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Full Speed to a Crash Landing

by Beth Revis

Review 12 of 2024

This novella was a great little sci-fi escape after some heavier reading. Full Speed to a Crash Landing tells the story of Ada Lamarr, a looter with questionable morals whose journey begins with her almost dying after her spacecraft is damaged and ends with her playing an unexpected role on a secret intergalactic government mission (while maybe even falling in love?). The narration was great and I found myself laughing at Ada’s hilarious interactions with the other characters. I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book 2!

Would recommend it to anyone looking for something cute, short, and funny! Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Science fiction, Novella, Romance

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Ne’er Duke Well

by Alexandra Vasti, Review 10 of 2024

Such a fun read! In my opinion, this book is basically an alternate universe version of how the most recent season of Bridgerton should have gone. This book is a cute twist on the friends to lovers regency romance featuring an unconventional American Duke from New Orleans and a Lady in no need of a husband. I loved the entire cast of characters Vasti brings to life in this story (especially Lu!!!). The only thing I didn’t love was that at times I felt like I had missed something because the story feels like it’s picking up where something left off but I couldn’t find anything to confirm how this might be tied to the author’s earlier works. You can find me adding the rest of Alexandra Vasti’s books to my TBR. 

Would recommend it to those who enjoyed Evie Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Women series or Bridgerton. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Fiction, Romance, Rom-com, Regency

Content Warning: family separation and neglect

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Antiracism as Daily Practice

Refuse Shame, Change White Communities, and Help Create a Just World

by Jennifer Harvey, Review 9 of 2024

Important note: This book is a great addition to the library of any aspiring white antiracist but is not the best pick for someone just beginning to learn about DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Some of my recommendations for that would; How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo, or Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad. After you’ve read some of the great books on race written by black folks, consider revisiting this title. 

If you’ve already been exploring the history of white supremacy, how it shows up, and your role in it, this book has some great examples of how you can implement and enact your values in day to day life. Harvey doesn’t shy away from sharing examples of places she’s failed to be the best co-conspirator for change and for her candor I was extremely grateful. She covers how shame, perfectionism, and trust impact white people’s ability to do antiracist work in our own communities. This could be a hard book for some to read but the message is so very important.

Would recommend it to any white person who has read a lot of DEI but still isn’t sure what their place is in creating a more just future for all of us.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

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The Spellshop

by Sarah Beth Durst, Review 8 of 2024

This cozy fantasy has found family, magic, and sentient plants and lots of small town charm. Librarian Kiela and her assistant, a spider plant named Kaz, find themselves making a home, jam and a lot of trouble when they arrive at Keila’s childhood home after revolution displaces them from their beloved library. The book was a lovely little escape but felt a little slow paced and includes a love story almost too cute to suit my particular tastes. Despite this, I’m sure many will quickly fall in love with the adorable cast of magical and wondrous inhabitants of the world Durst has created. 

Would recommend to anyone who loved the cozy found family of the Legends and Lattes books.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy (Cozy), Romance

Content Warning: Fire, War, Death of a parent, Government collapse

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Moonbound

by Robin Sloan, review 7 of 2024

Told through the unusual lens of a sentient fungus inside a 12 year old boy named Ariel, the reader comes along on a coming-of-age quest to discover Ariel’s path and purpose on an Earth thousands of years in the future. The planet is now ruled by “dragons” that were originally created by humans to scope out the universe, animals lead, and many forms of technology are prohibited. What could have been a daunting narrative turns into a pleasant romp due to the endearing companions Ariel meets along the way that have created a compelling world that is both familiar and completely foreign. 

Would recommend to anyone who loved the Monk and Robot duology by Becky Chambers.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy (Cozy)

Content Warning: War, Post Climate Disaster, AI Overlords 

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The Rom-Commers

by Katherine Center, Review 6 of 2024

Emma, a dedicated rom-com fan and writer, meets her (unlikely) match in the very famous, cynical, and ambitious Charlie when a mutual friend connects the two to patch up Charlie’s terrible attempt at writing romance.

Truthfully, I’m not a huge fan of the normal woman and famous man meet and fall in love trope (and I’ve read several in the last year) so I had lower expectations for “The Rom-Commers” than I should have for how big of a fan I’ve been of Katherine Center’s other books. She always imbues her characters, even the minor ones, with so much warmth and humanity that I don’t know why I was surprised that I came to love every character in this book. 

Would recommend to those interested in an extremely funny, not-spicy, rom-com with heartfelt characters. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

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Morning and Evening

By Jon Fosse, Review 5 of 2024

Morning and Evening is a beautifully translated novella that reflects on life and death through the lens of one man’s birth and final day. The narration of this collection was exceptional and an experience of its own. I’m not sure I would have been able to get through reading this on paper (challenging structure and themes), but I did become fully enthralled while listening. If you’re in the mood for an emotional journey, and have a willingness to explore the nature of life itself, I’d highly recommend this as an audiobook. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Short Stories, Fiction, Novella

Content Warning: Death, Pregnancy/Labor

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The Cemetery of Untold Stories

By Julia Alvarez, Review 4 of 2024

The Cemetery of Untold Stories manages to contain a sweeping multigenerational saga, told through multiple points of view, in one fairly compact novel. The jaded, yet almost whimsical, central character, Alma, is an author attempting to “retire” from writing but struggling to silence the unfinished stories overtaking her consciousness. I loved the historical detail, complicated web of characters, and that it left me thinking about legacy, memory, and the obligations and responsibilities of storytellers. Would recommend this to those who liked Yellowface or How to Drown in A Glass of Water.

Bonus: This book made want to learn Spanish again.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this audiobook for review purposes.

Categories: Fiction, Magical Realism  

Content Warning: Child death, Murder, Grief, Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Dementia, Rape

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Neighbors and Other Stories

Written by Diane Oliver, Review 3, of 2024

Short story collections are chronically underrated, and this collection is no exception. The author, Diane Oliver died in an accident in 1966 at age 22 and the world lost the opportunity to read more of her work. This collection was compiled and released nearly 60 years after her death. The masterfully narrated stories in this collection are understated, impactful, and painfully timely. Two of my personal favorites were “Mint Juleps not Served Here”, “Health Service” and “Frozen Voices” but many others also left a mark. Though Oliver’s stories were written during the Civil Rights Movement and early integration, many of their themes and descriptions are unfortunately still relevant today and hit home as a professional who works in health and human services. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories: Fiction, Short stories 

Content Warning: Racism, Violence, Infidelity, Colorism, Classism

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Blood

The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation by Jen Gunter

Review 2 of 2024

Experienced OB/GYN, Dr. Jen Gunter provides a comprehensive exploration of all things related to menstruation in Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation. This book is not just a great reference for a variety of health information; it’s also an eye-opening exploration of the medical history of female anatomy. At over 17 hours of audio, this isn’t a casual listen; instead it provides insight into a wide array of topics including hormones, contraception, and medical conditions. Dr. Gunter does an especially good job explaining how treatments, supplements, hormones, and other interventions affect menstruation and how menstruation impacts other bodily functions. I would recommend this to anyone who menstruates and/or would like to understand more about what, how, and why the body does what it does. 

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ALC!

Categories: Nonfiction, Science, Medical

Content Warning: Infertility, Sexism, Blood, Medical trauma, Chronic illness, Racism