Good to know your thoughts on January books. Total agreement with First Lie Wins! I lent mine to my daughter and hoping she feels the same. I was on the fence about The Women because I too was planning on the audio based on my past listens with her books and the narrator of Julia Whelan. I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers so I decided to choose The Women and read the actual book. I grew up during the Vietnam War so very interested by the time period as I was pretty young. We wore bracelets honoring POW and MIA soldiers. I’m sure I have a lot to learn. On to wait for the blue box. Looking forward to hearing the 2023 BOTY soon and the runners up. Enjoy!
Oh right I forgot about Julia Whelan narrating her books! Sounds like we will both be reading this one physically. Eager to hear how your experiences growing up strengthen your connection to this book. I hope you get to discuss First Lie Wins with her and yay next month will be BOTY awards talk too. Happy reading!
I ended up going with The Fox Wife because that's right up my alley with the historical fantasy. I finally got around to reading The Hacienda book I got from BOTM last year, and I liked it a lot so I decided to try the author's next book, Vampires of El Norte, as an add-on in this month's box. It was great hearing about what you thought of your last batch of BOTM books. Our tastes don't always align, but I think your reviews are great, especially for BOTM selections, and I like to take your recs where we do have overlap. I'll be getting First Lie Wins as an add-on in a future box for sure.
What did you think of The Hacienda? I still need to try at least one of her books particularly since I first heard about that author from BOTM. I hope you like The Fox Wife and yes First Lie Wins is worth trying in the future. Thank you for your kind comment!
@@twentyonereaders The Hacienda was a solid 4 star read for me, not a new favorite but a really, great read. I really liked the style of writing, which is decidedly modern but has some of the evocative language and observations I love so much in 19th century novels. The two highlights for me were the setting and atmosphere. The story is set in 1800s Mexico, which the author renders beautifully, both in terms of physical descriptions of places and in providing details on the historical and political context of the time, which isn't overdone but does provide an important background to the two main characters and the places they inhabit in their rigid, class-structured society, again much like 19th century novels. Unlike the large, sweeping casts of those novels however, this book focuses almost entirely on those two characters, with chapters alternating between their POVs. Even with a bit of historical weight and beautiful (though more accessible than literary) writing, this book is first and foremost a classic, honest-to-goodness Gothic story. I'm a big fan of those. Most, if not all, of the action takes place in or near a malevolent, ghost-haunted mansion that is a character in its own right, surrounded by the desolate, Mexican countryside, and owned by a powerful family with a long, dark history. There is a lonely new bride (MC 1), antagonized by the other house denizens and tormented by the house. There is a kind, young priest (MC 2), recently come back home to the town he left amidst mysterious scandal many years before. There are a lot of secrets coming to the surface, and a slow-burn romance, though that is a side-plot. It reminded me most of The Haunting of Hill House, the book more so than the show, though there are elements of both. I should also mention that I enjoyed the audiobook (I mixed audio and visual reading) and that this is the author's debut. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, if you decide to pick it up.
I skipped this month by accident! Lol. I have First Lie Wins in my TBR and was only gonna pick that up.. well I guess it’ll be an add on for me next month 😂
Shockingly I picked Heartless Hunter. I don't like fantasy, romance, or books in a series. I don't even know what "romantasy" is. However, I really liked the premise of the book. I'm going to give it a try.
I'm getting a full box but main pick is heartless hunter. My picks are Heartless Hunter Ready or not The Fox wife Butcher and Blackbird Part of your world
@twentyonereaders Though one book I'm surprised wasn't put as add on for a early release is Bride by Ali Hazelwood since her other books are on botm. I am also excited for that since it's a paranormal romance.
I picked The Women by Kristen Hannah as well. I've never read a book of hers yet but the premise sounded the best out of all of them. The Resort sounded boring and it was released as The Dive in the UK last year. There's scuba diving and I just wasn't feeling it though normally I'm into thrillers and mystery. My two add-ons were Big Friendship and The Silent Patient. I liked Alex Michaelides' interview that Book of the Month did for "The Fury" on Virtual Book Tour. I'll be going through his three books from his oldest to newest. Just joined Book of the Month in December 2023 so I have many books to catch up on and that I'm interested in. Thanks for your videos!
I was wondering about The Resort being released previously because on Goodreads it had the 2023 release date but I was confused and ended up editing that part out lol. I haven't listened to the BOTM podcast yet but maybe I should start particularly if it's a book I chose that month. I haven't read Big Friendship yet but just looked it up and I recognize that cover. That's exciting this will be your first Kristin Hannah I hope it ends up being a positive experience for you!
Are you doing Book of the Month's reading challenge for this year? Do you know what you receive if you complete it? It is a bit more complex/more to do than in 2023. I am doing for 2024 and just wondered if anyone else was.
I've heard the BOTM reading challenge is fun but I think you can only do it through the app and I don't use the app. What makes it more complex this year versus last year?
@@twentyonereaders 2023's Reading Challenge was rate 15 books, rate 3 debuts, and rate 1 400+ page book. With BOTM adding audiobooks they've included challenges with that. The 2024 Reading Challenge is rate 15 books and complete 3 of the 6 other badges: rate 5 debuts, write a review for 5 books, rate 3 audiobooks read by the author, rate 4 books that are 400+ pages, rate 6 books from different genres, and rate 6 audiobooks. I'm going for 5 debuts, 4 400+ pages, and the 6 genres. They definitely upped the requirements for completing the badges versus last year.
I’ve never read a Kristin Hannah and the era intrigued me so I picked The Women. I do wish that BOTM did a better job listing additional genres. I was curious about Heartless Hunter but Goodreads reviews state it’s a YA. I’m not a fan of that genre so I would have been bummed to learn that had I not done additional research.
When you become a friend (purchase 3 boxes), you are allowed to pick books from the "member's most loved" section in addition to the monthly picks as your main pick book for your box if one of those is more appealing than the monthly picks.
I picked Ready or Not but I am kind of disappointed because when I chose it salacious wasn't one of the tags and I am not usually a fan of very open door romances. I wish I had gotten The Mayor of Maxwell Street or the women. It was historical fiction's month to shine!
I picked The Resort. I’m kinda sick of the vacation-island murder storyline but I like giving debut authors a chance. About 200 pages into First Lie Wins. I like it but there are so many flashbacks it almost feels like a short story book at times lol.
Agreed about the flashbacks seeming like their own short stories. Especially the football coach one. That's great you want to try a new debut thriller I hope it's an above average thriller!
More time for reading other books on your tbr in February! Yes The Fox Wife sounded unique and I also wasn't sure what to make of the historical fantasy tag
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Good to know your thoughts on January books. Total agreement with First Lie Wins! I lent mine to my daughter and hoping she feels the same. I was on the fence about The Women because I too was planning on the audio based on my past listens with her books and the narrator of Julia Whelan. I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers so I decided to choose The Women and read the actual book. I grew up during the Vietnam War so very interested by the time period as I was pretty young. We wore bracelets honoring POW and MIA soldiers. I’m sure I have a lot to learn. On to wait for the blue box. Looking forward to hearing the 2023 BOTY soon and the runners up. Enjoy!
Oh right I forgot about Julia Whelan narrating her books! Sounds like we will both be reading this one physically. Eager to hear how your experiences growing up strengthen your connection to this book. I hope you get to discuss First Lie Wins with her and yay next month will be BOTY awards talk too. Happy reading!
I am so happy you make these videos! I selected The Mayor Of Maxwell Street and The Fox Wife. Have a wonderful reading month!
The fox wife reminded me kinda of Ranma 1/2 anime just based on the synopsis
I hope we both like The Mayor of Maxwell Street! Happy reading :)
Thanks for doing these each month. I picked The Resort. Thriller is my favorite genre.
Nice I hope you like it! If I hear positive things I will try it too
I picked Heartless Hunter. Know nothing about "romantasy", it was my sudden desire) Love your sweater!
I also know nothing about romantasy ha I wonder how you and other members will enjoy that one and thank you!
I ended up going with The Fox Wife because that's right up my alley with the historical fantasy. I finally got around to reading The Hacienda book I got from BOTM last year, and I liked it a lot so I decided to try the author's next book, Vampires of El Norte, as an add-on in this month's box. It was great hearing about what you thought of your last batch of BOTM books. Our tastes don't always align, but I think your reviews are great, especially for BOTM selections, and I like to take your recs where we do have overlap. I'll be getting First Lie Wins as an add-on in a future box for sure.
What did you think of The Hacienda? I still need to try at least one of her books particularly since I first heard about that author from BOTM. I hope you like The Fox Wife and yes First Lie Wins is worth trying in the future. Thank you for your kind comment!
@@twentyonereaders The Hacienda was a solid 4 star read for me, not a new favorite but a really, great read. I really liked the style of writing, which is decidedly modern but has some of the evocative language and observations I love so much in 19th century novels. The two highlights for me were the setting and atmosphere. The story is set in 1800s Mexico, which the author renders beautifully, both in terms of physical descriptions of places and in providing details on the historical and political context of the time, which isn't overdone but does provide an important background to the two main characters and the places they inhabit in their rigid, class-structured society, again much like 19th century novels. Unlike the large, sweeping casts of those novels however, this book focuses almost entirely on those two characters, with chapters alternating between their POVs.
Even with a bit of historical weight and beautiful (though more accessible than literary) writing, this book is first and foremost a classic, honest-to-goodness Gothic story. I'm a big fan of those. Most, if not all, of the action takes place in or near a malevolent, ghost-haunted mansion that is a character in its own right, surrounded by the desolate, Mexican countryside, and owned by a powerful family with a long, dark history. There is a lonely new bride (MC 1), antagonized by the other house denizens and tormented by the house. There is a kind, young priest (MC 2), recently come back home to the town he left amidst mysterious scandal many years before. There are a lot of secrets coming to the surface, and a slow-burn romance, though that is a side-plot. It reminded me most of The Haunting of Hill House, the book more so than the show, though there are elements of both.
I should also mention that I enjoyed the audiobook (I mixed audio and visual reading) and that this is the author's debut. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, if you decide to pick it up.
I picked heartless hunter addon ruthless vow because divine rivals was my first botm pick
I hope the sequel lives up to your expectations! I haven't read Divine Rivals but sounds like a lot of people enjoy it
The Women!
Plus The Lost Apothecary and The Night Tiger from past picks.
Sounds like three strong historical fiction picks!
I skipped this month by accident! Lol. I have First Lie Wins in my TBR and was only gonna pick that up.. well I guess it’ll be an add on for me next month 😂
Darn one more month to wait then! Will be worth the wait
Shockingly I picked Heartless Hunter. I don't like fantasy, romance, or books in a series. I don't even know what "romantasy" is. However, I really liked the premise of the book. I'm going to give it a try.
Hope it works out for you. Good luck.
@@larryyonce Thanks!
Same 😅!
I am eager to hear reviews for that one! Exciting you picked BOTM's first romantasy pick
I'm getting a full box but main pick is heartless hunter.
My picks are Heartless Hunter
Ready or not
The Fox wife
Butcher and Blackbird
Part of your world
5 picks nice! I have been hearing buzz about Butcher and Blackbird lately and wondering if I need to try it
@@twentyonereaders I'm so excited for it
@twentyonereaders Though one book I'm surprised wasn't put as add on for a early release is Bride by Ali Hazelwood since her other books are on botm. I am also excited for that since it's a paranormal romance.
I got a member favorite to pick up The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard.
Eager to hear reviews for that one!
I picked The Women by Kristen Hannah as well. I've never read a book of hers yet but the premise sounded the best out of all of them. The Resort sounded boring and it was released as The Dive in the UK last year. There's scuba diving and I just wasn't feeling it though normally I'm into thrillers and mystery. My two add-ons were Big Friendship and The Silent Patient. I liked Alex Michaelides' interview that Book of the Month did for "The Fury" on Virtual Book Tour. I'll be going through his three books from his oldest to newest. Just joined Book of the Month in December 2023 so I have many books to catch up on and that I'm interested in. Thanks for your videos!
I was wondering about The Resort being released previously because on Goodreads it had the 2023 release date but I was confused and ended up editing that part out lol. I haven't listened to the BOTM podcast yet but maybe I should start particularly if it's a book I chose that month. I haven't read Big Friendship yet but just looked it up and I recognize that cover. That's exciting this will be your first Kristin Hannah I hope it ends up being a positive experience for you!
Are you doing Book of the Month's reading challenge for this year? Do you know what you receive if you complete it? It is a bit more complex/more to do than in 2023. I am doing for 2024 and just wondered if anyone else was.
I've heard the BOTM reading challenge is fun but I think you can only do it through the app and I don't use the app. What makes it more complex this year versus last year?
@@twentyonereaders 2023's Reading Challenge was rate 15 books, rate 3 debuts, and rate 1 400+ page book. With BOTM adding audiobooks they've included challenges with that. The 2024 Reading Challenge is rate 15 books and complete 3 of the 6 other badges: rate 5 debuts, write a review for 5 books, rate 3 audiobooks read by the author, rate 4 books that are 400+ pages, rate 6 books from different genres, and rate 6 audiobooks. I'm going for 5 debuts, 4 400+ pages, and the 6 genres. They definitely upped the requirements for completing the badges versus last year.
The BOTY 2023 Finalists are also up! None of This is True, Shark Heart, Weyward, The Wishing Game, and Yours Truly.
I’ve never read a Kristin Hannah and the era intrigued me so I picked The Women.
I do wish that BOTM did a better job listing additional genres. I was curious about Heartless Hunter but Goodreads reviews state it’s a YA. I’m not a fan of that genre so I would have been bummed to learn that had I not done additional research.
I agree when the multiple Goodreads tags mismatch the one tag BOTM picks for it, it alters expectations. I hope we both like The Women!
Can you do the add ones bd not THE FEATURED books? I have only done this one month
Ooh good idea to do add-ons but not spotlight thank you!
When you become a friend (purchase 3 boxes), you are allowed to pick books from the "member's most loved" section in addition to the monthly picks as your main pick book for your box if one of those is more appealing than the monthly picks.
I picked Ready or Not but I am kind of disappointed because when I chose it salacious wasn't one of the tags and I am not usually a fan of very open door romances. I wish I had gotten The Mayor of Maxwell Street or the women. It was historical fiction's month to shine!
Oh interesting so the tags might have changed? I also don't tend to pick BOTM picks with that tag. Yes absolutely historical fiction's month to shine!
I chose The Women and Hard by a Great Forest
Just looked up Hard by a Great Forest looks like a debut and another historical fiction 👍🏽
I picked The Resort. I’m kinda sick of the vacation-island murder storyline but I like giving debut authors a chance. About 200 pages into First Lie Wins. I like it but there are so many flashbacks it almost feels like a short story book at times lol.
Agreed about the flashbacks seeming like their own short stories. Especially the football coach one. That's great you want to try a new debut thriller I hope it's an above average thriller!
The Women was my pick.
Yay! Just received my box today
Fox Wife and Family Family. I’m disappointed not to hear your takes on the add-ons.
Thank you for the feedback will have to remember to talk about them next month! Family Family looks intriguing with the family drama tag
The Fox Wife looked most interesting but idk I normally don't like historical or fantasy so I skipped.
More time for reading other books on your tbr in February! Yes The Fox Wife sounded unique and I also wasn't sure what to make of the historical fantasy tag
Sweater >>
No no Kristin Hannah physical books >>
Ghosts!!! What a show
Are you going to read it soon too?!
I'm behind but that show was a fun discovery