Title: Service Model
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 373
Length: 12h 22m
Narrator: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Rating:
My Thoughts
Although SERVICE MODEL was very slow and sometimes boring, I did like aspects of it. I thought the illogicalness of the robot’s logic was funny and I laughed out loud a few times. I also liked the message that if people with bad motives program robots / AI, then those robots / AI are going go about their programming in a way that’s not helpful to society. I think this message is really important in today’s world because of the reliance we’re starting to put on AI chatbots. Machines cannot act outside their programming. They’re black and white and cannot exist in the gray like humans can, and that absolutism will mostly likely result in chaos and destruction.
XOXO
Author: Axie Oh
Series: XOXO #1
Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Format: Audio
Pages: 337
Length: 9h 13m
Narrator: Greta Jung
Rating:
Also in this series: ASAP
My Thoughts
XOXO was a really cute YA romance. I’m surprised by how much I liked it because I don’t read a lot of YA anymore unless it’s an old favorite, and I thought any book about someone dating a K-pop idol would be super cheesy and fanfic-ish. Fortunately, the first one was a non-issue and this story was really well done.
Cross Her Heart
Author: Sarah Pinborough
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio
Pages: 352
Length: 10h 23m
Narrator: Antonia Beamish
Rating:
My Thoughts
CROSS HER HEART was different than I was expecting. The story and mystery kept me reading even though I didn’t really like most of the characters. There were difficult chapters to read due to the content, but I think it’s necessary to portray these types of things in media so we remember that some people have really shitty childhoods.
Roots Of Darkness
Author: Demi Winters
Series: Ashen #2.5
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 185
Length: 5h 43m
Narrator: Islay Jacobs
Rating:
Also in this series: The Road of Bones, Kingdom of Claw, Dawn of the North
My Thoughts
I really enjoyed ROOTS OF DARKNESS. I’m glad we got to see what happened to the rest of the Blood Axe Crew after Rey left to save Silla from Jonas. I enjoyed being in Hekla’s head, witnessing her badassery and even her doubt. I liked her connection with Eyvind and look forward, hopefully, to seeing them resolve their conflict in future Ashen series books or another novella. I hope we find out what’s causing the mist since the novella just kind of left us there hanging after the immediate threat was neutralized.
Service Model
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Format: Audio
Pages: 373
Length: 12h 22m
Narrator: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Rating:
My Thoughts
Although SERVICE MODEL was very slow and sometimes boring, I did like aspects of it. I thought the illogicalness of the robot’s logic was funny and I laughed out loud a few times. I also liked the message that if people with bad motives program robots / AI, then those robots / AI are going go about their programming in a way that’s not helpful to society. I think this message is really important in today’s world because of the reliance we’re starting to put on AI chatbots. Machines cannot act outside their programming. They’re black and white and cannot exist in the gray like humans can, and that absolutism will mostly likely result in chaos and destruction.
The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 384
Length: 12h 18m
Narrator: Katie Schorr
Rating:
My Thoughts
I actually really enjoyed THE HATING GAME. I thought it was a fun, heart-felt, spicy enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved Lucy and Josh, their chemistry, banter, and sexual tension. I thought the games they played in the office were fun and it reminded me of other enemies-to-lovers books I’ve loved in the past. I’m glad I read 99 PERCENT MINE first because I knew there was an epilogue to this story. I’m glad I read it. It was so sweet.