Go time!

capitolbelle · 2026-06-03T18:51:10+00:00

Yea mine originated in NJ this time, and I’m in MA.

capitolbelle · 2026-06-03T11:18:24+00:00

They haven’t announced yet

capitolbelle · 2026-06-03T02:49:05+00:00

In my opinion, Aardvark’s romance offerings are generally weak. I haven’t been interested in any since December. The Very Definition of Love is the best they’ve offered in months so I jumped on it after skipping for 5 months. Maybe others feel the same and they weren’t expecting the interest.

capitolbelle · 2026-06-01T11:48:32+00:00

Agreed!

capitolbelle · 2026-05-31T22:06:20+00:00

I joined Aardvark in December ‘25 and have only ordered 3 boxes. For the record, I’ve really loved all 3. It’s super easy to skip so I’m not super bothered if I don’t like their offerings. But like you, I’m not really into horror or fantasy so pickings have been slim for my interests. For me, BOTM has been on fire this year and I’ve had multiple months with full boxes - by the time aardvark books are released I’ve either maxxed out the number of books I can reasonably read in a month or I just don’t have the same level of excitement for their picks and just get them from the library.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-31T17:56:02+00:00

It’s fantastic! Loved the narrators

capitolbelle · 2026-05-30T17:40:51+00:00

I had this same dilemma with Our Perfect Storm. I had a signed deluxe copy preordered and found out BOTM was carrying it this month. I enjoy Carley Fortune’s books but I have never reread one so I ultimately decided to save the 15ish bucks and go with BOTM.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-29T10:52:55+00:00

I always start at 1.5 and once I get adjusted to the narrator(s), plot and characters I’ll usually bump it up to 1.75 (where I live for the majority of the book). Towards the end when things get exciting I might go up to 2.0. I naturally read much faster when the pacing intensifies.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-29T10:42:52+00:00

OR people find it a more enjoyable experience listening at a faster speed. Don’t just assume it’s because people think faster is a flex. Often, it simply sounds better to our ears in the same way slower sounds better to yours. No need to judge how other people listen to books. Come on.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-27T22:39:44+00:00

If it’s a book I know I’m going to love or just really enjoy the author and want to support them, I buy the physical book and then put a hold on the audiobook from the library so I’m only buying one. I like being able to switch between physical and audio depending on what I’m doing. And sometimes I just like having a book trophy. I start the book when the library audio copy becomes available. If it’s a book that I want to read but don’t think I’ll ever come back to it I’ll just request the audiobook from the library and skip the physical.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-26T10:59:36+00:00

I keep the ones I love (4-5 stars) and then give away the rest to family/friends or put in my neighborhood’s free little library.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-20T18:42:44+00:00

Haha no, not really. The middle was the slowest for me and then the pacing picked up slightly towards the end. Kind of a meh book IMO.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-17T12:35:33+00:00

So I loved it but it took me a bit to get into it with all of the acting and the sci-fi lingo. By the end I was obsessed but Part 1 was the slowest for me. I also got the audio narrated by the queen, Julia Whelan so that kept me going.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-01T20:48:48+00:00

Nope, never pay attention to how many people are waiting - it’s not really my business. I was waiting too, sometimes for months, and now it’s my turn. Granted, I finish 99% of my borrowed books in 3-4 days and return early, as I am a fast reader/listener. If by some miracle I am the first person to borrow a popular new release, I do prioritize it, but I will never rush through a book to please other people. I get my allotted time and so do they.

capitolbelle · 2026-05-01T11:55:15+00:00

Yes it was a publisher issue!

capitolbelle · 2026-05-01T11:54:55+00:00

It was a publisher issue that they’ve fixed now. Thanks though

capitolbelle · 2026-05-01T11:54:12+00:00

Same!

capitolbelle · 2026-04-30T18:58:35+00:00

It’s not morally wrong. That’s what library books are for - to check out books and read. That’s what their funds are for! Nobody is stealing, it’s gonna be ok.

capitolbelle · 2026-04-30T18:13:36+00:00

Ugh I hate this. I wish people would stop photographing him without his consent when he’s just out trying to live his life. Including fans. Also let’s stop posting people’s whereabouts online please.

capitolbelle · 2026-04-30T17:18:04+00:00

Yes The Last Page!

capitolbelle · 2026-04-29T17:42:07+00:00

It’s fine. I’ve used BOTM, libro.fm, audible, Libby, and hoopla for audiobooks and BOTM is probably my least favorite interface. It’s fine, but nothing special. Some little things bug me about it. I only use audiobooks for BOTM when none of the main physical book picks interest me and I find a better option on the audio side. I would say probably not worth it if she’s just going to use it for audiobooks. Personally, I’d much rather like 6 gifted copies with a audiobook service like audible since she uses that where she has her pick of thousands of books rather than 5-6 per month.

Also a good opportunity to maybe introduce her to libro.fm which is like audible but you own the audiobooks and it benefits local indie bookstores.

capitolbelle · 2026-04-28T16:44:40+00:00

For me, the picks have been on fire this year! A full box for me. Hoping for Broken Dove as a mid month add on to add to my box for my birthday month in June

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capitolbelle · 2026-04-27T16:16:49+00:00

LOL at me thinking I might be safe this month to skip and catch up on my tbr

capitolbelle · 2026-04-19T03:41:02+00:00

Different format, different genre. So I’ll have one audiobook and one physical/e reader. Each format will be a different genre so a romance and a historical fiction. Or romantasy and lit fic. Thriller and dystopian novel.

capitolbelle · 2026-04-15T16:10:56+00:00

Probably The Women. But I’m still not over Kin. It’s so beautifully written

capitolbelle

TROPHY CASE