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A weird and sweet book about grief. I‘m often charmed by a precocious young character, and Elvis was no exception. What is normal, anyway? 🎧

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The positives for me: lots of personality, creative world building, and a great audio performance! I just grew tired of the imagined politics. 🎧

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Okay… this was super creepy. The author describes it as his “midnight campfire tale”, which feels so apt - you‘re settling in for a slow-burning, spine-tingling story that lingers like smoke. It had a palpable atmosphere, fantastic characters who I really cared about, and a great sense of time and place. I wish some things with the ending had been different, but it fit with the narrative. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

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The weather outside isn‘t the only thing that‘s frightful! I just loved this chilling holiday novella. It could easily be read in one sitting, sitting by the glow of the Christmas tree, pages basically turning on their own, with memories of ghosts of Christmas past lying in wait…

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Did we really need a Grinch-inspired romantic comedy this holiday season? Yes. Yes, we did. It‘s a little long and a lot silly, but I had fun with it. The audio production added to the experience. Merry Grinchmas! 🎧

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I started this on my Kindle awhile ago, and for some reason, it just didn‘t grab me right away - I must not have been in the mood for it. I know it‘s such a beloved series, so I thought I would give it another try with the dramatized adaptation audiobooks. I can understand the appeal and the potential - I imagine the rest of the books in the series will only get better now that the story is set up. 🎧

Katherine Center‘s newest book sounds so good!! Super excited to win this giveaway! 🤩🥰

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3.75 stars. Cheesy at times (as is to be expected with a holiday romance), but also quite sweet, and filled to the brim with festive flair and Christmas nostalgia. I loved the advent calendar angle and the food with the little sprinkle of Swiss culture.

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I was drawn to this book because the political marriage kind of reminded me of “A Song to Drown Rivers”, which I really enjoyed. I felt pretty neutral about this one, though. The ending was exciting and sets up the next book well, but I probably won‘t continue with the series. 🎧

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A harrowing read on an important topic, but it seems to be written for a Western audience and lacked nuance. 🎧 #reesesbookclub

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Calling all fans of Esther Perel and Couples Therapy! This alluring debut felt so real, raising questions about desire and self-discovery, exploring the line between passion and stability. I‘m intrigued to see where the story goes in the next two installments, and we won‘t have to wait too long - it looks likes they‘re both out next year! #BOTM

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I enjoyed the cozy spice shop setting in Salem and liked learning more about Ayurvedic practices. I also appreciated Tulsi‘s journey to learn more about herself and her family. It just felt overly long to me and fell a bit flat. #amazonfirstreads

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“That‘s why we like living with animals so much; they exhibit their joy so outwardly, remind us how to be better alive.”

Oh, my heart! I was so delightfully charmed by this book. It‘s the perfect blend of emotional and funny, eccentric yet authentic. It sparkles with originality and a shining bright spirit. A new favorite.🎧

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This was a fun twist on a Christmas book. An undercover spy‘s newest mission sends her home for the holidays? Sign me up! I‘d totally watch this as a Netflix movie.

December #BOTM picks are up already! This one caught my eye 🩵

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I didn‘t enjoy this as much as the other Jenny Bayliss holiday novels that I‘ve read, but it had that cozy, wintry, English countryside atmosphere. I didn‘t feel attached to any of the characters and there seemed to be too many storylines. 🎧

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This was a really interesting blend of modern-day suspense, witchcraft, and historical fiction. Brutal to read at times, and genuinely creepy at others, there is a sinister atmosphere and an undercurrent of dark magic that was unsettling, yet gripping. I appreciated that the historical storyline was based on a real woman and that it was well-researched. #BOTM

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This is admittedly the kind of story I can tend to avoid if left to my own devices…. But I‘m glad it was a pick for my work book club. It is, of course, emotional and moving, but also full of love, light, and life. Besides Lenni‘s friendship with Margot, I adored her relationship with Father Arthur. May our loved ones‘ stories live on.🎧

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“We are all migrants through time.”

This book is proof that a novel doesn‘t have to be long to make an impact. The magical realism element was smart & thoughtful - ripe for analysis & discussion. A lot of the writing is lovely & really resonates, but sometimes the long run-on sentences felt tedious to me. Still, it‘s a very worthwhile inquiry of the global refugee crisis & the migration experience, appealing to the humanity in us all.

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Beautifully written and narrated, this important and powerful memoir pulses with life and an urgency to protect the lands of our interconnected world. Nemonte Nenquimo is a leader and activist from the Waorani tribe in Ecuador who works to defend Indigenous territories in the Amazon rainforest from destruction. ⬇️

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Looking for a holiday read that‘s both naughty and nice? This one has family, romance, emotion, and humor - pure Christmas fun! The audio production was really well done; I always love this male narrator! I don‘t know if I would have enjoyed it as much if I was reading it with my eyes.🎧

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This duology is an epic Egyptian escape! There is romance, action, adventure, and magic. There are betrayals, discoveries, schemes, and plot twists. It‘s bingeable and unique and just plain fun! #BOTM

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Vengeful, twisted, trippy. I couldn‘t sympathize with Satara at all, but I still found her character and the writing style compelling. I didn‘t love the unbelievable ending.

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Apocalyptic stories aren‘t really my favorite, but this is a timely and challenging take on that genre. Blending with horror, these narrative frameworks serve as a brilliant vehicle to deconstruct religious trauma and purity culture. C.J. Leede creates fantastic characters and intense emotions while incisively skewering the hypocrisy and absurdity of some religious teachings. 🎧

(Trigger warning under a spoiler tag below)

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Watch out for the twists and turns on this road trip! I was intrigued from the beginning and definitely didn‘t know where it was going. I really liked the atmospheric Western Australian setting and appreciated the insightful author‘s note at the end. 🎧

Excited for my #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub box!!

I‘m listening to (and enjoying) the “American Rapture” audiobook right now or I would have gotten that one!

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The #amazonfirstreads books don‘t always work for me… but at least they‘re free! I was hoping for something more akin to “Dial A for Aunties”, but this didn‘t hold that charm. I was at least curious enough to skim through to the end instead of giving up completely.

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I wasn‘t familiar with the legend of Xishi before reading, but wow, was I emotionally invested in these characters! I thought Ann Liang did a phenomenal job breathing life into this classic story for a modern audience. I understand some critiques, but I can‘t deny that I was glued to the pages and ultimately thought it was a beautiful and moving meditation on power, morality, and war. #BOTM

The comp to “Couples Therapy” in the #BOTM blurb solidified “Dirty Diana” as my pick!

I also had to pick up the sequel to “What the River Knows”. I‘ve been hanging from that cliffhanger for about a year! 😆

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I really liked “One to Watch” by this author! This one didn‘t click with me as much. 🎧

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This book really gives peak autumnal witchy vibes! The characters and plot just didn‘t fully cast a spell on me. It sounds like the physical book has recipes from the story in the back, which I always love, so I am a little bummed they weren‘t included with the audiobook. 🎧

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I loved the first thriller in this series, bailed on the second due to a particular plot element, and personally found this third one okay, but forgettable. The twists don‘t hit as hard when familiar with this author‘s style. 🎧

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This was a very quick read and a pleasant enough way to pass the time on a train ride. I liked the vibes - astrology and cats. I definitely preferred “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” and “What You Are Looking For Is In The Library”, though.

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Maeve Fly: a demented Disney princess, a howling wolf filled with rage. The audiobook narrator injected even more personality into this character. Taking place leading up to Halloween, it‘s a solid horror pick for this time of year. It‘s certainly not for the faint of heart, but it‘s a great, dark antidote to boredom over the same old story. What does it say about me that the ending absolutely ripped my heart out? 🎧

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A lot of this really spoke to me and it was so readable - I easily could have devoured more pages of this story. I would have liked if the romance was more developed and less insta-lovey, but on the other hand, it wasn‘t really about the romance - it was more about Sloane‘s friendship with Naomi, and even more importantly, her relationship with herself. This book caresses your throat; Rachel Harrison once again leaves her mark.

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I appreciated that this wasn‘t a romance like a lot of other witchy books (although there is a love interest). It‘s not that I don‘t enjoy witchy romances, but it was satisfying that this focused more on the magical world-building and Belle‘s self-discovery and empowerment. I think the story could have been tightened up with more editing, but it was an enjoyable read overall, perfect for the Halloween season.

“Rouge” was available on Libby, so I read it again as an audiobook this time! Enjoyed it just as much as the first time around! (Picture is a screenshot of my original review!) 🎧 🥀 🪼

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You don‘t just read this book, you FEEL this book! The exploration of grief, addiction, and family was messy and raw, yet compassionate and hopeful. The characterization was phenomenal; I really felt like I knew and loved each of the Blue sisters. #BOTM

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I was thoroughly charmed by “The Blonde Identity”, but this was just okay for me! It was a light and fun enough cozy mystery. 🎧

Give me all of the witchy books for October! Going with this one for my #BOTM 🧙‍♀️🙂

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Leading with a bold voice and an energetic personality, the prose in “Catalina” dances along the page. I got lost at times in Catalina‘s thoughts, but I will remember the vulnerability and strength of her character. 🎧

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I think I‘ll be in the minority with this opinion, but I didn‘t enjoy this as much as I expected. It was a fun read, but there were too many characters for me to get super invested. 🎧

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I‘m a big fan of Liane Moriarty, and this may be her most gorgeous, profound book yet. She‘s such a keen observer of human nature and culture. Can she actually see inside people‘s minds?! She had me smiling, tearing up, and philosophizing. As always, the impeccable audiobook narration adds even more texture to the lovingly rendered characters. I adored every word. 🎧

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The delectable, gothic atmosphere of Phantasma was a delight to be immersed in as I sink into fall reading! The authentic OCD representation added an extra layer to a fun and spicy read. I would have loved to think or feel more, but it was definitely entertaining and I appreciate it for what it is. #BOTM

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This complex story of violence and motherhood feels alive, beating with the pulse of feminine rage. The tense atmosphere is almost tangible and Clove‘s character could walk off the page. I thought it skillfully balanced intrigue with substance and emotion. There‘s nothing like a mad woman… 🎧

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This book is really… something. Cringy and weird but also compelling and insightful, it‘s like the proverbial car crash you can‘t look away from. I can see why it was such a buzzy book this summer and I can appreciate how it‘s unflinchingly honest. 🎧

Couldn‘t pass this up for my September #Aardvark box!! 🧛‍♀️ #AardvarkBookClub

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Wowza. This is claustrophobic, scathing, and completely unhinged as it skewers the intersection of class, race, and gender. The short chapters make it easy to devour this book, even if some parts will turn your stomach. This will be a hard one to forget! #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

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“I found it interesting that those who believed themselves righteous only ever cared about those who agreed with them, and were keen to let those who didn‘t suffer whatever brutal fate. There seems to me an inherent hypocrisy in faith itself.”

This surprised me a couple of times and I loved the direction it went in! I really like Harrison‘s style; she makes the horror genre feel darkly fun and her stories also have something to say. 🎧

I‘m treating myself for my birthday month #BOTM box! (And what a treat already that it‘s up so early!) 😃

I had “Madwoman” in my box, too, but then decided to pre-order it on Audible instead because I like the narrator (Saskia Maarleveld). I thought “The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern” also looked good!