When Harper, portrayed by Natalie Naudus, moves next door to Ollie, portrayed by Mary Helen Gallucci, her upended senior year might not totally suck, thanks to their Dungeons & Dragons sessions. Harper and Ollie haven't seen each other since they were 12, but Ollie is still afraid of acting on her romantic feelings for her childhood friend in her small Virginia town. Gallucci's higher pitched voice and nervousness sound appropriate for a closeted teenager and all her cringe moments. While Naudus's deeper voice and even tone portray the confident character of Harper, her performance comes across as more adult than teen. André Santana's masculine voice helps distinguish the fantasy storytelling of their D&D game.
(Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: April 8, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228366213
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Both narrators lean into the opposites-attract chemistry.
Stephanie Rose and Alex Knox perform this cute, cozy teen romance in dual narration. Rory’s passion in life is cheerleading, and her goal is to win the big competition, but her plans hit a roadblock when a member of her squad is injured. Jacob is a soccer star turned cheerleader, and he’s willing to join the squad and save the day. Too bad he’s the most annoying person Rory has ever met. Rose’s expressive, lively voice portrays Rory’s reluctance and drive as she strives to do what's best for the cheer squad, while Knox’s warm, inviting timbre conveys Jacob’s charm and confidence.
Both narrators lean into the opposites-attract chemistry. (Romance. 13-17)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 10 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063513457
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2026
Matsui-Colby successfully delivers the second-person voice, which listeners discover is Margaret’s love letter to Mars.
Narrator Sara Matsui-Colby quickly makes it clear that anxious, introverted high school junior Margaret Vittorio is a passionate person. Matsui-Colby’s empathetic performance invites listeners into Margaret’s deepening relationship with cute, quirky, astronomy-loving Mars. From their immediate attraction to a tragic end, the plot is rich, as Margaret and Mars explore facets of life and love, support each other through family challenges—her controlling father and his possessive mother—and experience a true connection. Matsui-Colby is as skilled at developing the characters as their relationship. Her excellent pacing reflects the intensity of Mars’ sudden death and Margaret’s slow, painful journey through regret, questioning, and grief to self-forgiveness.
Matsui-Colby successfully delivers the second-person voice, which listeners discover is Margaret’s love letter to Mars. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217295272
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Aug. 27, 2026
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