Audiobook Narrator - 4 stars
Overall rating - 2 stars

I have loved previous books by this author and was very excited to get the audiobook for this new book by him.

While I really enjoyed the narrator and how he told the story [he got a young boy's voice/angst/frustration so well - his narration is actually one of the best parts of the book], the story itself was not my jam. I found Mo to be snotty, mouthy [especially to his parents], a crappy friend, and very whiny [I DID love his relationship with his elderly neighbor, it is the only time he is really lovely and not as obnoxious as he was in the rest of the book - this is one friend he treats well] and he suffers ZERO consequences for all his nonsense [and lies]. I have to admit, I was prett frustrated by the end.

Not my favorite read, but as I am truly NOT the target audience for this book, I can see how pre-teens might love this and would, because of that, cautiously recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Johan Rundberg, Eva Apelqvist - Translator, and Brilliance Audio for providing this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun middle grade slapstick. I flew through it and even laughed out loud. This will be a hit with 8 to 12 year olds.

Thank you further advanced copy of this audio book. My nine year old listened to it and gave the following feedback: He enjoyed the story. He found it funny and feels other nine year olds would enjoy it. He says 5 stars

There were few occasions where we listened to it in the car and even my 13 year old chuckled. I could have gone without the conversation of explaining “ sucking face” or the use of the word damn but it gave us follow up conversation topics.

This was a cute little story about a boy's first crush and what he did to impress the girl. I'm glad Mo figured it out in the end and realized being himself was better than faking his skateboarding interest. Definitely a good book for older kids to read. The audiobook was also very well done and easy to understand.

3.5 stars rounded up

Thank you for the arc.

This was a really good book. A book about not liying and tell the truth. And a boy who learns that he is in love and what that means.

This is a pretty run-of-the-mill middle grade adventure a la Wimpy Kid and the like. There is nothing wrong with it and it is not trying to reinvent any wheels. The story sounds and feels like it's from a young boy's perspective which is a thing that has to be highlighted now-a-days when it seems like every demographic is targeting adults. I also think we need more books in translation for middle-graders so that they have a more worldly point of view in their literature.

As per the audiobook specifically, I will say that the narrator did manage to sound like a kid at times and had a kid's inflection often, I just wasn't completely hooked by it. Again, as with my assessment on the story, this performance was absolutely serviceable and that's all I can say about that. Overall, I would recommend but with the caveat that no one should expect to be wowed.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



Biggest Fake in the Universe by Johan Rundberg

Format: e-ARC & Audiobook | Narrator: Jeff Ebner

Yes, this book is aimed at younger kids (probably 8–10), but man, I loved it. I was laughing out loud more than once, and the wholesome friend and family dynamics warmed my heart.

We see the world through the eyes of 13-year-old Mo, a boy with his first crush who decides to reinvent himself as a skater to impress Bea, the effortlessly cool and mysterious girl he admires. One viral moment later, his entire town (and basically all of Sweden) thinks he is a skateboarding prodigy… except he is not. Cue a ridiculous, hilarious chain of events.

I read one review that claimed the story involves “gaslighting” and is too unbelievable, but honestly, that is what makes it so great. I remember being this age, and I absolutely did silly things to get a boy’s attention. (Shout-out to the time I bought a 25¢ soccer-ball pencil just because my crush played soccer.) Kids are innocent, earnest, and willing to go above and beyond for something that feels important to them. That is Mo to a T.

And while the premise is funny, it is also heartwarming. Mo grows enough to realize when he has hurt his mom or his best friend and makes it right. He eventually chooses to be true to himself, lets Bea have the spotlight for her incredible skating skills (shout-out to her hilariously named skating legend dad, Tony Hök), and still gets his own moment to shine with his cooking talent and his adorable, talented hamster, Domino.

One of my favorite aspects was how refreshing it was to see a 13-year-old still just being a kid. No phone glued to his hand, plenty of real-world adventures with friends, and a willingness to try new things. Plus, the supporting cast is gold, especially his elderly neighbor, Ingbritt, who reminded me so much of my Oma. This scene had me cackling:

“You never know,” Ingbritt said. “It may be the last time I see you.”
“Thanks a lot,” I said with a snort. “You could have said something encouraging. Some words of wisdom perhaps, about everything turning out okay in the end. Like old people usually do.”
“Go poop yourself,” Ingbritt said.

And then there is this gem that had me wheezing like a 10-year-old:

“We all remember when you had to amputate your butt after a failed ollie,” he continued. “Is it better?”
“Absolutely,” I replied. “Without a butt, there is less wind resistance, so I consider it an advantage.”

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Jeff Ebner, and the performance was fantastic. I almost always listen to my audiobooks at 1.5x speed or faster, and this one worked perfectly at that pace without losing any of the humor or warmth.

If you want something genuinely funny, full of heart, and a little bit absurd in the best way, this one is a win.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, AmazonCrossing | Amazon Crossing Kids, for the e-ARC and audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This one’s going straight into my “books that made me laugh out loud in public” list.