Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Goodreads blurb: The apocalypse will be televised! Welcome to the first book in the wildly popular and addictive Dungeon Crawler Carl series—now with bonus material exclusive to this print edition.
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
My take: 3.25 out of 5. This is absolutely not the kind of book I would have picked up on my own, but my book club chose it, and I’m committed to the cause. Thankfully, it ended up being much better than I expected. I listened to the audiobook, and the narration is phenomenal, especially Princess Donut, who completely comes to life in audio form. I can also totally see why they’re turning this into a TV series because this story practically begs to be visualized. It’s chaotic, over-the-top, and packed with wild imagery that feels made for the screen.
The premise is completely ridiculous: the apocalypse becomes a reality-show-style dungeon crawl where survivors compete through levels in a collapsed society. Somebody had to be very high when they came up with this concept, but somehow it works. I liked it. I didn’t love it,but i liked it.
I’ve said this before, but I have a complicated relationship with long series. Once I start them, I feel obligated to keep going, and sometimes I’d rather just have a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. This isn’t that. The book ends with the characters only reaching the third level of the dungeon that we already know has more than 13 levels, and knowing there are eight books already out means there’s still a massive journey ahead. It doesn’t feel like a self-contained story so much as the first installment of a very long adventure that’s designed to keep going. The frustrating part is that I do want to know what happens next. At the same time, I’m not sure I want to commit to eight Audible-exclusive books. I may just wait for the TV adaptation and see how that unfolds instead. Still, I’m glad I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. It wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but it was fun, fast-paced, and unlike anything else I’ve read, and I can absolutely see why so many people love it.
The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson
Goodreads blurb: An ambitious young woman insinuates herself into a tight-knit social set, shaking up friendships and marriages in a small seaside town. A frothy novel of love, money, sex, and friendship, from the New York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
My take: 4.5 out of 5. Jenny Jackson did it again for me. Like Pineapple Street, this is a book that takes seemingly ordinary relationships and elevates them into something completely compelling. At its core, it’s basically gossip within a friend group, but it’s written so well that I was totally invested. The way she captures how petty, messy, complicated, and intertwined friendships can become—especially in a small-town setting—is fantastic. I listened to the audiobook while walking around on vacation, and I genuinely loved spending time with these characters. They’re flawed, sometimes not particularly nice, and often make questionable choices, but somehow that just made them feel more real. I was surprised by how completely drawn into their world I became. Definitely one I’d recommend.
Unbound by Ali Hazelwood
Goodreads blurb: A five-thousand-year-old woman who has outlived empires and a doctor who’s spent his life fighting death collide in this novella from New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.
Lilit of Nineveh has spent millennia in control. As a powerful revenant, she enforces one rule above all: protect mortals. Disciplined and focused, she has never made the same mistake twice, and she has learned that attachments can only lead to ruin.
Enter Roman Martin. An overworked and relentlessly kind ER physician, he is the one mortal Lilit cannot quit. Any relationship between them is against everything Lilit has fought for. Still, she keeps coming back to him.
Until someone starts hunting Lilit, and Roman is caught in the crossfire. When everything comes crashing down, Lilit must choose between the world she has sworn to protect and the man she was never meant to love.
my take: 3 out of 5. This is loosely connected to Bound, and while you can absolutely read it as a standalone, it’s so short that I think it’s worth reading both—and you’ll avoid getting spoiled since this one takes place afterward and some familiar characters make an appearance.
As for the book itself? It’s fine. Cute, sweet, a little spicy, and very much novella-length—I think the audiobook was under five hours. The narration was great, and it’s an easy, enjoyable listen. That said, I’m really hoping The Love Hypothesis adaptation reminds me why I became such an Ali Hazelwood fan, because her recent books just haven’t hit the same way for me. This one was perfectly pleasant, but it never rose above that. Not bad, not amazing, just a fun little paranormal romance to pass an afternoon with. If you’re into vampire stories, you’ll probably enjoy it.
The Open Era by Edward Schmit
Goodreads blurb: Love evens the score between two tennis players in this stunning debut romance. Recently-turned-pro tennis player Austin Hardy has been out since high school and it’s never been a big deal. That is, until he becomes the first openly gay man to compete in a Grand Slam. Suddenly, being gay is a huge deal, with headlines to prove it.
Unprepared for this new spotlight, Austin’s anxiety disorder hits a breaking point, and he trips and falls at practice. Right next to the very attractive, very talented, and probably straight Diego Cruz, ranked World #2. The two players start a friendship off the court. But between their flirty banter, mixed signals, and brewing rivalry, Austin is thrown further off his game by Diego.
With the eyes of the world on Austin, the weight of history on his shoulders, and Diego across the net — he must decide if love means nothing or if love means everything as he battles for the trophy during an electric two weeks at the US Open.
My take: 3.75 out of 5. This was such a pleasant surprise. I went in expecting a cute tennis romance, and while it absolutely delivers on that front, it’s also so much more. Tennis is woven into every part of the story, so if you love the sport, this book will be especially rewarding, but even beyond that, it offers a thoughtful look at closeted athletes and the pressures of navigating relationships in the world of professional sports. It felt particularly timely given all the conversations around queer representation in sports lately.
My only hesitation is that the characters are quite young, which makes sense given the story and the choices they make. Their age adds authenticity, but it also means they sometimes act exactly like teenagers and young adults—making decisions that can be frustrating or feel immature. Part of me wonders if the story might have hit even harder with slightly older characters, but at the same time, their youth is essential to who they are and the journey they’re on.
Overall, it’s a sweet, heartfelt romance with great tennis content and strong emotional beats. If you enjoy sports romances, especially tennis-focused ones, this is definitely worth picking up.
Helpless by Jessica Knoll
Goodreads blurb: From the New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive and Bright Young Women comes a smoldering psychological thriller with a singular, mind-bending last page.
It’s been twelve years since Faye Heron broke Henry Spalding’s heart. Henry was her college boyfriend, her first intense love, but Faye was in danger of being subsumed by him.
Now, Faye is one half of a power-producing duo with her Hollywood husband. Henry is a married father running the family business. Both of their lives have essentially gone to plan.
When a former and beloved college professor suddenly passes away, Faye and Henry find themselves back on campus for the funeral, circling something old and dangerous. Something, if Faye is honest with herself, she has been trying to duplicate for years. But Henry is one of a kind.
The kind who delivers a hypnotic apology for the way things ended.
The kind who suggests they go back to the hotel for a drink.
The kind who drugs and kidnaps her.When Faye comes to Henry’s remote mountain cabin, she’s beside herself. Has Henry brought her here to punish her? She did, after all, write and star in a lauded episode of television based on their indelicate appetites and vicious breakup. As her week of captivity unfolds, Henry’s wanton demands intensify, and a sprawling, years-old mystery begins to take shape—one that will rewrite history as Faye remembers it and reveal an astounding, cataclysmic truth.
my take: 3.5 out of 5. This book is absolutely bonkers, and I need more people to read it because I desperately need someone to discuss it with. When I was about halfway through, I actually told my book club that I thought I hated it. The first half is a lot. It’s a dark, intense erotic thriller and emotionally heavy. At times I felt like it was trying a little too hard to shock me. If you pick it up, just know that the beginning can be a rough ride.
But then there’s the ending.
What is happening? Seriously. I need answers. I need theories. I need a group chat. The ending took this book in such a wild direction that it completely changed my reading experience. I’m still not sure what I think about it, but I know I can’t stop thinking about it. Was it brilliant? Was it insane? Am I the crazy one? I genuinely don’t know.
So if you’ve read this book, please message me. I need to talk about that ending with someone because it was an absolute trip.
Tati's Tidbits 