Welp, I said I wasn’t participating in any reading challenges, and then here comes Audible with their three audiobooks in three months challenge, complete with a $20 gift card if you complete it.
And if you thought your girl wasn’t going to read and WIN MONEY for doing so, then you don’t know me at all. Not to mention I have (a) plenty of audiobook credits to spare and (b) a 20-minute commute Monday-Thursday while I teach the winter session. So. Here we are.
I chose Sadie by Courtney Summers as my first book to read for the challenge.
It has a full-cast audio, which I love. As a bonus, Rebecca Soler, the A+++ narrator of the Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, narrates Sadie’s parts. Plus, I was thinking about teaching this in my mystery and crime class next time, so it was on my to-read list anyway.
I’ve read the following books since my last post.
First, those books finished in 2019 (on Dec. 31, no less):
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars, rounding up
I listened to the audio, and I have to say the narrator is fantastic. Everyone sounds different, and I loved hearing all of the characters’ different accents. A++
The book itself, I liked quite a bit for its exploration of generational resistance to trauma. At times, this was hard to read because it was a little too real and the author spends quite a bit of time on Queenie’s self-destructive behavior. The details about her sexual exploits are NOT fun, though they do say a lot about the character and how much help she needs.
I loved all of the stuff with Queenie’s family, and may we all be so lucky to have a friend like Kyazike.
The only thing I wanted more of is an acknowledgment that Queenie was often a TERRIBLE friend and that her ex was the actual worst.
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars, rounding up
I love that this book is about girls’ rage and anger at living in a deeply patriarchal society that has clear and (as always) hypocritical double standards. I also like that their responses aren’t necessarily pretty or good but that they fall within the realms of their control (like Mishal’s gossip Tumblr or Zarin pushing the limit with boys).
The cover–though a stunner and not inaccurate–is a bit misleading. This is not a happy nor light-hearted story as the pink would suggest. In fact, when I read the prologue, I almost set it aside because I was expecting something a little frothier. I’m glad I didn’t since I wound up quite invested in the characters in the story, but that’s just a heads up for anyone considering the book.
My biggest issue with the book is the ending. I didn’t love it, and, in fact (view spoiler) It felt like a cop out, and I thought both characters deserved better.
Still, I rounded up the rating because it didn’t make me hate the book; it actually made me wish the book were longer so more of those issues could be explored.
And my first reads of this year:
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a fun plane read, wholly engaging and a fast read. The author’s note says this was originally a screenplay, and I can see that because all of the scenes were super vivid and the dialogue was on point.
While I really enjoyed reading the book, I am torn on a rating. See, the thing is Claire engages in a lot of Very Bad Behavior, and she never faces any consequences for any of it–in fact, she is REWARDED for doing things that are ethically challenged and, in some cases, borderline illegal. As another matter of fact, the other characters suffer for her actions, and she still somehow…doesn’t care? The character engages in zero self-reflection and is only genuinely hurt by the things that happen to the fictional characters in her world, and no one ever calls her on the fact that she does Awful Things. I mean, more than one character enables her! And, I mean, that’s certainly a choice for the author to make.
Also, and it can’t be said enough: Tess deserves so much better. You can take that in any way you like.
So, 3.5 stars, rounding down
Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was super cute and fun, and I loved the artwork. It also has two of my favorite tropes (action happens in one night, unrequited love), so that was a delight. I did keep wanting just a little bit something more from it, though, so there’s also that.
Giant Days: Early Registration by John Allison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I just love these characters so much.
I prefer the new artwork, and I’m glad the more outlandish elements are no more, but, in general, as a fan of the series, it was nice to see the beginnings and to know that my love for Daisy is pure and deep.
Unforgivable Love: A Retelling of Dangerous Liaisons by Sophfronia Scott
1/7/20: This book is getting on my nerves, and I can’t tell if it’s the narrator (I feel like she’s doing an affectation for the voices, and it bugs) or the actual story. So, anyway, I’ll give it a try in print before chucking it completely.
I made it to chapter 5.
Happy New Year, everyone!
The Englishist 
I’m glad you decided to share as I noted some of these books for my list! And hope you made that challenge! Thanks!
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I also loved that audiobook of Sadie. I didn’t realize before that it was Rebecca Soler who narrated the Lunar Chronicles. I listened to that one too and loved her voice. If you haven’t listened to Will Patton’s narration of Maggie Stiefvater’s series, Raven Cycle, I highly recommend it. It’s the perfect match of voice and story.
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I have been wondering about Pumpkinheads, as Faith Erin Hicks has some popular books in my library. And I really need to read Sadie, it seems interesting. Thanks for the shares.
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I definitely agree that a narrator can just make or break an audio book experience!
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I really enjoyed Pumpkinheads. And A Girl Like That sounds like a book I would enjoy.
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I really, REALLY enjoyed Sadie as an audiobook. So much so that it’s probably the only book I can think of that I’d prefer as an audiobook than a text book. Oh wait, that and Becoming by Michelle Obama. I’ve heard good things about Queenie, but I do think there would be very difficult parts for me to digest. Thank you for all these shares, Akilah! My apologies for linking up to #imwayr so late this week. But at least I made it. LOL
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Yes, at least you made it! I usually don’t haha.
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Soooo…all this time, I thought I was following you, and I wondered why I never saw your posts in the reader. Now, I know. I wasn’t following. Smh…
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