Tag: book-blog

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

Book Review: The Honeymoon Phase by Amy Daws

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

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Listen. If you love a “he’s always loved her” romance, this one is going to hit you right in the feelings.

Luke has been in love with his best friend Addison “Roe” for years. He’s just never said anything because he’s convinced she doesn’t feel the same way. So when Roe finds herself in a situation where she has to get married in order to inherit her family’s lumber business, Luke does what any secretly-in-love best friend would do… he offers himself up as the solution.

What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something so much messier and sweeter than either of them expected.

This book is full of longing. The quiet kind. The “I’ve loved you forever but I don’t want to lose you” kind. Watching Luke try to protect his heart while also stepping up for Roe was everything. And Roe’s journey? She’s carrying her own emotional baggage and grief, and seeing her slowly realize that the love she’s been looking for has been standing right in front of her was just chef’s kiss.

Their shared history made every small moment feel bigger. Every touch meant something. Every misunderstanding hurt a little more because you know how much they care about each other.

The pacing at the very beginning felt a little choppy during the lumberjack competition setup, but once the story settled in, it absolutely found its rhythm. From there on out, I was hooked.

The small mountain town setting, the found family vibes, the healing from grief, the way their fake marriage slowly turns into something very real… it was all so satisfying.

If you love slow-burn tension, emotional payoff, and a hero who has been quietly in love for years, this book delivers in the best way. It’s tender, angsty, heartfelt, and deeply romantic without feeling over-the-top.

And if you loved Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score or The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, you will absolutely fall for Honeymoon Phase. It has that same small-town warmth, emotional depth, and swoony-but-grounded romance.

Oh and don’t let the cute cover fool you, this one is a slow burn scorcher!

On sale now, you can get your copy here!

You can also check out the other books in the Mountain Men Matchmaker Series:

Book One: Nine Month Contract

Book Two: Seven Year Itch

Book Four: Coming May 2026 Bad Boy Era!

Huge thanks to Amy Daws, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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This book totally snuck up on me in the best way. It’s fast-paced, funny, and just the right amount of chaotic.

Darby Vaughn is a relationship expert whose entire world implodes after a very public (and very humiliating) breakup. What follows is a wild mix of scandal, reinvention, and the awkward, hilarious, and occasionally sweet road to figuring out what she actually wants.

Darby’s voice was one of my favorite parts…sharp, witty, and totally relatable. I loved watching her try to navigate the mess of public image, heartbreak, and second chances, all while trying to hold it together (and sometimes very much not). There’s a great balance of laugh-out-loud moments and surprisingly tender, introspective ones too.

And yes, the romance subplot is adorable. The banter is top-notch and the chemistry? Definitely there. It hit all the right notes without ever overshadowing Darby’s personal growth, which I really appreciated.

It’s light but empowering, messy in a fun way, and delivers just enough scandal to keep things interesting. A solid pick if you’re in the mood for something that blends humor, heart, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Fifteen Minutes of shame is on sale now. You can grab your copy here.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy. Thank you so much to Lisa Daily, Siesta Key House and Netgalley!

Book Review: The Invisible Woman by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I don’t think James Patterson could write something I wouldn’t enjoy, and his newest collab The Invisible Woman definitely didn’t disappoint. It has everything I love in one of his books: short, punchy chapters that keep you turning the pages, memorable characters, and that addictive pacing that pulls you in from the first page to the last.

Elinor’s career at the FBI ended badly—she took the fall for someone else’s mistake. Now she’s middle-aged and, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Turns out that’s exactly what the FBI needs. The catch? She’s undercover as a nanny for a wealthy family with ties to a drug cartel. And no one knows she’s there, except for the jerk who wrecked her career and her best friend (you know, just in case someone has to ID the body).

Watching Elinor handle a baby, a moody teenager, and two unruly dogs while undercover made for the perfect read. She’s sharp, relatable, and honestly, just really fun to root for.

I really hope this is the start of a new series because Elinor is amazing.

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo comes out January 5th, but you can preorder your copy here!

Huge thanks to James Patterson, Susan DiLallo, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: A Short History of Ancient Rome by Pascal Hughes

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you’re a fan of the Short History Of… podcast from Noiser, you’re probably going to enjoy this book quite a bit. Full disclosure right up front: there is a fair amount of crossover between the podcast and the book, particularly in tone and some of the stories. If you’re a longtime listener, some moments will feel familiar, but it never felt repetitive in a way that bothered me. Instead, it felt like a more complete, more polished version of something I already enjoyed.

What Hughes manages to do here is no small thing. While Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire famously stretches into the thousands of pages depending on the edition, Hughes distills roughly 1,000 years of Roman history — from its legendary beginnings to the fall of the Western Empire — into about 350 pages across 18 chapters. That kind of compression could easily feel rushed or shallow, but this book never does.

The writing is clear, confident, and very readable. Hughes blends solid historical research with anecdotal, narrative storytelling that keeps things moving without sacrificing substance. I’m a big fan of narrative history, and this book strikes a nice balance: it’s informative without being dense, and engaging without feeling like it’s oversimplifying the material. You can tell it’s written for curious readers, not academics, but it still respects the history.

Readers get the full sweep of Rome’s story, starting with the mythical founding of the city through Romulus and Remus, moving through the Republic, and into the drama, ambition, and excess of the Imperial period. Along the way, Hughes highlights familiar figures and moments — Hannibal crossing the Alps, Julius Caesar’s rise and fall, and all the intrigue surrounding Cleopatra — grounding big historical shifts in human stories. Even if Roman history isn’t something you’ve studied deeply, you’ll recognize plenty here and never feel lost.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is that it avoids feeling like a textbook. This isn’t one of those history books you were forced to read in school and promptly forgot. The pacing is strong, the chapters are manageable, and the storytelling keeps you engaged even when covering complex political or social changes. It’s the kind of history book that makes you want to keep reading rather than checking how many pages are left in the chapter.

I also listened to the audiobook version, which I highly recommend. The narration leans into the storytelling aspect, making it feel less like a lecture and more like someone walking you through the story of Rome. For a book like this — broad in scope but focused on narrative — the audio format works especially well.

Overall, A Short History of Ancient Rome is an accessible, engaging introduction to one of the most influential civilizations in history. It’s a great choice for readers who enjoy history told as a story, and especially for fans of the Short History Of… podcast who want a deeper, more sustained dive into ancient Rome.

Thank you so much to the author, Pascal Hughes, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for the ARC copy of this book.

A Short History of Ancient Rome by Pascal Hughes is out now! You can grab your copy here.

The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Our favorite chicken farmer, Maggie, is back with her gang in the second book of Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club series. Make sure to read The Spy Coast before diving into The Summer Guests. Both books are available on Kindle Unlimited!

Maggie and the Martini Club may have their own reasons for moving to the remote town of Purity, Maine, but their motivations seem to mirror those of many others. In fact, Purity harbors just as many secrets as it does people. Here, we have the classic tension between the locals and the summer residents.

As someone who grew up in a tourist town, I completely relate to this dynamic. We had the “city-its” who arrived with their SUVs and designer parkas as soon as the snow fell—so I get it.

At the heart of the story is a long-standing feud—one as legendary as the Hatfields and McCoys—between the Tarkin and Conover families. The Tarkin siblings live in a dilapidated house on Maiden Pond, directly across from the Conovers’ summer estate, Moonview—a massive lakefront home. They also live under the shadow of their father, Sam Tarkin, who murdered four people years ago with no apparent motive.

Susan and Ethan Conover are on their way to visit his family with Susan’s daughter, Zoe, in tow. The purpose of their trip is to reunite with Ethan’s family—his mother, Elizabeth; his brother, Colin; and Colin’s wife and child, Brooke and Kit—to spread George Conover’s ashes in his favorite summer spot.

Zoe, an expert swimmer and diver, is thrilled to be staying on the water for a week. After meeting a local girl named Callie, however, she suddenly goes missing. While the rest of the Conover family doesn’t seem too concerned, Susan—newly married to Ethan—is convinced that something is terribly wrong. She’s determined to find her daughter while everyone else seems to carry on as normal.

Enter badass acting police chief Jo Thibodeau. The Martini Club immediately inserts itself into the investigation when Maggie’s neighbor, Luther, is accused of the crime—much to Jo’s dismay. However, recognizing their skills, she reluctantly allows them to assist in the search for Zoe.

When a different body turns up in the pond—and it’s not Zoe—all hell breaks loose.

As always, I try to keep my reviews spoiler-free because I firmly believe thrillers are best enjoyed without prior hints. That said, I can promise you that this book is packed with red herrings, twists, and surprises—you won’t see the ending coming. If you’ve been a longtime reader of Feed the Book, you know that I’m usually pretty good at spotting the killer by the halfway mark. But this time? I was completely wrong. Some sharper readers might figure it out early, but for me, the ending was a total shock.

If you’re looking for a twisty, suspenseful thriller filled with family drama, buried secrets, and former CIA operatives who just can’t settle into a quiet retirement, then you’re going to love this book. It’s a great police procedural type book and while you’re anxious and worried for Zoe, it’s also laugh inducing, with great one liners.

On sale now—grab your copy here! Huge bonus for me- both the book & audio are available on Kindle Unlimited!

Thank you so much to the Tess Gerritsen, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC copy of this book. As a longtime fan of Tess Gerritsen, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read it. I’m excited to see that there’s a third book in the works, because this reader is in love with the series.