sebrittainclark's reviews
1859 reviews

Something Extraordinary by Alexis Hall

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sir Horley is a gay man who feels that he must marry to satisfy his family, even if it is a miserable match, but on the eve of his wedding Arabella Tarleton, his aromantic friend, convinces him to elope with her instead. I loved the platonic relationship between Sir Horley and Belle. It was unlike any other romance novel I've read, and I would have happily read so much more about them building a life together that suits them both. This ended up being my favorite book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for an early copy.
Whales in the City by Nancy F. Castaldo

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hopeful informative fast-paced

4.5

A very hopeful book that talks about the whales that once swan in the Hudson river, their loss, the work by communities to clean up the river, and the eventual return of the whales in 2016. I appreciated the additional facts about whales and timeline of the Hudson river at the end.

Thanks to netgalley and macmillan young listeners for an early copy.
How to Survive on the Moon: Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist by Joalda Morancy, Neon Squid

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informative fast-paced

4.5

I thought this was a very engaging book about the moon and space exploration. I thought it did a great job of sharing facts about the moon, technology, and space exploration, while engaging children's imagination to consider what it would be like to live on the moon.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for an early copy.
Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Lifeform by Jenny Slate

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reflective slow-paced

3.5

Lifeform is collection of essays that span Slate's journey from being single to falling in love to becoming a mother, all told with Slate's humor. I particularly enjoyed the section where the raccoons were gossiping and the section about stork bites.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown & Company for an early copy.
The Demon's Queen by Katee Robert

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2024 by Jaya Saxena, Padma Lakshmi

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adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

4.0

I thought this was an excellent collection of essays that engaged with a number of topics, both difficult and lighthearted, through the lens of food and travel. A standout for me was Forbidden Fruit about some of the contention surrounding the farming of avocados in Mexico.

Thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an early copy.
Hedgehogs Don't Wear Underwear by Marissa Valdez

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

This was a very cute and silly story about being true to yourself.

I thought the narrator did a wonderful job with the hedgehogs' french accents.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for an early copy.
Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I thought this was a really interesting and fun set of fantasy short stories. My favorites were Sucker for Pain where the servant of a witch becomes a vampire and gains her own power, The Animation Games where two betrothed take advantage of their resurrected afterlife to hunt one another now, and Chaos Theory, the longest story in the collection, where the actions of two individuals in one universe have ripple effects across their lives in four other alternative universes. I become a bigger and bigger fan of Olivie Blake with everything I read.

I appreciated that each short story had a different narrator, which made it easier to remember which story I was listening to as I paused and unpaused the audiobook.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an early copy.
A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries by Jelena Poleksic, Neon Squid

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informative fast-paced

4.0

This is a collection of interesting and somewhat gross facts about how medicine was practiced in the past, and occasionally even now. I liked the audio effects, and I think it will certainly entertain any kids who listen.

Thanks to Neon Squid and Netgalley for an early copy.