SYNC 2019 is coming soon! Celebrate TEN YEARS of free audiobooks!!! @audiobookSYNC #audiobooksync19

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program specifically geared toward young adults. And starting April 25th, SYNC will give you free access to two complete audiobook downloads a week - a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic or required summer reading title. The offerings change each week and are only available for download until the next offering is announced a week later. I've included a list below of all of the scheduled downloads for this summer. SYNC will have all the details on how to download and what titles are paired together each week, so be sure to check their site over the next few weeks to prepare for all the awesome listening coming your way! For now, here's a list of the 2019 titles:

I've read or listened to a few of these already, but even more have been on my TBR for awhile. And, of course, I found some new titles to get excited about. That's the beauty of this program. The offerings are so wonderfully diverse. Something for everyone, whether it be classics, young adult, or favorite authors and narrators you'd love to revisit. I can't wait!

SYNC also has samples of the audiobooks on offer, if you care to check those out prior to downloading the whole audiobook.

I'm just thrilled to pieces every year that this program continues. It's actually the reason I'm such an audiophile today! I am seriously so excited for some of these titles and also to experience some favorites again. Every year I am just so impressed with the offerings from SYNC!

In years past, I've done a weekly post showcasing which titles will be featured so you know when to go grab them. I don't know if I'll get around to doing that this year, but I'll try my best to tweet updates about which titles are available each week.

Which titles are you most excited about?

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Labels: 2019, audiobooks, freebies, funfunfun, promotions, summer, sync

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

Title: Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories
Author: various, edited by Stephanie Perkins
Narrator(s): various
Series: anthology
Length: 16 hrs 2 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books
Publication Date: May 19, 2016
Source: Audible Romance Package
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

Anthologies can be hit or miss, and not every story is for everyone. Some of these stories were written and narrated by favorites of mine, while others were by authors and narrators I've only ever heard of...if that. But whether I loved all of the stories or not, I still appreciated the different takes on different types of love and just how diverse these stories were. There is literally something for everyone. Here's how they fared all in all:

Head, Scales, Tongue, Tail by Leigh Bardugo and narrated by Stina Nielsen - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I saw where this story was headed, almost from the beginning, but the journey there was such a pleasure. This was an almost ethereal tale of a mythical lake monster that transforms into a bittersweet love story, and it was just so lovely I wanted to squeeze it to pieces. Such a great way to kick off this anthology!

The End of Love by Nina Lacour and narrated by Erin Moon - 🌟🌟🌟

Never read a Nina Lacour book before but I found this short story of hers to be quite sweet and hopeful, and the atmosphere just screamed summer. And in such a short space, she covered so many big topics.

Last Stand at the Cinegore by Libba Bray and narrated by Christopher Gebauer - 🌟🌟

This one felt like it should have been included in an anthology of spooky stories, not love stories. The romance took such a backseat to the horror going on in the rest of the story that I almost forgot about it. Had I been looking for a scary story, I would've enjoyed this a bit more. It also felt...clunky...for Libba Bray. She's one of my favorite authors and I know she knows how to write romance, so I'm a bit disappointed in this one. Also, it read a little like Zombieland, with Jesse Eisenberg as the awkward main character and the narrator. He wasn't either in this short story, but I almost could have believed he was.

Sick Pleasure by Francesca Lia Block and narrated by Jessica Almasy - 🌟🌟🌟

Okay, so this story was sad and a little brutal, but I'm not gonna hold that against it since it was such a good reminder of what young love is like. It's all great until heartbreak and bad decision-making but it's genuine and real, if not a little bit depressing.

In Ninety Minutes Turn North by Stephanie Perkins and narrated by Cherise Boothe - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Adorable, but I wouldn't have expected anything less from Stephanie Perkins. Her romances always bring the happy feelings and this second-chance at love was no exception. Pure summer fluff.

Souvenirs by Tim Federle and narrated by Michael Bakkensen - 🌟🌟🌟

Sweet end-of-summer, end-of-romance story. Sometimes summer romances are just that: summer romances. And I'm glad this story didn't endeavor to be more than it was. It was just fun and fluffy and cute.

Inertia by Veronica Roth and narrated by Stina Nielsen - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I was beginning to think this anthology was going to be full of sad summer love stories, the way some of these stories were going, including this one. But then this one did a full 180 and I'm back on board. I know all summer romances don't end happily, but geez. Although, this one didn't feel like a summer romance so much. It was a vaguely science fiction piece with a friends-to-more romance but it didn't really happen over summer.

Love is the Last Resort by Jon Skovron and narrated by Christopher Gebauer - 🌟🌟

Eh. I didn't really enjoy the narration style of this story or the matchmaker aspect. Not in a story this short. But love in the workplace or at a resort -- or both -- is fun.

Good Luck and Farewell by Brandy Colbert and narrated by Cherise Boothe - 🌟🌟🌟

This was such a lovely story about love and loss and moving on. It featured not only a really sweet start to a summer romance, but a narrative about familial love and how you can lose someone without them being gone and still make room for other people in your life.

Brand New Attraction by Cassandra Clare and narrated by Erin Moon - 🌟🌟

Insta-love with a sorta-not-really sibling...where have I read this before?  😒  Maybe there were no Shadowhunters, but there were still demons and manipulative parental units aplenty. Honestly, I just don't think Clare has it in her to write outside her wheelhouse.

A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith and narrated by Jessica Almasy - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This one definitely could have been improved by simply being a full-length novel so we could get more of that adorable slow-burn, but otherwise, I kinda loved this simple summer romance and the direction it took.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman and narrated by Michael Bakkensen - 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I really enjoyed this Groundhog Day-esque story, filled with special little miracles that the characters map out so that they can visit whenever they want, for as long as August 4th keeps repeating. I loved the reason behind the repetition and the inevitable outcome, and despite that it finds its basis in Groundhog Day, it still manages to be thoughtful and unique.


I don't read many anthologies, and I enjoyed this one for the most part, but I didn't think it was as cute as the holiday anthology Stephanie Perkins edited. It did get me in the mood for more summer romances, though. 😉

GIF it to me straight:

About the editor:

Hi, there! I'm Steph, and I wrote Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After. I also edited (and contributed a short story to) a romantic holiday anthology called My True Love Gave to Me and its companion anthology, Summer Days and Summer Nights. My next YA release is a horror novel called There's Someone Inside Your House, which was released Fall 2017.

Find Stephanie:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: anthology, audiobooks, contemporary, favorite authors, reviews, stephanie perkins, summer

SYNC 2018 is almost here! Get ready for 13 weeks of free audiobooks!!! @audiobookSYNC #audiobooksync18

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program specifically geared toward young adults. And starting next Thursday, SYNC will give you free access to two complete audiobook downloads a week - a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic or required summer reading title. The offerings change each week and are only available for download until the next offering is announced a week later. I've included a list below of all of the scheduled downloads for this summer. SYNC will have all the details on how to download, so be sure to check back over there next week!

Here are some of the titles I'm most looking forward to:


And I've already listened to these and highly recommend:


SYNC also has samples of the audiobooks on offer, if you care to check those out prior to downloading the whole audiobook.

I'm just thrilled to pieces every year that this program continues. It's actually the reason I'm such an audiophile today! I am seriously so excited for some of these titles and also to experience some favorites again. Every year I am just so impressed with the offerings from SYNC!

In years past, I've done a weekly post showcasing which titles will be featured so you know when to go grab them. I don't know if I'll get around to doing that this year, but I'll try my best to tweet updates about which titles are available each week.

Which titles are you most excited about?

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Labels: 2018, audiobooks, freebies, funfunfun, promotions, summer, sync

SYNC 2017 is coming! @audiobookSYNC #AudiobookSYNC17

SYNC is a free summer audiobook program specifically geared toward young adults. And starting in less than a month, SYNC will give you free access to two complete audiobook downloads a week - a current young adult title along with a thematically paired classic or required summer reading title. The offerings change each week and are only available for download until the next offering is announced a week later. I've included a list below of all of the scheduled downloads for this summer. SYNC will have all the details on how to download, so be sure to check back over there at the end of this month!

Here are some of the titles I'm most looking forward to:


And I've already listened to these and highly recommend:


SYNC also has samples of the audiobooks on offer, if you care to check those out prior to downloading the whole audiobook.

I am seriously so excited for some of these titles and also to experience some favorites again. Every year I am just so impressed with the offerings from SYNC!

in years past, I've done a weekly post showcasing which titles will be featured so you know when to go grab them. I don't know if I'll get around to doing that this year, but I'll try my best to tweet updates about which titles are available each week.

Which titles are you most excited about?

Read More

Labels: 2017, audiobooks, freebies, funfunfun, promotions, summer, sync

Love in the Time of Gelato

Title: Love & Gelato
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Narrator(s): Rebekkah Ross
Series: stand-alone
Length: 8 hrs 17 mins
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: August 16, 2016
Source: audiobook & galley received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

“I made the wrong choice.”

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then she is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

If I'd reviewed this immediately after I finished the audiobook, I would have rated it a bit higher. I was still riding the I feel like I've just been to Italy and fallen in love high at that point and had all the heart eyes for this story. But it's been a few weeks now, and while I still appreciate how adorable the story was, I've realized there were a few things that bothered me about it.

First, the things I enjoyed:

• The setting - I've never been to Italy, but after reading this book, I feel like I have been. It's not the first time I've felt that way after reading a novel, but it's still pretty significant when a book can basically transport you to a place with its vivid descriptions.
• Howard & Lina's relationship - It may have been a stilted thing of forced parenthood and reluctant teenager at first, but it blossomed into something adorable.
• The food - Gelato, secret bakeries, a step-in dad who can cook. Yes to all of the above.
• Ren - Charming, winsome, oh-so-helpful Ren.
• The journal - Who here among us doesn't think that knowing their parents when they were younger would help us understand them better now? I'm not saying I'd want to read everything from my mom's journal in those days, but I don't think our bond would suffer if we shared some experiences. Also, I think it would be a really beautiful thing to have when she's no longer with me.
• The story of grief and loss - Lina is attempting to move on, but it's obvious how hard she's taking the loss of her mother when little things trigger memories or remind her of her mother.
• The mystery - Lina trying to figure out why her mother chose the path she did and why she wanted Lina to know that she "made the wrong choice."

And now a few things that left me dissatisfied:

• The mystery - Yes, I placed this in my likes. But I also disliked how obvious certain aspects of it were.
• The overall predictability - So, actually, I guess I just didn't like the general lack of surprise I got from the book, not just how the mystery played out.
• The love square - Mostly there is a central romance with two other characters just being strung along to add tension to the story. I don't dislike love triangles (or squares) on principle alone, but I'm not a fan when they're this intentional.

I mostly enjoyed this charming, adorable little story. And I think the audiobook narration really aided in my enjoyment because once I started listening, I did not want to stop. I've only listened to Rebekkah Ross' narration on a couple of titles previously, but I definitely think she's suited to voice characters like the capricious, impulsive Lina.

Love & Gelato definitely made me want to venture to Italy, eat some gelato, and fall in love like so many before me. What I expected to be a completely fluffy story turned out to be a gentle tale of loss and love. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author...even if she doesn't incorporate gelato into the story. :P

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Jenna Evans Welch spent her high school years in Florence, Italy, where she drove a scooter, danced in fountains, and ate entirely too much gelato. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and young son.

Find Jenna:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook

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Labels: audiobooks, contemporary, italy, jenna evans welch, love & gelato, reviews, simon schuster, summer

SYNC Summer 2016: Week 15 #AudiobookSYNC16

Summer is officially here, so you know what that means! SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and today kicks off week fifteen -- the final week -- of the program for 2016. Here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!

The young adult title this week is Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, performed by Dan Bittner for HarperAudio.

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever.

So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren't surprised. After all, it wasn't the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O'Sullivan on their own. Just a few years ago, their mother hightailed it to Oregon for a brand-new guy, a brand-new life. That's just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that's not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turn up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

This week's complimentary title is Classic American Short Stories by O. Henry, Jack London, Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, Kate Chopin, and James Fenimore Cooper; performed by William Roberts, Garrick Hagon, and Liza Ross for Naxos AudioBooks.

A special bundle just for SYNC listeners. Represented here are 16 short stories by seven great American writers, dating from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Different in atmosphere and writing style, they nevertheless caught the mood and concerns of the day in a way that was distinctly American. Kate Chopin's Regret is a reflective moment in the life of a woman without children, forced to look after children; Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge leaves echoes in the imagination; the stories by Crane and London recall the themes of the Civil War and the Klondike for which they are well known. Twain's humor is to the fore in The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and O. Henry's sharp observation makes his neat tales a joy to listen to. There is even an elegiac description of an eclipse by James Fenimore Cooper, author of The Last of the Mohicans.

Read with sensitivity and skill by Garrick Hagon, Liza Ross, and William Roberts.

I've heard great things about Bone Gap, so I'll definitely be grabbing that one. And who doesn't like classic short stories by the likes of Mark Twain?

Will you be picking up either of these titles? Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download. To download this week's titles, just click here to be taken to the SYNC download page.

I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last several years, and I've had the opportunity to listen to a ton of great audio for free.  If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy.  And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed or discover new ones.  Win/win.  =)

Happy listening!

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Labels: 2016, audiobooks, freebies, promotions, summer, sync