readtotheend's reviews
1402 reviews

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

This was a fun ride! Gotta love cowboys and small towns where everyone knows everyone's business. I really enjoyed getting to know Meadowlark, Wyoming and I'm so glad there are more books in this series!  The love interest being the brother's best friend might be a new fave trope of mine!  This was a quick and easy listen and it definitely brought some steam!  So listener beware if you're listening in the car or somewhere people can hear your audiobook.  Looking forward to reading more of this series.

How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told by Harrison Scott Key

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.0

I didn't think finding humor in a very painful situation would appeal to me but Harrison Scott Key writes with such wit and candor and honesty that I found myself smiling along and laughing at Chad's cargo shorts while reflecting on the complexities of marriage and how to navigate marriage issues with children in the mix. I didn't know the author was a Christian humorist but that seems like an accurate description of this book. There are some keen insights throughout the book and it was good to listen to on audio.

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

emotional hopeful medium-paced

4.0

Abby Jimenez books are comfort reading to me. When I see she has a new book out, I know it's going to be heartfelt, emotional and fun. And this one was no exception.  I have to say this - as someone who repeatedly states that I can't stand miscommunication, this one was like the opposite.  Xavier and Samantha's relationship felt genuine and all in.  We see them weather some very real situations that come up for both of them and we see the ups and we see the downs.  I love realistic romance!  And it still has love and romance aplenty!  I listened to this one on audio and the narration was amazing and just a fun listen.  I think I inhaled this in a day or two, just couldn't stop listening!

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

I'll start by saying I don't usually love sci-fi books so my review will definitely reflect that. I think people who enjoy science fiction are going to really enjoy this one. I also struggle with book with a book and this one really didn't work for me. I just wanted to rush through the book parts but those parts should not be skipped as it plays an important part in the story. This story started out very slow for me and I struggled to keep picking it up but once I got to know Zelu a bit more, I was very invested in her story.  I felt like her relationship with her family was so realistic, especially their concerns for her as she is a paraplegic woman.  I enjoyed exploring themes of cultural identity, technology and family dynamics throughout the book as well.  It was different from the books I typically pick up but always good to read and explore outside of one's comfort zone.

The Ivies by Alexa Donne

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

This dark academia novel was so fun and I'm so glad I read it during college decision season!  I zoomed through this so fast because I needed to know everything ASAP!  I had a theory that did not turn out to be correct but it was so fun to guess what was going on. It kind of gave me a One Of Us Is Lying vibes.  I listened to this one and flew through it. Easy and fun read but definitely a lot of college admissions talk.  I'm definitely recommending to my high schooler for fun summer reading.

Dream State by Eric Puchner

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

This book is about friends, love, marriage, heartbreak over the span of 50 years. We follow the lives of Cece, Charlie and Garrett as they navigate adulthood and beyond.  I enjoyed reading it, it's kind of a slower, quieter book but 10 days later as I'm writing this review, I find it's not that memorable. I remember how I felt reading it and generally how it flowed but honestly, I can't even remember the ending. 

The Love Simulation by Etta Easton

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

This was a fun and easy listen. It went by really fast and I really enjoyed the school/teacher part of the story at the middle school and then enjoyed the Mars simulation as well.  I thought the relationship between teachers and even with the administrators was relatable for anyone who has worked in a school environment.  Although the big bad principal was a little over the top, it overall was an entertaining read.  Highly recommend this one on audio.

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

3.75

This book takes place at the Daughters of America Cup boxing tournament and each chapter is a match between the 8 teenage girls competing to win. I really like how the book was structured.  We definitely get to know some of the boxers more as they continue in the tournament.  I think the description of the characters was a bit uneven. Kind of like with short stories, there are characters that were more memorable than others. I did enjoy reading this in print more than on audio.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I went into this one knowing nothing about the book and it surprised me in a wonderful way.  It's a story about 3 people whose lives intersect and features themes of found family, forgiveness, and second chances.  There's a lot that happens in this book but not in an overwhelming way, it just kept the story moving. I flew through this book in a few sittings.  I also really enjoyed the parts with the parrots! You'll have to read to find out more.  This was excellent on audio and I highly recommend it in that format.

Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

A multi-generational story about an Iranian family that takes us from California to Tehran between 1939 and 2019. Moud is a gay teen leaving America to visit his dying grandfather in Iran just before the pandemic. He learns so much about his father and grandfather's lives, as do we.  He has more in common with these men in his family than he knows.  Each POV was engaging and strong. It did feel long at times and towards the end, I started to slightly confuse storylines but overall a very strong read and always glad to see queer representation but especially in a cultural context in YA books.