Steven Rowley gives an exuberant performance of this heartwarming story about treasuring family. When his brother announces his upcoming remarriage, Patrick O'Hara, a gay sitcom star, must resume his most challenging role--as gay Uncle (guncle) Patrick, aka "GUP," to his teenage nephew, Grant, and niece, Maisie. Rowley's portrayals of the teens' complex emotions regarding their mother's death and their father's impending remarriage are infused with love and humor. Patrick's interactions with relatives at the Italian wedding further showcase Rowley's versatile voices, flamboyance, and cabaret-level vibrancy. Rowley's diverting, and tender, tromp through Italy and life's transitions truly shows that la vita è dolce (life is sweet).
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593826867
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Whelan is a genius when it comes to tone, pitch, and delivery.
Julia Whelan’s deliberate and alluring voice places the listener smack in the middle of Serle's magical novel of the Novak women and the "do-over" gift each receives just once in their lifetime. Third-generation Lauren revisits her childhood home of Malibu Beach after her husband, Leo, decides to take a new job and rent out their New York apartment for months. As Lauren spends more time with her family and is reacquainted with her first love, Stone, she takes the summer to contemplate the serious question: "What if I chose this life event to reverse instead of that one?"
Whelan is a genius when it comes to tone, pitch, and delivery.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 50 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668103005
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
Narrators Jason Culp, Greta Jung, and Erin Ruth Walker present three distinct portraits in this literary story set on a cruise ship in the week after 9/11. Culp channels regret and loneliness through Doug Clayton, an aging actor who has spent a lifetime behind a mask. Jung infuses resentment and tension into Korean American Franny as she navigates a celebration for her mother's 70th birthday. Walker brings out frustration in Lucy, a Black MIT graduate student confronting barriers to acceptance. Against the tragic backdrop of 9/11, the novel sensitively explores issues around gender, race, and sexuality as well as questions of identity, family, and friendship. A slow-burning, character-driven story elevated by three compelling performances.
Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781668138694
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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