You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
sand_between_pages's Reviews (734)
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heartwarming, hilarious, and lovely! Thank you so much to Libro FM for the ALC of Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan, I am so happy I was able to consume this sweet story!
.
I am a longtime fan of Julia Whelan's narrations in audiobooks - she is really a master with voice and never fails to enrich a story. She can do so many characters and so many accents and I'm always awestruck. She is always my go-to when I am recommending an audiobook. I am so pleased to discover that she is also a very talented writer! Thank You For Listening is about an up and coming actress who lands a massive role in a movie but then suffers a terrible accident, and thus goes into the world of audiobooks where she can use her voice talent. The story is also about romance and the main couple is very swoon-worthy. Additionally, this is a great story about relationships in general as we explore the relationships between Sewanee (our MC) and her best friend, Sewanee and her father, and Sewanee and her grandmother. I really enjoyed seeing these relationships evolve throughout the novel.
.
I very highly recommend listening to this book as Whelan narrates it herself and there are many different voices that she uses throughout. I really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that sends messages of hope and happily ever after.
.
I am a longtime fan of Julia Whelan's narrations in audiobooks - she is really a master with voice and never fails to enrich a story. She can do so many characters and so many accents and I'm always awestruck. She is always my go-to when I am recommending an audiobook. I am so pleased to discover that she is also a very talented writer! Thank You For Listening is about an up and coming actress who lands a massive role in a movie but then suffers a terrible accident, and thus goes into the world of audiobooks where she can use her voice talent. The story is also about romance and the main couple is very swoon-worthy. Additionally, this is a great story about relationships in general as we explore the relationships between Sewanee (our MC) and her best friend, Sewanee and her father, and Sewanee and her grandmother. I really enjoyed seeing these relationships evolve throughout the novel.
.
I very highly recommend listening to this book as Whelan narrates it herself and there are many different voices that she uses throughout. I really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming read that sends messages of hope and happily ever after.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"Once you had proof of the sudden cruelty of life, how could you ever relax? How could you just let things happen?"
.
This quote from This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub REALLY resonated with me. Wow. I spend a LOT of time worrying about things in every day life, even though I know from a rational standpoint that worrying does nothing to help a situation. That being said, once you know about all the things that can go wrong in any given situation, how do you avoid the worry?
.
Now, on to the review...
.
Time travel books are my favorite. The Chronicles of St Mary's, Outlander, Oona Out of Order... just name to name a few - these books are my jam! This particular book delves into all the different time travel stories we are familiar with and how there are multiple ways to "time travel" within fiction. It kinda makes my head hurt, but that's also why I love exploring the idea of time travel; it is endlessly thought-provoking. When you alter the past, does it affect your future? Are there multiple lines of time (like in Dark Matter by Blake Crouch)? Can you drastically affect the future with one simple action (like in 11/22/63 by Stephen King)? I enjoyed this element in this novel, but I also felt like there were a few plot holes and things about the actual time travel that didn't really make sense. My advice to the reader: just go with it. You'll enjoy the book a lot more if you don't spend too much time trying to figure it out.
.
Another thing I really loved about this book: the main focus of the plot is on the father/daughter relationship. Alice and Leonard's relationship really tugged at my heartstrings. Being very close to my own dad, I felt I could really relate to what Alice went through seeing her dad age. Additionally, I think anyone would would take advantage of the ability to go back in time to see a loved one happy and healthy and in their prime. The emotion that Straub plants throughout the novel is subtle and really very beautiful.
.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend for a reader who wants a more emotional, literary read and loves time travel!
.
This quote from This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub REALLY resonated with me. Wow. I spend a LOT of time worrying about things in every day life, even though I know from a rational standpoint that worrying does nothing to help a situation. That being said, once you know about all the things that can go wrong in any given situation, how do you avoid the worry?
.
Now, on to the review...
.
Time travel books are my favorite. The Chronicles of St Mary's, Outlander, Oona Out of Order... just name to name a few - these books are my jam! This particular book delves into all the different time travel stories we are familiar with and how there are multiple ways to "time travel" within fiction. It kinda makes my head hurt, but that's also why I love exploring the idea of time travel; it is endlessly thought-provoking. When you alter the past, does it affect your future? Are there multiple lines of time (like in Dark Matter by Blake Crouch)? Can you drastically affect the future with one simple action (like in 11/22/63 by Stephen King)? I enjoyed this element in this novel, but I also felt like there were a few plot holes and things about the actual time travel that didn't really make sense. My advice to the reader: just go with it. You'll enjoy the book a lot more if you don't spend too much time trying to figure it out.
.
Another thing I really loved about this book: the main focus of the plot is on the father/daughter relationship. Alice and Leonard's relationship really tugged at my heartstrings. Being very close to my own dad, I felt I could really relate to what Alice went through seeing her dad age. Additionally, I think anyone would would take advantage of the ability to go back in time to see a loved one happy and healthy and in their prime. The emotion that Straub plants throughout the novel is subtle and really very beautiful.
.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend for a reader who wants a more emotional, literary read and loves time travel!
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - I'll be thinking about this book for many tomorrows to come!
.
This is my first Zevin and it did not disappoint - Zevin is a talented writer; her literary themes are subtle and nuanced and I very much appreciated how this story unfolded. Tomorrow X3 is a character-driven, decade-spanning story about two individuals who play and then eventually make video games together. The subject was pretty fascinating but the character development is what makes this book so compelling. I gravitated between loving/hating the two main characters at various parts of the novel and appreciated the subtlety of character-grayness that evoked so much emotion in myself.
.
There is a lot of tragedy within the story which reflects real life, and even though it is hard to read about sad moments, this made the novel even more real. This is a good book to read when you want beautiful writing, thought-provoking premises, and real, fleshed-out characters. Thank you to Libro FM for the outstanding audio version!
.
This is my first Zevin and it did not disappoint - Zevin is a talented writer; her literary themes are subtle and nuanced and I very much appreciated how this story unfolded. Tomorrow X3 is a character-driven, decade-spanning story about two individuals who play and then eventually make video games together. The subject was pretty fascinating but the character development is what makes this book so compelling. I gravitated between loving/hating the two main characters at various parts of the novel and appreciated the subtlety of character-grayness that evoked so much emotion in myself.
.
There is a lot of tragedy within the story which reflects real life, and even though it is hard to read about sad moments, this made the novel even more real. This is a good book to read when you want beautiful writing, thought-provoking premises, and real, fleshed-out characters. Thank you to Libro FM for the outstanding audio version!
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cue all the tears! Remarkably Bright Creatures absolutely lives up to the hype!
.
What a story. From the whimsy of an Octopus narration to the heartwarming story of Tova, I could not put this book down. This book is brilliantly narrated and I'd actually suggest this on audio rather than reading a hard copy.
.
I had major Backman vibes while reading the book. I know a lot of that could be from the narration of Marin Ireland as she also narrates Anxious People, Beartown, and Us Against You, but I also found the writing and the human nature observations reminiscent of Backman. So, if you're a Backman fan, I would suspect you'd also enjoy Shelby Van Pelt's sweet story.
.
This book had such a hopeful and persevering vibe that just gave me life. You totally need to read this one :)!
.
What a story. From the whimsy of an Octopus narration to the heartwarming story of Tova, I could not put this book down. This book is brilliantly narrated and I'd actually suggest this on audio rather than reading a hard copy.
.
I had major Backman vibes while reading the book. I know a lot of that could be from the narration of Marin Ireland as she also narrates Anxious People, Beartown, and Us Against You, but I also found the writing and the human nature observations reminiscent of Backman. So, if you're a Backman fan, I would suspect you'd also enjoy Shelby Van Pelt's sweet story.
.
This book had such a hopeful and persevering vibe that just gave me life. You totally need to read this one :)!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Give me all the FEMALE POWER!
.
I went into The Change blind and honestly love that I did because I was surprised at every turn! The Change is marketed as a fantasy novel, but I saw this is as more of a mystery with a strong magical realism theme.
.
What I Loved:
- Reading about strong women in their upper 40's and younger 50's. As the book cites, a lot of women at this age are "invisible" to society and especially men, but I love how much a** Jo, Nessa, and Harriet kicked. ;)
- The writing! I was interested the entire story and never felt like the plot was dragging.
- The character development. I really felt like I knew these women by the end of the book which gave me that emotional connection I always seek when I read.
- The actual story line - this is a super intriguing mystery that you will also want to solve alongside the characters!
.
I definitely recommend The Change!
.
I went into The Change blind and honestly love that I did because I was surprised at every turn! The Change is marketed as a fantasy novel, but I saw this is as more of a mystery with a strong magical realism theme.
.
What I Loved:
- Reading about strong women in their upper 40's and younger 50's. As the book cites, a lot of women at this age are "invisible" to society and especially men, but I love how much a** Jo, Nessa, and Harriet kicked. ;)
- The writing! I was interested the entire story and never felt like the plot was dragging.
- The character development. I really felt like I knew these women by the end of the book which gave me that emotional connection I always seek when I read.
- The actual story line - this is a super intriguing mystery that you will also want to solve alongside the characters!
.
I definitely recommend The Change!
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"I've been looking for beautiful things to bring meaning to life, when it's moments like these - vulnerable, authentic, imperfect - that make life beautiful."
.
Awwwwww. The Beach Trap is the perfect heart-warming, feel-good summer read! I really really enjoyed this sweet story; thank you so much to Berkley for the free copy!
.
Kat and Blake meet when they are 12 at summer camp and quickly become BFF. However, they soon find out that they have a lot more in common than they thought - they are half sisters! Miscommunication and confusion keep them apart for 15 years until the father they share passes away; he leaves Kat and Blake his beach house in Florida - but to share! (Such a fun premise!)
.
This is a very lighthearted story with a few heavier themes. There is romance, a super cute dog, a lot of fun, nostalgic moments, and a wonderful story of acceptance and reconciliation. I'd totally read this one again, it just made me feel good!
.
I rec for fans of:
- Beach reads
- Home reno themes
- Romance as a side plot
.
Awwwwww. The Beach Trap is the perfect heart-warming, feel-good summer read! I really really enjoyed this sweet story; thank you so much to Berkley for the free copy!
.
Kat and Blake meet when they are 12 at summer camp and quickly become BFF. However, they soon find out that they have a lot more in common than they thought - they are half sisters! Miscommunication and confusion keep them apart for 15 years until the father they share passes away; he leaves Kat and Blake his beach house in Florida - but to share! (Such a fun premise!)
.
This is a very lighthearted story with a few heavier themes. There is romance, a super cute dog, a lot of fun, nostalgic moments, and a wonderful story of acceptance and reconciliation. I'd totally read this one again, it just made me feel good!
.
I rec for fans of:
- Beach reads
- Home reno themes
- Romance as a side plot
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OMG! I feel like I just got swindled by Cover Story! Ha!
.
This was really brilliantly written, and one I am going to be talking about for a LONG time to come. Go in blind, don't read spoilers, and just enjoy the fast, bingey ride that Susan Rigetti takes you on! I thoroughly enjoyed this crazy read!
.
This was really brilliantly written, and one I am going to be talking about for a LONG time to come. Go in blind, don't read spoilers, and just enjoy the fast, bingey ride that Susan Rigetti takes you on! I thoroughly enjoyed this crazy read!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How I imagine Christina Lauren brainstorming for Something Wilder... (sorta spoilery, proceed with caution)
"Man, I am in the mood for some adventure - let's binge the Indiana Jones trilogy!"
"Okay now that's over, you know what we haven't done in a long time? Read Dan Brown. Let's read all the Dan Brown!"
"Wow, codes and adventure are fun. Let's put that all into our new book. Who cares about character chemistry if we have codes to break and treasure to find?!"
"But wait, we write rom-coms, so let's make sure we put in a few tropes like second chance lovers and other random things that don't really fit. Let's also make the MC super angsty and mad! It will be SO FUN if she is just mad!"
"Also, we need murder...."
.
Oh my gawwwwwd. I absolutely cannot with this book. It took sheer will to finish it and I honestly have no clue why I did because the best part of the book was when I got to close it and know I never had to read a single word from it again.
.
I know I am being super harsh, but this was honestly all over the place and just - bad. I've read quite a few Christina Lauren books and I generally really enjoy their sweet stories - Love and Other Words is one of my favorite books! I don't even know where this book came from. Maybe my own personal fiction hell?
Here are my main complaints:
- No chemistry between Lily and Leo. When I read a "rom-com" (this isn't a rom-com btw, I am not sure what genre it is) it is really important to feel some semblance of chemistry from the main couple. There is nada here. The steamy scenes were annoying, I didn't care whether the couple ended up together or not, and their "second chance" wasn't compelling in any way, shape, or form. If you like someone as much as these two apparently do, you don't just stay away for a decade with no communication.
- Lily is not fun. I can't find one likable thing about this character.
- Leo is one dimensional. I get it, he is older now and has great abs and wow he really grew into is body. And LOOK he can break codes and alas, he can do it all in his head! What else do we really know about him? Blah.
- MAJOR THINGS HAPPEN and the character reactions we get are completely unrealistic.
- I dunno about you, but if my parents leave me a very large inheritance, I prefer they just give it to me rather than sending me on a treasure hunt that could kill and deplete me.
- If I have any near-death experiences, the last thing on my mind is how I am going to make shacking up with my boyfriend work.
- Too much going on. Is this an adventure? A romance? A wild west story? Okay so maybe all three but none were executed well enough and it just felt messy.
.
I can't rec this read. I honestly feel like I have to take a long break from CL for a while, too. I appreciate the attempt to write something a little "wilder" but it just didn't work.
"Man, I am in the mood for some adventure - let's binge the Indiana Jones trilogy!"
"Okay now that's over, you know what we haven't done in a long time? Read Dan Brown. Let's read all the Dan Brown!"
"Wow, codes and adventure are fun. Let's put that all into our new book. Who cares about character chemistry if we have codes to break and treasure to find?!"
"But wait, we write rom-coms, so let's make sure we put in a few tropes like second chance lovers and other random things that don't really fit. Let's also make the MC super angsty and mad! It will be SO FUN if she is just mad!"
"Also, we need murder...."
.
Oh my gawwwwwd. I absolutely cannot with this book. It took sheer will to finish it and I honestly have no clue why I did because the best part of the book was when I got to close it and know I never had to read a single word from it again.
.
I know I am being super harsh, but this was honestly all over the place and just - bad. I've read quite a few Christina Lauren books and I generally really enjoy their sweet stories - Love and Other Words is one of my favorite books! I don't even know where this book came from. Maybe my own personal fiction hell?
Here are my main complaints:
- No chemistry between Lily and Leo. When I read a "rom-com" (this isn't a rom-com btw, I am not sure what genre it is) it is really important to feel some semblance of chemistry from the main couple. There is nada here. The steamy scenes were annoying, I didn't care whether the couple ended up together or not, and their "second chance" wasn't compelling in any way, shape, or form. If you like someone as much as these two apparently do, you don't just stay away for a decade with no communication.
- Lily is not fun. I can't find one likable thing about this character.
- Leo is one dimensional. I get it, he is older now and has great abs and wow he really grew into is body. And LOOK he can break codes and alas, he can do it all in his head! What else do we really know about him? Blah.
- MAJOR THINGS HAPPEN and the character reactions we get are completely unrealistic.
- I dunno about you, but if my parents leave me a very large inheritance, I prefer they just give it to me rather than sending me on a treasure hunt that could kill and deplete me.
- If I have any near-death experiences, the last thing on my mind is how I am going to make shacking up with my boyfriend work.
- Too much going on. Is this an adventure? A romance? A wild west story? Okay so maybe all three but none were executed well enough and it just felt messy.
.
I can't rec this read. I honestly feel like I have to take a long break from CL for a while, too. I appreciate the attempt to write something a little "wilder" but it just didn't work.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Sometimes we love monsters without knowing that’s what they are."
.
Put DAISY DARKER on your TBR right nowwwwww! Alice Feeney hit it out of the park with this gem!
.
Daisy Darker is pure mystery goodness and give me serious And Then There Were None vibes. The story centers around the Darker family - Nana, the mom and dad, and the three sisters, Rose, Lily, and Daisy. Daisy is born with a weak heart and is very much an outcast her entire childhood. We flashback between present day (for the Darker family) and scenes from the past when the sisters are growing up. The family all convenes at Nana's house on the Cornish coast, and when high tide comes in, the family is stuck in the house for the night. Not a bad deal, except when people start being murdered...
.
You may guess a twist or two, but I guarantee you won't guess them all. For a mystery novel, this one packs a lot of good character development and poignant prose. I was immediately hooked and really looked forward to all the minutes I spent with the story. I won't say too much to avoid spoilers, instead, just do yourself a favor and read this one! Thank you so much to Macmillan for the ALC, this was fantastic on audio!
.
Put DAISY DARKER on your TBR right nowwwwww! Alice Feeney hit it out of the park with this gem!
.
Daisy Darker is pure mystery goodness and give me serious And Then There Were None vibes. The story centers around the Darker family - Nana, the mom and dad, and the three sisters, Rose, Lily, and Daisy. Daisy is born with a weak heart and is very much an outcast her entire childhood. We flashback between present day (for the Darker family) and scenes from the past when the sisters are growing up. The family all convenes at Nana's house on the Cornish coast, and when high tide comes in, the family is stuck in the house for the night. Not a bad deal, except when people start being murdered...
.
You may guess a twist or two, but I guarantee you won't guess them all. For a mystery novel, this one packs a lot of good character development and poignant prose. I was immediately hooked and really looked forward to all the minutes I spent with the story. I won't say too much to avoid spoilers, instead, just do yourself a favor and read this one! Thank you so much to Macmillan for the ALC, this was fantastic on audio!
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"The way I figure it, we spend half our lives trying to get away from our roots. And then we spend the other half trying to get back."
.
Thank you so much to William Morrow for the copy of Vacationland; this is my first Meg Mitchell Moore novel and it didn't disappoint! I give this a 3.5/5 and I believe it to be a super solid summer read!
.
Louisa is on the Maine coast for the summer with her three children at her parents' idyllic waterfront home - a home she has been to every summer since she was a baby. While it should be a relaxing experience, Louisa is behind on her book and is dealing with a fallout with her husband, Steven, who isn't joining the family for the summer. Additionally, her father is battling alzheimer's and the family is having financial issues.
.
Kristie is in the same town as Louisa. Her mother has just died of cancer, but a letter left behind led Kristie to this location. Kristie has a lot of secrets she is hoping to delve into through the summer.
.
The book alternates between Kristie's story and Louisa's story, and weaves them together beautifully. What I enjoyed most about the book included the tranquil and descriptive setting and the summer vibe, the writing, and the multiple PoVs. At times, I found the story dragged, bordering on boring (I hate saying that because it is not a boring book, there are just some boring scenes...!). This is also a very character-driven story, so there wasn't a ton of action. However, there were several great lines and thought-provoking premises which I enjoyed!
.
I rec for:
- Fans of beach reads
- Those who enjoy character-driven stories
- Fans of multiple PoVs
.
Thank you so much to William Morrow for the copy of Vacationland; this is my first Meg Mitchell Moore novel and it didn't disappoint! I give this a 3.5/5 and I believe it to be a super solid summer read!
.
Louisa is on the Maine coast for the summer with her three children at her parents' idyllic waterfront home - a home she has been to every summer since she was a baby. While it should be a relaxing experience, Louisa is behind on her book and is dealing with a fallout with her husband, Steven, who isn't joining the family for the summer. Additionally, her father is battling alzheimer's and the family is having financial issues.
.
Kristie is in the same town as Louisa. Her mother has just died of cancer, but a letter left behind led Kristie to this location. Kristie has a lot of secrets she is hoping to delve into through the summer.
.
The book alternates between Kristie's story and Louisa's story, and weaves them together beautifully. What I enjoyed most about the book included the tranquil and descriptive setting and the summer vibe, the writing, and the multiple PoVs. At times, I found the story dragged, bordering on boring (I hate saying that because it is not a boring book, there are just some boring scenes...!). This is also a very character-driven story, so there wasn't a ton of action. However, there were several great lines and thought-provoking premises which I enjoyed!
.
I rec for:
- Fans of beach reads
- Those who enjoy character-driven stories
- Fans of multiple PoVs