Well, this edition of my mini reviews is all over the place. I am sharing my thoughts on two audio books that I listened to that are vastly different. Sometimes you need a palate cleanser between heavier books, right? And that's exactly what the Bridgerton series has been for me.
Goodreads says, "Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places... This is not one of those times. Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband... someday. Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should... Or not. There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he's arrogant, annoying, and she's absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can't stand the sight of him, either. But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor... Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begins to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they just might discover that the one person they can't abide is the one person they can't live without...
Because of Miss Bridgerton is a Bridgerton prequel and the start of a separate series as it takes place an entire generation prior. It's the 18th century and at the story's center is Sybilla Bridgerton, a.k.a. Billie, and she is everything you could want in a protagonist. She is opinionated, a tomboy, enjoys learning about agriculture in order to help out her family's farm, and rides in breeches. It's pretty much the opposite of what convention dictates. Billie finds herself in a compromising situation that involves climbing on a roof to rescue a cat and to her horror, George Rokesby, a Viscount, comes across her in this vulnerable state as she is now injured, and in turn, he rescues her. George is pretty much her nemesis, so she hates that he will hold this over her. While Billie has always been close with her neighbors, the Rokesbys, she really doesn't like George. He is much too serious for her taste and instead she enjoys the younger Rokesbys. But after he "rescues" her from the roof, they both start to have different feelings for each other. Julia Quinn's Because of Miss Bridgerton is an adorable enemies to lovers romance that I especially enjoyed on audio.
I am a huge Bridgerton fan and have been slowly making my way through the original Bridgerton series, but this prequel caught my eye as I love a feisty heroine and she reminded me of Eloise Bridgerton. Because of Miss Bridgerton did not disappoint (even though there were the usual romance tropes) as I love a good character focused novel and that is what this is. While it wasn't as "exciting" as I hoped it would be, it was exactly what I needed when I was looking for a break from thrillers and mysteries. It is the perfect series to unwind with.
I listened to the audio version and Rosalyn Landor never disappoints; she is one of my favorite narrators! So, if you like the Bridgertons and are looking for something a little bit different as this story takes place a generation before the other series, check out this prequel! I will most definitely be continuing with the Rokesby series.
Goodreads says, "The counterintuitive approach to achieving your true potential, heralded by the Harvard Business Review as a groundbreaking idea of the year. The path to fulfillment, whether at work or at home, is almost never a straight line. Ask anyone who has achieved their biggest goals or who thrives in their relationships, and you’ll hear stories of many unexpected detours along the way. What separates those who rise to these challenges and those who get derailed? The answer is agility—emotional agility. Emotional agility is a four-step approach that allows us to navigate life’s twists and turns with self-acceptance, clear-sightedness, and an open mind. In her more than twenty years of research, Susan David has found that no matter how intelligent, resilient, or creative people are, when they ignore how situations or interactions make them feel, they miss opportunities to gain insight, getting hooked by thoughts, emotions, and habits that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Emotionally agile people experience the same stresses and setbacks as anyone else, but they know how to adapt, aligning their actions with their values and making small changes that lead to a life of growth. Drawing on her extensive professional research, her international consulting work, and her own experiences growing up in Apartheid-era South Africa and losing her father at a young age, David shows how anyone can become more emotionally agile and thrive in an uncertain world. Written with authority, wit, and empathy, Emotional Agility will help you live your most successful life, whoever you are and whatever you face."
Emotional Agility is an engaging audio book that is perfect to help you address changes in your life. I have followed Susan David on Instagram for awhile now and have always appreciated her insights. So, when I saw the audio version of the book available, I was happy to tune in and learn a bit in the process. David has a four step approach to help you deal with life's ups and downs and I found them to be very practical. Her little anecdotes and examples helped further illustrate the book's meaning as well as its practical application. She highlights how emotions and thoughts play a major role in our life and addresses how not to get "hooked." I really liked that aspect of the novel. She even covers emotional agility in children and how to foster it. While some of the examples seemed a lot (when it came to dealing with children), I appreciated her perspective and it did give me a lot to think about.
I loved listening to the audio version as I felt David had a soothing and pleasant voice. What can I say? I love a good South African accent. However, I did feel like I needed to buy a copy of the book in order to go back and revisit a few things as it isn't as easy to do that on audio. Other than that, if you are facing changes in your life or work, I highly recommend picking up Emotional Agility. It's definitely food for thought.
Let me know in the comments below if you have read these two books or if they are on your TBR list.
I'm also making my way through the Bridgerton series. They are very trope-y, but good for an escape, and this sounds like a fun start to a new series!
ReplyDeleteA perfect escape! Bridgerton series is great for that. Thanks for dropping by, Angela!
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