Tag Archive for: Contemporary

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

The Storied Life of A.J. FikryTitle: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Author(s): Gabrielle Zevin
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 260
Length: 7h 3m
Narrator(s): Scott Brick
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

What a beautifully written bittersweet story about love, loss, grief, healing, and second chances. At first, I didn’t really like A.J. Fikry. He was too curmudgeonly for my taste, but he grew on me. I loved his relationship with Maya and Amy, his friends, and his patrons. I loved his enthusiasm for books and reading, even if his tastes were a little hoity-toity. I loved reading his character growth.

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest HitsTitle: The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits
Author(s): Jennifer Weiner
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 377
Length: 15h 32m
Narrator(s): Dakota Fanning
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice: 2.5 Flames

My Thoughts

The longer THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS went on, the angrier I got at it. I thought the concept was interesting but if the author mentioned that Cassie was the ugly fat sister one more time, I was going to scream. I get that the author wanted the reader comparing Cassie and Zoe to show that beauty isn’t the only value a person has. I just felt she beat us over the head with it and it really irked me.I also hated that Cassie wasted her life after Russell died because Zoe was too selfish to admit that he didn’t love her (Zoe). I also hated that she had coerced him into marrying her, then cheated on him and was pregnant with Tommy’s baby, and flogged Russell into depression for cheating on her with Cassie.

 And, most of all, I hated that when the reader finds this all out, there are still nearly 100 pages left to read. 

The one saving grace was Dakota Fanning’s narration. I also liked the ending (it just took too long to get there).

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The Switch

The SwitchTitle: The Switch
Author(s): Beth O'Leary
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 330
Length: 10h 11m
Narrator(s): Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alison Steadman
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

THE SWITCH is a charming story about love, grief, forgiveness, and healing. I loved having the story told from both Leena’s and Eileen’s perspectives. With a full cast of quirky characters, it was a delight to read. THE SWITCH is billed as a romance, but I felt like there wasn’t enough romance. I really wish that Leena’s relationship troubles with Ethan had been resolved a bit sooner so that there could be more romantic scenes with her and Jackson. As far as the audiobook is concerned, I liked Leena’s narrator way better than Eileen’s.

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Here One Moment

Here One MomentTitle: Here One Moment
Author(s): Liane Moriarty
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 501
Length: 15h 53m
Narrator(s): Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book Club
Rating:
Spice: 1 Flames

My Thoughts

I adored HERE ONE MOMENT. I loved the premise of the story and all the characters. I laughed, cried, and stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it. I loved the message of using our one life to love, learn, live, and overcome our fears and anxieties.

I loved the way Moriarty portrayed how personal, all-consuming, and physical grief can be. I loved the serious look at and discussion surrounding mental health. I loved the advocacy of therapy and not suffering alone, that reaching out for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. I also loved the use of math and statistics to show the probability of how life and death sometimes feels cold and calculating, and unfair, how it can be sudden or expected.

Someone Else’s Shoes

Someone Else’s ShoesTitle: Someone Else's Shoes
Author(s): Jojo Moyes
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 438
Length: 12h 21m
Narrator(s): Daisy Ridley
Source: Owned
Reason(s): BotM Backlist
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES was a fun book to read. I enjoyed seeing how one little mixup could cause so much chaos in each of the women’s lives. I wondered how the story would resolve itself and I wasn’t disappointed. I did like one woman more than the other, but both women had their own difficulties and ways of dealing with their circumstances.

I liked the audiobook a lot and listening to Daisy Ridley’s narration. I’m glad I chose this book for my Book of the Month book when I did.