This is my weekly series for subscribers only, where I’ll share things that caught my eye this week in a fun and flirty way (kiss), a sustainable way (marry), or a not-so-good way (kill). And yes, this trendy game is technically “f***, marry, or kill” but we run a family-friendly-ish show around here.
Kiss (things I like right now)
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
I don’t know how I found this (maybe an Audible ad?) but this $6 audiobook was the highlight of my September. If you were a fan of Hollow Kingdom by Kira Jane Buxton, you’ll love Starter Villain’s sh*t-talking dolphins, secret agent cats, and rollicking story of (attempted) total world domination.
Narrated by actor Whil Wheaton, this book was a performance. Charlie, our hapless hero, is close to rock bottom when he discovers his billionaire uncle has died. A representative of the estate asks for one simple favor—and chaos ensues. (The funeral is one of the funniest scenes in a book, ever, and signals exactly what you’re getting into. I laughed out loud several times while running.)
Charlie is clever, good-hearted, and a champion of the underdog. The collective of supervillains are equal parts ridiculous and hilarious. (The Pitch and Pitch was a real treat.) The dolphins left me with at least three new insults I never would have come up with on my own. And then the plot twisted! And twisted! And twisted! Like the icing on a probably-poisoned cake.
My 10-year-old listened to some of this with me, and found it equally delightful. (There are lots of f-bombs, but no adult themes.) If you’re looking for something fun, engaging, and slightly demented, Starter Villain is calling your name.
