Narrator Julia Whelan infuses divorced, formerly successful artist Bennett Driscoll with all the bathos of a deeply depressed 50-something man in a midlife crisis. Bennett rents out his large home through AirBed and is an AirBed "Super Host." His renters--and his affair with a much younger bartender, Claire--become the catalysts for his recovery. Whelan fully develops New Yorker Alicia, alone and lonely in England; American artist Emma, whose OCD and absent husband leave her paranoid; Kirstie from Devon, whose sexy, friendly manner soothes Bennett; and no-nonsense Claire, who dreams of owning a bookstore. Whelan's unsentimental renderings highlight Bennett's attempts to understand the women in his life: his 20-something daughter, the ex- who left him, Claire, and the women renters. Whelan's performance offers hours of enjoyment.
Pub Date: Feb. 9, 2021
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593211694
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Farr’s well-matched performance makes the complicated Rothstein family feel as real and frustrating and loving as our...
In an understated narration, Kimberly Farr delivers the many individual stories inherent in being part of a family. In chapters that are small jewels of revelation, Goodman’s careful prose spotlights the minutiae of the Rothstein family’s daily life and interactions. Farr handles each memorable moment flawlessly. She is subtle as she shows each character’s awareness of which buttons to push to elicit responses from desired targets. Listeners encounter sibling rivalries and long-held grudges, religious beliefs and inconsistencies, and ruminations on living a good life and speculations about death. Farr delivers all the opinions and philosophical musings with respect and care.
Farr’s well-matched performance makes the complicated Rothstein family feel as real and frustrating and loving as our own.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593612750
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 9, 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
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