Narrator Maggie Service's Scottish accents reflect this novel's strong sense of place. Those who wept at the fate of Julie, heroine of CODE NAME VERITY, will delight in meeting her 15-year-old self in this prequel. Service embodies all the emotions in the first-person narrative--Julie's sadness at the sale of her family's Scottish estate, curiosity about sexuality, envy at the freedom of her Scottish Traveller friends, and anger at the prejudice shown them. Service captures the rhythms of the mystery that consumes Julie involving an attacker who knocks her unconscious, a murder victim, and stolen pearls belonging to her grandfather. Nearing the audiobook's end, Service heightens the tension as the twists and turns multiply, never losing the story's emotions and elegant language.
(Historical fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: July 15, 2017
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781489403704
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Desean Terry delivers a touching performance of this reimagining of "The Great Gatsby," in which the protagonists are gay Black prep school students. Aspiring journalist Nick Carrington leaves Oklahoma to begin school at Harlem's West Egg Academy. Out of his element, Nick keeps his gay identity a closely held secret, but love interest Jay Gatsby Jr.--the academy founder's son--openly embraces his own gay identity. As they write letters to each other, each more daring and affectionate than the last, they receive threats that their budding relationship will be exposed in the school newspaper. Terry clearly presents every piece of dialogue that warrants an emotional charge and adds subtle suspense to his straightforward tone when needed. Terry's narration is always on the money.
(Historical fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063312517
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook was inspired by the forbidden love of the authors' grandparents in early-twentieth-century Korea amid its colonization by Japan. Their story, told in alternating chapters, combines history, folklore, romance, and magic. Julia Riew delivers the chapters of Eunji, a Korean girl who is trapped in her wealthy life. Joshua Hyunho Lee portrays Seung, who is trapped by poverty and oppression. Riew expresses Eunji's joy at excursions into the world with Seung, while Lee shows Seung's despair at failing his exam and at Eunji's arranged marriage to the son of a Japanese diplomat. Through the power of their magic and love, the couple is finally united, finds freedom, and saves the last tiger. Alex Intae Kim and Sue Jean Kim deliver periodic quotations from the Riews' grandparents, and together the Riews deliver the authors' note.
(Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: July 29, 2025
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217074396
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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