atamano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Ableism, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Racism, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Addiction, and Death of parent
cady_sass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am *very* picky about audiobooks, to the point that I know it’s unfair and illogical and so I tend to not listen to them at all, but I like Julia Whalen. A lot. I find her very talented and enjoyable to listen to. Now, bring me a book of written by an audiobook narrator ABOUT audiobook narrators and it seems only fair (and totally obvious) that it need to be consumed via audio. Right? So, of course, I did. Now please refer back to my comment about being unfairly judgmental and illogically picky about audiobooks and take my review with a grain of salt. I believe this book is good and if I had read it on page I would’ve loved it more, possibly. The characters are unique and flawed and diverse, the banter is funny and witty and cute. BUT…. But… you can tell an audiobook narrator wrote this. There are characters who exist solely for the purpose of the narrator [author] showing off her skills in accents. Which, for the record, is good (with the exception of the Bostonian ex boyfriend with the most horrendous Boston accent I’ve ever hear and take person offense to), but there’s no real reason for them. I also have mixed feelings about a white author writing about the plight of a black woman in Hollywood… but it does seem (to me, another white woman, to note) to be handled somewhat carefully. Just perhaps not her story to tell, again, as a white woman who was a former actress. I guess all this to say some of this felt inauthentic but it’s hard to parse that from what I HEARD and wish I would’ve just read the book 🤷🏻♀️ don’t come for me. I still gave it 4 stars!! There’s quality story here and a lot of fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Addiction, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Dementia, Sexual content, Racism, Suicide, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Self harm, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Drug use, and Suicide attempt
dani_reviews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, and Injury/injury detail
Moderate: Addiction and Blood
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Injury/injury detail, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Death, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Blood
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
nebraskanwriter's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I had only heard great things about this book by THE amazing Julia Whelan so once I finished the book, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
I LOVED the banter/dialogue between Nick and Swan, the tension and their feelings for each other really leapt off the page, even from their first interaction. However, I feel like the story was really weighed down by all the other side plots. Swan’s grandma, Swan’s best friend, her mom, there were so many things and life events that kept happening to keep Swan and Nick apart it started feeling comical. Also the book felt incredibly long for a romance, there just seemed to be conflict after conflict happening.
Also, and I know Swan had to work through a lot of internalized things that she felt about herself because of the accident, but I felt like she was always picking fights with Nick. Not believing him, questioning his intentions at every turn and always arguing with him and projecting onto him. That part of the book just felt very unhealthy/gross to me. They would have this big blowup fight, right after he ran to her aid after and Swan starts yelling at him. It just didn’t make any sense to me. She was always way too hard on him and he was nothing but nice and caring to her the entire book. Just my two cents but he would literally be so nice to her and then she would suddenly turn on him and start projecting/yelling at him. Not romantic.
Side note: also I know that people have nicknames/pet names for their grandparents like Mimi, Memaw, Papa. But Blah Blah??? Every time her name was mentioned, it took me out of the story. Could never take it seriously and that stinks because what is going on with her is super serious but her name felt comical, like a joke I missed out on all while she’s battling Alzheimer’s . It just didn’t make sense.
I LOVED the banter/dialogue between Nick and Swan, the tension and their feelings for each other really leapt off the page, even from their first interaction. However, I feel like the story was really weighed down by all the other side plots. Swan’s grandma, Swan’s best friend, her mom, there were so many things and life events that kept happening to keep Swan and Nick apart it started feeling comical. Also the book felt incredibly long for a romance, there just seemed to be conflict after conflict happening.
Also, and I know Swan had to work through a lot of internalized things that she felt about herself because of the accident, but I felt like she was always picking fights with Nick. Not believing him, questioning his intentions at every turn and always arguing with him and projecting onto him. That part of the book just felt very unhealthy/gross to me. They would have this big blowup fight, right after he ran to her aid after
Spoiler
her grandma tried to commit suicide FYISide note: also I know that people have nicknames/pet names for their grandparents like Mimi, Memaw, Papa. But Blah Blah??? Every time her name was mentioned, it took me out of the story. Could never take it seriously and that stinks because what is going on with her is super serious but her name felt comical, like a joke I missed out on all while she’s battling Alzheimer’s . It just didn’t make sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Abandonment, Dementia, Cursing, Death, Grief, Addiction, Death of parent, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, and Terminal illness
pidge_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Grief, Cursing, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Death, Addiction, Racism, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Injury/injury detail
plueschi77's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Medical trauma, and Injury/injury detail
Minor: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction
chapterobsessed's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If You've Got Mail was about audiobook narrators instead of bookstore owners—that’s what I felt reading/listening to this one.
It was a fantastic read. I have loved Julia Whelan as a narrator and now I love her as an author. Such great storytelling, I just really loved this book.
Sewanee Chester, a former actress turned famous audiobook narrator after a horrible accident left her scared, physically and mentally.
Working as an audiobook narrator is far from her dreams, but it pays for the care of her sick grandmother. 💛
A last-minute book conversation lands Sewanee in Las Vegas. (So happy to see a book in my city, btw) At a bar, she strikes up a conversation with a hot stranger (That accent!! 🥵 Listen to the audiobook, trust me!!) and they spend one steamy night together.
When she returns home, Sewanee has been requested to do a beloved authors last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest and most secretive voice. One problem, it’s a romance novel and she doesn’t believe in them, not anymore. To keep her grandma in the right care, she reluctantly agrees.
As the two work together, they form a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity.
What happens when these two finally meet face to face? You’re just gonna have to see for yourself!! 😉
It was a fantastic read. I have loved Julia Whelan as a narrator and now I love her as an author. Such great storytelling, I just really loved this book.
Sewanee Chester, a former actress turned famous audiobook narrator after a horrible accident left her scared, physically and mentally.
Working as an audiobook narrator is far from her dreams, but it pays for the care of her sick grandmother. 💛
A last-minute book conversation lands Sewanee in Las Vegas. (So happy to see a book in my city, btw) At a bar, she strikes up a conversation with a hot stranger (That accent!! 🥵 Listen to the audiobook, trust me!!) and they spend one steamy night together.
When she returns home, Sewanee has been requested to do a beloved authors last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest and most secretive voice. One problem, it’s a romance novel and she doesn’t believe in them, not anymore. To keep her grandma in the right care, she reluctantly agrees.
As the two work together, they form a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity.
What happens when these two finally meet face to face? You’re just gonna have to see for yourself!! 😉
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, and Dementia
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Ableism
Minor: Addiction and Suicide attempt
kimveach's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
You have to listen to this book! I don't know how good it would be in print. This narrator is fantastic, and her book showcases all her gifts: male and female voices, accents, younger vs. older voices, and other sounds. It was an amazing listen. It's a romance book, but it's got more substance than you would expect. And there are a few laugh-out-loud parts that are so worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Dementia, Death, Medical trauma, and Ableism
takarakei's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really fantastic audiobook. I had heard a lot of hype, but the narrator/author really does a great job (lots of voices!). It's a cute and refreshing romance book. Lots of poking fun at the romance book industry (in the way only someone who loves it can do). Banter is phenomenal. Definitely lots of laugh out loud moments. The "twist" is predictable, but it's still fun to read. Disability rep (MC). Wish there was a bit more spice, especially with so much build up of them literally working on recording a romance audiobook.
2.5/5 🌶️
Spoiler
I really loved towards the end when they were like "we don't need a big 3rd act drama/breakup" !!!2.5/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/injury detail, Dementia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Ableism, Alcohol, and Medical content
Minor: Addiction, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders
A main plot point of this book is the MC dealing with her grandmother's dementia.