what the fuck..(once I realized what was happening in this book… OMG I wanted to scream, it’s brilliant)

Super quick read and has a strong stylistic voice suited for horror. I didn't feel much from the story though - no discomfort or stomach churning moments that one would want from this genre, not even unsettled. It wasn't my thing, but I can see how others might enjoy it and get that eerie, mystical feeling.

Wow, what a fascinating little book this turned out to be!Sophia was made for him, her husband. He is perfect, her life is perfect, their house is perfect, everything is perfect. Or is it?For a quick read, this sure kept me guessing at every turn. Just when I thought I'd picked up a clue and have slotted it into my mental picture, something happens that has me reconfiguring everything again. And this kept going until the very end. I was absolutely riveted.From the moment this book showed up on t...

Here’s a running list of comparisons that crossed my mind while immersed in the world of Catherynne M. Valente’s novella, Comfort Me With Apples: - The Stepford Wives- Animal Farm- Margaret Atwood- Lauren Groff- The bible - Greek mythology- Dante’s InfernoClearly, this is quite a bonkers read. In the span of 112 pages (or 2 hours 20 minutes on audio), readers are kept on their toes while trying to place what is happening, why it’s happening, and where it’s happening. I think(????) I figured out

reading all the goodreads horror nominees https://youtu.be/XGfWQh5Ou_c

I can't do it. I dislike this story with a deep passion. Pulling the plug at 64% because I just can't take it anymore. 😫 For those of you who care, I am changing the dates read to 1996, so it won't count towards this year's reading challenge, as I didn't complete it. Nothing could make me.Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy. It was an epic failure for me, but I'm sure someone, somewhere out there will enjoy this one.

↠ 4 starsThe gated community of Arcadia Gardens may seem perfect, but within the confines of the neighborhood, a poisonous truth begins to fester, threatening the very serenity promised to its inhabitants. At surface level, adoring housewife Sophia couldn't ask for a more perfect circumstance. Her life in Arcadia Gardens, her house, and her increasingly absent husband provide her with everything she could possibly imagine. Still, there are things that beg to be questioned, like the strange lock

I got to 65%, and found absolutely no enjoyment. I wasn't into the monotonous narrator, and would've preferred being on the treadmill in silence. This is a hot mess, but many trusted friends love it...so check out other reviews. I'm not the best source when it comes to audio...but I don't think I'd enjoy it more in print either. 2 stars since I read a good chunk of it without finishing. Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Macmillan Tor for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

“Do you want to know? It will do you no good. It will not make you happy. It will not make one moment of what is to come easier on you. But ask me, and I will give it to you.” I knew it! I knew there was a reason why the idea of Homeowners Association always creeped me out. Agreeing to live by the rules of predetermined immaculate front lawns and any color of your home as long as it is white to beige, let alone in a community perfectly gated off from the rest of the world — well, it’s siniste

NOW AVAILABLE!!!i was not expecting this ARC, it just showed up at my place decked out in that delicious cover, and i was intrigued enough to read the author's letter accompanying the book, which begins:As always, it's tremendously difficult to talk about Comfort Me With Apples without giving away the whole game. From the jump, we ruefully laughed about how hard it would be to market a book with such a massive twist that we can only vaguely tell anyone what it's about beyond: You just have to re...

Strange, evil patriarchy theme.I can't say more without giving away too much.I tried to keep an open mind while listening to this novella.I'm not quite sure what message the author was trying to send. I have an idea, but if I'm right, then it failed(a feminist angle). It is listed as Sci-fi/ Fantasy, okay definitely fantasy. It wasn't thrilling or suspenseful and I wouldn't classify it as horror either (nothing scary), although there are some horror elements. I guess there was a mystery, but you...

"Welcome to a new world of luxury living in Arcadia Gardens an exclusive, upscale gated community, the ultimate in amenities, privacy, serenity and security...the outside world cannot trouble you here."The house is luxurious. Sophia wants for nothing. Her world is bright, beautiful...perfect. Her husband spoils her. Often however, she must sleep alone. His very important job requires him to be on call. Sophia doesn't mind. "The world flows in that direction. Him to her. A river of forever...I wa...

Anyone here that knows me well knows that I have been dying to get a copy of this book and that it was one of my most anticipated books this year. I was declined a physical arc, I was declined a digital arc, but I did manage to snag an audio version this morning so I set everything aside to get started. WHAT. A. DISAPPOINTMENT. And it breaks my heart to say that. 💔The best word to describe this book is: NONSENSE. The one positive I took away from this was that I enjoyed Valente's prose. Everythi...

First I'd like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the very quick approval of this audiobook. I kept seeing so many and such varied reviews that I was twitchy with the desire to read this! My husband and I listened to it over the course of two of our evening walks and ohhhh the irony that THIS is the book we chose to read together.I'd like to mirror what I've heard others say - if I'd known in advance where this story was headed I probably wouldn't have decided to read it but I'm glad I

Well….. I’m really at a loss for words. 😬This was one of the strangest, most bizarre books I have ever read! Like ever!😂Did I enjoy it…. Umm…yes…sort of.Did I hate it…. Well yes, that too!Did it leave me speechless…absolutely!Sophia is living her best life. She couldn’t be happier. She lives in the most exclusive neighborhood. And her husband is is everything she dreamed of. She feels she was made for him. But hey... why does everyone keep asking her if she is happy? Careful how you answer that

As with “The Last House on Needless Street” (Catriona Ward) earlier this year, (a very different story) I was so INTRIGUED by the reviews of this book-the lack of description-the reviewers at a loss for words of what to say about it-still processing if they enjoyed it or NOT. As you begin to learn about the tranquil, gated community of Arcadia Gardens (of Eden?), you will wonder about Sophia. She wakes up each morning pleased with the fact that she was made for her husband-and perfect for him. S...

I decided to check out all the hype with this one.Well...I must say I really did not enjoy it much.It's an odd book. The audio did catch my attention at the very beginning but it did not last long. The narrator was very slow and pronounced but I did feel okay with that in the beginning as everything was being set-up as being, "perfect." Then...it started to grate on my nerves.I know many have enjoyed this story and feel it took a clever turn. For me it was just strange and not very entertaining....

"Comfort Me With Apples" by Catherynne M. Valente is perfectly written with perfectly lovely prose!For 2 hours and 20 minutes I wondered what the heck am I listening to? I wanted to know more. I listened to every word for clues, hints and innuendo and you know what? It was all there! The cover art is perfect. The writers prose is perfect and the narrators voicing is, well...just perfect! It's a perfect community and everything about it is designed to perfection. There are rules and they are long...

Well, that was UNEXPECTED! This one was peculiar and yet, I could not stop reading it. Everything is perfect in Arcadia Gardens. There are, of course, rules one must live by. They seem very homeowner assosiation-ish in the beginning but then the rules take on a certain slant. But what can you expect from a place that is so perfect? I mean everything is perfect (It MUST be perfect). Sophia is happy. She has the perfect husband, the perfect house, the perfect life. But her husband goes away at ti...

On sale now! Full review, first posted on FantasyLiterature.com:Sophia finds life in Arcadia Gardens beautiful and luxurious and wonderful. Certainly, her husband rarely sleeps next to her nowadays and seems preoccupied even when he is around, but of course his work is terribly important, and he gives her so much. And she doesn’t mind all of the rules and restrictions of the Homeowners Association, who are only looking out for the residents’ best interests. The neighbors all love her and respect...