This was a super fun short story featuring all the couples in the Ruinous love trilogy but is told from the POV of Sloane and Rowan (book one's MCs). This was a super fun short story featuring all the couples in the Ruinous love trilogy but is told from the POV of Sloane and Rowan (book one's MCs). It's boys against girls in a competition to kill a deserving P.O.S. serial killer. This was dark and spicy and does a great job setting up for the next series. It was also fantastic on audio narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Eric Nolan (though oddly they weren't the narrators for Butcher and Blackbird. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!...more
I loved the premise of this collection of serial stories that were first published in the Montreal Gazette (ala Dickens) but I didn't love it as much I loved the premise of this collection of serial stories that were first published in the Montreal Gazette (ala Dickens) but I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. A bit eccentric and all over the place for me but the various Montreal locales were fun to read about and the inclusion of drawings by the author's daughter added a special touch. Long time fans of Heather O'Neil are sure to appreciate her unique style. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review....more
A moving collection of short stories illustrating insights into the Palestinian American immigrant experience. I liked how the author writes about a wA moving collection of short stories illustrating insights into the Palestinian American immigrant experience. I liked how the author writes about a wide and diverse group of characters, different ages, genders and backgrounds as they struggle in marriages, with neurodiverse children, with body image issues, with aging parents and infertility (to name just a few). Extremely well written and great on audio too. Highly recommended!...more
This was a fun start to a new to me cozy series translated from the original Japanese. The book follows five different people and how their lives are This was a fun start to a new to me cozy series translated from the original Japanese. The book follows five different people and how their lives are bettered when a psychologist 'prescribes' them a cat who helps them with various issues (depression, loneliness, etc). Good on audio and recommended for fans of books like Cat's people or The blanket cats....more
I was a HUGE fan of the author's debut, Detransition baby, so to say I've been excited for their latest would be putting it mildly. Sadly I found the I was a HUGE fan of the author's debut, Detransition baby, so to say I've been excited for their latest would be putting it mildly. Sadly I found the first and last short stories in this collection a bit underwhelming/unmemorable but I did love the second story about a Quaker boarding college and pig farming - something I've never seen in literature before.
While I also didn't love the titular novella, Stag dance, I thought the way the author queered a historically very masculine/male space of the logging industry was masterful. It was great on audio with a full cast of narrators that helped differentiate each story. Peters has very much demonstrated their range with this collection and I look forward to reading whatever they write next!...more
Short story collections on a whole are often hit or miss for me and I think author Curtis Sittenfeld is just another author who everyone seems to loveShort story collections on a whole are often hit or miss for me and I think author Curtis Sittenfeld is just another author who everyone seems to love but I struggle to connect with so those two factors combined made this less of an enjoyable read for me. I liked the audiobook narration and some stories resonated with me more than others but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one and probably should have set it aside. Many thanks to @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest feedback. This was totally a me thing....more
Amazon original short romance stories have been hit or miss lately but I really enjoyed this new Valentine's story from fav author, Abby Jimenez. It'sAmazon original short romance stories have been hit or miss lately but I really enjoyed this new Valentine's story from fav author, Abby Jimenez. It's a forced proximity, dual POV, strangers to lvoers romance that sees an injured arborist and a reclusive accountant hiding out from her stalker, getting stuck in their apartments together when the stairs are accidentally removed. Full of heart and feminist rage, it was quick but oh so enjoyable. 10/10 recommend for a light romance read that packs a punch for Valentine's Day....more
This was a really sweet Valentine's short story about two former bandmates and high school friends who reconnect years later through chance and end upThis was a really sweet Valentine's short story about two former bandmates and high school friends who reconnect years later through chance and end up exchanging letters. It is also a story of grief, loss, depression and healing as Jake goes to a dark place after his mother's death and by a stroke of good luck and chance finds Shelly's address much later. I loved that epistolary format of this story, we get to experience their nostalgic feelings and love of all things high school marching bands and music and also the sense of hope for the future. Overall sweet, heartfelt story that leaves you feeling all the feels. Highly recommended! I've heard good things about this author from friends and I can't wait to dive into their backlist.
This short story was everything you'd want from a Backman book. A grumpy main character who just wants to play his videogame but gets roped into helpiThis short story was everything you'd want from a Backman book. A grumpy main character who just wants to play his videogame but gets roped into helping the people in his building solve the dilemma of a discarded frying pan. Funny, heartfelt and insightful, this was classic Backman in all the best ways. One of my favorite Amazon original short stories of the year by far!...more
This was a quick holiday short story set in the authors Spy series and while I liked parts of it I really wished it had been longer. It felt like justThis was a quick holiday short story set in the authors Spy series and while I liked parts of it I really wished it had been longer. It felt like just as I was getting invested in the two main characters the story was over. It might be a better read for fans who have read the other books because supposedly the MMC has cameos in them. Still looking forward to checking out the main books in the series but didn't love this one like I had hoped to....more
This was a spur of the moment holiday novella from a fav author duo, Ali Brady. I love them and was really excited to read this but sadly it felt likeThis was a spur of the moment holiday novella from a fav author duo, Ali Brady. I love them and was really excited to read this but sadly it felt like more of a rushed cash grab and I thought it lacked any substance. There was a fun strip dreidel scene but that's honestly the only memorable bit for me other than the great narration by Teddy Hamilton and Julia Whelan (however the audiobook version is only available for purchase through Juila's new app). I did appreciate the interfaith romance rep and the way the couple blended their respective holiday traditions....more