IN AT THE DEEP END

Kate Davies's debut novel is enhanced by narrator Nicola Barber's nuanced rendering. Listeners meet Julia, a 20-something London civil servant and former dancer whose determination to reignite her sex life takes her down a rabbit hole that leads to new friends and an attraction to women. Narrating from Julia's point of view, Barber engages listeners with conversational tones and smooth pacing. Her performance pulls the listener into Julia's emotionally complex journey, including her sexual experiences with her girlfriend, Sam. Barber's characterizations of Julia's retired parents, friends, and co-workers reflect their personalities, as well as Julia's perceptions of them. Sprinkled throughout the narrative is Julia's work correspondence with Eric, a WWII veteran who is portrayed with warmth. Julia's professional relationship with him provides a contrast to her personal life. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2019]