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MyNamesParadise
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Mehso-so

I listened to this I wish there had been different narrators 4 the 2 different timelines bc then I would‘ve kept more of it straight. There were groups of women in both timelines & I couldn‘t always keep all of the names straight. The plot was intriguing at times. It was overall an okay read. Not too memorable. I would read other books by the author but it wouldn‘t beat the top of my list. If I‘d read the physical book I may have felt different.

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MyNamesParadise
We Are All Guilty Here | Karin Slaughter
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Pickpick

4.75 stars! This was so good! The characters were developed and the mystery/suspense going throughout was intense & there were twists at the end that made for a satisfying conclusion. I‘m glad this is the first in a series because I‘m looking forward to revisiting some of these characters. It‘s dark and intense like her books are but very good!! Be prepared for a ride!

19 likes1 comment
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MyNamesParadise
A World of Curiosities | Louise Penny
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Pickpick

This was one of the better books in the Gamache series! I really enjoyed this one! Especially towards the end! I‘m glad to be caught up in this series bc I‘m listening to The Grey Wolf next! If you‘ve read the previous books, you will like this one! I liked how new characters were introduced and how a case from the past was brought into play.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

Another good installment in the Frankie Elkin series! Gardner always delivers with this character. I read it in 2 days (mainly because I‘m recovering from getting sick). I‘m always impressed with Gardner‘s research & a lengthy acknowledgements section goes into detail all she learned for it. It leaves me to wonder where Frankie can go next. At an author event Gardner said she‘s taking a break from Frankie, but I‘d like to see more!

22 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
Don't Open Your Eyes | Liv Constantine
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Pickpick

I loved this book! I couldn‘t put it down! I finished it in a couple of days! Lynne Constantine wrote this one solo (apart from her sister Valerie who together make up Liv Constantine). Annabelle is having dreams that are coming true. What does it mean? There were plenty of twists along the way and I really liked and cared for Annabelle. I‘d love to see this one adapted. I definitely recommend this one!

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MyNamesParadise
Guess Again | Charlie Donlea
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Pickpick

I always enjoy Vivienne Leheny‘s performances of Donlea‘s books! They make great audiobooks! This one overall was enjoyable. I predicted a couple of things & with his books I usually don‘t. That being said I did enjoy the twists and turns along the way. It would make a good movie. If you‘ve read the author‘s books before you‘ll like this one. I listened to it on some longer car rides and it made the time go by faster. I recommend this one!

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MyNamesParadise
The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book! You have to suspend disbelief at parts but that‘s okay. Pretty early on, you get the kind of person that Julia is and that follows through the book. Sometimes the dialogue seemed forced or stilted but it still worked for me in terms of the story being told. You really just have to accept it for what it is which may sound bad, but it‘s not. It‘s a good escapist thriller wondering how it‘ll all end.

19 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
Tilt | Emma Pattee
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Mehso-so

I‘m glad this audiobook was short. It‘s basically a stream of consciousness of a woman as she goes through a day after a major earthquake strikes. I wasn‘t that entranced with the main character & there wasn‘t as much action as I thought there‘d be. I guess I need something with plot to keep me interested. This was recommended by someone whose recommendations I don‘t usually care for so now I know better. Wasn‘t the worst book but nothing special.

30 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
Havoc | Christopher Bollen
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Panpan

I read this for book club & really did not enjoy it. I listened to the audiobook. It wasn‘t paced well & I kept going back & forth on being into & not. The characters aren‘t developed & I just didn‘t really care about what was going on. It was also way too long at 11 hours & didn‘t get interesting until 9 hours in. There is a twist at the end, but not caring about the characters I was just like “ok”. I do not recommend this one!

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. This was an interesting premise & I enjoyed the characters and narration. It wasn‘t the best but it wasn‘t bad. I liked Kate as a character. I guess I don‘t have much to say about it lol but it wasn‘t bad. If you‘re looking for a nice fun light read, then this is it.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

4.5 stars rounded down to 4 for Goodreads. This was really good! The author kept the twists coming, surprising me. This would make a great limited series. I flew through this one. The suspense was great and you cared about the characters too. Julie Clark hasn‘t disappointed yet. My mystery thriller book club‘s pick for October but sadly can‘t make it to that meeting. The sprayed edges are so pretty!

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

Solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads. I think this book could‘ve been shorter but overall I enjoyed it. It picked up more towards the end & I predicted part of what happened but it was still a good story overall. Right mix of the supernatural or was it? I would read this author again.

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MyNamesParadise
Audition | Katie Kitamura
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Mehso-so

So this book was fine enough of a listen. Although I‘m not sure what the author was trying to convey with this book. I wasnt always paying the most attention but still I‘ve noticed this book has a low Goodreads rating. So yeah I don‘t have any takeaways from this book. Kind of a waste of almost 5 hours. It was compelling until it wasn‘t. Maybe 3 stars was too generous.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

I listened to more than half the book yesterday alone bc the Libby hold was going to expire today. It took a little bit for it to get more interesting but once it did it was good. I feel like the narrator wasn‘t consistent with accents but overall it was a good performance. This is the first I‘ve read of the author so would be intrigued by more potentially. I thought Shaw was a good protagonist.

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MyNamesParadise
Whistle | Linwood Barclay
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Mehso-so

So I went through this one rather quickly. It‘s Barclay‘s first time doing horror. Maybe horror novels aren‘t for me. I‘m a huge fan of his regular thrillers but idk I wasn‘t fully satisfied with it. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 for Goodreads. I liked the main characters enough (except for the villain). If you like horror novels this is for you. If like me you just wanted to read it bc of being a Barclay fan, I‘d advise caution.

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MyNamesParadise
With a Vengeance | Riley Sager
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Pickpick

At 1st I wasn‘t sure I was going to like this one or not, but once I got more into it, I really liked it and seeing how it all played out. I‘m usually not the biggest fan of locked room mysteries but this one worked for me. The setting of 1954 was interesting as it made for a simpler story w/out technology advances. I rated it 4 stars but could see where others may not like it. I‘d like to see this one adapted. Who would play Anna?

16 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

This one was definitely interesting given the topic of the professor‘s research. Definitely would make for a heated debate in terms of ethics. While I enjoyed this one overall, it kind of dragged on and on to me. I think it could‘ve been shorter. It‘s always good to be with Gamache, Beauvoir, and Lacoste solving a case! I‘m excited that I‘m almost caught up on this long running series, this being the 17th one!!

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MyNamesParadise
Black Highway | Simon Toyne
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Pickpick

I really flew through this 3rd entry in the Laughton Rees series! I certainly hope there is another one! It was nice to be reunited with characters after a couple of years since the 2nd one. I enjoyed the setting of London, never having been there myself and the urgency of the story as it takes place over 3 days. If you liked the 1st two, then you should like this one!

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MyNamesParadise
Kingdom of No Tomorrow | Fabienne Josaphat
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Mehso-so

I read this for book club & I‘m glad the audio became available on Libby bc I wouldn‘t have made it through the physical book. It was okay enough of a story but it wasn‘t my cup of tea. I felt like Nettie didn‘t make the best decisions. I know books like this are important, focusing on the period of time & the Black Panthers, but was not overly impressed with the delivery.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

5 stars! I LOVED this book! I flew through it in a couple of days! This was the 1st romance I read in a long time & it was so good! I loved all of the info about the indie bookstores & what it‘s like to manage & work at one. I really cared about the characters! I would read this one again! I‘m excited to read the author‘s other books!

16 likes5 stack adds
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MyNamesParadise
Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Pickpick

4 stars. Not quite as engrossing as Evelyn Hugo or Daisy Jones for me but still an impressive family saga over generations. I loved the Riva siblings and their bond. I love the crossover of some characters from other books by TJR. It‘s always fun to read about fictional famous people lol!

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MyNamesParadise
The Missing Half: A Novel | Ashley Flowers
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Pickpick

Well this book definitely didn‘t turn out how I thought it would starting out but that‘s a good thing bc I was genuinely surprised & everything ended up fitting together. The audio was great! & it was only 8 hours so I went through it quickly. I kept wanting to listen to it. Now I‘m eager to read her first book. If you‘re into mysteries, thrillers, and even true crime, this book is for you! If you‘re close to your sister then it‘s a good read too!

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MyNamesParadise
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Mehso-so

I read this 4 mystery/thriller book club & I listened to the audio & thank goodness I did because I found this so boring. I didn‘t know enough about the authors featured. The story wasn‘t very engaging or maybe it was the narrator. I‘m giving this 3 stars which is what I give a book when it‘s written well enough, but just not for me. I hadn‘t read anything by the author and I don‘t think I would again.

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MyNamesParadise
Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed reading this! I liked the oral history storytelling format! I like reading about real & fictional stars. I didn‘t see the little twist at the end coming. You get to care about these flawed characters. Something resonated with me in terms of Daisy‘s feelings for a certain character. It was a pretty quick read! I‘m eager to watch the show!

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MyNamesParadise
Gothictown | Emily Carpenter
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Mehso-so

I read this 4 mystery/thriller book club & physically reading it, I wasn‘t into it. I got 2 page 202 & stopped But I was curious about what happened so I placed a hold on the audio on Libby & it came in in time 4 me 2 finish before tonight‘s club meeting. It was better as an audiobook. I ended up liking it enough but it was so hard 2 focus on the physical book. If u like stories about city people moving 2 the south & creepy happenings, this is 4 u

12 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

I loved this book! I was in a reading slump of physical books for the month of May & this one got me out of it. I do really enjoy reading stories about fictional famous people lol. It‘s the 1st book of TJR that I‘ve read but I‘ve gotten all of her books over the years & im going to read them all now! I really enjoyed Evelyn‘s story! I predicted the reveal but that‘s fine bc this isn‘t a mystery. If you enjoy the Hollywood scene this is for you!

AileenRR I‘ve decided that I‘ll read anything by TJR 3mo
MyNamesParadise @AileenRR I‘m quickly coming to that conclusion myself! I‘m currently reading Daisy Jones & The Six! I‘m really enjoying it! 3mo
15 likes2 comments
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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

4.5 stars, rated down 2 4 4 Goodreads. This 1 was a little slow 2 start, with the 1st 3 hours being on her state of mind while she was in prison & I got more interested once she was let out. It‘s very powerful in how you can overcome adversity & face those who wronged you. I enjoyed Amanda‘s reading of the audiobook. If u read her 1st memoir & liked it, u should like this 1 2! I‘m glad I have the physical book bc there r some excellent takeaways!

JamieArc I always recommend the tagged book for those interested in Knox. It‘s about something totally different, but there‘s an afterward that is commentary on the Italian judicial system with the Knox case. It‘s really interesting 3mo
MyNamesParadise @JamieArc oh thank you for this! I had heard of the book before but didn‘t realize what it was about. And it features the same prison Amanda Knox was in. I‘ll have to check it out! 3mo
JamieArc @MyNamesParadise I hope you like it! 3mo
19 likes3 comments
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MyNamesParadise
Dream State | Eric Puchner
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Pickpick

A low Pick. solid 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the main characters across their lifespans & seeing their children grow into adults. Saying that though, I‘m not sure this book did anything extraordinary. This was a pick for one of my book clubs. It may have been better had it been a physical book that I read. The audio was decent enough. It‘s a Maryland author but not about MD. I‘d be curious for him to write a story like this based in MD.

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MyNamesParadise
One Death at a Time | Abbi Waxman
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this audiobook!! The narrator did a fantastic job! Both Mason and Julia were hilarious! I was interested the whole time, even in the middle of the story. It would be cool if this became a series. It would also make a great adaptation for the screen. Perfect mix of humor and cozy-ish mystery. If you‘ve read Waxman before you should like this one too!

Read4life This is on my TBR. Glad to hear you liked the audio. I hope to listen to it soon. 4mo
MyNamesParadise @Read4life I hope you enjoy the audio when you get to it! 4mo
17 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MyNamesParadise
The Last Session | Julia Bartz
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Mehso-so

This was my 1st read of the author‘s & i‘m not sure I would read her again. I listened to the audio & it dragged. It‘s five hours too long imo. It started out really well & I thought the low Goodreads rating was inaccurate but then it kept going on & on. It could‘ve been shortened & held a greater impact. I liked Thea as a protagonist but the plot just got ridiculous at points. I also don‘t like reading about cults so that could be part of it too.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

Going into the book I didn‘t know the history of the Magdalene laundries so I didn‘t pick up on all the references at first. But after reading it I did some research and wow this is a powerful little book! I watch the film adaptation (now streaming on Hulu) & thought it was brilliant! To think that this was going on in my lifetime at some point is just horrific. I‘ll be eager to read more from the author.

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MyNamesParadise
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Mehso-so

This book was okay. I wish the audio had a whole cast narrating the different characters bc there were a lot of them. I don‘t think it warranted the lower rating on Goodreads but could see why it was like that. I didn‘t think the character development was great as there were so many characters. It got more interesting at times but I never felt fully invested. I‘m also sick of thrillers that take place on isolated islands.

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MyNamesParadise
This Book Will Bury Me | Ashley Winstead
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Pickpick

I flew through this book & stayed up late on work nights to finish it. It‘s the best book I‘ve read in a long time. 5 stars isn‘t enough imo. If you‘re interested in true crime & the amateur sleuths, this book is for you! There was an interview with the author in the back & a list of resources. If the case of the Idaho college murders got your attention, then you‘ll be intrigued by the similar case in the book. Simply: Read. This. Book.

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MyNamesParadise
Count My Lies | Sophie Stava
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Pickpick

Wow what an addictive listen! I went through this in just a few days! 4 stars overall from me! Not sure if everything that happened would be plausible and at first it seems like it‘ll be similar to other thrillers but then ends up going its own way. Apparently it‘s going to be a Hulu series with Lindsay Lohan, so I will watch that when it comes out. If you suspend some disbelief it ends up being a very enjoyable ride.

AmyG Thanks for this. I just placed a hold. I need good audiobooks. 4mo
MyNamesParadise @AmyG not a problem!! Yes this one was very engrossing!! I hope you enjoy it! 4mo
18 likes2 comments
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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

This was a very engrossing listen! The 15 hour audiobook went by quickly! It went in a different direction than what I was expecting, but still very good! There was a lot of suspense throughout. I think I‘ve read Finder before. If you‘re intrigued by books about Russia & Russia/US relations then I‘d definitely recommend this one!

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MyNamesParadise
Profiler | Helen Fields
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Pickpick

5 stars! I loved this book; it was my kind of thriller! A smart & capable female main character. A captivating plot. A whodunit but not in a locked room way. Good supporting characters & a rare, fascinating condition that the killer has. This was my 1st Helen Fields book & I want to read more! I hope she writes another book featuring Midnight Jones! I highly recommend this book!

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MyNamesParadise
We All Live Here | Jojo Moyes
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Pickpick

Overall 4.5 stars! I really enjoyed Lila and her extended & blended family. There were a few cliches thrown in so that detracted from a 5 star rating. I thought the grandads were the best & am glad characters grew the way they needed to. I really enjoy Moyes‘ writing! The narrator did a fantastic job!

22 likes1 stack add
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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

This was a nice change of scenery, it taking place in Paris, France. It was nice to see more of the Gamache family dynamics w/ focus on his son Daniel. The action in this one really picked up towards the end. I‘m excited that I‘m almost caught up in listening to this series. If you‘re a fan of the series, you should enjoy this one too!

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MyNamesParadise
Verity | Colleen Hoover
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one! I read it bc the movie is being filmed now & I wanted to make sure I avoided spoilers & I‘m excited w/ the cast of it. This was really good even if the sex scenes were graphic (I‘m not typically a ‘romance‘ reader & was like ok I get it lol). I enjoyed the mystery & suspense. I didn‘t want to finish it bc I liked how it kept making me wonder what was going to happen next & I don‘t always get that w/ thrillers nowadays.

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MyNamesParadise
Nobody's Fool | Harlan Coben
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Pickpick

Coben‘s books are always quick reads & have interesting narrators. I had read Fool Me Once years ago but watched the Netflix adaptation of it a couple months ago, so I remembered most of it thankfully. I was a little let down with the twist at the end, I thought it could‘ve gone somewhere more original & innovative but it was still very enjoyable. If you‘ve read his books & Fool Me Once then I definitely recommend this one!

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

This was phenomenal on audio w/ an entire cast performing it! 4 stars! I listened to it for book club & wasn‘t sure what to expect since I‘ve never read the author & wondering if it was going to be anything like I, Tonya. I felt like this book was too long & so much back & forth of alliances that it can give you whiplash. To me the narrator who did Kat sounded at times like Amanda Knox did on her memoir (which I listened to). Random I know.

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MyNamesParadise
The Wife Stalker: A Novel | Liv Constantine
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Pickpick

This was a very quick read & I loved it! 4.5 stars. I initially read it bc the adaptation of it premieres on Lifetime 3/29 & I had the book I got as a bargain book from Books-a-Million so I picked it up & flew through it. It was what I needed to get me out of a slight physical reading slump. I‘ve read Liv Constantine & have even met them & I want to read their other books that I haven‘t read already!

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

After taking a 2 month break from the Gamache series bc of other audio holds coming in @ the library I really enjoyed this installment of the series. The ongoing mystery of who killed Vivian was very well done & while I ended up predicting the culprit I enjoyed the intrigue & suspense! I can‘t believe Jean Guy & Annie are going 2 France! I‘m eager 2 read the next book!! I want to finish the 4 remaining books before the 20th comes out later this yr

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

This book had a lot going on! I felt it dragged at times, but overall was engaged in the story. It was very anxiety provoking at times bc of the type of relationship 1 of the narrators is in. It‘s a heavy read @ times & lighter @ others. As Evie tries 2 get her memory back more plot lines r introduced. I was satisfied w/ how the story came together. I really cared about Evie & Drew as characters. I‘d be intrigued to read the author‘s other work.

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MyNamesParadise
Famous Last Words | Gillian McAllister
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Pickpick

This is the 1st book I‘ve read of the author & I enjoyed it, although it seemed to lag in the middle. Reading the book description you think it‘s going to be more thriller, but it‘s paced more like a mystery. I appreciated the character development. The story takes an unexpected turn part way through which adds layers to it. I have physical copies of her books Wrong Place Wrong Time & Just Another Missing Person so I‘m eager to read those.

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MyNamesParadise
A Killing Cold: A Novel | Kate Alice Marshall
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Mehso-so

Maybe I don‘t like thrillers that take place in an isolated setting, but for me this one really didn‘t have a mystery to it. In the description of the book it says that she finds a picture of herself as a child in one of the cabins, so clearly she was there as a child & some people in the family know something. The characters not being developed well enough also annoyed me. It had its moments of suspense but overall was an average read at best.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

Read this for book club. I really enjoyed this & the many twists along the way. I did predict the big twist & not entirely sure it worked for me but still really enjoyed it. The Collector‘s Edition has bonus content that adds to the story. I‘m excited for the sequel to see what happens next! I‘ll be seeing the author in person when she tours for it so I‘m excited! It‘d make an interesting film or tv adaptation.

bookaholic1 I love this Author...I've read two of her books..she's great 6mo
18 likes1 comment
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MyNamesParadise
The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
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Mehso-so

having listened 2 this & physically read We Solve Murders, I‘ve come 2 the conclusion I don‘t find Richard Osman funny. I enjoyed the characters enough in this 1 but there were so many, it was hard to follow listening to the audio. Maybe because I‘m not in the best headspace right now, I just wanted it to be done so I could listen to something else. I heard the other books in the series are better so will give those a listen at some point.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

Read this 4 book club! I really liked it! It‘s a family saga, but not a long, drawn-out one. It‘s very accessible. A lot of characters to get used to at 1st but it gets easier. I‘ll be eager to hear what ppl thought of Lila & her way of parenting. It has a satisfying end. Some heavy topics at times but very well done! 4 stars.

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MyNamesParadise
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Pickpick

I went through this fairly quickly given its near 500 pages. 4.5 stars. Hendrix does a phenomenal job of writing female characters. This book has the right amount of supernatural twist that you know about going in. If you‘ve read previous books of his, you should enjoy this one too! Maybe it could‘ve been shorter at points but overall a terrific read & wow what woman were put through because they were pregnant young. This book is an ode to them.

LoverOfLearning Sounds like a great read! On my list! 6mo
MyNamesParadise @LoverOfLearning yes this one is excellent! I love his work! I hope you like it! 6mo
25 likes2 comments