Dual narration makes clear the initial friction and then the growing attraction between two African-American teens. Joniece Abbott-Pratt portrays Danielle Ford, a blocked writer and booklover who dreams of college in New York. Abbott-Pratt helps listeners experience Dani’s sassiness, perseverance, and continued feelings of trauma from a past sexual assault. In alternating chapters, JaQwan Kelly captures the genuine and generous nature of Prince Jones, who is far more than what he appears to be—the local celebrity DJ who dispenses love advice. Kelly allows listeners to hear Prince’s conflicted heart as he struggles with caring for his mother and younger brother and fulfilling his own desire for Dani and his future. Because of their excellent portrayals, listeners grasp the truths, needs, and caring that lie below the playful flirting of both characters. S.W. 2023 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
(Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797139463
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks.
Soneela Nankani’s quiet narration carries a wish and a promise, setting the tone for high school junior Calisa’s escape from Brooklyn to her estranged great-aunt’s B&B in Vermont. Calisa, hurt from a breakup, receives a caustic welcome from her Auntie Zee and discovers an inn in disrepair. Nankani gives voice to the inn’s strange guests, who have puzzling manners, and gradually the odd occurrences Calisa notices begin to point in a distinctly enchanted direction. As Calisa travels through the inn’s portals to magical lands, Nankani’s narration helps listeners experience the richness Calisa finds. Tension builds as Auntie Zee goes missing, the inn’s future is threatened, and Calisa must decipher family secrets.
The satisfying, cozy resolution affirms the magic of romance, the power of loving a place, and the rewards of taking risks. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217171934
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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