Stephanie Perkins merges romance with horror, and narrator Bahni Turpin does both justice. She gives an especially convincing portrait of the complex character at the center of this story. Makani Young, a transplant from Hawaii, has come to an insular Nebraska town. Warm with close friends, she has a veiled quality that comes from a secret she's hiding and from feeling like an outsider. But she finds her coldness thawing when she develops a crush on Ollie. In Turpin's performance, Ollie's calm contrasts Makani's passionate nature. Interspersed between scenes of their growing relationship are Turpin's chilling renditions of a ruthless killer who stalks, taunts, and murders teens. Turpin increases the tension as the body count grows, reflecting the town's mounting terror and Makani's fear after having barely escaped death once before.
(Horror. 14-16)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525495307
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: today
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.
When they were 4, identical twins Aria and Caliste’s mother, Grace, disappeared, and the sisters were separated. Years later, Grace’s body is discovered in a lake haunted by the Ghoul. The two young women travel to Minnesota and uncover family secrets—including each other’s existence. Narrators Rebecca Ho and Chantria Tram capture the twins’ emotions as they discover what has been kept hidden from them. Carolina Do exquisitely performs the point of view of the Ghoul. However, audible pick-ups make this production sound uneven and may distract from the listening experience.
This young adult audiobook is full of secrets and lies.Pub Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217157983
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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