Dual narrators add dimension to this audiobook in which rom-com tropes tell a serious story. Despite their many personal differences, Bengali-Irish classmates Hani and Ishu strike a deal: They'll fake a relationship so that Hani can convince her skeptical friends of her bisexuality and Ishu can gain enough popularity to become head girl and win her parents' respect. Initially, the charade works, but even as they grow closer, the girls encounter the painful consequences of seeking external validation. Narrator Reena Dutt is light and emotive as the people-pleasing Hani, while Shubhangi Karmakar's husky tones and deliberate pacing are well suited to intense, prickly Ishu. Both narrate in Bengali-inflected Irish accents, delivering exactly the kind of authentic, well-characterized performances needed for a story of hard-won self-realization.
(Romance. 12-18)Pub Date: May 25, 2021
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593413685
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.
Narrators Jesse Vilinsky and Zac Chastain give heartwarming performances in this teen small-town baseball romance. Eliza Crowley has always loved two things in life: baseball and light design for the theater. Wanting to be seen more as the town's rich girl, Eliza plans to spend her summer focusing on a community theater production—until Reed Fulton, a pitcher for a rival baseball team, returns to town. Vilinsky’s energetic tone and nuanced pacing embody Eliza’s strength and love for her family and for theater. Reed is also dedicated to his family, and to baseball, and Chastain’s rich, warm timbre reflects his devotion.
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280810
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
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