Audiobook

Songlight

The Torch Trilogy #1

by Moira Buffini

(5 / 5)

Songlight tells the story of a futuristic dystopia in a post-apocalyptic world where society as we know it today has collapsed. It reminded me a lot of The Handmaid’s Tale but still felt different, especially with multiple characters having songlight, which is essentially a type of telepathy.

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. The characters were in such desperate situations that I could really feel. There’s a lot of characters, including 5 different protagonists, but I was able to keep things straight well enough. I especially enjoyed seeing how our different protagonists’ stories were intertwined yet gave us very different perspectives on this world. The story really packs in the drama too. I can’t wait to read the next book!

The Beasts We Bury

By D. L. Taylor

Coming February 4, 2025

(4 / 5)

The Beasts We Bury is a young adult fantasy story that follows Mancella, an heir to the throne who has the magical ability to summon animals, but only after she has killed them. We also follow Silver, a thief who has been tasked with infiltrating the castle and deceiving Mancella. Things become complicated as the two get to know each other better.

I really enjoyed this book and thought both of the main characters were likable. They each had distinct personalities that were relatable. There were some interesting side characters, and Mancella’s father was a special kind of evil that made him quite a villain. I thought the magic in this world felt different and unique from other books I’ve read. Mancella’s magic could definitely be hard to read about at times since it involves killing animals, but I could also feel her despair about it all. I liked the relationship between Mancella and Silver, feeling it was believable and enough to create tension without being the focus of the story. I’m not sure if this book is the beginning of a series, but I’d definitely like to dive back into this world if it were.

I was able to listen to the audiobook version, which I thought was done very well. There were two narrators to represent the two main characters. I thought both narrators did a great job at representing the emotions and personalities of both characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for the free audiobook copy of The Beasts We Bury! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

November 26, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fantasy Fiction Young Adult 0

Worst Case Scenario

By T. J. Newman

Narrated by Joe Morton

Released today!

(5 / 5)

A passenger jet pilot has a heart attack during a flight. The plane crashes, and to make things a lot worse, it hits a nuclear power plant. This book truly is a Worst Case Scenario.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Worst Case Scenario, and I thought it only made the book better. There were some really nice touches, such as voices over the radio, that made the experience all the more immersive. If you can read the audiobook version, I highly recommend it!

This book turned out to be as intense, thrilling, and heartbreaking as the title suggests. We follow a number of different characters, from schoolteachers to first responders to the president of the United States, so we see how the events of the story unfold from many angles. It was well-done though, so it didn’t feel confusing or jarring. So many of the characters were really likable, with complicated backstories and values that are tested over and over. The descriptions throughout the book were great, and the explanations of a nuclear disaster with the resulting trickle effects was explained well. This isn’t going to be a book for someone who might find the theme upsetting, as it had a tone reminiscent of 9/11, but if you’re looking for a good thriller, this book definitely fits the bill.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Worst Case Scenario! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

August 13, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Thriller 0

Love, Off the Record

by Samantha Markum

Narrated by Ellen Quay

Coming June 11, 2024!

(5 / 5)

Wyn is a college freshman who wants to be a journalist and works on the school’s newspaper. When a reporter position becomes available, it opens up a rivalry between her and Three, the other freshman working on the paper.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Love, Off the Record. I thought the narrator did a good job, with enjoyable pacing and expression. In some spots the mic seemed to pick up the narrator breathing, but it didn’t really take away from the story.

This was one of those books where I loved it so much, I was sad to see it end. I absolutely loved the characters and thought they felt realistic. The rivalry and banter between Wyn and Three were great, creating a tension that kept things interesting and provided for some fun moments along the way. While on the surface the story is a coming-of-age romance, it dives into a lot of deeper topics that characters have to overcome, such as finding their individual selves amidst family expectations and how low self-esteem and trust issues can affect relationships between people. There’s also a theme of Wyn struggling with being fat, which mostly portrayed a sense of body positivity while also highlighting the insecurities that come with it. The anonymous dating app storyline was pretty predictable, but I still liked how it helped see characters from a different angle. This was a story that I felt completely invested in, and it was really hard to put down! I’ll definitely be seeking out more books by Samantha Markum.

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for the free audiobook copy of Love, Off the Record! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

June 5, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Young Adult 0

The Last Murder at the End of the World

By Stuart Turton

Narrated by James Cameron Stewart

Released today!

(4 / 5)

90 years ago, the Earth was covered in a deadly fog. The last of civilization, 122 villagers and 3 scientists, exists on a Greek island that’s surrounded by a protective barrier from the fog. On the surface, it seems like an ideal society. But then one of the scientists is murdered, triggering the lowering of the only thing separating them from the fog.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of The Last Murder at the End of the World. The narrator is British and was understandable. He used different voices to represent different characters, and while I didn’t necessarily love all of voices, it did help differentiate who was speaking in the story.

This book was an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. At first, I was a little overwhelmed by the number of characters who were introduced, but I quickly was able to get familiar with the key players. The narrator of the story is ABI, an artificial intelligence that is connected to everyone’s thoughts and can communicate with them, almost as a second conscience. The first quarter of the book concentrates mostly on world building and getting to know the characters, so it takes a while to really dive into the more exciting parts of the story, but I did like how descriptive it was. We end up in a murder mystery, but it all turns out to be far more complicated than expected. The book really took some turns that I was not expecting at all, and it kept me guessing about what really happened and who was involved. At times it could be a little confusing, trying to keep everything straight amidst the constant turns the story took, but eventually everything is fully explained. The story kept me interested and was hard to put down until I reached the end.

Thank you to Tantor Audio, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the audiobook free review copy of The Last Murder at the End of the World! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

May 21, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Mystery Sci-Fi 0

Switched

By Sarah Ready

Narrated by Kelsey Navarro Foster and James Anderson Foster

Coming soon on February 20, 2024

(4 / 5)

Serena is a scientist who likes her life the way it is, convinced that having a relationship with a man would mean giving up her own identity. Then she meets Henry, and they have a one-night stand. He’s convinced it’s love at first sight, but Serena is not falling for that, especially when she finds out he’s going to be her new boss. For well over a year they suppress the feelings, nothing but coworkers… until one day a storm at the Large Hadron Collider leads to them switching bodies, and now they have to stick together until they figure out how to undo it.

Switched is the second book in the Ghosted series, though I think it can easily be read as a standalone. Personally, I liked Ghosted better, but Switched was still an enjoyable read. I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version, which I thought was well-done, especially with portraying the various accents of different characters.

I liked the portrayal of Serena being a woman working in science, though sometimes I felt like the science references were a little bit lost on me. That said, you could feel her passion for the field. The body switch give the book a little bit of a paranormal feel, but this was something I expected. There were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments along the way, but also a lot of soul searching as Serena and Henry learn about each other during their predicament. There was a lot of character growth, especially for Serena, as she came to better understand herself, Henry, and the reasons she didn’t want to have a relationship. Switched kept me wanting to read more, and I was able to finish the whole book within a 24-hour timespan.

Thank you to Sarah Ready, W. W. Crown, and imprint of Swift & Lewis Publishing, LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the free audiobook of Switched. All opinions in my review are completely my own.

February 6, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Romance 0

The Getaway List

By Emma Lord

Narrated by Norma Butikofer

Coming soon on January 23, 2024

(4 / 5)

The Getaway List is a young adult story following Riley, a teen who has just graduated high school and is trying to figure out who she is. She travels to New York City to visit her best friend, Tom, who moved away a few years ago. Together, they start doing some of the adventures on “The Getaway List,” which they created during their time apart.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of The Getaway List. I enjoyed the narration and thought it was well done. I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience this version of the book.

The Getaway List felt like a true coming-of-age story, since our main character, Riley, has just graduated high school and is exploring who she is and what she wants to do with her future. She initially heads for New York City to visit Tom, but they are quickly joined by a couple friends from school and a new friend along the way. The story takes place over the course of a summer full of adventures, blooming relationships, and the friends discovering their individual selves apart from family expectations. It was great to see so much character growth in Riley and all of her friends. I’ll admit that the parent in me cringed a bit when Riley impulsively took off immediately after graduation, straining her relationship with her mom. In the end, though, I was happy with the way things were resolved. There are some hints of romance along the way, but it’s very slow burn. It’s almost frustratingly slow, but I think there’s also a great lesson in these characters trying to figure themselves out before diving into something they weren’t quite ready for. I overall enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books by Emma Lord.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for the free review copy of The Getaway List. All opinions in my review are completely my own.

January 8, 2024 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Young Adult 0

Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena

By Philomena Cunk

Narrated by Philomena Cunk

New Release!

(4 / 5)

A month or two ago I was introduced to Philomena Cunk on the Netflix series, Cunk on Earth. The satirical documentary had me laughing, so when I saw the book, Cunk on Everything, I knew I had to read it. As luck would have it, I was able to receive an advance audiobook copy through NetGalley. Now instead of just reading Philomena Cunk’s words, I could hear them in her own voice, the way it was meant to be heard. I don’t feel like reading the book would be quite the same experience.

The book is organized like an encyclopedia, going through various topics in alphabetical order. Philomena Cunk is hysterical, with her absurd observations and mixing up people or countries with similar names to make bizarre statements. There were many moments that had me laughing out loud, like when she said Pluto wasn’t a planet anymore because they discovered it was actually Mickey Mouse’s dog, and that The Beatles didn’t have 6 legs like a beetle, but 8 legs like a spider and made girls scream, like a spider. It’s such an unexpected perception of the world, and I loved it.

I will note that the book is obviously very British, which isn’t surprising given that Philomena Cunk is British. But, I feel like there were a bunch of British references that I just didn’t get because I’m not British myself. At times I found my mind wandering a bit because she was discussing a topic I didn’t know anything about. Also, this book is originally from 2018, so it felt a little dated when she would make references to the queen, who has since passed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the free audiobook. All opinions in my review are exclusively my own.

September 28, 2023 by danimae1981 Audiobook Humor Nonfiction 0

Ghosted

By Sarah Ready

Narrated by Sarah Naughton and Rob Brinkman

Coming soon on September 26, 2023

(4.5 / 5)

TW: suicide

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of Sarah Ready’s upcoming book, Ghosted. The narrators did a great job reading the book. A special thanks to NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the free advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed in my review are solely my own.

I went into Ghosted knowing it was a paranormal romance, but it ended up being so much more than I was expecting. It made me feel such a range of emotions, from laughter to tears. At times it did feel a little long, but then the story took a big turn in a direction I wasn’t necessarily expecting.

The author has a very descriptive style of writing, thoroughly painting the scenes throughout the book. Characters were complex and interesting, with side characters that had big personalities and their own character developments. All of this really brought the story to life.

I will note that Jillian, the main character, is a huge Star Trek fan, so many references to the show are made. I’m familiar enough with the various series to be able to appreciate the references, but readers not familiar with Star Trek might find themselves a little lost at times.

I don’t want to give away any of the plot here, so I’ll just say that I ended up enjoying this book so much more than I expected. It was hard to tear myself away from the story, and I finished the whole thing in just over a day. I would love to read more books by Sarah Ready!

I received a free review copy of this book, but all opinions are completely my own.

September 19, 2023 by danimae1981 Audiobook Fiction Romance 0