New Reviews by Title: U-Z

Narrators Abigail Revasch and Tara Sands reprise their roles in this silly sequel to SQUIRREL MEETS THE WORLD. Doreen Green is trying to navigate friendships, homework, mean teachers, and the complicated social norms of middle school life. Meanwhile, her alter ego, Squirrel Girl, must uncover a sinister plot involving the new mall in town. Revasch's Squirrel Girl is perky, and... Read More

A chance encounter at a party leads to the beginning of a romance between Texas Ranger John Ruiz and nurse Sunny Wesley. Narrator Todd McLaren brings the listener along as John and Sunny fall in love and complications arise. Unbeknownst to John, Sunny has befriended his 11-year-old son. McLaren gives John a subtle Spanish accent that goes with his heritage and ably gives his... Read More

In this murder mystery about relationships gone wrong, listeners are brought to an isolated spot on the northern shores of Lake Michigan. Through a booking snafu, six former college buddies and a neurotic widow, Eden, are renting the same cottage. Eden has a terror of the dark and other phobias and is fixated on her husband's fatal car crash. It's an awkward situation that... Read More

Former ad agency head Jonah Sachs (WINNING THE STORY WARS) may quote studies and interviews with creativity experts, but the heart of this audio is the way his clear voice invites listeners to free themselves from the familiar and express themselves in whatever work they do. His persuasive candor about his own journey, along with his low-key enthusiasm about what he's learned,... Read More

In this charming audiobook about second chances, Johnny Heller proves himself a great choice as narrator. In a nutshell, Thomas Weaver wasted his life after suffering a tragedy as a teenager. After the 54-year-old alcoholic commits suicide in 2016, he wakes up in his bedroom in 1976, back in his 15-year-old body. Given a do-over, Thomas resolves to be a better man in his second... Read More

Rock legend Jordan Treveryan's band and his marriage to singer-songwriter Kathy imploded after the mysterious and fiery death of his drummer, Keith. Now, 10 years later, as he plans a reunion with a reluctant Kathy and the rest of the band, ominous threats make him determined to learn the truth about what happened. Narrator Tanya Eby's energetic treatment of the dialogue... Read More

Author Mike Pesca assembles a cadre of "what-if?" questions from the sports world. Malcolm Gladwell starts things off with a cerebral foreword, which precedes more than 30 stories written in varying styles. Some are potentially history altering--such as Mary Pilon's "What If Title IX Never Was?"--some are thought provoking and creative--such as Jonathan Hock's "What If Jerry... Read More

Narrator Raphael Corkhill gives a competent, if sometimes cloying, performance of Wood's beautifully observed family tableau. Alan Querry, a 68-year-old British builder, receives a worrying phone call: His older daughter, Vanessa, a brilliant college professor who lives with her American boyfriend, Josh, may be suicidal. With his younger daughter, Helen, Alan travels to... Read More

Many audiobooks about the Trump era merely lament the deterioration in political discourse arising from his presidency without offering any solutions. Ian Bremer takes a different and more effective approach, examining the us versus them divide not only in America, but also throughout the world, and offering ways to bridge the gap. Willis Sparks is an effective narrator who... Read More

Listeners will be quickly drawn into this romantic novel set in two time periods. Tom, a young American orphan, found himself working for room, board, and a small stipend at the Verdun battlefield in 1921, helping the priests with anything they needed, including collecting bones for an ossuary. When, in 1950, he unexpectedly reconnects with Paul, his thoughts return to that... Read More

Narrator Madeleine Lambert brings the words of shameless Jesus-lover Jamie Wright to life in this memoir describing her crazy missionary adventures. With just the right amount of sass and sarcasm, Lambert recounts Wright's complicated journey with Christ and her doubts about Western church culture. Moments of vulnerability and honesty are expressed in soft speech at a perfect... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre sounds simultaneously enticing and embittered in Phillips's interesting novelization of the life of author Jean Rhys. That's just as it should be, as Rhys was famously troubled and talented. Born in Dominica, Rhys's most famous novel, WIDE SARGASSO SEA, imagines an island childhood for the mad wife in Charlotte Brontë's JANE EYRE. Phillips's novel... Read More

Narrator Julia Whelan brings this realistic, thought-provoking debut to life with heart. She is the voice of Dr. Jean McClellan, once a renowned scientist, now a mostly mute, angry wife and mother who is looking for a way to reclaim her voice and personhood. Whelan expresses a range of emotions: regret for past disengagement, fear as she contemplates her daughter's life without... Read More

Newly graduated from college and seeking meaning in his life, Andrew Forsthoefel undertakes a cross-country walk from his home in Pennsylvania all the way to California, relying on his wits, the words of Whitman and Rilke, and the kindness of strangers. Forsthoefel recounts his goals: to listen to other people's stories, to understand what is of value and important to people... Read More

Narrators Richard Armitage and Grace Grant transport listeners to the streets of Paris in this dreamy contemporary romance. On a work assignment in Paris, American transplant Joy quickly realizes that her French isn't quite up to par, so she'll be working with a translator until she can navigate the intricacies of a Parisian perfume lab on her own. But an immediate spark with... Read More

This timely audiobook is a warning: Because of deep cuts to the State Department and the change in the current administration's focus concerning diplomacy, the United States is facing a crisis regarding its global power. Written by the winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Public Service, the audiobook draws on interviews with diplomats to make its case. Ronan Farrow also narrates... Read More

This memorable audiobook takes a young slave from captivity to freedom as narrator Dion Graham wrings every heartfelt emotion from the story. Edugyan's work embodies the fear and brutality of 1800s slavery, using beautifully turned phrases and clear-eyed observations--which Graham takes to another level--to give voice to the horror and high adventure of Washington Black's life.... Read More

Originally published in 2006, this Danish political thriller now has an English translation, with Jason Culp narrating the audio edition. Former Virginia governor Bruce Jansen wins the 2008 presidential election. Having lost two wives to public assassinations, he then enacts drastic executive orders to reduce gun violence, in turn stripping away many personal freedoms. The... Read More

Narrator Yetide Badaki's light and gentle voice is just what one might expect from a serene princess--a water princess, no less. Badaki gently but urgently shares the story of Princess GieGie and her journey to the well for her family's water. The princess rises at six in the morning and then begins her walk through a dust-filled world. Shea nuts, music, and the company of... Read More

Sir Walter Scott's first historical novel takes place during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. Young Englishman Edward Waverly goes to Scotland in the army but becomes intrigued by the Highlanders' cause and eventually changes his support from the Hanoverians to the Jacobites. David Rintoul's narration gives a natural cadence to Scott's prose. His clear, deep voice emphasizes the... Read More

Narrator Julian Thomas delivers this manifesto on why athletes have the right to a voice on social issues and why their activism is necessary in the face of today's injustices. Author Etan Thomas, a former basketball player, weaves together his personal experiences and verbatim interviews with more than 50 athletes. Thomas narrates with clarity, bringing gravitas to the many... Read More

Narrator James Fouhey delivers a playful yet somber narration of this poignant story. Best friends Luke and Toby struggle with abuse, poverty, and the criminal justice system in their North Carolina town. Then, during their senior year, their friendship falls apart. The story switches from Toby's point of view to Luke's once Luke begins writing pensive letters to Toby from... Read More

Around 1860, three men decided to create a faster way to deliver mail throughout the United States. This audiobook tells the story of the famed Pony Express from its beginning to its end only 18 months later. Narrator John Pruden turns this slice of American history into an entertaining performance filled with men of legend such as Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill Cody, and even... Read More

One hundred chapters of 100 words each. The central structure of Alison McGhee's book may be lost on listeners, but it is compensated for by Michael Crouch's honest, gentle rendering of 16-year-old Will, who is trying to make sense of his father's suicide. Will spends his free time attempting to replicate his father's "famous" cornbread and walking around town. On his walks he... Read More

Narrator Pete Cross gives a crisp, erudite performance of this collection of thought-provoking essays, which envision the influence of technology, science, and nature on the future of society. How does automation impact our future lives? What should we make of the possible impact of artificial intelligences? Curious listeners who aren't versed in the minutiae of concepts like... Read More

In the follow-up to her bestseller, READING LIKE A WRITER, author and critic Francine Prose recommends some of her favorite literary works. Narrator Allyson Johnson perfectly evokes Prose's conversational tone. Some of these essays have been published before and some not. A handful of classic novels are covered, as well as lesser-known works and authors. Throughout her... Read More

Gordon Korman never fails to create likable characters whom kids can relate to, and narrator Jonathan Todd Ross brings them to life with sympathy and humor. In a town called Stratford, new kid Cooper Vega and his seventh-grade class are preparing to perform ROMEO AND JULIET. As Cooper struggles to fit in, he discovers that his phone is haunted by the ghost of an Elizabethan... Read More

Narrator Derek Perkins adds British charm to this history, which is based on extant books, manuscripts, and letters from approximately 500 to 1500 CE. While the West was languishing in darkness, Asia was thriving with commerce, scholarship, and a cosmopolitan sensibility. Buddhism and Islam were major influences, the former with strings of monastic centers and traveling monks,... Read More

Narrator David Stifel's steady voice provides a welcoming tone as the author gives listeners a window on the seemingly inscrutable nature of the infinite. The title refers to a relationship between the scientist and the philosopher, and Holt's audiobook, a collection of essays from the past 20 years, likewise delves into deep questions about life itself. Listeners are guided... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby brings to life the story of three half-siblings who suddenly find themselves living together. Wealthy Malcolm discovers he has two sisters, Callie, a young woman who has a tough life, and Keira, a 20-year-old. He brings them both home to live with him and their grandfather. Eby masterfully gives voice to the three. Callie grew up in Texas, and Eby gives her a... Read More

Narrator Cassandra Campbell serves up a bushel of Carolina accents in this debut novel by nature writer Delia Owens. Campbell's accents give the mix of classes and regions in the story the same realistic detail Owens provides for the marsh. Kya, a girl abandoned by her family in the isolated marshes of North Carolina, comes of age with little social contact in the 1950s and... Read More

Narrator Tanya Eby whips up a performance almost good enough to eat in this sexy contemporary romance featuring a Russian hero who runs a neighborhood bakery and a heroine who is taking back her life in the wake of trauma. Viktor Orlaf knows that "just friends" isn't going to cut it anymore between him and tattoo artist Rachel Dolan. But loving her is going to take all the... Read More

This fast-paced audiobook is set in the diverse Confederation, a decade after the Elemental Wars, with the human race still trying to get back on its collective feet. And right at the heart of this prequel to Anderson's Saga of Shadows is talented narrator Travis Baldree, bringing its diverse characters to life. Baldree's clever blend of dialects and accents helps the listener... Read More

This audiobook, a NEW YORK TIMES bestseller in print, is instructive, informational, and clear. The author provides an introduction to the social phenomenon called "white fragility," in particular its discomforts and pushback. As part of the discussion, she explains various racial terms and their history. Narrator Amy Landon's objective tone allows the audiobook to speak for... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre's hallmark voice takes this historical romance from upper-crust London to the dark streets of the criminal underworld. Lady Felicity Faircloth's desire to receive the approval of society's darlings lands her in hot water when her lie becomes the talk of the town. When criminal king Devil promises to turn her falsehood into the truth, she doesn't realize... Read More

Narrator Susie Berneis takes listeners to the vast and mysterious Adirondack forest, where Doug and Natalie Larson are setting out on their honeymoon. The book begins with a heart-stopping chase through the woods and then turns into a dark and creepy thriller that will make listeners think twice before setting out on a camping adventure. Berneis uses her talent for evoking... Read More

A sweet and sexy romance of second chances kicks off Halle's new North Ridge series. Shane and Rachel were childhood best friends and then teenage lovers--until events conspired to tear them apart. When Rachel comes back to town, she wants nothing to do with Shane, but he'll try his best to change her mind. Narrator Alexander Cendese breathes life into the emotionally wounded... Read More

Narrator Kenny Blyth draws the listener into the mystery and beauty of the Shetland Islands as DI Jimmy Perez and his senior colleague and love interest, Willow Reeves, investigate the murder of a young nanny, Emma Shearer. Blyth's Scottish and English accents bring to life the interesting and troubled inhabitants of the insular, gossipy village of Deltaness. There, incomers... Read More

Narrator Kate Russell rides through another epic Chaos Motorcycle Club romance with the long-awaited story of Hound and Keely. Widowed when club business blew back onto her husband, Keely raised her two sons, reluctantly accepting club assistance. Russell delivers descriptions of Keely's dramatic life with clarity and sympathy. She steers through the rough language and sex,... Read More

The author's personable writing and intuitive ideas more than compensate for his less-than-optimal vocal tone and slightly mechanical phrasing. Yet his narration also has a seductive energy that builds as his ideas unfold, drawing listeners into his optimism as well as his thinking. The paradoxical hook in Hardy's message is that when we accept that our surroundings have... Read More

Little listeners are welcomed back to the wonderfully chaotic world of Winnie and Wilbur by returning narrator Amy Enticknap. Children are sure to enjoy this collection of stories about a well-intentioned yet clumsy witch and her extremely opinionated cat. Enticknap voices each of her characters with clarity and wit, marking Winnie with innocently high-pitched excitement and... Read More

Listeners hear Elizabeth Somers's unhappiness when she realizes her aunt and uncle are sending her to the Winterhouse Hotel, after leaving on their own vacation. Luckily, she has a practical disposition, which, along with a love of books and a facility for anagrams, will help her when she finds a magic book that holds a mystery. Narrator Sophie Amoss makes Elizabeth an... Read More

Narrator Mia Nichols capably portrays both sides of Declan and Abby's romance. She explores wolf shifter Declan's intense protective feelings toward Abby even as he resists claiming her as his mate. Nichols also reveals cougar shifter Abby's loneliness and longing for a family as well as her tenderness for Declan. Drawing out her words, both in narrative and dialogue, Nichols... Read More

Suzanne Toren is at her elegant best in performing this stunning audiobook, in its way as shattering as Jerzy Kosinski's THE PAINTED BIRD. The title character is a sardonic, wounded, brilliant Icelandic woman on her deathbed. In a garage. As a pretty, young adolescent, she was stranded alone in Hamburg in 1942, her father having joined the Nazis and her mother prevented from... Read More

Narrator Robin Miles educates listeners about the life and work of African-American radio broadcaster Richard Durham. She delivers the author's take on Durham's rise as an intellectual during a period of increased attention to African-American writing and music following WWII. Miles works capably across a wide range of material, including interview excerpts and historical... Read More

Narrator Christopher Gebauer delivers an engaging performance as a teen named Adam. Recently diagnosed with schizophrenia, Adam struggles with the condition, the side effects of the drug trial in which he is participating, and starting at a new school where no one knows of his past. Gebauer's unique vocalizations capture the different personalities of the characters--both real... Read More

The author and an ensemble of narrators guide listeners through the phantasmic world of Harkness's bestselling All Souls trilogy. Harkness is an academic historian whose expertise informs her imagined saga of witches, vampires, demons, and humans coexisting in contemporary and Elizabethan times. The lengthy interview with Harkness at the beginning is informative and genial.... Read More

Katie Heaney wrote her first memoir at age 25 (NEVER HAVE I EVER). At that time she was still searching for the right guy to sweep her off her feet. Amid a lot of soul-searching over the next three years, she realized that she is a lesbian and that she was really looking for the right woman. In this essay collection, Heaney recaptures the anxiety and tension of having crushes... Read More

Christian Rodska provides this action-packed fantasy with a dazzling narration. Each memorable, well-developed character--Michel, Ben, Taniel, Ka-poel, and Viora--has a recognizable and appropriate voice. Their likability is made more so by Rodska's treatment as well as their complicated relationships. With the capital city occupied, Michel smuggles even more refugees out,... Read More

This memoir by the 20-something Flanders, a former binge consumer, reflects on the interconnectedness of her addictions to alcohol, food, and shopping. In it she documents her year of living with a self-imposed shopping ban. This listen is not for those seeking a Kondo-like instruction manual on how to have less--Flanders's story is more personal. One is engaged by her overall... Read More

This audiobook is the brainchild of "Live From Here's" performer and head writer. In it, he tells funny stories about families--from overprotective mothers to bizarre uncles--and in the process shows that he has a warm side to go along with the funny parts. Tom Papa narrates his audiobook, and he does a marvelous job. His delivery is sharp, and he uses a slightly sarcastic tone... Read More

Coauthor Alex Salkever narrates this timely audiobook in an uninflected manner. While he's far from a dramatic reader, his earnest style suits the seriousness of the issues he raises. He is convincing. The authors share their personal stories, each in a kind of mea culpa for what inspired this project: email addiction leading to failing health for Wadhwa and a near... Read More

Wellesley College's annual hoop race is said to make its winner a winner at life, at least by society's standards. Once, that victory was to be the first married; now it's to be the first CEO. In her 1990 commencement speech at the women's college, Barbara Bush tells graduates it's time for a different saying: The winner should be the first to reach her dream. The first lady's... Read More

Fiona Hardingham narrates this personal-growth audiobook masquerading as a novel. Paris native Camille is on a quest to find happiness, as opposed to mere contentment, putting the author's philosophy of "routinology" into action. In the dialogue, Hardingham's French accent is believable, and she gives each character a unique voice and tone. Camille's handsome mentor, Claude,... Read More