What an IMPRESSIVE fiction debut from Canadian icon Jann Arden! I was actually quite blown away by how compelling and unputdownable this genre-defyingWhat an IMPRESSIVE fiction debut from Canadian icon Jann Arden! I was actually quite blown away by how compelling and unputdownable this genre-defying rural domestic family drama was! Told through alternating POVs this story is part mystery, part coming of age tale about three generations of a very dysfunctional family.
It starts off a bit dark, set on a run down farm with a cruel farmer who brutally treats his animals, his wife and his young daughter who herself is badly mistreated. If you can swallow down the dark bits, there is also a great deal of humor, heart, spunky animals and a wide cast of characters you won't help but be able to root for as the truth behind a kidnapping years ago slowly comes to light in the books' final pulse-pounding chapters!
The farm animals play a prominent role in this story and some of my favorite scenes were the ones from their perspectives or that highlighted their insidious acts of vengeance. Great on audio narrated by the author herself with a moving note about just how long she worked on this book and what a labor of love it was to create.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I truly enjoyed every minute of this book and will be recommending it highly as one of my favorites of the year!
THIS. BOOK!! My first by this bestselling author, it is definitely going down as one of the most important and powerful YA reads of 2023!!
Set in smallTHIS. BOOK!! My first by this bestselling author, it is definitely going down as one of the most important and powerful YA reads of 2023!!
Set in small town Texas, this is not your usual YA summer road trip romance. The characters themselves dub it their "abortion road trip love story" and it IS that but also SO MUCH MORE!!! Ivy is a fifteen year old girl who finds herself pregnant after getting forced into a nonconsensual sexual encounter (not technically rape, but still a situation no one should find themselves in).
Left reeling, least of all because she is already over the six week deadline to get a legal abortion in Texas. Thankfully Ivy's mother is super supportive and allows her to go on a road trip to Oregon, where her grandmother lives and where abortions are legal.
Traveling with her friend and not yet boyfriend, Lorenzo, (not the father of the baby), Ivy finds herself slowly falling more and more in love with the steadfast, solid boy beside her while also hearing about a number of other women's own pregnancy and abortion stories.
She learns that 1 in 4 women have abortions and its a more common thing that's happened from the time men and women were having sex. Learning that "you don't know you're in a secret network until you're in it" is one of the lessons her aunt imparts and it's so true!
This book will make you RAGE and CRY along with Ivy as she learns just how lucky she is to have the support and means to obtain a legal abortion when SO many others in America don't. Books like this one are more important than ever and I'm so glad the author wrote this one and teens like Ivy will be able to learn they aren't alone.
FANTASTIC on audio narrated by Jorjeana Marie, this book read almost like a spoken word poem. While I did find the narrator a bit slow-speaking (I listened in an app that didn't go past 2x), overall her performance was captivating and so well done! Many thanks to @prhaudio for the complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!!!
CW: abortion, sexual abuse, parent with cancer, slut-shaming, homophobia...more
I just HAD to read this perfect #SpookySeason haunted house book in September and it was FANTASTIC on audio!! Horror usually isn't my thing but strongI just HAD to read this perfect #SpookySeason haunted house book in September and it was FANTASTIC on audio!! Horror usually isn't my thing but strong female main characters are my catnip and our protagonist, Margaret was both HILARIOUS and a total snarky, stubborn badass!
Margaret and her husband dream of finding and buying an older home with character and when they finally find one they can afford they ignore all the red flags and sign on the dotted line. It doesn't take long for them to realize their dream house is actually a nightmare!
With a DARK past that is full of tragic deaths, ghosts who won't leave (even after repeated visits by the local priest), dead birds, bleeding walls and something so sinister in the basement even Margaret can't speak of it.
Things come to a head when Margaret's grown daughter insists on coming for a visit after learning her father is missing. Once the police get involved and they stumble into the forbidden basement a huge (at times gruesome) confrontation brings this thriller to a nail-biting finish!!
For the most part this was just a funny, while dark, haunted house story about a woman who REFUSED to be driven away from the house she really wanted. It was Margaret and the great narration by Kimberly Farr that really made this for me.
If you aren't a fan of gory stories the last bit might turn you off but overall this was an incredible read for me! I can't believe it's a debut novel either!! Haunted House and thriller fans need this on their TBR! I cannot recommend it enough!...more
This was EVERYTHING and MORE I was hoping for!! The BEST friends to lovers romance I’ve read in ages!! NYC setting, Millennial angst, REAL conversatioThis was EVERYTHING and MORE I was hoping for!! The BEST friends to lovers romance I’ve read in ages!! NYC setting, Millennial angst, REAL conversations, intimacy, tenderness, bisexual rep, Jewish rep, ALL...more
Amber Kivinen is an ex-Olympic hopeful gymnast turned influencer who decides to leave her college boyfriend, KI enjoyed this Canadian debut SO much!!
Amber Kivinen is an ex-Olympic hopeful gymnast turned influencer who decides to leave her college boyfriend, Kevin to compete in a reality television show offering two spots on the first human-led mission to Mars.
Hosted by a rich Jeff Bezos/Elon Musk type tycoon, the show provides the chance for two invididuals to seek the utmost level of fame in a life-changing adventure. Full of romance and wit, this story was one I couldn't put down and found so fascinating.
Told from the POV of both of both Amber and her ex, Kevin, the book explores Millennial life, climate change, the power of social media, corporate culture and more and is perfect for fans of books like Andy Weir's The Martian and was good on audio narrated by Landon Doak and Vanessa Matsui.
I loved this debut SOOOOO so much! Layered and so intelligent, this story follows two sisters, one who gets accidentally pregnant and the other who isI loved this debut SOOOOO so much! Layered and so intelligent, this story follows two sisters, one who gets accidentally pregnant and the other who is decidedly child-free by choice. Told in alternating POVs, the book explores their complicated relationship, what it means to want to be a mother, questions of abortion and adoption, women's rights and so much more. My review truly can't do this book justice but it will be a standout for me this year and I loved it on audio too! Highly recommended!!
CW: abortion, sexual abuse of a minor, infidelity...more
This latest from one of my all-time favorite authors did not disappoint in the slightest! Told in two parts, this was very different from her recent OThis latest from one of my all-time favorite authors did not disappoint in the slightest! Told in two parts, this was very different from her recent Owens sisters books, yet had the same focus on love and family with a unique element of magical realism that I really enjoyed!
This book follows Mia, a young teen girl raised in a cult who finds comfort at the local library and in the pages of books. In particular, a special copy of Nathaniel Hawthorne's A scarlet letter has a dedication that seems written just for her. Determined to escape, she tries convincing her mother to leave with her without luck and when tragedy strikes she turns to the local librarian for help.
Years later Mia has found a new family and a place she can belong working as a librarian at the New York Public Library. Her past comes back to haunt her in a very real and dangerous way though and when she tries to run again she ends up finding herself transported back in time to the man who will become the love of her life.
This book is for romance lovers and anyone who's ever wondered about the story behind their favorite stories. I must admit I was never a big fan of The Scarlet letter but this book certainly had me appreciating it and its author a whole lot more.
Great on audio narrated by Jessie Mueller and perfect for fans of books like The time traveller's wife by Audrey Niffenegger (one of my all time favorite star-crossed love stories). Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review. My words truly don't do this story justice!...more
OH MY GOSH!! I loved this debut romance from a new Canadian author SO DARN MUCH!! Set in Hamilton, Canada there were just sooo many great local refereOH MY GOSH!! I loved this debut romance from a new Canadian author SO DARN MUCH!! Set in Hamilton, Canada there were just sooo many great local references that only Canadians will get. Well Done!!...more
Sophomore slump was no problem for this author!! I don't even have words to do justice to this INCREDIBLE love triangle romance between Maggie, a taleSophomore slump was no problem for this author!! I don't even have words to do justice to this INCREDIBLE love triangle romance between Maggie, a talented singer-songwriter with synesthesia, her summer camp crush, Asher and Garrett, the man she meets in her 20s and thinks is her music loving soulmate who never seem to get their timing right!
Fair warning, your head might get whiplash from the sudden jumps in time and place as this is a VERY nonlinear story that starts as Maggie is about to turn 35 and the two men she made marriage pacts with BOTH show up. Over the course of the book we learn about the roads that lead to this moment through a series of flashbacks.
I've never been a huge fan of the love triangle trope but Alison does it to PERFECTION in this book. I was rooting for both men and honestly didn't know who was going to be the final guy. It was almost unfair that Maggie gets to fall in love with two such swoony guys in her life. But the way the book ends actually turned out to be exactly what I wanted and I was 100% satisfied!
Getting to her HEA wasn't easy though, this is an extremely emotionally heavy story perfect for fans of authors like Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez, Carley Fortune or Sarah Ready. The book tackles grief, depression, sexual assault (off page), infertility (PCOS) but on the flip side, there are some of the most HILARIOUS scenes in this story too!! The miniature pony ride had me cackling in horrified glee and every scene with her no filter best friend was a refreshing delight!
All that is to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK!! You don't want to miss this one friends! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I listened to this twice back to back it was just THAT good!!
WOW. For a such small volume of poems/letters/essays and prompts this sure packs a punch!! Written by a popular Asian Canadian trans femme author duriWOW. For a such small volume of poems/letters/essays and prompts this sure packs a punch!! Written by a popular Asian Canadian trans femme author during the pandemic when they were hurting from seeing all the hate and violence in the world. This book is meant to be a source of catharsis, provide healing and be a beacon of trans joy.
Dedicated to different people and topics, each poem/letter is filled with emotion and deeply personal. Both sad and hopeful, this reads as a volume meant to heal during a very painful period of the author's life.
Lyrical and extremely moving and I can't recommend it enough. I especially enjoyed the letters to the deathwalkers (those contemplating suicide), to the johns and to JK Rowling and prompts that follow each letter that ask the reader to take various actions or reflect on different parts of themselves.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a book I will be buying to keep on my forever shelf and raving about to everyone I know! A MUST READ of 2023!!...more
I adored this big-hearted adult fiction debut featuring a cast of queer characters, found family, small town charm and an utterly cheer-worthy second I adored this big-hearted adult fiction debut featuring a cast of queer characters, found family, small town charm and an utterly cheer-worthy second chance romance between Sammy, a pansexual music reviewer and Max, a Rockstar looking for a comeback.
Great on audio and it seems like there just might be a second book coming??? I would definitely love to return to Ridley Falls and get more Sammy and Max stories. Recommended for fans of authors like BK Borrison or Courtney Kae.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
⚠️CW: recovering alcoholic, absentee/neglectful parent, death of a loved one...more
A mindblowing and TWISTY true crime reality show slash cold case murder mystery that was AMAZING on audio with a full cast of narrators! This is a musA mindblowing and TWISTY true crime reality show slash cold case murder mystery that was AMAZING on audio with a full cast of narrators! This is a must read for true crime lovers. Unique and unputdownable. I can't recommend enough and want to watch this as a movie IMMEDIATELY!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Just go into this one blindly and thank me later!...more
Searing. Insightful. Utterly relatable for our times!
This book was an attention grabber from the start. With its viscerally disturbing, borderline grSearing. Insightful. Utterly relatable for our times!
This book was an attention grabber from the start. With its viscerally disturbing, borderline gruesome cover depicting an up close shot of a pomegrante to the spot on look at the rat race that is modern corporate culture.
Told from the first person POV of Cassie, a high level employee of a Silicon Valley tech start up who is constantly under pressure to do more and be better. This job was supposed to be the start of a better life for her, providing an escape from her parent's troubled marriage and signalling she was finally making it on her own.
The reality though is that she lives with a constant 'black hole' hovering over her head where all her anxieties and fears hang in an oppressive cloud. This only gets worse as her landlord hikes her rent, she discovers she might be pregnant and news of the COVID virus in Europe starts to make its way to America.
I found Cassie such a relatable character, especially the way she talks about having two 'faces' - the falsely 'happy' one she presents to the world and the real one that is constantly anxious and has her taking drugs and alcohol to escape from her worries.
Great on audio narrated by Laurel Lefkow, this was my first book by the author and I couldn't get enough!! Many thanks to Simon & Schuster audio and Librofm for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This is going straight onto my favorites of 2023 list and will be one I recommend a LOT this year!
Part brutally honest truth telling of Indigenous treatment in Canada and part personal and family history, this collection of essays are dA MUST READ!
Part brutally honest truth telling of Indigenous treatment in Canada and part personal and family history, this collection of essays are deeply heartfelt calls to action for individuals and politicians to finally make true changes to work towards improving Indigenous relations, treatment and respect.
The author doesn't shy away from talking about intergenerational trauma, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, land appropriation, racism and the violence and mistreatment of Indigenous women (through forced sterilization, rape and murder) - including her own history of rape, anxiety and cPTSD.
Eye opening and likely shocking for some readers, this is a book everyone should be reading and hopefully will go towards inspiring the type of change we so desperately need in Canada. Good on audio read by Megan Tooley.
**I especially enjoyed the author calling out Joseph Boyden and Carrie Bourassa (among others') attempts to appropriate Indigeneity in her chapter on Cultural pillagers and the damage their actions cause to actual Indigenous people!...more
This was a fantastic YA summer romance featuring a teen girl who is forced to give up her dancing dreams when she starts showing symptoms of an unnameThis was a fantastic YA summer romance featuring a teen girl who is forced to give up her dancing dreams when she starts showing symptoms of an unnamed condition (very hEDS-like in nature).
Full of a cast of great supporting characters and a sweet love interest, this story does such a great job illustrating the challenges of living with a chronic illness and chronic pain. Highly, highly recommended and great on audio!!
Favorite quote: "I'm not what's wrong with my body, I'm what I do with myself. I'm the life I make happen."
CW: recovering alcoholic and drug addict side character...more
I've been sitting on my thoughts for this Canadian debut for several days because it was just such a powerfully well-written family story and I know mI've been sitting on my thoughts for this Canadian debut for several days because it was just such a powerfully well-written family story and I know my words won't be able to do justice.
One day in July 1962 changes the lives of two families for decades to follow when a four year old Mi’kmaq girl from New Brunswick is taken from the berry picking fields in Maine by a childless white woman thinking she can give her a better life.
What follows is a deeply moving family drama that explores race, class, identity, the enduring bonds of family and the power to forgive egregious crimes.
Good on audio narrated by Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch, this story is told from the perspective of different members of the two families jumping around in time and place and is perfect for fans of books like You were always mine or The light between oceans.
Courtney Walsh hit this one way out of the park!! I fell in love with Isadora from the very first few pages and I was rooting for her to find her happCourtney Walsh hit this one way out of the park!! I fell in love with Isadora from the very first few pages and I was rooting for her to find her happiness throughout this entire book.
Perfect for fans of character-driven novels like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett or Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Isadora is a woman happy to focus on her academic research and ignore the people around her having been burned badly by love.
Fortunately for her, after reading an article espousing 30 ways to find happiness on the eve of her 30th birthday, Isadora is challenged to step outside her comfort zone and take chances, make new friends and maybe, just maybe, find someone who loves her for who she is, quirks and all.
Swoony, heartfelt and absolutely unputdownable. This is going to be one of my favorite books of the year and by far the best book by Courtney Walsh I've read to date. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Librofm for the early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest reviews!
YES, this book absolutely lives up to all the HYPE! I don't know a book that's gotten so much BUZZ so fast and sold out EVERYWHERE since Harry Potter YES, this book absolutely lives up to all the HYPE! I don't know a book that's gotten so much BUZZ so fast and sold out EVERYWHERE since Harry Potter or The Hunger games.
Fourth wing truly has something for everyone and you just have to experience it to understand just how great it is. Favorite parts for me included:
-chronic illness/pain rep (unnamed Ehler Danlos Syndrome) -underdog FMC -Mulan/Hunger games/Eragon/How to train your dragon vibes -enemies to lovers, slow burn -Steamy/Spicy AF -secret pining/forbidden love -amazing Dragon characters with the BEST personalities -betrayals, romance and a jaw-dropping cliff-hanger
This book will leave you with the biggest book hangover and wishing there was a movie and sequel available to devour immediately! Great on audio too narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton.
RUN (and if you're lucky) get yourself a beautiful hardcover copy too because this cover and the sprayed edges are out of this world gorgeous!...more
I really, really enjoyed this opposites attract, summer romance between a Librarian and a neurodivergent (dyslexia and ADHD) chef who fall in love on I really, really enjoyed this opposites attract, summer romance between a Librarian and a neurodivergent (dyslexia and ADHD) chef who fall in love on Martha's Vineyard!!
Everyone needs to find a man who will read them romance books at the beach. When Samantha comes to stay with her younger brother on Martha's Vineyard while her father and stepmother are away, she never expected to fall for the hot visiting Library administrator. She especially doesn't see any future for them since she hates reading and doesn't plan to stick around.
Life on the island and with Bennett slowly starts to grow on her and he helps her deal with all the negative self-thoughts she's had about her learning disabilities and she helps him dig into the mystery of who his birth father is. Full of complicated family relationships, great disability rep and a sweet romance, this book is a top contender for my fav summer beach read!
Great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Kelsey Navarro Foster. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and @prhaudio for early digital copies in exchange for my honest review!...more
OH MY GOODNESS!!! Some books just hit you in all the right feels and this one definitely was so utterly relatable for me on such a personal level!! BeOH MY GOODNESS!!! Some books just hit you in all the right feels and this one definitely was so utterly relatable for me on such a personal level!! Beautifully written, this was a wonderfully compelling domestic drama about a Korean American family sent into crisis when the nonverbal autistic son returns home without his father.
What follows is a pulse-pounding search and investigation into what happened. Was he murdered? Did he get kidnapped? Did he run away, commit suicide or is he hurt somewhere?? No possibilities are left unexplored and to make matters worse, the one person who might know can't say.
Perfect for fans of Laurie Frankel's One, two three, this books has EXCELLENT autism and disability rep and I loved how nuanced and sensitively the author writes about nonverbal people who may not physically have the motor skills to communicate in other ways (sign, writing, etc).
AMAZING on audio, with a nonverbal autistic narrator who reads out the son's parts of the story and a heartfelt author's note included at the end. I swear, this is likely to be one (if not THE) favorite book of the year for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC copy in exchange for my honest review. This is the September GMA book club pick and I couldn't be happier at their choice! I'm also going to be grabbing the author's best-selling debut, Miracle Creek, and reading that immediately!...more