Narrators Xe Sands and Cassandra Campbell deliver a story told from the alternating perspectives of two sisters who work at feuding fried chicken restaurants. Amanda, who works for Frannie's, has a timid and kind nature that is reflected in Campbell's warm, soft tones. Older sister May, who is helping her mother run Mimi's chicken restaurant, is voiced confidently by Sands. Family secrets are uncovered as the two restaurants prepare to compete in a "Food Wars" episode. The compelling narration is evident in the details. For example, Sands's weary tones from a couple having the same fight repeatedly highlight marriage problems, and her delivery of a child's hesitant tone as he pronounces an unfamiliar word captures a comic moment. Campbell provides different laughs for a TV producer, displaying the character's two-faced nature.
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2020
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593211885
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
Heller's penchant for salt-of-the-earth characters is reflected in Kate Marcin's narration. On an Edenic homestead in Vermont, Frith, a wild girl, is living an unconventional childhood with her bohemian mother, Hayley, a former academic, and their dog, Bear. They support themselves through picking their apples in the fall and tapping their maples in the spring. Marcin balances the novel by illuminating the sense of wonder in both their narratives. She voices the young Frith's sunny naïveté and the older Frith's yearning for answers to questions that plague her. This account of the magic of childhood--while seen through rose-colored glasses--captures the listener's heart.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217174140
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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