Audrey Fine

Even Julia Whelan Can’t Save This…

Revisado: 04-27-25

Hey EmHen, Taylor Jenkins Reid already wrote this book (these books). This is way too convoluted and messy and, frankly, boring. Hope you get back into your groove with your next one.

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Beautifully written and narrated

Revisado: 04-18-25

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did, I was mesmerized by Ross’ wonderful way with words (with the exception of three — two too many — uses of the word “cherry” to describe a cigarette’s burning end which made me flinch) and masterful capturing of NYC and the Hamptons in the 80s. As someone who grew up in the city, went to private school (and Studio 54 and Dorian’s) and summered on long island, I’d have been the first to pick apart any mis-representation yet Ross’ pitch perfect recreation of that time in those places, of the myriad minute details— from plastic red and white gingham tablecloths and l’air du temps spritzes at Bloomingdale’s to the old commercial taglines and fingers rubbed raw by blue book contact, listening yo this book was like looking through a gigantic tome of a photo album — he is a master at capturing and conveying details. Bravo, too, to his reading of his work which (aside from pronouncing the “t” in OFTEN) was spot on.

I wish Playworld was like James at 15 — a tv drama from that era which grew along with its titular character — I’m totally down to read “Griffin at 15”. And 16. (And I really hope that neither would include Amanda!)

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Truly Terrible

Revisado: 04-05-25

The narration was fantastic but Jimenez is out of sorts with this book. It’s two notes (we love each other but it’s HARD and life is great but it’s HARD) playing over and over and over again. Likable enough characters but entirely sophomoric situations and plot points. I wonder if Jimenez even wrote this book — it’s that far afield from any of her others.

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Woolever has become quite a writer (and narrator!)

Revisado: 03-19-25

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is, much like I expect Laurie herself is, intelligent, observant, surprisingly honest and, in parts, quite funny.

The only thing missing (in my humble estimation) is a fleshing out of how she got sober. Most people don’t transition from consistent heavy drinking over an extended period of time to sobriety without any significant withdrawal symptoms, wariness of meetings, etc etc but this aspect of her journey seemed to have been reduced to the bare minimum which, in a book as jam packed with details as this, makes for a blaring omission.

I’m delighted that she has 6 years and is doing well and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

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Meh. So long and self indulgent

Revisado: 03-10-25

Maybe it was just the narrator but I didn’t care for (or about) the main character — she’s a whiny, woe-is-me sort — and the entire proceedings were therefore never ending bouts of wallowing. I don’t get the hype.

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Fun Romp - Narrator is AMAZING

Revisado: 02-24-25

I thoroughly enjoyed this book dye in no small part to Eunice Wong’s fantastic narration — she is truly amazing.

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Just Perfect - and PERFECTLY narrated

Revisado: 02-14-25

What fun to get a new Anne Tyler book. And what fun to have it expertly read by J. Smith Cameron (Gerri from “Succession”.).

Tyler hasn’t lost a step — her prose is as beautiful and compelling as ever and Cameron brings the characters to life in such an authentic and engaging manner that you just don’t want it to end. (Which it does, all too abruptly after about 4 hours!)

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Couldn’t finish it

Revisado: 02-12-25

Most unsympathetic main character — Andrew Less is a self-obsessed boor. Narrator did a decent job but this book, despite how many countries it hits or outlandish situations the protagonist finds/puts himself in, is just plain boring.

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Unrealuzed potential

Revisado: 02-11-25

I was interested at first but after a while realized that, despite semi-interesting characters, this book was SLOW and going nowhere interesting. On top of that, the narrator, Kate Redding, while talented at accent and male vocal work, sounds entirely too old to narrate a 30 something protagonist— I kept thinking Evangeline was in her 60s because of what she sounded like. This is a pass.

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Surprisingly great writer

Revisado: 01-26-25

Like Cat Marnell and Julia Fox before her, Kari Ferrell, crammed a whole lot of living into her younger years and, despite everything stacked against her, not only survived to tell about it, but used her pain to propel her forward. Interesting book that’s very well written and narrated. I hope WB or some other studio resurrects her pitch and that we get to see her (and her story) played out on the small (or big) screen at some point.

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