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dawson001's reviews
439 reviews
Stone by Sawyer Bennett
emotional
4.75
An emotional book. Enjoyable, but a very painful backstory with an amazing female main character.
Coen by Sawyer Bennett
4.75
He was the least-likeable main character, and the happily ever after feels tenuous, but I really enjoyed this book.
Drake by Sawyer Bennett
4.0
The spice was the best of the series, but the final conflict and resolution bothered me a bit.
A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara
emotional
funny
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
A unique concept with an unconventional main character (middle-aged pregnant woman in the middle of a divorce from a short, round balding man she absolutely loves) and a snarky teenaged sidekick. It's funny and emotional, and I absolutely adored it. I look forward to more books.
Body Check by Elle Kennedy
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I didn't read the original version of this book, but the revised and extended version is practically perfect. Elle Kennedy has a gift with writing hot romances, and this one is just another example of her talent.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter by Matt Kepnes
informative
medium-paced
4.25
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter is the best traveling planning resource for anyone who loves to travel, as well as those who want to travel but think it's too expensive.
This is the fourth edition of this New York Times Bestseller by Matt Kepnes, narrated by Ryan Burke. The first edition was published in 2012, and has been updated post-Covid to account for the increased costs of travel, to include fuel prices for flights, as well as the consolidation of airlines, which limits competition and the need to offer competitive fairs. It also explains airline dynamic pricing, which uses artificial intelligence to raise and lower prices based on data consumers cannot predict.
The author is a well-known travel expert who has been traveling the world for almost twenty years, and offers "practical, detailed, exhaustively researched travel advice that will help you get on the road better, cheaper, and smarter."
This book covers everything from how to save money for travel, choosing credit cards that offer travel-related points, the need and benefits of travel insurance, and so much more. From how to find free accommodations to tips for choosing tours, activities and excursions, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day includes websites for further information.
While linking to websites using an audiobook isn't necessarily ideal, they author does take the time to state the website before giving its web address, so the repetition of the name is usually enough to allow readers to jot down notes. I used the notes app on my iPad while listening, and rarely needed to replay a portion in order to type everything down. These websites are compiled in Appendix A, but again, this isn't ideal for audiobook readers.
Part one covers all the trip planning portions of travel, while the second part of the book details expenses (and how to limit those costs) while on the road. The third part of the book is broken down into specific regions, which gives detailed information about specific areas of the world. At the end, there are several appendicitis with resources for readers, which work better for the print versions. Visual learners may prefer buying a print copy or checking the book out from their local library.
I love to travel, and learned valuable information to cut costs while doing more. I will admit that I didn't need the first few chapters that motivated me to readers to start traveling, nor information on how to save money to travel the world for an extended period. As an American living in the United Kingdom, travel is already more accessible, and my monthly trips so far have already been within my current budget. That said, I can use the tips for travel planning and for saving money while on the road to travel more often and to do more while in another country. So while not all portions of this book will be relevant to all readers, there is information here for every traveler.
I highly recommend How to Travel the World on $75 a Day to anyone who has a trip in the future, as well as those who have trips on their Bucket Lists but have no concrete plans on how to afford and/or plan those trips. I personally enjoyed listening to the information, but will also be buying a physical copy of this book so I can highlight the information most relevant to my family.