Priya Ayyar's youthful voice delivers this punny romance, in which Ireland's best young chefs compete in the first-ever Junior Irish Baking Show. Ayyar's talent for accents conveys Shireen's parents' Bangladeshi lilt, as well as the Irish accents of judges and competitors. Shireen hopes to win the prize money and gain attention for her parents' donut shop, but she'll have to beat both her ex-girlfriend and new crush to get there. Ayyar captures myriad emotions authentically, but her unshifting tone makes it hard to differentiate characters with similar accents. Particularly delightful is her portrayal of Galvin Cramsey, a grumpy chef who is based on the real-life British chef Gordon Ramsey.
(Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 6, 2023
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781666634907
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Desean Terry delivers a touching performance of this reimagining of "The Great Gatsby," in which the protagonists are gay Black prep school students. Aspiring journalist Nick Carrington leaves Oklahoma to begin school at Harlem's West Egg Academy. Out of his element, Nick keeps his gay identity a closely held secret, but love interest Jay Gatsby Jr.--the academy founder's son--openly embraces his own gay identity. As they write letters to each other, each more daring and affectionate than the last, they receive threats that their budding relationship will be exposed in the school newspaper. Terry clearly presents every piece of dialogue that warrants an emotional charge and adds subtle suspense to his straightforward tone when needed. Terry's narration is always on the money.
(Historical fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063312517
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An exceptional and authentic listening experience.
Three narrators—the author and his real-life wife and brother—each tell this heartfelt and witty story with their own approach. Carter is stuck in a loop. Every year on his birthday, he turns 16 again and forgets the previous year, while everyone else, including his younger brother, Lincoln, ages normally. But loop six seems different, and Carter, supported by his family and former girlfriend, Maggie, will do anything to end the cycle. As the three narrators introduce each character’s perspective and deliver their experiences with emotional depth, the dynamic between Carter, Lincoln, and Maggie sounds natural and complex.
An exceptional and authentic listening experience.Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063330405
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 2026
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