In this episode, Tamara and Classy review their year of buddy reads and discuss their best and worst reads. They compare this year's reading experience to last year's and share their average ratings. They also reveal their biggest disappointments and surprises of the year. They share their favorite book chat discussions and memorable moments from their book club. They also discuss the lowest and highest-rated books in their book club. The conversation concludes with their Buddy Read goal for 2024.

Takeaways

• Reviewing your reading year can help you reflect on your reading preferences and trends.
• Comparing your reading experiences from different years can provide insights into your changing tastes.
• Not every highly anticipated book lives up to expectations, and some books can surprise you in unexpected ways. Engaging in book chat discussions can enhance the reading experience.
• Memorable book club discussions often involve humor and unexpected plot twists.
• Exploring new authors can lead to exciting discoveries.

In this episode, Tamara and Classy discuss the book 'The Coworker' by Frieda McFadden. They explore the characters, including the unreliable narrators, Dawn and Natalie. They also discuss the dynamics of Caleb and Dawn's relationship and the surprising revelation of their connection. The hosts analyze the mystery and red herrings in the story and share their overall thoughts on the book. In this episode, Tamara and Classy discuss their thoughts on the book and share some comments from other readers. They talk about the ending of the book and how it stood out to them. They also discuss the likability of the characters and compare the author to other writers. The conversation then shifts to the fast-paced publishing industry and the impact on book quality. They also discuss the unlikable characters in the book and how they were portrayed. The hosts share some reader criticism and talk about the narrator's performance. They conclude by giving their overall rating and recommendation for the book, as well as teasing upcoming episodes.

Takeaways

• The book features unreliable narrators who provide different perspectives on the events.
• The relationship between Caleb and Dawn is complex and reveals unexpected connections.
• The mystery keeps readers guessing with red herrings and unexpected twists.
• The book is a quick read that is perfect for those looking for a fast-paced thriller. The ending of the book stood out to the hosts and left an impression on them.
• The likability of the characters was a topic of discussion, with the hosts sharing their opinions on the characters' personalities.
• The hosts compared the author to other writers and discussed the differences in their writing styles.
• The fast-paced publishing industry was discussed, with the hosts expressing concerns about the impact on book quality.
• The portrayal of unlikable characters in the book was analyzed, with the hosts sharing their thoughts on the character development.
• Reader criticism was shared, highlighting different perspectives on the book.
• The narrator's performance was praised by the hosts for her ability to distinguish between characters.
• The hosts gave the book an overall rating and recommended it for readers looking for a quick read.
• Upcoming episode was teased.

Episode Sponsor:
Indies United Publishing House | https://www.indiesunited.net/small-bites

Connect with Tamara on social media:
Twitter | https://x.com/shelfaddiction
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/

Connect with Classy Green on social media:
Twitter | https://x.com/classygreen
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebookishvirtualassistant

Join the SAO book club on BookClubs

​In this podcast episode, Tamara and Classy discuss the book 'The Burning Girls' by CJ Tudor. They share their overall thoughts on the ending, including the rushed feeling and the unresolved plot points. They also delve into the character of Jack, a progressive and unconventional vicar, and the Church of England. The psychopathic behavior of Wrigley and the role of Rosie in the story are also explored. The conversation touches on the theme of nature vs. nurture and the complex dynamics of the characters. In this part of the conversation, Tamara and Classy discuss the multiple storylines in the book and the confusion caused by the narrative perspective. They also express disappointment with the underdeveloped paranormal element and the lack of focus in the overall plot. The religious themes and quotes in the book are highlighted, and the television series adaptation is discussed.

Takeaways

• The ending of 'The Burning Girls' felt rushed and left some plot points unresolved.
• Jack's character as a progressive and unconventional vicar added depth to the story.
• The Church of England and the role of vicars were explored, highlighting the differences from other denominations.
• The psychopathic behavior of Wrigley and the manipulative role of Rosie added tension to the story.
• The theme of nature vs. nurture was evident in the characters' actions and motivations. The book features multiple storylines, including Jack and Flo's story, the mysterious man seeking revenge, Mary and Joy's story, and the history of the Burning Girls.
• The narrative perspective in the book is confusing, with inconsistencies in the use of first and third person narration.
• The paranormal element in the book, involving ghosts and the Burning Girls, is underdeveloped and does not contribute significantly to the overall plot.
• The book suffers from a lack of focus, with too many themes and subplots that detract from the main storyline.
• The religious themes and quotes in the book provide thought-provoking insights into faith and morality.
• The if the UK television series adaptation will address the shortcomings of the book by making some changes to the story.

Episode Sponsor:
Indies United Publishing House | https://www.indiesunited.net/small-bites

Connect with Tamara on social media:
Twitter | https://x.com/shelfaddiction
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/

Connect with Classy Green on social media:
Twitter | https://x.com/classygreen
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebookishvirtualassistant

Join the SAO book club on BookClubs

Today on Book Chat, author Samantha Downing shares her latest novel, A Twisted Love Story. Don't forget to check out her lightning round Q&A at the end of the interview!

Pick up copies of the book(s) mentioned during the interview!
A Twisted Love Story
My Lovely Wife

Connect with Samantha Downing
X | Instagram

Listen to the Samantha Downing interview on Shelf Addiction covering My Lovely Wife!

Welcome to this months #FantasySeries episode. This feature is where several times a year, co-host Casey and I select a fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, or paranormal romance series that we'll either read, listen to, or a combination of both. This time around Casey recommended a YA Dystopian trilogy...so it's a little off genre, but we're having fun with it. Afterwards we come together to chat about it on the podcast! This is a candid and spoiler-filled convo.  We also get to talk about this book during a live book club chat, so you'll want to join the group on Facebook or BookClubs for an invitation to the next book club! Read-Along with us, we do several series a year, so jump in at any time..
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Be sure to check out the video version of this pod and watch the exclusive After Show on Patreon.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." That's because sometimes the most beautiful covers hide the ugliest stories and vice versa. But what about audiobooks? Are there some books that are better to listen to than read? And should we make exceptions for these kinds of books when considering if we read or listen? I'll answer all these questions below!

​Listening to audiobooks counts as reading a book. Listening to an audiobook is a great way to get more reading done in less time (if you're used to speed-reading or listening really closely). This is especially true if you have trouble focusing on one task for very long periods of time, or if you tend to lose focus easily while reading.

Listening while driving or working out can be distracting, so it's best if the narrator doesn't talk too much over music. If there's a lot of dialogue between characters, it may be difficult for someone who isn't used to listening closely enough: In this case, try turning off the music and just listening carefully!

​It's been shown that people who listen to audiobooks are more likely to remember the information in them than those who read the same books. This is because listening requires more effort from your brain than reading because you have to process both what you see and hear simultaneously. So if you're planning on doing some serious studying, consider giving yourself (and your brain) a break by listening instead of reading.

Here's how this works: Your eyes and ears take up different parts of your brain, so when they work together, they make it easier for your brain to retain new information. Listening helps stimulate more neurons which makes it easier for the synapses in these neurons to fire together as a group (instead of individually). When these synapses fire together repeatedly over time, this strengthens their connections with each other which allows them all to work better together in future tasks requiring memory recall or recognition.

​Welcome to this months #BuddyRead episode. This month a guest co-host joined me for the book chat! Amanda from the Fictional Hangover Podcast was on deck to discuss The Overnight Guest! This was such a great time, enjoy the episode. ​