Maizes's debut novel is brought to life by Devon Sorvari's engaging narration. Her delivery is well matched to the story's short declarative sentences as she makes listeners care about La La in spite of her bad choices. In a straightforward delivery, she recounts La La's dysfunctional childhood, when her mother abandons her after a near tragic skating accident and her father trains her as an accomplice in his burglary business. Then she discovers her skill as an animal empath, and her life changes. But now all her hopes for working with the animals she loves and marrying the man of her dreams are in jeopardy because she's returned to her thieving ways to rescue her dad. Sorvari injects clear tones of defensiveness as La La rationalizes her return to burglary.
Pub Date: July 14, 2020
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250754561
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Heartwarming and enjoyable.
Narrator Kathleen McInerney transports listeners to Ireland, where two sisters, Maeve and Therese Dunagin, are brought together by their mother’s death. The sisters have inherited a portrait that could be worth millions. In need of money, they travel to Ireland to discover the truth about the painting and learn about their roots. There, Maeve meets Liam, a local whiskey distiller. The sisters meet a crotchety old woman, performed in a gravelly voice by McInerney, who has connections to their family. McInerney gives Liam a charming Irish brogue, which is a lovely contrast to the women’s American accents. Maeve and Therese start out at odds with each other but grow closer over the course of their journey, and McInerney's performance reflects this.
Heartwarming and enjoyable.Pub Date: today
Duration: 14 hrs, 57 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250444721
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
Both narrators provide authenticity, quiet precision, and immediate connection.
Beautifully paired performances by Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Daniel York Loh bring out the two voices of a marriage in this story about fate and second chances. Mollo-Christensen conveys the resentment, regret, and resignation that shadow Dana Smiley, a 39-year-old ER nurse, wife, mother of three, and family breadwinner whose life unravels in a parking lot. When a stranger offers Dana a weeklong vacation from her current life via an alternate history, she accepts. Loh's soothing voice and English accent add charm and resonance to his portrayal of 43-year-old Nigel, who, laid off for almost a year, feels a widening rift with Dana and a growing sense of failure.
Both narrators provide authenticity, quiet precision, and immediate connection.Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781511389334
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
