2.5⭐• true crime inspired fiction • an atmospheric Vermont setting • dark history • ghostwriting • child abuse • single POV•
While the story draws from the real atrocities at St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, VT—which gives it important historical weight—the execution was painfully slow & ultimately a chore to get through. Additionally, I found it a drag to be inside the MC‘s head—like she was trying to pull me down into her pit of depression.

3.25⭐ (Honestly, the cover is what made this a Pick over a So-So)
This kept bringing me to the brink of terror, only to pull back each time. The creepy atmosphere would build beautifully, then dissipate before reaching its full potential. Additionally, the closer it got to the conclusion, the more confusing and outrageous it became.
🎙️Brittany Pressley‘s narration is ultimately what kept me listening even when the story was disappointing me.

4.5⭐
What we have here is a septuagenarian with anti-hero/morally gray energy of the serial killer variety. Her macabre wit alongside her proclivity for killing undeserving people may not be for everyone, but despite that, she is wildly entertaining and weirdly likable.
🎙️Elizabeth Wiley was, without a doubt, the perfect narrator for this. She nailed it.

5⭐
This is my fourth time through this series, and my love for it remains strong. While I didn‘t love this quite as much as Illuminae, due to the confusing time warps, I still found it gripping. The newcomers—Nik, Hanna, and Ella—brought excellent chemistry and perfectly complement the already loveable crew of Kady, Ezra, & Aiden from book one.
🎙️The narration in this book brings the same🔥as book one.

4.75⭐
This was genuinely unsettling—the combination of that cursed toy dread (totally Jumanji vibes) and raw emotional power made it stand out in the horror genre. Despite a disappointing conclusion, the overall narrative had a profound impact on me. It‘s also safe to say that I won‘t ever buy a toy train set for my grandchildren.
🎙️Eva Kaminsky was fantastic.

5⭐
Why hasn‘t this been made into a TV show already? I think this is my 4th reread of this series, and I never get bored with it. For first-time readers, I suggest starting with the print version because it‘s easier to comprehend, and then try it on audio later. Both formats offer a unique experience and shouldn't be missed, though.
🎙️The narration is🔥🔥🔥

4.75⭐
This author has a way of pulling you in and keeping you there until the end. The misdirections were misdirecting, and the suspects were sussing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she'd throw in another curveball.
🎙️January Lavoy knocked it out of the park with this one.

4⭐
This loose retelling of Snow White is darker (and more adult) than the original, but it maintains a cozy feel through heart and humor. The plot incorporates familiar elements, such as poison and a magic mirror, but reimagines them in a unique, sometimes unsettling way. While I didn't enjoy it as much as Nettle & Bone, I'd still recommend it to fans of that earlier work by the same author.
🎙️Jennifer Pickens performed swimmingly in this.

3.5⭐
This was an interesting take on a reality show. It starts rather slowly, but it still manages to keep my interest for the most part. However, the billionaire's motivation for bringing these kids to such a remote location was rather laughable. I definitely prefer this author's adult fiction to her YA work.
🎙️•Jess Nahikian‘s narration was a little breathy, but overall not bad.

3⭐
This story could have been genuinely creepy, but the writing style didn't work for me. The weak atmosphere, political diversions, and constant interruptions to the backstory prevented me from connecting with it, though I really wanted to. I rewound several times to try to figure out what I missed when my mind wandered, but it didn‘t work.
🎙️Amara Jasper‘s voice was pleasant to listen to, maybe too pleasant.

3.5⭐Light Pick
This kind of shifting isn't what you generally think of when you hear the word 'shifters'—it's different, in a kinetic way. I'll leave it at that. It did tend to feel like a fast-moving stream of consciousness that wasn't always easy to follow. While certain elements resonated with me, I found I really dislike this author's writing style, though it took me two books to recognize the pattern. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

2⭐
• novella/short story • science fiction • murder mystery • futuristic horror • eerie architecture in the form of AI house • multiple POVs •

The premise seemed so promising that I was genuinely excited to dive in. Unfortunately, as a mystery, this failed unless you like mysteries that ask more questions than they answer. The sci-fi horror elements were present, but they created more confusion than satisfaction.

3.75⭐
While it didn't grab me the way a full-length novel might, it was a decent one-day listen and a solid addition to the series.
🎙️The narration by Hillary Huber was decent as always.

My #bookspinbingo board is ready to be filled...I've already finished When the Wolf Comes Home and three-quarters of the way through Cold Eternity.

@TheAromaofBooks

August's top book is The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros, with a rating of 4.5 stars. I didn't have any 5-star books this month.

Top books are Sunrise on the Reaping and Atmosphere.

#readingbrackets #readingbrackets2025 #favoritebook2025

4.5⭐
I‘m never disappointed by this series of books by Yarros. However, I am a little bummed that I read this one out of order, because I should‘ve read Hallowed Ground first. I feel like it would‘ve had some lead-up to this book. Either way, I love these characters, and I especially love Samantha from book 3 of the series, who plays a significant role in this.
🎙️Teddy Hamilton always delivers top-notch narrating, and CJ Bloom was decent, also.

4⭐
That ending was positively savage. It was OTT at its finest. Which could be viewed as good or bad depending on how the over-the-top writing style hits for you. While it was a slow burn throughout, that ending made it all worth it for me.
🎙️The narration by Andrew Joseph Perez grew on me as I listened.

My #bookspinbingo list for September. I had to keep some openings for last-minute change-ups for Halloween Bingo, which runs from September through October.

@TheAromaofBooks

My #bookspinbingo board for August is looking pretty good with several bingo's going on. Unfortunately, five of these books were DNFs—some by authors I usually love, which is disappointing to say the least.

I only had three books unfinished (faded covers). I finished my #bookspin (Hello, Juliet) and #doublespin (Rose/House).

@TheAromaofBooks

4.5⭐
I love the characters and story, but the writing could use some polish. Some lines require multiple readings before they make sense, which disrupts the flow. Still, I can't lower my rating significantly because I'm so invested in these characters and their journeys. Just one more book left...

4.25⭐
Although the character development was somewhat lacking, the story's premise and excellent narration easily drew me in. You could probably find flaws if you looked hard enough, particularly the similarity to another popular book, but I enjoyed it overall.
🎙️The narration by Cassandra Campbell and Karissa Vacker was phenomenal.

2.25⭐
• psychological thriller • murder mystery • Hollywood‘s underbelly of fame • supposedly adult but felt ya • past & present timelines •
This ultimately failed to engage me. Between the lackluster writing and the jarring timeline shifts, I never managed to connect with the story. That said, this book has received plenty of rave reviews, so perhaps it's just a me thing.
🎙️I was not a fan of Kira Fixx's narration.

4.5⭐
If you're looking for a fun listen with a twisted ending you won't see coming, I highly recommend this. The electric performances made it absolutely unputdownable.
🎙️While this is a full-dramatization, Shailene Woodley knocks this one out of the park.

3.75⭐
The writing was excellent and created a genuine slow-burn atmosphere, but the payoff didn't quite live up to expectations. The ending will either disappoint readers or feel refreshingly different—I landed somewhere in the middle of those two responses.
🎙️The narration by Carly Robins & Graham Hamilton was perfect.

3.25⭐Light Pick
From what I can see in the reviews, most people seem to be loving this. I mostly understand what the author was trying to achieve, and the story was solid overall. Unfortunately, the writing style created distance from the narrative, which had mixed effects: beneficial given the disturbing content, but problematic for engagement.
🎙️The narration by VyVy Nguyen was decent. She fit the part perfectly.

2.5⭐
• 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 • 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 • 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧 • 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 • 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 • 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬 •
This was such a disappointment. I'm usually a fan of this author, but this one failed to engage me. I tried—as evidenced by my finishing the story at all.
🎙️January LaVoy's narration was good. Could it have been better with another narrator? Probably not.

2⭐
• domestic suspense • mystery thriller • Millie and Enzo buy a new house • vexing neighbors • salacious gossip • peculiar happenings • multiple POVs •

The sluggish first half and disappointing second half made me regret continuing with the series. It feels like it's been stretched out far too long. I mean, the unknowing antagonist twist loses its impact once you've encountered it multiple times.

2.25⭐
• 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 • 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 • 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 • 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐫? • 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕𝐬 •

At least it was short, so I didn‘t end up wasting too much time on it.
🎙️•Enzo gets a POV in this at the very end.

3.75⭐(a slightly off-kilter pick)
What a wild premise, like absolute bananas. I‘ve never read anything quite like this before. While the first twist wasn't very twisty and was easily foreseeable, the story becomes less cringy and more suspenseful after that. Also, kudos for surprising me with that ending.
🎙️You can't go wrong with Brittany Pressley and Hillary Huber in my opinion.

2.25⭐
• short story • psych thriller • mystery suspense • spicy scenes • single POV •

I recently finished A Marriage of Lies and liked it, so I thought maybe I'd found a new author to binge. This was my next book by her—and sadly, now I'm not sure how I feel since I didn't care for this at all. It was just so cheesy to me. Even the ending, which might have had potential, fell short because of the cheesy writing.⬇️⬇️⬇️

4⭐
I came for the 80s nostalgia, and it delivered. This is a well-structured memoir with clear, coherent timelines that don't jump around confusingly.
🎙️Ione Skye delivered an excellent performance reading her own work.

3.5⭐Between a So-So and a Pick
This was significantly better than her other recent books I've read. However, I still had issues with the excessive length and the numerous unlikable characters—keeping track of them all was also challenging. I feel Lisa Unger was trying to channel Simone St. James and Riley Sager, but unfortunately failed to write a story as compelling as either of those authors can.

July's book is Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry. Runner-up was Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft.

Sunrise on the Reaping is still beating out Shield of Sparrows for #1.

#readingbrackets #2025brackets

Somewhere between a Pick and a So-So
3.5⭐
This was a challenging listen due to the difficult subject matter, though it was also compelling. I struggled to follow the shifting timelines, and there was considerable filler content that seemed unnecessary. I'm considering watching the Netflix adaptation to see if the visual format makes it easier to follow.

🎙️Hillary Huber gave a good performance.

My #bookspinbingo board for AUGUST.

#bookspin = Hello, Juliet by Samantha M. Bailey
#doublespin = Whatever book I choose to start my Halloween Bingo with. I have no idea what book that will be, but I will know by August 29th because that's when I can start it.

@TheAromaofBooks

4⭐
This was certainly a page-turner, but it bears too many similarities to S.T. Abby's books to overlook: the author name (was that purposeful or just a coincidence), the killer heroine, and the FBI agent. That‘s not to say that it feels like a complete copy of the Mindf*ck series, because there are definite differences—but damn. Anyways—it left me unable to go all in on it.⬇️⬇️⬇️

My final results for JULY #bookspinbingo. 6 books unfinished, plus one free spot still open.

I just squeaked by with finishing the center square today (so I had to switch that one out on my August board).

#bookspin (which was my doublespin for June) is still not completed. Hopefully next month I can get that finished.

#doublespin is completed (Birds of Prey).

@TheAromaofBooks

Here is my #bookspinbingo list for AUGUST. I'm still trying to finish reading Haven, which was both my #bookspin and #doublespin the last two months. Maybe August will be my month. I just haven't felt like reading with my eyes lately.

@TheAromaofBooks

3⭐
This one didn't measure up to the first book at all. It seems like she put all her effort into making the original exceptional, while this felt subpar—like most of her other books. The character and story development were weak, and it relied too heavily on shock value over substance.
🎙️This should‘ve had a second narrator…and Lauryn Allman isn‘t the right voice for Millie.

3.75⭐
The first book had a few too many spicy scenes for me to rate it any higher, but the cliffhanger ending had me ready to start the second book right away to see what was going to happen.
The second book was intriguing but a bit confusing toward the end, though I think I got the gist of it.
Overall, I love how this author consistently thinks outside the box—she's cemented herself as one of my favorites.⬇️⬇️⬇️

3⭐
I can probably attribute my lukewarm response to my hatred of liars—this woman lied constantly, which made me stop caring about her story almost entirely. That said, others seem to really enjoy this one.

🎙️I wasn't impressed with Soneela Nankani‘s narration, and it only compounded my issues with the story.

3.25⭐
I probably would‘ve DNF‘d this if I didn‘t need it for a Z title. The scenes involving the dogs were heartbreaking to contemplate. Although the writing kept me emotionally distanced from it all, which—to be honest—isn't exactly a compliment to the author's craft. I can only hope that such a scenario never happens in reality.
🎙️Jay Snyder‘s narration was sufficient, but it could‘ve possibly been better with a different narrator.

Rating for anthology - 2⭐There were a few picks and some that were okay and others that did nothing for me. Honestly, the stories were just too short to make a lasting impression on me.

Watchers by Allison Brennan was my favorite and I rated it 4.75⭐

--It‘s not surprising that my favorite of the bunch is by this author, since I like her. This story actually had some thrills and mystery to it. The narration was solid.

2⭐
• murder mystery • light suspense thriller • psychological • light reality TV vibes • addiction • narcissistic characters • personal demons • multiple POVs •

I found this difficult to engage with, and even when I managed to get engaged, it was hard to follow. The whole thing felt scattered and disjointed.

Saskia Maarleveld handles most of the narration, so if you enjoy her voice, this should work for you.

3.75⭐
While I didn't like this as much as her other work, I still have to give her props for always thinking outside the box and delivering something different from your average thriller. The writing was on par as usual, and I was engaged, but I had to rewind a few times because the twists were a little too convoluted for me. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

4⭐
This was really good for such a short story. My only issue: the second twist at the end was too much. It went too far and left me feeling confused—mostly confused as to why she didn't stop at the first twist.

4.5⭐

This is a shockingly good debut. I rarely get scared by horror books, but this one actually got to me. It opens with a bang and sustains that creepy momentum from start to finish. Even though I guessed the culprit early on, the misdirects were misdirecting and kept me fully invested.

The narration performed by Helen Laser & Will Collyer was fantastic.

4.25⭐
While there's a possibility this won't work for everyone—most likely due to the need to suspend disbelief over the prophetic dreams—it honestly worked for me. I was fairly engaged early on, trying to figure out where this madness was heading, but the last quarter flipped it on its head and completely hooked me in.

Valerie Rose Lohman, Alex McKenna, & Christine Lakin did a good job narrating the multiple POVs.

4⭐
While the story suffers from too many character switches that make it difficult to keep track of everyone, the mystery had me hooked. There's a lot to figure out—not just who did it, but who gets killed and why the author chose these particular POVs. It's an intriguing mix of perspectives. If you're concerned this might feel too YA because it centers on a 16-year-old's birthday party, that's not that much of an issue.⬇️⬇️⬇️

5⭐
Wow, this was fantastic. I‘m loving this new trend where some of my favorite contemporary romance authors are dabbling in the fantasy genre, and they‘re killing it. This was intriguing without being confusing, and I'm so looking forward to book #2.
Samantha Brentmoor does most of the narrating, and she does it very well. Jason Clarke has only a small part, but I‘m hoping he has a full dual perspective in future books which is possible.