Lydia Leonard's narration of a rocky yet meaningful relationship will ring true for many listeners. Australian Coralie moves to London for work and meets Adam, a political writer with a young daughter, Zora. Leonard chronicles Coralie's romance with Adam through the arrival of two more children--all of which takes place amid the additional stresses of Brexit and the pandemic. Leonard excels at a fast, punchy narration filled with a panoply of London place names and slang. She switches to an Australian accent for Coralie's family. An undeniable sense of anxiety builds in the narration, exposing the desolate bustle Coralie experiences while combining child-rearing and working. Adam's voice veers from steady and compassionate to the manic excitement of heated politicking. Female identity takes center stage in this lacerating portrayal of maternal sacrifice.
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217071777
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Deepa Samuel's narration brings steadiness and emotional clarity to this story of the longstanding friendship between Ruchi and Deepa, who are shaped by class, migration, and unspoken longing. Samuel softly portrays the girls' intimate friendship during their Indian school days. Samuel's voice gradually deepens as the narrative moves into adulthood and the pressures of marriage, motherhood, and resettlement in suburban Connecticut. Samuel's pacing allows the evolving tension between the women to surface naturally, especially as jealousy, obligation, and affection collide across decades. Subtle tonal adjustments distinguish private interior moments from scenes of family and community life. Samuel's attentive performance supports the novel's exploration of devotion, distance, consequence, and friendship.
Pub Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781639737871
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The climbing scenes can drag a bit on audio but the crux of this coming-of age story is whether heart and grit are enough.
Teens Dan and Tamma are climbing buddies and best friends. As they scale rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, they dream of making a living as “dirtbag” climbers. They rely solely on each other—no safety gear, supportive adults, or health insurance. With a low-pitched, restrained narration, Elaine Wang sets the scene in the early dawn or late evening as Dan and Tamma carefully place a foot or hand in a small dint of rock. She sharpens her tone for Tamma’s mother, who blames her daughter for her bitter disappointment in life. But Wang really lets fly each time the voluble Tamma goes on rants about the world, climbers, and her dreams.
The climbing scenes can drag a bit on audio but the crux of this coming-of age story is whether heart and grit are enough.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217163496
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: today
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