This delightful summer beach story narrated beautifully by Nan McNamara has amusing rom-com-style humor yet also delivers a sensitive treatment of a delicate subject. During their annual week in a Cape Cod rental, Rocky and her husband are joined by their adult children. McNamara doesn't provide extensive vocal characterizations, but she charmingly portrays Rocky's negotiation of hot flashes, bad plumbing, a lumpy sleeper sofa, and life-changing revelations from her offspring. When Rocky's reminiscences turn bittersweet, McNamara depicts the depth of her heartbreaking secrets and the remarkable endurance of her family. When Rocky's elderly parents visit, she finds herself sandwiched between the challenges of her adult children and her parents.
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063345195
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Heartwarming and enjoyable.
Narrator Kathleen McInerney transports listeners to Ireland, where two sisters, Maeve and Therese Dunagin, are brought together by their mother’s death. The sisters have inherited a portrait that could be worth millions. In need of money, they travel to Ireland to discover the truth about the painting and learn about their roots. There, Maeve meets Liam, a local whiskey distiller. The sisters meet a crotchety old woman, performed in a gravelly voice by McInerney, who has connections to their family. McInerney gives Liam a charming Irish brogue, which is a lovely contrast to the women’s American accents. Maeve and Therese start out at odds with each other but grow closer over the course of their journey, and McInerney's performance reflects this.
Heartwarming and enjoyable.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 57 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250444721
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
Both narrators provide authenticity, quiet precision, and immediate connection.
Beautifully paired performances by Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Daniel York Loh bring out the two voices of a marriage in this story about fate and second chances. Mollo-Christensen conveys the resentment, regret, and resignation that shadow Dana Smiley, a 39-year-old ER nurse, wife, mother of three, and family breadwinner whose life unravels in a parking lot. When a stranger offers Dana a weeklong vacation from her current life via an alternate history, she accepts. Loh's soothing voice and English accent add charm and resonance to his portrayal of 43-year-old Nigel, who, laid off for almost a year, feels a widening rift with Dana and a growing sense of failure.
Both narrators provide authenticity, quiet precision, and immediate connection.Pub Date: June 1, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781511389334
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 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.
