Audiobook – Feed The Bookworm

Audio Book Review: Be Your Own Bestie by Misha Brown

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Like many people who picked up Be Your Own Bestie, I first discovered Misha Brown through his videos online. What immediately stood out to me was his ability to be completely himself while confidently standing up to bullies. That kind of authenticity takes courage, especially for those of us who tend to be people pleasers.

As someone who struggles with worrying about whether others are upset with me, a lot of what Misha talks about resonated deeply. It took me a long time to realize that other people’s reactions are not always my responsibility, and hearing that message reinforced in such an encouraging way felt both validating and empowering.

Part memoir, part self-help, and full of Misha’s signature sass, humor, and heartfelt honesty, it was an easy and quick read. Throughout the book he expands on many of the stories and moments that made his social media videos so popular, sharing the experiences and lessons behind them.

I listened to the audiobook version, which Misha narrates himself, and I’m so glad I did. There’s something special about hearing an author tell their own story, and his energy and personality come through beautifully. I especially loved the way he talks about his relationship with his mom. As someone who also calls their mom when things go right, wrong or somewhere in between,I completely related.

At its heart, this book is a reminder to do the work. To put in the effort to heal, grow, and learn to treat yourself with the same kindness you give everyone else.

Be Your Own Bestie is a ray of sunshine filled with positivity, encouragement, and plenty of laughs. If you’re on a journey of self-discovery or looking for a motivating and uplifting self-improvement read, this is absolutely one to add to your list, even if you’re discovering Misha for the first time

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Book Review Jurassic Park: How the Novel Differs from the Movie

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I’m honestly not sure how I’ve gone this long without reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. The original film has always been one of my favorites, and like many readers, I usually prefer the book to the movie adaptation. What made this experience unique is that I watched the movie countless times before ever picking up the novel.

Reading Jurassic Park after seeing the film is fascinating because, while the core premise remains the same. A group of experts visiting a revolutionary dinosaur theme park that descends into chaos…the tone and execution are dramatically different.

Jurassic Park Book vs Movie: The Biggest Differences

Michael Crichton’s novel is far darker than Steven Spielberg’s film. The book reads like a scientific techno-thriller, with a strong focus on chaos theory, corporate greed, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. The movie, while suspenseful, leans more heavily into wonder and spectacle.

John Hammond is one of the most striking differences between the book and the film. In the novel, he is driven by profit and ego, dismissive of safety concerns and ultimately responsible for the disaster. In the movie, he is portrayed as a well-meaning visionary who genuinely believes he has created something extraordinary.

The children’s roles are also reversed. In the novel, Tim is the older sibling and the dinosaur enthusiast, while Lex is younger and far more immature. The film changes their ages and gives Lex the memorable computer expertise that restores the park’s systems.

The dinosaurs themselves are more dangerous in the book. Attacks are more frequent, the velociraptors are far more central to the plot, and the infamous T. rex river raft sequence adds an entirely new level of tension. Even the ending differs significantly, with the novel delivering a much darker resolution.

Why the Jurassic Park Novel Feels More Intense

What surprised me most was how grounded and detailed the science feels in the book. Crichton doesn’t shy away from genetics, systems theory, or the philosophical implications of resurrecting extinct species. The scientific explanations add to the suspense rather than slowing it down.

The novel also explores Hammond’s past projects and motivations more deeply, making the creation of Jurassic Park feel less like a dream and more like a calculated business venture.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick, and his performance heightened the tension and seriousness of the story beautifully.

Final Thoughts on Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Both the book and the movie are iconic, but they offer very different experiences. The film balances danger with awe and adventure. The novel is a cautionary thriller about human hubris and the illusion of control.

If you’ve only seen the movie, the book is absolutely worth reading. It’s darker, more complex, and more unsettling than I expected, and it solidified its place as a landmark science fiction novel.

I cannot wait to read The Lost World next. Or maybe it’s a re-read…

Grab your copy of Jurassic Park and The Lost World

Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Picture this: you’re on a book tour through Italy, soaking in the charm of six picturesque cities, indulging in gelato and Aperol spritz, and relishing the company of fellow authors and die-hard fans. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, for author Eleanor Wilde, it’s more of a high-stakes nightmare with literary rivals, a con man ex, and, oh yes, death.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack takes readers on a wildly fun ride, and it’s anything but your typical cozy mystery. With its snarky, witty protagonist, inside jokes about the publishing world, and the thrill of a whodunit, this novel makes for a laugh-out-loud read that fans of twisty mysteries and meta-humor will absolutely devour.

The story kicks off with Eleanor Wilde’s ambitious agenda: complete her latest novel (the tenth in her Vacation Mysteries series), embark on a whirlwind book tour across Italy, and kill off her main character, Connor Smith. Not much to ask, right? Except that Eleanor’s inspiration for Connor, suspects someone is genuinely out to kill him. And if that wasn’t enough, a body soon turns up in their traveling literary group, setting off a domino effect of secrets, suspicions, and betrayals.

Eleanor must balance her book deadlines with real-life detective work, sorting through a colorful cast of authors, agents, and obsessive fans. With each Italian city comes a new twist, and Eleanor’s to-do list grows longer: solve the murder, dodge her ex Oliver (who shows up at the worst possible moments), keep her literary rivals at bay, and figure out who’s really behind the mayhem.

This novel brilliantly breaks the fourth wall, letting Eleanor not only narrate her story but also chat directly with readers (footnotes and all)! It’s like having a lively conversation with a friend who isn’t afraid to let you in on the messy, hilarious parts of her job as a writer. Her cheeky self-awareness, paired with razor-sharp wit, makes for a refreshingly original tone.

If you’re a fan of snappy dialogue and unconventional characters, Eleanor’s one to remember. She’s a little chaotic, brutally honest, and endlessly opinionated, which adds a fun edge to the story. Her dynamic with her ex Oliver adds extra spice, and her deep reliance on her younger sister Harper (who, though a little overshadowed, plays the grounded assistant to Eleanor’s whirlwind) rounds out the cast in a quirky way.

While the book’s ensemble of suspects can get a bit overwhelming, each one brings something fresh to the story, and even the more aggravating personalities contribute to the chaotic fun. Though it’s hard to get attached to any of them (perhaps intentionally), this motley crew of characters, annoying quirks and all—adds to the atmosphere.

The audiobook narration by Elizabeth Evans deserves special praise. Evans captures Eleanor’s voice to perfection, bringing out her snark, frustration, and subtle vulnerability in a way that enhances the reading experience. If you’re an audiobook fan, this is one to add to your list.

So grab a gelato, settle in, and prepare to laugh, gasp, and cheer as Eleanor brings the mystery to life—one Italian city at a time. On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/5

🌶🌶/5

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OMG, with my love of witchy cozy’s/romcoms, how have I not read any books by @mollyharperauth before?! This book was the ideal segue from the non-fiction I’ve been reading lately and just in time for Fall/Halloween. I’m not one for scary tales, so the witchy romances all over the shelves this season are right up my alley.

Riley receives a summons to Starfall Point by her late mother’s hitherto unknown sister, Nora. Her arrival on the island is far from grand, leading to her first encounter with the town librarian, Edison Held. Soon, she finds herself amidst chaos, eclectic ghosts, and a buzzing nanna grape-vine gossip network, while falling in love and finding her coven.

I adored this book! The magical world-building is phenomenal, the characters compelling, and the writing brims with wit and sharpness. I also appreciate the twist with Edison as a small-town librarian escaping his past, a part typically reserved for female leads. The paranormal mystery threads through well-devised plots, even if it leads to a somewhat foreseeable twist. My only quibble is that Edison and Riley’s relationship isn’t as fleshed out as Riley’s ties with the coven, lending the narrative a slightly rushed tone.

Nonetheless, it’s an amazing concoction of magic, cozy romance with a dash of spice, and paranormal mystery. I’m already devouring Caroline’s story (the 2nd book) and can hardly wait for Alice’s. Looks like I’ll be binging on Molly Harper’s backlog for the remainder of the weekend 😉.

Bonus – it’s available as an Audible original included for audible members. You can get your copy here. Or if you prefer the kindle version: here.

Tropes hit: Enemies to lovers, small town romance, found family, long lost relative, opposites attract.

It Happened One Summer By: Tessa Bailey

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

I received an ARC copy of the next book in this series, so I figured that I should probably read the first one before diving into the second. I really enjoyed Window Shopping (my first Tessa Bailey book) so I had high hopes for It Happened One Summer. When I read the summary I was expecting Paris Hilton The Simple Life vibes. That was a big womp womp. There are really only a couple of silly heiress moments in this book. Other than that, it was instalove and humping. Lots and lots of humping. Notice the 4 pepper rating.

Don’t get me wrong. I liked the story. It was cute, sexy and a fun read. But I wanted MORE. More of Piper almost burning the house down. More of Brandon helping her navigate her new reality. More bonding with Opal. Her getting an actual job and getting her first paycheck. Learning to really work for a living. The whole premise of the story is that Piper is being punished for taking her party girl ways one step too far. In an effort to teach her a lesson, her step father ships her off to her father’s hometown. Her sister, Hannah, comes along since she bailed Piper out of jail in defiance of her pursestrings holding stepdad. Refurbishing a bar with the money your dad put into a debit account for you after he cancelled your credit cards isn’t really “making it on your own”.

Piper ditches her sister to start boning the hot Capitan of Crab, he helps her fix up her father’s bar, and then in order to win her heart Brandon splurges on a fancy hotel and then says “Baby, I’m taking you shopping,” after which Piper exclaims that she’s learned the value of money because she just tried on a pair of $100 jeans. After getting it on in the dressing room, of course. It really just feels like Piper goes from her stepdad indulging her to Brandon taking over. And that coming from a woman who had earlier in the book considered a $4000 dress a steal. That’s a lot of progress to make in 5 weeks.

Piper does eventually get to a more self aware state. She does really sweet things like bonding with Opal, doing makeup tutorials for the local ladies, and walking a elderly man to his reading spot. And she figures out what she wants out of life, and that’s really nice. But getting there was kind of cringy at times.

Overall a good read if you’re looking for something quick, sexy and funny. I’m about 1/2 way through Hook, Line and Sinker and I already like it a lot more than It Happened One Summer.

The Wedding Crasher By: Mia Sosa

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

The Wedding Crasher is the follow up book to The Worst Best Man (love love loves), and Dean, Max’s best friend, is getting married. Or so he thinks.

Dean was one of my favorite characters from the previous book so I was super excited that he was getting his own story line. Enter Solange, one of Lina’s cousins. She’s roped into helping out on Ethan’s big day, and inadvertently ends up interfering. So much so that she stops the wedding.

But, as fate would have it, Solange and Ethan both find themselves in need of a significant other. Ethan to woo a new partner at his work, Solange to cover for a fib her mom told to a snooty relative.

They’re contending with way too many people who can screw everything up. There’s Peter, a snarky sneaky brown noser from Ethan’s job, who is determined to catch them in a lie. I have to admit, without any spoilers that I was pleasantly surprised how that loop was closed. But if I’m keeping a list of book characters I want to throat punch, he’s on it. Then there’s all the various aunts and cousins who can’t lie to save a life.

(*side note, I just started a list of fictional characters I hate. I have a feeling it’s going to be large)

This book hits some of my favorite romance tropes- fake lovers, enemies to lovers, family interference, food and cultural influence.

This book is delightfully funny, steamy hot, and left me a little hungry and looking for a place that sells some Brazilian food. And not just the meat. I’m going to need some of that stuffed breakfast bread and Pao de Queijo ASAP.

And don’t be fooled by the tame cover, be still my heart this book was smokin. But the heat didn’t interfere with the overall story, and this was a slow burn for sure. A rom-com done really really well.

A special thank you to the author @miasosaromance @netgalley and the publishers @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for the advanced copy of this ebook!

One Of Us Is Dead: By Jeneva Rose

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

After a months long binge into romance and going down some crazy rabbit holes (more on that later), I needed a palate cleanser and One Of Us Is Dead was the perfect choice.

“I always belived there was another option on the table- forgive, forget or ****** never let it go.”

The ladies of Buckhead are absolutely ruthless, and they’re in the middle of a power struggle. As someone who can quote Mean Girls on cue, this books is basically Mean Girls meets Desperate Housewives. And I absolutely devoured it. This was a one day binge read for me.

While this book would be considered a thriller, it was wickedly funny and sassy and keeping me on the edge of my seat while laughing at all the snark.

Join the ladies, grab a glass of bubbly and dive in, I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to the author @jenevaroseauthor @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for the advanced copy of both the ebook and audiobook

The Golden Couple: By Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

Oh wow. I needed a minute after finishing this audiobook to process. It’s a roller coaster my friends. Holy cow. This is another one of those books where everyone is lying, and behind every truth there is another slew of lies. Who can you trust? Who’s intentions are good and who’s are nefarious? There are red herrings abound here, reminiscent of classic whodunnit’s.

Avery gives me major Kinsey Millhone vibes. I just love her and I am going to hold out hope for another book featuring her. Or better yet, a series. This was a binge worthy listen, I started it this morning and basically couldn’t put it down.

I was excited to read this book when I heard it was a BOTM pick, and was even more excited to receive an ALC copy. Thank you so much to the authors @greerhendricks & @sarahpekkanen @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for the advanced copy of this book.