Loved this read! The voice was fun, the tension was tight throughout, there’s a seed of romance, the narration was amazing, and I honestly didn’t know who did it until the end. Honestly this may be my favorite read of the year so far, and I highly recommend for anyone looking for a fast-paced whodunnit!
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My 7-year-old and 9-year-old were having a discussion about why books are banned, so we listened to this audiobook (which is delightfully narrated by Neil Patrick Harris), and which is also banned in an adjacent county. I’d actually read it to them when they were younger and we found it on their daycare shelf, but they don’t remember.
It’s an adorable, charming book with sweet pictures that they enjoyed when they were young.
As older children, discussing why someone would want to ban this book (and others) was invaluable. Highly recommend.
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I read this aloud to my 7-year-old and 9-year-old on our vacation, and they both said they “loved it.” (The highest praise on their 3-star scale.) I will admit the sheer number of clever turn of phrases in this book is wild, and they enjoyed the silliness of Milo’s wacky adventure. Though the tension isn’t as high as in some of the other books we’ve read together, they were both still asking for more chapters each night. I imagine a watch of the movie is in our future and highly recommend for a read aloud with elementary schoolers.
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I read this one aloud to my 7-year-old and 9-year-old on our vacation. There was lots to discuss and learn about the Holocaust, WWII and what it means to be brave. They kept asking me to keep reading and in the end, they both said they “liked it.” (My kids rate books on a 3-star scale: I loved it, I liked it, or not for me.) It was a super fast read that kept us turning pages, and I definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a read-aloud historical fiction that kids will both understand and want to talk about.
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I’ve read quite a few writing craft books at this point, and I’ll be honest, quite a few of them are misses for me, but I really enjoyed this one. I’ve definitely been feeling a little lost in my author life, and this was *exactly* the book I needed. Bradbury’s writing is straight up mesmerizing, the descriptions of his journey, writing process, inspirations, and advice were fascinating, and in general, I think he gets straight at the heart of writing. I absolutely recommend it, but know going in, this is less concrete advice about how to write, and more about finding the balance amidst industry pressures and motivations – about centering on the art in our writing and ourselves.
A Favorite Quote: “The faster you blurt, the more swiftly you write, the more honest you are. In hesitation is thought. In delay comes the effort for a style, instead of leaping upon truth which is the only style worth deadfalling or tiger-trapping.”
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Since this one has articles from various authors on the same topics, there’s a lot of repetition in this one. I don’t remember what “recommended writing craft books” list I found this on, but it wasn’t my favorite.
Favorite Quote: “The further you stray from reader expectation, the more obligated you are to explain how you got there.”
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So I read Story by McKee and couldn’t really get into it, and unfortunately, I felt the same way about this one. A lot of these elements feel repetitive, and are illustrated through in-depth analysis of selected screenplays. Personally, I felt like it read like a super dry textbook without as many insightful nuggets as I would’ve hoped for. In general, the way the information is presented just didn’t really hit for me, but it could work for you!
Favorite Quote: “The more emotional people become, the shorter the words and sentences they use; the more rational people become, the longer the words and sentences they use.”
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I really enjoyed this heartfelt middle-grade fantasy! Going through a difficult time in her life, Lianna is an easy protagonist to root for as she untangles her late father’s legacy, comes to terms with her grief, and adapts to her new life. Her magical, birdlike Hombit companion is definitely a source of light and fun in the story, and it was a pleasure to follow them as they untangled some of the secrets around them. Told in a very classical style with a magical flavor and solid narration, I recommend to anyone looking for an enchanting middle grade story with undercurrents of mystery (especially for fans of Troy’s Lucky Diamond series.) Thanks so much to the author for the Audible ARC, and you can grab your own copy here!
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A very quirky, light paranormal romance with zombies, vampires, witches, fae, and the lot. The narration was excellent, the voice was cute, and the world was interesting, but the romance felt very fast, and some of the ongoing jokes didn’t quite hit for me. Recommended for those looking for a quirky, light romance in a modern, paranormal world.
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I think I should start by saying this premise won’t be for everyone, but if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief for a premise that’s a little out there, the characters are lovable, their chemistry is great, the voice pops, their arcs were satisfying, the audiobook narration is fantastic, they have peak sunshine/grumpy energy, there’s lots of spice for those who are into that, and overall, the found-family themes were super sweet. Recommended for those looking for a spicy romcom that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I definitely plan on trying other books by this author.
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Hayley Reese Chow 