NetGalley

Wished

By Sarah Ready

Coming October 1, 2024

(4 / 5)

Anna has been in love with Max since she first met him 3 years ago. The problem is that he doesn’t notice her at all, she’s just one of the hired people cleaning his house. When she makes a wish on an heirloom necklace, an unexpected turn of events ensues.

Wished is the 4th book in Sarah Ready’s Ghosted series. Since there’s very little references to the previous books, it could easily be read as a standalone, though there are some possible spoilers in the epilogue if you intend to eventually read the earlier books.

I thought this was an enjoyable read. It’s not surprising that we experience some insta-love along the way, given Anna’s love at first sight and then reality changing from a wish. There’s some pretty intense feelings involved that turns up the spice. I enjoyed some of the philosophical aspects that the book explores, such as the impact of changed realities, freedom of choice, and the things that make people happy. There was at least one aspect of the scenario that was never really explained, though given the magical/paranormal aspect the story is based on, that might be explanation enough for most people. This book definitely brings a rollercoaster of emotions.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles and NetGalley for the free review copy of Wished! All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This is Not a Holiday Romance

By Camilla Isley

Coming September 4, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Nina does not get along with her brother’s best friend, Tristan, and the feud has been going on for 15 years. When she finds out Tristan will be spending the week with her family for Christmas, Nina is livid. With some unexpected feelings brewing, is it possible for things to change between these two enemies?

Camilla Isley is an author whose work I really enjoy. This book didn’t turn out to be one of my favorites by her, but it was still a cute, quick, light story that was perfect for a vacation read. Of the two main characters, I liked Tristan but found Nina to be a bit childish, especially in the beginning. Some of the pranks between the two were funny, but others were too vindictive for my taste. I did enjoy the romance aspect of the book, and it kept my interest easily enough. Parts of the book were predictable, but this wasn’t the type of book that I was expecting to produce a bunch of surprises. I’m wondering if this book will be the first in a series, since the epilogue seems to open the possibility for a couple more storylines.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of This is Not a Holiday Romance! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

August 21, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Women's Fiction 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

Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry

By Ransom Riggs

Coming August 27, 2024

(4 / 5)

Seventeen-year-old Leopold “Larry” Berry is completely average. After losing his mother when he was twelve, Leopold became obsessed with a TV show he found on VHS with his mother’s things. But then he begins to see strange things from the world in the show, Sunder. Is he losing his mind, or does Sunder actually exist?

Sunderworld, Vol. I was my introduction to author Ransom Riggs, and I was impressed at how readable the book felt. I’m not the fastest reader, but I felt like I was flying through this one. Leopold, the main character, felt very relatable, and I enjoyed watching him gain confidence over the course of the book. Sunder, the magical world, introduces some bizarre experiences, though entering that world wasn’t as strange as I thought it might be. I enjoyed the sense of adventure and mystery this book brought, with a decent amount of action along the way. I did feel like the book ended somewhat abruptly, leaving most things that were going on unresolved. I still have so many questions! I think this was a strong start to a new series, and this first book left me anxious to find out what will happen next.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Dutton Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the free review copy of Sunderworld, Vol. I: The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

August 7, 2024 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Young Adult 0

This Will Be Fun

By E. B. Asher

Coming September 10, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Ten years ago, four heroes saved the realm, an event that is joyously celebrated by the Queendom… except for the heroes themselves. After losing their leader in the battle, the remaining three heroes split on bad terms. Now the queen is getting married, and the heroes must face each other again for the event.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It’s more character driven than plot driven, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting. For the first half, it felt like not a lot was happening, and there was a lot of eluding to past events without completely revealing what exactly happened (until around the 40% mark). Things did pick up a bit maybe around the halfway mark, but I wasn’t really feeling either of the romances. The magic in this world led to a lot of modern-world parallels – chain coffee shops, riding sharing, tabloids, social media, video streaming, etc. It made the story a bit quirky, though for me this magic almost felt a little too convenient at times. In the end, this book didn’t capture my interest as well as I thought it would, but I could see how others might really enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the free review copy of This Will Be Fun! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

July 26, 2024 by danimae1981 Fantasy Fiction Kindle Romance 0

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend

By MJ Wassmer

Coming August 6, 2024

(3 / 5)

Dan, an underachieving average guy, is on vacation with his girlfriend in the Bahamas at a new beach resort. But suddenly they are plunged into darkness, with the sun presumably having exploded. Welcome to the apocalypse.

Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend has a satirical approach to an apocalyptic event, so it’s not necessarily something that can be taken completely seriously. The book felt fittingly chaotic, especially as a societal hierarchy formed between the different buildings of guests. A lot of the characters weren’t necessarily very likable, especially in this situation where humanity is at its worst, so I never really connected completely with the main characters. Along the way the story has a bit of a twist to it, but honestly, I had already suspected it, so it probably didn’t have the impact on me that it would have otherwise. There was enough going on in the story to keep my interest, and it felt like a pretty quick read, but it wasn’t quite as much “the book for me” as I thought it would be.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the free review copy of Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

July 22, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Humor/Satire Kindle 0

Hearts Overboard

By Becky Dean

Released today!

(4.5 / 5)

Summer break has just started for Savannah, but it came with her boyfriend, Caleb, breaking up with her, complaining she’s too boring. Now she’s leaving for an Alaskan cruise with her parents and their friends, stuck having to be around their son, Tanner, who also happens to be her nemesis. In an effort to seem less boring, she calls a truce with Tanner to help her try new things during the trip.

This was a really cute story with an amazing setting and a sense of adventure. At first Savannah struck me as a little self-centered and set in her ways, but as I got to know her, I started to understand her better. Plus, it gave a good opportunity for character growth, which we see a lot of over the course of the story. Despite Savannah’s negative feelings about him in the beginning, Tanner was a likable character who had a lot of depth too. It was interesting to watch the characters learn a lot about each other (maybe Savannah didn’t know as much about Tanner as she thought she did) while also learning a lot about themselves along the way. There was a lot of introspection about taking risks, trying new things, and facing fears. I enjoyed the romance aspect, even if I sometimes got a little frustrated with Savannah’s (admittedly understandable) denials along the way. The book was a quick read and kept me interested the whole time. I was a little sad to reach the ending of this one since I enjoyed it so much. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Thank you to Random House Children’s | Delacorte Romance and NetGalley for the free review copy of Hearts Overboard! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

July 9, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Young Adult 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

Fated

By Sarah Ready

Coming July 16, 2024

(3.5 / 5)

Fated is the 3rd book in the Ghosted series, though it takes place before the other books, so I think it could easily be read as a standalone. In this story, we follow Fiona, co-owner of her family’s famous watch company in Geneva. She has some abandonment issues and is afraid to fall in love. When she is gifted a family heirloom that will let her dream her desires, she is introduced to a different life on an island, with a husband that might be a chance for her to love.

I wanted to love this book… the premise was interesting, with beautiful settings and great descriptions. The pacing felt a bit slow for my taste, and I think I would have liked to see more of Fiona in the real world. The dream world definitely had more drama and complications than I was expecting. I think I felt a little uncomfortable with the premise of Fiona basically living the life of another person (Becca) in the dream world, who seemed to have different intentions when Fiona wasn’t there. Meanwhile Fiona is dating her friend, Max, in the real world while she falls for Aaron in the dream world. All that said, the end of the book really takes a turn that tugs at the heartstrings and kept me more invested in the story. I was happy about how it ended and like the hints toward the next book in the series.

Thank you to Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles, Sarah Ready and NetGalley for the free review copy of Fated! All opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

May 31, 2024 by danimae1981 Fiction Kindle Romance Women's Fiction 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.