Tag: Ann Aguirre

I don’t know what to say about these books—I’m not the target audience for these, and I’m not sure exactly why I tried any of them. But something about them caught my attention and I had a blast with them all. I don’t have a full post about any of them in me, but I have a few things to say. As usual, the point of these quick takes posts is to catch up on my “To Write About” stack—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.

On Again, Awkward Again

by Erin Entrada Kelly & Kwame Mbalia, read by Jennifer Aquino & James Fouhey

DETAILS:
Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
Publication Date: April 15, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hrs., 48 min.
Read Date: September 17-18, 2025

(the official blurb)
It delivers on the premise precisely. It’s sort of a variation on Rowell’s Elenor & Park, but done in a way that probably won’t get anyone annoyed by the depictions of the various ethnicities depicted.

Two geeky kids (in their own ways) who see beyond the geekiness to the great person (not ignoring it, but embracing it and the person exhibiting it). They’re drawn to each other, enjoy each other, and you can’t help but hope for a Happily Ever After (or at least a Happily-‘Til-Graduation).

The narration was great. I really loved the way they brought the characters to life.

3 Stars

I Think I’m in Love with an Alien

by Ann Aguirre, read by Faith Clark & Cary Hite

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: June 17, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hrs., 47 min. 
Read Date: July 31-August 5, 2025

(the official blurb)
I’ve read some pretty good UF by Aguirre, and some good SF by her, too (and would’ve finished the series if I hadn’t had trouble finding a book or two at the library). But they were pretty serious—so seeing a Rom-Com with her name on it intrigued me. A Rom-Com with this premise even more so. An alien stranded on Earth meets some friends in an online chat room, develops a crush for one of them, and then they arrange to meet at a con. She’s a bit of a geek, who has a pretty sizable crush on him. Things spark at the con, just as you expect and…

I really liked our female main character and their friends. The alien intrigued me—and I did like him, but I think the narrator kept me from liking him as much as I should’ve—which is odd, because I think he nailed the character.

The story ends up not being as predictable as you’d expect, but it’s sweet. The found-family part of it is terrific. The romance will win you over. There are two occasions that it gets too steamy for me—but I really am a prude about that kind of thing (especially in an audiobook where I can’t just skim a few paragraphs to get past it), and it’s really not that bad (I don’t think).

3 Stars

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

by Kate McKinnon, read by Kate McKinnon & Emily Lynne (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, Book #1
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hr., 54 min.
Read Date: July 18-21, 2025

Secrets of the Purple Pearl

by Kate McKinnon, read by Kate McKinnon & Emily Lynne (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, Book #2
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date:  September 30, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hrs., 42 min.
Read Date: October 3-9, 2025

(the official blurb of Book #1) and (the official blurb of Book #2)
Would I enjoy these in print? Yeah—especially the illustrations. But the performance by McKinnon & Lynne make these things you have to listen to. And likely re-listen to.

These are silly, silly, silly adventure novels about three sisters (orphaned and living with unpleasant and demanding relatives) who wind up at The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette because they can’t manage to stay in other schools without being disruptive (by being themselves, not by being disruptive). Sure, their aunt may not truly understand the nature of this school—but that works for the sister’s benefit.

Quibb introduces them to a world of pizza, self-expression, curiosity, mystery, danger—and the chance to save the world from mad scientists.

I cannot say enough good things about these books. The plots are insane, the texts are ridiculous, and the jokes are a great balance of silly enough for children but clever enough for adults. They’re perfect for young or young-at-heart readers (or people who want to be young-at-heart, you will be in that condition while reading them).

4 Stars

I Hope This Finds You Well

by Natalie Sue, read by Nasim Pedrad

DETAILS:
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: May 21, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobooki
Length: 12 hrs., 3 min. 
Read Date: November 21-25, 2024

(the official blurb)
The entire setup for this book makes utterly no sense—and is likely technologically impossible. Suck it up, pretend it can happen. Once that’s done, you can bask in this feel-good, self-improvement story about love, people who shouldn’t interact anyone in public (without a lot of therapy), and friendship.

Jolene’s parents (and the mother’s social circle) are fantastic and add both comedy and heart.

Is the book predictable? Yes, but Natalie Sue may not time events/reveals the way you expect. Does the predictability matter? Nope. It’s the ride. And man, it was a fun one. Dynamite narration, too.

4 Stars

Back After This

by Linda Holmes

DETAILS:
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs .,12 min.
Read Date: April 30-May 2, 2025

(the official blurb)
I could copy the last paragraph for this one and be done (although I think Holmes times pretty much everything the way you’d expect). But it’s not just about the sweet love story.

Nor is it just about the fantastic dog character (but, yeah, that’s part of it).

It’s the personal/professional journey that Cecily takes and where she lands at the end that really sells this book for me.

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Blue Diablo

By HCNewton

On March 10, 2014

In Fiction

Blue Diablo

by Ann Aguirre
Mass-Market Paperback, 336 pg.
Roc, 2009
Read: June 3-5, 2012

Ann Aguirre starts the 4th (or so) chapter by quoting the show, Coupling, which I’m pretty sure means I have to buy every book she’s written/will write. Doesn’t hurt that her heroine, Corine Solomon, has the same power as Anton Strout‘s Simon Canderous–psychometry (just a grittier version than Simon’s).

The book starts off in a nice, homey setting–but it’s clear that Corine has a dark backstory. It’s not too long before we meet a shadowy guy from her past and we’re off and running through a murky mix of various types of magic/magic-users, human trafficking, drugs, and other types of depravity. The plot takes some darker turns than I’d expected (and one or two pretty sillier ones). Corine meets plenty of new people along the way–most of whom are the kind of characters you grow to like and/or are interesting enough that you want to spend more time with.

Overall, a strong start to what should prove to be a very satisfying series.

I really could live without the Guy A or Guy B or Guy Neither storyline (but if push comes to shove, consider me Team Jesse), I did appreciate what Aguirre did with it this time–just not looking forward to more of it).

—–

3 Stars

Dusted Off: Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

By HCNewton

On March 10, 2014

In Fiction, Science Fiction

Grimspace

by Ann Aguirre
Mass-Market Paperback, 312 pg.
Penguin Group, 2008
Read: June 19-20, 2012

Action-packed, complexly-plotted, character-driven. Grimspace is a heckuva first book (would’ve been a heckuva 3rd, book, too). Not perfect, but so good that you put up with the short-comings.

This is more Ronald D. Moore/Joss Whedon-y S.F. than a Roddenberry/Lucas SF. The characters are people: flawed, self-deceived, selfish, scared… You grow to care about them, not just what happens (which would be interesting enough on its own, actually).

Actually, now that I’ve said it above, I’m more and more convinced this is Firefly without the livestock or distinctive dialogue. Can’t wait til I get my hands on the sequel. 4 Stars

Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

By HCNewton

On August 7, 2013

In Fiction, Science Fiction

I’m in kind of a rush posting this, not a lot of time to proofread/make sure it makes sense. If you see a problem, leave me a note in the comments, I’ll fix it. Thanks!

—–

Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There’s a danger when reading serialized fiction in letting too many months — or potentially more dangerous — too many books pass between volumes. That’s exactly what happened between Wanderlust and Doubleblind for me. I spent far too much time in the first 50 pages or so trying to remember characters/events — even with a pretty well-done “let’s get reacquainted with everyone” chapter 1, that still moves the plot forward.

I’m not sure how much that effected my enjoyment of the book, but it did make it unreasonably difficult to get into. But that’s my fault, not Aguirre’s. I also was put off by Jax’s too frequent internal rehashing of the state of March and their relationship. That eventually slowed down — due to plot and (gasp!) character development. There’s one UF heroine who has similar problems with the internal rehashing, and Jax reminded me far too much of her for the first half of the book or so, but Aguirre does the right thing — she has Jax move on from that (by her own volition, as well as events around her), the character I kept comparing her to only grows when forced to in the last quarter of the book, and then spends the bulk of her next book complaining/trying to get back to where she was.

Jax being able to move on, and change as change is warranted (not changing for changes’ sake), makes me like her and her creator all the more.

And really, that’s what this series has been about — this book more than the rest — Jax shedding the party-girl, reckless youth, part of her, and maturing. Making determined choices to not be who she used to be, but instead thinking about her decisions and actions, taking responsibility of the outcomes, and working for the betterment of her crew, her employer, and humanity as a whole (though, she’ll settle for the betterment of her crew). Actually, in this, she’s reminding me a lot of Izzy Spellman (see my review of her latest).

Now, while this is what the book is really about (IMHO), there’s all this other plot-y stuff going on. Jax and her crew (and some others) are on a planet populated by an insectoid culture, trying to bring them into their planetary alliance while dodging threats from their hosts as well as from within (including, possibly, treachery of the worst kind). Oh, and this fledgling planetary alliance is trying to get its sea legs, while fighting off organized crime with more muscle than the government, not to mention the previous ruling power trying to get things back under their control. All the while, a nearly unstoppable alien force is starting to wage war against humanity, who needs the Jax’s mission to be a success so they can have a shot in the oncoming war.

And seriously, you don’t need the character development, the personal growth elements of this — you just need the politics, the intrigue and the impending doom to get a book to work (see: A Song of Ice and Fire). But you add in what’s happening to Jax, as well as her closest friends, and you’ve got yourself one rockin’ SF adventure.

I’m sure I won’t wait as long for book #4. I’m not that stupid.