Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Super Animals: The Largest

Super Animals: The Largest by Olliver Reina and Claes Karel is an illustrated nonfiction kid’s book about some of the biggest animals on earth.

My 5yo and I picked this one out because, of course, who doesn’t want to read about the largest animals! The illustrations were lovely, and each page, though filled with information, was pleasant to the eye. It had quite a bit of statistical information that my 5yo doesn’t comprehend yet (how long things are, how tall, how much they weigh etc), but I liked how the book still showed a graphical depiction of the animal’s size, where it lives, what it eats, and what eats it. (The stuff my 5yo really cares about.) It had some facts that were new to me and also included the komodo dragon and the colossal squid, two animals I feel we don’t usually see in these kinds of nonfiction kids books. Of the six NetGalley picture books we picked out today, this ranked #2/6 for me, and I would recommend to anyone with little kids wanting to learn about really big animals in our world!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Overall, my 5yo said he liked it, and his favorite part was the colossal squid. Of the six NetGalley picture books we read today, this also ranked #2/6 for him. (I think this was the only ranking we agreed on. 😂) Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC! 

Five-year-old rating:

🙂

A thumbs up and a half from the two of us.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – From Blood and Ash

Okay… so, I started out thinking I wouldn’t finish this book… but it won me over.

I put this book on hold from the library months ago after seeing it recommended on Twitter, and to be honest, I spent the first 40% wondering what on earth all the fuss was about. So, keep in mind, I like snappy, fast-paced books as a rule, but I’m not going to lie, this beginning is S.l.o.w. Although the MC is likeable, we are beset with world-building and an overdose of internal monologue (which stretches throughout the book.)

HOWEVER. I was glad I hung in there, because around 50% this book finally came alive. I really liked both Poppy and Hawke, their chemistry pops of the page, the steam is well done, and honestly, their relationship is one of the few I think I can honestly classify as “complicated.” I loved the idea of the ghastly Craven, although I wished we would’ve spent just a little more time with how horrifying this would be, and I really liked the gritty action scenes. With the ample foreshadowing, none of the plot twists were particularly surprising, but I enjoyed them none the less. The Maiden concept seems a bit contrived and cringey (by design) and Poppy’s emotions gave me a little whiplash at the end, but it didn’t seem terribly out of place considering what she goes through.

So, although I’m not exactly dying to read it, I’m definitely still interested to see how she and Hawke’s doomed romance turns out, and I have put it on hold from the library (#15 on 1 copy 😂) . A few caveats: Hawke definitely has the player badboy with a past thing going on, so if you don’t like that, this isn’t for you. There’s also a few F-bombs sprinkled in, so if you don’t like that—also not for you. That said, I’d totally recommend to anyone else looking for a steamy high fantasy that takes its time.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½ 

A thumbs up for that last 50% which almost made me forget about that first 50%.😂

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Forget Me Not


I was browsing the library audiobooks and picked this one up on a whim, and I’m so glad I did. What a beautiful little middle grade story. The plot follows a 12yo girl with Tourette Syndrome who struggles to deal with a new school, her not-so-understanding and constantly moving mom, and the popular boy next door who seems to like her… except when he’s in front of his friends.

This book was told so cleanly and beautifully with so much feeling, and I felt like it really nailed that awkward, unsure feeling of being in middle school, without talking down to the reader in any way or underestimating the MCs. Both Calli and Jinsong’s perspectives ring true as they deal with the crush of peer pressure and difficulties of navigating friendships, bullies, and self-acceptance. I especially love how differently their narratives are delivered: verse for Calli and prose for Jinsong.

Honestly, this lovely book reminds me why I still like to read middle grade, and I whole-heartedly recommend to readers of all ages looking for a lyrical and moving story of two kids stumbling through the growing pains of finding and standing up for yourself.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Tula and I give it a thumb’s up

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Mr. Rook

So, this was an interesting book. I was totally intrigued by the premise. MC goes to secret fantasy island to search for her missing sister and is drawn in by the handsome and off-limits owner of the island. Throw in a little paranormal mystery, and get me some popcorn, because I was Ready for this one.

While I thought the audiobook narration was very good, and the plot definitely kept me guessing right up the end, I have to say, I was a little thrown off by the main characters. Overall, even though I got that they are super lusty and attracted to one another, I didn’t really feel a connection between them otherwise. The MC oscillates between “I must find my sister but Rook is so hot but he’s such an asshole” pretty repetitively, and I feel like I didn’t really see a whole lot of growth in their relationship throughout. I was totally ready for an enemies to lovers plot, or even just enemies with a connection and benefits kind of thing… but really they just seemed kind of angry with each other most of the time, and I found myself not really enjoying their interactions. Maybe there’s more character growth in the sequels, or it could just be a personal preference, but I didn’t particularly like either of the MCs.

However, the plot still definitely kept my attention and the writing was smooth. There were a lot of questions being raised and answered that I did not see coming, and I thought the paranormal tension was a refreshing addition that I wasn’t really expecting. This is a short snappy book, and I would recommend this to readers looking for a “enemies with sexual tension with a side of paranormal. Also, just a head’s up, there’s a lot of language, so if angry F-bombs make you cringe, this one’s not for you. (3.5/5 stars)

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½

Thumb’s side for this one.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review! And thanks so much for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – What’s Her Name?

I picked up What’s Her Name? by Tomac Scott because my sons have unusual names so I thought it might have a good message. The story follows a girl who starts a new school, and the other kids make fun of her for her unusual name. Her mother tells her the meaning behind her name, and the girl works harder to make friends. But, then at the end, a fashion agency tells her she has a unique name, puts her in a commercial, and then everyone likes her…. Yeah, that ending didn’t work for me, and I felt like it garbled the message of appreciating everyone’s diversity… rather than liking them for their newfound fame.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Although my 5yo said he liked the book a whole lot, it was his “fourth favorite” of the four new books we read today. Thanks to Indigo River Publishing and NetGalley for the free ARC!

😍?

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Millie the Monster

Millie the Monster by Una O’Sullivan is a cute little story about a monster that is very small. I picked up this one, because when my 3yo was younger he was tiny due to a struggle with food allergies. I thought this might have a good message that all sizes are equally wonderful. So, I thought it was a little strange when Millie grows to be as big as everyone else in the end. Although the illustrations were adorable, I wasn’t a huge fan of the all caps font.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½

But my 5yo said he liked it “a whole lot” and this was his 3rd favorite out of the 4 new books we read today. Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the free ARC!

😍

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Smile and Say Hi!

Smile and Say Hi by Mary Jo Hazard is a cute book about overcoming your fears. Dragons teach the shy Mike how to “Smile and Say Hi” in order to go on new adventures. I picked this book up because this is something I’m constantly trying to teach my 3yo and 5yo. I loved the rhyming cadence and the colorful pictures, but I did the think the connection between the “Smile and Say Hi” mantra and winning the dragon race was a little thin.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

My five-year-old said he liked it “a whole lot” though, and of the four new books I read him today, this was his favorite, so I would totally recommend this to any kids from the ages of 3-6. Thanks to Mascot Books and NetGalley for the ARC! Five-year-old rating:

😍

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Lunch with the Alien and Other Short, Short Stories

One of the things I love about taking review requests is reading books you wouldn’t ordinarily pick up. Lunch with the Alien by Greg Roensch was definitely one of those for me. This book is described as a “a collection of quirky, bite-size tales” and that is a very accurate description. The stories are flash-fiction sized and run the gamut of genres from sci-fi to sports to heists to historical fiction to the jealousies of water bottles in the refrigerator.

The writing is snappy and clear, and I definitely enjoyed some of the stories like “It’s the Water” and “Transformation”, while others seemed to read more like vignettes without the satisfying conclusion of a story I was looking for. And while the stories didn’t have any connection to each other in the way of genre or plotline, I did like that I really had no idea what was coming next, and I found it a quick, interesting read. I’d recommend to fans of flash fiction who are looking for something out of the ordinary in a variety of genres.

Thanks so much to the author for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½

And after having lunch with the alien, I now find myself wondering about the relationship dynamics between my bottled water and my almond milk.
🤔😂🤔

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Out, Mouse!

Out, Mouse! by Valerie L. Edgar is a super cute story of a man writing letters to the mice in his cottage with suggestions of other places they might live. I listened to this audiobook with my five-year-old and really enjoyed this light, humorous story. I really liked the narrator’s dialogue delivery, although the prose seemed a touch choppy. At 32 minutes long, it was about the right length for my five-year-old’s attention span and he seemed to easily follow the plot, laughing as the mice kept rejecting Finn’s suggestions. It definitely made me smile as well!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

My five-year-old’s review is as follows: I enjoyed it some (as averse to: I didn’t like it or I enjoyed it a whole lot), it was funny, almost like a movie. I asked him if there was anything he didn’t like, and he said no. I would totally recommend this to any kids from the ages of 4-7. Thanks so much to IBPA and NetGalley for for the free ARC listen!

Slightly smiling face
Five-year-old rating

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Reviews – Five Feet Apart, The Heist, Squeeze Me, and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.

I was roadtripping for work last week so I downloaded a few audiobooks from the library to enjoy on the way… and I really struggled with finding something that hit the spot.

I started with On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, a poetic novel which reads like the autobiography of Vietnamese child immigrant and his experiences in US as an immigrant, as well as the far-reaching impacts of his mother and grandmother’s war-battered history. I got to the 50% mark when I had to put this one down. While beautifully told, I was just not in the mood or this kind of wandering, raw literary fiction. But for the right reader, I feel this might hit strong. (No rating.)

Then I moved to Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen, a lighter novel told in a humorous third person omniscient. The story starts off when a wealthy heiress goes missing at a swanky party, and you get the viewpoints from a host of characters either trying to figure out what’s going on or cover it. It was after listening to the first hour of this novel that I realized that third person omniscient definitely isn’t my favorite. Although Angie Armstrong, the wildlife removing excon, is an interesting character, I didn’t really feel particularly attached to her or any of the other characters with the detached POV. Also, since we found out what happened to the heiress in the first hour, the story really just wasn’t holding my attention. However, if you’re into humorous third-person POV, you might enjoy this one. (No rating.)

Then I moved onto Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott. A YA Romance! Surely this one will be right up my alley! The premise is essentially about two teens with Cystic Fibrosis that fall in love, but because of their condition, aren’t allowed within 6 feet of one another.

And it started off really cute! The MC is likeable, and of course she and the love interest get off on the wrong foot. They start to fall for each other… but honestly by about midway, the story started to fall flat for me. The back stories veered into melodramatic territory with bad, short-sighted decisions and even their relationship felt more jerky than smooth.

I googled the book, and it sounds like this book was based on the screenplay… which actually makes a lot of sense. The dialogue is snappy and it’s actually a pretty short book, but I felt like the characters and plot weren’t really as full as they usually are in a novel. I feel like teen readers may enjoy it, and seeing the CF representation was really cool, but as a whole I’d label it as a meh read. I’m not even sure I would watch the movie.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

And then, lastly, feeling somewhat put out about all my audiobook bad luck, I started The Heist by Lee Goldberg. And the first thing I notice, of course, is that it’s in third person omniscient, which as I had just realized many hours earlier, is not my favorite. 🤦

If almost abandoned this book at the 10% mark, but since I didn’t have another audiobook downloaded, I decided to press on.

And I’m super glad I did! I absolutely loved the characters (specifically Kate, Nick, and Kate’s dad), the banter was just perfection, and the heists antics were definitely clever. I actually even recommended this to my husband since he’s a fan of heists (which I almost never do.) My only complaint is that I wanted more Nick and Kate flirting/interaction… and with seven books in this series, I’m not exactly expecting significant relationship growth in Book Two.

That said, while I’m not entirely sure I’ll be picking up the sequels, this book was a fun ride, and I would LOVE to see a movie. Like seriously, GIMME GIMME GIMME. (4.5/5)

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ½

Thanks for reading! I’m really hoping I have better audiobook luck on my next work roadtrip in July, and now that I have NetGalley, I’ll be requesting audiobooks through there too. Fingers crossed for some good ones!