Audiobook Review: The Measure by Nikki Erlick
The Measure
Author: Nikki Erlick
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Published: June 28, 2022
Audiobook: 10 hours 57 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: August 26-31, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?
Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.
It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out.
But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live.
From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?
As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?
The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.
Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.
Jessica’s Review:
The Measure has a simple but fascinating premise: Overnight, every adult worldwide ages twenty-two and up receive a box which contains a string. The length indicates your exact life span: Did you receive a short string? Then you aren’t going to live very long. A long string means you can expect to live to an old age. But importantly: The quality of your life is not known. For those that are not of age, when you reach your twenty-second birthday your box appears to you and then you have a decision to make: To open or not open?
We have eight ordinary people whose lives are the focus of The Measure, and they are all interconnected! I was pulled into every story and seeing what would happen to everyone. The story is intense, should you open your box or not? How will you react to seeing your string? What if it is long or short? What do you do? How does the world react to the strings? We get to see how the world reacts to the strings and for me it seems that is what in fact would happen.
The novel unfolds and progresses based on the decisions that each character makes in this crazy new world. Be ready for some emotions, especially as the novel closes in to the ending. This is a spoiler, but can be important to readers who will want to know everything: We do not find out where or how the strings came about.
I listened to the audiobook, and Julia Whelan is the narrator! All I will say is this: If you have read my previous reviews then you know I adore her!!
This is a very strong debut and I look forward to reading more that Erlick writes!
Audiobook Review: One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie
One of the Boys
Author: Jayne Cowie
Narrators:
Clare Corbett
Joshua Acehurst
Published: July 11, 2023
Audiobook: 8 hours 3 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: June 12-17, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Audiobook Description:
A mother knows best… Doesn’t she?
Antonia and Bea are sisters. They are both doting mothers to their sons. But that is where their similarities end. Antonia had her son tested at an early age to ensure her little angel did not possess the ‘violent’ M gene.
Bea refuses to let her son take the test. His life should not be determined by a positive or negative result.
Both of these women will go to any length to protect their sons. But one of them is hiding a monster. And there are going to be fatal consequences for everybody…
Jessica’s Review:
Much like Cowie’s first book I listened to, One of the Boys is one that make you think, and I have enjoyed them both.
In the world of One of the Boys, there is the ‘M gene’ has been discovered in boys. It is a gene that shows the propensity of violence/ antisocial behavior in a boy’s future. And voluntary testing is done at birth. Depending on the results will depend on how the boy is treated for life, and untested is also treated as though the young man had a positive result.
We have two mothers of boys who are also sisters: Antonia and Bea. They are extreme opposites in every way, including their life circumstances and decisions: One sister had her child tested and the other did not.
One of the Boys shows the mother/son relationship and how far mothers will go for their children. We have a twist that I didn’t expect and I enjoyed this book! I’m not a mother, but it made me think!
I did have some issues with the narration: I had issues with the narrator’s accent. I had to start the book over as I had no idea what was going on and who was whom. I actually had to write it down to keep it straight for me for a good bit of the book. This is a ‘me’ issue and not one to blame the narrators on.
I really hope Cowie continues to write books like these, I will keep reading them! I enjoy books that are speculative fiction, and written to make you think about what you might do in a future that might become reality one day.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Book Review: Baby X by Kira Peikoff
Baby X
Author: Kira Peikoff
Published: March 5, 2024
Kindle: 336 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: March 24- April 17, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
When any biological matter can be used to create life, stolen celebrity DNA sells to the highest bidder–or the craziest stalker–in this propulsive thriller.
With a vivid imagining of the future, Gattaca meets The Ones in Kira Peikoff’s Baby X.
In the near-future United States, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person’s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived. Famous singer Trace Thorne is tired of being targeted by the Vault, a black-market site devoted to stealing DNA. Sick of paying ransom money for his own cell matter, he hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to ensure his biological safety.
Ember will do anything she can to protect her clients. She knows all the Vault’s tricks–discarded tissues, used straws, lipstick tubes–and has prevented countless DNA thefts. Working for Thorne, her focus becomes split when she begins to fall for him, but she knows she hasn’t let anything slip–love or not, his DNA is safe. But then she and Thorne are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, who claims that Thorne is the father of her baby, and all bets are off.
Jessica’s Review:
The book description got this novel 1000% correct: A mix of Gattaca and The Ones! This is the kind of Science Fiction I love: A mix of Sci-Fi with Speculative Fiction that is realistic! It is also a unique novel that is fast paced, and an enjoyable read. It was a bit of a popcorn thriller, I didn’t want to stop once I started it.
Baby X is set in the not-too-distant future and we have three povs and stories that intersect: Ember who works to protect her clients from their DNA being stolen and then we have Quinn who states that a well-known singer is her baby’s father. We also have Lily who is a newer journalist finishing school who is determined to make a name for herself.
Just imagine a world where DNA can be stolen and manipulated! Any cell DNA can be transformed into sperm or eggs and then a baby is coming. I was just pulled into this strange and scary future that might just be possible one day. There are so many implications to this world. Babies being born and the parents don’t even know they exist!
There are several twists throughout but the big one I had figured out. But it didn’t ruin the novel for me: usually it does, but this case was different. It was a twist I saw coming but it was I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading what else Kira Peikoff has written and will write. Many thanks to the publisher for granting me a copy to read and review. I really enjoyed it!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK