Novella Review: Booked for the Holidays by Liz Maverick
Booked for the Holidays
Author: Liz Maverick
Narrators:
Eva Kaminsky
Andrew Eiden
Published: November 14, 2024
Audiobook: 3 hours 49 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: December 3-4, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 3.5 stars
Novella Description:
Brighten the holidays with this funny, heartfelt rom-com about the stories—and the love—that we never forget.
When mystery author D. B. Ziegler is late delivering her book, Abi Schore steps in to help. Surely she can give her favorite author moral support over the holiday break and get the manuscript to her boss at Tea & Sympathy Publishing in time for the new year.
When Abi shows up on Ms. Ziegler’s doorstep bearing holiday treats, she’s met by the author’s handsome grandson Dov, who reveals a startling plot twist. His grandmother isn’t able to finish the book and Dov promised he’d complete it so fans won’t be disappointed—a task that’s harder than he ever imagined.
As Hanukkah unfolds, Abi and Dov cozy up in his grandmother’s brownstone apartment working their way through his writer’s block and untangling plot threads. Before long, the novel starts taking shape … and so does their simmering attraction. Will their own story end once the book is written, or is this just the first chapter?
Jessica’s Review:
This was a really cute novella! It’s a rom-com and very obvious what is going to happen, but isn’t that was a rom-com is all about?!?!? A ‘break’ from reality to enjoy a sweet story?
This book has a theme that has become recurring over recent years: For various reasons an author isn’t able to finish a book he or she was writing so it’s left to someone else (or two someone’s…) to finish the book.
A plus for me was that the characters are Jewish! I haven’t read many books with Jewish characters. Another plus was the super adorable pup that shows up: I absolutely adored Oslow!
There were two narrators: Eva Kaminsky and Andrew Eiden. They both did a good job with their narrations.
An enjoyable novella with Jewish characters and today was perfect time to review it as Hanukkah has just started. It is extremely rare that the world has Christmas and Hanukkah starting on the same day
Purchase Links: This one is only available on Audible
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Novella Review: The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie by Freida McFadden
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie
Author: Freida McFadden
Published: August 12, 2024
Paperback: 123 pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: October 5-8, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Novella Description:
My husband is dead.
I attended his funeral. I watched his casket be lowered six feet into the ground. (Actually, it may have been only five feet, but that still seems like more than enough.) And then we ate an array of finger sandwiches and deviled eggs and miniature beef wellingtons that cost more than my first car.
My point is, Grant is gone. And so are all his many, many deep, dark secrets which I never really ever bothered to ask him about. He is never coming back.
So why do I still see his face everywhere I go?
Jessica’s Review:
This was a fun and refreshing read. I had been in a bit of a ‘book funk’ with the physical book I was reading, and after at least two weeks of not picking that one up at all I decided to DNF it and pick up The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie hoping that Ms. McFadden could pull me out of my funk… And she did: For that I say ‘Thank You’!
It seems that people who have been critical have not noticed what is on the cover: A Satirical Novella. If you Google ‘satire’, this is what comes up: The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
And this novella does that! I really enjoyed it from the beginning! I laughed and also had my mouth drop at a couple of the twists. I did actually call the major final twist relatively early on, and when it got there I said, “I knew it!” I was proud I figured out a McFadden Final Twist!
McFadden pokes fun at herself and the thriller genre in general, so if you are a fan of hers or thrillers then you should enjoy this. There are ‘easter eggs’ throughout the novella in regards to her other novels, and you may pick up on them or not depending on how many or how often you read her books.
After it’s over there is a seven page ‘short’ titled BAD DATE SOS!!! That gears you up for her newest novel The Boyfriend which I am currently listening to. (I will probably have it finished by the time this review posts.
The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie is a quick and fun read that I definitely recommend for the McFadden fans and Thriller readers.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Audible Original: The Five-Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz
The Five- Year Hitch: Not Quite a Love Story
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Narrators:
Rachel Boston
Daniel di Tomasso
Published: January 7, 2021
Audiobook: 1 hour 10 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Listened To: June 15, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
The story of two friends who have known each other all their lives — falling in and out of love. Sam & Miles belong together, except every five years, there’s a hitch and they don’t end up together. Now, as they tell their story to a reporter at a momentous occasion, will they finally break the five-year curse? Can these two friends and lovers find their happily ever after?
Jessica’s Review:
This was a super short listen at 1 hour and 10 minutes! And this was made specifically for Audible and even referenced Audible/pod casts a couple of times. It is a couple telling their love story from age 5 to now at age 40, so it spans 35 years. They get together and then fall apart every five years. The two narrators tell the story extremely well and I never lost interest in it. But they did get a little too ‘lovey dovey’ at times for me. They definitely made it seem like they were this couple with their chemistry they had.
But then we have that unexpected ending that just tugs at your heart strings. I can’t say more except to just listen to this one!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK