A review by shreyavolety
Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

emotional funny hopeful 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

3.75

   “I don’t think you can know if you live happily ever after until your life’s over." 

What a lovely read. It didn’t really read like a romance novel, it read more like an analysis of one. Like peering through all the tropes, all the versions of romance authors sell us and finding the truth within the fiction, while also really appreciating the form of the fiction.

The story explores what it is like to want romance when you no longer believe in your self sufficiency, in your own beauty. When you’re really scared to go out and pursue something that’s pretty difficult.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me that the protagonist closely represents the outline of the author’s life. It’s still fiction. It’s still a story. That said, I absolutely loved learning so much about the romance audiobook space, and especially the fandom associated with it. I mean, given that romance heroes are raspily, huskily breathing into their partners’ ears all the time, it’s good to know how much effort goes into recreating that in audio.

 I really like Sewanne, and I’m a fan of Nick too. We honestly don’t see A LOT of Nick, but that’s because the love story isn’t the only focus of the books. Swan’s friendship with Adaku, and her relationship with her grandmother Barbara, all have a lot to do with it. A lot to do with who she is, and how she chooses to love. And I really like that. I like that it's a literary fiction adjacent romance novel. Also this book was really FUCKING FUNNY.

 I LIKE BARBARA. I really do. She’s not a caricature of a grandmother, she’s a REAL grandma who is ailing and is hard to control because of her dementia. And she’s really flawed, she’s really not the best of people always, and it’s hinted that Henry was the result of a flawed, reckless parent. 

The writing in this book is lovely, a little dry in places but it pulls all its punches whenever it needs to hit an emotional nail on the head. Julia Whelan is a solid artist, and I’m really excited to see what she does next. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings