This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books I read because of COYER book club in May (I read one other, but I kept reading in the series, so those reviews to come later).
LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff Published by The Listening Library on May 29, 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Length: 12 hours 26 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
On a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.
Eve isn’t looking for secrets—she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she’s just spent six months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, and the only thing keeping her Grandpa from the grave was the fistful of credits she just lost to the bookies. To top it off, she’s discovered she can destroy electronics with the power of her mind, and the puritanical Brotherhood are building a coffin her size. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it.
But when Eve discovers the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls home, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic conscience, Cricket, in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, infiltrate towering megacities and scour the graveyard of humanity’s greatest folly to save the ones Eve loves, and learn the dark secrets of her past.
Even if those secrets were better off staying buried.
LIFEL1K3 is one of those books with tons of hype… which made me worry I wouldn’t enjoy it. Boy was I wrong. It grabbed me from the start, kept me on the hook with lovable characters (including a robot dog I seriously cried over a few times and an adorable, annoying little robot), action, and a solid mystery, and then didn’t let me go at the end with one hell of a twist. And then at book club, Michelle made me realize that this is kind of a retelling of Anastasia and my mind was positively blown! One of my only 5 star reads in quite some time. I haven’t read book 2 yet, but it will happen. I read this on audio and the narration was fantastic. I will definitely continue listening.
Wasted Words by Staci Hart Series: The Austens #1
Published by Staci Hart Novels on May 19, 2016
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 349
Format: Audiobook
Goodreads
Some universal truths refuse to be ignored.
Peanut butter and jelly are a match made in heaven. Spaghetti and meatballs are best friends forever. And guys like Tyler Knight don’t go for girls like Cam Emerson.
She knew from the second she met him that he didn’t belong on her bookshelf, the six-foot-six ex-tight end with a face so all-American, it could have sold apple pie. So she shelved him next to the supermodels and rock stars and took her place on her own shelf — the one with the flannel-clad, pasty-faced comic book nerds. Most of her boyfriends have existed between the pages of books, but rather than worrying over her own lacking love life, she puts all her energy into playing Cupid, using her job at the book bar, Wasted Words, as her stomping ground.
Tyler Knight always looks on the bright side. His career-ending injury turned into a job as a sports agent. A horrible breakup led him to Cam, his quirky, smart roommate who is far more beautiful than she realizes. She’s made it perfectly clear she’s not interested in him — not like that at least — but if she ever changes her mind, he won’t hesitate. Because he doesn’t see the lines she’s drawn between them, as much as she insists that they’re there. Deep down he knows that despite their differences, they’re a match well made.
*A romantic comedy inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma.*
Wasted Words is a retelling of Emma and since I’m a big Jane Austen fan, I was excited to read it. Now, to be fair to Staci Hart, Emma is probably my least favorite Jane Austen because Emma annoys me… and she did a good job carrying that over to the heroine of this story. In a lot of ways, the two stories are very different and I’d almost call it a stretch to say it’s a retelling. Ultimately, though, I enjoyed it and do plan to read the other books in the series because, well, Jane Austen!! This was another audio read for me and it was quite good. I think it would work about the same in any format for me.
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine Series: Stillhouse Lake #1
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 301
Format: eBook, Audiobook
Goodreads
Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.
With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.
But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is certain: she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.
Stillhouse Lake was not popular in the COYER bookclub group, but I enjoyed it. The mystery had me guessing the whole time, which is probably what I liked about it. The main character is frustrating, in that as a super concerned mom she makes some really dumb decisions that you can’t help but think were for the sake of making the mystery work. But it worked on me, I was pretty shocked (despite the fact I shouldn’t have been). Shocked enough to give it 3.5 stars, but that didn’t do enough to convince me to keep reading. That’s probably it for me and this series. I listened and read this one back and forth with whispersync. I think the audio probably improved my enjoyment a bit – it definitely helped me read it faster!
Well the only one I’ve read is Stillhouse Lake and that was right when it first came out. I really liked it so now I’m curious why others didn’t. I am awaiting the next book as I’ve read all 4 books. So you say Wasted Words is fantastic but rated it lower than Stillhouse Lake?