Richard Halverson deftly brings to life all the wonder and oddity in these eight stories, all set in Northern England, where the author grew up. Halverson's heavily accented voice is an excellent fit for stories that rely so much on setting. He successfully navigates between the nostalgia in Almond's autobiographical introduction to each story and portraying the characters of varying ages and temperaments who inhabit the unique, almost magical, world of the author's childhood. There's a pleasing coziness in Halverson's unhurried, leisurely pace. Listeners may imagine themselves fireside in a small country pub being regaled by tales of local English lore. A short, strange, and satisfying listening experience. E.M.C © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine
(Fiction/memoir. 13 & up)Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2015
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781491588444
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Susannah Jones's high-speed pacing conveys Maeve's jangly thoughts and obsession with every potential scary outcome of her life--complete with research that feeds her anxiety. Jones does an equally fine job portraying minor characters. Whether calm, compassionate, or frustrated, these secondary characters allow listeners a bit of relief from Maeve's intensity. Maeve does have reason for concern as she moves in with her father and his family for six months. Her situation is complicated: Her father struggles with alcoholism, her stepmother is determined to have a home birth, her mother is working far away in Haiti with a new lover, and Maeve has broken up with her girlfriend. Jones builds the tension and then relieves it as Maeve develops honesty, courage, and love for her new girlfriend.
(Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2017
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani animate alternate chapters of the dynamic love story between Pinky and Samir in this companion to WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI. Coincidence unites the two teens when Samir's promised internship falls through and Pinky invites him to become her pretend summer boyfriend because he meets her mother's expectations. This fast-paced rom-com pairs two unlikely heroes, and the narrators capture the reversals and tensions of their growing relationship. Nankani shows Pinky's prickly side while also revealing her hidden vulnerabilities. Adam communicates Samir's loosening up in response to Pinky's passionate approach to living, his willingness to let go of anger, and, finally, his flourishing love for Pinky. Head and heart, tension and humor are reflected in this engaging listen.
(Romance. 13-18)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781797108759
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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