Lisa Flanagan perceptively narrates this tender novel about a young woman who is coming to grips with what it means to be a compassionate and committed life partner. Ella is a 20-something professional caregiver who accepts a new post caring for Jill, who is intellectually disabled due to a car accident. Ella is both endlessly patient with Jill and burdened by endless second-guessing about her own life choices. Flanagan's tone deftly reflects Ella's wandering introspection. Ella considers Jill's husband, Bryn, the ultimate partner because of his unwavering commitment and care. Flanagan voices him as gently masculine. In stark contrast, she renders Jill's angry, incomprehensible outbursts with a punch, and a hint of the terror Jill must live with.
Pub Date: July 9, 2019
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781984891914
Publisher: Random House 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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