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
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. 5, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
A raw, wry take on family dynamics and the realities of aging.
Howrey’s latest follows three far-flung sisters who return home to help their ailing mother. Sloane is an actress turned therapist, Laurel is a mom trying not to buck against societal norms, and Nanette is training to be a nun. When their mother’s health worsens, the sisters converge to figure out next steps but can’t agree on much. Howrey effectively shows how siblings with large age gaps grow up differently, even within the same household. Although Howrey’s measured reading of each woman is thoughtful, she does little to differentiate the characters, which renders her performance one-note.
A raw, wry take on family dynamics and the realities of aging.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406388
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: today
© 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.
