Profoundly unfunny and surprisingly uninteresting.
I had high expectations for Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson. First of all, it's Pride month, and I wanProfoundly unfunny and surprisingly uninteresting.
I had high expectations for Rebel Rising by Rebel Wilson. First of all, it's Pride month, and I wanted to support a queer actress (YAS) and hear more about her coming out story. I figured it would be funny and charming, and an entertaining listen. Alas, it didn't pan out quite the way I had hoped.
My biggest take away is that the story is highly tone deaf, bordering on off-putting. She talks a lot about her wealth in the later half of the book, and casually mentions colonics and concierge doctors and private Disney privileges like it's barely a thought. I don't mind her being rich, but it just felt very unrelatable and braggy, and this is coming from someone who is pretty well off herself.
In addition, she read the book in a really odd way. It was like she was reading everything for the first time. It was stilted and uncomfortable, which I find to be rare in memoirs, especially from actresses. It was also just... boring. And unfunny. The pacing was all off. To make a less than exciting childhood and adulthood exciting can be done, but you need to be a great writer to pull it off. This wasn't it.
First of all, Rupaul is a fantastic audiobook narrator. If you have the chance to get this book in audio format, this is the way to go. I don't know if I would have finished it in ebook form. He is clearly used to preforming, and does a great job with emotion and inflections in his voice.
But the content...
This book mainly focuses on Rupaul's childhood and his desire to be famous. There is a lot of flowery, sound-bitey talk about Rupaul's development in his early ages, but that's really it. My favorite parts of the story were the later ones when we saw Rupaul meeting his current husband and how their relationship grew and changed, but then the story cuts off. I honestly thought it would be more current information included, not just ages 5-35.
Overall, I found it to be a worthwhile listen, but it didn't touch upon the growth of Rupaul into television or his later music career, and really skimmed over most of what it means to be a drag queen these days. I found myself wanting more.
Nice narration, easy audiobook listen, even if a little dated by now. I think Rob Lowe completely glosses over how being really, really ridiculously gNice narration, easy audiobook listen, even if a little dated by now. I think Rob Lowe completely glosses over how being really, really ridiculously good looking has helped him in obtaining Hollywood fame. Lots of name drops. ...more
I feel like the odd man out with my rating for this one, especially with the glowing reviews from all of my friends, but I struggled a bit with Until I feel like the odd man out with my rating for this one, especially with the glowing reviews from all of my friends, but I struggled a bit with Until I Saw You.
On paper, this book is everything I like. I happen to love and seek out books with MCs with disabilities, so a MC who is blind should be right up my alley. I also love sexuality discovery stories, so that should have been a home run also. And yet...
I think some of my issues stem with the fact that I didn't like Riley. I thought his character was immature and I found his parts of the story to be off-putting. The narrator for his parts, Iggy Toma, also isn't one of my favorites, but it was Riley's actions and dialogue parts that made me not a fan. I just found him to be kind of obnoxious. These guys also really needed to work on their communication.
I liked Harper, and I enjoyed the listening experience, but my expectations just didn't match up with what I got. Please feel free to ignore this review because I'm extremely in the minority, but I think I just wanted more.
I've been dying to read The Woman in Me, especially since the "Free Britney" movement shed light onto what kind of life Britney Spears was living duriI've been dying to read The Woman in Me, especially since the "Free Britney" movement shed light onto what kind of life Britney Spears was living during her conservatorship. I'm ashamed to say that I'm one of the elder millennials who thought Britney went "crazy" and bought into the hype that she needed to be "taken care of" by her father. Her father who was abusing her emotionally and financially...
Let me say this, Michelle Williams BODIED this narration. I mean, wow. She just became Britney, and knocked it out of the park. Standing ovation to her.
In terms of writing, well... even with a ghost writer (which Britney obviously had), she isn't a natural-born author. Her storytelling felt simplistic and young, which might just be what Britney intended or reflects her emotions, but it would have been hard to read in ebook form. It was helped immensely by the narration of the story. I had also heard must of the story before in the documentaries and articles about Britney, so it wasn't very new for me (though it still angered me and broke my heart).
I'm giving this a soft 4-stars, mostly because F#CK the Spears family, Britney deserves her cash and fame.
This was a nice little snack while I wait for the next in the series to be released, HOWEVER, I missed James Marsters narrating. Jim Butcher did a decThis was a nice little snack while I wait for the next in the series to be released, HOWEVER, I missed James Marsters narrating. Jim Butcher did a decent job, but it just wasn't the same. ...more
I hate that I didn't love it more because you could hear the passion in the narration, but the non-linear storyline made it really hard to follow alonI hate that I didn't love it more because you could hear the passion in the narration, but the non-linear storyline made it really hard to follow along.
Listened to this in audio and I have some thoughts.
I don't know why, but this book draaaaaaaggged for me. I think part of it was being in the head ofListened to this in audio and I have some thoughts.
I don't know why, but this book draaaaaaaggged for me. I think part of it was being in the head of someone with anxiety. I loved having the anxiety rep, but the repetition of thoughts and worries over and over again made for tedious reading. It got redundant and clunky feeling, and it was hard to push to finish (spoiler: I didn't finish).
Usually, I adore a hockey book. However, this didn't feel really like a hockey book to me. Sure, there were some hockey details, but it was mostly about being a single dad of a daughter with a chronic illness/disability, and it just wasn't my jam.
I really enjoyed the narration from Greg Boudreaux, but I didn't like the narration style of Michael Ferraiuolo nearly as much. It took me out of moment when he narrated.
With all of the amazing hockey romances out there, this just doesn't measure up for me.
I love K.J. Charles, but I haven't read her in a couple of years (I knooooowww), so I was ready to get back into one of her legendary stories. I thinkI love K.J. Charles, but I haven't read her in a couple of years (I knooooowww), so I was ready to get back into one of her legendary stories. I think I chose a good one with The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, even if it was a little more suspense-y than I'm used to.
First of all, the audiobook of this story started off kind of meh, but then, oddly, it kept growing on me, and before I knew it, I was loving it. I was a bit annoyed by the accent for Joss (it sounded like an oafy caricature), but then I got used to it over time. I love me a historical romance, so I was prepared to enjoy this, but the mystery element threw me a bit. The relationship between these two takes a bit of a backseat to the local community action and drama, so I had to change my focus while listening. I think the romance part isn't in your face but (like the accent), grows over time to become something special.
While not a super high steam or highly romantic story, I think I got the big feelings I was looking for (in the end) with some highly atmospheric local flavor to boot. I'm pretty excited to continue this series (in audio), and see what else the marsh has in store for me.
This was a decent book (and a very well narrated audiobook), but Tom Segura fills pages with mediocre celebrity encounters. I just don't think I jive This was a decent book (and a very well narrated audiobook), but Tom Segura fills pages with mediocre celebrity encounters. I just don't think I jive super well with his comedy style.
Painful, angsty, brutally honest... Jennette McCurdy took me on the entire ride.
I love that, despite the title, this book wasn't an all-out 4.5 stars
Painful, angsty, brutally honest... Jennette McCurdy took me on the entire ride.
I love that, despite the title, this book wasn't an all-out mom-bashing book but a real nuanced look at how her mom abused her in subtle and not so subtle ways over the years. If it was just like, "my mom was a c-you-next-tuesday," it wouldn't have been quite so effective. We get the sense that Jennette McCurdyloved, even worshiped her mom at times, but that the abuse was so pervasive and hard to face that it took her years to realize what was actually happening to her.
I left this book hoping that Jennette McCurdy has found some peace in her life. She is writing and seems in control of her own destiny, so I'm really rooting for her mental and physical well being. I really liked how close I feel to this story, especially since I listened to the story in audio format and could hear the author actually narrating it. It made me root for her success that much harder.
A hard book to get through at times, and for sure a book to avoid if you are triggered by abuse, but I'm very happy I read it.
I'm not going to leave a rating, but it was painful for me to get through this audiobook. I gave up about 1/4 of the way through. I guess only VERY paI'm not going to leave a rating, but it was painful for me to get through this audiobook. I gave up about 1/4 of the way through. I guess only VERY particular Riley Hart books work for me. ...more
As a huge T.J. Klune fan I'm thrilled that he has continued his streak of dreamy, excellent, sci-fi/fantasy writing with In the Lives of Puppets. The As a huge T.J. Klune fan I'm thrilled that he has continued his streak of dreamy, excellent, sci-fi/fantasy writing with In the Lives of Puppets. The audiobook was BEYOND amazing, and I simply devoured this story.
I'm in love with Daniel Henning's narration of this story. I'm talking alllllll the bells and whistles, this narration is just perfection. Daniel Henning nails every voice, every emotion, every tone. I didn't ever want to stop listening.
I'm so proud of TJ Klune for doing such a great job with this story. He gave it his signature humor and just banging dialogue without feeling like he was regurgitating previous characters. Sometimes, I feel like his characters tend to have the same vibe, but he branched out with this one. The characters are unique and brilliant, but don't feel too contrived. I fell in love with the whole cast of characters.
I think the story is a bit light on the romance, but you have to view it as more of an adventure story than a genre romance book. It has a sweet spark of something... more, but it's more about selecting your path and your chosen family and less about romantic love. Plus, with a robot and an asexual MC, there is zero sex content in this story, so just be prepared for that.
I think T.J. Klune really nailed this one, and it was made SO much better with the audio format. One of my favorite books of the year.
Whew! I have a lot of thoughts about this *scorching* hot audiobook.
I hadn't listened to this these narrators before, but they really did a fantasticWhew! I have a lot of thoughts about this *scorching* hot audiobook.
I hadn't listened to this these narrators before, but they really did a fantastic job. They talked through some GRAPHIC content, and I was here for it. This falls into the "one-handed read" category, for sure.
I couldn't stop listening. I listened for probably 6 hours a day until I finished this baby, which is a LOT. Huge props to the author for making a sexuality discovery story to remember.
But the book... it also has flaws.
*NERD ALERT, AHEAD* First of all, my husband and I both went to the two schools that Avi got into, and let me tell you- Tufts and BC are NOT for mediocre, slacker students. The fact that Avi got into them while failing his classes is laughable. Also, Somerville, where these guys lived, is not the suburban, preppy haven in the book. It used to be crap, but now it's sort of all upscale urban condos. These are issues I had with the location and college aspects, and I kept talking to myself, arguing with the inaccuracies. But that will just probably bother only, like, two people.
But the rest of the plot also has loose ends. A few plot points just dangled and went nowhere, and you can't tell me that the book didn't devolve into fantasy-land at the end. Just wackadoodle stuff, and it didn't ring true. Also, the book is LONG, and I think 100 pages could have been cut out and everything tightened up a bit.
Despite the flaws, I can't help myself- I adored this one. The chemistry was just FIRE, and I really liked the enemies-to-lovers plot. I wish it was less all over the place and messy at times, but listening to this book was truly a joy. a sexy, sexy joy.
I was SO all-in with this fun shifter series featuring DINOSAURS (because, natch), but I'm feeling my eCan a dinosaur shifter book be boring? Well...
I was SO all-in with this fun shifter series featuring DINOSAURS (because, natch), but I'm feeling my enthusiasm fade from my body the more I read.
I really wanted to love Sink or Swim, but it took me ages to get through this audiobook. The narration was very good, but I was tired of the back and forth between these two guys, and the relic-hunting set up just feels a bit like the author doesn't know where to take this series. There wasn't enough tension there, but also it all felt a bit... pointless? I just wasn't that into the story, plot-wise.
I think a major issue with a dinosaur shifter book is that these guys can hardly ever shift. Part of the fun of a shifter book is the MCs slipping between multiple forms and using their strengths from their animal side. The fact that these two are dinosaurs is more like an afterthought. They can hardly ever shift because of their colossal size, so most of the story is just like a regular low-level mystery/suspense story.
When it comes down to it, I'm not a big fan of romantic suspense, and this felt a little too much like that. What I'm saying is I want MORE dino and less thieving and rescuing artifacts.
I feel completely neutral about the royal family and the monarchy in general, but I tend to like redheads, so I've always liked Prince Harry. Plus, I I feel completely neutral about the royal family and the monarchy in general, but I tend to like redheads, so I've always liked Prince Harry. Plus, I adore historical romances, and I've swooned over hundreds of smitten duke/earl/viscounts... fictional ones, that is.
It was interesting how this audiobook really changed my view of real-life royals.
Spare was clearly ghostwritten, not only because some of the prose felt very flowery, but I feel like the real Prince Harry was more evident in little sections off-color humor or crasser segments that made its way into the book. Prince Harry doesn't seem like the most... bookish sort. He seems much more at home in the military and with his friends, and feels like a person who wasn't made to be fancy, if that makes sense. I'm not sure how much of this book is embellished (I can't picture either of them with Ikea furniture... Meghan buying stuff from Ikea??), but I'm not going to be one of the psycho royal sycophants who tries to play "gotcha" games with minor details that Harry recalls in the story. So what if he remembers some stuff a little differently than it actually was... hell, I can't keep my own history straight either half the time.
What this story really comes down to is a man who felt like a puppet all of his life. He felt out of control and hounded by the press, surrounded by people who didn't really see him as a person. I'm happy he found happiness with Meghan, and I don't think any sane person could fault him for wanted to protect his wife. Meghan was treated terribly by the press, and she really didn't deserve a bit of it.
I think Harry did a decent job narrating his own story. He was nice to listen to, and I enjoyed the whole experience and getting to know Harry a bit better. Sure, he overshared a number of times (peeing his pants?? TMI...), and he revealed a surprising amount about his father and brother, but I guess he just wanted to get his whole story out there.
I hope the British population really gives this story some consideration and they stop holding Harry to a standard that he never asked for or wanted. He is only human.
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
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