audiobook

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Youthjuice by E.K. Sathue

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⭐ Quick Snapshot

  • Genre: Horror / Satire
  • Format: Audiobook (via NetGalley)
  • Published: 2024
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

✨ First Impressions

I received this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The premise immediately caught my attention: a wellness empire in NYC with a too-good-to-be-true beauty product. I expected satire, but what I got was something darker, stranger, and far more entertaining.

📖 What It’s About (Spoiler-Free)

Sophia works at HEBE, a luxury skincare and wellness company in SoHo. She struggles with childhood trauma and chews her hands until they’re raw—hiding them beneath gloves. When HEBE gifts her their latest product, youthjuice, Sophia tests it on her damaged skin, and the results are nothing short of miraculous.

But perfection comes at a cost. As Sophia digs deeper into HEBE’s pristine facade, she uncovers disturbing truths behind the cream’s effectiveness—and what she finds is both horrifying and hilarious.

🖋️ Writing & Style

Sathue’s writing blends biting satire with grotesque body horror. The pacing keeps you hooked: mundane office culture one moment, a shocking reveal the next. The narration in the audiobook amplified the unsettling, glossy-yet-creepy tone perfectly.

👤 Characters / Key Ideas

  • Sophia: a flawed but sympathetic lead—her gloves and anxieties make her feel very real.
  • HEBE: less a company than a character itself, with its polished branding hiding depravity.
  • Themes: beauty standards, consumerism, and the horror of what we’ll endure for perfection.

💡 Highlights & Favorite Moments

  • The opening immediately sets a tone of dread mixed with humor.
  • The reveal about Sophia’s lace gloves was one of the most disturbing—and memorable—twists.
  • The slow unraveling of youthjuice’s secret kept me both horrified and amused.

🤔 What Could Be Better

The horror is deliciously grotesque, but some readers may find the body horror a little too intense or over the top. If you prefer your satire sharp but subtle, this one doesn’t hold back.

🎯 Final Verdict

Youthjuice is a disgustingly fun mix of satire and horror. It exposes the rot under glossy consumer culture, all while making you laugh, cringe, and squirm. If you like American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada—with a horror twist—this is a must-read (or listen).

📌 Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

💬 Let’s Discuss!

Have you read Youthjuice yet? Did the mix of horror and humor work for you, or was it too grotesque? Let me know what you think in the comments!

BOOK REVIEW: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

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⭐ Quick Snapshot

  • Genre: Cozy Fantasy
  • Pages: 304
  • Published: 2022
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

✨ First Impressions

I’d heard so much buzz about Legends & Lattes being a “cozy fantasy” that felt like a warm hug, so I went in expecting something lighthearted and comforting—a break from epic battles and dark quests. The concept of an orc giving up adventuring to start a coffee shop definitely piqued my curiosity.

📖 What It’s About (Spoiler-Free)

Viv, a battle-weary orc, hangs up her sword and decides to open a coffee shop in a city where no one even knows what coffee is. Along the way, she gathers an unlikely group of friends—each with their own quirks—who help bring her dream to life. It’s not about saving kingdoms or fighting monsters, but about building community and finding a new purpose.

🖋️ Writing & Style

The writing is simple, accessible, and deliberately low-stakes. Baldree has a knack for painting warm, cozy settings that make you want to curl up with a latte while you read. That said, the straightforward style sometimes felt a bit too plain, and I occasionally wished for more depth in the descriptions or conflicts.

👤 Characters / Key Ideas

  • Viv: A refreshing protagonist—an orc who isn’t out for blood, but for peace and fulfillment.
  • Cal, Thimble, and other supporting characters add charm and heart.
  • At its core, the book is about reinvention, community, and small joys, which is a nice change of pace from high-stakes fantasy.

💡 Highlights & Favorite Moments

  • Watching Viv learn the ups and downs of running a business was surprisingly relatable.
  • Thimble’s pastries? Honestly, the descriptions made me crave baked goods.
  • The found-family dynamic was sweet, especially how the characters rallied around each other.

🤔 What Could Be Better

While the coziness is the book’s strength, it’s also its weakness at times. The plot moves at a very gentle pace—so gentle that I occasionally found myself wishing for more tension or surprises. Some characters could have used more layers, and the conflicts wrapped up a little too neatly.

🎯 Final Verdict

Legends & Lattes is a charming, low-stakes story that offers a warm escape from darker fantasy tropes. If you’re looking for action, high drama, or complex worldbuilding, this probably won’t hit the mark. But if you want something cozy, comforting, and a little different, it’s worth a try.

📌 Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

💬 Let’s Discuss!

Have you read Legends & Lattes yet? Did you find it cozy and heartwarming, or did you crave a bit more action? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

BOOK REVIEW: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

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Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 1 minute

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

No. of Book in Series: 0

Goodreads’ Synopsis: When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek.

In Bookshops & Bonedust, a prequel to Legends & Lattes, New York Times bestselling author Travis Baldree takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

Viv’s career with the notorious mercenary company Rackam’s Ravens isn’t going as planned.

Wounded during the hunt for a powerful necromancer, she’s packed off against her will to recuperate in the sleepy beach town of Murk—so far from the action that she worries she’ll never be able to return to it.

What’s a thwarted soldier of fortune to do?

Spending her hours at a beleaguered bookshop in the company of its foul-mouthed proprietor is the last thing Viv would have predicted, but it may be both exactly what she needs and the seed of changes she couldn’t possibly imagine.

Still, adventure isn’t all that far away. A suspicious traveler in gray, a gnome with a chip on her shoulder, a summer fling, and an improbable number of skeletons prove Murk to be more eventful than Viv could have ever expected.

Read Start Date: April 1, 2024

Read Finish Date: April 8, 2024

My Review: I borrowed this audiobook from the library as it was on top of the “popular” list. I knew nothing about it, nor did I even read the synopsis before reading (as is mostly the case when I check books out this way). The characters are fantasy creatures such as Orcs, Elves, etc., but I felt the author could have easily just transferred the characters to humans, which would have made no difference. I never really felt how each species was different i.e., how their species made them unique or what attributes it gave them (other than being big in Viv’s case) or what the characters looked like.

Essentially, the story is about an Orc who works as a mercenary. She is injured and must convalesce until her mercenary group returns from their next mission. While looking around the town, she finds a bookshop and becomes friends with the owner, Fern, a “Ratkin” (which I assume is some giant rat?). Fern says swear words a lot, which fell flat if it was supposed to lend a funny air to the book.

While this book was imaginative and entertaining to listen to, I struggled to identify what this book was trying to be. It was definitely not your typical fantasy book. I couldn’t help making parallels to the book I read a while back called The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan (see my review here). Bookshops & Bonedust felt more like a feel-good story about saving a struggling bookstore than a fantasy adventure. I should note here, however, that a subplot does involve a necromancer.

Unfortunately, although Goodreads identifies this book as a “romance,” and there is a romance subplot, I didn’t feel it. There was no heat, no fire. I just didn’t feel the connection between Viv and her romantic interest.

In conclusion, my experience with Bookshops & Bonedust was mixed. I recommend this book to readers interested in narratives that blend fantasy elements with everyday life. However, readers seeking intense romance or action-packed adventures may want more from the book. Ultimately, Bookshops & Bonedust offers a charming escape for those who appreciate whimsical storytelling and are open to blended genres.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: “My Husband’s Trying to Kill Me!”: A True Story of Money, Marriage, and Murderous Intent by Jim Schutze

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Audiobook Length: 9 hours and 25 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, True Crime

Publisher: Open Road Media Mystery & Thriller

Published Date: 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: From an award-winning journalist, this “grippingly suspenseful true-crime tale details the foiling of a wealthy Texan’s plot to have his wife murdered”(Publishers Weekly).

To the world, Linda DeSilva’s marriage to Robert Edelman was perfect. He was her college boyfriend turned wealthy and successful husband, and the father of her children. But what friends and family didn’t know was that the Texas real estate tycoon who set her up with a luxurious life in Dallas was also her abuser. When she asked him for a divorce, the violence against her only escalated, until the shocking moment she learned her husband had hired an assassin to take her life. 

From acclaimed journalist and author Jim Schutze, “My Husband’s Trying to Kill Me!” is the riveting true-crime account of how Linda DeSilva worked with the FBI to trap her husband before he could act on his murderous intentions—and how the sting operation nearly got her killed instead. A shocking and sensational story of a wife and mother’s escape from the marriage that went from American dream to every woman’s worst nightmare.

Read Start Date: March 23, 2024

Read Finish Date: March 27, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Linda Edelman didn’t know the truth about Robert until he first punched her in the face. A real scum bag, he was only interested in money and winning. He made her life hell when she finally asked for a divorce, using the children as pawns against her. He didn’t care about them — he only cared that he was taking them away from Linda. Unfortunately, there are many abusers out there, but not all of them stoop to hiring a hitman.

Written like a fiction novel, this book spans from the early part of their marriage until Robert is tried and convicted. It is well written, well researched, and it kept my attention. I was eager to keep listening, and was always astonished and disgusted at Robert’s antics.

I would definitely recommend it to true crime fans.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Crash Course by Julie Whipple

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Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 2 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, Aviation

Publisher: Yamhill Canyon Press

Published Date: 2018

Goodreads’ Synopsis: On a cold winter night, a passenger jet with 189 aboard crash landed, out of fuel, in a suburban neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Ten people died. The pilot was blamed and stripped of his career, and a sweeping transformation of flight-crew training took place that made United Flight 173 (in)famous worldwide as the model for failure and change. That was only the half of it.

Hiding in plain sight for years in an attorney’s file boxes, the forgotten truths of the landmark air disaster reveal much more: an emotional journey tethered to the disgraced pilot and a three-year-old girl who survived the crash and became an unlikely hero for justice and public safety in the dramatic legal battle that followed.

Crash Course, by award-winning journalist Julie Whipple, is the long-overdue, true story of a misunderstood airline tragedy that changed more about our daily lives than most people know. Here is why we’re safer today, how we’re not, and what we can do about it.

Read Start Date:  March 16, 2024

Read Finish Date: March 23, 2024

My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I had never heard of this 1978 crash in Portland, Oregon. Luckily, most of the passengers survived, but many suffered lifelong effects such as PTSD. The book discusses what happened and dives into the legal battles that followed. Whipple, the daughter of the lawyer who handled one such lawsuit, focuses mainly on her father’s case, which involved the personal injury lawsuit of a small child injured in the crash. She lost her entire family (parents and two sisters) and was suffering from not only physical injuries but emotional and mental as well.

I thought the book was well-researched and well-written. Although it describes a horrific event, the author doesn’t spend too much time on gory details, which is nice. Even though it was a nonfiction book, I was utterly invested in the outcome of little Lisa’s trial. She suffered so much, and I wanted a good outcome for her. I rejoiced when the jury gave her compensation and was morally outraged by the airline’s callous, reckless behavior.

Overall, this book seems like a good pick for readers who enjoy a mix of true crime, legal drama, and human interest stories, all presented in a well-written and informative way.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Quozl by Alan Dean Foster

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Audiobook Length: 13 hours and 28 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Aliens

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Published Date: February 20, 2024

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Rabbitlike aliens from outer space colonize Earth during humankind’s Second World War in a delightfully funny and thought-provoking science fiction adventure. 

The Quozl just need somewhere to call home. A gentle race of extraterrestrial rabbits, they have a propensity for reproduction that has left their home planet, Quozlene, dangerously overpopulated, and in their search for greener and less-crowded pastures, they have discovered the perfect place to start the third planet away from a healthy, warming sun. What they don’t realize is that this world they call Shiraz is already inhabited by a species of violent sentient creatures known as humans.   But there’s no going back now. In the midst of the brutal and helpfully distracting global conflict the Shirazians call World War II, the colony ship lands undetected, and the space rabbits immediately go into hiding. But a secret like the Quozl can be concealed for only so long, especially when their numbers start to increase and certain rebellious members of the long-eared society decide the time is ripe to claim their place in a world they believe is rightfully theirs.   One of the most admired and prolific authors in the science fiction arena, Alan Dean Foster will delight readers who hunger for something different with this funny, thoughtful, and wildly inventive novel of first contact and coexistence. Once you meet the Quozl, you will never forget them.

Read Start Date: March 7, 2024

Read Finish Date: March 16, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The story centers around a race of rabbit-like aliens called the Quozl who are on a mission to find a new home planet. Their spaceship is a generation ship, meaning that the Quozl on board are descendants of the original colonists and have never set foot on a planet before.

The Quozl land on Earth during World War II and are shocked to discover that Earth is already inhabited by another intelligent species. The Quozl are a peaceful and docile race, and they are horrified by the violence and destruction they witness on Earth. They decide to keep their presence a secret and establish an underground colony. They are worried about what humans will do to them if they are discovered.

At first, the story follows a Quozl named Looks-at-Charts: A scout on the Quozl ship. He’s responsible for finding a suitable planet and plays a crucial role in the initial landing on Earth. In the second part, the story shifts to Looks-at-Charts’ extended relation, Runs-Red-Talking, who stumbles across a human child, and this simple interaction will start a chain of events that will forever change Quozl’s history.

What I liked most about the book was Foster’s detailed alien culture of the Quozl. Their social structure, communication, and motivations are interesting and well-explored. I also liked that they were giant rabbits, and in many respects, they had the same character traits as Earth rabbits, which was rather humorous.

The pacing could have been improved. Although the book kept my attention, the story sometimes moved slower than I would have liked. For example, the book spans many decades, with the main storyline happening in the present. The beginning world-building part was the aspect that dragged a bit, although it did build a good foundation for the main plotline.

Overall, Quozl is a charming and entertaining read that will leave you smiling. It’s a perfect pick-me-up for anyone who enjoys lighthearted sci-fi.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Holus Bolus by William Pauley III

/ E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 5 hours and 37 minutes

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Bizarro Fiction, Horror,

No. of Book in Series: 6

Publisher: Doom Fiction

Published Date: June 1, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: OUR PROTAGONIST is pretty sure he’s just committed a murder. The body is newly dead, he’s the only one around, and a quick look at the evidence suggests he’s guilty as sin.

Also, he’s totally insane.

A rare brain condition causes his memories to reset every day, and because of this, he often wakes up in strange places with no memory of how he got there. He can’t even remember his own name. When he’s not racking his brain over his shoddy memory, he’s arguing incessantly with a disembodied voice that doesn’t seem to belong to him, one he can only hear inside his head.

He may not know much about the troubling situation he just woke up to, but he knows, without a doubt, that he’s completely f*cked.

While the odds are certainly stacked against him, there may be hope for our protagonist yet, for clutched in the corpse’s cold, clammy hands is a handwritten tome that suggests not only his innocence, but also reveals some bizarre and dangerous secrets, leading him to believe his own apartment building may be to blame… or is, at the very least, an accomplice.

That sounded better inside his head.

Luckily he’s not the only one trying to solve the case. The book also leads him to a group of outcasts who are in the midst of their own investigation. The only problem? They all suspect one another!

One thing’s for certain, someone inside the tower is a cold-blooded killer. Can our protagonist solve the murder before he falls asleep and his memories reset? Or worse, before the killer strikes again?

Find out in HOLUS BOLUS. You’ll be pushed to the very edge of sanity!

Read Start Date: March 1, 2024

Read Finish Date: March 7, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is yet another unique and brilliantly written novel from William Pauley III. The fantastic Connor Brannigan returns as the narrator. While it is the sixth book in the Bedlam Bible series, the main character, along with a few other characters, are from another book, The Doom Magnetic Trilogy.

The story opens with a bang, throwing you headfirst into the nightmarish reality of the protagonist. Waking up next to a dead body with no memory is a terrifying proposition, but add a dash of amnesia that wipes the slate clean every night, and you have a recipe for heart-pounding suspense. Is he really the killer? Was it someone else? How did he come to be in this situation? And what the hell is Holus Bolus, and what will happen when the counter gets to zero?

The supporting cast is quirky and enjoyably weird, and the last portion of the book twists and turns in a way that I never saw coming.

As with all of Pauley’s books, this one is a must read for fans of the weird and those who can handle descriptive violence and gore.

Other Books I’ve Read in this Series:

To see my review of the above book, please click on the following titles: The Tower, White Fuzz, The Astronaut Dream Book, Fight Tub, The Ballad of Old Joe Booth, Twelve Residents Dreaming.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Automated Daydreaming by William Pauley III

/ E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 5 hours and 53 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Bizarro Fiction

Publisher: Doom Fiction

Published Date: November 14 ,2021

Goodreads’ Synopsis: This is a cycle. Unalleviated, its components are connected by electricity and fed through the rage of lightning. Insect and road monsters scour the desert. Bodies morph into new constructions, only partially human and searching for conclusion. Tongues entwine in an embrace of benthos, while mermaids and jellyfish glow in tandem. The moon is waiting. Dream.

Read Start Date: February 8, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 11, 2024

My Review: I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Usually, I love Pauley’s books, and I have read nearly everything he has written. While I usually give Pauley’s books 5 stars, this one didn’t land as nicely as the others. Honestly, I think I was too triggered by this book. For example, there was one particularly graphic scene of rape with a truly “bizarro fiction” twist. It was too much. The writing was so vivid, and it was so disgusting that it literally turned my stomach.

The above being said, I am still giving this book 4 stars. Pauley is a master at description. It is what I love about his writing. Connor Brannigan returns as the narrator; his performance was as great as usual. Bricker Cablejuice (great character name) is immortal, and he is forced to live the lives of 5 other people through “automated daydreaming.” It was a little confusing how the lives intertwined as Cablejuice “switched between channels.” Each of the lives was very interesting and unique.

If you’re looking for a light and fluffy read, this is not the book for you. But if you’re interested in a dark, weird, vivid, and imaginative story, then Automated Daydreaming is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for some disturbing content.

Reviews Published
Professional Reader
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BOOK REVIEW: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 39 minutes

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Read Start Date: December 23, 2023

Read Finish Date: December 30, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody.

White lies
When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.

Dark humour
But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

Deadly consequences…
What happens next is entirely everyone else’s fault.

With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.

My Review: June and Athena were barely friends. That didn’t stop June from milking Athena’s death. June was there when Athena choked on a pancake and died, and she played it up to social media that she and Athena were besties. And that wasn’t the most despicable thing June did — June stole Athena’s unfinished masterpiece and published it under her own name. I loved this book from the beginning. I both loved and was disgusted by June, as she is a complex and well-developed character, making her both relatable and infuriating. The other characters in the book were similarly well-written.

I also loved the writing. Kuang’s prose is sharp and witty, infused with a biting satire. The author masterfully portrays June’s descent into moral decay as she clings to her stolen success, oblivious to the fact that she is appropriating Chinese culture, or that she is doing anything wrong at all.

I also really liked reading about the publishing industry and wondered whether any of it was exaggerated or not. The author delivers a scathing indictment of the publishing industry’s exploitation of minority voices and its perpetuation of harmful stereotypes — whether this is an accurate portrayal, I cannot say, as I have no frame of reference. Regardless, it was very interesting to read, and if even half of it is true, I am glad for my decision to self-publish.

I read this book during the Christmas holidays. This year, we spent the holiday with my boyfriend’s family, and I missed mine terribly. I was glad for the dark humor / satire of this book, as it took me away from the real world for a little while. Beyond the thought-provoking nature of this book, it was entertaining throughout, and I would highly recommend it.

NETGALLEY BOOK REVIEW: Chaos in Color: A Memoir of Childhood Trauma and Forgiveness by R. Layla Salek, PhD

/ E.A. Hoffmann / 1 Comment

Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 5 minutes

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Publisher: River Grove Books

Published Date: September 19, 2023

Goodreads’ Synopsis: From a young age, Layla Salek has experienced some people as colors—her mother brown, her father green, her husband rainbow. As she notes, sometimes, when words fail, colors speak.

Chaos in Color is the captivating story of Layla’s journey from childhood to adulthood with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Each chapter paints a vivid, heartbreaking picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma that she experienced as she grew up at the mercy of her mother’s bipolar swings, an incompetent mental health system, and the strangers with whom she was often left. But dissipating those times of darkness were moments of love, joy, and happiness that she felt while being cared for by others in her life. These moments inspired her to start her own family, complete a doctorate in psychology, and work with children with mental illness and severe behavior disorders.

Layla’s story traces how personal and familial trauma is carried into adulthood and how it can be released through forgiveness. This honest, provocative memoir offers a relatable account for others who have experienced similar trauma, as well as hope for healing and a future full of light.

Read Start Date: January 30, 2024

Read Finish Date: February 5, 2024

My Review: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The book chronicles Salek’s journey from childhood to adulthood, growing up with a mother who suffered from untreated bipolar disorder. Through vivid and emotional prose, Salek paints a picture of the abuse, neglect, and trauma she endured, but also her resilience and, ultimately, her path toward forgiveness.

I really liked this book. It was honest and raw, and it did not sugarcoat anything. The author was unapologetic in telling her trauma story, which is really brave. I could not help thinking of my young daughter as I read this book. I cannot imagine EVER treating my daughter like Salek’s mother treated Salek. It just plain broke my heart.

The one aspect of the story that I was not so enamored with was the relationship to the colors. Salek possesses the unique ability to see people in colors, each representing their aura and experiences. However, I found that this ability was not fleshed out well in the book. Salek refers to each person by their color on multiple occasions, but she doesn’t really explain what each color means to the reader. For example, her mother was either “brown” or “black.” While intuitively, I can assume that “black” is negative, I have no idea what a brown aura means. A friend of hers is “purple.” You can pull from the story that purple is good, but the exact meaning is never explained. This is true of all the main players in the book given colors.

Chaos in Color is not an easy read. As I mentioned above, it dives headfirst into the harrowing reality of childhood trauma, weaving a narrative that confronts abuse, neglect, and resilience with unflinching honesty. This is a crucial strength – the book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths, making it a powerful testament to the author’s journey.

However, this raw portrayal comes with triggers. Descriptions of emotional and physical abuse may stir difficult emotions, and the overall weight of the story can be emotionally draining. Despite the heavy subject matter, the book portrays hope and the human spirit’s ability to persevere. Salek’s courage in sharing her story and ultimately finding forgiveness is truly inspiring. I would definitely recommend it for readers who can handle the emotional toll.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.