Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Narrated by Rebecca Lowman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

𑁋𑁋𑁋

I listened to an audio version of Landline, and it was amazing! Rebecca Lowman did an incredible job. I also loved that the main character was my age, and that she was living in a similar situation (husband + kids). It was wonderfully relatable! I understood Neal's frustrations and Georgie's insecurities. It's hard trying to balance everything life throws at you, especially when you have children! They require a lot of time and energy. 💤

In this story, Georgie's relationship with her husband (Neal) isn't perfect. They've lost the spark in their marriage, and they've stopped trying to be better people for each other. Georgie has always known what she's wanted, and Neal has never begrudged her that, although he does dislike pretty much everything about her job. Georgie's relationship with Seth (her best friend even before Neal was in the picture) is a particular sore spot for them both. Her late nights and long hours is something else he struggles with accepting, which I can understand. She's never home, and when she is, she's either on the phone (more work) or too tired to stay awake.

The magical realism in Landline was particularly interesting, especially since most young adults today will not understand how a landline works, or what it's like to talk on a phone with a chord. (Maybe if they've tried talking on their cell phones while they're plugged in??) It's definitely something a specific generation will resonate with, but still contains a story that will apply to everyone. Sometimes we have to remember why we love someone. Having problems doesn't mean your relationship is doomed, but that maybe it's not getting the attention it deserves.

I really liked seeing Georgie talk to a younger version of her husband, and recall specific events that were important milestones in their relationship. Obviously, they were different people in their 20's, before getting married and having kids, but they're still the people they fell in love with.

I also enjoyed seeing Georgie's interactions with her family, and how complex those relationships were. I particularly enjoyed Heather's appearances, since they felt the most significant. Heather had a lot of Life Questions for her sister (she's 18), and Georgie was struggling to find answers amidst her own personal crisis.

I wished there had been more resolution between Georgie and Neal, but the story left me feeling hopeful and optimistic. Georgie's grand gesture seems to have put them back on the right track (something that was sadly a little obvious from the start), but they're going to have to actually talk about their problems before they can get better. Neal just wants to "start over" and not fight, and that's not going to fix what's broken. I wanted them to talk about their feelings in the present.

Overall, Landline was an enjoyable audiobook with a relatable main character. Georgie's phone calls to the past were interesting, and a very unique concept that I haven't seen before! It was like time travel, but not... voice travel? Mind travel? I'm not sure how the phone worked, but it allowed Georgie to sort through her feelings, and remember all of the reasons she fell in love with her husband. I really liked her focus on his facial features, and how easy it was for her to read him. (★★★⋆☆)

Mini Reviews [29]

Little Bird #1 by Darcy Van Poelgeest, 

Ian Bertram (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Director/screenwriter DARCY VAN POELGEEST boasts a long list of awards and accolades for his storytelling prowess and brings the same writing finesse to IAN BERTRAM's breathtakingly detailed artwork in the gorgeous, hyper-detailed miniseries LITTLE BIRD.With the same limitless scope as a new EAST OF WEST or SAGA and the drama and surrealism of Akira, LITTLE BIRD follows a young resistance fighter who battles against an oppressive American Empire and searches for her own identity in a world on fire.

𑁋

I didn't hate this, but it wasn't really for me. It was weird and disturbing, but also incredibly gory and violent. I'm looking for more happiness in my comics these days, not torture and death. I think I saw more of what people looked like on the inside (literally, not figuratively), than on the outside. Bleck.

⳼

Transformers (#1-3) by Brian Ruckley, 

Angel Hernandez (Illustrator), Ron

Joseph (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A NEW ERA DAWNS! In the infinite universe, there exists a planet like no other: Cybertron! Home to the Transformers, and a thriving hub for inter-stellar commerce, it is a world brimming with organic and constructed diversity. Immense structures line its landscape. Mechanical giants roam across its surface. Starship-sized titans orbit its skies, keeping a constant protective watch above and below. Ancient Transformers merge into its very fabric. Small, mysterious creatures skulk in its shadows. It is a truly amazing realm, long untouched by war, and exuberantly reaching for the stars. This is the Cybertron that Optimus Prime and Megatron vie for in this bold new origin—a world of seemingly endless peace! All that changes when Bumblebee and Windblade take a newly-forged Cybertronian on his first voyage through this world of wonders—they are confronted by the hard reality of the first murder to have occurred on Cybertron in living memory!

𑁋

My son and I are loving the new Transformers series! He watched Transformers: Rescue Bots on Netflix when he was younger, and now he likes Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Trasformers Prime. However, all of these shows are about their lives once they've landed on Earth. The comic offers more backstory and history. We get to see where they live, how they're created, and what their home planet (Cybertron) looks like. In the movies and television shows there are so few of them left, but in this comic we see how vast their world and population used to be.

Optimus isn't a Prime yet, he's Orion Pax. There hasn't been a war, so Megatron is just like everyone else, and there are no Decepticons. Orion Pax tries to keep the peace and balance what's already there, while Megatron encourages them to do more as a race. He wants them to be more. Bumblebee still has a voice, and there are a lot of other familiar characters as well. I think the story and the illustrations have been fantastic so far, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here. It's so nice to be starting from the very beginning!

⳼

Runaways #20 by Rainbow Rowell,

Kris Anka & Andres Genolet (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The fallout from “That Was Yesterday” is still very much being felt. There’s rebuilding to do, both metaphorical and literal – Are the Runaways up for these repairs?

𑁋

This is going to be my last Runaways comic! I haven't been enjoying is as much the last few issues, and I feel like the characters are stuck on a loop. There is no growth, and nothing happens that really challenges them (physically or emotionally). 

I understand that they're a unit, a group that's always been together, but it would be nice to know them as individuals, too. They have their romances and conflicts, but it all feels very on the surface. It's rare to for Rowell to dig deeper into their personalities and give us something life-changing or relatable. 

Honestly, I feel like they all avoid their problems until everything blows up, and then they scrape by until they resemble what they were before. There's no forward movement, and nothing to indicate that they are going to be anything more than what they are now. Gert is unhappy, since she's literally in the wrong time and place, and her romantic interest is beyond complicated. However, all we see are shared looks and a glimmer of what she's really thinking and feeling. I wish the characters were more open about what they're feeling, but everything seems to stay bottled up.

Old Lace had the potential to be my favorite character, but felt more like a decoration than a member of the team.

⳼

Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Sirens (#1-2) by Sztybor Bartosz, Jakub Rebelka & Cory Godbey (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads):  The critically acclaimed Jim Henson’s The Storyteller celebrates four mythic tales of sirens, inspired by folklore from around the world and told in the spirit of Jim Henson’s beloved television series. In this first issue, Polish writer Sztybor Bartosz teams with artist Jakub Rebelka (Judas) to reimagine the classic Polish folktale “The Fisherman and the Mermaid”. The fisherman is not happy with his life. He works all the time, struggling to make ends meet rather than spending time with his wife and their daughter. One day, while fishing, he hears a mermaid singing and the song overwhelms him with joy. He can’t stop thinking about this song so he captures the mermaid and imprisons her.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I thought the first two books in this series were wonderful! I'm a fan of Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, and was thrilled when I saw Boom! Studios had created a new series (that I still need to read). There's also a Netflix show in the works. Anyhow, Jim Henson is a fantastic storyteller, and The Storyteller: Sirens was no exception. I thought the first issue was a great retelling of The Fisherman and the Mermaid (sad and thought-provoking), while the second issue was a spin on the mythology surrounding Nuwa (super interesting and creative). Both were beautiful and well-written!

My Weekly Pull [57] & Can't Wait Wednesday [27]

My Weekly Pull is something I do every Wednesday to show which comics I had pulled for me that week! If you're into comics, or you're looking to start, please join me! If you decide to do your own post, there's a link-up at the bottom. I would love to stop by and check it out!

Magic Order #6 (of 6) by Mark Millar, Olivier Coipel, Karl Kerschl

Runaways #18 by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka

Jacob's comics for the week!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #91 by Tom Waltz, Michael Dialynas, Kevin Eastman

Hit-Girl Season Two #1 by Kevin Smith, Pernille Orum, Amanda Conner

Kick-Ass #12 by Steve Niles, Marcelo Frusin, Andre Araujo

Amazing Spider-Man #15 by Nick Spencer, Chris Bachalo, Paolo Rivera

Punisher #8 by Matthew Rosenberg, Szymon Kudranski, Greg Smallwood

Spider-Man Deadpool #46 by Robbie Thompson, Matt Horak, Dave Johnson

I have been anxiously awaiting the final issue of Magic Order, and now it's here! If you don't like cliffhangers, this might not be a series for you. Every issue leaves you wanting more (and they're really, really dark). There's always a big surprise or twist at the end, and then you have to wait another month to find out what happens. Thankfully, this is the last one! Everything should be resolved by the end.

This issue of Runaways should conclude the current arc, and I'm curious what Rowell will do next! The characters in this series have grown so much over the last year, and I've enjoyed watching them come together to fight their past and present issues. It's always a fun comic to pick up!

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings, that highlights upcoming releases that we're anticipating and excited to read. It's a spinoff of the feature Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

TheLastMagicianmeetsAGentleman’sGuidetoViceandVirtueinthisthrillingtalefilledwithmagicandsetinthemysteriousCarpathianMountainswhereagirlmusthuntdownVladtheImpaler’scursedringinordertosaveherfather.

Somelegendsneverdie…

Travelingwithhertreasure-huntingfatherhasalwaysbeenadreamforTheodora.She’sreadeverybookinhislibrary,hasanimpressiveknowledgeoftheworld’smostsought-afterrelics,andhasalltheambitionintheworld.Whatshedoesn’thaveisherfather’spermission.Thathonorgoestoherfather’snineteen-year-oldprotégé—andonce-upon-a-timeloveofTheodora’slife—HuckGallagher,whileTheodoraislefttositaloneinherhotelinIstanbul.

UntilHuckarrivesfromanexpeditionwithoutherfatherandenlistsTheodora’shelpinrescuinghim.Armedwithherfather’straveljournal,thereluctantduolearnsthatherfatherhadbeendiggingupinformationonalegendaryandmagicalringthatoncebelongedtoVladtheImpaler—morewidelyknownasDracula—andthatitjustmightbethekeytofindinghim.

JourneyingintoRomania,TheodoraandHuckembarkonacaptivatingadventurethroughGothicvillagesanddarkcastlesinthemistyCarpathianMountainstorecoverthenotoriousring.Buttheyaren’ttheonlyoneswhoaresearchingforit.AsecretiveanddangerousoccultsocietywithapowerfullinktoVladtheImpalerhimselfishuntingforit,too.Andtheywillgotoanylengths—includingmurder—topossessit.Synopsis (via Goodreads): The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

Expected publication: September 10th 2019

this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

Jenn Bennett is my jam! I cannot wait to get my hands on this book! ♡

*Share your My Weekly Pull post! Please leave the direct link to your My Weekly Pull post and not just your blog's URL. Thank you for participating and happy reading!

Runaways (#8-10) by Rainbow Rowell

Runaways (#8-10) by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): "BEST FRIENDS FOREVER" STARTS NOW! The Runaways welcome Karolina's girlfriend, JULIE POWER of the POWER PACK! Well, most of them do. Some have mixed feelings…but they'll all be glad to have an experienced hero around when one of the Universe's most fearsome super villains invades the hostel!!! 

𑁋

First of all, the synopsis overexaggerates. "...but they'll all be glad to have an experienced hero around..." wasn't even an issue. Yes, someone unexpected shows up, but invades isn't the word I would use. The Runaways also do their own thing despite Julie being there, so her experience wasn't really relevant. Moving on!

I never read the synopsis for a comic until I'm writing its review. They're usually a series I'm already reading, so I have a good idea where the story is and don't want any spoilers. However, I haven't read issues four through seven, so it was nice to see that eight started its own arc. I wasn't too terribly lost. I started this series a little late, and I haven't had a chance to get the issues I'm missing. I will though! 

I love Karolina and Julie together! Julie and the Power Pack were new-to-me, so I'm not entirely sure what her specific history is. It didn't detract from the story at all, which was nice. She was just there to visit her girlfriend and got caught up in their shenanigans. 

Dr. Doom is everywhere these days, or at least in all of the comics I'm reading. He was in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Marvel Two-In-One, and there was something else... Gwenpool was ages ago. Ah! All-New Wolverine. Dude Doom gets around. 

I'm not sure how I feel about the Runaways insisting that they're not a team, but a family. Shouldn't they be both? Julie asked the same question, and she also pointed out how completely unprepared they are for danger. There are no plans or backup plans, they don't debrief after a fight, and they tend to make things up as they go. Julie also pointed out that those methods haven't worked for them in the past, because people have died. I'm wondering if this is going to be where they start taking things more seriously. 

I would also like to know what's going on with Nico and her staff. I'm pretty sure that's something I missed in a previous issue, which only makes me want to get them sooner rather than later. I know she can only use a spell once, but now it seems like calling her staff at all causes her pain.

Runaways is definitely one I will continue reading! If you enjoy Rainbow Rowell's books, you would probably love this!

Runaways (#1-3) by Rainbow Rowell

Runaways (#1-3) by Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): GET READY TO RUN! The "IT" book of the early 2000s with the original cast is back – Nico! Karolina! Molly! Chase! Old Lace! And, could it be? GERT?! The heart of the Runaways died years ago, but you won't believe how she returns! Superstar author Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park, Carry On) makes her Marvel debut with fan-favorite artist Kris Anka (ALL-NEW X-MEN, CAPTAIN MARVEL) in the series that will shock you and break your heart!

𑁋

I didn't know much about Runaways before starting this, and I'm still fairly new since I've only read the first three issues. I know there have been other arcs with various writers, but I was intrigued when I discovered Rainbow Rowell was the newest voice behind these characters.

I've enjoyed a lot of Rainbow Rowell's books, which is what initially promoted my interest in this current series. I was not disappointed! I already adore these characters and feel very invested in their lives. It's all new to me, too, so I don't have any expectations when I read (like I would with a Spider-Man or Hulk).

I've only encountered a few of the main characters, but the last issue makes me think they will all be reunited soon (and it looks like trouble will be there, too). I'm curious who the first villain/baddie will be, but I do think it's going to be personal to them somehow (just a feeling!).

The group got their name after running away from home when they witnessed their parents doing some sort of ritual sacrifice on a young girl. They took magical items belonging to their parents, and also discovered new things about themselves.

I feel like there is a lot of history behind these characters, and I cannot wait to dive back in and discover more about them (I think the series is up to 8-9 issues now). Nico has magic, but she can only use a spell once. That makes things really challenging as time passes, because her words and phrasing have to be unique but also applicable. Her maybe relationship (I'm thinking there was one in the past) with Karolina appears to be complicated but like those feelings could still be there.

I love how this group seems to be female-focused, and I really like Chase--he has heart. I think he leads with that most days and just deals with the consequences later. Whatever he does, his friends are there for him regardless, and I feel like that would be true for any one of them.

If you've enjoyed Rainbow Rowell's books, I'm pretty positive you'd like her version of Runaways. You don't need to know their history or have read any of the previous arcs. I know there are things that I'm unaware of, but Rowell doesn't make me feel blindsided by the information. Everything is being revealed in time, and I'm enjoying getting to know these characters along the way. They've each been given a unique voice, and their story is only made better by Kris Anka and his beautiful illustrations.