SWEET SORROW

This audiobook is an absolute delight. Rory Kinnear's performance is smart, observant, and incredibly funny. Portraying Charlie, a teenage boy who is wrestling with an unstable family, an uncertain future, and an all-consuming love for Fran, the girl of his dreams, Kinnear walks the line between perfect comedy and astute empathy. His comfort with Charlie's awkwardness and his ability to leap headlong into all kinds of lively dialogue make the plot irresistible. Set against the backdrop of a summer stage production of--what else?--ROMEO AND JULIET, the novel is compassionate and charming. Kinnear takes Nicholls's clever story and brings it to three-dimensional life. No matter how many characters fill a scene, Kinnear gives each one a distinct spotlight. Indeed, SWEET SORROW deserves the same attention from listeners. L.B.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2020]