New Reviews by Title: U-Z

Narrator Nancy Peterson channels the beauty and emotion in these short essays on the subject of joy. Her gentle tone is enjoyable and peaceful as she tells author Gonzalez's personal stories about where she finds joy, both in the ordinary and in the glorious moments of God's presence. Gonzalez also points out how being able to recognize these moments is a necessity in life. In... Read More

A six-person cast narrates a story spanning two centuries, set on a remote island in New York. Rachel Hirsch portrays Providence, a sweet nineteenth-century maid who is secretly fleeing Boston after the murder of her employer. In modern times, Audrey, portrayed by Helen Laser, is feeling frazzled and cynical due to her responsibility for shepherding her sultry movie star... Read More

Eugenia Cheng's consideration of equivalence and equality in math and in life could be applied to the identity she presents in this audiobook: Her narration is always easy to listen to, but WHAT she narrates is not; the two are not equal. Her voice and English accent are likable; her manner is warm, friendly, and engaging; her performance is clear and gently musical. Even the... Read More

Richard Simon's sturdy speaking voice has wonderful clarity and a masculine pitch range that gives his relaxed performance a solid and respectable sound. His vocal personality makes him sound open and flexible. It's a great vehicle for the smartphone addiction remedies he offers in this fresh-sounding audiobook. Stories of how people wrestled with and benefited from ditching... Read More

This chilling audiobook features an outstanding ensemble cast. When a mysterious boy wanders into Isla's backyard from the woods, she's desperate for him to join her large family despite his unsettling strangeness and disjointed body. Erin deWard voices Isla gently as she escapes her spiraling depression through her unwavering certainty that the boy will complete her family.... Read More

Narrator Liz Fodor creates a strong, believable character in attorney Camille Delaney. While providing legal aid inside a women's prison, Camille meets inmate Charli Zhao. Charli is not only serving time for a crime she didn't commit, but also, years earlier, after giving birth while shackled to a bed, she suffered the kidnapping of her daughter. Moved by Charli's plight,... Read More

Barrie Kreinik's narration pulls listeners into the life--and often directly into the mind--of Rachel Nardelli. A college student focusing on journalism, Rachel is struggling. She isn't sure about her major, her friends, her boyfriend, or her future--and she drinks too much, often blacking out. When her old middle school nemesis, Alison Petrucci, is found murdered right after... Read More

Many times, a single talented narrator capably brings to life all the characters in an audiobook. But, occasionally, multiple narrators work better. An example is this intriguing ensemble production set in the near future. It's more family drama than sci-fi--hence, its success with multiple narrators. The gripping story is told by four women who were connected to an odd teenage... Read More

Listeners will enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance as grumpy Parker Harris repeatedly meets Amy Gibson at singles events. Amy remains determined to find herself a boyfriend despite a series of awkward encounters and first dates from which the cynical Parker ends up rescuing her. Vanessa Moyen and Lee Samuels shine at portraying the pair as they maintain their distance while... Read More

The youthful voice of Shannon Tyo is fitting for Vera, a 10-year-old Korean American girl who resides in a dystopian United States with her complicated family. While Vera presents as a conscientious, anxious, overachieving pre-teen, her Russian Jewish father, Anglo Saxon stepmother, and vociferous half-brother (who loves to expose himself to incoming houseguests) are totally... Read More

Hamilton Clancy masterfully presents this magical Hurricane Katrina story and historical travelogue. Listeners meet 12-year-old Vernon, who is grieving his mother's death and feeling shocked that his dad wants to leave New Orleans despite their home having survived the storm. Then he meets feisty Alisa, whose mom is intending to move to Houston for work. Soon, the youths... Read More

A talented duo brings this action-packed historical fantasy set in 79 CE, right before the destruction of Pompeii, to its explosive end. Amin El Gamal portrays Loren, an earnest attendant at the Temple of Isis. Loren has prophetic visions featuring cynical thief Felix, who is depicted in a deep voice by Max Meyers. The two team up when Felix appears at the temple with a magical... Read More

Narrator Mira Sorvino enchants as she portrays Jess Capodimonte Baratta, a good Italian daughter from New Jersey who finds the courage to break free from a life that seems to be happening without her consent. When an unwanted revelation and an unexpected windfall from her beloved Uncle Louie turn Jess's life upside down, she seeks clarity and a fresh start in her family's... Read More

Narrator Sarah Skaer takes listeners on a magical summer sojourn in this new English translation of Kashiwaba's 1975 fantasy. Sent alone to Misty Valley instead of Nagano, where her grandparents live, Lina is taken aback to learn she's expected to work for her keep. Skaer's pleasant lilt conveys the narrative as Lina works in various establishments along what the residents call... Read More

Benton Frank continues her saga of the Adams family of South Carolina's Lowcountry. Shy, introverted Violet Adams finds herself in a shaky frame of mind now that she and her boyfriend have broken up. At the same time, her best friend, Aly Knox, moves to the Lowcountry after the loss of her mother. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw doesn't give Violet a trace of the Lowcountry accent. Aly, a... Read More

Narrator Emily Gibbons Bouchard demonstrates that queer love knows no bounds in this amped-up sci-fi romance. Called to a nearby planet by a mysterious beacon, scavenger Wylla goes on the hunt for what she hopes is a valuable find. What she discovers is something even greater: A mask imbued with the power of its last wearer, a hawk. Donning the mask, Wylla gains the hawk's... Read More

When a nonfiction audiobook is described as "monumental," it can be challenging for listeners. But Courtney B. Vance makes this biography of pioneering Black sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois highly accessible. The work is still long and detailed, but Vance's pace and tone keep it from seeming tedious. He varies his voice to suit the material, especially in denoting irony or when... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky narrates this thrilling historical novel with pizzazz. Thirteen-year-old Evie arrives at the 1936 Berlin Games with one goal in mind: a Gold Medal in gymnastics. Though she notices the tension in the air, it's not until she's drawn into a plot to steal Nazi gold from the German National Bank that she realizes the biggest stakes she's playing for. Vilinsky's... Read More

Narrator Kathleen Early delivers a consummate performance of this complex crime novel, skillfully voicing every character--ranging from a sulky teen to a swaggering drunk--with distinction. Early's nuanced portrayals anchor the story, which introduces Deputy Emmy Clifton and her legendary North Falls family. The mystery begins with the disappearance of two teenagers during a... Read More

Three acclaimed podcasters share a collection of wisdom from their own experiences and those of the 118 mostly female luminaries they interviewed. Their stories all involve adversity: self-doubt, oppression, and the challenges of family, workplace, and personal relationships. Drawn from people in diverse fields, the compact quotations fit nicely into 20 types of life... Read More

Part gothic fiction and part domestic thriller, this creepy, compelling listen features Helen Baxendale's and Jamie Glover's excellent narrations. After surviving a nearly fatal accident, Emily and her husband, Freddie, relocate from London to Larkin Lodge, a remote Dartmoor estate. Emily begins to have unsettling experiences while alone, and her husband worries about her... Read More

As Mona Awad returns to the dark academia of her cult classic, BUNNY, Sophie Amoss artfully handles the challenging narration. The plot unfolds mostly through monologue and dialogue. Amoss gives specific tones and styles to "the Bunnies," the quartet of entitled MFA students who are holding fellow former grad student Samantha captive because of the way she portrayed them in her... Read More

The U.S. Constitution is under threat, but it has a self-contained aspect that can right the ship of state if only we will let it: the amendment process. Harvard historian Jill Lepore contends the country's guiding document was not born fully developed and shouldn't be treated as a static entity. Rather, it was designed to allow for adaptation to changing times. Lepore is also... Read More

This audiobook is an offbeat, avant-garde look at the American Southwest as seen through the eyes of a poet, philosopher, cowboy, and "weeper" named Ed. Weepers are professional mourners hired to add tangible signs of grief to funerals. Narrator David Aaron Baker brings Ed to life. His warm and folksy voice is instantly likable. Ed's verbal ruminations are sometimes profound,... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini's pitch-perfect narration elevates this thriller to a new level. Ballerini expertly showcases his talent for making a diverse cast sound authentic and memorable. The story follows Devlin Mahoney, a man with a secret past who lives in Cottonmouth, Texas, a town full of international ex-spies, operatives, and agents. Mahoney and the other town residents live... Read More

Listeners will either love or hate this story of self-discovery. Narrator Jenapher Zheng portrays Lola, a woman in her early 30s who is mourning the sudden death of a close friend. Lola is launched into social media fame when a video of her giving a monologue on her grief goes viral. Despite moral concerns about capitalizing on personal tragedy, she decides to try to become an... Read More

The advantages and perils of technology have long been examined in fiction, and this audiobook offers an excellent, profoundly human view of the topic. Helen Laser is outstanding as Jane, a teenager who is living off the grid in Montana with her father. As Jane learns more about her history, Laser's portrayal subtly changes to reflect her growth. Jane's voice shifts from that... Read More

Narrators David Rintoul and Rachel Bavidge perform with distinct British styles as this speculative novel jumps around in time. Rintoul portrays Tom, who lives in the 22nd century, when the diminished world has experienced climate catastrophes and been ravaged by AI-controlled wars. Rintoul's professorial tone and diction strongly suggest an indoor life of the mind. Bavidge... Read More

Cassandra Campbell and Helen Laser deliver outstanding performances as Lori, a former-actress-turned-nun, and her niece, Lu, in this dual-timeline story revolving around an Old Hollywood mystery. In 1990, Lu interviews her aunt for her college history thesis. Until now, Lori has refused to talk about her decision to join the Church at the height of her acting career. Laser uses... Read More

Ifan Huw Dafydd gives a performance worthy of this emotional and powerful debut, winner of the Swedish book of the year award, the August Prize. Listeners will become attached to Bo, an elderly man who is determined to keep his son from taking his dog, Sixten, now that his wife is in a facility for dementia, leaving him with only part-time caregivers. Journal entries added by... Read More

For the second installment in the Philomena McCarthy series, Katy Sobey once again delivers a strong narration, She assumes the voices and accents of characters ranging from an English girl to Eastern-European gangsters, along with posh and not-so-posh Londoners. "Phil" is an officer with the Metropolitan Police whose father is a crime boss. While on patrol she encounters a... Read More

Will Packer, producer of numerous Hollywood hits, brings his talents as both author and narrator to this inspiring collection of career and life lessons. Known for being "all in" on his projects, Packer delivers masterful storytelling enhanced by cameo appearances from celebrities, lively music and sound effects, and a sideline commentator who keeps him honest. His narration... Read More

When Kelly Ramsey moved to Northern California to fight wildfires, she was weighed down by more than just her gear. In her late 30s, she was a decade older than most of her crew--and the only woman to boot. But the toughness, humor, and youthful energy that sustained her comes through in her narration of her memoir. With an easygoing, personable tone, Ramsey takes listeners... Read More

At the beginning of this audiobook, the protagonist is experiencing the brain fog of long Covid, losing track of time and events and emotions. As author Patricia Lockwood narrates, she sounds lost and emotionless. But this is a story of survival, so the confusing elements--including the decision not to mention the heroine's name more than twice in the whole story and the... Read More

James Rottger presents this timely story with verve, his Scots accents reflecting its varied locales. When thoughtful Dr. Neil Anderson is misunderstood by a student, a serious complaint results. After he discovers his girlfriend's unfaithfulness, he retreats to the Isle of Mull, rather than defend himself. Rottger lustily utters the strong feelings of longtime friend James,... Read More

In this first installment of a duology, Ella Lynch's British-accented narration introduces listeners to an epic fantasy filled with political intrigue. Humble deputy courier Elen is tasked with leading an arrogant prince and his entourage on a secret footpath through a land infested with poisonous spores. Elen is keeping many secrets. One is that a spore-eating viper lives... Read More

Snuggle up with this cozy magical performance by Samara MacLaren. Sera is a shadow of her former self. Once one of the most powerful witches in Britain, she now runs an inn with her great-aunt, whom she resurrected from death, and a snarky fox who was once human. Still bitter from having been cast out of the Guild, Sera is trying to deal with eccentric inn patrons and to regain... Read More

In 1600s Paris, with Louis XIV on the throne, a group of women gathered to have discussions in opposition to the patriarchy and other forces limiting women's opportunities. Narrator Hope Newhouse's feminine voicing is a suitable complement to the stories of these "conteuses," or storytellers, who crafted fairy tales out of their experiences. Newhouse's delicate voicings,... Read More

Who knew? The great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens is also a gifted storyteller! Clare Corbett's thoughtful narration of this charming series set in the 1970s has the feel of a classic. Corbett presents each unique Fielding child: serious Tom, the oldest; Carrie, the horse lover; Em, who's helpful to everyone; and Michael, gentle, dyslexic, and often misunderstood. When... Read More

Kirsten Potter's resonant narrative voice guides listeners safely through the red herrings of Carol Goodman's locked-room mystery set on an isolated Greek island. A group of writers has reconvened on the island 15 years after their first traumatic meeting. Their apparently AWOL host has set in motion dangerous events with which the group copes as its members navigate their... Read More

Narrator Mayuri Bhandari introduces Pakistani American Ziya Khan, who is feeling resigned after receiving another rejection of her latest book submission. Out of her desperation comes a wish granted: Aashiq, the physical manifestation of her literary talent, whose purpose is to help her make life changes. Bhandari portrays Ziya in a well-modulated voice with hints of... Read More

In this mystery, Beckett and her college roommate are accused by the London Police of setting a fire that killed two men. The charges are dropped, but the emotional damage is done--then, Beckett's roommate at Wyatt College disappears. Beckett finishes college and never returns--until her daughter, Delilah, receives a scholarship to Wyatt. Narrator Cassandra Campbell's expertise... Read More

With her down-to-earth vocal personality and audible commitment to her teaching, teacher/trainer Karen Salmansohn creates a secure atmosphere for considering the invitations in this compelling audiobook. Her conversational phrasing and reasonably quick pacing engage listeners. Her captivating message is that facing the reality of death can jolt us to live more boldly and to pay... Read More

Trust narrator Joy Nash to make the zombie apocalypse a barrel of laughs. Edie Brandstrup is constantly on the lookout for zombies. Sure enough, some escape from a nearby prison. Rushing to save her neighbors, Edie first heads for Gaston "Max" Boucher, a brainless surfer dude who turns out to be a French vampire with hidden depths. Edie's mockery of Max in the form of incessant... Read More