My December #bookspinbingo board. Which turned out to be my best month, book-wise. 23 books total. I had only one DNF.

#bookspin = completed
#doublespin = completed

That's a wrap on #bookspin 2025.

@TheAromaofBooks

4⭐
This doesn‘t have the same writing style as We Were Liars, and I couldn‘t be happier about that. I honestly wouldn‘t have ever read this book if it weren‘t for the TV show, because I struggled with the flowery prose in the first book so much that I would‘ve just skipped it. While it didn‘t have quite the gasp-worthy twist as its predecessor, it was still a worthy sequel.
🎙️Kimberly Farr‘s narration was good.

4.25⭐
While it has similarities to the series You because it utilizes the POV of the stalker-y boyfriend, it's definitely a different story. First and foremost, it isn't dragged out over several books—it‘s actually a stand-alone. Plus, it's based on the author's own experience with a stalker. Which gives it a realness that you can‘t ignore. This is one story I won‘t soon forget.
🎙️Joe Knezevich was excellent as a deranged psycho.

3.25⭐
I picked this up because of its connection to The New Neighbor by the same author. Unfortunately, I should‘ve listened to it a lot sooner than I did, since I don‘t really remember enough of that book to know how it connects. SMH. I should know better with my track record for remembering book plots. Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this, though I'm not sure if that's due to the book's flaws or my reading mood. Maybe it‘s a little of both.

4⭐
•Between the excellent writing and the excellent narration (performed by Julia Whelan), this was actually pretty good. It wasn‘t thrilling by any means, but it does have a bit of mystery to it. This is perfect for when you're overwhelmed by overly convoluted plot twists and just want something more grounded.

2.75⭐
I occasionally really like some of FMs books, and the rest of the time, I don‘t really care for them at all, which this one leans into. However, they are fast-paced, and they always pull me in, even if they have me rolling my eyes like it‘s an extreme sport. I‘ll give credit there, but I‘m also thinking maybe she is releasing these books too quickly. I think she needs to stop and say to herself, is this twist too much?⬇️⬇️⬇️

3.25⭐
While mostly a solid debut, I did have some issues. Nothing hit the way it should have, and I believe the narration is to blame. The narrator for the MC was occasionally good for a few sentences, but most of the time, she sounded rather robotic. And honestly, I think I needed at least one of the characters to be likeable.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4.25⭐
If you like “slice-of-life” stories that feature ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, trying to keep their heads above water, then this might be a good fit for you. I found this to be quite engaging and thought-provoking. While I may have wanted a little more from the ending, I wouldn‘t say that I was disappointed by it. It low-key leaves things up to your interpretation.
🎙️The narration was fantastically performed.

4.75⭐
I am a long-time fan of Wendy Walker, and I‘ve enjoyed every one of her books, and this one is no exception. Though the plot is complex, I followed it easily, which is significant given that I usually struggle with intricate narratives.
🎙️The narration was top-notch, although the music in the background could‘ve been a little more subdued.

4⭐
It can be difficult for me to find YA authors who don‘t leave me feeling completely out of touch with the younger crowd. CindyR.X.He is one of those who is an exception. This maintained suspense throughout, keeping me engaged from start to finish. While part of me knew where this was going, it was still a satisfying ride getting there.
🎙️I always love a good full-cast narration. It beats having one person do all the voices any day of the week.

3⭐
This isn't a bad story, but it's overly drawn out when the conflict could have been resolved much earlier. The shenanigans with her ex toward the end were ridiculously over-the-top. No one would act like that in real life. Otherwise, the MCs were likable, and most of the side characters were as well. It has some cute moments, so if that's your jam, you might love this. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

3⭐
Christmas novella • psychological thriller • stalker vibes • photography • twisty

I'll give this 3 stars on a curve, mostly for the twist. For me, it felt like this was only part of a story, and, to be fair, a lot of short stories do. So, it‘s maybe more of a me thing.
🎙️ For relatively inexperienced narrators, the performance was quite good.

4.25⭐
This is one of the better Christmas thriller novellas out there. It pulls you in and even freaks you out while you‘re there. Finally, a heroine who doesn't make idiotic decisions at every turn.
🎙️Sarah Naughton gave a convincing performance.

3.75⭐
This series keeps me guessing about its endgame—I simultaneously feel like I know and don't know where it's headed. The philosophical exploration these books are taking me on is compelling, despite the less-than-ideal writing style. The push and pull between the characters keeps the romance engaging enough to keep me invested, though I liked Pestilence more than War.⬇️⬇️⬇️

1⭐
I liked Pink Glass Houses, but this one missed the mark by a long shot. It‘s filled with selfish, shallow, & OTT dumb characters plus so much political nonsense. I wanted the Gators to eat every last one of them, and I‘m pissed that they didn‘t. Honestly, I should‘ve DNF‘d this… but for some reason, I stuck with it. This is due to using it for a book challenge, the terrific narration, and maybe because I liked her other book.

3⭐
I was both surprised by the twist and engaged throughout despite some problematic issues. The characters' actions were inconsistent and unconvincing, and the breakneck pacing confused more than clarified at crucial moments.
🎙️•The narration was fantastic and probably had a heavy influence on why I got through this so quickly.

3⭐
While not very believable or Christmassy overall, it wasn‘t a bad way to spend an hour (technically closer to a half hour once I sped it up). I for sure liked her other Christmas novella (Christmas Presents) much more.
🎙️I wasn‘t a fan of Vivienne Leheny‘s breathy narration.

4⭐
While it had its issues, particularly with the ending (it did get a little difficult to follow exactly what was happening), I can't lie: I was thoroughly invested in the story. While the social media influencer trope feels overused, it's part of our reality, and this book offered a fresh, but slightly unhinged take on it.
🎙️The narration, with each POV having a separate narrator, was perfect.

3.5⭐
This is a really short story, so I‘m going to keep this brief. If you‘re looking for Christmas fuckery then this is your book.
🎙️Alyson Krawchuk‘s performance was perfect for the story.

4⭐
This was a fun opposites-attract romance. Their differences created an interesting dynamic and sparked clever banter, making for an enjoyable read that's super easy to follow, which was just what I needed.
🎙️Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton are two of my fav narrators, so of course it was excellent.

•My Score 7.6/10•

3.75⭐
While maybe this was a little too slow-burning for me, it did have its moments where I was completely invested in the story, especially when she went into detail about her trauma involving the Twin Towers. Unfortunately, the protagonist's confusion mirrored and amplified my own, sometimes pulling me out of the story. That said, the storyline was refreshingly unique and twisty enough without going over the top. The narration was good.

3.75⭐
I‘ve definitely aged out of the target audience for one of Mindy McGinnis' books. Which kind of sucks since I usually like her books. The Female of the Species is one of my all-time favs. While this didn't work for me personally, I recognize it contains valuable messages and life lessons for young girls in today's world.
🎙️The narration was perfect.

My December #bookspinbingo board.

I've already finished The Roommate and The Gift. Do I think I can finish all these books this month...maybe, especially since quite a few are short ones. Either way, I'm going to give it a try.

@TheAromaofBooks

3.25⭐
Unlike the first book, this one didn't draw me in. The endless “mate“ references didn't help—she uses it constantly. We get it, they're mated. Honestly, I think I liked it more when they had the angst between them, and now that they‘re “mated,” all that delicious tension is gone. Sometimes I was just downright bored with the monotony this was giving.
🎙️•I love duet narration, so this was obviously fantastically done.

I haven't posted an updated version of my brackets since August.

September - Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff.
October - Blood Like Ours by Stuart Neville.
November- Nobody Knows You're Here by Bryn Greenwood.

#readingbrackets #readingbrackets2025 #favoritebook2025

My November #bookspinbingo board.

3 Bingo's.
17 Books completed.
0 DNFs. (yay!)

#bookspin (Nobody Knows You're Here) - completed.
#doublespin (To Cage A Wild Bird) - completed.

2⭐
• serial killer thriller • psychological • alternating timelines • a slew of characters • bloodline guilt • dual POVs •

Well, this turned out to be a disappointment. The first half was great—I was engaged and following along easily. Then, at the halfway mark, the format changed drastically. Between the rapid POV changes, timeline jumps, and influx of new characters, I struggled to make sense of it all.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4.5⭐
This was a quick, engaging listen. It was intense and twisty with great character development—ideal for spending a day with or pulling yourself out of a slump.
🎙️The narration was a treat, and everyone performed excellently.

Here is my December #booksinbingo list. Can't believe it's the final list of 2025...

@TheAromaofBooks

4.75⭐
This can be read before, after, or as a standalone. Just be prepared: ghosts play a major role. Upon finishing this, I learned that the story is loosely based on the real-life crimes depicted in the Netflix documentary: Into the Fire. Watching it the same night I finished the book, I was amazed by how she skillfully integrated aspects of this story into Andrea's. It grounded it in reality, while the ghostly aspect let it soar.⬇️⬇️⬇️

3.5⭐(Light Pick)
This had interesting characters and a compelling premise. It started strong but then dragged in the middle, and while the action eventually picked up, some elements became too over-the-top for my taste.
🎙️Even though my interest waned when this story got a little wonky, I‘m still all in on Graphic Audio doing thrillers. Please do more of them.

4⭐
Bound is a quick, easy listen—somewhere between a short story and a novel in length. While it took a bit to gain momentum, once it did, I was hooked. The MMC was such a treat—he is definitely an old soul, and the banter between him and the FMC was pure gold. The second half felt rushed and could have benefited from a little more angst and emotional depth.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4.25⭐
I really like Heather Gudenkauf's books, and this is no exception. Don‘t miss out on this one. My only issue was the bizarre narration choice—not the narrators themselves, who are great, but the decision to use a different narrator for one POV while leaving the others (including the sole male POV) with the primary narrator. It made no sense.

3.75⭐
Jewel E. Ann is the perfect writer for people who like their romances a little messy—as in, not your average cookie-cutter love story. This one was no exception. This wasn't quite as emotionally powerful as some of her other work, but it was still quintessentially her writing style.
🎙️Charlotte North and Robert Hatchett narrated capably, though they didn't particularly impress me.

3.25⭐(Could be a Pick for some)
Honestly, with its 80s hair band vibes, I should've loved this. Instead, I only liked it—with significant caveats. One being the sluggish pacing, the other was that the humor didn‘t always land with me. If you like movies (Naked Gun/Police Academy) with that kind of absurdity, OTT humor going on, then this could be perfect for you.⬇️⬇️⬇️

3.5⭐(mostly a Pick)
On the surface, this has everything I could want in a book. I‘m always down for a good dystopian story, especially one with romance. Unfortunately, while mostly solid, it was predictable and didn't bring anything fresh to the genre. The romance also felt forced/rushed, and overall lacked believability. That being said, if I had read this back in the day, I probably would‘ve loved it.
🎙️Nikki Massoud‘s narration was decent.

3.5⭐(Pick-ish)
This might be perfect for Taylor Swift fans, though it didn't quite work for me. I typically enjoy both musically driven stories and puzzling murder mysteries, and while this was entertaining enough, it didn't blow me away—possibly due to believability issues. That said, I've been a tough sell lately.
🎙️The narration by Deborah McBride was decently performed.

5⭐
A woman, kidnapped and thrown into extreme circumstances, must navigate psychological warfare while trying to comprehend her situation and hopefully find escape. Spanning several years, this isn't an easy read, but it isn't overly gratuitous with violence either. It's emotional but not overwrought. Informative without excessive detail. A deep dive into the world of trafficking that had me hooked. The narration had me immersed in the story.

4.75⭐
This strikes an excellent balance between character development and action, emotional depth, and compelling plot. I stayed invested throughout. While the main conflict could've been resolved a touch sooner, the epilogue made it all worthwhile.
🎙️Linsey Dorcus and Moniqua Plante were excellent.

3.25⭐
The performance was fantastic. The story was entertaining for the most part. The ending…wait, was there an ending?

3.25⭐
Despite being invested in the story, overall, I was disappointed. I expected this to focus more heavily on dystopian elements. When in reality, it can only be vaguely referred to as such. Very vaguely. Also, focusing on a single POV undermined the reality TV premise. We were trapped in a single perspective rather than getting multiple viewpoints. The result was a thought-provoking but agonizingly slow burn that ultimately didn't deliver.

5⭐
A distinctively unforgettable take on a vampire-esque tale that is bloody good. This sequel to Blood Like Mine delves into the origins of Moonflower's transformation, taking readers on a compelling journey. I loved this—from its dark brutality to its exploration of how far one would go for family. It does not disappoint.⬇️⬇️⬇️

My November #bookspinbingo board. I broke Brimstone, the lunker, into two parts.

@TheAromaofBooks

3⭐
I loved Such Sharp Teeth by this author, but every book since has left me chasing that high without ever catching it. The potential for something good was there, but between the unlikable MC and the lackluster plot, I couldn't stay engaged and found myself surface-listening throughout.
🎙️I'm honestly not sure whether the narrators, Alex Finke and Natasha Soudek, contributed to my feelings about this book or not.

My October #bookspinbingo board. I only had four books I didn't get to,..so, a pretty good month.

I finished my #bookspin and DNF'd by #doublespin.

@TheAromaofBooks

2.5⭐
• mystery thriller suspense • isolated setting • unlikable MCs • alternating timelines • alternating POVs •
I should probably part ways with this author, but she utilizes some of my favorite narrators, so I keep giving her another chance. Her characters are so whiny and uninteresting that she makes even my favorite narrators sound off their game. Unfortunately, the character's shortcomings ruined the whole vibe for me.

•My Score 4.54/10•

My November #bookspinbingo list. I can't believe the year is almost over.

@TheAromaofBooks

3.5⭐Light Pick
I nearly DNF'd this early on due to the slow, monotonous pacing. I hung in there due to the narration. It‘s performed like a duet but with multiple narrators, and that is where it shines. Eventually, the pace picks up with a thickening plot interspersed with adrenaline-infused action sequences. The ending was a tad confusing, and the whole thing was a little OTT, but overall, not bad.

2.75⭐
While the compelling premise kept me engaged, the execution ultimately fell short. The writing needed some polish; some of the characters' actions often felt inauthentic or just plain wrong. Worst of all, the ending left countless loose threads dangling. Why introduce plot elements you have no intention of resolving?

4.75⭐
This has an interesting time-travel aspect that doesn‘t get bogged down with the science of it. So it‘s perfect for someone who gets tripped up by too much technical jargon. It also leaves you feeling like it‘s completely feasible in the near future. I may have hoped for different fates for some characters, but ultimately everything worked out exactly as it should.