Short Story Sunday: The Father Does Not Die at the End by Adam Silvera
The Father Does Not Die at the End
Series: Death-Cast
Author: Adam Silvera
Published: November 1, 2022
42 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: January 2, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Jessica’s Review:
The Father Does Not Die at the End is the short story fans of They Both Die have been waiting for! It was recently published with the special Collector’s Edition of They Both Die at the End and continues the story with Mateo’s father coming out of his coma and finding out what happened to his son.
I was conflicted with reading it as I have been anticipating this short story, but knew it would become emotional as it deals with a father finding out his son has passed away (and how) while being in a coma. And it was emotional. Silvera masterfully captured Maeto “Teo” Torrez’s emotions and feelings while continuing the story. Though sad, the ending was still optimistic. I had read that Silvera wants to continue in the world of Death-Cast and he has this reader (among many others) that will definitely be reading those!
Purchase Links for the Collector’s Edition:
Amazon US
Barnes and Noble
Short Story Sunday: Tell Her Story by Margot Hunt
Tell Her Story
Author: Margot Hunt
Main Narrator: Dakota Fanning
Published: May 5, 2022
Audiobook: 2 hours 52 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: December 29-30, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Paige Barrett was living her dream as a journalist in New York City, racking up bylines as a staff writer at The Razor, a cutting-edge online magazine. But when she’s suddenly fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, she finds herself back home in the quaint seaside town of Shoreham, Florida, waiting tables and living in her sister’s guesthouse.
Restless and itching for something meaningful to occupy her time, she decides to launch a true-crime podcast about the death of Jessica Cady, a beloved teacher who died mysteriously 20 years earlier. The case went cold with no leads and no suspects, but the more Paige digs into the woman’s death, the closer she comes to a killer. In a small town like Shoreham, it’s impossible to keep a secret forever.
Jessica’s Review:
This was the last short audiobook I listened to in 2022. It was short at under three hours and I really enjoyed it!
We have a young and disgraced former journalist who is convinced by her sister to start a podcast featuring the cold case of a 20-year-old murder of a much-loved teacher in her hometown. And of course, she gets in over her head the further involved she gets.
I really enjoyed this short story and liked Paige. I was fully involved in her journey to hopefully solving this long cold case. Tell Her Story is currently only available in audio format and I feel that is the way it should be ‘read’ or listened to. We go on Paige’s journey of ‘whodunit’ with her and then part of the audiobook is the podcast. Dakota Fanning is our main narrator and she did a very good job portraying Paige.
This is a short story, so it was fast paced and I never lost interest in it. The farther Paige went in her research the more she discovers and she then finds herself involved in a way she never expected. The podcast angle with the unexpected popularity adds to the danger and also shows how different our world is now than just 20 years ago when this murder happened.
I would be interested in looking at more of Hunt’s novels. This was a good introduction to her for me.
Purchase Links: Please note this one is only available in audio format currently.
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Short Story Sunday: The Matchmakers by Carolyn Brown
The Matchmakers
Author: Carolyn Brown
Narrator: Bailey Carr
Published: April 7, 2022
Audiobook: 2 hours
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: October 24, 2022
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Book Description:
Three mischievous matchmakers. Two lonely hearts. And one last chance at a happily ever after. Don’t miss this heartwarming short story from New York Times best-selling author Carolyn Brown.
Meet Minnie, Dotty, and Stella—all retired and year-round residents on a cruise ship, they have dubbed themselves the unofficial matchmakers aboard. Minnie can ferret out a lonely woman by the second day of the cruise. Dotty can spot an openhearted man all the way across the Lido Deck. And Stella is great at putting a plan together. Together they’ve been every bit as successful as one of those online dating sites, and they can watch the romance unfold right before their eyes.
The trio face their biggest challenge yet when an unusual pair makes it onto the 10-day cruise to Alaska. Ava and Vince are on the verge of a divorce and have no idea that they’ve each booked the same cruise to think things over. Now, with a little help from the Matchmakers, they’re about to discover that every great voyage has its storms—and love means weathering them together.
Jessica’s Review:
This is a cute one, where you know from the beginning how it will end, but that is chick-lit for you: It can be a nice refresher from all the thrillers I read. It was short and I was able to listen to it during my commute to/from work in one day.
The narrator went a bit out there with the southern accents. Not all southern women have distinct southern accents, I am one of those as I am from Georgia. Once I got used to the way the narrator was portraying them, I was able to enjoy this audiobook.
The ladies remind you of the Golden Girls so you know you are in for a ride! They are such a fun group, I would love to see more of their adventures on cruise ships!
Purchase Links:
This short story is only available on Audible or audio cd
Amazon US
Amazon UK