AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE PERFECT MOTHER

BY AIMEE MOLLOY

NARRATED BY CRISTIN MILIOTI

❐ Overall Rating 4 | Narration 4½

❐ Narrated by Cristin Milioti

❐ Listening Length: 9H 26M

❐ Mystery/Suspense

❐ A mothers group

❐ A kidnapped baby

❐ Mayhaps there is some clever misdirection

I feel duped.

This is one of those books that you can't really say too much about it without possibly giving the mystery away. This is about a group of women (and one man --who they refer to as Token...funny haha) who all became mothers in the month of May and are so-called the May Mothers. They decide that they need a night out for drinks and when they do...one of the Mothers' baby is taken. From there or maybe before that even..let the duping begin???

AUDIOBOOK ➯ EVERY STOLEN BREATH

EVERY STOLEN BREATH

BY KIMBERLY GABRIEL

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 5

❐ Narrated by Chloe Dolandis

❐ Listening Length: 9H 7M

❐ YA Thriller 

❐ Chicago Setting

❐ Swarm/Mob Attacks

❐ Splash of romance

I've only vaguely heard of a swarm or mob attack...I didn't know it was really a thing...but apparently, it is. This book is based on true events that took place in or near Chicago involving a mob of teens attacking people.

When it comes to my book choices...I've been difficult to please lately, nothing seems to satisfy...but this one worked it's way into my head and invoked actual feelings from me with its unique plot, a character who has my name (even if it's spelled differently), and a narrator whose voice was perfect for this in every way.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE GOD GAME

THE GOD GAME

BY DANNY TOBEY

❐ Overall Rating 3½ | Narration 4¼

❐ Narrated by Andrew Eiden

❐ Listening Length: 13H 32M

❐ YA Science Fiction

❐ A diverse group of friends bonding over gaming

❐ Virtual Reality/Coding

An interesting concept that is both implausible and mad genius at the same time...I think. Which is, to say that I wasn't always sure what was going on. It was a tad too techy for me. Lot's of coding jargon that I just so glazed over while listening. Storywise, this one ticks a few boxes; interesting characters, an AI gone amock, and some thrilling aspects throughout. I probably could have liked this more but I don't think the timing was right for me.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE BECKONING SHADOW

THE BECKONING SHADOW

BY KATHARYN BLAIR

❐ Overall Rating 4¼ | Narration 4¼

❐ Narrated by Amanda Dolan

❐ Listening Length ➯ 11H 29M

❐ The Beckoning Shadow #1

❐ Superhero/Freaks

❐ Part Urban Fantasy, Part Science Fiction, Part Contemporary

❐ With some romance

So...the comparison to X-Men is spot on...like if the X-Men (so sexist) were to enter an MMA fighting contest to see who was left in the end. I wasn't entirely into this...but that was probably all me...when you listen to about a book a day....sometimes certain books fall through the cracks. Looking back on it, I still think it was a solid story and if she never writes the second book in the series; I can say that this ended in a way that gives perfect closure. Yes, there is some romance, but it really takes a back seat to the friendships that are cultivated throughout, and those are what really shines in this story. The narration is not quite a favorite...but it's solid.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ PRETTY REVENGE

PRETTY REVENGE

BY EMILY LIEBERT

❐ Overall Rating 4¼ | Narration 5

❐ Narrated by Erin Mallon & Natalie Naudus

❐ Listening Length: 7H 20M

❐ Part Contemporary Revenge Thriller

❐ Part Woman's Fiction with a Domestic feel to it

❐ Dual POV's

❐ A hint of romance

A highly engaging story about getting revenge on someone who you believe wronged you in a way that was unforgivable. The audio narration was performed to perfection, the writing was captivating and the characters were perfect in their roles. My only issue with this story overall...is Olivia comes off as someone who is motivated, smart, and likable...so much so it's difficult to believe that she couldn't have gotten her life on track before she went down the revenge path. I don't know...maybe, she just needed the right push.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE COUSINS

THE COUSINS

BY KAREN M McManus

❐ Overall Rating 4¾ | Narration 5

❐ Narrated by Sarah Skaer, Kate Reinders, David Garelik & Julia Whelan

❐ Listening Length: 9H 28M

❐ YA Mystery/Thriller 

❐ Three separate POV's for each cousin...plus the past's POV

❐ Family secrets & then some

❐ Splash of romance

This may be my favorite Karen M McManus book yet. I quite enjoyed it...super awesome narration...a compelling story and characters I genuinely liked. What more could you ask for? My only issue and it's a small one, depending on how you look at it, I guess...the copious amounts of teen drinking going on. Don't get me wrong, I know kids will try to drink, I did when I was a teen, but we/they usually sneak around and hide it from the adults, at least. These kids didn't seem to have that issue at all...it was like they were legal.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ EVERY LAST SECRET

EVERY LAST SECRET

BY A. R. TORRE

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 5

❐ Narrated by Carly Robins, Amy Landon, & Tristan James

❐ Listening Length ➯ 9H 2M

❐ Domestic Thriller

❐ Dual female POV's with a brief male POV

❐ Twisty and slightly twisted

Every Last Secret is deliciously scandalous...a juicy, oh-no-she-didn't-go-there, domestic thriller...that will ultimately surprise you with its boldness, charm, and even humility. At first, I didn't like any of the characters...and eventually, I realized I didn't need to or maybe I wasn't supposed to. But by the end...I think I liked them all, at least a little. The excellent narration made this book even more of a treat.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE AMERICAN GIRL

THE AMERICAN GIRL

BY KATE HORSLEY

❐ Overall Rating 4 | Narration 4½

❐ Narrated by Julia Whelan & Nan McNamara

❐ Listening time: 11H 15M

❐ Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

❐ With a splash of Horror

❐ Amnesia/Unreliable Narrator

❐ Set in small-town France

I found this to be intriguing, sometimes a little creepy even, unpredictable, and definitely a little weird at times. Also, I believe the nearly excellent narration made this somewhat slow-burning mystery overall more palatable. If I had read this instead, I don't think I could've been as engaged with the way the mystery was fed to me by the tiny, tiny spoonful.

AUDIOBOOK ➯ LIES LIKE POISON

 

BY CHELSEA PITCHER

NARRATED BY AMANDA DOLAN, EMILY ELLET, KEVIN R. FREE & M. GROSLAND

❐ Overall Rating 2 | Narration 5

❐ YA Mystery

❐ LGBTQIA

How can a book have such wonderfully atmospheric narration and rate so low with me.??? Good question. I wanted to like this and I really tried to do so but it missed the mark for me, story-wise. I really found most of the story to be rather unbelievable and very reminiscent of the show Riverdale...basically a hot mess.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 7H 54M

❐ Plot ➯ 2.5/5

❐ Characters ➯ 3/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 2/5

❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 1/5

❐ Ending ➯ 2/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE

BY CYNTHIA HAND

NARRATED BY ERIN SPENCER

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 5

❐ Scrooge Retelling

❐ That's uniquely different

❐ The Ghosts of Christmas

❐ YA

I put this book off for way too long. The perfect Christmas book for someone who doesn't do Christmas books...because working in retail has killed my Christmas joy. A fun, modern twist on an old Christmas favorite that was a pleasant surprise. I actually really enjoyed this, from the Scroog-y beginning all the way to the terrific ending. If you like YA sometimes, or all the time, and you want a fun Christmas retelling of Scrooge...give this a try.

❐ Hoopla Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 10H

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5

❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 4.5/5

❐ Theme ➯ 4.5/5

❐ Ending ➯ 5/5

AUDIOBOOK ➯ THE CHAIN

BY ADRIAN McKINTY

NARRATED BY JANUARY LAVOY

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 4½ | Narration 4½

❐ One thrilling-ass thriller

❐ An intricate and diabolically insane plot

❐ Mostly told from a single POV

The Chain is off the hook with intensity. Like some freaky-scary shit for any parent to even contemplate for even a single minute. Is it plausible...maybe, maybe not...but I don't think that's the point. It would make for one hell-of-a a movie. The first half is non-stop and then things slow down until the very end, where the action picks up again for an ending that leaves you breathless. The mind that came up with this plot is a wicked one. All in all, this was an entertaining listen with an added bonus of fantastic narration by one of my all-time favs, January Lavoy.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 10H 9M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.5/5

❐ Characters ➯ 4.3/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 5/5

❐ Thrills ➯ 5/5

❐ Ending ➯ 4.5/5

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE UNRAVELING OF CASSIDY HOLMES

BY ELISSA R. SLOAN

NARRATED BY BRITTANY PRESSLEY, NATALIE NAUDUS, JAYME MATTLER, PIPER GOODEVE, CAITLIN KELLY, MEGAN TUSING, & STEPHEN GRAYBILL

❐SYNOPSIS & BUY LINKS ON AUTHORS WEBSITE❐

❐ Overall Rating 3½ | Narration 5

❐ Contemporary

❐ The rise and fall of a Pop Star/Pop Quartet

❐ TW: Suicide, eating disorders, physical abuse, rape, & the difficulties of coming out to the world

The narration is performed superbly in this...with each member of the band having their own narrator and a male voice doing the media bits and each of them gave a fantastic performance.

While the book deals with many topics, showing the shady side of show-business and puts a lot of focus on what happened between this group of girls to bring about the unraveling of Cassidy Holmes it ultimately lacks closure. Not only for the main thread of her suicide but also for some of the other threads at play in the story.

❐ Libby Listen through my Library

❐ Length ➯ 12h 1m

❐ Plot ➯ 3/5

❐ Characters ➯ 3.5/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 3.5/5

❐ Theme ➯ 3.5/5

❐ Ending ➯ 2/5

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ THE LAST FLIGHT

BY julie clark

NARRATED BY KHRISTINE HVAM & LAUREN FORTGANG

❐SYNOPSIS from goodreads❐

❐ Overall Rating 4¼ | Narration 5

❐ Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

❐ A switcheroo with some twists

❐ Dual POV's & Fluctuating Timelines

Take an interesting premise...two women in dire need of an identity change-up meet at an airport after they've already gone through security...they switch tickets and then the things get interesting...especially when one of the planes crashes. Add to that an abusive, rich husband and an illustrious career in drug-making...mix it up, and what you get is this thrilling, secret-spilling, twisty mystery.

While I had a few issues with this...overall, I found this to quite a satisfying listen, with fantastic narration by both Khristine Hvam and Lauren Fortgang. The latter is been popping up as the narrator in quite a few of my listens lately...and I haven't been disappointed by that, either.

❐ Audible Listen

❐ Length ➯ 9H 23M

❐ Plot ➯ 4.3/5

❐ Characters ➯ 4/5

❐ The Feels ➯ 4/5

❐ Twisty-ness/Mystery/Thrills ➯ 4.2/5

❐ Ending ➯ 4.2/5