Lisa N. Haynes

Could’ve Been Great

Revisado: 02-04-25

I had high expectations for this book. The subject matter is extremely to timely. The story started out strong, but began to flounder after the first 3rd of the book. There’s a lot of extremely graphic scenes that I’m not sure are necessary, except for shock value. The author inserted humor that was sometime over the top, and again unnecessary. I might’ve felt differently if our country wasn’t experiencing one of the greatest challenges to our understanding of democracy and rampant toxic polarization in our country’s history.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Book great, Performance meh

Revisado: 08-15-24

I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable. While it may be a slow burn for some readers, I appreciated the depth of the main characters' backstories. I likely would have preferred reading the book rather than listening to it.

Although Julia Kwamya, the narrator, is undoubtedly talented, her performance in this audiobook was mediocre overall. While her narration was strong in the first quarter, it became inconsistent in the latter parts. It felt as if an earlier draft had been uploaded by the editors. This inconsistency detracts significantly from the experience, doing a disservice to both the author and the narrator.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Whiny!

Revisado: 04-16-24

A waste of a credit! The narrator did a good job, but she didn’t have much to work with. The main character’s predicament is tragic, but the resolution was just way too gimmicky.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not worth the credit

Revisado: 11-27-23

I don’t like to write bad reviews, but this book simply did not do it for me. One of the main characters, Trinity, is woefully underdeveloped and it’s simply too long. Although the narrators are talented, I don’t think they were cast properly… especially the female characters.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Lifetime Movie

Revisado: 09-11-23

There’s absolutely no way three close friends couldn’t spot the snake in the grass who begins to manipulate their lives. Despite the excellent narration, the rest of the story falls flat and the ending is equally as unbelievable. Not worth the credit.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Warning: Do not listen on speakers!

Revisado: 12-12-22

I often listen to audiobooks while working in the kitchen, but this book is so hot, I had to be mindful of who was around while I was listening.

The narrators are fabulous. You can never go wrong with Wesleigh Siobhan!

The story is realistic, often heartbreaking and there are even a few laugh out loud moments. The love between the two main characters is palpable and enduring.

It’s refreshing to read a book that celebrates therapy as a path to healing for Black families.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not My Favorite by Guillory

Revisado: 06-02-22

I'm not a huge romance fan, but I've been hooked on Jasmine Guillory's romance novels from Day 1! Her books are usually my guilty pleasure.

Unfortunately, By the Book falls woefully short in the romance department. As other reviewers have commented, there was no chemistry between the Izzy and Beau, and when things did begin the heat up in the last quarter of the book, there were no juicy details.

I also would have preferred more physical descriptions of the characters. I couldn't visualize them. I found myself wanting the book to come to an end, and that's not usually the case with Guillory's work.

I agree that maybe this book is being marketed to a YA audience, and that's cool, but if I'd known, I wouldn't have used a credit to listen. Maybe this 'Meant to Be' imprint is more G-rated than her other novels. If so, I'll know to steer clear next time.

I do think the narrator did an excellent job.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I Wanted To Like It, but...

Revisado: 12-13-20

I truly wanted to enjoy this book, but my curiosity about the author, Asha Lemmie, really piqued my interest and forced me to finish the book more than anything. For me, everything fell short. The narration is amateur at best. I think being more mindful of identifying Asian talent for the key roles in telling this story may have helped, but the writing is uneven. The premise of the story is interesting. A biracial, Japanese and African American, bastard daughter of Japanese royalty navigates the challenges of her parentage in post-WW2 Japan, but due to the limitations of the narration, the main character, Noriko, voice doesn't change much from when we first meet her at eight years old, to when the story comes a close at the end when she is 24. The ending of this story is prime for a sequel, but fool be once, shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Too much!

Revisado: 03-06-18

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think the authors tried to do too much with the plot twists. The last one jumped the shark for me. I would have rathered they focus on the demented relationship between Richard and Maureen.

Could you see The Wife Between Us being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I think this would make a great Lifetime movie, but unlike some of the other reviewers, I don't think the story is a good as Gone Girl.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 36 personas

Loved the Story, but...

Revisado: 03-01-18

Any additional comments?

The book started slow and I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it and that would have been a pity because I have enjoyed all of Tayari Jones' work. Fortunately, the story picked up and I did enjoy it. My only big criticism is with the narration. The male narrator's depiction of Celestial or the other female characters didn't work for me. I found myself wondering how it would have worked if Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis narrated those passages together.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 142 personas