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Cassandra in Reverse
Cassandra in Reverse: A Novel | Holly Smale
Witty, touching and totally absorbing. Cassandra is a funny and sharply-observed character who I loved spending time with. Graeme Simsion, New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project If you had the power to change the pastwould you? Cassandra Penelope Dankworth is a creature of habit. She likes what she likes (museums, jumpsuits, her boyfriend, Will) and strongly dislikes what she doesn't (mess, change, her boss drinking out of her mug). Her life runs in a pleasing, predictable orderuntil now. She's just been dumped. She's just been fired. Her local caf has run out of banana muffins. Then, something truly unexpected happens: Cassie discovers she can go back and change the past. Now, Cassie should be able to find a way to fix the life she accidentally obliterated. And with time on her side, how hard can it be?
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CoffeeNBooks
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Pickpick

Cassandra is having a terrible day- her boyfriend dumps her, she gets fired from her job, and her roommates remind her that she's supposed to be finding a new place to live. She has a bit of a meltdown, only to wake up and realized she's time-traveled.

Continued... ⬇️

CoffeeNBooks Will she be able to continue to move around in time in order to fix her previous mistakes? How many times will she change time? How many times is too many, and will she know when that is? (It was a pick at this point.) 3mo
CoffeeNBooks The premise was really interesting, but I felt like the storyline kept derailing somewhere in the middle of the story. (It turned into a so-so at this point.) Then the last part of the story was when Cassandra finally figured things out, there was character development, and the story was really interesting again. And it ended up being a pick. I'm glad I stuck with it. 3mo
See All 7 Comments
Lauredhel Looks interesting! Is there a mythology Cassandra tie-in, or is it just a name? 3mo
julesG @Lauredhel yes, there is a mythological component. But it's not a major part of the story. 3mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3mo
CoffeeNBooks @Lauredhel it's a thread that runs throughout the story, as the main character's mom loved mythology; Cassandra relates situations to myths 3mo
70 likes7 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

I wasn't sure about this one initially. It felt like it was going to be a time travel fix-it romance. But that's exactly what the author wants you to think so she can flip your expectations. I doubt I would've read this one without your recommendation for #AudLangSpine @julesG so thank you for that! I'm looking forward to reading some more from your list

#AudLangSpine2024 @monalyisha

julesG Glad you liked it. I only read it because @Cinfhen gave it a positive review last summer. 3mo
47 likes1 comment
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slategreyskies
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Bailedbailed

I really tried to like this book. I tried to like Cassandra, and I just couldn‘t do it. The way she was written made it seem like she didn‘t care about anybody but herself. I found her very unlikable, and I only made it to around page 160, before I just couldn‘t take it any longer. I‘ve been struggling with this book for weeks, and I‘m having difficulty making myself sit down and read it, so it‘s time to bail.

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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

This was on pace to be a 4- or 5-star read but I didn't love the "twist" - I saw it coming and it shifted the tone of the book. I didn't care for the ending, it felt like it belonged to another book. That being said, Cassandra was a wonderful character to spend time with, I admired the way Smale made Cassandra's neurodiversity A thing but not THE thing.

And I want to spend time in Cassandra's closet. It sounds amazing.

My #DoubleSpin for Jan.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3mo
57 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Silverneurotic

I am having a tough time finding an audiobook that holds my attention. Hopefully this one breaks the losing streak.

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julesG
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#12Booksof2023 @Andrew65

July - @Cinfhen gave it a good review and I trust her reviews.

Andrew65 Looks interesting, even more so if @Cinfhen recommended it. 4mo
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Skeeterisme
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Pickpick

Wonderful

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julesG
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

Thanks for the tag @The_Penniless_Author.

1) this is tough, there are so many 😂😂😂 I guess my weird sense of humour - being able to see the funny side even if things are tough. (my kids would say this is one of my most annoying quirks, just like being nerdy and geeky)

2) Is it okay to say a neurodiverse character is quirky? If so, then the Cassandra is quirky.
Otherwise, a Pratchett book 😉

Tag, you're it! 😁

TheSpineView So with you on Pratchett! Thanks for playing! 5mo
The_Penniless_Author All it took was my daughter aging a couple of years for me to go from being the funniest person on the planet to the most annoying person on the planet. 🤣 5mo
julesG @The_Penniless_Author Everyone's a critic 😂😂 5mo
45 likes3 comments
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GidgetsTreasures75
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Pickpick

10-26-23: My 92nd finished book of 2023! Cassie is a little odd. Pushy and opinionated, kind of cold, very candid, and she has a huge love of Greek Mythology. After a series of truly unfortunate events occur, Cassie realizes she can turn back time. She can erase her big mistakes and go back and fix them. Will it work? She has a relationship to fix and a job to save! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣9️⃣2️⃣

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Jaimelire
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Mehso-so

Book club read. It was ok. If you have read The Rosie Project and/or The Maid, it‘s a similar main character. But for some reason did not impress me as much.

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GingerAntics
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I never thought of it quite this way. I never really got to that part yet. I didn‘t think about being “on the spectrum.” I was still in the self-discovery, ah-ha stage. This speaks to me, though. It makes far more sense to say that spectrum is part of us, inside of us, than something we are on. It certainly makes more sense with the fact that every single autistic person is uniquely autistic.
#CassandraInReverse #HollySmale #audiobook #autism

GingerAntics @julesG I KNEW SHE DIDN‘T KNOW!!! I didn‘t guess her mom had been diagnosed, but it makes sense, and I feel like it helped Cassy embrace herself. Her mother‘s unerring, unquestioning, unequivocal note on the back of that page almost let her mother speak to her/reassure her from beyond the grave that this was it. 8mo
julesG Reading the book was a bit like going through my own journey again. And getting Cassy's mum's reassurance that it's okay to be who I am. 8mo
See All 6 Comments
julesG Really liked the idea of the spectrum being part of us. I mean it is. We're all mad (mad as in neurodiverse) here. Just depends on what degree of "not neuro-normal" it is. Where some people see a quirk, others see ASD. 8mo
GingerAntics @julesG so true! 8mo
kspenmoll Love this. I will share with my adult Autistic son 8mo
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GingerAntics
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🤯🤯🤯
THIS TOO!!! IT‘S LIKE THIS CAME STRAIGHT FROM MY OWN LIFE!!! The fact that this keeps coming up as a theme in books about autism, especially low support needs autism, makes me think this is a part of our overall experience. It breaks my heart that in 2023 we are still teaching kids to hate themselves. (Universe help us all when we get our next republican president.)
#CassandraInReverse #HollySmale #audiobook #autism #busbook

TheBookHippie Ughhhhh. 8mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I think you were thinking what I was thinking. This goes beyond autistic kids, ADHD kids, or even neurological conditions. It encompasses LGBTQIA+ kids, and sub clinical kids, fat kids, super smart kids, kids whose talents don‘t lie in the classroom. So many kids are taught and will continue to be taught to hate themselves under this regime until we put a stop to it. It seriously makes me want to start my own school again. 8mo
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics it‘s so sad I see it in the classroom daily it‘s atrocious … 8mo
See All 12 Comments
julesG @TheBookHippie if you don't fit the mold, you're worthless - that's the impression I always got and still get. I wish there was no mold. I wish everyone could just be who they are. 8mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I am so happy to be out of the classroom. I greatly enjoyed my time there, but I just couldn‘t do it anymore. 8mo
GingerAntics @julesG exactly! 8mo
TheBookHippie @julesG ME TOO! We would all be better for it! 8mo
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics it‘s a challenge .. 8mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @julesG what a beautiful world that would be! 8mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie yeah. I think if I had been doing something I was truly passionate about I‘d probably still be there. I was so hemmed in by ridiculousness that there was just no point anymore. I broke the rules just as much as I could, but it was getting exhausting and I do like having a “real” job and health insurance. I‘m not going to lie. 8mo
kspenmoll No no no!!!! 💔 I am so lucky my son taught me so much that affected how I teach students on the spectrum 8mo
15 likes12 comments
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GingerAntics
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THIS!!! This is such a wonderful description of what it‘s like.
#CassandraInReverse #HollySmale #audiobook #autism #busbook

julesG Exactly! 8mo
quietlycuriouskate Yep, that's about the measure of it. 😔 8mo
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GingerAntics
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I wondered how long it would take her to figure this it… but then it seems she didn‘t really do much about it. I want to tell her so bad to just tell Will what things are like for her, but she never does.
#CassandraInReverse #HollySmale #audiobook #busbooks #AutisticCharacters #timetravel

GingerAntics @julesG I can‘t believe they‘re going to break up again, but then again I can‘t believe she continues to go after Will when he clearly doesn‘t love her, at least not enough, to accept her as she is; although, how are you going to date someone for 4 months and never tell them your parents are dead? 8mo
julesG She's definitely not doing herself a favour. I might understand not telling him she's autistic, it seems she not aware of it herself. Dead parents though, I suppose she could have slipped it in sometime. 8mo
GingerAntics @julesG yeah, she doesn‘t seem to know she‘s autistic… unless she‘s repressing that word/idea. The sister thing, too. 🤯🤯🤯 I kind of guessed that one, but somehow it was still a shock. 8mo
GingerAntics @julesG I adore this book! I am going to be so sad when it ends. 8mo
julesG I had a similar feeling. 8mo
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GingerAntics
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I am enjoying the living day lights out of this one. Thanks for the suggestion @julesG
#CassandraInReverse #HollySmale #audiobook #busbooks #AutisticCharacters #timetravel

GingerAntics @julesG wait, is every restart releasing another Cassandra into the wild? Did she just text herself? (edited) 8mo
julesG Did she? I honestly can't remember the smaller details. 8mo
GingerAntics @julesG I don‘t know! And who is the lady in the hat? And where are the letters coming from?! I may have to call in sick tomorrow just to sit and listen to the rest of this book!!! 8mo
14 likes3 comments
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Sharpeipup
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No books have been stained…yet. 😬

wanderinglynn You‘ve jinxed it now! 😳😆 8mo
Sharpeipup @wanderinglynn I realized that and left right after the photo 😂 8mo
wanderinglynn Smart! 😆 8mo
47 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Reecaspieces
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Mehso-so
Bette Love the planters! ❤️🥸 9mo
Reecaspieces @Bette me too!!! 9mo
45 likes2 comments
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Enchanted_Bibliophile
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Panpan

1½✨

While I'm 100% in support of the message this book holds, I was not a fan. I couldn't find one single character I liked. The story dragged and I just couldn't engage with it.
If I haven't had it on audio I would definitely have DNF it.

#UnpopularOpinion
@Clwojick #Pantone2023 #CherryTomatoe #IcedMango #BluePerennial #VanillaCream

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julesG
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Pickpick

Thanks for putting this on my radar, @Cinfhen

Excellent narration.

I loved Cassandra and her unexpected gift from the gods. I liked how she tries to fix the relationship with Will and accidentally changing more than her future with him. It got a bit Groundhog Day boring in the middle, but the last third of the story made up for it.

Loved how the author blended in Greek mythology throughout the story.

#JubilantJuly @Andrew65

Cinfhen That‘s exactly the way I felt! Excellent review 😍I loved the inclusion of all the Greek mythology ❣️ 9mo
Cuilin Did you mention Greek mythology? Stacked. 9mo
Andrew65 Sounds excellent - well done 👏👏👏 9mo
72 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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julesG
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Another read I'm blaming on @Cinfhen - I really must stop reading your reviews.

#JubilantJuly @Andrew65

julesG #neurodiversity This might be one for you too @GingerAntics 9mo
Andrew65 Looks a good choice. 9mo
Cinfhen Glad to feed your TBR 😘 9mo
See All 9 Comments
Cinfhen I‘ll be curious to hear your thoughts 9mo
GingerAntics I need this book… but eeeeeew why is her boss drinking out of her mug? Maybe it‘s because I work in a hospital/medical setting, but my boss would NEVER do this. Gross!!! 9mo
julesG @GingerAntics it was freshly washed before he used it. 9mo
GingerAntics @julesG it‘s still not his. Keep your germs to yourself. Seriously. 9mo
julesG @GingerAntics Not that kind of situation. You'll understand when you get to the scene. Don't worry about it too much. 9mo
GingerAntics @julesG fair enough 9mo
62 likes9 comments
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marleed
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Pickpick

This was a groundhog-day romance-trope meh of a book for nearly 2/3 of this story. But I‘m glad I stuck with it because I enjoyed the last third when Cassandra realizes the relationship she thought the universe was giving her the opportunity to revisit might not play out the way she initially desired.

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

After a shaky start the longer I listened to this audio the more I REALLY enjoyed it. Cassandra is having a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE day-~ her boyfriend has dumped her, she‘s been fired from her job and her flat mate wants her out. But then something extraordinary occurs: Cassandra is able to time loop and has the power to try to change that terrible day.
Loads of nods to Greek mythology which I thought elevated the story. FANTASTIC narration!

Cinfhen @Megabooks I didn‘t hate the ending but I saw it coming the moment I learned who Diana was. And I did think the author got a little preachy 9mo
Tiffiney I just finished it this morning. Like you, I also felt the beginning was shaky and came close to making it a DNF. It definitely picked up though. I wasn't a fan of the ending however. (edited) 9mo
Cinfhen @Megabooks HATED the ending too @Tiffiney - it didn‘t really bother me as much 9mo
See All 7 Comments
Megabooks @Tiffiney the ending was awful, but I‘m glad you enjoyed it, Cindy! Smale did a great job crafting Cassandra as a character! 9mo
Enchanted_Bibliophile I'm about 50% in and am considering DNF ... Should I just keep listening? 9mo
Cinfhen @Enchanted_Bibliophile it did click for me at around the 50% mark but if you‘re really not enjoying it might not get better for you. It‘s not a GREAT book but I did end up enjoying it more than I expected. 9mo
Enchanted_Bibliophile @Cinfhen I'll give it another 5-10% before I decide, thanks 9mo
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Megabooks
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Mehso-so

That ending killed me. I hated it. The overall message of the book was great (accepting your own or someone else‘s autism), but the execution left a lot to be desired. It reminded me of YA books, which Smale also writes, because it is so centered on immature ideas of romance and sacrifice. The MC did not seem 31. But I liked Cassandra. I rooted for her to make those discoveries about herself. A mixed bag. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cinfhen Ha! So funny….I just started this one. It‘s a slow beginning but I hear it takes a bit of time. I‘m sorry to hear the ending was a disappointment ☹️ 9mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen very curious about what you‘ll think! It was going along low pick for me until the end, and I just thought it was so silly. I‘m not sorry I read it because I genuinely liked spending time with Cassandra, though. Thanks for the email! I‘ll write back soon. Headed to bed. It‘s been a long night. 🙄🙄 9mo
Megabooks @Cinfhen I am watching Prime day deals, but mostly for everyday stuff (like I got a deal on my favorite non-latex gloves and bandaids 😂😂 and other things mom‘s brought up like a pizza pan and more skirt hangers). Dull I know! 9mo
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen Keep those Prime deals coming xx 😘 I‘m actually enjoying the Greek mythology references a lot and I‘m starting to get used to Cassandra - 9mo
Megabooks @Kitta thank you for the insightful comments on Yellowface! This recent release is by an author who, like her MC, was diagnosed with autism as an adult. She made it clear that neither her nor Cassandra‘s experiences are universal. I was thrown by the ending but Cassandra was a wonderful character! (edited) 9mo
Kitta @Megabooks oh great thanks I‘ll add it to mount TBR! 9mo
80 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Thank you @Eggs for the #WondrousWednesday Tag!🤗

1️⃣ So many! #CampLitsy23 #SundayBuddyRead #Pemberlittens #hashtagbrigade #DiverseCozy #SeriesLove2023 + my library summer reading program, Kindle Summer Challenge & my virtual foodie book club

2️⃣ This was close, but the tagged book was an unexpected delight to read so I‘ll go with it! 💙

3️⃣ I didn‘t hate anything I read but The Kiss Murder for #DiverseCozy was just OK.

Anyone is tagged! 😉

Eggs It sounds like you have a lot on your plate 🍽️ 😊👏🏻 9mo
peaKnit Virtual foodie book club sounds excellent! 9mo
39 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

I found this book to be a delight-witty, fun & funny but not too fluffy including more serious themes of grief & feeling different/excluded from the world. Cassandra, the neurodivergent MC, is quirky l, snarky & smart & the time travel/time loop is an interesting premise. I also loved the Greek mythology emphasis.I laughed out loud several times but also got a bit teary too. It ended up being better & more nuanced that I thought it might be. 💙

tpixie Great review! 10mo
Graciouswarriorprincess I loved it too. 10mo
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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With a brilliant take on time travel, this book is a unique, kaleidoscopic, transporting summer read! It was fun and absorbing, but also made me think and feel all the feels. I love that both the protagonist and the author are neurodivergent and thought it beautifully illuminated how our differences are our superpowers. Cassandra‘s voice is so strong - vividly complex, witty, and vulnerable. I‘ll be thinking about her for awhile!

59 likes1 comment
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LatrelWhite
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June pick for Reese‘s Book club!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🤣😆😂funny laugh out loud.

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Book 85/100 of 100.

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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Cassandra has been dumped and fired on the same day and starts to meltdown. That‘s when she discovers she can travel through time and her efforts to change things start getting complicated. This is well balanced and I enjoyed the read. Also, Cassandra interfaces with the world in a very particular way, but the publisher doesn‘t mention that in their description so I‘ll keep mum. 🤐

59 likes2 stack adds
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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I‘m spending my day reading on my patio. Tomorrow, I will be doing grad school homework but enjoying today!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks cozy!! Enjoy! 10mo
Tamra Sweet space! 10mo
48 likes2 comments
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

I will admit that this took me a while to get into. Cassandra is obviously on the spectrum and has internalized all the criticism and judgement she‘s had thrown at her. After an extremely crappy day, she discovers she can time travel and tries to go back and right some of her bad luck. It gets a bit mired in that but the ending ❤️❤️ it‘s lovely and I‘m a fan

MyNamesParadise I got this one and I‘m eager to read it because I‘m on the spectrum too! Glad you liked the ending! 10mo
mcctrish Oh @MyNamesParadise I hope you like it ( and don‘t give up if you feel like I did) 10mo
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BBooks
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A Reece Bookclub pick, not my usual fare but wanted something "light" and fast. This was it, better than I assumed. Still unsure about last twist so 4 ? maybe 4.5. I also enjoyed the Greek mythology references. Great summer read.

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Hooked_on_books
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Holy cannoli, Aardvark! Apparently this was here Monday, but we don‘t go to the post office often. I wasn‘t expecting this until at least next week! You should seriously call up Book of the Month and explain to them how shipping is done.

AardvarkBookClub 🤣💖 10mo
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Hooked_on_books
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My #aardvark pick this month. I think the selection of books and book types is good, but I‘m a little perplexed at the decision to choose 4 books that are already published before the picks dropped, @AardvarkBookClub . I‘ve already read one, am reading another, and have a third on hold, all from my library. One of those I would have added to my box if it hadn‘t pub‘ed yet. 🤷🏼‍♀️

vlwelser I felt the same. I'm already reading The Chateau. I might actually skip. And I feel bad doing that. 11mo
Hooked_on_books @vlwelser I actually considered skipping, too. This pick is a bit of a risk for me, since it advertises itself as a romance, which I don‘t like, but the synopsis makes it seems like fun. But if I can already get the book elsewhere, I wonder what the point is. 11mo
AardvarkBookClub Totally hear you! Sometimes it‘s impossible for us to negotiate early releases but as we grow we‘re increasingly able ❤️ 10mo
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swishandflick
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The final #Aardvark clue (pantone colors) is in, and they seem to match all of the books from my last predictions post pretty well. So I'm locking it in... final answer! 📚

Megabooks Thanks for the tag! I‘ve read Ascension from the library and enjoyed it. I‘m first in line for The Guest once the staff finish passing it around. 🙄😂 (It took me two months past release day to get a new release I was first in line for recently!) My library is also getting Cassandra so I may skip this month. Save some money because I‘m going to Parnassus June 5 and I know I‘ll spend there! 🤩🤩 11mo
Megabooks You are a SUPERB SLEUTH!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 11mo
See All 8 Comments
Breanne1 You are so good at these!! I can‘t wait for The Chateau and The Guest. 11mo
Breanne1 …and I want Ascension too because it sounds like an X-file!!! 11mo
Cinfhen Well done you!!! The Guest is perfect!!! 11mo
Cinfhen Actually they all are AMAZING 🤩 11mo
Hooked_on_books You nailed it again! I totally rely on you for these guesses each month, sometimes tapping my foot impatiently, waiting for you to post. 😬😂 11mo
75 likes8 comments
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swishandflick
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June #Aardvark predictions... Take 2 🎬

I spy the goddess Cassandra in their latest clue, so that has officially become my most confident guess. Otherwise... this is hard 🤣

Megabooks Always love to see these guesses! 11mo
swishandflick @Cinfhen my Aardvark guesses... they didn't really change with the latest post of theirs! (edited) 11mo
Cinfhen I‘m thinking these might be contenders 11mo
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen IDK 🤷🏼‍♀️ maybe it‘s more wishful thinking 11mo
swishandflick @Cinfhen I was thinking The Girls of Summer at one point too, and was going back and forth between that or The Guest. I think one of the earlier clues had me slightly skewed towards The Guest (edited) 11mo
64 likes8 comments
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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

This is not quite a rom-com, but it is a cute, fun read about a woman who is autistic. After a really bad day (being dumped, fired and asked to leave her apartment) she discovers she has the ability to time travel back a little bit and fix things. She also discovers that using this power a lot gets very confusing. The book is really a quirky coming-of-age tale and I enjoyed the story, the characters and the wisdom imparted. 3.75/5 stars.

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BookNAround
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Reading in the chair at the dentist‘s office.

62 likes1 stack add