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A philosophical musing on how pain can exist with a good and loving God. He makes several of the same points that I would (evil came from the Fall, blah blah), but spends more time harping on how we all suck than I would have. So intellectually interesting, but I wouldn’t recommend for someone actually experiencing suffering.

I need something cozy and heartwarming. ❤️

Oof the audiobook is very difficulty to get through because the narrator is reading it like an old timey news broadcaster, which to me comes across as somewhat stilted and passionless. It makes the stories feel less like ~~stories~~ (about real people) and more like a weather report. I think it’s an intentional choice to appear objective, but it’s difficult for me to engage.

Ok not my genre—it feels very much like I’m playing Skyrim, which is a very specific vibe for a book — but so far there are some creative and funny moments that would probably keep a LitTPG fan engaged. For example, “if you have time to complain, you have time to snuggle.” I especially like that Tom and I are reading it together 🤗 and the audiobook narrator is fantastic.

It took far too long for me to realize the devotionals are in “chronological” order by verse about halfway through, when there were three back-to-back devos from Romans 8, I was like … have they all been in order?! And yes. Yes they have. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Since this was billed as an “enormously funny” murder mystery like Get Out, I thought it would be a lot funnier. It’s a light and kind of quirky murder mystery, but not “enormously funny.” Also, I prefer my murders DARK. … apparently. Lucy Foly is more my cup of tea.

Not gonna lie: I picked up this audiobook because it has the same narrator as Skyward, and I enjoyed that experience very much. This book is like a more complicated Hunger Games. World building is interesting, but it could admittedly use more of MBot saying “spensaaaaaaaaa”.

Light spoiler: 🚨 Befriending a rat “so someone will notice if I die” … 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 There is something extra tragic when the tone of voice tries to hide the loneliness and hurt behind it.

If this book doesn’t have a ****ing happy ending, I SWEAR TO GOD I will cry all over everything

Part-way through chapter one, and my heart already broke

No thank you

+3 for compelling mystery
+1 for characters who feel real
+1 for writing style (easy to read without being juvenile)
-1 for the characters sometimes making stupid decisions / being a bit stereotypical (so Threshold#2 is better)
-2 for sex scene I had to skip about 3/4 of the way in and lots of sexual references (including a frequently topless college student)

The ONLY good thing about having the flu is that I get to listen to audiobooks in bed all day … because I can’t do anything else.

🐌🐌🐌🐌🐌 kept me up at night reading. Great job, Sanderson. You’re fired.

YES. less than a chapter in, and I’m like this is what I wanted in a book. 🥰 can I call it now? At least 4⭐️

Wanted to read another by this author after reading “His and Hers” because the format was neat. This one doesn’t fit quite right with where I am emotionally at the moment (includes someone in a coma who is “locked in”), but the first few lines piqued my interest. So we’ll see how it goes.

😍😍 everything I ever wanted to know about food science

4.5 hours in, I wondered … have I read this book? I decided I don’t think so… so I think it must be similar to a Ruth Ware book that I really enjoyed, so that means I enjoy it! Lol

I like the author’s point about how “the world” focuses on bigger and better and whatnot but that Jesus often used small metaphors — like the power of a mustard seed. … She said it better than I just did.

Ooooooooooo medical ethics

“… those with deep scars [in reference to victims of sexual assault and other hurting people] have something profound to teach us, something that can be learned only through the fires of intense brokenness” (pg 83)

Last prophet LET’S GO

I like her focus in Part 1: NOT on scolding teenagers for having sex.

Jesus didn’t say, “Go into all the world and make virgins and heterosexuals” (lmao)

Instead, she focuses on the importance of talking about sexuality rather than backing away from uncomfortable questions.

JEREMIAH WAS A B… BIT REPETITIVE

(Okay only king of. The first 24 chapters are pretty similar. The joke was worth it)

Listening on audiobook. Mental note to acquire physical copy.