Thank you to Harper Collins for this ARC. This is my sort of book: a human and dragon world where the people try to decipher dragon language. What is unique about this book is that what you think of in languages becomes second to the real discovery. This extra layer, as well as the way it was “discovered”, was so satisfying. You can tell someone who loves language wrote this book. The war in the background comes forward HARD.

Audio. Difficult to listen to, with technical verbiage. This was a very educational experience either way. As such, I think I learned more about the downfall of the USSR after the meltdown. What I did not know was focused upon how the government handled it afterwards. Like how the families were prosecuted. How the meltdown indirectly could be said to have caused the down fall of the Soviet Union due to the payout to the families.

Audio and I have watched the movie. I love the movie; honestly more so than the book still. The audiobook, read by the author, was really well done overall. The added sound effects was fun, though his voice was monotonous a lot. I‘m trying not to compare to the movie. I can see how the second half gets spookier for the age group it‘s for. Otherwise, as an adult reading a middle aged story, it was well paced and justified in about all Coraline did

I did enjoy the characters, just not so much on the plot. Can see now what others mean about Ali‘s writing; the plots all share a skeleton backbone. I did like Eli and Rue‘s growth toward each other. Wish there was more science facts in this science romance. Same with how it was just too much spice going on for a book about people who aren‘t sure they want to officially date. That‘s just not my forte.

Book club choice. I don‘t know how I feel about this story. It had the potential to be spooky; mother in law who killed herself haunting her son and wife-in-law. Barely got that, instead this odd obsession of said wife with pregnancy and whatever that was about making the old lady her baby. I know it was supposed to be about mother issues, but it just didn‘t click for me, at all. Just kept dragging on to me, not making sense.

Audio. First chapter had me hooked and didn‘t let go as revelations were given. I enjoyed this more than I thought. This is my first real horror and it was really good. With increasing stakes and gore levels… What stuck out was the point on horror; it‘s a safe way to show that life has horrors. Let alone that this whole story is about burying your gays as a trope and why it‘s important to fight against gay tragedy and instead hope.

Second ever Steven King book. (audio). The story itself is neat; couple found each other during a government experiment had a kid who can create fires. Now they are running from said agency. What I did not like was how sexualized they made this 8 year old girl. Almost dnf‘ed because of that. Couldn‘t stand how those agents thought and reacted around her. Don‘t have much else to say because, that took over my perspective of the story from then on.

Least favorite Agatha Christie mainly because I just couldn‘t care about the characters. Man marries rich woman and then worries about what it means to be rich. I‘ve got nothing besides that I feel like I wasted my time on this (thankfully) short book. No, I didn‘t see the murderer coming. So there was that.

Audio. To begin, I have read the previous book since it came out 5 years ago. So it took me a while to remember these characters, as the plot went right into it. This third book felt more like an addition instead of a continuation from how I remember the second one ending. It was more violent. It didn‘t feel like the previous books - which is not a bad thing, just didn‘t fit for me. The whole ending fight didn‘t feel right, I did not like it

I believe it was overhyped. If you don‘t mind waiting until 60% for it to make sense in its 5 timelines then you‘re good. There was too much trying to connect that just didn‘t till the final couple chapters. It Just didn‘t seem interesting enough for me to worry about the characters. Almost DNF around 45% because I just couldn‘t care about this rich family being like That. The title made me think something else of the book.

Audio. This sounded just like the other Harris book about her I read years ago to get to know her. Just a bit more fleshed out and more hope in what she wants to go towards. With all the stuff she says she accomplished, though, it would‘ve been nice to have a going back to see how it is actually affected those people. Then again this is a memoir so it is hard for me to review those.

Love Raybearer world, and this is just as good. Just a bit less action. I adored this book and its characters. Sade was brought up to be small, told all through her life to “know her place” as a maid. The talk long of ant v giant reminded was amazing - those giants (aka nobles) should be fearful of the ants (workers who run stuff). The Crocodiles Giant Lessons were fun to go through, watching Sade grow out of her conditioned mentality.

Audio. Though odd as audio. Phoebe went to the hotel to kill herself - husband cheated, cat died, work stinks - due to her depression and instead finds ways to live as she is dragged into a wedding party. Becomes “keeping up with the wedding people”. I like how each part of her depression she saw in somebody at the wedding people. Phoebe helping them helped her. There were some really funny moments, and others that just grab your attention.

This was a cute book about a grieving reader - for loosing both her boyfriend and favorite reader - in different ways that still impacted her so strongly. Within said grief, she basically finds herself in her authors world. I loved reading about this immersive experience. The romance on the side just didn‘t fit right to me. Said I don‘t need love, then why talk so much on it? Could have focused on the grief better. Otherwise beautiful written book

Audiobook. I‘ve seen the movie end multiple times - never whole thing. Just like the movie, I cried a few times. The written story here went off on different tandems that made it drag on a lot, to me. surprised a few times, hand over mouth freeze, moments. This book reminds that life isn‘t fair, even those whom done no bad and those who do good. That stinks, but that is life some times. I knew the ending and still wanted a different end.

Oh my Hades this was beautiful. I was laughing out loud, giggling kicking my feet, talking to them and my theories. Percy Jackson personality gods. Then there‘s the Hunger Games esque fighting through trials. Lyra is fights in the Crucible for Hades. This slow burn really does burn because there is something there from the start, simmering. What I did enjoy was how Lyra is still hurt and dealing with trauma watching those around her die.

The last 20% of this book was a different one entirely. All that build up and getting attached to these kids, watching them struggle. The idea of keeping kids alive till they‘re an “adult”, just to harvest their body to save others life‘s…. This is a world that never found out making synthetic body parts, so they take from the (still) alive candidates. The twists come hard and fast by the end. Not my favorite from the author, but I get the point.

Audiobook. Book club. Just couldn‘t get into it. Maybe that‘s due to the story being so short. Yes, this book was incredibly hard hotting for it being so short. I‘m just used to - and like - longer books. This story is about a young couple having a baby and not wanting her to stop the young mother‘s journey to college. Felt disjointed. Said it was about classism, but I didn‘t get that.

Basically history lesson on the USA from the perspective of the Natives. Though I didn‘t like how they were called Indians throughout. The book reads like a drawn out timeline, giving basic “need to know”, without going too far into depth. It was hard to keep momentum up reading, and I really wanted to finish it because I needed to know this perspective. Like, I didn‘t realize how well the natives were able to keep back the Americans.

#Book2Book Was pleasantly surprised to get 3 packages last night full of BOOKS!!! Amazing mail set. Been working long days recently, so I‘m a bit behind, but I did get some books shipped out to @julieclair & @KateReadsYA & @Catsandbooks -
@KadaGul I have yours ready, just need to find a box for them.

@Daisey @Soubhiville @kspenmoll
@TheBookHippie @Melmar @CindyMyLifelsLit
@Catsandbooks @KateReadsYA @KadaGul
@julieclair

I wasn‘t sure how I felt about Avatar Roku getting a book. This story shares so many similar themes and mentions from the show. Some felt forced. I did like how it went back and forth between POV of Soizen and Roku. This is about Roku being a fire royal friends with the prince and how it affects his view on the world. Best character was Gyasto here, as Rokus friend before he becomes an airbending master.

Poetry on, what sounds like, removing yourself from an emotionally abusive relationship. Relating recovery to leaving a dark cave. Many poems were longer than what I‘m used to from peppernell. I liked the ones of going out of the darkness, though many also didn‘t feel like they fit that theme. This is a niche genre, so I understand why not all hit me. Still enjoyable. The final chapter of poems could‘ve brought the book together more, I think.

Audiobook. The story is creative, and love the beauty as a major piece. Expected Forrest to have a bigger impact, but I couldn‘t find myself to care. Iris and Roman were separated for so long. I wanted more on the gods; more mythos from the past on how to help the present. The long non-action, missed spy-esque feel, not burning incriminating letters and burning important to keep one‘s… Just dint work for me. Narrators did a good job delivering.

#Book2Book members book swap. No writing or highlighting inside. Written in the stars book 1&2 have singed bookplates inside. Each book is in like-new condition. Fire and stars has slight wear and tear.
Post 2

@Daisey @Soubhiville @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @Melmar @CindyMyLifeIsLit @Catsandbooks @KateReadsYA @KadaGul @julieclair

#Book2Book members book swap. No writing or highlighting inside. Top two are from my book club so they have a singed bookplate inside. Every book but Hugo is in like-new condition. Post 1

@Daisey @Soubhiville @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @Melmar @CindyMyLifeIsLit @Catsandbooks @KateReadsYA @KadaGul @julieclair

2.5 🌟 Audio recommended by local bookstore. Interesting premise. I was interested every few chapters, but it dragged on to me. Took too long for Lauren to figure things out, then I didn‘t like the “just reset the world by sending the husband up” while she‘d judge them by one thing. kept waiting for a connection for the best person. I‘m single and don‘t feel any more pushed to marry by looking for the “right man”. Rushed end.

4 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this book. Though I do wish the sci-fi was more prominent than the murder mystery. I know the whole point is on that, but I just wanted to know more about that fog of man eating insects. The characters were well diversed, though the train of thoughts confused me sometimes over who, exactly, was the narrator. Abi is an intriguing being, basically AI.

Granted, let me get my biases out of the way. I listened to this audiobook because of the VP choice. The book is a few years old, and tells of his growing up. As a memoir, it felt disjointed, off putting writing. I just didn‘t feel his story, let alone not sure my hillbilly awareness should be off this guy talking about how much he wanted to rage at people all the time growing up. I don‘t feel like I know him better. Which is the point of memoirs

Roman is becoming my Roman Empire. He is such a good rival mascaraing as a love interest. I adored how these two came together, through their love of writing. The balance between being at war and being journalists was well written. Between slights towards trauma and feeling guilty to having feeling happy when so many won‘t make it home. Confusion is on the magic of the war; don‘t understand a thing about how those two gods are causing this war.

What made this book so interesting was its view on good versus evil and how it keeps people apart. That this world keeps the good people from the bad, and those who do incredible good or bad will move up or down. I was continuously struck by how children are born in the lower realms, stuck in all that pain. The story took a long time to get going, amazing debut book that just had too many little things not match up by the end.

This is a short, sweet story about a dating woman who comes across papers that tells her how long they‘ll date. I liked how she is 30 years old, as it brings a different perspective on dating than I‘m used to reading. Especially with her experiences. The prospect is very well written between her past relationships and how nonchalant she felt with those versus present time relationship. Which is where the ending fell through for me.

I can see the hype of this classic. It shows life in Brooklyn from a poor girl who watches a tree continue to grow through adversity. I didn‘t really get that till the ending 10% thou, as that‘s when it started getting going for me. I think it was a different psychology look than I‘m used to. Demon Copperhead vibes, but that everything is going right but it barely goes right.

I think these two had the better chemistry than the other books couples. Just don‘t think too hard on the “plot”. Title should‘ve be drugged, not drunk. My favorite part must‘ve been the other guys trying to give Dante advice. Every time the scrying mirror came up, I was laughing. Cherry found out the guy who loves her is rich and went for it. The ending really sold it for me, with how the other dragons trauma was dealt with. Also, THAT DAMN CAT.

I loved this second part!! Quite possibly more than the first. This may be due to the way Oraya‘s trauma and depression takes a while for her to recover from. That Raihan regretted what happened. What hit me was the communication between Raihan explaining how his first book sacrifice was meant to be good, but it just added to Oraya‘s trauma. That hit hard. Emotional connection was so well written and spread out.

Decent second of a trilogy (typical flout between book). The “plot” was just a constant chase between Pae and Kai. Was 90% these two trying to hate each other and failing. Miserably. Kai, you have it down bad. But the plot felt like it didn‘t have a lot else going for it. Wanted more of this non-elite society. End plot twist was a surprise all right. What I did like was the continuation of Their traumas. Want more of Kitt‘s trauma.

Maybe it‘s because I read Elatose a while ago, as this prequel (of her grandmother) didn‘t hit any cords with me. Closest thing was the side conversation of how the Lipan people kept having their land taken away. Which felt at odds with the main plot of Shane using the family ghost dog to find missing people. As a prequel, hoped to get more connection with first. But didn‘t see that. Smooth, no heart racing action, throughout still is nice.

I loved the premise of this story. Great south East Asian inspired story from a new author. Girl runs off to avenge her engineer father by joining the boy only Engineer Guild. Mulan feel. The romance did not fit. It didn‘t add anything, and was close to taking away from it. I wanted to see more of the Guild and her being anti-war. For being such a big war, we didn‘t really experience much that proved that. There was more room to grow potential.

Loved this second of the Mead Mishaps series. Might actually liked it better than the first, with how the romance with these characters was written. The plot was nice to read as a follow up to the firsts plot. Love grumpy and sunshine characters who fall for each other; especially with HIM being the sunshine one. How Brie defeated the main baddy? I‘m still cackling. So creative. Also, a talking sword is always amazing.

Believe this is my favorite of Ali‘s books. I adored both mc‘s. Felt real, in how they spoke throughout the fake dating and the way around work. My biggest complaint is her being a grad student, him a lead lab. But the “old man jokes” were hilarious and added much to the bickering. Loved how supportive everyone was, though Olive‘s work struggles and that jerk. Gasped aloud with the way Adam reacted. Damn, I like this man.

I started loosing interest at 50% because I found out this is an omegaverse story with little plot to it. This reminds me why I‘m not into werewolf romances. 3 times in the bedroom by 50%?? The plot hit stagnant till 85%, to which I was pleased again with the characters growth and discovery on how much they want to be together. I did like the characters, and felt they were both fleshed out in their worries about making this fake relationship real.

I didn‘t feel connected to these characters, though the writing definitely was made to do so. I could tell, as I did get some every few chapters. The plot of a heist is not my usual trope, I know it‘s a big one now, whereas I wanted more of the dragons behind the veil. The twos banter was amusing, and fun to watch develop, though I wish I could see their connection better. That‘s why the closing chapters really brought it together to me.

Loved some parts, didn‘t like others. Character wise, I liked Levi and only kinda got Bee. Caught on to Ali‘s book type. Science woman falls for tall and strong other stem guy. I love how sweet Levi is. This is one of her earliest books, and so it did feel closer to a rough draft than her later stories. Quick plot move around. That ending twist got me and I wish it made more sense. As in, I wish I could‘ve see how it made sense.

This is the definition of a rom-com fantasy romance. So much fun!! Laugh out loud humor and sass back and forth. Very quick read, well, listen in my case. Which is likely why I didn‘t get a vibe for anybody, as in I didn‘t feel emotionally attached to most of the characters. Did fall in love with Fallon and Cin‘s sass. The narrator was incredible. Just wish the ending pulled things together differently, was abrupt. Just never emotionally destroyed

The story was a roller coaster in terms of really good and meh. Nothing bad, per se. I expected a missing mystery, as the cover mentioned, for their dad. I did not expect a story about a non-verbal child and happiness experiments. This was where my whole attention was focused. Learning about the uses on baseline happiness affecting how other things make someone happy. Then there‘s Eugene. I know Mia‘s telling the story, could barely stand her.

Audio from Libby. This story takes place on a space station; which was barely mentioned. I would also have really liked to know how this space jousting “ride and fall” works. I never felt like I could SEE what was going on. I wanted more of the mystery of the station. So much left unsettled or just mentioned once. The ending 20% brought it more together, though didn‘t land smoothly. Not sure if I‘ll read the sequel.

2 star. This is like a fan fiction for Zutara. With similarities, but not enough to feel cut and paste. It‘s more like the base. Whereas this focuses more upon a forced marriage where their two opposite elemental countries forge a treaty. I wanted to enjoy it, but found myself skipping ahead. There a beginning to an emotional connection I wanted more of. Between that torture and almost drowning. Give me panic! Surprised by two 2-star spice chapter

He grips both sides of my face, another flash of lightning filing the room with white light, his eyes volcanic as he says, “This truth is going to hurt, and you're going to hate me for it. But there's someone out there who needs you, and you're going to change their life even more than you changed mine.”

I loved this book. The world building is insane and the characters are expansive. I wish we knew more about the magic system, though, with the elemental songs element. Kaan is DEFINITELY a mix of Cassian and Rowan because they take no prisoners to getting their woman to take responsibility and be better. I had to take back a star because that ending tried hard to set up a Devastating cliffhanger and just missed the mark. I‘m invested either way

Phenomenal story. Especially as an audiobook- 3 voices. Three varying timelines was something I thought would be an issue. It was not. Those three went along together very nicely. Alva, Violet, and Kate are not so different after all. They are all of the Weyward family name. Who were affected by a man who ruined their life. The ending crescendo of their story, of Kate‘s present story, I felt deep her desires and pain.

5⭐️ Can‘t believe I almost didn‘t pick this up. Not always one for novellas if I‘m not 100% invested. So glad I did. Knowing this goes side to side with Powerless -just Adena‘s perspective -hit so hard. I adore her. She is such a light in such a dark world. Mak grew on her, as this is literally the sunshine and grumpy trope tripping into each other. I cried so much at the ending. Such a powerful 220 page story. Now I cry looking at the cover🪡