This story, covering the years from 1959 to 2019, centers on the unlikely friendship of two English army buddies. Listeners observe how over time this awkward relationship impacts several generations. For example, all the family members are affected by fears of nuclear annihilation. Narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies creates a detailed portrait of postwar Britain. He brings to life characters of both genders and varied classes and ages, giving them all appropriate accents and emotional resonance. However, the characters Davies so expertly portrays appear to lack critical thinking ability, perspective, or compassion. While this novel captures the tensions of its era, and even its existential horrors, none of the characters are commendable. This is a new picture of "Britishness" that does away with stereotypes.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2021
Duration: 16 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781713543114
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Three strong women fight for every voice to be heard.
Fein’s novel, inspired by the encrypted Voynich Manuscript, introduces three women and a 400-year struggle to free women’s voices and fight censorship. Emma Feeney narrates as Lysbette, a young orphan in the 1520s. Feeney’s voice grows in power as Lysbette slowly gains confidence in her value, writes her story as myth, and struggles to ensure it outlives her. Ell Potter is the confident, feisty Charlotte, owner of a printshop dedicated to fighting censorship in 1550s Paris. When Lysbette enters her shop, Charlotte faces her biggest challenge. Fast-forward to 1952. Fiona Hardingham gives Milly a frustrated yet insistent voice as Lysbette’s manuscript gives her a new mission, using skills sharpened as a codebreaker in wartime England.
Three strong women fight for every voice to be heard.
Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063411449
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
A resonant listening experience rich with biting social commentary.
Narrator Katharine Chin elevates this contemporary coming-of-age story featuring four Asian American friends. Diana, Justin, Errol, and Vivian all attended great schools and earned good grades, but in the aftermath of graduating into the Great Recession of 2008, they find themselves unemployed and living at home. Grace, a former classmate, makes a YouTube video about the group and their failure to meet expectations called “Bad Asians.” The video goes viral, upending their lives in the early days of the internet. Chin brings each character distinctly to life through subtle tonal shifts. Her reflective tone conveys the story’s thought-provoking exploration of identity, cultural expectations, and the meaning of success.
A resonant listening experience rich with biting social commentary.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250433244
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 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.
