This review wouldn’t be complete without talking about the powerhouse of a performance from author and narrator, Julia Whelan. They’ve been hiding from the losses in their lives, and talking things out opens their eyes to what they truly want. As Sewanee begins communicating with her co-narrator on the book, the two connect in a way that neither one expected. But when a beloved romance author passes away and Sewanee is asked to narrate her final work… it’s nearly impossible to refuse. While Sewanee started out narrating romance, she’s too jaded to love the genre and she’s since shifted into narrating other types of books. She lost a lot of confidence after the accident, but narrating books has been a great way of putting her acting skills to work – without having a camera involved. The story follows Sewanee, a former actress who began narrating audiobooks after an accident left her without an eye. If you’re a romance-lover who appreciates a story that also entails significant personal growth, then this is sure to be a memorable read. From moments of smile-inducing banter to epistolary chapters, this has a little of everything, and the book is richer for it. Her chemistry with the hero was fantastic, and I loved how their relationship progressed. It’s truly the heroine’s story, and she changes course as certain things are revealed. I’m not always the biggest fan of third person/single perspective romances, but it works here. I’m so glad that I went in completely blind the story unravels in such an interesting and unexpected way, following our heroine as she works to find herself again. It also balances light and playful moments with heavier, sometimes somber, scenes for maximum impact. I absolutely loved Thank You for Listening and will be looking for more work by Julia Whelan immediately.Really, really good – I loved it! Thought-provoking and romantic, this straddles the line between women’s fiction and romance, with a heroine-centric storyline that effortlessly weaves in a rich and dynamic love story. The book is funny and offers the charm and banter of the best rom coms on the page and screen. Everyone from Sewanee’s grandma to the other audiobook narrators Sewanee works with is well drawn and quirky and real. This is a smart, beautifully written novel whose characters are unbelievably empathetic and compelling. I don’t want to share more of the plot, but it’s not what won me over anyway. Suddenly, Sewanee’s life looks full of promise that she’s not sure she should trust. Then, Sewanee has a chance to record with Brock McNight, the undisputed king of romance audio, for mind-boggling amounts of money, and they strike up a friendly relationship via text, one complete with flirting and humor and sooo much cleverness. She returns home knowing that the relationship won’t go anywhere but feeling more desired than she has in a while.Īll at once, opportunities arise: Her best friend, now a successful actress, thinks that her new movie may offer Sewanee a chance to act again. When her career takes her to an audiobook conference, Sewanee-who is definitely not looking for romance and, in fact, has rejected the idea of happily ever afters altogether-is nonetheless drawn into a one-night stand with a charming, clever stranger. While she started in romance, she long ago transferred her allegiance to literary fiction. After an accident ended Sewanee Chester’s career as an actress, she transferred her talents-her deep connection to characters’ motivations, her facility with languages and voices-to narration. Thank You for Listening immerses us in the world of audiobook recording and, specifically, romance audiobooks. Once I found out that she was a writer, too, I was eager to discover if her talents traveled. Julia Whelan is one of my all-time favorite audiobook narrators (I know I’m not alone!). The book will be out on Tuesday, August 2! Thanks to partners NetGalley and Avon Books for the digital ARC of Julia Whelan’s Thank You for Listening.
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