⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A gruesome ghost story with something very real to say. Gripping from the first chapter, the horror aspects sincerely scared me at times, but the sharp social commentary, infusion of Chinese culture, and layers of emotion are what made it the most impactful. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Atmospheric and moody like the sea, but felt slow and surface-level. The audiobook narration was great. Emilia Hart‘s books do have beautiful covers! 🎧

⭐️⭐️💫

This was a fine story, it just didn‘t really end up being my cup of tea. #reesesbookclub 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Want your next favorite rom com? This is your girl! It has an amazing Alaskan setting, sizzling chemistry, and allllll the feels! I‘ll admit Margot‘s attitude was a little off-putting at first, but of course she has soft layers under her prickly armor. The lightheartedness was balanced out by real emotion, and I was just as moved by the familial storylines as the romantic love. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Jesse Q. Sutanto sure knows how to write from the heart! This is comfort in a book, although there is a sinister undercurrent to the mystery. It feels like Vera could burst off the page and into your own house, armed with freshly-brewed tea and home-cooked food that‘s been prepared with love and served with a side of judgement. I really hope the ending is setting up a third book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I know it‘s not the best sign when I keep bumping up the playback speed because I‘m ready for the audiobook to be over. I couldn‘t really connect to these characters for some reason, but I liked the Italian atmosphere and was curious enough about the resolution not to bail. The ending was twisty! 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

One thread of this story goes from the past to the present, and the other from present to past; the effect is like a beautiful tapestry, where all moments of time are woven together. It made me cry more than any book has for quite awhile. Full of longing, full of life, full of love. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An introspective wandering through the woods. I found myself rewinding at times just so I could luxuriate in beautiful sentences. The characters were magnetic, enhanced by the multicast audiobook narration. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This series provides a springboard for dissecting the intersection of self-realization, sensuality, marriage, and motherhood. Loved the ending - bring on book 3!

Stocking up on my #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub books for April! 😍

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It‘s a special concoction when a book can make you both laugh and tear up. This reminded me of the movie “Date Night”, and also, weirdly, of the Mercy Watson children‘s book series? (Something about the tone - although that‘s probably just a “me” thing since my daughter and I are currently on a kick with those books! 😂) ⬇️

April #BOTM picks are up! I‘m going with this one! 💚

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Swapping the sea for dreamy botanicals, hidden passageways, poisonous gardens, and a mysterious mansion, this second book in the “Sisters of the Salt” series is all about the gothic mood and vibes. It feels like the ideal ghost story for the spring season. The pacing in the middle felt a bit slow, but that spine-tingling ending… chef‘s kiss!

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I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I didn‘t know all of the music and this wasn‘t my era, but I still loved the passion of the lyrical analysis and could relate to the emotional connection to songs. I think my favorite parts were the sparks of Percy and Joe‘s creative collaborations. ⬇️

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How could I resist when I came across this action rom com that‘s kind of like a grown-up twist on “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”? I was in the mood for a lighter read, and although I didn‘t completely fall in love, it fit the bill. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The reading experience of this book was completely engrossing and absolutely chilling. The epitome of “unputdownable”. It appeals to the head (interrogating the allure of true crime and the double-edged sword of the online sleuthing community) and the heart (it‘s equally a moving investigation of grief and the compulsion to doggedly search for sometimes unknowable answers). ⬇️

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I‘m willing to bet you haven‘t read a story where a complicated FMC befriends a sentient blob before! As expected, this was a quirky read, but it didn‘t fully land for me. The audiobook narration brought out Vi‘s dry wit. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entertaining and heartfelt! I‘ve been a fan of Chelsea Handler for a long time, and her evolution has been such a joy. In this book, she shares how she is working hard to be the woman she dreamed she would become when she was a little girl. Are you on track to become the person you‘ve always longed to be? She seems to only be getting more authentic, thoughtful, confident, generous, and wise with time. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book beautifully exposes the expansiveness of love, etching itself right into the heart. How we can choose to add to destruction or choose to care for one another. How it‘s worth the fight because sometimes things can survive despite all odds. How loss is a painful reality, but we keep loving anyway. How love doesn‘t dissolve with the body - it carries on. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Prepare for your next book hangover! I was so wrapped up in this I was looking for excuses to keep listening. It has all the ingredients for a hit - a love triangle, a murder trial, an atmospheric setting, a show stopping ending. What I think elevates it, though, is the emotional depth and moral ambiguity. “Broken Country” offers fertile ground for discussion! 🎧 #reesesbookclub

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I had fun with this romantasy duology! Rune and Gideon have great chemistry. It felt a little repetitive at times; I think the story could have been tightened up and could have gone deeper, but it is enjoyable for what it is! 🎧

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The four foundational reforms Haidt proposes in this book are no smartphones before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, and far more unsupervised play and childhood independence. The book itself isn‘t without its flaws, but the subject matter provides great food for thought and is certainly worth our society‘s continued collective consideration.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A meditation on the randomness of the wheel of fortune, a portrait of the lasting impacts of female friendship, a lion‘s roar for women‘s rights amidst political turmoil. The enticing Iranian food descriptions also really brought the story to life as a sensory experience. Immersive and illuminating! 🎧

⭐️⭐️💫

A quick read that held my attention and was moving at times, but the writing style wasn‘t my favorite. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

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I had a book of a collection of fairytales when I was younger, and one of my favorite stories in that book was “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” - it‘s the only place I had ever come across that story until now. This was a mesmerizing, horror-tinged recreation of that fairytale; I was fully transported into the pages. I‘ve fallen in love with Erin A. Craig‘s atmospheric storytelling!

I‘ve been looking forward to the tagged March #BOTM selection! I‘ve really enjoyed her previous books.

I hadn‘t heard of my add on before, but I thought it seemed like a fun read to balance out some of the more intense books I‘ve read lately.

“The God of the Woods” was one of my favorite reads last year, but I had listened to the audiobook, so I‘m happy to have a physical copy! Especially with the pretty sprayed edges ☺️

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Oh, man… Undoubtedly an unforgettable read showcasing the beauty and brutality of the Alaskan wilderness. It certainly left its mark on me, but it hurts. I preferred “The Snow Child” by this author. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A harrowing tale of survival, all the more affecting since it‘s a fictional account of real events. It‘s striking that Marguerite wasn‘t exactly safe as a woman in her time even when she wasn‘t stranded on a remote island. I thought the time on the island was the most gripping. 🎧 #reesesbookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was an unexpected, glittering treasure in the dark. It felt unique and fresh to me, with captivating characters, stunning imagery, and imaginative world-building. It was a bedtime story whispered into my ear, keeping me reading late into the night, contemplating this spellbinding fairytale of life and death. I was entranced the entire way through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Action, adventure, sci-fi, romance… there‘s a little bit for everyone with this! The strength of this book for me was in the found family element - the main characters‘ love for each other tugged at my heartstrings. It‘s not my favorite book from this author, but I still had a good time. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was often an uncomfortable read, but also a valuable one; I imagine it will stick with me. I couldn‘t help but get a little teary at the end. It felt realistic and raw while also honoring the resilience of the human spirit. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I appreciated the author‘s note, which illuminated the true events and people that inspired this book. I‘m glad it will help Martha Ballard to be remembered, even if a lot was reimagined. It didn‘t always feel authentic to the time period for me, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I also had expected the murder mystery element to be more prominent. Still, there were moments when I was lost in the story! 🎧

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Damn it if this didn‘t warm my heart! Buckle up for a romantic adventure with brave rescuers, vibrant retirees, a sweet dog, and lots of Floridian flair. Some parts are maybe a bit over-the-top, but it was also an escape in the best way. The author‘s note about how reading love stories is profound - not frivolous - also really spoke to me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I enjoyed this! It was cute how each chapter paid homage to/poked fun at a different romance trope. I felt a little annoyed by the third-act breakup, but that‘s what the romance formula calls for! #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Onyx Storm was such an addictive, immersive reading experience! I felt like I was actually in the action and I‘m just so invested in the characters. There is plenty of fodder for theorizing while we wait for the fourth book. Strap on your riding leathers and enjoy the exhilarating ride!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lots of great information, packaged with a light and conversational tone and numerous real-life examples. I think anyone in a relationship would find parts that would speak to them within the pages of this book.

Lots of great #BOTM picks for February! I went with these two 🩵

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It‘s a magical feeling to completely slip inside the world a book creates, and to long to return to it when life requires you to put your book down. While it definitely is its own unique and wondrous beast, it also gave me some serious Harry Potter vibes. This is a story to savor. I want more! #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The Favorites” dazzles as an audiobook; I could see it being an awesome limited TV series. While it‘s reminiscent of Daisy Jones and Carrie Soto, it didn‘t make me feel for or believe in the characters quite as much as Taylor Jenkins Reid can. Still, it was an epically entertaining read - completely immersive and packed with juicy drama. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘m developing a new appreciation for short stories and novellas. Somehow with this one, though, it dragged at times for me despite its short page count. I did really like the ending and the way the tension built.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is the kind of storytelling that‘s easy to get swept up in as it carries you along its narrative tide. The way there were multiple POVs (and multiple audiobook narrators) was really well done. 🎧 #reesesbookclub

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A solid page-turner, perfectly atmospheric to read in the winter months. It didn‘t totally “wow” me, but it was twisty and fun, and I had a hard time putting it down. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was good company while working on a project at work! I preferred “The Family Game”, but this was a fun ride. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.25 stars. Another perceptive Emily Austin stunner! This time she offers a different story framework from her previous books, which I think was pulled off beautifully and expanded the dimension of the sisters‘ relationship. Her writing touches my heart and makes it ache in a very particular way. #BOTM

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I read “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in high school, but I didn‘t remember if lot of it (or particularly… like it? 😬) Even after brushing up on it before reading “James”, I know I‘m missing layers of brilliance with this reimagining and wish I could go to a lecture analyzing it all. It also stands on its own, though - compelling and multifaceted. 🎧

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

There‘s something about the stillness of January that makes it perfect for a contemplative read. The author has a PhD in Philosophy, and while this is an intellectual story, it‘s also completely absorbing and wholly distinctive. It infiltrated my thoughts… I kept thinking about it when I wasn‘t reading, and it‘s still haunting me after finishing the last page. #BOTM #botmbacklist #botmbacklog

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75 stars. I definitely thought the plot was more interesting and the romance was more intriguing than in the first one. I‘m not as emotionally invested as I am in, say, The Empyrean series, but I was entertained and I‘ll keep going with the ACOTAR books. 🎧

New year, new books! 😁 #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

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What an incredible last book of 2024! I could tell within the first couple of paragraphs that this book is special. It has a vibrant energy radiating off the page, as if the words and characters could spring to life and waltz right into your heart. And I think they did?! I just loved it. #Aardvark #AardvarkBookClub

Had to convince myself to keep my #BOTM box to two choices for January. I‘m definitely going to pick up a few others on audio or through Libby! Lots of great choices to kick off 2025! 🥳