Melissa The Reading Nerd Blog

WWW Wednesday – May 8, 2024

The three W’s are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you plan to read next?

This month I am not focusing on any of my challenges whatsoever and plan to read exactly whatever I feel like reading at that time. This is my plan for the entire month of May and I’m going to see how it goes.

I really like how this story is written, but it’s intense right from the start so I am taking my time with this one. Definitely creepy vibes! At the time of this post I am only 50 pages in, but thoroughly enjoying the book.

I am trying to alternate between genres this month, so I don’t get into a slump or anything. This is a short fantasy novel I saw on TikTok and knew I wanted to read. I borrowed the ebook from the library! I’m over halfway done with it and it’s such a great story!!!!

I have this ARC thanks to Novel Suspects, but I also borrowed the audiobook through Libby to dual read this one, and help myself keep up with my NetGalley shelf.

I posted my review on my blog, so check it out here. Four stars!

I binged this book so freaking hard! Another four star listen! Read my review here. Thanks Macmillan Audio Influencer Program!

I wanted to read some trashy erotic novel, to pallet cleanse in between all the fantasy and thrillers I’ve been reading. This was all spice and not a real good plot.

I’m 100% going with whatever I feel like reading this month. These are on my radar for May, but I am not holding myself to anything this month… I am just going with the flow.

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share!

If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay

Title: If Something Happens To Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Series: n/a
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
When Published: May 28, 2024
Format: audiobook
Duration: 7 hours 16 minutes
Rating: 4 stars

My Thoughts: Another freaking great listen for me this month. The plot of the story is told so well that you’re immersed into it right from the start. The multiple POV seems like it wouldn’t all go together as the settings of the story are in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Italy and France, but as you go along with the plot it all starts to come together and make total sense. I liked the mystery of it, like what actually happened to Ali? Why do they think Ryan murdered her? Alex Finlay really knows how to do a twist and I plan to read/listen to more of his books.

All of the narrators did a fantastic job, even with the British accent. Helen Laser is becoming one of my top narrators.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, SMP Influencer Program and Netgalley for the ARC, and Macmillan Audio Influencer Program for the ALC.

Storygraph Preview: If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a gripping thriller that will captivate readers who crave a suspenseful, character-driven story with a complex web of mysteries, twists, and turns, and who are drawn to themes of mystery, revenge, and the darker aspects of human nature.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #101

The Sunday Salon, hosted by Readerbuzz, is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week plus it’s a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there.

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer.

The week was totally uneventful! The weather has been beautiful and I’ve been taking advantage of it by sitting out on the back deck and reading.

This month I am planning out a small TBR list and trying my very best to stick to that plan. I am not worrying about challenges or literally anything else. I am reading what I want to read and that’s gonna be that!

With the banning of Tiktok alomst upon us, I have been trying to post more on my Instagram page. And I am using the Stories more lol! Follow me there if you haven’t already.

Library Stats and Savings for April 2024

Stacking The Shelves – April 2024

Publication Day of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols

WWW Wednesday – May 1, 2024

Monthly Wrap Up – April 2024

Spring TBR: Flower Themed

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

Title: One Dark Window
Author: Rachel Gillig
Series: The Shepard King #1
Publisher: Hachette Audio
When Published: September 27, 2022
Format: audiobook
Duration: 12 hours 44 minutes
Rating: 4.5 stars

My Thoughts: Yoooooooo!!! I’m not normally a fantasy girly but this has been popping up left and right on all my socials so I thought I’d request it from my library and see how it goes. I binged this book sooooo hard!!! The pacing is great, not rushed and not slow either. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will totally continue on with the series! This is my best rated book of 2024!

Storygraph Preview: One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig is a captivating read that will enthrall fans of dark fantasy and romance, particularly those who delight in atmospheric, Gothic-inspired tales of mystery and adventure, with a strong focus on the complex, slow-burning tension between enemies-turned-lovers.

Spring TBR: Flower Themed

May is here, which means it’s SPRINGTIME! These are all the books on my TBR shelf that have flowers on the covers.

Clicking the cover will take you to the Storygraph page with the synopsis on it. Let’s be Storygraph friends!

Have you read any of these? I hope to get to a few of these before the summer starts!

Monthly Wrap Up – April 2024

Good morning, readers! This was a good month for me, although when I was in the thick of it it didn’t feel that way. Some short audiobooks to keep me in the reading mood really helped also.

This next month I am planning out a small TBR pile and sticking with it, not worrying about challenges or anything else.

I physically read 4 ebooks & 1 physical books. I listened to 10 audiobooks.

I read 1,043 pages. I listened to books for 69.78 hours.

I acquired 26 books this month.

I spent $0.00 this month. And $0.00 for the year.

Don’t forget to link up with Nicole at Feed Your Fiction Addiction

WWW Wednesday – May 1, 2024

The three W’s are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you plan to read next?

I put myself on the waiting list for this audiobook awhile back, and it was finally my turn to borrow it. I’m in the mood for a fantasy book so I’m digging right in!

This has been on my TBR for a little bit, and I borrowed a physical copy from my library. I am starting this one today after work!

I enjoyed this book. I thought some parts of it were a little long, but towards the end you know those slower parts were needed to wrap up the story nicely. None of the characters in the book were on my nerves so that’s always a plus in my book. I would recommend this book to my Instagram followers!

I absolutely love Karissa Vacker as a narrator. She was paired up nicely with Helen Laser, as they both did a great job with this book!

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to listen to this ALC.

Definitely check your trigger warnings though.

I’m 100% going with whatever I feel like reading this month. These are on my radar for May, but I am not holding myself to anything this month… I am just going with the flow.

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share!

Publication Day of Granite Harbor by Peter Nichols

I went into this audiobook blind, having barely read the synopsis, and I was actually surprised at how much I liked it. The beginning was slow, but the plot needed to be laid out. There are a lot of characters and I like that the book took the time to go through each one in a non tedious way. The middle picked up and it really made me enjoy the book. I also ended up being okay with the narrator, even though I wasn’t a fan of all of the voices he chose to use for some of the characters (the main police detective is supposed to be from England and there wasn’t a real British-y accent).

Thank you to Netgalley, Peter Nichols and Celadon for allowing me to listen to this ALC.

Stacking The Shelves – April 2024

Hosted by Reading Reality

Good morning! These are the books that I “stacked” onto my shelves, virtual and/or physical, for the entire month of April:

The Vacation Rental is my Amazon’s First Reads choices for April.
Cut & Thirst is a short story bonus available to First Reads members.

Since I am not having much luck with books this month, I decided to borrow some short stories from Amazon, free with my Prime membership. (I had listened to the first book last year that’s why it is crossed out in the graphic above)

Most of these were sent to me because I am apart of the SMP Influencer Program. The last few I requested through Netgalley and was approved. My ratio TANKED this month!

I was sent these titles from Novel Suspects Insiders Club as Netgalley ebooks.

Total added to shelves: 28

Total spent for the month of April: $0.00

Total spent for the year of 2024: $0.00

Library Stats and Savings for April 2024

I absolutely LOVE using my library for all my books and audiobook needs. I do not have a lot of money to blow on a hobby, so I found a good way to support my community, my library and my reading habit! The library has a ton of resources and I always check there first for audiobooks I want to listen to, or for books I want to read. Libby is my friend and I have multiple library branches hooked up to my account for maximum borrowing.

I am also doing two library challenges for this year, so I thought it’d be fun to post monthly updates about my library stats.