Audiobook Review: #CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose and Drew Pyne
#CrimeTime
Authors:
Jeneva Rose
Drew Pyne
Narrator: Full cast narration
Published: December 12, 2023
Audiobook: 3 hours 45 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: July 19-20, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
The first audio original from Jeneva Rose, the author of blockbuster bestseller The Perfect Marriage, #CrimeTime is a full-cast mystery written with her husband, Drew Pyne, perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building and Finley Donovan Is Killing It.
Going viral has never been so dangerous.
Nadiya loves her privacy: living alone and writing a popular series of crime novels under a pen name, she’s worked hard to build the quiet life she cherishes. But all that changes when her long-lost half-brother Chase comes to town, needing a place to stay until he can get back on his feet. Chase’s dream job is Nadiya’s worst nightmare: he’s an aspiring TikTok star, oversharing on the internet at every opportunity.
When a burglary occurs in the apartment upstairs, Chase decides to film and post all the action. Unbeknownst to him, this was not a random break-in, but a targeted operation run by dangerous criminals. Overnight, Chase’s videos go viral, garnering millions of views and amassing a huge following of loyal #Chasers. It’s everything he’s ever dreamt of, except the attention has brought the wrong kind of heat. Chase and Nadiya are plunged into a world of organized crime, and together, they must uncover the truth and clear their names before they become the next victims.
Performed by a full cast and filled with both laugh-out-loud banter and shocking twists, #CrimeTime is a delightful romp through the murky, unpredictable realms of crime, family, and the TikTok algorithm.
Jessica’s Review:
This is an audio only novella written by Jeneva Rose and her husband Drew Pyne and I absolutely loved it! This is an audio production, not just a full cast narration: We get sound effects that enhance everything with the story! I would advise against listening while driving, due to some of these effects (there are gun shots and I was glad I was not driving while listening to the last third of the novella!).
Based off of an actual event in a former apartment which the couple discusses in the authors’ note after the novella ends. This is the first writing collaboration of Jeneva and her husband Drew. I follow her on Instagram partly because of them as a couple as they are just hilarious. At the time I am writing this review (July 20th) we are waiting on another of their collaborations: The birth of their first child. Hopefully their baby will have made an appearance by the time my review posts on my website (July 29th).
This novella is not to be taken seriously… AT ALL. This. Novella. Is. Satire! I laughed throughout my listening. The story does get outlandish, but it was all in total fun! The audio production just makes this story: It’s perfection with it.
The characters are hilarious and the banter between Nadiya and Chase is perfect! Chase is a total Gen Z stereotype and Nadiya is the millennial stereotype. The story is outlandish, but a very fun journey to go on.
Definitely listen to the author’s note after the novella ends, we have both Jeneva and Drew talking about the real event that is fictionalized in this novella. We also get to hear them interact back and forth as a married couple.
I really hope that Jeneva Rose and Scott collaborate again, I would love to see these characters all return! And if you know anything about Ms. Rose and her writing journey, then I can’t help but mention we have a dirty cop named none other than Scott!
Bravo on this novella and full audio production! I really enjoyed this!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audiobook Review: Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause
Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause
Author: Naomi Watts
Narrator: Naomi Watts
Published: January 21, 2025
Audiobook: 6 hours 50 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 6-10, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
At thirty-six, Naomi Watts had just completed filming King Kong and was trying to start a family when she was told that she was on the brink of menopause. It is estimated that seventy-five million women in the United States are currently dealing with menopause symptoms (dry itchy skin, raging hormones, night sweats), and yet the very word “menopause” continues to be associated with stigma and confusion. With so little information, many women feel unprepared, ashamed, and deeply alone when the time comes.
This is the book Naomi Watts wishes she had when she first started experiencing symptoms. Like sitting down over coffee and having an intimate chat with your girlfriend, Dare I Say It blends funny and poignant stories from Naomi and her friends with advice from doctors, hormone experts, and nutritionists to take the secrecy and shame out of menopause and aging. Answering questions such as: What’s hormone therapy and should I be on it? Will I ever sleep again? Will I get myself back? What happened to my libido? Do I need eighteen serums for my aging skin? Whose body is this anyway? Who am I now? Naomi Watts shares the most up-to-date research on how to manage menopause symptoms and tackle the physical and emotional challenges we encounter as we age.
Irreverent, bold, and reassuring, Dare I Say It is the companion every woman needs to embrace the best version of herself as she moves into what can be the most powerful and satisfying period of her life.
Jessica’s Review:
Women’s health can be a big mystery with many unknowns, but these unknowns are constantly being learned. It seems in very recent years as more ‘well known’ women are reaching a ‘certain age’ (IE: Menopause) they are letting their voices be heard. Menopause and perimenopause are becoming mainstream to talk about, and therefore women in the starting phases of this change of life (this listener included) can learn and know what to expect in the future with their health.
There is still so much to learn regarding perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause, but Naomi Watts is helping in this. She has written this book and given her experiences with menopause. It is informative and at times she made me laugh. There were portions of this book that didn’t apply to me (Watts desire for children and her fear she might not ever become a mother) while other parts I found very ‘teachworthy’. Such as: Did you know that menopause is just one day? It is the day from when you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months. Post-menopause begins after that and then is the rest of a woman’s life.
I would say it is not the ‘ultimate book’ on menopause information, but it is a good place to start. And Watts does give her own story throughout the book. At times it was like she was sitting here with you just talking to a friend. Dare I say It gives the listener (in my case) a history of the field of study and the experiences of past generations of women, as well as giving an insight into various health-related options and resources currently available.
One thing Watts does talk about is her company she founded called Stripes. It is a beauty and wellness brand focused on perimenopause and menopause. This is something to keep in mind as you read the book.
I loved that she mentioned Tamsen Fadal! I plan on reading Fadal’s book How to Menopause soon. Fadal also released a documentary titled The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause that I watched last year.
For me, Watts’ book gives a good introduction on what a woman can expect with perimenopause and menopause. I plan on learning more since I am now going through it.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
[Top]
Audiobook Review: The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
The Locked Ward
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Narrator: January LaVoy
To Be Published: August 5, 2025
Audiobook: 9 hours 4 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: July 11-17, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Was it bitter, all-consuming jealousy? Pathological sibling rivalry? Pure insanity? Whatever the cause – and everyone has a theory- it was the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, killed the younger, biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.
Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “You’ve got to get me out of here. I didn’t do it.” Amanda doesn’t trust Georgia, but she can’t abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing it seems to exist in another dimension.
Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family so depraved that murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness and into the web of a master manipulator?
Jessica’s Review:
The book description of The Locked Ward intrigued me, I just love the cover(!), and January LaVoy is the narrator (!!) so when I was granted an alc (advanced listening copy) from the publisher, I was ready to listen to it; And I enjoyed it!
In addition to what I already mentioned, we have dual povs (the sisters Amanda/Mandy and also Georgia), and this is a fast-paced book. I have read some Pekkanen before, when she collaborated with Greer Hendrix, but this was my first with her as the sole author.
We have murder, intrigue, a wealthy family, a psychiatric institution, and twins all in this novel! I never lost interest in the stor, I just had to make sure I paid attention to which pov each chapter was.
We go along on the journey with Mandy who is just trying to figure things out. And we have Georgia in the institution. Does she actually need to be there or not? Did she kill her sister or not? We get to experience ‘life on the inside’ of the institution through Georgia. And even though there is staff all around, things are not always safe. It is an eery setting and not one a sane person would want to be in.
The second half becomes more about family dynamics and a bit like a soap opera. But I enjoyed this novel. It shows the bond that sisters can have, let alone the twin bond which can be intriguing.
Again, I mention January LaVoy is the narrator and I adore her! She did a great job with her narration, as always. The only thing I feel could have improved the narration was to have two different narrators, one for Georgia and one for Mandy. To better differentiate the chapters other than the name of the sister at the beginning of each chapter.
Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me an advanced copy to listen to and review.
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK