Audiobook | Lost in a Good Book

Long Lost Review: Act Cool by Tobly McSmith

13 Jun 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, LGBTQIA, Long Lost Reviews, Young Adult Tags: #llr, Audiobook, lgbt, LGBTQIA, long lost review, Long Lost Reviews, shaan dasani, three stars, tobly mcsmith, trans, transgender, young adult

Long Lost Reviews is a monthly meme created by Ally over at Ally’s Appraisals which is posted on the second Thursday of every month. The aim is to start tackling your review backlog. Whether it’s an in-depth analysis of how it affected your life, one sentence stating that you only remember the ending, or that you have no recollection of reading the book at all.

Published: 7 September 2021 (print)/7 September 2021 (audio)
Publisher: Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers
Pages: 352/9 hrs and 36 mins
Narrator: Shaan Dasani
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars

A trans teen walks the fine line between doing whatever it takes for his acting dream and staying true to himself in this moving, thought-provoking YA novel from the acclaimed author of Stay Gold.

Aspiring actor August Greene just landed a coveted spot at the prestigious School of Performing Arts in New York. There’s only one problem: His conservative parents won’t accept that he’s transgender. And to stay with his aunt in the city, August must promise them he won’t transition.

August is convinced he can play the part his parents want while acting cool and confident in the company of his talented new friends.

But who is August when the lights go down? And where will he turn when the roles start hitting a little too close to home?

It is hard to like August at the start. His show off style and desire to stand out and be noticed is grating but as you get to know him you see where he’s coming from and why he’s chosen to put on these various personas. August’s different personas is a clear way he adapts who he is for the people he is around. It’s also a great way to show even though August thinks he knows who he is, he still hasn’t quite figured it out.

He has great character growth and the different characters he interacts with help bring out different sides of him, as well as shape his character to the reader. We see more of him around different people and see his active decisions in his behaviour, coupled with the knowledge we already have of his past.

Other characters are great, well rounded, and real. Mr Daniels is a tough teacher who wants to make sure August is there for the right reasons, while his aunt is supportive in a way his other family isn’t. The plot is slow, it takes time getting going but it does eventually build to a pivotal moment. The slow reveal about different experiences August has had help you understand him as you go along, and it shifts how you feel towards him too. His goal to reinvent himself balances against his need to belong and his need for security and friendship which McSmith manages well.

This is a great found family novel, and one I didn’t mind being set in a school setting. The unique location of the acting school was a fresh focus of American YA and it is a great exploration of different aspects of hobbies and passions. Dasani does a good job as narrator, August’s voice comes through and it’s easy to get immersed in the story.

It has great representation but it wasn’t an amazing book. I liked it, it had its moments, and it is sure to resonate with someone or expose them to a different kind of story which is all you can hope in a book. There’s a few content warnings like transphobia, dead naming, as well as the prospect of conversion therapy but it’s important to include as it paints a realistic picture of the real world situations people like August go through and is a great mirror up to some people and their opinions.

You can purchase Act Cool via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

169-Storey Treehouse (#13) by Andy Griffiths

28 May 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Junior Fiction, Treehouse Series Tags: andy griffiths, Audiobook, four stars, stig wemyss, terry denton, Treehouse Series

Published: 5 September 2023 (print)/5 September 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Macmillan Australia/Macmillan Australia Audio
Pages: 272/1 hr and 37 mins
Narrator: Stig Wemyss
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Junior Fiction
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Now, Andy and Terry have built their biggest and most astonishing treehouse yet! It has everything they – and you – could wish for, including an electric pony stable, a Santa Land, a NOISY level, a kangaroo-riding range, a weather dome (where you can have whatever weather you want whenever you want it), a 100% edible gingerbread house and a potato-powered translation transmitter that allows you to talk to everything everywhere all at the same time.

There’s also a hall of funhouse mirrors, which is the perfect place to hide from Mr Bunkoff who is trying to catch Andy, Terry and Jill in order to send them to SCHOOL.

But Anti-Andy, Terrible Terry and Junkyard Jill, their trouble-making opposites, are trapped in one of the mirrors – and they want out. (Oh, and Mr Big Nose wants them to write their book … RIGHT NOW.)
Well, what are you waiting for? Can our heroes escape school, do battle with their doppelgangers AND meet their book deadline? Come on up to find out!

After thirteen books the Treehouse series has come to an end. It doesn’t feel that long ago since The 13-Storey Treehouse came out, but here we are thirteen books later and it’s all over. After a rocky previous book I was so glad this one was back on point. It was funny, it had classic Andy and Terry bits, classic absurd logic while still being realistic in universe, and a great new set of levels to enjoy.

I enjoyed the throwback to a level full of Santa clones, a nice reminder of the slightly forgettable 156-Storey book. There is also a fun level with a treehouse in the treehouse. I would like to see a giant wall sized poster of each level because a treehouse level could be an open flat landing, or it could be an enclosed space with rooms, I have seen both through this series so it would be nice to see a definitive look now that we’re finished.

After thirteen books of antics it’s finally addressed that these kids should be in school. The principal is the typical adult who is loud and unreasonable. I enjoyed the depiction of school as something strange and unwelcoming. As it’s described to the trio it isn’t that far from the truth, but it is also described in a way that would be unappealing to those used to running free. It would definitely be a fun read for kids currently being forced to attend school against their wishes.

One of the new features I loved was the WHATEVER-THE-WEATHER-YOU-WANT dome. What makes Griffiths’ writing great is the way Andy and Terry play off one another and this new storey was a perfect example. The banter and bickering between them starts off funny, goes on long enough to keep being funny, but stops just shy of becoming too much. There is an unspoken self-awareness of how long Terry’s ineptitude should be and Griffith balances it great in the book.

A reoccurring theme is signage, the use of signage, and Terry’s inability to follow signage. A great repeating gag that works well. Terry’s antics are fun as stand alones, but there is something fun about an ongoing joke, especially when executed well as Griffith usually does.

There is a lot of use of the new levels, I always find it more interesting to have new levels introduced and them being used. Nothing worse than adding thirteen new levels and have them never seen again. I know some of them don’t always add to the plot and are very nonsensical, but a few books in the past have made good use of them into the plot and this is another great example. The mirror trio that come to cause trouble are fun and it’s interesting the way the opposites are shown.

One of the joyful things about the Treehouse series is how it defies logic while also having its own set of rules for their universe. Flying cats, aliens, translators that work for animals, and cloning machines make sense in the forest but rules like injuries and gravity do still apply.

Stig’s voice shines through as he narrates the host of characters in this story. I will miss his exasperated tones as Andy and his befuddlement as Terry. Not to mention his wonderful way of bringing the illustrations to life with his chatter from the various creatures Denton draws on the page.

After thirteen books it’s a little sad to see this series come to an end but in true Andy and Terry form it’s an entertaining conclusion to the series. The formula remains and is integrated into the plot remarkably well, it’s hardly noticeable. We get a final Mr Big Nose book, a great additional break in the fourth wall, antic, chaos, a lot of laughs, and an ending that makes you know the trio will be living their best Treehouse lives in the forest.

You can purchase The 169-Storey Treehouse via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

The 156-Storey Treehouse (#12) by Andy Griffiths

25 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 3 Stars, Audiobook, Junior Fiction, Treehouse Series Tags: andy griffiths, Audiobook, stig wemyss, terry denton, three stars, Treehouse Series

Published: 6 September 2022 (print)/6 September 2022 (audio)
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia /Macmillan Australia Audio
Pages: 300/ 1 hr and 25 mins
Narrator: Stig Wemyss
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Junior Fiction
★ ★ ★ – 3.5 Stars

Andy and Terry are celebrating Christmas in their 156-storey treehouse which now has 13 new storeys, including an aquarium wonderland, a wishing well, a world record breaking level, a TV quiz show hosted by Quizzy the quizzical quizbot, a lost property office, a lost sausage office, a super-stinky stuff level and the amazing mind-reading sandwich-making machine, which makes the perfect amazing sandwich for you – every single time!Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up!

I had to reread this because I couldn’t remember what happened in it, I didn’t even remember there begin a Christmas themed book. Having finished it I realised why – nothing actually happens.

In books where ten things can happen in quick succession or there are a few things that have big impacts, this was a curious Treehouse story. There is a snowman, Santa clones, and Christmas… but not much else. There is use of previous storeys, albeit briefly, which I liked, but only a fleeting use of a new level. Overall it was a lacklustre book with a dull adventure.

What I thought was going to be the antagonist – the snowman – comes and goes fast enough that he has no real impact on the story. There is no real drama or stakes, the rest of the book is only a celebration of Christmas, even if it is a strange treehouse Christmas.

It is still a classic Treehouse book, and certainly not the only mediocre one in the series. The tropes and antics the pair get up to are still present, and Jill gets involved which I always enjoy. I love that Andy and Terry can invent things without any need for explanation. Expanding stockings can be created, extra storeys with unrealistic or illogical components can come to fruition without needing to explain how. This is how you have the fun storeys like cloning levels, or remembering booths, even chocolate waterfalls don’t get explanations of how it works. Which is why this series works. It’s magical but realistic in its own weird way. No one can fly, but you can ask for a jetpack from Santa or use a flying cat to get around.

My original rating was four, this time was three, so I’m splitting it to 3.5. I’m not sure why I enjoyed it more the first time, maybe the mood was better but it will have to do.

You can purchase The 156-Storey Treehouse via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

As Good As Dead (#3) by Holly Jackson

16 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 1 Star, Audiobook, Thriller, Young Adult Tags: a good girl's guide to murder, Audiobook, clare corbett, holly jackson, jot davis, kristin atherton, maryam grace, one star, thriller, young adult

Published: 05 August 2021 (print)/05 August 2021 (audio)
Publisher: Electric Monkey/HarperCollins UK Audio
Pages: 565/16 hours, 55 minutes
Narrator: Clare Corbett, Maryam Grace, Kristin Atherton, Jot Davies
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
★ – 1.5 Stars

Pip is about to head to college, but she is still haunted by the way her last investigation ended. She’s used to online death threats in the wake of her viral true-crime podcast, but she can’t help noticing an anonymous person who keeps asking her: Who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears?
Soon the threats escalate and Pip realizes that someone is following her in real life. When she starts to find connections between her stalker and a local serial killer caught six years ago, she wonders if maybe the wrong man is behind bars.
Police refuse to act, so Pip has only one choice: find the suspect herself—or be the next victim. As the deadly game plays out, Pip discovers that everything in her small town is coming full circle . . .and if she doesn’t find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears. . .

I had a lot of feelings about this book so I am going to be very careful and not turn it into a thousand word essay about why Jackson made the decisions she did. My notes and emotional responses are a wild read through and picking out the usable less spoilery ones has been hard because I need to vent about this book.

First things first. I was right. That’s important. Second, I am fascinating that the key moments, the moment you think should happen at the end happens around the halfway mark which is wild and sends your brain in a whole stack of directions about what the rest of the book could be filled with to match the intensity of those middle scenes.

The first half was great, as expected from the first two books, but the second half was a weird change that feels out of character, even for the change in Pip from the events of books one and two. I felt like I needed to skip to the end to find out the outcome to work out if the outlandish second half worked but I felt off. Twenty five plus chapters to go you know there must be consequences but the sudden shift in tone and character makes it hard to care. It’s fascinating to see this sudden shift in characters when you have gone through two and a half books with them.

As a whole this is an incredibly dark book. The second book, Good Girl, Bad Blood, was dark but this goes darker still as Pip has flashbacks and relives the events of the previous book. Corbett is a passionate narrator, lot of emotion in her narration. There’s critical emphasis on the important, tense, and emotional moments and it brings home Pip’s mental stability and the intensity of the events. What Jackson does incredibly well is show the effects of PTSD that’s left improperly treated. Pip’s trauma from books two is evident and there is a great demonstration of her emotional state worsening as the outcomes of book two play on her mind and she keeps lying to her friends, family, and therapist to seem ok.

Pip’s new idea for a podcast takes a while to settle. With no new ideas it’s a jump from idea to idea as Pip’s initial new focus is a cold case, before moving to her own life, or a supposedly closed case. I absolutely loved that Jackson shows the less glamourous side of true crime, especially true crime podcasts, and how the results of an investigation can takes its toll on the person investigating. I never understood the obsession with true crime podcasts but this is a great behind the scenes look at the impact and consequences that can come from it.

The structure of the book remains the same: additional voices to play different characters as well as the use of transcripts and files to look like a dossier is being compiled. I still love this style and it makes the experience unique and a great way to introduce information and tie it back into Pip’s research gathering.

I am pretty sure Pip becomes somewhat psychopathic in this book. I understand the reasoning Pip/Jackson is going for. I do. But the longer it went on it made less sense. If it was supposed to be a reflection of Pip’s broken mind I guess it makes sense. But Ravi should be the voice of reason but he isn’t. There are so many holes in Pip’s approach, it went beyond a plan to being a lot of effort when it was going to fail for so many reasons.

I am trying not to reveal too much, but the second half of this book made me so mad. Infuriated. There was no reason for the entire second half to exist. I don’t care what Pip thinks would happen, there are two books prior to say that wouldn’t be the case. You can’t even chalk it up to her mental state because that isn’t it at all. Her choices are illogical and what’s more infuriating is she ignores a huge amount of evidence. There is So. Much. Evidence. Jackson includes so many other reasonable options instead of what actually happens which is why it’s weird to have Pip ignore them.

I know it’s for the drama, and for Pip’s decisions and mental state but I found it hard that someone that smart, could be that stupid. But I guess we’re supposed to believe that when you are emotionally unstable already with trauma and PTSD, what’s one more? What she does to Max, what she does even before Max was unnecessary. It’s too far fetched that anyone would even succeed in doing what she does. It’s beyond absurd no matter how much true crime you knew about. Ludicrous is the only way to describe her plan.

I’ve wasted 17 hours of my life with this book. It was way too long and I felt betrayed by the ending because even after suffering through all those absurd decisions Jackson throws it back in our face. I can’t give it one star because I enjoyed the first half, but I can’t give it two because I hated the second half more and more the further I went. I ended up listening to it a 2x speed because I was suffering listening to this book, but it still dragged on. It was amazing how long the last few chapters took.

Read this book by all means, finish off the series and see the outcome of book two. My advice is stop at the half way point, work out your own new ending based on the evidence already given, and move on. You will only get baffled by the decisions Pip/Jackson has made. I made up a great new ending myself and tried to forget the second half ever happened.

You can purchase As Good as Dead via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Good Girl, Bad Blood (#2) by Holly Jackson

02 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: a good girl's guide to murder, Audiobook, clare corbett, four stars, holly jackson, Jot Davies, kristin atherton, luke poli, maryam grace, richard hughes, young adult

Published: 30th April 2020 (print)/9th September 2021 (audio)
Publisher: Electric Monkey/Harper Collins
Pages: 417/11 hrs and 45 mins
Narrator: Jot Davies, Clare Corbett, Kristin Atherton, Luke Poli, Maryam Grace, Richard Hughes
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4.75 Stars

Pip Fitz-Amobi is not a detective any more. With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her. But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared but the police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time EVERYONE is listening. But will she find him before it’s too late?

The storyline of the second Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book takes place not long after the events in the first. Having come off the notoriety of her first investigation, Pip is trying to settle back down to real life again as promised but soon becomes involved in a missing persons case and so much more. The angle Jackson takes to justify Pip’s involvement this time round is valid. Jamie is missing, the police are otherwise engaged, and Pip’s ongoing curiosity and the pleas of her friend are hard to ignore.

Jackson weaves in the aftermath of book one as Pip recaps her first investigation formally to a wider audience. This also leads her into her second in a natural way. The characters who are impacted in the first book get to continue their story which is satisfying. It isn’t forgotten and the effect on the whole community is still there.

The story builds from a slow start into a gripping conclusion. There is a lot of mystery to work with and while it takes time to get going, there is still a finger on the pulse. The ending stayed with me much longer than the rest of the book, but that wasn’t because the rest of the book was bad. The slow start builds and builds, a complicated network of crimes and new development take you down various paths into a new uncovered piece of information. The connecting plot points play out well, stung along to one new discovery then another. The sordid world of various crimes growing with each chapter.

There is a wonderful exploration about the complexity of human beings. How circumstances can change someone, how trying to do the right thing isn’t always enough. It is a different approach compared to book one where there is a sole cold case to work through. Now, a real time missing person lends itself to more fervent behaviours, more panic as one thing leads to another, and a real time reaction of the public.

The story explores morally what is right, about who is really a bad person, and who is in the right, if anyone. What justifications are there for anything anybody does? It’s also incredibly sad, realising how unforgiving people can be. The right to be judge, jury, and executioner. Mob mentality, small town judgement, and people’s expectations are on show in full force and as intricate the story is, the simplicity of it is heartbreaking.

The ending was amazing, not only in the twist which, looking back, was laid out wonderfully, but also the outcome of the big finale. I’m impressed Jackson went in that direction, especially as it substantially darkens the series, and makes it more real for Pip. The whole book felt more real. Even with the completely possible events in book one, somehow this was more believable.

Once again I loved the formatting of the book. The inclusion of the podcast adds another element which is ideal for the audiobook. Having transcripts in the book is great but having them acted out in the different ways is a nice advantage for an audiobook to have. Usually things are slightly lacking from the physical copy – pictures, emojis and what have you.

The narrators did a fantastic job and Pip comes to life once more with Atherton at the helm. Her fear, her frustrations, and her passion are evident, and her youth and uncertainty are there as well. All the narrators did a great job with their characters, it didn’t feel like a radio drama, but at the same time having a whole cast of characters with their own voices made it feel like a full story.

This is an interesting second book, obviously there is more to come because the aftermath of this book is going to have ramifications both to Pip personally and the wider community. It’s already going down a dark path so it will be interesting to see what comes next.

You can purchase Good Girl, Bad Blood via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible