Kelsey Jaffer and Ines del Castillo team up to deliver this touching epistolary novel featuring heartfelt narrations. The story begins when Frida, who is living in Paris, contacts the Seattle bookstore where Kate works in search of a book. Known for her friendly demeanor, Kate is chosen to correspond with Frida. As their friendship grows through a shared love of books and writing, they support each other in chasing dreams and discovering desires. Jaffer, portraying Kate, and del Castillo, portraying Frida, bring authenticity to the story with their unique vocal inflections and pacing. They artfully convey the excitement, curiosity, and introspection expressed in the women's letters. An author's note, narrated by Kim Fay, adds depth to this beautifully crafted story.
Pub Date: March 11, 2025
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217011759
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: tomorrow
© 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.
