Best of November

Here are our bests from November!!!! 

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong

"Such a great series."

Carole - The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

"This was chaos but great!"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

"Didn't watch anything new that I can even remember. But I rewatched this gem TWICE. So yes. It is the best."

Blodeuedd - Inside Out 2 (2024)

"I watched this one when kiddo was sick and demanded Disney+."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - The Lincoln Lawyer, Will Trent, Heartstopper, & Our Flag Means Death

"I had a lot of series to finish!! Been busy."

Carole - Catching Killers & Fallout

"Gah. Both were so good for COMPLETELY different reason."

Best Cover of the Month:

B's pick

C's pick

Best of January

Our first bests of for the year! Let's gooooo!

Best Movie of the Month:

Blodeuedd -  Leave the World Behind (2023)

"Best movie was Leave the World Behind. Chilling."

Carole - Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

"I only watched this and one other, so I have to give it to this even though it was a re-watch...so good. Can't stop. Won't stop."

Best Book of the Month:

Carole - Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

"Chilling. Intense. Great!!!"

Blodeuedd - White Oleander by Janet Fitch

"Best book. So well written. And disturbing too."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Love is Blind Sweden

"I was watching Love is Blind Sweden. I got hooked"

Carole - Reservation Dogs (s3)

"Ugh! I am so sad there won't be more. S3 was soooo good. All the feels man."

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's Pick

Blodeuedd's Pick

Movie Review: Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Film Name: Crazy Rich Asians

Length:  2 HR

Released: 2018

Genre:  Romance, Comedy, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: HBO Max

SUMMARY:

This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family.

REVIEW:

Finallllly got myself to sit down and watch this movie. I've been wanting to watch it since I read the book. 

The story follows Rachel who flies to Singapore with her boyfriend to meet his family. Little does she know she is about to walk into the hornet's nest. They are rich. Beyond rich. They are snobby and judgey. 

Poor, poor Rachel. She is just a professor in love with a boy she thought was normal. He is normal...personality-wise. He likes the simple things. However, he comes from big and old money. Dumb boy for not giving her a head's up and preparing her properly. Literally dropped her among wolves. Sighs. I love Nick..he's a good egg....but uncool bro. 

I loved that we did get to see Astrid's drama unfold with her husband. Love her. She has a heart of gold too and deserves the world. 

From what I remember of the book, I felt like this did a good job in balancing the book and the director's vision. It was nice. No issues there. 

They need to do the 2nd book now. You can't just LEAVE it like that. There is SO much more drama ahead for these lovebirds and the side characters!!!!! MOVIE TWO NOW!!!! Especially with how they ended this one!! EEEEEE.

Okay. I loved the cast. Some popular faces here and even a couple comedians. Loved Ken!! I didn't expect to see him. He was hilarious AS normal.

There is comedy sprinkled around here. I felt like it was a nice balance of comedy and drama. It felt like real life in a way. Sometimes there is humor in our pain....and sometimes just pain in our pain. 

In the end, I really enjoyed this movie. It was much better than I thought it was going to be (I always get nervous with book-to-movie adaptations). The cast was great. The script was a perfect balance. You don't need to read the book to enjoy the movie. This is a goodie for Valentine's Day that is for sure. I'll give this 5 stars. 

Audiobook Review: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Author: Kevin Kwan

Narrator: Lynn Chen

Title: Crazy Rich Asians

(Crazy Rich Asians #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Humor

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 544 

Published:   June 11th 2013

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season.

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry.

Review:

Been meaning to read this book for a while. I want to watch the movie so bad, but I really wanted to start with the book first. Finally got myself to crack this open when I got the audio version!

We follow Rachel Chu and Nick Young mainly. Rachel agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend. She is excited to finally meet his family and see where he grew up. What she didn't expect is that Nick is one of Asia's most eligible bachelors and his family is rich beyond comprehension and not everyone is thrilled that Nick is bringing her home...especially his formidable mother. 

I knew this was going to be a hot mess for Rachel from the moment I realized Nick did NOT at all prepare her for his world. What the heck man? I would be pissed if I was Rachel. Sure - I get talking about one's family wealth is tacky and frowned upon....but tell her SOMETHING. She was for sure tossed into the snake's pit unprepared. 

Besides for Nick being an idiot, I really liked him. I felt so bad for him. So many vipers in that world! I can see why he wanted to live in New York and enjoy a simple life. I don't blame him. As much as I would love buying everything my heart desires and having a private jet....I like my simple life. 

Poor, poor Astrid. I want her to be happy. Screw you Michael! 

Gah. Everyone sucked except for Nick, Astrid, Rachel, Nick's BFF, and the BFF's wife-to-be. Stuck-up jerks. BUT it was so entertaining watching all the unneeded drama and cat-fights. Rich people are so dumb! Hahaha. 

OOOOOO that last minute twist had me so upset. I wanted to shake Rachel and shake Rachel's mom. I hope we get more resolution in the next book. This CANNOT BE SWEPT UNDER THE RUG. GAH!

I loved the author's writing style. It felt so breezy but it was loaded with a lot of information. The author did a great job making it clear who was who. 

The narrator helped too. I was a wee bit nervous because normally with big casts I try to avoid audio because it makes it hard to remember all the details of each person who pops up. The narrator did fantastic! Everyone had different voices. Sure some seemed similar but they all felt different. Kuddos to the author and the narrator! 

All-in-all, I really did enjoy this. It was a lot of unneeded drama because rich people are bored. I hated nearly everyone, but the ones I liked I loved. I am curious about book 2 mainly because that last minute twist had my head spinning. GIMME MORE PLEASE! I'll give this 4 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):
- #4for Audiobook challenge

- # 3 for Bingo

Not US/UK setting

 

Blodeuedd's Monday Movie Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M. Chu

Writers: Peter Chiarelli (screenplay by), Adele Lim (screenplay by) Kevin Kwan (based on the novel "Crazy Rich Asians")

Stars: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh Kevin Kwan .

The story follows Rachel Chu (Wu), an American-born Chinese economics professor, who travels to her boyfriend Nick's (Golding) hometown of Singapore for his best friend's wedding. Before long, his secret is out: Nick is from a family that is impossibly wealthy, he's perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia, and every single woman in his ultra-rarefied social class is incredibly jealous of Rachel and wants to bring her down.

Comedy/Romance/ 2 h

My Thoughts

I enjoyed the book, but I do remember that it was funnier than this one was. This was more drama and romance. I missed the funny stuff from the book, but then it was long ago so who knows how funny it really was.

Rachel is dating a cute guy, and she goes with him to Singapore for a wedding. Oh and the secret comes out, he is reeeeally rich. Like crazy rich.

The movie is then about how some of his family cannot accept her.

She is not of money

Her mother raised her on her own

She is American. Or as they said yellow on the outside, and white on the inside.

She might love him, but what has love got to do with it.

Yes obviously some of his family are idiots. And women who wanted to catch him are catty and whisper golddigger. Ugh people!

Singapore looks great. I want to visit!

I know the Astrid story was in the books too, but I felt like it took away from this movie. I wish they had left it out.

The movie was good, but the book was better.

Best of November 2018

Happy December!! Here are our Best of's for NOVEMBER!

First, favorite movies:

First, Blodeuedd's favorite.....Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

"It was a good movie, not amazing, but certainly best this month."

Now, my pick......Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

"Didn't watch too many movies this month BUT this would outshine all of them. I absolutely adored this movie. I even went and seen it twice at the theater. For sure watch this!"

Next, Book favorites:

First, my pick.............The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan

"Had a couple really good ones this month, but I would have to say this is the best one. The narrator, as per normal, was awesome. I adored the hero and heroine. So good!"

Now, Blodeuedd's pick.....Toxic by Lydia Kang

"It was one of those months. Not a single amazing book, mostly good solid reads. Which makes it hard to pick, but I say this one cos Vikas Adam!"

Lastly, best covers:

Blodeuedd's is on the second one and mine is on the first one.

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.