Mike

Lets The Series Down

Revisado: 09-01-21

Love the Happily Everlasting series, but this book doesn't fit. I found this series because I like Kristen Painter, so I started with "Witchful Thinking" and then started the series from the first book. The authors did a great job of keeping in synch with each other with the exception of this book (I see Pillow has a second book in the series, which I'll skip). This author has some very surprising political/moral viewpoints (extraordinarily conservative/religious, very judgmental of women, extremely forgiving of abusive men, and supportive of stalking and kidnapping) which don't mesh with the cozy premise. On that point, her sex scenes were not cozy and made me cringe. There's also a very strong "get off my lawn" attitude toward millennials in this book, which is baffling because all of the protagonists are millennials. The protagonist is so judgmental and often cruel that it's difficult to listen to, and the book's "happy ending" is the successful completion of a series of truly heinous crimes. Not sure how this storyline got approved for this series but I'll be skipping other titles from this author.

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Another Perfect Book From Jasmine Guillory

Revisado: 07-17-21

I've loved all of the books set in this universe, but While We Were Dating might be my favorite.

Guillory embraces classic romance tropes (especially fake dating) and writes genre romance with modern humor and sensibilities. Three dimensional queer characters, non-nuclear families, candid conversations about race, fatphobia, mental health, consent, and so much more.

Without spoilers, this book really shines in the way it talks about healing. As always, Guillory has given us a love interest who centers consent and takes accountability without treating these like remarkable traits. She excels at normalizing accountable, consensual, and respectful relationships without straying from the classic and satisfying genre formulas.

If you've read and liked Guillory's previous books, you'll catch lots of delightful glimpses into the ongoing adventures of characters from earlier books. For new readers, While We Were Dating is a perfect entry point into this universe of characters. No catchup required (but her other books are fabulous and you should read them as well!)

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A Perfect Rom Com with Sexy Consent!

Revisado: 02-06-18

Any additional comments?

This book is a perfect example of the genre. The pacing is great, the sweet love story and romcom hijinx hit all the right spots. Best of all, the author does a fabulous job writing POC characters and providing a model for consent-driven sex that's as romantic, spontaneous, and frenzied as one could hope for.

It's a quick read because it's great fun from start to finish. Highly, highly recommend for anyone who enjoys romantic romps without the usual sexist tropes and racist undertones.

The narrator did a great job of matching the playful tone of the book. Janina Edwards' voice is warm and personable, so the immensely likable and bubbly protagonist, Alexa, really comes to life in the audio format.

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Great Premise, Overacted Narration, Tedious Prose

Revisado: 08-05-17

What aspect of Therese Plummer’s performance would you have changed?

The narrator has a great voice, but chose to overact. She overemphasized every innocuous line as though it was something shocking. I had to take breaks from listening because it was so frustrating. The fact that the text had way too much tedious exposition compounded the effect.

Any additional comments?

Charlaine Harris is a total delight and I enjoy her work, even when the prose feels like an early draft. This book feels like it needed a red pen to slash out 80% of the unhelpful exposition. It ruined the pace and was extremely laborious. The premise was great, and Harris' characters are always charming.

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Narrator Sounds Like a Cosmetics Ad

Revisado: 03-23-17

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I liked the first book (paperback) and figured I'd try the second as an audiobook. Unlistenable.
Super commercial sounding narrator- a poor fit for first person narrative. No personality. I had to turn it off at the first terrible accent.

Would you be willing to try another book from Patricia Briggs? Why or why not?

Only with another narrator.

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Absolute Perfection

Revisado: 11-18-16

Okorafor shows us what a novella can be. The pacing is perfectly done, and the first person narrative is relatable and compelling. The story itself is beautiful, and Robin Miles' narration is masterful.

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A Lovely Return

Revisado: 11-08-16

If you could sum up Little Donkey in three words, what would they be?

Jodi Taylor really shines in short stories that build on her novels. Little Donkey is a perfect example of this. Since it was already out when I listened to the novel, this was a nice balm after the disappointment of finishing a book that you don't want to end.

What about Lucy Price-Lewis’s performance did you like?

Lucy Price-Lewis was perfectly cast for this. Her performance was excellent.

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Absolute Perfection

Revisado: 09-01-16

Feminist witch fiction with a satisfying ending. Slatter does a miraculous job writing about violence in non-triggering, non-salacious ways. Gorgeous and masterful. Marisa Calin's narration is flawless, though her voice cast the protagonist/narrator as much younger than described, so that occasionally brought me out of the story. Totally worth it, though- she's an incredible narrator and lovely to listen to.

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Gorgeous

Revisado: 08-29-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Beautifully crafted, tightly woven, sidesteps many of the sexist tropes of the genre, plus I could listen to Damien Lynch forever.

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Neil Gaiman Fanfiction

Revisado: 08-29-16

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The first book in this series was fantastic. The second reads like a paid advertisement for Neil Gaiman, who is a 2d and nonsensical major character in the book, which feels generally sloppy compared to the first. Avoid.

Have you listened to any of Damian Lynch’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Damien Lynch is flawless.

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