Title: Sunrise on the Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #5
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator: Jefferson White
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating: Also in this series: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
My Thoughts
I’m so glad Collins has decided to write more books in Panem universe. I love deep diving into so many of the secondary characters from the original trilogy. I’ve been looking forward to SUNRISE ON THE REAPING since I heard about it and it did not disappoint.
I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.
It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD ON SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.
As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.
My Friends
Author: Fredrik Backman
Genre: Literary Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 436
Length: 13h 7m
Narrator: Marin Ireland
Reason Read: Book Club, Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I don’t know what it is about Fredrik Backman, but he has the ability to tell a story with so much feeling and depth without it being boring or seeming contrived. He writes characters, situations, and the feelings of both better than any other author I’ve read. I love his ability to tell his stories in parts.
MY FRIENDS was a beautiful story about growing up, found family, resilience, and finding the silver lining in really shitty circumstances. It deals with hard topics like bullying, immigration, abuse, sickness, and grief. Even though the story is sad, it’s interspersed with laughter and happiness, and ends with a feeling of hope. There are also a lot of farts (iykyk). This one kept me guessing until the end and I loved taking the journey with the characters.
Sunrise On The Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: Hunger Games #5
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator: Jefferson White
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
My Thoughts
I’m so glad Collins has decided to write more books in Panem universe. I love deep diving into so many of the secondary characters from the original trilogy. I’ve been looking forward to SUNRISE ON THE REAPING since I heard about it and it did not disappoint.
I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.
It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD ON SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.
As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.
The Paradise Problem
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3.5 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 340
Length: 11h 43m
Narrator: Patti Murin, Jon Root
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
My Thoughts
I enjoyed THE PARADISE PROBLEM a lot. I loved the banter and chemistry between Anna and Liam. I loved seeing their marriage of convenience turn into a real marriage.
I found myself laughing out loud and sniggering quite a bit while I listened to the audio. I loved the setting and wished I could be on the same island with them, minus the family drama of course. I loved the ending, especially the epilogue, and I loved that a certain narcissistic bastard got what he deserved.
One Golden Summer
Author: Carley Fortune
Series: Florek Brothers #2
Genre: Romance
Spice: 3 / 5
Format: Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 11h 51m
Narrator: A.J. Bridel
Reason Read: Just Because
Rating:
Also in this series: Every Summer After
My Thoughts
I discovered Carley Fortune when her debut came out in 2021. I instantly fell in love with EVERY SUMMER AFTER and each subsequent book since then.
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER is my favorite of Fortune’s novels. I adored Alice and Charlie. I loved their interactions and all the fun they had together at the lake during the summer. I loved that this story is a companion to EVERY SUMMER AFTER and that we get to finally see Charlie’s happily ever after. I loved revisiting the same lake and getting to see Percy, Sam, and Charlie again. It made this story that much more special.
Dark Corners
Author: Megan Goldin
Series: Rachel Krall #2
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 341
Length: 10h 46m
Narrator: January LaVoy, Samantha Desz, André Santana
Reason Read: Book of the Month
Rating:
Also in this series: The Night Swim
My Thoughts
I thought DARK CORNERS was very interesting. I liked the little bit of romance between Rachel and Special Agent Martinez.
DARK CORNERS definitely felt much more thriller-y than THE NIGHT SWIM. I thought the mystery and thriller were fun to figure out and kept me guessing about certain aspects until the end. I’ll definitely read another installment if there are any in the future.