by Alexis Hall ; read by Ell Potter & Steve West ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 17, 2024
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Narrators Ell Potter and Steve West are a dynamic duo escorting listeners through a bombastic adventure. Despite being gay, Sir Horley has pledged to marry a lovely woman, but his best friend, Arabella, won't have it. As Arabella whisks Horley away on his wedding night, their unbreakable bond is tested against silly challenges and the cold, hard truths that come with being queer in Regency England. Potter and West's elegant tones make their expressive narrations all the more amusing. This fun listen features a long-lasting love between two charming friends. An absorbing narration for a wide audience.
Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2024
Duration: 14 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781511344906
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Martha Waters ; read by Elizabeth Knowelden ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 29, 2026
Knowelden’s narration keeps the story moving, ensuring listeners’ interest continues to the end.
Elizabeth Knowelden takes listeners to a 1920s London where magic is real—and illegal. Vesper runs her family’s club, where they sell magic powders for guests to add to their cocktails. Maxwell works for the governmental department charged with enforcing the ban on magic. When magic starts going awry in London’s speak-easies, the two work together to find the culprit, sparking their own magic along the way. With her expressive delivery, Knowelden imbues her performance with Vespar’s flirtatiousness and Maxwell’s reserved nature. She captures the duo’s banter as their relationship grows from pretending to be a couple for the sake of the investigation to truly falling for one another.
Knowelden’s narration keeps the story moving, ensuring listeners’ interest continues to the end.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668166758
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2026
by Sophia Benoit ; read by Grace Blyth & Stewart Clarke ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 23, 2026
Both narrators capture the humor and heat, providing a diverting (smashing, splendid, enjoyable) listen.
This Regency romance features a wallflower nearing spinsterhood and a notorious rake. Harriet's love of words, especially synonyms and slang, and Alexander’s penchant for liaisons result in a chance encounter, an unlikely kidnapping, and an agreement for a marriage of convenience that both soon regret. Grace Blyth narrates much of the story, while Stewart Clarke performs the roles of male characters. The duo transports listeners to the couple’s world, and their skill at voicing a variety of characters will have listeners forgetting there are only two narrators. However, some sections told from Alexander’s point of view and narrated by Blyth would have been better served if Clarke had delivered them.
Both narrators capture the humor and heat, providing a diverting (smashing, splendid, enjoyable) listen.Pub Date: June 23, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 26 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217344673
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 8, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.