Відео

Ah, thank you! I wasn’t sure and always seem to mix them up. The performances are incredible!

Couldn’t agree more! It takes a Jorg to survive such a world.

I’ll have to check that version out! That’s the downside to the GraphicAudio version when I try to physically read along while listening-parts are cut out or switched around so it takes more effort to follow.

I spent the majority of this book so nervous for Darrow with Cassius. Especially when Cassius started using the word brother with him. You know it cant possibly end well, but you still have hope Cassius will forgive, and that’s what made that scene in the wood so heartbreaking! And totally agree-the ringknife was clever!

Always late to the party! 😆 Currently, I have to buddy read a different book with someone, but I am hopping back to Golden Son hopefully next week! Can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about in book 2. 🔥

If you’ve watched the Prime adaptation of the book, I’d make it more like that! I think it still balances the themes around women’s sacrifices and expectations but ends on a more hopeful note! 💜

Yes!! In this “wonderful” system we have, we’re expected to make that sacrifice! This was such a moving, beautifully written book. I can’t believe how viscerally it affected me at the end. Have you seen the movie??

I adore office life stuff, too! It's always soooo funny and relatable to me. Like-how can this be so many people's common experience in life?? 😆 Hope you enjoy it!

Have you read the Ravenhood trilogy by Kate Stewart? Book 1 is Flock, 2 is Exodus, 3 is Finish Line. It is not fantasy, but I love that trilogy so much. If you have not heard anything about it, do NOT look it up. Go into it completely blind! 🖤

@@SandrasLibrary I haven't read it!! I'll add it to my audible library right now! Thankss

@@carol-ina. I hope you love it as much as I do! 🙈🙈🙈

💜

I had to submit a request to my library, so hopefully they’ll carry it soon. I feel like this was a good one to kick off Pride month! LMK what you think of it!

Now onward to book 2!

Ah, that is super nice of you to say!! I’ll take it! I’ve been enjoying her adult work much much more than her YA, although I do find her Grishaverse pretty imaginative and love me some Darkling 🤣 Ninth House got better and better for me as I went along and I think I enjoyed Hell Bent even more. I’m a huge fan of her Language of Thorns collection-she’s very talented as a dark fairy tale tone of writer, which The Familiar channels a lot of, I think. She’s definitely got me interested in finding more Spanish stories, so if you have any recs, I’d love to hear them!

SO good! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! 😭

Yayyyy! I’m so glad you found it helpful! I enjoyed book 2 even more, and I’m so pumped for book 3! 😱😱😱

I feel like if a few of the main cast members are still alive by the end of the series, then it truly isn’t grimdark. And JK strikes me as an author who fancies himself just that!

hahahaa YES. Loved grumpy Gabriel! And totally agree on Nisha's use of foreshadowing! Reminds of the qualities I actually liked in the Blood and Ash series, and curious to see where this series goes!

Ugh, I love your comment! Okay-it's been like a month, if not more, since I read it, and I STILL can't stop thinking about it! I also immediately reread and listened to the author narrate the audiobook, which was exceptional. I agree with everything you said-the themes and characters, and the love story itself were so unique and incredibly well done that I haven't been able to find anything else that hits like this did. Just the character depth and how art and music were interwoven into the story were so fascinating to me! Did you watch the movie? I did watch it and ADORED it despite the wildly different ending, but I feel like they both have their own place! If you're open to films that hit a similar vein, you might really like the Before film trilogy with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. All 3 of them have masterful scripts! If I find a comparable book, I'll share! hahahaha

@@SandrasLibrary I actually saw the movie first, and thought it was so cute. When I realized it was based on a book I knew I had to read it, and am SO glad I did. And I totally agree, the book & movie are each good in their own way, even though I wish the movie stayed a little more true to the source material (like Solene being more sophisticated, Izzy’s age, them meeting up in different cities instead of her following him, but that’s probably much harder to squeeze in a 2 hr film haha) And I LOVE the Before trilogy, some of the best romance films ever made!

@@mara1 YES. I wish they would've kept Izzy's age younger and stuck with Solene's French-raised artistic depiction. I also kind of wish they would've kept Hayes at 20 rather than 24-it seemed more...not profane, but scandalous perhaps? Just even more of an uphill battle for Solene! You know, there were 2 things not in the movie that upset me a little: first was Solene comforting Hayes with that beautifully stated quote on art. And second was her birthday (in Paris, maybe?). In the movie, they made her turn 40 immediately, but in the book, Hayes had such an integral part of making her 40th birthday/last day in her 30s such a special moment, I was so sad it wasn't in there! But there were many moments like that between the two of them I was bummed to not see, but I still enjoyed the movie! I saw recently that Robinne Lee has finished writing another manuscript after several several years of battling imposter syndrome and doubt, and I'm hopeful her next book will be just as deep and thoughtful! I'm definitely a reader for life.

@@SandrasLibrary Yes to all of the above!! Another thing I wish they included was the saying ILY in Paris/aspen instead of the end. So many missed opportunities in the movie, I wish Robinne had at least some say in the script, but oh well it is what it is. I had no idea she was writing another book, it’s going straight to the top of my tbr as soon as it comes out. Also reader for life!!

Wholeheartedly agree. I burst into tears upon reading the last page and had to comment at the author, “How could you??” I refuse to accept that ending! But despite that, I love the characters and themes and their relationship and this novel has become a personal favorite. I’m so sorry it got you, too! 💜

Me too! I cried so hard at the end. I'm crying listening to this review. I wish there was an epilogue... We needed a little bit more for closure.

LOL Idk why I’m chuckling so hard but I understand. Your reaction caught me off guard!🤣🤣🤣

Oh, I love to hear that! The Familiar is sooooooo good! 🖤🦂

Totally understandable-there is nothing like feeling and smelling a book! I’ve just gotten to a point where I love thick books but I do not love hefting a heavy tome around because it hurts my wrists and I can never get comfortable, especially with hardcovers. I prefer the look of hardcovers but prefer the experience with paperbacks. (But shhhhh…don’t tell anyone-I’ve actually come to favor reading on my kindle bc it’s so damn convenient and I read much faster using one!) I think they’re worth the investment! Audiobooks can be hit or miss with me but I love them for traveling or working out. I’m obsessed with the popularity of GraphicAudio and how that’s changing the audio landscape because it really is a superior listening experience!

😩😩😩 the eyerolls and outward rage I expressed reading that book was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced! Idk why it got under my skin so badly lol Glad you were entertained! 🤣

Ha! At least you didn’t read it before realizing it was a sequel book! But let’s be honest, you were just looking for another reason to head back to the bookstore 😂 Now onto book two!!

Yes we do! Her arc was sooooo satisfying and she was definitely one of the most memorable characters in the book! Marius can go suck eggs and be miserable 🤣

Her character arc was beautiful! Wholeheartedly agree 🖤

Ahhh…thank you, Kiki, for your comment! I loved the ending too! It was such an artistic, haunting sort of happy ending in a way, but it just worked. Such a unique love story.

I have so much awe for you in reading this book despite not being a native English speaker! It's impressive. The plot is complex and really layered but it does eventually come together really nicely. Lavira's and Evar's stories definitely kept me turning the page. You will get there, and I'm curious to hear what you think!

Oohhh-I would love that! Definitely a fascinating character. Leigh, some spinoffs would be super cool!

I agree! What happened to her in the end? Like...Luzia helped her get away but.....then what? Her Angel said that they'd all die there. Did that change? Did she get caught again? What happened? Lol I wanna know!

@@butterflymuse2707 Really hope to get more… maybe these loose ends are Leigh’s way of leaving the back door unlocked 🤞🏼

Your love for Before Sunset makes me trust you implicitly on your recommendation! Adding Love and Anarchy to my list of things to watch immediately. I agree with you on your points about Hollywood aesthetic and its obsession with ‘I love you.’ Everything tends to be turned into a rom-com for it to be more widely received, and while I thought The Idea of You movie captured the raw attraction and respect between Solene and Hayes, many other things differed from Robinne Lee’s book. But I did enjoy both for their own reasons. I adore the Before trilogy heart and soul. The scripts are deeply profound and really highlight the performances of Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. So grateful for your thoughts, Elena!

@@SandrasLibrary are you going to make a video about The Idea the movie? )) Would love to hear your thoughts. I just watched it myself. Julie Delpy is a fascinating person. I watched a lot of her French interviews for my language practice, and she is funny, smart, and intelligent, and very observant. Writes her own movies and directs them too. I liked her Two Days in Paris. And also The Countess - coincidently, it also features a younger man/older woman dynamic, and is slightly weird (in a good way)🥰

@@elenasingleterry5854 I think I will review the movie-I've done non-books before! I actually just recorded a conversation with my high school best friend for our Story Darlings podcast, so that episode will be available in 1-2 weeks. But I think I'd like to talk about the movie here, too :) Julie Delpy is sooooo fascinating. She does strike me as very wise and educated, and I feel like I've just learned something new with your comment! Haven't seen either of those movies, so here I am quietly adding them to my growing list hahahaha Thank you!

@@SandrasLibrary I’ll be watching both your videos! 🥰🥰🙏

Hopefully! Fingers crossed bc the UK tie-in edition is supposed to arrive tomorrow!

so it arrived yesterday and it had the bonus scene, but I did NOT get the closure I needed! 😭

Yeah. Funny story was my first from her and I was really surprised. I really enjoyed it.

@@tifftalkspages it was so good!!

Yes. Sometimes.

@@LilyIslene trying not to make it a habit 😆

You might be as zany-brained as I am!

Hi! Thanks so much for your comment! I really hope you love the Before trilogy as much as I do. The first film is older, but it’s such an amazing trio of movies. Really beautiful themes and relationships! I can’t recommend The Idea of You novel enough. Though the ending differs from the movie, it’s fantastic! Happy watching and reading!

Thank you-that made my morning! I’m glad you loved the book. It really was a unique story to anything I’ve read recently! 🖤

It really is!

Yeah you should! Hahahaha But really, it was a good book, and one I’ll return to again, it’s just a slog at times on the initial read. I’m curious about book 2. I do love all the characters, though, and the premise!

Sorry about the reading rut! That’s a stinker. Hopefully something catches your eye and is able to snap you out of it! Did you ever start reading 3BP?

@@SandrasLibrary Thank you! I’m still in the middle of Pillar of Ash, but 3BP is next up for me. I was enjoying PoA, but I just don’t feel like reading right now. It’ll come back to me I’m sure!