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rrubin97's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
3.75
Had some pacing issues. Middle dragged. Otherwise would be better - the beginning and end were good
I am not normally an audiobook listener but this one was great to do that way
I am not normally an audiobook listener but this one was great to do that way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
elaineh7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Listen to this as an audiobook immediately. This story made me feel all the feelings, it made me sad and extremely happy. Even the side storylines were so developed and meaningful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Dementia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
If you're not a fan of romance novels that feel very formulaic, I can't recommend this enough. I'll admit to being a bit biased because I had the good fortune of meeting Julia Whelan on my Persuasion trip, but I genuinely really loved this. It takes a second to get into, but I thought the plot and character development were refreshing and so well done. The book itself is really a love letter to the art of audiobooks and narrators, and gave me so much more appreciation for the work that goes into them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexism
smagzisreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Dementia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
kecasey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
jourdanicus's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
5.0
This was just the rom com I needed when I was perfectly in the mood for it. Sweet, funny, emotional but not up its own ass, and of course narrated by the author (who is one of my favorite audiobook narrators).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Medical content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
daniofthewood's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
hannahsbookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. As an avid audiobook reader I loved hearing a storyline about audiobook narrators and I especially liked the plot line of romance narrators being part of their own IRL romance story. I loved the banter between Sarah and Brock, it made me smile and laugh whilst listening, I think we all need a Brock in our lives!
However Sewanee's story isn't all laughs and flirting. I found the heavier plot lines of her tragic accident and struggles with her new appearance, her fractured relationship with her father and her trying to be the best Granddaughter she can be to "Blah", her absolute character of a Grandmother, whose dementia is progressing as our story develops, alongside the lighter romance plot line give this book depth and a reality check that some romance novels don't have.
Sewanee deserves her HEA, she has had a tough time of it and needs some respite from the mental load she is carrying. As always I like women supporting women, so enjoyed her tight friendship with her movie star friend Adaku, her close relationshi9 with her Grandmother and June's part in this story.
I always like it when the author narrates their own novels and of course as an audiobook narrator herself Julia just HAD to narrate this and did a FANTASTIC job.
Sidenote: The title was perfect for a novel about audiobook narrators👌 genuis!
However Sewanee's story isn't all laughs and flirting. I found the heavier plot lines of her tragic accident and struggles with her new appearance, her fractured relationship with her father and her trying to be the best Granddaughter she can be to "Blah", her absolute character of a Grandmother, whose dementia is progressing as our story develops, alongside the lighter romance plot line give this book depth and a reality check that some romance novels don't have.
Sewanee deserves her HEA, she has had a tough time of it and needs some respite from the mental load she is carrying. As always I like women supporting women, so enjoyed her tight friendship with her movie star friend Adaku, her close relationshi9 with her Grandmother and June's part in this story.
I always like it when the author narrates their own novels and of course as an audiobook narrator herself Julia just HAD to narrate this and did a FANTASTIC job.
Sidenote: The title was perfect for a novel about audiobook narrators👌 genuis!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Injury/Injury detail
theglossreview's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️✨ Good writing, terrible representation and a flailing plot.
Julia Whelan’s writing is wonderful and there are a few lovely quotes to treasure in “Thank you for listening.”
The plot starts with a bang! The first quarter seems like a fantastic setup and the book was on track for a 4 - 4.5 star rating. However, after the 25% mark, the plot deteriorates into a mess and teeters our into nothingness. I considered not finishing it, but stuck with it on order to write a fair review.
The worst aspect was the representation of the main character’s struggles. The portrayal of the accident and its (emotional) aftermath is lacking depth and realism. In fact, the portrayal might be considered offensive to someone who’d really suffered from such an accident and consequences. The main character’s reaction, and the reactions of the people close to her, are deeply inappropriate to the situation. They might have been appropriate to a far more MINOR accident with MINOR consequences. As it is, the insensitive comments and accusations (that the main character should just “finally” deal with it and get over it, move on in her career, is holding herself back etc.) are sickening.
Similarly, ALL of the characters are insensitive to the current difficulties and bad news in the main character’s life. They seem to have ZERO sense of tact. I wish they’d had their priorities straight. The romance feels like the least urgent and dramatic plot thread of all. The family subplots are far more loaded. The highest potential was seen in the friendship between Swan and A - love, history, tragedy and envy could have collided spectacularly. And yet — nothing. The friendship is absent for most of the book and literally “pops up” every now and then.
Sadly, the potential for a 4 - 4.5 star book was squandered. Without the writing and the good quotes it would have been rated 2 stars at most. I’m willing to go up to 2.5 stars for the writing.
Julia Whelan’s writing is wonderful and there are a few lovely quotes to treasure in “Thank you for listening.”
The plot starts with a bang! The first quarter seems like a fantastic setup and the book was on track for a 4 - 4.5 star rating. However, after the 25% mark, the plot deteriorates into a mess and teeters our into nothingness. I considered not finishing it, but stuck with it on order to write a fair review.
The worst aspect was the representation of the main character’s struggles. The portrayal of the accident and its (emotional) aftermath is lacking depth and realism. In fact, the portrayal might be considered offensive to someone who’d really suffered from such an accident and consequences. The main character’s reaction, and the reactions of the people close to her, are deeply inappropriate to the situation. They might have been appropriate to a far more MINOR accident with MINOR consequences. As it is, the insensitive comments and accusations (that the main character should just “finally” deal with it and get over it, move on in her career, is holding herself back etc.) are sickening.
Similarly, ALL of the characters are insensitive to the current difficulties and bad news in the main character’s life. They seem to have ZERO sense of tact. I wish they’d had their priorities straight. The romance feels like the least urgent and dramatic plot thread of all. The family subplots are far more loaded. The highest potential was seen in the friendship between Swan and A - love, history, tragedy and envy could have collided spectacularly. And yet — nothing. The friendship is absent for most of the book and literally “pops up” every now and then.
Sadly, the potential for a 4 - 4.5 star book was squandered. Without the writing and the good quotes it would have been rated 2 stars at most. I’m willing to go up to 2.5 stars for the writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail