Narrator Erin Mallon skillfully performs this story of friendship, loss, and possible second chances. The plot alternates between the past--as it follows the teen friendship of bookish Macy and nerdy Elliot--and the present, when, as adults, the pair meet by chance after a decade without communication. Mallon infuses her soft delivery with strong personalities, smoothly changing her tone to match the age and maturity of the characters. Mallon's top-notch narration, however, cannot compensate for the hard-to-believe reveal at the end of the novel. Additionally, listeners should be prepared for the extra-long pauses separating the chapters, which may pull them out of the story. Nonetheless, Mallon conveys Macy's and Elliot's tangled emotions well and guards the mystery surrounding their estrangement.
Pub Date: April 10, 2018
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508212669
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A model and a mogul get married in Vegas on a bet, and Diana Luke narrates their story with élan. While it would be easy to portray Leila Darling as a scheming caricature or Carter Bain as a ruthless businessman, Luke never crosses that line. Her portrayal of Leila is generous and encompasses the full range of her character--from the formidable professional at the top of her game to the vulnerable woman who is unsure if she can trust a man with her heart. Likewise, Luke's portrayal of Carter showcases both his business acumen and his emotional vulnerability as he opens himself up to Leila. While loosely connected to the previous Unconventional Brides volumes, this can easily stand alone.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781501968471
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
After her divorce, Roberta Jewett, with her three daughters, returns to Camden, Maine, to start a new life. Such an independent move in 1916 brings difficulties with her mother, her in-laws and the townspeople. Dukes's performance, while skillful, sometimes suffer in scenes of emotional content. His pace slows, and his reading acquires the peculiar emphasis of someone trying to get instructions across to a non-English-speaking person. The effect is disturbingly laughable. When he resumes his normal pace, the story revives and personalities emerge again, but the awkwardness remains as an odd interruption to Spencer's drama of pain and love, dispelling Dukes's carefully constructed characterizations.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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