Thank you to the dial press and prh audio for the gifted ARC and ALC.
I’ve been a fan of Georgia’s work for years and let me tell you — this is her besThank you to the dial press and prh audio for the gifted ARC and ALC.
I’ve been a fan of Georgia’s work for years and let me tell you — this is her best one yet! I enjoyed it so much and a huge part of that is just how hilarious it is. I’ve read novels before that feature a stand up comic, but I’ve never read one where that comic is actually hysterical on page. It’s so real and you’ll be howling (I even laughed my way through the author’s note at the end!).
Most Wonderful also features Georgia’s trademark ensemble cast, but this time with a narrower focus on three siblings and their love lives. It’s much more of a romance than her prior books and is a bit spicier too. The romances are so sweet and VERY queer (there are three queer love stories!!). It’s an unequivocal celebration of queer joy at Christmas.
It’s also got a lot of heart, with each character going through a journey not just in their love lives, but in coming to terms with who they are and who they want to be. It’s a Christmas to remember for the Belvedere siblings and you won’t want to miss it.
Audio: I’m not the biggest fan of this one as an audiobook. There’s a different narrator for Liz, Birdie, and Rafi. I thought the voices for Liz and Birdie were appropriately emotional, matched their characters, and had great voices for all the various characters’ dialogue. The narrator who performed Rafi’s chapters, however, was unemotional and almost monotonous at times. Multiple times while listening to his chapters, I thought to myself how much more impactful it would be if the narrator brought the emotions through to the words rather than just reading them.
Overall ratings Exact star rating: 4.56 5-pt star rating: 5
Prime Time Romance is such a fun one! Who hasn’t dreamed of diving head first into their favorite nostalThank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook.
Prime Time Romance is such a fun one! Who hasn’t dreamed of diving head first into their favorite nostalgic TV show??? I had a blast with the plot and loved watching Brynn (Joey) and Theo (Pacey) explore the world of Carson’s Cove (Dawson’s Creek).
PTR gave me strong A Novel Love Story vibes except with a teen TV show instead of a romance novel. Unfortunately, it falls short for me in a similar way that ANLS did, though to a lesser degree for sure — the romance is rushed and not organic, taking a backseat to the the world building and journey of self discovery for the FMC. That’s not a bad thing necessarily, but in a book that’s supposed to be a romcom, the romance between the MCs needs to be better developed.
I still rated this one a 4 though, because I had such a fun time reading it and because the romance isn’t awful (unlike ANLS). I would recommend it for sure, especially to millennials who love their 2000s TV and especially especially to fans of Dawson’s Creek (though if you’re team Dawson, you might not love it!).
Audio: Each of the dual POVs is performed by a different narrator. Kristyna Ruth Zaharek delivers a highly emotive performed of Brynn’s chapters. She’s new to the biz but is definitely a voice to keep an eye on! Sean Patrick Hopkins performs Theo’s chapters and totally nails it, per usual. He’s so easy to listen to that I get completely lost in the story.
Overall ratings Exact star rating: 4.31 10-pt star rating: 4.5 5-pt star rating: 4
After getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Gemma wishes she could get back the four years of her life she spent 3.5 stars for THIS SPELLS LOVE.
After getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Gemma wishes she could get back the four years of her life she spent with him. She wakes up the next morning in an alternate reality where she never met her ex… but plenty of other things in her life are different too, including her not being friends with her original universe bestie, Dax. Who she may or may not have kissed before transporting to the new reality. Who she may or may not be developing feelings for. As Gemma discovers more about her alt life, she grapples with which reality she should stay in and what she’s willing to risk for the ones she loves.
I read This Spells Love right after another “what if” magical realism book that I rated 5 stars, so I fully admit this review is colored by that experience.
You, Again is an acquaintances-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story loosely inspired by “When Harry Met Sally”. Like WHMS, You Again tracks two charaYou, Again is an acquaintances-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story loosely inspired by “When Harry Met Sally”. Like WHMS, You Again tracks two characters over the course of a few years, following their relationships, friendships, and professional successes (or lack there of). Both stories culminate in a big NYE moment, and both bring the same “NYC is a small town” vibe. It’s not a retelling though, and you’ll be disappointed if you go in expecting WHMS 2.0. But if you enjoy the movie, relate to its themes, and like its general vibe, you’ll enjoy You Again....more
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