Narrator Meredith Mitchell twists listeners into knots with Cristin Terrill’s time-loop adventure. Her smooth voice calmly describes the torture that Em and Finn undergo as they attempt to time travel away from their captor, “the Doctor,” to undo his work, which ruins the future. Mitchell captures the emotional anguish Em feels as she struggles to reconcile the Doctor’s past and present natures. She also grounds the story with Finn’s humor and compassion. Navigating the overlapping time loops and flashbacks is challenging, but Mitchell provides clarity. However, when characters scream or yell, Mitchell’s voice hits the upper limits of the audio’s volume levels, which can draw listeners out of the moment. Overall, though, Mitchell successfully evokes Terrill’s powerful themes of love, loyalty, and the greater good. C.A. SYNC 2014 © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
(Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: March 18, 2014
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Small’s performance will keep listeners invested.
Narrator Izzy Meikle Small infuses this teen tennis romance with tension and heart. Billie has the potential to win junior doubles at Wimbledon, but she needs a new partner. Her last hope is her coach’s nephew, Harley, whom she has always despised. But as Harley and Billie spend more time together, they soon become more than teammates. Small’s bright, expressive, British-accented voice emphasizes Billie’s vulnerabilities, determination, and desires as she pursues her goals and gives in to her feelings for Harley. However, her tone lacks the same variation when delivering Harley’s dialogue.
Small’s performance will keep listeners invested. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 17 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063516861
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: June 16, 2026
Lee captures the slow-burn romance as well as the heroes' fears of and fights against censorship.
Michelle H. Lee has narrated several of Hur’s books, and here she proves her talents once again. Her narration easily moves between the dual perspectives of novel-loving commoner Haewon and writer Lord Yu Seojun in 1792 Korea, during the Joseon Dynasty, a time when fiction has been banned. Lee clearly identifies the many secondary characters while she portrays the oil-and-water meeting of the protagonists. Seojun dismisses Haewon because of her lower class, while Haewon detests his arrogance. Listeners may realize sooner than the protagonists do that they have already revealed their true hearts while exchanging secret letters. Haewon is “Magpie,” a committed fan of “Black Lotus,” Seojun’s alter ego.
Lee captures the slow-burn romance as well as the heroes' fears of and fights against censorship. (Historical romance. 14-adult)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217345687
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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