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The Night Swim

The Night SwimTitle: The Night Swim
Author: Megan Goldin
Series: Rachel Krall #1
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 344
Length: 10h 25m
Narrator: January LaVoy, and more
Source: Library
Reason: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I thought THE NIGHT SWIM was an interesting look at the United States justice system in regard to sexual assault cases. The story felt very real, and the characters and situations seemed believable. I also thought the connection between the current case and the 25-year-old cold case was interesting.

Even though the book is billed as a thriller, I thought it was more of a mystery as I didn’t get that edge-of-my-seat feeling like I do with thrillers. I wanted to keep reading. I needed to know if the perpetrators were convicted and the victims received justice.

Additional Narrators: Samantha Desz, Bailey Carr

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First-Time Caller

First-Time CallerTitle: First-Time Caller
Author: B.K. Borison
Series: Heartstrings #1
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 437
Length: 11h 55m
Narrator: Hathaway Lee, E.J. Bingham
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:

My Thoughts

FIRST-TIME CALLER was such a cute Sleepless in Seattle type romance. I adored everything about it. I loved both Lucie and Aiden, and Lucie’s make-shift family. I loved the banter, the spice, and even the parts where I cried. I’m so glad I chose this as my February Book of the Month pick.

I listened to the audiobook, even though I have the physical book. I loved the audio! E.J. Bingham, who voices Aiden, sounds so much like Neil Patrick Harris.

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Not in Love

Not in LoveTitle: Not in Love
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Series: Not in Love #1
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 379
Length: 11h 55m
Narrator: Callie Dalton, Jason Clarke
Source: Library
Reason: Just Because
Rating:

My Thoughts

I think NOT IN LOVE is my favorite Ali Hazelwood book. I loved the characters, especially Rue and Eli. I loved their story, chemistry, and banter. I loved the premise of the story.

Even though it’s a rom-com in the sense of enemies-to-lovers and a happily ever after, the story deals with a lot of hard issues. I thought the hard issues gave some meat to an otherwise fluffy, extremely spicy, story.

May 2025 Wrap-Up

Books Read

Favorite: Phantasma

Least Favorite: None

Stats
May

Books Read: 3

Rereads: 0

Pages Read: 1,259

Hours Listened: 37h 22m

Average Rating: 4.7

Year-to-Date

Books Read: 13

Rereads: 0

Pages Read: 4,380

Hours Listened: 133h 14m

Average Rating: 4.1

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Phantasma

PhantasmaTitle: Phantasma
Author: Kaylie Smith
Series: Wicked Games #1
Genre: Romantasy
Format: Audio, Hard Cover
Pages: 497
Length: 13h 14m
Narrator: Laura Horowitz
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:

My Thoughts

I absolutely adored PHANTASMA. It read as a dark gothic romantasy. Yum! I thought the levels of Phantasma were a creative nod to Dante’s Inferno and the nine circles of Hell.

I loved the characters, especially Blackwell and Poe (even though Poe’s just a cat). I thought Smith’s depiction of Ophelia’s struggle with OCD was very realistic and enlightening of how true OCD affects its victims.

While some of the spicier scenes made me roll my eyes, I really adored the banter and tension between Ophelia and Blackwell. (I’m sorry but no guy’s penis is so big around that a 5’9” woman can’t grab it without encircling it completely. Well, unless she has such small hands that that’s all people would notice about her.)

Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment.