You may be wondering why there are so many of these collections. And you know, that’s the way it goes sometimes.
✨Love in Focus by Lyla Lee — I got through 69% of this audio (giggity) before I finally lost all interest and quit. Even at that point, I didn’t feel any connection to either FMC. I judged Gemma for jumping into a rebound relationship so quick after her break-up with Celeste (don’t get me started on how she acted with James) and I judged Celeste for being so uncommunicative when she broke up with Gemma over text then getting mad that Gemma tried to move on and deal however she could. I liked Gemma’s narrator a lot though!
✨Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez — There are many good things in this one. The open discussions about the spectrum of sexuality and identity. The realities of growing up in a homophobic family. But there was a revelation about Krystal midway through the story and I honestly can’t get over it. It changed how I view her as a love interest. And Angela continuing on with a scavenger hunt (with the prize being her first kiss) despite falling for Krystal made me feel icky. Sorry but I’m doneskis.
✨Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson — I still love Indiana Jones and The Mummy so I couldn’t resist trying this one. But the FMC was immediately someone I was annoyed with. She agrees to go to a different country with a man she just met…just like that? Also, all this right after she drinks so much she starts drunk girl crying. The vibes were not vibing with me and thus, DNF.
✨The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman — I don’t know if it’s because I recently read a book with a journalist (and I didn’t like him that much), but when the second POV was introduced as Liz, the outcast high school newspaper editor, I was immediately disinterested in the rest of the story. I do think this one would be good for someone who isn’t prejudiced against journalists (never thought I’d be typing that sentence) but just not for me.
✨Kade by Tijan — I loved the Fallen Crest series when it first released. There’s just something magical about Mason Kade. That magic was not inherited by his daughter, Maddie. We just didn’t vibe, and I found it harder to ignore the wacky plot points (uhhhhh one of the twins (or both???) are psychics????) when I didn’t care for the characters as much. Alas, the Fallen Crest era is over for me.