Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Sounds Like Love

This felt like a sweet, fun summer romance book, but something about the pacing felt a little off to me. I think I was expecting more development from the main characters, and the end felt like it came too quickly and didn’t quite have the punch I was expecting. But the narration was solid, and the concept was fun, so I’d definitely recommend to anyone looking for a sweet romance with a lower spice level, especially one with a song-writer and a ex-boy-band member. Heads up though, there are deeper themes as the MC processes her mom’s dementia.

⭐⭐⭐⭐¼

I mean, who doesn’t love a cute summer romance.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Heart the Lover

I’ve been picking audiobooks randomly to listen to off of Libby without any prior knowledge of them, so this is definitely not my usual read, but, dang, it ensnared me. This book read like an echo of some of my own college experiences and just hits hard in such a poignant way, moving quickly and taking me along with it for the whole heartbreaking ride. There were some plot points that didn’t fit as well for me, and the ending didn’t have as much impact on me as I thought it would, but the writing style was lovely and flowing and the characters felt so utterly real. Definitely makes me want to read more outside my comfort zone.

I think I originally said 4.5, but I’m still thinking about this one, so I’m upping it to 5.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Honestly, sometimes you don’t even know the type of book you need to read next.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – A Sorceress Comes to Call

I love T. Kingfisher’s voice, but this one didn’t make the top three for me on her list. It’s a solid read with great narration, but the pacing was a little on the slower side, and I think I was hoping for more character development by the end. I can’t shake the feeling it didn’t quite pack as much punch as it could have. Recommend for readers looking for a solid fairy-tale retelling in class fairy-tale setting.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Still a huge T. Kingfisher fan and have more of her books on my TBR!

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Simultaneous

This was an interesting, fast-paced read. I liked the premise and the characters, but I had the distinct feeling it read like a screenplay adapted quickly into a novel. Though everything was easy to visualize, I feel like the characters and their relationships didn’t quite have the depth that I’m used to. And although it was a fun ride and sets up for a sequel, at the end, I just found myself not really satisfied.

At the 90% mark, I felt like I should be approaching the halfway mark rather than the end, and at the end, I feel like the characters’ development hadn’t made the significant strides I would’ve expected. I also felt like the audiobook narration read a little mechanically so I’m not sure how that affected my experience either. But if you’re looking for a plot-driven, fast-paced thriller with a fantastical edge, this might be for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kept me turning pages, and I think I’d def still recommend it to sci-fi fans. I’m def curious to see what my husband thinks of it.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – The Goddess Games

This was such a fun audiobook listen! It reminded me of a sci-fi version of The Selection. Though the world here firmly carries us into the far future with spaceships and a prince from another planet, the tech and language come off as very accessible with the narrative emphasis on The-Bachelor-style competition and the relationships between the characters. Though it doesn’t read as a stand-alone, the story is fast-paced and ends on a satisfying note. Recommended for fans of the Selection who want to travel to the stars. Thanks to the author for the audiobook copy, and you can grab your own here!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m always here for some gameshow dating shenanigans.

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Audiobook Review – Warrior, Princess, Assassin

I haven’t finished an unputdownable book in a while so this was so refreshing. I’ve never read a why-choose romance, but the voices & relationships of the characters felt so real, and the background of political intrigue was fantastically woven. I honestly wish we had picked this one for our romantasy book club, but I’ll definitely be recommending it to all of them! Can’t wait for the sequel!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The sequel comes out this fall and I’m pumped for it!

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – Listen for the Lie

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!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was so fun! Definitely a good find!

Thanks for reading!

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Audiobook Review – And Tango Makes Three

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.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

And just in case it needs to be explicitly said, our family stands passionately against book banning.

Thanks for reading!

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Book Review – The Phantom Tollbooth

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.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Credit where credit is do. This one is *chef’s kiss.*

Thanks for reading!

Posted on by hrchow12

Book Review – Number the Stars

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.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A classic for a reason!

Thanks for reading!