Narrator Stacy Gonzalez brings Emelia to life as the Latinx teen balances her straight As and star athletics with her secret passion for gaming. Speaking in the first-person, Gonzalez is funny, emotional, and confident as Emelia claims her place in the male-dominated gaming world. Gonzalez uses an appropriate Puerto Rican accent for Emelia's helicopter mom, who manages every aspect of her daughter's academic life to ensure the best college placement. Narrator Aaron Landon has a tougher challenge bringing Jake's voice to life--his story is told through his texts to his gaming team. There is little opportunity to inject life, humor, or emotion into these conversations. Excessive use of Gen Z slang dates the story, and some listeners may find the abundance of four-letter words off-putting.
(Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Mirai’s bright, youthful voice perfectly suits this coming-of-age story.
Narrator Mirai’s performance shows impressive nuance and range. After graduation, Finley feels secure with boyfriend Colin but resents spending a week apart while visiting her mother’s estranged family. Her distant, awkward relationship with Cat, her mom, emerges in halting arguments and uneasy pauses. At Aunt Liz’s diner, Finley meets new friends as her bond with Colin falters. She also meets cute and thoughtful Ben, a charmingly awkward guitarist. Learning why Cat left town—and why she’s back—pushes Finley toward resilience, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of both found and biological family. Mirai shifts from soft, dreamy confidence in Finley’s happiest moments to raucous sobs when bad news lands, vividly tracing the teen’s emotional arc.
Mirai’s bright, youthful voice perfectly suits this coming-of-age story. (Fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668174463
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
There are no easy answers here, and Ramin’s journey is worth hearing.
Ramin Abbas is a devout Muslim Canadian teenager who loves music (show tunes, specifically) and who just might have a crush on the captain of his high school’s soccer team (aka Captain Handsome). He’s struggling to reconcile these things with his faith—especially after he’s forced to join the soccer team. Narrator Vikas Adam keeps listeners close to Ramin’s perspective, delivering the full range of his emotions and conveying both the funny moments and the heartrending ones. Adam’s characterizations of Ramin’s soccer bro teammates and his sweet if mercenary younger brother, Zayn, are appealing. His accents for Ramin’s Pakistani parents and the imam of their mosque add authenticity, and every “sorry” pronounced with a Canadian accent reminds listeners of the setting.
There are no easy answers here, and Ramin’s journey is worth hearing. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668160008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: April 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
