Listeners will find themselves rooting for a happy ending.
Narrator Brittany Goodwin transports listeners to a small town in North Carolina, where artist Emily Carmichael has returned to help her best friend, Jake Hughes, with his family’s apple orchard. Jake is struggling to save the family business, and Goodwin conveys his frustration as he tries to convince his father to go along with his ideas to improve the farm. Emily has always loved Jake as more than a friend. But even when attraction sparks between then, Emily still has doubts about his feelings, which Goodwin aptly expresses. When Jake’s ex-girlfriend, Claire, returns to town, Goodwin conveys Emily’s insecurities and gives Claire a strident tone which matches her personality.
Listeners will find themselves rooting for a happy ending.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 36 mins
DD ISBN: 9780840716514
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Review Posted Online: June 16, 2026
Narrator Caitlin Thorburn captures the angst, poignancy, and humor in this contemporary rom-com set in Minneapolis's Modern Jewish Orthodox community. Penina, a 29-year-old jewelry saleswoman, believes she may never marry because she's infertile. While volunteering, she meets Sam, who's Jewish but doesn't practice his religion. He turns out to be her new boss. Ignoring her attraction to Sam, Penina agrees to marry a closeted gay Orthodox man to help her sister out of financial difficulties. Thorburn's female portrayals are varied and complex, but many of her male characterizations have a rough quality that is inconsistent with the men's personas. Though Thorburn's pacing and phrasing can be halting, listeners will still enjoy Penina's journey to her happily-ever-after.
Pub Date: July 11, 2023
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781666641578
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Caroline Shaffer narrates this contemporary friends-to-lovers fairy tale. When aspiring author Charlotte Kingsley receives yet another book rejection, she is inspired to write a bestseller about the myth of real-life fairy tales. As her writing career soars, her relationship with her best friend and neighbor, Anders, deepens into more. Shaffer gives an energetic performance, keeping the listener engaged with the characters' exploits. She navigates both the life-changing events and emotional roller coaster Charlotte experiences, managing to maintain the humor in the story without sounding contrived. In voicing the characters, Shaffer maintains clear differentiation. A modern-day Cinderella story, this is a delightful listen for those who like a sweet romance complete with a happily-ever-after.
Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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