pick up There’s Something About Sweetie.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
This is the first book of Menon’s that I listened to via audio and I have no regrets. Turns out her stories are excellent no matter what for them they take. The audiobook of There’s Something About Sweetie is 11 Hours 36 Minutes long. It has dual narration with Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam. Nankani is an amazing narrator and I will be genuinely thrilled no matter what audiobook I listen to with her at the narration helm. Adam is alright. On the whole, a decent audiobook and one I’d say to get your hands on.
Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman
Also by this author: Shadow Scale
Published by Random House Children's Books on February 27, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Historical, Medieval
Pages: 544
ISBN: 9781101931301
Goodreads
Award-winning Rachel Hartman's newest YA is a tour de force and an exquisite fantasy for the #metoo movement.
"Tess of the Road is astonishing and perfect. It's the most compassionate book I've read since George Eliot's Middlemarch." --NPR
In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is. . . different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. What she's done is so disgraceful, she can't even allow herself to think of it. Unfortunately, the past cannot be ignored. So Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery.
But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something. What that something is, she doesn't know. Tess just knows that the open road is a map to somewhere else--a life where she might belong.
Returning to the spellbinding world of the Southlands she created in the award-winning, New York Times bestselling novel Seraphina, Rachel Hartman explores self-reliance and redemption in this wholly original fantasy.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR * BOSTON GLOBE * The Chicago Public Library * KIRKUS REVIEWS
Four starred reviews!
"The world building is gorgeous, the creatures are vivid and Hartman is a masterful storyteller. Pick up this novel, and savor every page." --Paste Magazine
WHAT DID I THINK OF TESS OF THE ROAD BY RACHEL HARTMAN?
I am so glad that I did not immediately read Tess Of The Road by Rachel Hartman when I was approved for it. You see, that was right around the time that my son was under one years old and there’s no way I would have been able to make it through this book. Also, Hartman’s books are so special that I want to be sure that I am reading them at exactly the right time. I loved Seraphina and Shadow Scale, so it makes sense that I would want to love Tess Of The Road. Friends, I absolutely loved this book.
Tess Of The Road is all about Seraphina’s sister, Tess. Tess is one of those girls who is prickly around the edges and she genuinely believes she’s bad and not good enough. However, we see that she’s been through some real trauma. So, this is a book about hitting the road and healing. It’s a book that says your trauma is a part of you, but it does not define you.
I’ll be completely frank with you all and say there was a part where I had to re-read what happened and was like about to cry but then realized I am in the office and this is not the greatest environment for that. Straight up, I will say that there’s infant death in this book and as a part of a young child, that was so hard to read and had me feeling some things. However, if you can handle that, this book, while slow is excellent and has a true character development payoff.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Tess Of The Road is narrated by Katharine McEwan. It is 16 hours and 15 minutes long. I’ll be honest, that is a LONG audiobook, at least for me these days. Yet, McEwan does a wonderful job moving the story along and with pronouncing the dragon words. I don’t entirely hesitate to recommend this one via audio – except that if you don’t have the attention span. In that case, pick up the physical book. This is one superb story and just, really great if you’re here for character development, which I, as a reader, am on board for.
YA audiobooks part 2Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Also by this author: Linger, The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, The Raven King (The Raven Cycle, Book 4)
Published by Scholastic UK on July 3, 2014
Genres: Young Adult, General
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781407145747
Goodreads
SINNER is the book that every Maggie Stiefvater and paranormal romance fan has been waiting for! SINNER is a companion book to the #1 bestselling SHIVER, LINGER and FOREVER trilogy. You thought it ended with FOREVER, but there's another story to tell - the one of Cole and Isabel... and this time they're in LA. There will be wolves, and there will be yearning. But most importantly there will be love. And no one does love like Maggie.
WHAT DID I THINK OF SINNER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER?
So, Sinner is basically a spin off from the Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater. It’s the story of Cole St. Clair who basically is this rock star. It also is the story of Isabel Culpepper. Instead of being set in Mercy Falls, it is set in LA. Cole’s about to be on TV. Isabel is living there with her family. The two had previously ended not on a great note, and so Cole is there to get Isabel back. Meanwhile, he’s also dealing with the whole shape shifting into a wolf thing and the fall out of Isabel’s brother dying.
You might be wondering if you have to have read the three Mercy Falls books (Shiver, Linger, Forever) to understand and enjoy this book. My answer is no, probably not. I say that because I have not read Forever yet. However, I found myself really able to follow along. Ultimately, I rooted for both Isabel and Cole. I found Cole’s story to be quite sad. However, there’s a true redemption arc. And true to Stiefvater form, it is beautifully written. I’d certainly recommend especially if you’re the sort who feels you must read everything Stiefvater has ever written (guilty as charged).
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
I listened to Sinner via the Hoopla app at my library. The cool thing is that the audiobook has two narrators – Emma Galvin and Dan Bittner. I LOVED Galvin’s narration as always. As for Bittner, normally I can take or leave, however, his narration in Sinner was fantastic. I’d definitely say give this one a listen. The audiobook is 9 hours and 24 minutes but goes by quickly and is so easy to follow and not get confused on. Plus listening gave me a real appreciation for Stiefvater’s writing style.
YA audiobooks part 2Again, but Better by Christine Riccio
Published by St. Martin's Press on May 7, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes, Friendship, Romance, Contemporary, Girls & Women
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9781250299277
Goodreads
**INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER**From one of the most followed booktubers today, comes Again, but Better, a story about second chances, discovering yourself, and being brave enough to try again.
Shane has been doing college all wrong. Pre-med, stellar grades, and happy parents...sounds ideal -- but Shane's made zero friends, goes home every weekend, and romance...what’s that?
Her life has been dorm, dining hall, class, repeat. Time's a ticking, and she needs a change -- there's nothing like moving to a new country to really mix things up. Shane signs up for a semester abroad in London. She's going to right all her college mistakes: make friends, pursue boys, and find adventure!
Easier said than done. She is soon faced with the complicated realities of living outside her bubble, and when self-doubt sneaks in, her new life starts to fall apart.
Shane comes to find that, with the right amount of courage and determination one can conquer anything. Throw in some fate and a touch of magic - the possibilities are endless.
WHAT DID I THINK OF AGAIN, BUT BETTER?
I really genuinely came into Again, But Better by Christine Riccio without any preconceived notions. It is a book that I really, really wanted to like. Alas, I am just incompatible with this book. Possibly it is an age and life experience thing, but after listening to this, I just really did not care for it. That’s not to diminish people who loved Again, But Better. Props to those people. Twelve year old me probably would have loved it. But I am not at all the target audience and I don’t think this was one of those books that transcends all that.
Again, But Better is about this girl named Shane Primaveri (I kept calling her Primavera as in pasta primavera in my head) who goes on study abroad in London for a writing program instead of pre-med and meets a boy. The boy is Pilot Penn, only, he has a girlfriend. So, you’d think Anna And The French Kiss vibes. Not quite. Anyways, there’s a little bit of a twist. But yeah, the book is set in 2011, but then goes to 2017, and then back to 2011. For a college student, Shane is really immature. Like, there’s quirky and then there’s socially awkward. Not that there’s anything wrong with not being socially graceful. Just, personally, I am a little old for that. Anyways, she’s going to a college that is $50k per year which I remember clearly from the audiobook and her parents get mad at her for lying and wasting their money.
How do you know you are OLD? Relating to the parents who are kind of the bad guys in a YA book. Oh my god, if I was spending $50k per year on my kid’s education, yes, I would want them to be in a field of study that has gainful employment prospects so that they are not living in my house forever. I would be pissed if I thought my hard earned money was going toward a medical career when actually my child is screwing around in Europe taking a writing class. And ok, I can empathize and say yes, it sucks to be in a major you hate. If that’s the case, go to a cheaper state school, major in what you want, and pay for your education yourself, not on mom and dad’s dime. Again, maybe this all just hits me because of that level of selfishness and privilege.
Beyond that, I just found all the outfit descriptions laughable. I thought it was funny how this girl had to wait until Pilot went to bed to take her make up off and then get up super early to put it on before he got up. And then when she loses her purse, instead of leaving immediately to go to the restaurant where she thinks she lost it, SHE STOPS TO DO HER MAKEUP. Like, talk about no common sense and weird priorities. And yes, there’s like a million and one pop culture references and it is just TOO much. It just felt like it was trying way, way too hard. I think there was potential with this book, but honestly, if it was tightened up and all that junk edited out, it probably would have been at least 3.5 or 4 stars, but as it stands, it just felt so amateur.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
One redeeming light with my experience reading Again, But Better was the audiobook. It was VERY well narrated. Brittany Pressley is the narrator and she’s superb with her voicing of Shane, Pilot and side character Babe. Everyone has a weird name in this book. The audiobook somewhat goes by quick when you listen at 2x speed. It’s 12 hours without being sped up. And the acknowledgements are read by Riccio. On the whole, if you are insistent about reading this, get the audiobook, Pressley’s narration makes it seem less grating.
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Field Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith
Also by this author: The Geography Of You And Me, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, Windfall
Narrator: Anthony Mark Barrow, Karissa Vacker
Length: 8 Hours 23 Minutes
Published by Random House Children's Books on March 5, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Social Themes, Emotions & Feelings, Travel & Transportation
Pages: 288
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
ISBN: 9780399559426
Goodreads
five-stars
"Utterly romantic." --Jenny Han, NYT bestselling author of To All the Boys I've Loved BeforeThe bestselling author of Windfall and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight returns with a meet-cute romance about Hugo and Mae, two teens who are thrown together on a cross-country train trip that will teach them about love, each other, and the futures they can build for themselves.
It's the perfect idea for a romantic week together: traveling across America by train.
But then Hugo's girlfriend dumps him. Her parting gift: the tickets for their long-planned last-hurrah-before-uni trip. Only, it's been booked under her name. Nontransferable, no exceptions.
Mae is still reeling from being rejected from USC's film school. When she stumbles across Hugo's ad for a replacement Margaret Campbell (her full name!), she's certain it's exactly the adventure she needs to shake off her disappointment and jump-start her next film.
A cross-country train trip with a complete stranger might not seem like the best idea. But to Mae and Hugo, both eager to escape their regular lives, it makes perfect sense. What starts as a convenient arrangement soon turns into something more. But when life outside the train catches up to them, can they find a way to keep their feelings for each other from getting derailed?
"One of the loveliest, most touching romances of 2019 thus far that gets at the nature of something deeply buried in all of our hearts." --Entertainment Weekly
"This warm, romantic, never overly sentimental story is told with humor and heart....A deeply satisfying read about a life-changing journey full of poignant moments." --Kirkus, starred review
WHAT DID I THINK OF FIELD NOTES ON LOVE?
I have yet to meet a Jennifer E. Smith book that I do not love with everything. Field Notes On Love just continues that trend. And thank goodness. I don’t know what I would have felt had this book been a dud — considering the last audiobook that I listened to was a dud. Smith’s Field Notes On Love features a unique setting and a sweet love story. It was exactly what I needed to listen to during a stressful sort of week.
Field Notes On Love is an alternating narration book – the main characters are Hugo and Mae. Hugo is from England and is one of a sextuplet. His girlfriend booked a cross country train trip in America. Only, before they can go, she breaks up with him. Unfortunately, the tickets are in her name and are non refundable and non transferable. Hugo then looks for another person with her name (Margaret Campbell) to take over the trip. That’s where Mae comes in (short for Margaret Campbell). Mae takes over for Margaret and Hugo gets his trip. Along the way, Mae makes a film interviewing people about love and well, Mae and Hugo fall for each other.
All in all, this is a lovely sweet story. Of course, Hugo and Mae fall for each other quickly because that’s how Smith’s books tend to work. But you know, it all just feels so whirlwind but kind of believable. One of the best side characters is Mae’s grandmother who is a real pistol. Also, Mae’s dads and Hugo’s siblings. I loved how the book touches on family. I think that this is really a solid read for the summer.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook has a dual narration with Karissa Vacker narrating Mae’s chapters and Anthony Mark Barrow narrating Hugo’s chapters. Of course Barrow has a wonderful accent for Hugo and again, feels authentic with his narration. Vacker also feels quite authentic in her narration and likeable as well. I definitely would recommend the audiobook if you’ve got the chance to listen to it. It’s well narrated and is a quick listen at 8 hours and 23 minutes.
YA audiobooks part 2Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on February 5, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Romance
Pages: 464
ISBN: 9780765396433
Goodreads
"A novel of court intrigue and action-packed military adventure,"* Joanna Hathaway's Dark of the West, is a breathtaking YA fantasy debut--first in the Glass Alliance series.
A pilot raised in revolution. A princess raised in a palace. A world on the brink of war.
Aurelia Isendare is a princess of a small kingdom in the North, raised in privilege but shielded from politics as her brother prepares to step up to the throne. Halfway around the world, Athan Dakar, the youngest son of a ruthless general, is a fighter pilot longing for a life away from the front lines. When Athan’s mother is shot and killed, his father is convinced it’s the work of his old rival, the Queen of Etania—Aurelia’s mother. Determined to avenge his wife’s murder, he devises a plot to overthrow the Queen, a plot which sends Athan undercover to Etania to gain intel from her children.
Athan’s mission becomes complicated when he finds himself falling for the girl he’s been tasked with spying upon. Aurelia feels the same attraction, all the while desperately seeking to stop the war threatening to break between the Southern territory and the old Northern kingdoms that control it—a war in which Athan’s father is determined to play a role. As diplomatic ties manage to just barely hold, the two teens struggle to remain loyal to their families and each other as they learn that war is not as black and white as they’ve been raised to believe.
“Heart-pounding . . . will leave the reader wanting more.”—*#1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
WHAT DID I THINK OF DARK OF THE WEST BY JOANNA HATHAWAY?
Dark Of The West by Joanna Hathaway has a spectacular cover. I mean, I saw this cover and knew I had to read this book. Apparently, everyone else felt that way too, because I waited MONTHS on the waitlist on Libby to listen to the audiobook. I liked that this book was different from the types of fantasy books that I typically read.
So, Dark Of The West is told in alternating chapters between Aurelia who is a princess and Athan who is the son of a general. Athan’s mother is shot and killed and for some reason, his father believes it has something to do with Aurelia’s mother who is queen of Etania. And so, Athan goes to Etania to do some spying. Along the way, he ends up falling for Aurelia. Now, what is cool and unique about this book is that there’s technology. It’s not quite medieval based. There are airplanes! Which Athan flies. Anyways, so the book opens with a prologue where war is happening. Then the book takes us to before that point.
Admittedly, it is not initially super exciting to get to that war point. However, I did like learning about the characters. The backgrounds and motivations are interesting – particularly Aurelia’s dad – who is dead. It is fascinating seeing these kids learn that not everything is black and white and that there’s shades of gray and their reactions to that.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Dark Of The West is 14 hours and 56 minutes unabridged. It is kind of a long audiobook. I felt like speeding it up to 2x made me lose out on details, so I listened to it at 1.5x and 1.75x at various intervals. The narrators are Barrie Kreinik and Dan Bittner. Considering I’ve recently listened to Bittner, hearing him again was nice. I also liked Kreinik’s narration – she does imperial quite well. I would certainly recommend checking out this audiobook.
YA audiobooks part 2Rayne and Delilah's Midnite Matinee by Jeff Zentner
Also by this author: The Serpent King, Goodbye Days
Published by Andersen Press Ltd on March 7, 2019
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9781783447992
Goodreads
Josie and Delia are best friends and co-hosts on their own public access TV show; Midnite Matinee. They dress as vampires Rayne and Delilah; perform daft skits involving skeleton raves and dog weddings; and show the weekly so-bad-it's-good low-budget horror movie. But the end of senior year is coming; and Josie is torn between pursuing her television dreams in a new city or staying making TV with her BFF. What's more; she's just met a boy; Lawson; who is totally not her type; but is just a little bit intriguing . . . Meanwhile; Delia is searching for her dad; who walked out on her and her mom ten years ago. When the private investigator she hired unearths his contact details; she agonises over digging up the past.A road trip to ShiverCon; a convention for horror filmmakers; may just have the answers the two need - but will Josie and Delia be prepared for life taking some seriously unexpected plot-twists?
WHAT DID I THINK OF RAYNE & DELILAH’S MIDNITE MATINEE?
Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is different from other books I’ve read by Jeff Zentner (I have read them all up to this point and Goodbye Days is my favorite). I just didn’t think this book hit me quite as hard as his other ones. Still, the concept is an interesting one. This book features Josie and Delia two teens who are best friends and run a show on local cable access featuring horror movies and their commentary. The horror movies come from a VHS collection that Delia’s dad had left behind when he walked out on the family. Josie has to make some choices about her internship and college and leaving the show behind. Delia doesn’t exactly have the same choices as Josie. Anyways, the two think they have an option to take their show to the next level and that opportunity comes via a Horror Con in Florida. I found I was much more into Delia’s parts.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is narrated by Sophie Amoss and Phoebe Stroll. It is 10 hours and 20 minutes. I liked that it had two narrators for the two characters. It’s a relatively quick feeling listen. Like, I didn’t feel bored or like the audiobook is going on forever and ever. I did gel much more with Stroll’s narration because she reminds me of Emma Galvin. This is a pretty solid listen and worth your time.
YA audiobooks part 2Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn
on March 13, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes, Family, Coming of Age, Romance, Contemporary, Death & Dying
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780316471596
Goodreads
James Patterson presents this emotionally resonant novel that shows that while some broken things can't be put back exactly the way they were, they can be repaired and made even stronger.Kira's Twelve Steps To A Normal Life1. Accept Grams is gone.2. Learn to forgive Dad.3. Steal back ex-boyfriend from best friend...And somewhere between 1 and 12, realize that when your parent's an alcoholic, there's no such thing as "normal." When Kira's father enters rehab, she's forced to leave everything behind--her home, her best friends, her boyfriend...everything she loves. Now her father's sober (again) and Kira is returning home, determined to get her life back to normal...exactly as it was before she was sent away. But is that what Kira really wants?Life, love, and loss come crashing together in this visceral, heartfelt story by BuzzFeed writer Farrah Penn about a girl who struggles to piece together the shards of her once-normal life before his alcoholism tore it apart.
WHAT DID I THINK OF TWELVE STEPS TO NORMAL?
Twelve Steps To Normal is Farrah Penn’s debut novel and after finishing, I immediately went to look up if she had anything else coming out or in the works. Maybe I am a bad googler, but I didn’t find anything. I’d say that Twelve Steps To Normal is a charming coming of age story dealing with the heavy topic of recovery from addiction and how it affects the family. I found this to be standard YA contemporary fare and there’s absolutely nothing wrong or bad about that.
Penn’s book is told from the point of view of Kira who moves away while her dad is in rehab and then comes back with hopes that her life will be exactly the way it was before. Spoiler: it is not. So, she comes up with a twelve step plan to get things back to normal. Along the way, she learns that maybe change is a good thing. Also, she goes back and her home has fellow guests in recovery staying. It’s interesting how Kira deals with this change (not well). I think that you could easily judge Kira, but if you also have any experience or understanding of teenagers, you would realize that Kira is completely acting normal in reaction to the stress and changes.
HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Twelve Steps To Normal is narrated by Christie Moreau. It is nine hours and forty three minutes long. I am glad I listened to this book via audio. I thought that Moreau’s narration added an extra bit of authenticity to this book. It also was really easy to follow and on the whole is a compelling listen. I think this would be a decent audiobook for first time listeners.
