About Michelle

Michelle loves books, travelling and her adopted cats, Grizzly and Oats. When she's not reading, she can be found hiking.

6 Audiobooks and Activities for Relaxation Day

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Michelle

Do you do enough of the things you love? Most of us don’t. In between congested traffic, overcrowded (and perpetually late) transit systems, mile long to-do lists, and committing to plans we wish we didn’t make in the first place, it can be hard to just be. We’ve coupled relaxing activities with audiobooks to make the most of Relaxation Day (which can also be enjoyed beyond August 15!).

Walking

1. A Walk in the Wood by Dr. Joseph Parent and Nancy Parent, narrated by Dr. Joseph Parent

The benefits of mindfulness are well recognized: peace of mind, less stress, and the opportunity to work through thoughts, memories, and worries. Who better to guide this transformative practice than a long-beloved bear who has perfected the art of simply being? And, not coincidentally, he lives in the woods.
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Painting

2. Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over by Nell Painter, narrated by Nell Painter

Following her retirement from Princeton, Dr. Nell Irvin Painter surprised everyone by returning to school to earn a BFA and MFA in painting. She travels to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, finds meaning in the artists she loves, and struggles with the balance of the pursuit of art and the demands of a life fully lived.
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Doing a puzzle

Painting.

3. Slow by Brooke Mcalary, narrated by Larissa Gallagher

Are you constantly striving to keep up with life’s busy expectations? It’s easy to feel consumed with the desire to “succeed” and “acquire,” and miss the simple opportunities waiting for you to slow down: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude. Slow is an inspirational guide on creating a life filled with what really matters.
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Taking a bath

4. The Tenth Island: Finding Joy, Beauty, and Unexpected Love in the Azores by Diana Marcum, narrated by Rebecca Mozo

As California suffers a terrible drought with seemingly never-ending wildfires, reporter Diana Marcum finds herself still dreaming of the Azores islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Diana returns to the islands of her dreams only to discover that there are still things she longs for, including an unexpected love.
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Baking

5. The Cosy Teashop in the Castle by Caroline Roberts, narrated by Eloise Secker

When Ellie Hall lands her dream job running the little teashop in the beautiful but crumbling Claverham Castle, it’s the perfect escape from her job in the city. When Lord Henry, the stick-in-the-mud owner, threatens to burst her baking bubble with his old-fashioned ways, Ellie wonders if she might have bitten off more than she can chew.
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Laying in a hammock

Hammock

6. The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, narrated by Erin Bennett

It’s Nantucket wedding season, and the Otis-Winbury wedding promises to be an event to remember: the groom’s wealthy parents have spared no expense to host a lavish ceremony. But it’s going to be memorable for all the wrong reasons after tragedy strikes: a body is discovered in Nantucket Harbor just hours before the ceremony-and everyone in the wedding party is suddenly a suspect.
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The Best Audiobooks For Books Lovers Day

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Michelle

Sans the pressure of chocolates and roses, Book Lovers Day is the Valentine’s Day for bookish people around the world. Celebrate with these great audiobooks (and tell us in the comments what listens you’ve been loving lately!).

1. Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware, narrated by Imogen Church

On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person, but also that she may be able to claim the money. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased… where it dawns on her that there is something very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it.
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2. Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk, narrated by Gary Vaynerchuk, Rich Roll, Amy Schmittauer

In this lively, practical, and inspiring audiobook, Gary dissects every current major social media platform so that anyone will know exactly how to amplify their personal brand. He offers both theoretical and tactical advice on old standbys and emerging platforms. For those with more experience, Crushing It! provides innovative tips and tweaks proven to enhance more common tried-and-true strategies.
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3. The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, narrated by Dennis Quaid

Uncertainty and fear grip the nation. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet. Even the President himself becomes a suspect, and then he disappears from public view… The President Is Missing sheds a stunning light upon the inner workings and vulnerabilities of our nation. Filled with information that only a former Commander-in-Chief could know, this is the most authentic, terrifying novel to come along in years.
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4. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, narrated by Rachel Hollis

With wry wit and hard-earned wisdom, popular online personality and founder of TheChicSite.com founder Rachel Hollis helps readers break free from the lies keeping them from the joy-filled and exuberant life they are meant to have.
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5. Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman, narrated by Catherine Steadman

If you could make one simple choice that would change your life forever, would you? Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banked with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon in Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving, they find something in the water.
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6. Factfulness by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, and Anna Rosling, narrated by Richard Harries

When asked simple questions about global trends, we get the answers wrong. So wrong that a chimpanzee choosing answers at random will consistently outguess us. Factfulness reveals the instincts that distort our perspective. It turns out that the world, for all its imperfections, is in a much better state than we might think.
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7. I’ll Be Gone In The Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search For The Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara, narrated by Gabra Zackman

For more than 10 years, a mysterious and violent predator committed 50 sexual assaults in California before perpetrating 10 sadistic murders. Then he disappeared. Three decades later, true crime journalist Michelle McNamara was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer” by poring over police reports and interviewing victims.
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8. Iron Gold by Pierce Brown, narrated by John Curless, Tim Gerard Reynolds, Julian Elfer, and Aedin Moloney

Honor and betrayal fuel a caste-shattering revolution. Ten years after the events of Morning Star, Darrow and the Rising are battling the remaining Gold loyalist forces and are closer than ever to abolishing the color-coded caste system of Society for good. But new foes will emerge from the shadows to threaten the imperfect victory Darrow and his friends have earned.
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STAFF PICK: I Can’t Date Jesus by Michael Arceneaux

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Michelle

Title: I Can’t Date Jesus
Author: Michael Arceneaux
Narrator: Michael Arceneaux

Equally hilarious as it is heartbreaking, Michael Arceneaux’s I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyoncé will become your new bible and saving grace.

Raised by a raging father and disapproving but well-meaning mother, Arceneaux’s life as a gay, black, sensitive man is made that much harder. His complex feelings with the religion that saved his mother gnaws at their fragile relationship as he navigates dating men who take advantage of his kindness. Desperately wanting to find his place in the world, Arceneaux’s journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance is bold, beautiful, and darkly humorous.

“clearly rusty on how to enter a church, much less one of this size, I grabbed my wallet and was about to pull out my ID to show it to the usher that stood before the doors. Yes, as if he were a club bouncer. Yes, as if I were trying to get in free before eleven and rush to the bar to enjoy that two-for-one drinks special.”

I laughed out loud so many times while listening to this audiobook that I often had to pause it and repeat the lines to those nearby. What made it even richer was hearing it in Arceneaux’s own voice. If you choose to read this book rather than listen to it, you’ll miss out on experiencing the extent of his unflappable humor and talent for storytelling. He also does an excellent job of educating the public about Beyoncé in a way that will send the Beyhive swarming with joy.

“A Beytheist is someone who denies the splendor of Beyoncé. I don’t get people like that… I’ve developed a rule to stop dating men who dislike Beyoncé. I have tried to respect other people’s religious beliefs, but sometimes the biases you develop are well-earned.“

Can I get an amen?

STAFF PICK: Saving Beck by Courtney Cole

Posted on July 17, 2018 by Michelle

Title: Saving Beck
Author: Courtney Cole
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell and Ramón De Ocampo

Gutting, harrowing, and hopeful, this audiobook is an emotional landmine that will change the way you think about addiction. I knew before listening that the novel is loosely based on the New York Times bestselling author’s son’s battle with addiction, which made it even more powerful.

Saving Beck follows a son’s addiction and its effects on both him and his mother, a story that hits too close to home for many Americans engulfed in the opioid crisis. What makes this particular audiobook so compelling is that Courtney Cole tells it from the perspective of matriarch Natalie, who does everything she can to loosen the grip addiction has on her son, and how rapidly it stole her golden boy in the first place.

“you think it can’t happen to you, that your kids, your family, will never be in this situation. i thought that too. but you’re wrong… drug addiction comes with a price. trust me, you’re not equipped to pay it.”

Prescribed to relieve acute or chronic pain, opioids are the leading case of drug overdose deaths in the United States. A model student, Beck is bound for success, until he is involved in a tragic accident that changes his family forever. As his life spirals out of control, Natalie does everything she can to save her son before its too late.

Cole writes Natalie’s character so intricately that it is impossible not to be affected by her emotions of desperation and anxiety. You root for her. You become her. You hope to never truly be her. Narrators Cassandra Campbell and Ramón De Ocampo do an excellent job of bringing the story to life and pulling listeners in even deeper.

“The cold needle in his warm vein was a welcome comfort to my son at first. but then it became the monster that kept us apart. heroin lied, and my son believed. it took him to a world where the last year didn’t happen…”

7 Chilling Summer Listens

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Michelle

If the air conditioner doesn’t give you goosebumps this summer, these thrillers will.

1. A Blood Thing by James Hankins, narrated by Timothy Andrés Pabon

Governor Andrew Kane, is at a public meet-and-greet when a stranger slips him a phone and whispers, “Keep this… you’re going to need it after the arrest.” Hours later, Andrew’s brother is framed for murder, and discovers there is only one way to free him: answer the phone and agree to a blackmailer’s demands. He complies, but the stranger isn’t done. He has another little condition. Then another. And another…
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2. Unwelcome Guests by Anna Willett, narrated by Cat Gould

A weekend getaway in an isolated country house is just what Caitlin needs to fix her relationship with husband Eli. Her spirits are up as they enter the retreat and cool off in the nearby lake. But her husband is cold and dismissive so Caitlin decides to drown her sorrows, and heads into the wine cellar. What she finds there will change their lives forever.
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3. Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding, narrated by Kirby Heyborne, Cassandra Campbell, Rebekkah Ross

Frances Metcalfe thought her troubled son getting accepted into an elite school would change their lives. But after an incident that ostracizes the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever. Until she meets Kate Randolph. Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. As they bond, a secret erupts. One of these women is not who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunik. And she’s a murderer.
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4. The Cabin At The End Of The World by Paul Tremblay, narrated by Amy Landon

Seven-year-old Wen and her parents are vacationing at a remote cabin on a quiet lake. As Wen catches bugs, a stranger appears. Leonard is the large, young, and friendly. Leonard and Wen talk and play until Leonard abruptly apologizes and says, “None of what’s going to happen is your fault.” Three more strangers arrive, beginning a gripping tale of paranoia, sacrifice, apocalypse, and survival.
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5. Half Moon Bay by Alice Laplante, narrated by Gabra Zackman

Jane loses everything when her teenage daughter is killed in an accident. Devastated, she makes one tiny stab at a new life: she moves to the tiny seaside town of Half Moon Bay. She is able to cobble together some version of a job, friends, and peace. And then, children begin to disappear. As the disappearances continue, her neighbors wonder is if it is Jane herself who has unleashed the horror of loss.
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6. The Fifth To Die by J.D. Barker, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton

Detective Porter has been pulled from the hunt for Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer, by the feds. When the body of a young girl is found beneath frozen waters, she is identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She’s found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days.
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7. Last Girl by J. G. Hetherton, narrated by Laura Jennings

Fired from the Boston Globe, Laura Chambers takes a job with the local paper. The work is boring – at least until a missing girl turns up dead. Years earlier, child after child disappeared, a reign of terror the town desperately wants to forget. Now that terror has returned to seize another girl. And another. And another. She dives deeper into a case, only to discover the truth may be far closer to home than she could have imagined.
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The Best Audiobooks of 2018 (So Far)

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Michelle

The year may be halfway over, but we’re there’s still plenty of time to catch up the best books of the year (so far!).

1. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, narrated by Julia Whelan

When you listen to this audiobook, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are listening to a story about a jealous ex-wife. You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle. Assume nothing.
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2. Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff, narrated by Holter Graham, Michael Wolff

The first nine months of Donald Trump’s term were stormy, outrageous-and absolutely mesmerizing. Now, thanks to his deep access to the West Wing, bestselling author Michael Wolff tells the riveting story of how Trump launched a tenure as volatile and fiery as the man himself. In this explosive audiobook, Wolff provides a wealth of new details about the chaos in the Oval Office.
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3. The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Julia Whelan

Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed. For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival. When Ernt, a former POW, loses yet another job, he decides to move his family to Alaska, where they will live off the grid. Leni, 13, is caught in the riptides of her parents’ stormy relationship. As winter approaches, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture.
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4. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killerby Michelle McNamara, narrated by Gabra Zackman

5. Educated by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan

An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University. Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills” bag.
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6. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, narrated Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. But as they settle into their new routine, they are ripped apart by unimaginable circumstances. Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit, creating a stirring love story into the hearts and minds of those bound and separated by forces beyond their control.
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7. The Outsider by Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton

An 11-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens, Terry Maitland, a Little League coach, teacher, husband, and father. Detective Anderson orders a quick and public arrest. As the investigation expands and horrifying answers emerge, King’s propulsive story generates strong tension and almost unbearable suspense.
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8. A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey, narrated by James Comey

Former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
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9. Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be by Rachel Hollis, narrated by Rachel Hollis

10. The President Is Missing by Bill Clinton, James Patterson, narrated by Dennis Quaid

The President Is Missing confronts a threat so huge that it jeopardizes not just Pennsylvania Avenue and Wall Street, but all of America. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet. Even the President himself becomes a suspect, and then he disappears… Filled with information that only a former Commander-in-Chief could know, this is the most authentic, terrifying novel to come along in many years.
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