Narrator Faith Alabi delivers a seamless portrayal of Temi, a London-based aspiring writer who is determined to publish her first novel after getting her heart broken by her former boyfriend, Wale. As her hopes of publishing dim, Temi takes on a new opportunity: ghostwriting a memoir for a celebrity client. Little does she know that the "celebrity" is none other than Wale. Alabi impresses listeners with her versatility as she switches between Temi and her supportive best friend, an intimidating literary agent, and, of course, the dreamy yet emotionally distant Wale. Listeners will want to console Temi at times and celebrate with her at others; she is the contemporary messy woman we love to see portrayed in romance novels. This one is fun, nuanced, and almost impossible to pause.
Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2025
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593943878
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A striking exploration of friendship between women and its power to heal a broken heart.
Remy is an author with a bestselling debut and no idea how to write her second novel; Simone is a primary school teacher with a less-than-kid-friendly side hustle. When Remy and Simone meet amid a series of personal crises, their unlikely friendship is exactly what they need to start their journeys back to happiness. Narrator Isabel Adomakoh Young conjures a pair of delightfully distinct voices for the women at the heart of this audiobook. Remy’s brash confidence masks deep insecurities about herself, while Simone’s quiet certainty covers her pain at her estrangement from her family. Young expertly peppers the background characters with authentic London and West African accents.
A striking exploration of friendship between women and its power to heal a broken heart.Pub Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs, 5 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433800
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
With a pervasive tone of uneasiness, Chin steadily leads listeners through the years.
Katharine Chin voices Jane Kim, a Korean American law student whose dysfunctional family is forced to reconcile their lives witha traumatic event and its implications. Over the span of 30 years, Jane is belittled by her family andunfavorably compared to her brother, Kevin, who is given preferential treatment as the son. Chin captures the tension between Jane and her mother and brother during drawn-out arguments, which can sound painfully repetitive. The book’s heart is found in a sibling relationship that feels overwhelmingly fraught as cultural and familial pressures reach a boiling point.
With a pervasive tone of uneasiness, Chin steadily leads listeners through the years.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 59 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653678
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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