Arthur Pullman the Third is in search of meaning behind the clues that were left in a journal written by his grandfather Arthur Pullam who is a well-known author that has touched many lives with his famous book. Arthur jumps on the idea to go after all the clues embedded in his grandfather's journal, taking Arthur across the country and encountering some trouble as well as wonderful people along the way. Very engaging story. The story itself has potential but there are too many things going on. I felt like I was getting lost in the characters and then another incident would occur and confuse me even more, between the dreams and reality. I felt like the story wasn't relatable and everything falls into pieces during the train journey. I got to say I learned a few things about Alzheimer's and the poetry is beautiful. The premise behind the story was appealing, but as the story unfolded I felt like it was way too surreal. Rating: 3 Author: Samuel Miller Format: Paperback

Haunting and suspenseful! I can honestly say that all thrillers/suspense books are twice as better in an audiobook than the book itself. I mean, The Sun Down Motel was a chilly place that only Vivian was strong enough to trace back to all the women that have been killed by finding the killer. Despite presenting evidence that wasn't enough, she wanted to go after the killer herself, Vivian had just come across an opening position at The Sun Down Motel in New York. The story took place in 1982, and Vivian started noticing strange smells, and noises and labeled the motel as haunted. There is a lot that happens in every chapter and it alternates to the present with Carly, who is in search of her aunt Vivian. Now in 2017, Carly has the same determination to find closure for the victims families and figure out if her aunt Vivian is dead. I truly loved this! Again, I am not into ghost-related stories but The Sun Down Motel was hard to put down! Rating: 4 Format: Audiobook Author: Simon St. James Genre: Mystery

“Some people are lucky like that. They meet their best friend, the love of their life, and are wise enough to never let go.” All the feels were everywhere with this love story. This resembled a lot to "Love and Other Words" as this book is a coming of age from a teenage love that turned into a beautiful story. I got very emotional in certain parts of this story and really portrayed how innocent love begins with your best friend and how they both grow up loving each other and learning from each other. There is some betrayals, panic attacks, and miscommunication but overall, the love never goes away between them despite the years. The way the story was written allowed me to feel as if I was living it before my eyes and was truly wholesome. Persephone and Sam are inseparable and meet every summer. They both meet at the age of 13 and share so many stories together as their cottage is next to each other. Something occurs that breaks their strongly bonded friendship and years later they face each other and all the feelings they once had growing up come back, but in reality, those feelings never left. I adored this story, although it was a bit predictable I enjoyed the chemistry between Percy and Sam so much. Rating: 4 Genre: Romance Author: Carley Fortune Format: Audiobook

"I’m not being a pessimist, so don’t you go thinking that,’ I argue with my silent husband" This is an underrated book, and I feel the story has so much potential. The rollercoaster of emotions from funny to sad and back to depression made me realize how grieving alternates your feelings and impacts your everyday decisions. Everything revolves around The Accident that occurred years ago but has left long-lasting numbing effects in Helen's personality. On the other hand, Julia thinks her mom Helen has always had that type of personality, lacked affection, and showed minimum enthusiasm. The Accident happened when Julia was very young so she has no recollection other than what her mother Helen has told her. I got the full perspective on the story from multiple POV's and that is exactly what made the story so addicting. Every character is so unique in their own way like for example Julia is messy and doesn't have friends thus looking desperate to find a friendship. Now, Claire is the complete opposite, she is a full-time mother but also attentive to everyone, and carries a busy agenda to organize everything. Helen is drowning in her grieving and is unsure how others have been able to move on but she hasn't despite the years after The Accident, refuses to make friends, and is desperate to end her life. Daniel is an arrogant man, oblivious to others' needs but his own, and has cheated on his wife Claire to be with Julia, but eventually, he is the one that will be laughed at. The story is so painful but it's admirable the way that all women help each other out despite the many differences encountered. I found it extremely creepy but also sad how a woman can keep her husband for so many years in a comma, I'm not sure that's even possible in the U.S. but everything felt so real. The chapters were short and straight to the point. "I wonder what he would think if I told him I’m just very excited that I might be able to commit suicide soon." Rating: 5 Author: Gail Schimmel Genre: Fiction Format: E-book

Quite the journey with this story. Tom Baxter, a doctor who is attending a conference in Australia, goes with his two kids and his girlfriend. Newly widow Tom is the perfect husband to young Heather as Heather is forced into becoming a step-mom to two kids that make her life hell and disapprove of her with no remorse. This trip to Australia appears extremely boring for Heather because she now has to entertain the Baxter kids while her husband is busy going in and out of conferences. Everything goes downhill when the kids are set on seeing exotic animals because the whole family makes a huge mistake in setting foot on an island where there is no signal, and can only be reached through a ferry. The suspense is at all-time high with this story, even as I believed there was no exit or solution the author somehow twisted things around and chaos was unleashed again and again. I didn't expect anything with this story because the more I did, the less it went how I had pictured it in my head. The kids were painfully annoying and brats throughout the story but I end up liking them at the end when they turned their survival mode on. Although the story starts confusing and then pieces start fitting into place, I decided to listen to the first chapter again after finishing the audiobook and everything just clicked. It is fast-paced and full of adrenaline with infinite back and forth that you won't even know what the next move will be. We've all had that conversation of "what items would you take if you were stranded in an island" and well this was the perfect example of what your flight and fight can make you do. Truly enjoyed it. TW: dogs get shot and gruesome violence Rating: 4 Format: Audiobook Author: Adrian McKinty

"We hardly know each other. How is it possible that this feels right?" What a fun and engaging story. This book is so underrated but I will not be surprised if it takes off and becomes the next Booktok read. There is so much going on involving business, a switch, a hidden secret that is in the bridge of exposing a great discovery. As I was reading this story, I felt like the book cover didn't really match the story but then as the story progressed I feel like it finally did, it was always a business. Lately, I have come across tons of romance books that are unrealistic in the slow-burn trope but this one kept it real and made me whole experience much better, though I felt the ending was rushed as if the author was running out of time, I enjoyed the back and forth between Jesse and Crystal. Everything was perfectly timed, the details included felt like it suited both Jesse and Crystal because they wanted to give the relationship a try and were honest about it the entire time which I could relate to. The jokes had me cracking up and so much spicy between them both!!! Listen those blindfolds fit perfectly in the story. Thankful for this Goodreads giveaway because I enjoyed it sooo much. Rating: 4 Format: E-book Author: Ruth Cardello Genre: Romance

I'm not into paranormal books as this gives me big creeps, especially at night but this one really got me out of my comfort zone but in a good way. I was so engaged from beginning to end, that I ended up finishing the audiobook in one day and that says a lot about the story. This haunting story is told from Mallory's POV and takes you through her journey as a recovering heroin addict 21-year-old. Mallory is finally given a second chance in life by landing a babysitting job at the Maxwell's home. At first glance, Caroline Maxwell and Ted Maxwell appear to be the perfect family as are both highly involved in their son's outcome and have an extensive list of possible nannies for Teddy. Everything goes wonderful for Mallory and life seems to be smiling at her when suddenly she starts picking up on some eerie drawings that Teddy has drawn while also repeatedly saying that Anya -his imaginary friend- is also with him playing at all times. The creepy setting and spooky characters are what makes this story so well-written. I enjoyed everything from beginning to end. Rating: 5 Format: Audiobook Author: Jason Rekulak Genre: Horror/Paranormal

“You live through certain things before you understand them. You can’t always take the analytical position.” This is my second book from Sally Rooney and I might just read all her books because her writing is so unique. I love how the author is able to aim at topics that test my perspective and allow me to get lost in the way the author visualizes the world. This conflicted story is told from Francis's POV. Francis and Bobbi are both college students and poets performing at an open mic event. Though they once dated, they remained as best friends and one night Melissa compliments their performance following up to a second hang out which is how Melissa and her husband Nick become a part of Francis' life. It all becomes challenging when Francis develops emotions toward Nick. Navigating all emotions that were slowly rising when both couples began to accept that monogamy may not apply to them was quite interesting, to say the least. Sally Rooney places the right emphasis on what our culture has taught us into believing and breaks down every layer of why we approach relationships the way we do. Poor decisions is the driving factor, causing a ripple effect of events, and most certainly Franci's persistence in not wanting to be seen as vulnerable her desperate need to reach out and speak up on her chronic illness. Every character is flawed in their own way but I appreciated how other topics like endometriosis was introduced and well displayed. Spoiler: What a complex idea behind accepting Nick's affair with Francis' as this not only helped Nick depression and self-esteem but become more proactive and participatory in Melissa's life. Although Melissa agreed, it didn't come easy and I thought the email written by Melissa to Francis was beautifully written with concepts and thoughts that are usually kept for oneself, it was great to see how others also arrive to the same way of thinking regarding Francis and Nick's affair. Rating: 4 Author: Sally Rooney Format: Audiobook

From the great reviews I've been seeing, I really expected this book to take me on a romance journey but for me, it did not. I found myself rolling my eyes at Libby, not because I hated her but because her role in the story was very predictable. She clearly loved her sister and wants the best for her but it doesn't come off as too realistic as everything she set up for her. It's too obvious that Libby always opted out by leaving Nora and Charlie alone and Nora still fell for it every time, though Nora claims to always be in charge and ahead of the game. Not sure if it's normal to say I love you so fast despite having met in less than a month and Charlie wants to make a huge decision for someone he recently just clicked with. I felt the story needed more back and forth between them to create a stronger romance dilemma between Charlie and Nora. I just couldn't simply picture both of them as a couple, the time was too short. This book was very average to me, yes, almost toward the end is where I found some engaging peaks but other than that, I wanted this audiobook to finish. Rating: 3 Author: Emily Henry Format: Audiobook Genre: Romance

"You're the kind of person, people either love or hate you." If I had to describe this book in two works, it will be wonderful and real. This coming-of-age story involves Connell and Marianne and they bring a realistic point of view to what certain friendships are exposed to, such as judgment from others and the idea to fit into that particular group of friends. This book was different in its writing, for me I felt like it was written very objectively and very straight forward giving it a 3rd person's POV. I appreciated how opposite the characters were but how much they connected through all the years yet never really parted when it came to their feelings. As the title states "Normal People", there isn't much normal between Connell and Marianne as they meet in high school and carry the bonding through the years with other on-and-off relationships that they each try but somehow always end up needing the comfort of each other. Connell in school was known to be one of the popular guys with a crowd by his side, but Marianne was the opposite, though she never cared about any of the social norms like popularity or status. In College, the labels switch as Marianne becomes more popular and Connell more of a solitary guy. They go through so much in their friendship and with each downfall, it gets even stronger. Marianne has always been seen as odd by the way she carries herself and the unsuccessful relationship she often lands in, and all is traced back to how her family is different in the way they treat Marianne and how normalized abuse is among them. Although Marianne isn't abusive herself, she often has this fetish or preference to become submissive during sex. I hated so much Marianne's family, it just made me want to drag both her mom and brother through lava. I believe others wouldn't enjoy this if they are looking for a perfect friendship turned into a relationship because this isn't it. Both Connell and Marianne are so toxic but have no guidance from anyone as they rather keep their business private because no one else would understand what they truly have. The ending was very basic and not what I was expecting given the way everything was lining up for them. I am not going to binge-watch the Hulu series because I need to relive this book in a graphical way. Rating: 4.5 Format: Paperback Author: Sally Rooney

This devastating story starts off with Eden who is awakened in the middle of the night by Kevin who is her brother’s best friend. This chilling night changes Eden’s life because it is the night when she was raped. The story focuses on the lasting effects of trauma and the turn-taking that Eden decides to make because she doesn't feel like herself anymore. I found this book to be informative regarding rape because there are multiple changes such as physical, psychological, and even emotional that 14-year-old Eden experiences. She often referred to her parents by their names and had countless dissociations throughout her daily routines. She becomes more sexually active and her reputation of being a good girl has vanished. It is an eye-opening story that taught me a lot on the aftermath of rape. Rating: 4 Format: Audiobook Author: Amber Smith

"Loving you branded me a deviant" Vanessa, a 15-year-old girl who is in a relationship with Jacob, a 42-year-old English teacher- finds herself falling in love with Jacob and slowly people start finding out about this forbidden relationship. This dark story is not for everyone, truly. I felt uncomfortable flipping the pages, I was furious and in disbelief, because it cost me a lot to put myself in Vanessa's shoes. I mean the author absolutely considered every detail in this coming of age, alternating from 2000's to 2017 the setting, music, and events happening in those years also mentioned which dragged me even deeper into the story. The way the author carefully developed Vanessa's character and her family dynamics also support the idea of how her personality came about, distant and unaffectionate. In short, Vanessa tries to romanticize a relationship that to the regular eye is seen as abuse and is forbidden but to her it never was. This took me a while to wrap my head around despite the multiple times Vanessa reiterates that Jacob Strane was her true love. My inner self wanted to be open-minded in regards to Vanessa's story, really, at some point, the pieces fit together, both characters dark, and aloof, but it becomes clear that she was more invested in it than Jacob. I felt like Jacob was just terrified that Vanessa will bring him down and end his freedom so he had to keep her on a close radar or at least know her next move. Jacob reassures that he has power in a low-key way that Vanessa isn't able to see it because again, a naïve 15-year-old shouldn't be experiencing an order's man sharing his desires with her. I skipped the parts that described the sex scenes because I was already horrified with the relationship itself, why more. It is noticeable that when Vanessa is all grown up she is still struggling with the relationship he had when she was 15 years old by the way her house is always messy, drowns herself in alcohol, and has difficulty with other relationships, though I think the relationship issue is tied to her dark personality so she attracts what she is, dark. She seemed to be a high-functioning depressive person and grieving the loss of her dad also didn't help her situation. The trauma never left her despite ending the relationship long ago. In multiple occasions, Vanessa has out-of-body experiences when she is having sex with Jacob or when he is giving her oral sex, which leads me to think that she wasn't enjoying it therefore it can be labeled as unwanted and abusive. I'm sure that others may judge this book because the story is disgusting and appalling but in my eyes, the author is so unique for creating this story that she very well insists that it is 100% fictional, which I might have a little tiny bit of doubts on that. TW: Abuse, gaslighting, pedophilia, rape, victim shaming, grooming, manipulation, and more. Rating: 5 Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell Format: Paperback