Octogenarian Veronica is living an isolated life in Scotland with her kind housekeeper, Eileen, her sole companion. After watching a television program about penguins, Veronica impulsively decides to travel to a research facility in Antarctica. With shifts in inflection and more than a hint of exasperation in her tone, narrator Helen Lloyd superbly creates a vibrant portrayal of Veronica, who never refrains from sharing her strong opinions. Veronica also learns that she has a grandson, Patrick, whose existence she was previously unaware of. Andrew Fallaize expertly captures the evolving maturation of the 20- something young man, who greatly benefits from getting to know his grandmother. Interwoven blog entries from a research scientist, voiced by Mandy Williams, keep this whimsical and poignant audiobook grounded. M.J. 2021 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: June 16, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593214855
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Jones and Bourke provide fizz and joy, plus charming Australian accents, to bump up this fun world a notch.
The past cannot be changed, but what if you could travel to the past to view an event in your own history, or to attend a historical event? This is the premise Moriarty creates with a Time Travel Agency in Sydney, Australia. Kellie Jones ably performs chapters featuring Anna and Jade—both single mothers of teenage daughters. Jones expresses the joy Anna takes in literature and her uncertainty in her parenting abilities as well as Jade’s grief at the loss of her sister and disbelief that her daughter might be a bully. Mitchell Bourke’s excellent performance conveys Teddy’s confusion regarding the breakup of his marriage and his visits to the past for an explanation. A particular highlight is Bourke’s narration of the hilarious and heartwarming texts between Teddy and his friends.
Jones and Bourke provide fizz and joy, plus charming Australian accents, to bump up this fun world a notch.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217297948
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
An atmospheric, slow-burning story elevated by stunning prose and exceptional narration.
Narrator Quyen Ngo immerses listeners in this moving, literary family saga. Using distinct voices, Ngo emotively portrays Calla and Vivi, two estranged Vietnamese American sisters leading very different lives. Calla is a free-spirited artist, while Vivi, the story’s narrator, is an art conservator preparing an exhibit in Chicago about a surrealist Vietnamese French artist. When Calla discovers a sketch resembling one of the surrealist’s famous paintings, the sisters embark on a search that spans Chicago, France, and Vietnam, seeking to uncover the artist’s connection to their late father. As the mystery unfolds, Ngo excels in her fluid pronunciations and compelling characterizations of the sisters and their fraught family dynamics.
An atmospheric, slow-burning story elevated by stunning prose and exceptional narration.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 54 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063381629
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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