l

Trying too hard for a Jersey accent

Revisado: 04-15-25

The story is cute and although the MC is from NJ she's from Maple Shade which is close to Philly not Long Island or Jersey City which is how the MC sounds and if you're from the area it may grate on your ears. Otherwise the book is entertaining, the story line is typical but moves at a quick pace that held my interest. The MC has enough snark to make her believable without being obnoxious.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

If I could give it more stars I would

Revisado: 04-11-24

This was a fun listen, an audio book about audio books by an audio book author. I don't typically listen to books narrated by their author as they so frequently fall flat, not this one, Julia Whelan is a world class narrator and actor. It was like listening to several different people, she is amazing. The story itself is predictable but that is much of the charm, it is a story within a story. It also manages to address social issues and stereotypes with compassion and humor. It is not often that I wish I could hug a book or wrap it around myself like a blanket but this one I would do both. I expect it will be in the top 5 of 2024 for me.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Story of small town coming together

Revisado: 01-25-24

Tight-knit small-town friends come together to save a young boy who his alcoholic father is abusing. The plot is convenient, and the characters are predictable, but not so much that it becomes boring. The narration, however, was almost monotone, and toward the end of the book, I was unsure which chapter because I was driving and couldn't look; it became garbled and difficult to understand. This was the first virtual voice book I listened to and will be the last. I found the narration flat, and it cannot distinguish between heteronyms. One example that stands out in my memory is when it had a bass became a musical instrument when the characters were fishing. Although human narrators also make errors that are missed during editing, I doubt a human narrator would make this mistake and find it more annoying than any human error. Perhaps it is a personal bias, however it was grating.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Decent story, poor editing

Revisado: 09-25-23

The story offers insight into a culture that exists within ours that is invisible most. It is also a story of the eternal struggle of those who are different being treated as problems to be addressed regardless of their wishes and frequently resulting in harm rather than people with value, feelings and opinions. It illustrates how parents can lose sight of who they are helping, their child or themselves, it also shows how deaf people view and navigate the hearing world, and how technology has impacted them.

Overall it was an interesting listen, and I would recommend it if only to gain insight on deaf culture. I gave it only 3 stars because there were so many asides that at some points it felt like the book wasn’t sure if it wanted to be a novel or non-fiction. I also found the rustling of paper and other sounds in the recording distracting. I am hard of hearing and wear bilateral hearing aids and the sounds were grating.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not what I expected

Revisado: 08-04-23

Not quite what I expected or hoped it would be, it was however a good read and educational. I gave it 4 vs 5 stars due to the overwhelming detail. At times it was like a biology lecture. The passages began mildly interesting but frequently progressed beyond what I recall learning in high school making it difficult to follow. They also took up a good portion of the book. For that tedium, I gave it 4 stars, Otherwise, I was pleased with the book, the writing is clear and engaging, the author is passionate about the topic, and it added to my knowledge of octopuses and other creatures.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Cute sequel to The Soulmate Equation

Revisado: 08-04-23

It is a cute if predictable rom-com and if you read and enjoyed The Soulmate Equation you will enjoy The True Love Experiment. Fizzy, is the main character. Jess and River return along with River's company, GeneticAlly, the DNA matchmaking company. It is a rom-com and predictable, with steamy sex, breakup/makeups, and a happy ending. The characters are likable, and relatable, with some depth and development. Overall it was a light, fun read with the inevitable happy ending.

If you think that the narration might be an issue then you should listen to a sample, before I used a credit I listened to a sample and am unsure what issue other listeners have with Ms. Kay. I found her to be a perfect narrator for Fizzy, her parents are from China, although I don't recall it being mentioned in the book she would speak the language.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Overly long for star crossed lovers type story

Revisado: 05-29-23

Predictable can be enjoyable and this book might have been if it was shorter, the plot was obvious early on and plodded on with a romantic subplot that was equally obvious. The narrator who read the part of Belle sounded as if she was often on the verge of running out of breath. Not something that I would read again.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Excellent especially for a first novel

Revisado: 05-04-23

This story drew me in from the first few sentences, I felt as though I knew Odette and The Supremes and could empathize with many of their struggles. I also could see parallels to the lives of my black friends, especially those who grew up in the south. The story is not innovative but I found it deeply satisfying and heartfelt. Showing the deep connection friends have and how complex human behavior can be, in poignant and funny ways. It was a delightful experience overall and one I am sure I will repeat.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Light, humorous listen

Revisado: 05-20-22

Light easy listen, exactly what I was seeking, nothing too dramatic or over the top - however, the narrator mispronounced Augusta which was annoying and grating - where was the editor? Once or twice is an error however it was repeated several times, I'm not from the south however it grated on my ear.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not a fan of Eleanor

Revisado: 03-04-22

Perhaps it is an occupational hazard, working in the mental health field, however, I did not enjoy this book or find it amusing as some do. I realized quickly that Eleanor suffered from a mental illness, was untreated, and experiencing symptoms. I was unable to see past this and simply enjoy the story, perhaps my failing as a listener, whatever the case I did not enjoy the book and listened to the end only to confirm my belief that Elenor was ill.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña