WAITING FOR TOM HANKS

Rachel Jacobs's energetic narration creates an enjoyable story that would otherwise be stunted by predictability in this rom-com about rom-coms. Raised on classic cinema, Annie is determined to find her own Tom Hanks. She begins working as an assistant to a movie director, a lively guy who could be Quentin Tarantino's vocal twin. Longing saturates Annie's voice as she dreams of finding her match, but things aren't as simple as movies make them out to be. Annie's character is balanced by those of her friend and her uncle, who radiate calm in their steady voices, a contrast to Annie's screeches peppered with snotty, stuffy crying when things go awry. Full of great movie references, this story's sweetness is tempered by Jacobs's dynamic delivery, complete with the secrets of celebrities shrouded in whispers. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]