Title: The First Time I Saw Him
Author: Laura Dave
Series: Hannah Hall #2
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 288
Length: 7h 25m
Narrator: Rebecca Lowman, Tessa Albertson, Colin Donnell, C.J. Wilson
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating: Also in this series: The Last Thing He Told Me
My Thoughts
I was happy with how THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME had ended and I wasn’t going to read THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM because I didn’t feel like I had to. Then, I started watching season 2 of the TV show and I wanted to read the book before I watched the last few episodes. I wanted to know how it ended the “legit” way, lol. To my surprise, season 2 and this book were written in tandem and both took different directions. I’m a bit disappointed because I’ve been enjoying the TV show a lot.
I thought the story was good, but not as good as the first story. I did enjoy reading from Bailey’s, Nicholas’, and Owen’s POV as well as Hannah’s this time around. I also liked learning more about Frank, his family, and the organization. While I’m happy about the outcome, the story wasn’t as suspenseful and felt a more rushed than the first book did. I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy season 2 better than the book this time around.
A Song To Drown Rivers
Author: Ann Liang
Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Format: Audio
Pages: 324
Length: 10h 22m
Narrator: Natalie Naudus
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
A SONG TO DROWN RIVERS is a story that’ll stay will me for a long time. It’s a beautifully tragic story about love, loss, betrayal, politics, and war. I’ve loved Asian folktales since I was a child and this one did not disappoint. Xishi, Fanli, Zhengdan, and Fanli’s friend (I don’t know how to spell his name since I listened to the audiobook and I can’t find it on Google). The ending felt a bit rushed and the end end reminded me of the movie Eternity. It made me wonder if it was really hopeful or actually more tragic. So much to think about.
Imperfect Women
Author: Araminta Hall
Genre: Mystery
Format: Audio
Pages: 294
Length: 11h 2m
Narrator: Helen Keeley
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
IMPERFECT WOMEN was a very intriguing story about the ups and downs of life, love, and friendship. It’s not quite a thriller. Instead it’s more of a commentary on what it’s like to be a woman, the good and the bad. It reminded me of the monologue America Ferrera gives at the end of Barbie. Even though I didn’t necessarily like any of the characters, I stayed for the compelling look at the human condition.
The First Time I Saw Him
Author: Laura Dave
Series: Hannah Hall #2
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 288
Length: 7h 25m
Narrator: Rebecca Lowman, Tessa Albertson, Colin Donnell, C.J. Wilson
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: The Last Thing He Told Me
My Thoughts
I was happy with how THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME had ended and I wasn’t going to read THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM because I didn’t feel like I had to. Then, I started watching season 2 of the TV show and I wanted to read the book before I watched the last few episodes. I wanted to know how it ended the “legit” way, lol. To my surprise, season 2 and this book were written in tandem and both took different directions. I’m a bit disappointed because I’ve been enjoying the TV show a lot.
I thought the story was good, but not as good as the first story. I did enjoy reading from Bailey’s, Nicholas’, and Owen’s POV as well as Hannah’s this time around. I also liked learning more about Frank, his family, and the organization. While I’m happy about the outcome, the story wasn’t as suspenseful and felt a more rushed than the first book did. I’m pretty sure I’m going to enjoy season 2 better than the book this time around.
We Who Will Die
Author: Stacia Stark
Series: Empire of Blood #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 432
Length: 17h 12m
Narrator: Meg Sylvan, Troy Duran
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
WE WHO WILL DIE was such a fun intense story. I loved the world-building and magic system. I thought the Gladiator feel of the story was a fun idea. I really liked Arvelle, her brothers, Tiernon, Rorrik, Leon, and Maeva. I’m very curious to see if this will turn into a situation like the one between Elena, Stefan, and Damon in The Vampire Diaries show (I haven’t read the series so I don’t know how closely the show followed the books). Right now, I’m very happy with Arvelle and Tiernon together, but I think I could be happy if she were with Rorrik instead.
Deep End
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Genre: Romance
Spice: 4 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 446
Length: 13h 45m
Narrator: Thérèse Plummer, Ben Holtzmuller
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
My Thoughts
There’s a lot to unpack with DEEP END and I don’t quite know how to do it in review form. I liked the story and the characters, but DEEP END is the spiciest book I’ve ever read and I reached my limit after the fourth or fifth very detailed sexual encounter. I love spice, but I want more than just graphic sex. I also want connection, romance, character development, and plot in my spicy books. I don’t feel like a story focused mainly on the sex gives me what I’m looking for. It’s the main reason I don’t really read erotica.
It also might have been the BDSM aspect of the sex that had me past my limit. Despite the overabundant graphic content and that I have no inclination toward BDSM style relationships, I did appreciate the look into what a healthy and consensual BDSM relationship could look like. Although, I do feel like Scarlett and Lukas using the word “deviant” to each other because of their inclinations wasn’t necessary.