I had a feeling this book will be long and tedious to finish but its content posed a great story and I was really curious to hear it so I listened to the audiobook. The concept itself was different than most stories out there as for this one, the kid wasn't mistreated, mentally or physically abused growing up so, in other words, Kevin was just born a psychopath. Indeed, disturbing and twisted but my expectations were not met. The wording threw me off quite a lot, it was over-worded for no reason because the story itself was rich and entertaining. It took a while for the story to introduce Kevin, and right in the beginning, you know what Kevin did and who he killed. Eva was dry and uncharismatic, which was also passed on to Kevin's personality. I enjoyed the movie more than I did the lengthy audiobook. In short, Kevin is a psychopath, Eva who is Kevin's mom never wanted to have a child and never grew fond of him let alone love him entirely, her husband didn't believe how evil Kevin was when he wasn't around. Rating: 3 Author: Lionel Shriver Format: Audiobook Genre: Fiction

The audiobook was the perfect fit for this book. All the narrators did an outstanding job, I wouldn't have had the same feedback if I would've read this book instead. Every character is made uniquely, some sprinkled with petty, others with unraveling hatred, but what they all share is wealth. Housewives' drama is what these women excel at. Written in 5 POV's- Crystal, Olivia, Shannon, Jenny and Karen; all have secrets and while they hope their personal one is kept, they manage to balance out which secret is worth enough to go that far. The ride felt steady until it neared the end; everything begin to pick up and uncover. The end is a bit predictable but I rated it a 5 star because of the great characters! There is so much backstabbing, betrayal, and animosity that the story keeps getting better as it develops. Olivia was created with so many insecurities! By far she was the worst character but yet she was also brilliant because she essentially carried the entire story. Spoiled and privileged, Olivia had issues with everyone but it was all a reflection of who she was. In all honesty, no one care about her but she had to always be the center of attention. Shannon goes through tons of emotions, from exploring her sexuality to a recent divorce and even having to face her ex-husband's new gf. At first, she gave me psycho vibes but I'm glad she realizes sooner than later her worth. Crystal is the governor's new gf, totally unsuited for Buckhead lifestyle but she is goodhearted and despite all the hate she receives, she is naive. Karen a more reasonable woman, has a child, and understands hard work being a real estate agent building herself up from the bottom. She lives lavishly but doesn't treat others any less. Jenny isn't a housewife but she is the owner of the salon where all these women gather and spill their venom. Highly recommend this as an audiobook! Rating: 5 Author: Jeneva Rose Format: Audiobook Genre: Thriller

This charming rom-com had a strong sense of humor with lots of romance. I've read a few books with enemies to lovers trope and they get repetitive at times but this one didn't have an ounce of boring. Not only do the main characters hate each other but there is also a side drama going on with her family, creating a stronger build-up. The beginning was a bit slow with tons of details of the trips and the chemistry between Ethan and Olive. I loved the representation of plus-sized women and hispanic community. Olive and Ethan are enemies that are given an opportunity to go to Hawaii instead of letting the trip go to waste. They both are sarcastic with each other and when presented with other obstacles related to Olive's new job, and Ethan's past during the trip, they are forced to act like they are truly in love and recently married. There is a lot of misunderstandings that happen between the both of them, making the story juicier. I would've liked to see two POV rather than only Olive's, in order to get a sense of where Ethan stands on the topic of his brother's situation and the feelings developing toward Olive. I really disliked the misunderstanding that went on, I wish Ethan had taken the blindfolds off and believe Olive sooner. This book was a quick read and truly enjoyed buddy reading it with @theliteraryladiesbookclub on IG. Rating: 4.50 Format: Paperback Author: Christina Lauren Genre: Rom-com

"There were things I couldn't say; I could only write them because when I spoke, I thought; and when I wrote, I felt" This book explores life, love, grieving, and second chances. The story begins with three siblings; Jules, Marty and Liz as they are all forced to face life without their parents and are sent to boarding school. Jules' life is narrated from his POV and goes on to find a sense of emptiness when he becomes a teenager and wishes he had a paternal figure by his side. The words used in the story are so beautifully written and contained so much life wisdom and were lovely in terms of getting the perspective of how life unfolds for the three siblings, however, at times there were details that made the story a bit boring for me. There were some peaks in Jules' romance which I found adorable the way it turns out later in the reading. This story also carries tons of potential quotes! Overall, it was a bit emotional, and I really loved its peaks. Rating: 3.70 Format: Audiobook Author: Benedict Wells Genre: Contemporary Published year: 2018

Thanks to the author, I received this ARC and I had so much fun reading it. Edyth a pink-haired girl and smart mathematician is curious about Lawson as they both meet in a confrontational manner in a hotel lobby. Lawson is your typical smart-ass jerk that is unable to keep longer relationships and now is somehow enchanted by Edyth's personality, as she plays hard to get. The story has tons of steamy encounters and will leave you wanting more! I felt like the way the main characters met happened a bit rushed and lacked some detail, but their personalities are both so fun and sarcastic. I enjoyed Lawson despite his arrogance, I grew to like him halfway through the book. Highly recommend if you want a quick steamy romance! Small town romance Steamy rom-com STEM-related Quick read Rating: 4.05 Format: E-book Author: Josie Juniper Genre: Romance Published year: 2022

This book starts slow and all the way to half of the book I was dragging myself, taking multiple breaks so I don't die of boredom. I love the idea behind traveling with your best friend and feeling empty when they are apart, there's always one friend you connect the most and that was the bond Poppy and Alex had. The book got some funny jokes that made me giggle and LOL multiple times, coming mostly from Poppy as her personality is very upbeat and charming, compared to Alex who is a rule-follower and more reserved. The reason why they both land perfectly great is because opposites attract, yes, and they push each other to be different, in a good way. I am still in disbelief that there was so much lack of communication when expressing their emotions yet they were best friends, and it was obvious at times that they both felt something spark. I believe the book was leaning toward comedy up until 70-ish % when the romance began and the view turned clear. There is a slow build-up that when it finally arrived I was confused because no way I was expecting that outcome, it was very minimal and not what I had in mind. I truly started loving both characters almost at the end when feelings were out on the table and communication actually took place. I think this book was a little over-hyped and I'm just a tad bit let down but still enjoyed this story of best friends to lovers. Rating: 3.75 Format: Paperback Author: Emily Henry Genre: Rom-com Published year: 2021

This beautiful memoir is one that everyone should read because it contains so much wisdom and rawness that one way or another will have you cherishing your family or loved ones. The author narrated the audiobook and gave a homey tone to the story. I also believe the title doesn't give anything away to the reader prior to the story which in my case I always thought this book was from the 1800s, hence the black and white book cover. I have so many mixed feelings about the way Jeanette grew up. Her household was so dysfunctional and her family lived like a nomad, unable to settle down. Jeanette and her three siblings barely enrolled in school and at times didn't have food to eat, let alone take showers. There were certain concepts that were arguable and I would agree with but for the most part, the parents had their priorities out of balance and despite the way they raised their kids, they grew up to be brilliantly gifted. Jeanette was forced to become an adult at such young age because her mother refused to find a job as means to pursue a career as an artist (which never really became true) and her father was an alcoholic who put booze before food. I think the experiences the Wall's siblings faced helped them become stronger but also pushed them to be more appreciative of things others tend to take for granted (like a thermostat or a can of beans). Both parents were not mentally stabled but the Wall's kids were so used to it because that was their world. It is true that Jeannette learned tons of skills for survival from her dad and motivational self-talk from her mom but as time went by she was able to see that her parents always had choices, they didn't need to live the way they did. That's where I argue that it was shady and wrong of her parents to just fly over their heads the government help and other sources they could've used. I am still in disbelief that the Walls' family lived in such poor conditions but I am glad that Jeanette was able to make a book to let the world know what it was like to go about life with the bare minimum. This book is absolutely beautiful and the movie is just as touching, though lacks some important details from the book. Rating: 5 Author: Jeannette Walls Format: Audiobook Published year: 2006 Genre: Memoir

This is my second time listening to a crime thriller audiobook and was excited as the book cover gave the feeling that it will be strongly spooky, but, I found this story excruciatingly boring at times. Soon as the story begins, I found myself hooked, and then shortly after, the intensity just disappeared and it became more of an ongoing court hearing than the action itself. Honestly, I wanted more thriller and this wasn't it. Atticus is an interesting character because in fact, he is an undercover genius when it comes to body language and picking at all the details that the cops missed. My mind kept wandering off and I kept losing interest but I really wanted to finish the story and not DNF it. There were certain parts where I was fully engaged, especially toward the end when the story takes a full turn and I was not expecting those characters to be behind the murder. Rating: 3.80 Author Mark Dawson Genre: Mystery Format: Audiobook Published year: 2020

I couldn't pause the audiobook! I wonder million times whether Claire has input in everything or not, and the more evidence that surfaced the more I was unsure on who the killer was. There are tons of twists that you don't really know what the next move will be. I definitely want to listen to the full series. Also, each chapter is written so smoothly which makes the story so easy to get lost in. I should mention that the narrator of the audiobook was fantastic and makes the story come to live! Rating: 5 Author: Jamie Millen Format: Audiobook Genre: Thriller Published year: 2022

“He left you the fortune, Avery, and all he left us is you.” Avery Grams is a teenager, who goes to school and works to support herself as her mother died and no father figure was present in her life. Avery's stepsister, Libby, is dealing with ongoing abuse from her boyfriend Drake and Avery much rather sleep in her car than put up with Drake under the same roof. To Avery's surprise, she finds out that she must fly to the Hawthorne's residency as she must be present for the will to be read. Avery goes through a series of emotions from confusion to anxiety and worry once she finds out that she was left a massive inheritance. Her life soon changes as each of the Hawthorne family carries a small clue to find out why Tobia Hawthorne chose her. When I first went into reading this book, I had an idea that this might be some fantasy-type of book and had read mixed reviews, but there's an unlimited amount of suspense, especially at the end of each chapter. I absolutely loved how unique the story is and how throughout the story every character appears to be malicious at some point that it had me doubting their trust. Every character plays an important role in the story and no small detail is insignificant. The ending was just torture! Once I picked up this book, I was unable to put it down, the fact that it's such an easy read and the secrets that everyone in the Hawthorne family makes you want to find out the reason why Avery was left such fortune. There is a series of 3 books total, and I will be diving into each of them! Rating: 5 Format: E-book Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes Genre: Mystery Published year: 2020

"He was a man of black and white. And she was color. All the color he had." Ove was a unique character, with tons of crankiness and an honest-filled heart. His wife Sonjia was the only person he ever loved and connected in Ove's life, so he saw no meaning in wanting to live when she died. Grumpy Ove keeps to himself, doesn't like small talk, and follows an everyday routine. The old man Ove is as blunt as one can be, yet you wonder why he's so special, and slowly the story develops with some background story of his past. Ove tries multiple ways to reunite with his wife and they all lead to an unwanted outcome that somehow prolongs his days on earth. I loved how much his neighbors saw past his grumpy self and were able to give his days a new meaning. The story carries tons of personal wisdom, as Ove is a man of principles and rule-followings. I'd admit, I paid as close attention as possible to see if there is some mention of having autism due to Ove's obliviousness of certain social contexts that may have been obvious to others but not to him. As the book was coming to an end, I felt a strong feeling like I didn't want the book to end nor did I want for Ove to die. I believe this story will help others see life with a different meaning. Rating: 5 Author: Fredrick Backman Format: Audiobook Category: Contemporary Published year: 2019

Ben an in-denial alcoholic appears to struggle with his autistic child and seems like his marriage is failing. Emma, trying to cope just as much as she can, wants to end the marriage in order to help Jonah's case in an upcoming tribunal to place him in the right school for autistic kids and move in, for good. Georg who is Ben's father, soon takes Jonah and Ben to live with him, watching after Jonah and essentially picking up Ben's slack. I can't seem to wrap my had around to find the right words to describe the emotions I felt while listening to this audiobook. The jungle of feelings that a parent with a child with ASD is something hard to explain. Although I work with kids with ASD every day, I never thought about listening to an audiobook on first-hand experience about the hardships parents face while also trying to survive in marriage. I was curious to know what "Shtum" might mean and searched up to find that it means 'silence' in Yiddish. Jem Lester created an outstanding story with realistic scenarios that come from his experience having an autistic child. The reader will find this story comical yet heart-warming, even though for me I felt like the author placed a very pessimistic tone on the book, or perhaps it was the narrator's tone of voice? or that Ben was an unlucky man? I am still trying to unscramble what it is. Taking into account all the details from the childhood of each character, the lack of communication, and their background, it demonstrated perfectly that each character came to grow such personality because of their past and how they were raised. I should mention that I was hating Emma yet also tried to understand her situation, but as the story unveils, I was able to reduce my judgment and increase my praise for Emma. Every chapter has something that leaves you hunting for more in the next chapter which kind of makes it addicting in a way. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning about autism, parenthood with an autistic child, marriage, alcoholism, and a roller coaster of emotions. Rating: 5 Author: Jem Lester Format: Audiobook Published year: 2017 Genre: Fiction