Tag Archive for: Contemporary

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The Switch

The SwitchTitle: The Switch
Author(s): Beth O'Leary
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 330
Length: 10h 11m
Narrator(s): Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alison Steadman
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

THE SWITCH is a charming story about love, grief, forgiveness, and healing. I loved having the story told from both Leena’s and Eileen’s perspectives. With a full cast of quirky characters, it was a delight to read. THE SWITCH is billed as a romance, but I felt like there wasn’t enough romance. I really wish that Leena’s relationship troubles with Ethan had been resolved a bit sooner so that there could be more romantic scenes with her and Jackson. As far as the audiobook is concerned, I liked Leena’s narrator way better than Eileen’s.

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Here One Moment

Here One MomentTitle: Here One Moment
Author(s): Liane Moriarty
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 501
Length: 15h 53m
Narrator(s): Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book Club
Rating:
Spice: 1 Flames

My Thoughts

I adored HERE ONE MOMENT. I loved the premise of the story and all the characters. I laughed, cried, and stayed up way past my bedtime finishing it. I loved the message of using our one life to love, learn, live, and overcome our fears and anxieties.

I loved the way Moriarty portrayed how personal, all-consuming, and physical grief can be. I loved the serious look at and discussion surrounding mental health. I loved the advocacy of therapy and not suffering alone, that reaching out for help doesn’t mean you’re weak. I also loved the use of math and statistics to show the probability of how life and death sometimes feels cold and calculating, and unfair, how it can be sudden or expected.

Someone Else’s Shoes

Someone Else’s ShoesTitle: Someone Else's Shoes
Author(s): Jojo Moyes
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 438
Length: 12h 21m
Narrator(s): Daisy Ridley
Source: Owned
Reason(s): BotM Backlist
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES was a fun book to read. I enjoyed seeing how one little mixup could cause so much chaos in each of the women’s lives. I wondered how the story would resolve itself and I wasn’t disappointed. I did like one woman more than the other, but both women had their own difficulties and ways of dealing with their circumstances.

I liked the audiobook a lot and listening to Daisy Ridley’s narration. I’m glad I chose this book for my Book of the Month book when I did.

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My Friends

My FriendsTitle: My Friends
Author(s): Fredrik Backman
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 436
Length: 13h 7m
Narrator(s): Marin Ireland
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book Club, Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice: 1 Flames

My Thoughts

I don’t know what it is about Fredrik Backman, but he has the ability to tell a story with so much feeling and depth without it being boring or seeming contrived. He writes characters, situations, and the feelings of both better than any other author I’ve read. I love his ability to tell his stories in parts.

MY FRIENDS was a beautiful story about growing up, found family, resilience, and finding the silver lining in really shitty circumstances. It deals with hard topics like bullying, immigration, abuse, sickness, and grief. Even though the story is sad, it’s interspersed with laughter and happiness, and ends with a feeling of hope. There are also a lot of farts (iykyk). This one kept me guessing until the end and I loved taking the journey with the characters.

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The Memo

The MemoTitle: The Memo
Author(s): Rachel Dodes, Lauren Mechling
Genre(s): Contemporary
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 336
Length: 9h 22m
Narrator(s): Ann Caputo
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 0.5 Flames

My Thoughts

Despite being disappointed that THE MEMO isn’t a romance (the audiobook was categorized improperly at my library), I thought this story and the execution were interesting. I also like the hopeful and open ending. The story reminded me of The Midnight Library, just much less profound.