I don’t who I have to thank for getting an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated books for the second half of the year, but I was so happy to read Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan!
Released Tuesday, Aug. 2 by Avon
For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger.
On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her.
As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.
If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers.
This was such a good book! I wish I could have gotten an advanced copy of the audio book because I’m sure Julia Whelan herself narrates it and it’s probably wonderful. She’s my favorite narrator!
I liked a lot about Thank You for Listening. The main character, Swan, was intriguing and smart, and I really liked reading from her perspective. I really liked learning more about the process of creating audio books and the industry as a whole. There’s also the inclusion of email and text messages that really make the banter between the two main characters pop and made me laugh out loud several times.
There is a lot going on in this book – Swan is an audio book narrator who is out of the romance genre and gets pulled back in for a special project with another narrator who know one really knows, Brock McNight. Their banter was really great, and then there also another instance of Swan having a one-night stand who someone she met at a book convention. Also factored in is Swan’s family. Her grandmother, whom they call BlahBlah, is in a nursing home and her memory is slowly deteriorating. Swan is looking to get back into her acting career following a traumatic accident that happened causing a disfigurement and loss of her eye. Mix that all together, along with a lot of heart, humor and romance, and you have Thank You for Listening.
I feel it could have been cut down a little bit. It’s over 400 pages and there were some parts in the middle that dragged on a bit, but other than that I really enjoyed it! This as my first book written by Julia Whelan and it won’t be the last I ever pick up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Late Night Reading 