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I’ve had this on my TBR list for a while, and there’s always a wait. I figured it would eventually be available, so I waited. Finally, I put it on hold and it was ready after 6 weeks. This book came out in 2009! So I knew it would be a good read/listen.

I got the audiobook from Libby and it was narrated not by the author, which is uncommon among memoirs and autobiographies. But the narrator did a great job and maybe Agassi wasn’t interested in doing it. This book was incredibly detailed; I felt like I was living his life alongside him. I always wonder how people remember so much about their lives, down to conversations and feelings. Some people journal a lot so that makes sense that they have a record, but Agassi shared that he began journaling after his son was born. So maybe he just has a good memory or took creative liberties. Either way, this was an excellent autobiography and I enjoyed it. I had heard of him and other tennis players, but I’m not a sports fan so I didn’t really watch games or get into it. I like that the book started with him in real time, and then went back to detail his childhood and how he got into tennis (immigrant Iranian Armenian dad). It was so interesting to see his relationship with his family and the sport itself and how he actually hated tennis. I loved the relationship between him and his good friend Perry, his brother Philly, and especially his trainer/friend Gill. I didn’t know he dropped out of school in the 9th grade to pursue this sport. It was nice to see him recognize the value of education by opening up his own charter school. I was happy when he and Stefanie reconnected and got together, I would’ve liked to hear more about their relationship like he detailed about him and Brooke Shields.

Overall, this was a really good book and took me a bit longer than usual to listen to due to the length, but it was worth it.

A funny side note/synchronicity: I was watching a 2022 movie a few days ago and one of the main characters was reading this book. I was so surprised haha.

Julia Whelan is one of my top fave narrators! Everything she touches (narrates) turns to gold imho. That is why I picked up this audiobook from my library. I haven’t been too taken by any Emily Henry novels yet but this one got me hooked. I liked that the fmc is a librarian, as I am. The premise was interesting as well; Daphne was broken up with by her fiancée for his childhood best friend, so she moves in with the jilted boyfriend of the best friend. Miles was a yummy mmc and I enjoyed his personality. Lot of family dynamics at play and found family, which I love. Overall an enjoyable read with excellent narration and hopefully a movie in the future.

I’ve listened to one other book by this author and thought it was cute. This one is more of the same and the narration was done well for the female characters but not so much for the males. I was so upset for Leah at her cousin’s wedding. Couldn’t she have just wished the bride & groom well in English and avoided any mistakes? I liked the idea of connecting to one’s roots and learning the mother tongue, but wasn’t too invested in Leah’s journey and Cyrus was too much at times.

Not a long book, but it was a few weeks before I picked this up and read 3/4 of it in 2 days. I’ve read/listened to a few of this author’s books, and I’ve liked some more than others. I liked the premise of this one: a walk to work in Ramallah and reminiscing on how the city has changed. I was initially put off by the author’s perception of increased religiosity in the form of the call to prayer and Quranic recitations. The way he phrased it was borderline offensive though he concluded that it was just different getting used to. There were a few other instances where I was suspicious of his feelings as well.

I did find it interesting to see how the dynamics of society evolved with time, becoming more individualistic and material. I think my favorite part of this book was recognizing the landmarks since I had recently visited Palestine in summer 2025. It was familiar to read about the streets and buildings and how they have changed. Overall, the author’s perspective is fairly pessimistic which is warranted but this was also published almost 10 years ago, so curious if his views have changed.

I’ve read The Martian by this author 10+ years ago and when I saw they made a movie adaptation for this one, I decided to read it. There was no digital audiobook available through my libraries, so I waited for the physical audiobook CDs, to which I only listened to in my car while driving. So it took me a while to finish but I did it. Narrator was good and I liked the special sounds effects, especially with Rocky. Dunno if I would’ve read a physical or digital version of this.

This has an interesting premise but honestly it was a lot to keep up with, science-wise. I’m sure I tuned out some bits but I got the overall gist. I thought Rocky was adorable and it was fun to listen to the interactions between him and Ryland. I’m curious to see how the movie compares and how much is similar or different.

I've been meaning to read this book for a while. I bought the hardback last year but gifted it to my cousin before reading it. I found the ebook on hoopla so knew I'd be able to read it another time. Recently, I came across audiobook on hoopla and was so excited. I listened to it in two days since it's pretty short and it was a great way to take in the words of the late Dr. Refaat Alareer, may he rest in peace. I was happy to see the narrator is a Palestinian woman, but I would have liked her to pronounce some of the Arabic words and names more accurately. I finished reading the ebook as I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything from listening, but it's harder for me to comprehend from text than it is from audio.

This collection of short essays, poems, and interviews gave important insight into what it's like to grow up and live in Gaza, and the framing of how many wars each person has lived through to denote their age (ex: Amal is 4 wars old). It's heartbreaking to hear how people have lost so many loved ones, their homes, schools, livelihoods. Every single person in Gaza is affected by the siege and bombardment of their homeland and the fact that we are currently witnessing a 2.5+ year old "war" is very tough. It would be easier in a sense if Palestine was free and this was a historical overview of these brutal massacres, but the fact that the zionist entity is continuing to murder Palestinians every day makes it a difficult read/listen.

Some of the text is repetitive because of the various sources, but it does a good job of emphasizing the details of these stories. I liked how Refaat noted the importance of storytelling and how it keeps us alive. Palestinians in Gaza do not need to be given a voice, they already have one and it just needs to be widely shared. I appreciated the mix of essays and poems, as well as transcripts from interviews done in the last months of his life. I particularly liked the essays about his brother and his cousin and how they were both senselessly killed while trying to help others. His reflection on the 2018 Great March of Return was enlightening as well. From that chapter "Every Palestinian Was a Target": "If Palestinians shoot rockets, fire rockets, or carry guns, Israel will destroy them and will criminalize and demonize them. If Palestinians carry stones and Molotov cocktails, if Palestinians fly kites, if Palestinians breathe, Israel will hate them. And Israel will want them to be submitting and abjectly kneeling." I was honored to listen to and read his words and it reminded me how sad I am that he is no longer with us and cannot provide current feedback on world events, or share his knowledge and talent. However, books like this bring our martyrs to life and it keeps them alive as we continue this material life without them.

From his poem "O'live Tree":

My twigs shall grow,

The oil shall flow,

My people shall glow,

And you, you will go.

Someone recommended this book on Twitter so I got the audiobook from hoopla. It was a quick listen with solid narration and I thought it was interesting. I’ve personally not owned a gun or used one, but I can definitely see the case for it, especially when most non-violent means do not achieve much. I appreciated how folks worked together despite these differences and were firm in their ways. The kkk kept pissing me off but it was satisfying to see the cowards retreat when faced with armed opposition. Black folk were not presented with many options to defend themselves and guns were seen as generally acceptable, even by white supremacists. I hope there is a resurgence of this movement in modern society as it is much needed due to the violence committed upon people by the state and government and other bad actors. This is the only language the oppressors will listen to so we might as well use it.

I finished watching season one of this show, and decided to get the audiobook from my library. They had a narrator for Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd), Agnes (Bryce Dalls Howard) and Daisy (Mae Whitman), which helped differentiate their POVs. The author herself narrated the chapter names. I liked the series and was curious how different it is from the book. There’s a few key differences, like how Becca and Agnes became aunts instead of getting married, Daisy being Nicole, and the two sisters escaping from Gilead. It was cool to see what happened after The Handmaid’s Tale and the epilogue into the future was interesting but honestly not very realistic. I doubt we will learn from past mistakes and rebuild society; it just feels like we’re headed towards complete destruction.

Finished the audiobook and started reading the ebook, but didn’t feel like finishing it. Picked up this book because there is a tv adaptation for it.

The narrator pronounced a few words wrong so that threw me off. Ex: rifled. I had a feeling this book would be similar to TSITP and it was in some ways. I was really hoping there wouldn’t be a love triangle between the brothers but alas there was one revealed towards the end. The relationship between Percy and Sam was okay, I didn’t like Percy much and kept mistaking her for a male character due to her nickname. And for her to befriend her bully Delilah was strange, and to not apologize to her for so many years?? The miscommunication that led to the main characters not talking for 12 years was not worth it, especially when the mmc knew about it and wouldn’t return any emails.

There’s a sequel with Charlie’s story but not sure if I’ll pick that one up, might leave the Barry’s Bay universe behind.

I don’t think I’ve read a book that has a single dad trope, or if I have it wasn’t a major plot point, which is why I was intrigued by this book. I’m not into comics so that aspect was boring to me. Sam’s mom was pretty awful and I didn’t care for their dynamic. Hal was annoying to read about too. The romance was okay but there could’ve been more chemistry. Overall not my cup of tea.

This was an entertaining audiobook. The narrators did a good job and I liked the few sound effects scattered throughout. I thought it was neat that the podcast episodes were interspersed with the main story. The grandma was my favorite character and her misandry was refreshing, badass woman. The rest of Lucy’s family and acquaintances sucked and were not supportive at all, no wonder she left town. Lots of cheaters too, no one seemed too surprised about it all either.

I enjoy mysteries and like to guess who the murderer/suspect is, but this one has me guessing throughout the whole book. I cried when Lucy’s memory of that fateful night came back to her as it demonstrated the strong friendship between her and Savvy; willing to protect each other no matter what. It was emotional! Maybe not the most realistic reveal, but it did the job.

Overall this was an enthralling book and I’m interested in more from this author.

David Archuleta, the man that you are! I was so excited to get this audiobook from my library after waiting 6 weeks. He narrates it himself and his voice is comforting to listen to. I’ve enjoyed his songs, followed him on TikTok a while back, and have enjoyed seeing his personal growth in coming out and being true to himself.

David delves into his childhood, growing up in a Mormon family, becoming a singer, and being discovered for his talent on various shows. I felt very nurturing listening to his story because I just wanted to protect him from his father and everyone else who took advantage of him. It was frustrating to hear his struggles and to know how much he experienced. It was interesting to see his various relationships evolve and how he tried so hard to stay in the church, despite not finding support for LGBTQ believers.

Overall, this was a tough listen but David did a great job sharing his story with the world, and I’m proud he did it (thanks for the push, Jeanette McCurdy). The three new songs at the end were a nice touch and they had good messaging that were inspired by his journey.

This was pretty good! I learned about it from Twitter: someone was asking about Lalaine, who played Miranda on the show Lizzie McGuire, and the comments were talking about how she and Hilary Duff didn't get along, so she was forced off of the show. This book had that info, so I got the audiobook from hoopla. Turns out: Lalaine narrates it, which is pretty neat, and it made me wonder if she found it difficult to narrate about herself and her time on the show.

Written by a journalist, this covers the Disney Channel's programming and their success with shows and movies like Even Stevens, That's So Raven, Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, High School Musical, and stars like Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers. I was a fan of these growing up so there was a nostalgic appeal to learning more about them. I particularly enjoyed the juicy stuff and wish there was more of it, but this book was more about the logistics of the work being created.

I found this book at my college library and was interested in reading it because it has characters from Saudi Arabia. The plot was okay, not my favorite, but I didn’t like the writing style nor the time jumps, it made things confusing.

DNF @ 91 minutes into the audiobook because of a mention of the evil entity of "isr*el" and the IOF for a side character. So unnecessary and frankly offensive, especially during a 2+ year genocide. Shame.

I got this audiobook from hoopla and was excited for a celebrity memoir. I remember watching the tv show Moesha and listening to songs by Brandy. I didn’t know her last name was Norwood, so I learned that early on.

This was an in-depth look at the artist’s life, beginning with her childhood and singing in her church. I really felt for her as she experienced teasing and bullying and more insidious abuse from her partners as a teen and young adult. I admired her for her strength and confidence and was glad to know she has a supportive family. She struggled a lot in her life but got through it with their help.

There were a few jump scares with scenes involving Zio Mayim, sex predator Robin, and MJ later on. Brandy got to work with many different people in the industry, including her idol Whitney Houston. This book was written well and I enjoyed it from the beginning.

I found this book while browsing hoopla and the premise intrigued me. It was also billed as the Haunting of Hill House meets Nina LaCour, both of which I am a fan of. I like YA novels and this is about two Arab girls on a spring break road trip visiting colleges. They get into an accident and have to stay in a small town while their car is being repaired. The motel they check into has one room left: 9, and bad things have happened in it.

What I liked: great narration; one for Mira, one for Layla, and one for the unnamed spirit. I also liked the representation of Arab girls with a queer inclusion. The cast of supporting characters were fine, nothing special. The researching in the library was interesting to me as was the mystery needing to be solved. However, I didn’t like how the mystery played out and it was never really solved, which was unsatisfying. I understand how the spirit fed off people’s guilt, but I still didn’t get where it came from or where it may go next. Wish that part was resolved.

Overall, I appreciated the diverse representation and the lack of cops in this book dealing with mysteries.

I got this audiobook from Libby because I like one of the narrators. The premise sounded interesting too, didn’t realize it’s an adaptation of a Jane Austen novel.

This story centers around Funke, who is half Nigerian and half English, and a tragedy that occurs when she is 9. She is sent to live with her maternal aunt and her two children, and experiences culture shock as well as blatant racism and malice. I felt for Funke aka Kate as she struggled to adapt but with time, she found her way. Liv, her cousin, forged a bonding relationship to her and they were close, until the night of Funke’s 18th birthday. A series of events causes our main character to be back in Nigeria and adapting to a new/old environment.

I was mad at Liv and her family for what they did and was looking forward to seeing how the story would play out. It tied up very nicely and overall I liked this book.

I love this author and was excited she had a new book. I got the audiobook from hoopla and the narrator did an excellent job with the different characters and accents. I like that the main character in this story is an aunty who recently became a widow and goes back to Toronto to help her daughter, who is accused of murder.

There were a lot of characters so it was hard to keep track of everyone, but I did appreciate the diverse cast and the inclusion of Islamic concepts. The characters were written well and I liked seeing them interact. It was interesting to try and solve the mystery as the story went along, and there were a few redirections, but in the end the turns straightened out and most of the questions were answered. I enjoy mystery novels but don’t like the inclusion of cops, so I can’t rate any of them 5 stars out of principle. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Excellent collection of stories from Palestinians who are connected to Gaza. The two narrators did a good job, some of the Arabic words were not pronounced 100% correctly but overall I appreciate getting narrators who know the language. The topics ranged from agriculture, AI, architecture, and included many personal stories of surviving bombardments. It made me sad hearing Dr Refaat Alareer’s story as he was assassinated on December 6, 2023. It was also difficult to listen to his good friend Yousef Aljamal’s entry years before this tragedy. I do wonder how the authors are and how many of them are still alive, death to “israel” soon inshaAllah. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear about a family member in Shahd Abusalama’s piece and my college town mentioned in Mosab Abu Toha’s story; the world is a small place.

I really enjoyed this book and am glad I finally got to consume it, even better in audio form. I’ll probably read it again since I have the ebook.

I've been on a memoir kick lately, and I finished the recent season of SLOMW within the last few months. So when I saw that Mayci's book is out, I knew I had to get the audiobook from my library. I was on hold for a few months and once it was ready, I listened to it in one day (7 hours at 1.6x speed). It's not fair to judge memoirs based on content, but style is another thing. It was not written well and it did feel choppy - too long of a pause in between chapters. It does read like a journal, which she did say she used to help remember events, but it didn't make for a deep read. There were a few things that didn't make sense, some things that I wish would've been talked about more, and I had some difficulty keeping the timeline straight. I liked Mayci on the show and was interested in learning more about her life, which I did. But she does come off as privileged and very much "woe is me". I didn't realize that IVF was used not just for couple struggling with the fertilization process, but for those with genetic concerns. It kinda gives eugenics vibes though? I had hoped there would be more about her time on the show and her relationships with the other women (only a little at the end). Overall, a very quick listen and I like when authors narrate their own books - even if they're not the best narrators - because I think it makes for a more authentic experience.

I found this audiobook on hoopla and had to listen to it. I love Palestinian fiction stories, especially those that weave together multiple generations of families. This particular book focuses on three of them: Baladi, Ammar, and Salameh. I appreciated how the author connected the characters to each other and my only gripe is that the book is too short. I wanted more from the characters. Another thing I didn’t care for is the inclusion of a cop, I never want to read about them. Otherwise, this was a great debut novel and I look forward to more from this author.

The only reason I got this is because it was just released as a tv series. I got the audiobook from hoopla and Elle Fanning, the star of the show, narrates it. An interesting concept and she did a fine job. The premise of this book didn’t really interest me but I like reading/listening to books before watching their screen adaptation. I didn’t like the mention near the end of the characters eating Mediterranean food and getting violently sick. What was the point of that? Felt racist, honestly. I didn’t feel like the author addressed the seriousness of Margo having a relationship with her professor, even though they’re both adults. There is still an unfair power dynamic there and it was just yucky. Also Margo’s mom was awful as was Kenny. I had hoped more from Jinx but I understand portraying addiction in a realistic manner. Overall, just an okay book for me.

I’ve been consuming YA lately and I remember why I like them. I’ve had this book on my list for a bit and got the audiobook from the library. The narration was good and I liked following Simone and her journey. I did feel like she overreacted in some parts but she was going through a lot. Overall this was educational and a worthwhile listen.

Found this book in my college library and it intrigued me, so I read it during one shift. Short and a quick read due to the style of writing. I personally liked the family sections more than the ones about her relationship, but I felt like there were discrepancies in how she described her parents. I was trying to get a sense of her relationships with them but couldn’t quite understand.