Seeing Sound: Tasting Madness, Book 1

Waylynn is finally free. Free form the tram of doctors, free from her hospital roommate, free from her overprotective and hovering parents. But not free from the voices she hears in her head, even though she lied to the doctors and said they're gone. She wants a normal life. So, that means college, right? Funny enough, she hears those voices again. This time they're not in her head. Well, not all of them. She's looking at three guys who have the same tone and speech patterns and realizing that maybe these voices aren't imaginary.Spoilers ahead.So, I'm not sure exactly what's going on here. Is not schizophrenia? Is it a supernatural angle? This author usually takes a supernatural twist but this world is perfectly normal in every other way except her hearing voices...and then meeting them in real life. Nothing about the guys is supernatural. So...I have questions lol. But, the story was interesting. Not ridiculously angsty. Some miscommunication issues but she's not exactly used to interaction with people who aren't also in therapy or the therapists. And the situation with one guy is that he's a TA for a class she's in and there's not fraternization allowed. So he can't be seen on campus being more than casually friendly and he handles a situation badly because he forgets she's not an imbecile. I do find her easy acceptance of them in her life, taking over her life, and invading her house with some suspension of disbelief. She's trying to hide her past of being in an institution and hearing voices. She also went from desperately wanting independence to a near little role with a single interaction. But outside of the last argument most of the interactions were plausible. I know emotions can cause shouting, but here he is worried about his job as a TA and his brother's football career being upended because of what he thinks he discovered but screaming with close neighbors and an open door in a house a block or so off campus seems like a really good way for that discovery to spread fast and enact the very thing he fears. Especially when the one neighbor has already proven exactly how nosy she is.

This book has started this series with such an interesting plot, and it is definitely all plot in the book. Prepare for a slow burn.While this isn’t the usual supernatural book we get from Albany, I have a theory it’s going to be a fated type deal.The struggles Waylynn is going through in trying to be herself yet not be thought of as crazy, trying to tune out voices she’s always heard… it’s heart wrenching. It causes a bit of angst but nothing too terrible. There are some miscommunications as well, but Way and her guys… well Memphis and Oz in this book are EVERYTHING!

Wow. This book really captured me. All of me. Honestly it's kind of crazy for how little time passes or actually happens in the book it was seriously gripping and intense. The chemistry between these characters is OFF THE CHARTS. There is something so tenuous and fragile in the budding relationship - hope, despair, desperation. My heart was up in my throat in so many scenes, and the sexual tension was equal parts smoldering and incredibly sweet and "new". I loved everything about this. I can already tell I'm going to be stuck in rereads and hangover waiting for book two. Hands down one of the best books I've read this year. Phenomenal job Ms. Walker.Ratings (1 - 5)World building: 🌍🌍🌍🌍 (Given how small the "world" (setting) is, you can absolutely picture yourself in that setting and see and feel it all.)Character development: 😍😭😍😭😍 (These characters were so well developed that they almost instantly came to life and are now living and taking up rent free space in my head.)Romance: 💗💗💗💗 (Intense and deeply sweet. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 is this is still just book one and these characters are still new to each others. There's development yet to be had and I AM HERE for it!lHeat: 🔥🔥🔥 (Honestly I don't even know how to rate this category. If we're talking chemistry, this is a 5 on the scale, however, for most people heat references smexy scenes and there technically weren't any of those in this first book so I'll leave it on a 3.)Drama: 👀👀👀👀 (There is some good drama in this story, mostly in the back story of the fmc and watching her step out to experience the world, and knowing exactly why that is difficult and scary for her.)Action: 🍿 (Not really an action read.)Suspense: 💣 (Lots of tension but not suspense.)TW: ⚠ Nothing particularly dark. There is some mental health issues as a core theme along with some potential depression, anxiety, self image issues for the fmc.

I’m hooked. This story has a plot, a well written one. The people are complex and real. I actually want to know what happens to them. The two guys in the novel speak just like guys do (maybe a little less sexual than the average, but believable. Verbiage flows, never stilted. And, being I am the spelling police, I only fixated on one misspelling. That is amazing! It’s been a fight for me when reading most books not to make a long list of misspelled words, left out words, prepositions put in twice, and so many other errors that distract from a story, and try to send them to an author. This was truly enjoyable.

Id say this was a 4.5 ⭐️ read for me. I was lowkey confused af in the beginning of the book bc of the last names lol but once I figured it out, I fell in love w/ the book. The slow burn between waylynn, oz & gravlin is perfect. I love how she gets two sides the softy that’s flirty & then you get the brooding overprotective guy. Ugh, perfection.I hope in the next book we can see a little bit more growth from “wavy baby” like I want a lil more info about her diagnoses, etc. I also want more growth from gravlin after that little cliffhanger.

Stars given on level of engagement;5 stars - less than a day to read because I cannot put it down. I only give 5 stars if it has managed to engage extra emotions from me - extreme lol moments or real teary moments etc. A 5 stars book tends to have me raging about cliff hangers and (legally and not creepily) stalking the author for release dates.4 stars - 2 days to read or less. A book that I have quite enjoyed reading, feisty MC and some racy scenes with thier romantic interest. I would definitely follow a series and author for 4 star books.3 stars - takes around 2/3 days to read, usually because I have become distracted and less engaged in some sections but by the end the end I have enjoyed the overall story and would read any sequels.1/2 stars not given, as I have usually returned it without finishing as I'm not engaged. .

Albany has done it again, what a smasher of a book! It's funny, normally I like some sort of intrigue, family drama, dodgy exes, a stalker, mafia stuff something else going on that helps bring the RH together and make a story. But with this, Albany has been so so clever. The background story is there - the voices - the instant connection, the belief she has mental health issues, but because its an "invisible illness" it only sneaks into the story here and there, and so we learn so much more in a way about the FMC Waylynn and the boys and their developing relationship with Waylynn. It is brilliantly written, and urgh that ending.... Memphis.... Tears on my end..... All I can say is bring on November!!!

This book is one that you will struggle to put down once you start!Waylynn isn’t you typical main character, she shy and hesitant but there are part of her starting to sneak out that let’s you see a more confident and firstly girl underneath but she seems trapped from her past but the guys she meets start to bring out the other side but that ending!!This book is emotional, passionate, romantic, mysterious and has given me lots of questions I need answers too!Can’t wait for the next book!A MUST READ!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I saw this book on tiktok and after reading the blurb I was intrigued. Waylynn is a unique character and battling her own mind and the perception of others about her and how the world views her. Her instant connection with oz and memphis is unnerving for her to begin with but as the story unfolds I get a feeling of their closeness and want it to work out for the best. Bates seems like he could be brought into the fold too. But after the twist at the end, who knows what will become of them all. Great read, couldn't put it down. Waiting for the next book eagerly.

Just devoured this book in a few hours.I'm shook, that ending has tears on eyes.From the go, you just get these characters. Waylynn, is just so likeable and down to earth, despite what's going on with her she is just there for those she cares about. Oz is just super cute and the ultimate golden retriever energy and then there is Memphis, perfect about of broody and grumpy but squishy underneath.Can't wait for the next book, first I've read by this Author but my god she is good