LISTENER

Jackie

  • 46
  • reviews
  • 7
  • helpful votes
  • 183
  • ratings

Interesting but a Bit flat

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-26-24

There were themes that were very intriguing in this book with lots of layers but it felt like it didn’t actually have much happening throughout despite there being a lot to work with. It almost felt like it was trying to do too many things at once and in doing so wasn’t able to flush out any of the themes in any meaningful way.

In addition it felt like the ending was rushed and was too neat and tidy and “easy”. Found it challenging to believe the resolutions would be so succinct given what did occur throughout.

The narrator was fantastic and I think it was her delivery that kept me engaged with the characters more than the actual story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Poorly Researched With Questionable Sources

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-17-24

I fall into the camp I thought this was marketed towards - someone who enjoys Michael’s music but uneasy and unsettled by him as a person. Was looking for some well rounded and well documented discussion and information to help become better educated. I only made it to episode 2 before realizing I wasn’t going to find that here. Instead I found a poorly put together collection of questionable sources - the majority of which were tabloid reporters. In addition to that, at one point they lay claim that the movie Hook by Stephen Spielberg was being developed specifically for Michael - this is an easily debunked statement. Michael campaigned to be cast as Peter Pan but the movie was not developed for him.

This seems like a trivial thing to mention but my reason for doing so is to demonstrate that if something this easily verified and this well documented is discussed in a misleading way, I can only imagine what else is or will be woven together incorrectly into a false narrative. What their end goal is I don’t know and I won’t be continuing to listen to find out. What I know is what it isn’t - it is certainly not a well researched and unbiased open look at the man and the music - the good the bad and the ugly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Twisted and Twisty Story

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-19-24

Enjoyed the multiple perspective sans definitely had some twists and turns I didn’t see. Some characters you just wanted to throttle and others you cared about and rooted for. Overall a dark and twisted story with great narrators.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great Addendum to Last Mrs. Parrish series

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-05-24

Great added back story for Amber that’s helpful before reading Next Mrs. Parrish. Quick & dirty

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Heartbreaking Love Triangle with Minimal Joy but lots of Growth

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-24-24

I’ll preface this review by saying I have loved almost all of TJRs books and my review here is more a reflection of what I like and dislike in a story and not the quality of the book itself. In addition I read this as part of a book club and never would have chosen to read it on my own (and in fact actively avoided it for years) because of my own avoidance and discomfort for reading a story about losing a spouse. Additionally I loathe love triangles in all their forms and this is no exception.

This was just a sad and heartbreaking version of a trope I already can’t stand. The underlying theme throughout this book for me was just sadness and heartbreak and disappointment. It was painful to read for so many reasons - the heartbreak and grief and losing someone you love so suddenly followed by the heartbreak, uncertainty and confusion of them returning just as suddenly once you’ve already pieced yourself back together into a new version of yourself. I just wanted to get through this book as fast as I could (I ultimately put it up to 2.0 which is saying a lot because I love Julia Whelan’s narration and she was just as wonderful as always here) because at no time did I feel hope or joy or relief. I just wanted it to be over.

I’ll say I was glad with the way it played out and the ultimate resolution but was not worth the ache of having to endure the story itself. It had some wonderful themes about finding yourself, growing with someone and knowing who you are and choosing the version of yourself you love the most. I appreciated those themes and think they’re applicable beyond just this story. That being said it still wasn’t worth the read, for me personally.

My own perspectives mostly aside - as with all TJR books it was beautifully written with care and heart, characters you care about and the story was well crafted - albeit somewhat rushed at the beginning. Trying to fit two whole love stories into the first half of the book and then trying to deconstruct and then reconstruct them in the 2nd half all while building and then rebuilding the main character is a tall order - not saying it was done perfectly by any means but TJR certainly did it the best of anyone I can think of.

Overall - if you love having your heart ripped out a few times and are ok being frustrated by the (I’m sure realistically depicted) whiplash of loving one person one second and thinking they’re the right fit to loving the other person just as much and thinking THEY are actually the right fit - back and forth for chapters on end - and if you enjoy a story that at its heart is about discovering who you are and being open to the fact that that person can change and grow and the beauty in that fact then this is certainly a good read for you.

If the idea of reading about someone going through one of the most painful experiences a person can endure and the heartbreak of that as well as the uncertainty and discomfort of then having to decide between two peope you truly love makes you want to run for the hills like it does for me - then skip this and pick up a different TJR book - for the most part you really can’t go wrong.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Still waiting for there to be an ending

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-06-24

Similar to the many other reviews - the story was interesting until the last hour or so when it went fairly off the rails and then abruptly stopped with no real conclusion or summing up of looose ends. Takes “leave the ending up to your imagination “ to new levels. Overall rather than being a mystery or psychological thriller it was more of a sad story/cautionary tale mixed in with another sad story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Beautiful and touching story

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-24-24

A beautifully written story with characters you truly care about and root for. An uplifting reflection on the people we love and the tangible and intangible ways we remember them. We all have an item that holds special significance to us and reminds us of someone that we love that has moved on from this world but never from our hearts. This book paints a beautiful picture of how those items can remain cherished and cared for even if their original keepers no longer can as well as the beautiful stories and memories that accompany them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Unbelievably chilling and immersive

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-18-24

This was absolutely incredible to listen to - the performances were unbelievable and the immersion with sound effects, music and supporting cast was incredible. Warning - some scenes can be very dark and disturbing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A slow moving story with a rushed ending

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-17-24

This was a slow paced story with not much going on throughout leading up to a very full last 30-40 minutes where-in everything spills out in what felt like a fairly rushed and somewhat head scratching manner. The resolution wasn’t really that satisfying and in comparison to his previous novel was relatively ho-hum. Overall just a sad group of people with sad events with plot “twists” that felt forced to try and keep you guessing but were mostly just twists for twists sake.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A beautiful story beautifully narrated

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-09-24

I can’t say enough good about this book. I’m not normally a romance fan - I like mystery/thrillers and general fiction. This has changed my perspective on what romance novels can be. This is an amazingly touching story about two people and their very different and complicated lives and the way they come together even when the odds seem impossible that they would. A story of two people finding each other and themselves along the way and not allowing other people to dictate or determine who they are or what they do. A story of finding your voice and stepping into your power and a story of finding love not just romantically but in friends and the people you choose to call family.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!