Narrator Phoebe Strole channels Jade's summer of first love and her search for her birth father. Strole embodies Jade's quirky likability as she finds a whole new life in suburban California, where she's now living under her aunt's roof, having left her mom, a rock star. Jade's ideas of normal flip when she falls for Quentin Ford, a handsome and responsible lifeguard whom Strole portrays with flirtatious sarcasm. Hints of Strole's verbal dexterity peek through as Jade embraces her expanding circle of friends and family. When Jade learns Quentin's secret, Strole balances Jade's naïveté and hurt with an earnestness that seems true to character. Reliably expressive and tender, this audiobook fits the bill for a romantic teen listen.
(Fiction. 14-17)Pub Date: June 19, 2018
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780525624813
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by.
Sylvie Castellano goes on an unexpected adventure with a vintage gold watch and Penn, the ghost who comes along with it. Barbara Castano’s narration expresses 18-year-old Sylvie’s loneliness. She’s recovering from a concussion, and while her family members' lives continue without her, Sylvie wishes for a more fulfilled life; she wants to have fun as well as take on new responsibilities. Alongside Penn, Sylvie embarks on a series of summer activities, which Castano describes beautifully. But Castano's optimistic tones turn grave as the story unfolds.
Castano captures the message of this teen paranormal romance: Never let life pass you by. (Speculative romance. 14-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 16 mins
DD ISBN: 9781547619481
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: April 7, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.
Narrators Jesse Vilinsky and Zac Chastain give heartwarming performances in this teen small-town baseball romance. Eliza Crowley has always loved two things in life: baseball and light design for the theater. Wanting to be seen more as the town's rich girl, Eliza plans to spend her summer focusing on a community theater production—until Reed Fulton, a pitcher for a rival baseball team, returns to town. Vilinsky’s energetic tone and nuanced pacing embody Eliza’s strength and love for her family and for theater. Reed is also dedicated to his family, and to baseball, and Chastain’s rich, warm timbre reflects his devotion.
Together, Vilinsky and Chastain’s performances create a forbidden and magnetic chemistry.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 20 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217280810
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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