The vibrant, assured voice of Tavia Gilbert guides listeners through a family story about the trauma of mental illness affecting generations in both Germany and America. In a youthful voice Gilbert portrays 9-year-old Heidi Phillips, who describes life in the small town of Alamo, Michigan, in 1970. She recounts fun at the county fair, camping trips, and other good times, but there is always the possibility of Mother snapping and becoming violent--even dangerous. Gilbert presents Mutti, as the Phillips children call her, with a guttural German accent that is both sensual and menacing. The four Phillips siblings share a bond that helps them endure their mother's depression and schizophrenia. Tavia Gilbert does a spectacular job of electrifying this coming-of-age story.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Heidi McCrary
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emotional, timely, and powerful, Picoult's latest is a must-listen.
A talented team of narrators brings this compelling story to life. Molly Fitzgerald, voiced by Rebecca Soler, lost her mom during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, she runs the Rhode Island Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response and is all too aware of life's many potential risks. Her husband, Jesse, is a police detective—and was also a character in Picoult's earlier novel, My Sister's Keeper (2004). When the unexpected happens, everyone in Molly's life is impacted and must navigate the fallout. The narrators’ pacing perfectly matches the unfolding storylines as the perspective shifts between Molly, Jesse, and Molly's mother, Eloise. All three narrators bring an authenticity to the characters that will keep listeners engaged and invested until the very end.
Emotional, timely, and powerful, Picoult's latest is a must-listen.Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 39 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217404483
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
This audiobook will likely disappoint Moriarty’s legions of fans.
In this sequel to Big Little Lies, the author fast-forwards 10 years to revisit the book’s familiar circle of Australian female friends. They are just entering their 50s (except for the younger Jane), raising teenagers, caring for aging parents, confronting health issues like cancer—and they are embroiled in several gender-based crimes involving their daughters. The author introduces the audiobook herself with a charming behind-the-scenes look at how the sequel was subtly influenced by the impactful performances of actors Meryl Streep and Laura Dern in the television adaptation. While narrator Caroline Lee is skilled at portraying the dense tapestry of emotions driving each character, her voice is too old to believably portray this tightly bonded group of middle-aged friends. Ella Le Fournour voices the teenaged characters and sounds appropriately youthful, but she often narrates at a breakneck pace.
This audiobook will likely disappoint Moriarty’s legions of fans.Pub Date: Aug. 25, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406821
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 29, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
