Didn't realize this was the adapted version until I was halfway through - that didn't impact the stories or writing.
So many excellent essays on varioDidn't realize this was the adapted version until I was halfway through - that didn't impact the stories or writing.
So many excellent essays on various disabilities and all told through first person experiences. I loved the intersectionality in this as well - someone with cerebral palsy and her experience fasting for Ramadan. Someone else's childhood living with incontinence and the bullying she faced. Someone's experience as a Deaf person in prison, and lack of basic necessities and access. He would have his hands chained behind his back while also being expected to communicate with the guards. Another's experience with bipolar disorder and negative reactions to medication, her years of mania and pharmaceutical avoidance.
I thought every essay in this was excellent. No notes. I want to read the other version now. ...more
Entertaining insults to say to dudes that you want to leave you alone! I think if I didn't already see Prue's comedy online this may be weird to listeEntertaining insults to say to dudes that you want to leave you alone! I think if I didn't already see Prue's comedy online this may be weird to listen to with no context.
There's the list of 106 insults, a quick how to build your own insults and what gets under men's skin segment, and then it's over. The audio does have another 50% left of the author and his mother giving advice, which was a cool touch and felt like a little podcast episode.
Very quick, very snappy, don't recommend saying these in real life unless you feel safe and have an escape plan. These are also written by and tested by a cis white guy, so intersectionality is lacking.
Like all jokes, some made me laugh, some were bad, and some were meh. Many have been used in his standup too. I will be telling all my guys at work that I love their blouses though.
Quick listen, would recommend getting this as a library loan if possible, unless you want this as a coffee table book or something, there's not much content inside it lol....more
I don't know if this is still me being in a slump, but this felt like a chore to listen to. I didn't care about tWoefully underwhelmed with this one.
I don't know if this is still me being in a slump, but this felt like a chore to listen to. I didn't care about the characters, was not invested in the trials, and only at the very end was I kind of intrigued with the plot shenanigans. Not interested enough to read the next in this duology though.
I am bummed!
Not a romance: YA fantasy with cast of diverse semi-gods competing in a quasi hunger games situation with percy jackson style action. ...more
Probably more of a 3.5 star read - enjoyed the narration a bunch though.
Classic gothic horror, living in the haunted house, Merrycat confused me to nProbably more of a 3.5 star read - enjoyed the narration a bunch though.
Classic gothic horror, living in the haunted house, Merrycat confused me to no end.
I did feel like I was back in AP English class with how much googling and reviewing of literary reviews and analyses of the book I've read to fully grasp this after finishing it.
Would recommend if you want to spend some time being off-put and creeped out for a bit. Check out CWs. ...more
Mumble mumbe this book was the mayo equivalent if it was a condiment.
For how long this lasted, the world building and character development was reallMumble mumbe this book was the mayo equivalent if it was a condiment.
For how long this lasted, the world building and character development was really lacking. There are different London universes, but we barely get anything from them besides. Red London is red. They speak a different language in Grey London. Flowers. A rock.
Both main characters were also just mayo on wonder bread. One was -insert chosen boy trope here- and the other was -insert badass girl who takes no shit here-. There's potential, but for how many words were used to write this story there was not much said, which drives me nuts.
I think I would have liked this one more if I read it when I was younger, but this really didn't do anything for me, and I'm bummed! I've heard so much praise for the series and I am very meh about it....more
More nerdy DnD related romance! MX, some pining, some emo hair flipping of "I'm not worthy of you" vibes. Both MCs work at the board gamAudio review:
More nerdy DnD related romance! MX, some pining, some emo hair flipping of "I'm not worthy of you" vibes. Both MCs work at the board game cafe, one is also an artist (but doesn't like to show his work) with lots of inner angst and is a bit of a grump/stays to himself. The other MC is finishing up their college degree and dealing with grief. Like book 1, this book deals with parents that are addicts, CW for that. One of the MC's siblings also died from an overdose. There's also discussion on consent when drinking, which I appreciated.
There were some issues with the audio either skipping or repeating the same sentence a couple times, which sounds like a production issue. Brennan Rossi is a new to me narrator, and it was fine. Some of the women voices were meh, but outside of the repeats, this was ok.
Not my favorite in the series, but still an emotionally angsty read. Also am always here for my nonbinary leads, wooo. This has more "this was a book that I read" energy more than anything. ...more
Surprisingly cute and nerdy wlw romance! One MC owns a board game cafe, loves DnD, and has a very sweet found family of other nerds. The other MC receSurprisingly cute and nerdy wlw romance! One MC owns a board game cafe, loves DnD, and has a very sweet found family of other nerds. The other MC recently moved to the city, rents a room from the other MC, plays roller derby, and is getting out of a crappy relationship.
This had roommates, strangers to friends to lovers, found family, board games, and some sweetness, some strap on shenanigans. Also, Amy Kennedy is a new to me narrator that I enjoyed.
I'm just riding out my 2024 slump, and this was readable (listenable?) for me, which I'm calling a win.
CW for alcoholic parent, shitty ex who is homophobic, slurs, crappy ex-friends, misogyny at work ...more
This writing is not working for me. A mix of too many descriptive words not adding anything to the conversation, meh chemistry between the leDNF @26%
This writing is not working for me. A mix of too many descriptive words not adding anything to the conversation, meh chemistry between the leads, miscommunication slash hidden identity trope that's way too obvious, lackluster comes to mind.
Also - negative points for a gruesome first couple chapters with on page animal death. A deer in a snare and lots of description on how to end it's suffering was not how I was expecting to start my Sunday morning read of a romance book. I also don't want to be that guy fact checking, but a deer isn't the first animal to come to mind for getting caught in a snare, but I wasn't around in the medieval ages, so what do I know.
CW for homophobia and parents being bigots. ...more
RA and one of the guys in the dorm, friends to lovers, OTT lead, idiots who don't know the other is into them, lots of horoscope talk, fake 3.5 stars
RA and one of the guys in the dorm, friends to lovers, OTT lead, idiots who don't know the other is into them, lots of horoscope talk, fake fiances, lots of 'platonic' friend cuddling and hanging out, everyone already thinks they're dating, big flirt x uptight pairing.
This was a nice and easy read, had little actual drama or conflict, just miscommunication of the leads not telling the other that they are in love.
The narration was rough though - something about the accents/voices for the leads didn't work for me. ...more
I'm continuing on with my epistolary rabbit hole I've gone down! Fantasy romance, trans & cis men, pregnancy and lots of kiddo content in here. (No onI'm continuing on with my epistolary rabbit hole I've gone down! Fantasy romance, trans & cis men, pregnancy and lots of kiddo content in here. (No on page birth though.)
The pacing in this threw me off a bit. The first 50% is the MCs relationship development/fucking/dating casually, then the next 40% they're separated and sending letters back and forth, then the last 10% is a very abrupt ending that was too rushed for me. This was a rare situation where I didn't care for the letter elements either, especially since each lead was keeping vital information from the other. Usually the epistolary elements give some deep intimacy elements, but this was just the letter equivalent of sexting and withholding important discussions (for example, being pregnant and getting injured.)
I do love Derr's world building, and love that there's this "shrug, whatever gender you want to be is cool" element to the society. Each person chooses who they want to be, and it's not dependent on genitals. Love that! I was missing a bit on the romance side, and the plot wasn't the most interesting of the series, but this audio kept my attention which I'll count as a win!
I will say reading reviews for this book has the transphobes coming out of the woodwork. Trans men are men, someone who enjoys jewelry and doing things to their hair doesn't turn this into a hetero relationship. A man with a vulva doesn't make this a "straight romance in disguise." Disappointed but not surprised with some of the top rated reviews being so hamfisted....more
I want to read something else from this author - I really am intrigued with the topics and world building in their book, however thiDNF around 50%ish
I want to read something else from this author - I really am intrigued with the topics and world building in their book, however this book is just suffering from 'debut book' syndrome. Some editing needed, less info dumping, there's two plotlines going on and both are moving at a glacial pace.
I did love the castellano used throughout this within the world, and thought there was some interesting elements included that I hope gets further explored - "blood quantum", racism, colorism, and othering parallels to IRL experiences. Nonconsent of medical procedures. There's a lot to unpack in this.
However, I am bored with the actual plot and back and forth POV's of "then she did this. then she saw that. she then went here and did this" where the reader gets breadcrumbs. Too slow for me, and a bit too in the weeds.
Will be trying out a non-debut from the author though! ...more
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I lInsert Ben Affleck chain smoking meme....
Do you think Sila will ever just be murdered? I dislike him so much!
Some very cute SJ & M intimacy and "I love you" moments, more rabbit mask killer case - there were some big reveals in this one. Still hate Sila though.
Great narration as usual. Also good for the side characters getting in some pegging. Good for them indeed!...more
This had an interesting plot and premise, but fell a bit flat for me. I think Joel Leslie did a great job on the narration. I3.5 stars, rounded down.
This had an interesting plot and premise, but fell a bit flat for me. I think Joel Leslie did a great job on the narration. I just wasn't convinced on the actual plot and romance aspects.
There's a one-sided enemies to lovers going on, where Kit is in this rivalry against his step-brother, Ethan. Kit is dramatique, over the top, and could really benefit from a communications course. All of his one sided bickering at Ethan started to get old for me, especially when Ethan barely put up any resistance on showing/saying that he was into Kit for ages. The tension wasn't there for the amount of 'enemies' Kit claimed they were.
The plot in this was both Indiana Jones adventure and dragged on in areas. This wasn't quite grasping me as an action popcorn story, I wasn't a jungle adventure slash travel adventure piece, and this didn't feel like an uber romantic story, just something kind of in between. ...more
This series!! Such a hidden gem. If the writing of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree didn't work for you, but you still want to read abouAudio review
This series!! Such a hidden gem. If the writing of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree didn't work for you, but you still want to read about cozy vibes of a business running and the patrons inside (also set in a fantasy world) - highly recommend this novella series.
Emily Woo Zeller does a great job narrating. The writing dips into the weeds on cooking in a restaurant and serving the patrons, but in an all vibes no plot comforting way. There's magic, there's regulars, there's pineapple upside down cake. This was the cozy I needed....more
This was super cute! Childhood best friends, both pining for the other, working together on a Jane Austen themed tour service. Short enouAudio review
This was super cute! Childhood best friends, both pining for the other, working together on a Jane Austen themed tour service. Short enough where the romance feels complete, and where the pining/miscommunication isn't overbearing. Low angst, no breakups/conflicts, an explicit sex scene.
Joel Leslie is hit or miss for me, and this one was a hit. Maybe his 2 hour long audios are the key for maximum enjoyment! ...more
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