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It‘s a magical feeling to completely slip inside the world a book creates, and to long to return to it when life requires you to put your book down. While it definitely is its own unique and wondrous beast, it also gave me some serious Harry Potter vibes. This is a story to savor. I want more! #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub
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“The Favorites” dazzles as an audiobook; I could see it being an awesome limited TV series. While it‘s reminiscent of Daisy Jones and Carrie Soto, it didn‘t make me feel for or believe in the characters quite as much as Taylor Jenkins Reid can. Still, it was an epically entertaining read - completely immersive and packed with juicy drama. 🎧
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
I‘m developing a new appreciation for short stories and novellas. Somehow with this one, though, it dragged at times for me despite its short page count. I did really like the ending and the way the tension built.
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This is the kind of storytelling that‘s easy to get swept up in as it carries you along its narrative tide. The way there were multiple POVs (and multiple audiobook narrators) was really well done. 🎧 #reesesbookclub
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This was good company while working on a project at work! I preferred “The Family Game”, but this was a fun ride. 🎧
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4.25 stars. Another perceptive Emily Austin stunner! This time she offers a different story framework from her previous books, which I think was pulled off beautifully and expanded the dimension of the sisters‘ relationship. Her writing touches my heart and makes it ache in a very particular way. #BOTM
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I read “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in high school, but I didn‘t remember if lot of it (or particularly… like it? 😬) Even after brushing up on it before reading “James”, I know I‘m missing layers of brilliance with this reimagining and wish I could go to a lecture analyzing it all. It also stands on its own, though - compelling and multifaceted. 🎧
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There‘s something about the stillness of January that makes it perfect for a contemplative read. The author has a PhD in Philosophy, and while this is an intellectual story, it‘s also completely absorbing and wholly distinctive. It infiltrated my thoughts… I kept thinking about it when I wasn‘t reading, and it‘s still haunting me after finishing the last page. #BOTM #botmbacklist #botmbacklog
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3.75 stars. I definitely thought the plot was more interesting and the romance was more intriguing than in the first one. I‘m not as emotionally invested as I am in, say, The Empyrean series, but I was entertained and I‘ll keep going with the ACOTAR books. 🎧
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What an incredible last book of 2024! I could tell within the first couple of paragraphs that this book is special. It has a vibrant energy radiating off the page, as if the words and characters could spring to life and waltz right into your heart. And I think they did?! I just loved it. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub
Had to convince myself to keep my #BOTM box to two choices for January. I‘m definitely going to pick up a few others on audio or through Libby! Lots of great choices to kick off 2025! 🥳
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A slim but mighty novella with a rich atmosphere, a reflective tone, beautiful prose, and a reminder of what really matters in life.
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Despite the title, I probably won‘t remember much of this one. I liked that the sisters were in their 30‘s/40‘s and I can see how others would like it, but it just dragged for me. 🎧
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
Not my favorite, but still festive, chaotic fun to read during the busy holiday season.
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Do you want suspense and fun and a flawed protagonist you can root for? Look no further! I didn‘t want to stop listening to this book. David is a great character; his journey grounded the darkly comedic elements with emotional depth. Stacey is (obviously) also a delight. 🎧
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A weird and sweet book about grief. I‘m often charmed by a precocious young character, and Elvis was no exception. What is normal, anyway? 🎧
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The positives for me: lots of personality, creative world building, and a great audio performance! I just grew tired of the imagined politics. 🎧
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Okay… this was super creepy. The author describes it as his “midnight campfire tale”, which feels so apt - you‘re settling in for a slow-burning, spine-tingling story that lingers like smoke. It had a palpable atmosphere, fantastic characters who I really cared about, and a great sense of time and place. I wish some things with the ending had been different, but it fit with the narrative. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub
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The weather outside isn‘t the only thing that‘s frightful! I just loved this chilling holiday novella. It could easily be read in one sitting, sitting by the glow of the Christmas tree, pages basically turning on their own, with memories of ghosts of Christmas past lying in wait…
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Did we really need a Grinch-inspired romantic comedy this holiday season? Yes. Yes, we did. It‘s a little long and a lot silly, but I had fun with it. The audio production added to the experience. Merry Grinchmas! 🎧
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I started this on my Kindle awhile ago, and for some reason, it just didn‘t grab me right away - I must not have been in the mood for it. I know it‘s such a beloved series, so I thought I would give it another try with the dramatized adaptation audiobooks. I can understand the appeal and the potential - I imagine the rest of the books in the series will only get better now that the story is set up. 🎧
Katherine Center‘s newest book sounds so good!! Super excited to win this giveaway! 🤩🥰
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3.75 stars. Cheesy at times (as is to be expected with a holiday romance), but also quite sweet, and filled to the brim with festive flair and Christmas nostalgia. I loved the advent calendar angle and the food with the little sprinkle of Swiss culture.
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I was drawn to this book because the political marriage kind of reminded me of “A Song to Drown Rivers”, which I really enjoyed. I felt pretty neutral about this one, though. The ending was exciting and sets up the next book well, but I probably won‘t continue with the series. 🎧
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A harrowing read on an important topic, but it seems to be written for a Western audience and lacked nuance. 🎧 #reesesbookclub
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Calling all fans of Esther Perel and Couples Therapy! This alluring debut felt so real, raising questions about desire and self-discovery, exploring the line between passion and stability. I‘m intrigued to see where the story goes in the next two installments, and we won‘t have to wait too long - it looks likes they‘re both out next year! #BOTM
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I enjoyed the cozy spice shop setting in Salem and liked learning more about Ayurvedic practices. I also appreciated Tulsi‘s journey to learn more about herself and her family. It just felt overly long to me and fell a bit flat. #amazonfirstreads
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“That‘s why we like living with animals so much; they exhibit their joy so outwardly, remind us how to be better alive.”
Oh, my heart! I was so delightfully charmed by this book. It‘s the perfect blend of emotional and funny, eccentric yet authentic. It sparkles with originality and a shining bright spirit. A new favorite.🎧
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This was a fun twist on a Christmas book. An undercover spy‘s newest mission sends her home for the holidays? Sign me up! I‘d totally watch this as a Netflix movie.
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I didn‘t enjoy this as much as the other Jenny Bayliss holiday novels that I‘ve read, but it had that cozy, wintry, English countryside atmosphere. I didn‘t feel attached to any of the characters and there seemed to be too many storylines. 🎧
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This was a really interesting blend of modern-day suspense, witchcraft, and historical fiction. Brutal to read at times, and genuinely creepy at others, there is a sinister atmosphere and an undercurrent of dark magic that was unsettling, yet gripping. I appreciated that the historical storyline was based on a real woman and that it was well-researched. #BOTM
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This is admittedly the kind of story I can tend to avoid if left to my own devices…. But I‘m glad it was a pick for my work book club. It is, of course, emotional and moving, but also full of love, light, and life. Besides Lenni‘s friendship with Margot, I adored her relationship with Father Arthur. May our loved ones‘ stories live on.🎧
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“We are all migrants through time.”
This book is proof that a novel doesn‘t have to be long to make an impact. The magical realism element was smart & thoughtful - ripe for analysis & discussion. A lot of the writing is lovely & really resonates, but sometimes the long run-on sentences felt tedious to me. Still, it‘s a very worthwhile inquiry of the global refugee crisis & the migration experience, appealing to the humanity in us all.
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Beautifully written and narrated, this important and powerful memoir pulses with life and an urgency to protect the lands of our interconnected world. Nemonte Nenquimo is a leader and activist from the Waorani tribe in Ecuador who works to defend Indigenous territories in the Amazon rainforest from destruction. ⬇️
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Looking for a holiday read that‘s both naughty and nice? This one has family, romance, emotion, and humor - pure Christmas fun! The audio production was really well done; I always love this male narrator! I don‘t know if I would have enjoyed it as much if I was reading it with my eyes.🎧
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Vengeful, twisted, trippy. I couldn‘t sympathize with Satara at all, but I still found her character and the writing style compelling. I didn‘t love the unbelievable ending.
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Apocalyptic stories aren‘t really my favorite, but this is a timely and challenging take on that genre. Blending with horror, these narrative frameworks serve as a brilliant vehicle to deconstruct religious trauma and purity culture. C.J. Leede creates fantastic characters and intense emotions while incisively skewering the hypocrisy and absurdity of some religious teachings. 🎧
(Trigger warning under a spoiler tag below)
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Watch out for the twists and turns on this road trip! I was intrigued from the beginning and definitely didn‘t know where it was going. I really liked the atmospheric Western Australian setting and appreciated the insightful author‘s note at the end. 🎧
Excited for my #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub box!!
I‘m listening to (and enjoying) the “American Rapture” audiobook right now or I would have gotten that one!
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The #amazonfirstreads books don‘t always work for me… but at least they‘re free! I was hoping for something more akin to “Dial A for Aunties”, but this didn‘t hold that charm. I was at least curious enough to skim through to the end instead of giving up completely.
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I wasn‘t familiar with the legend of Xishi before reading, but wow, was I emotionally invested in these characters! I thought Ann Liang did a phenomenal job breathing life into this classic story for a modern audience. I understand some critiques, but I can‘t deny that I was glued to the pages and ultimately thought it was a beautiful and moving meditation on power, morality, and war. #BOTM
The comp to “Couples Therapy” in the #BOTM blurb solidified “Dirty Diana” as my pick!
I also had to pick up the sequel to “What the River Knows”. I‘ve been hanging from that cliffhanger for about a year! 😆
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I really liked “One to Watch” by this author! This one didn‘t click with me as much. 🎧
so-so⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book really gives peak autumnal witchy vibes! The characters and plot just didn‘t fully cast a spell on me. It sounds like the physical book has recipes from the story in the back, which I always love, so I am a little bummed they weren‘t included with the audiobook. 🎧
so-so⭐️⭐️💫
I loved the first thriller in this series, bailed on the second due to a particular plot element, and personally found this third one okay, but forgettable. The twists don‘t hit as hard when familiar with this author‘s style. 🎧
so-so⭐️⭐️💫
This was a very quick read and a pleasant enough way to pass the time on a train ride. I liked the vibes - astrology and cats. I definitely preferred “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” and “What You Are Looking For Is In The Library”, though.
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