IF THE FATES ALLOW A Short Story

Narrator Rebecca Lowman captures common feelings of uncertainty and dread in her narration of Rowell's pandemic romance, set in Nebraska. Lowman's husky, drawn-out voice creates a memorable portrayal of Reagan (from Rowell's FANGIRL), who details the precautions she takes to visit her grandfather for Christmas. Lowman faithfully reproduces Reagan's pugnacious, resentful thoughts about her pandemic-ignoring extended family and her interactions with her grandfather's neighbor, Mason, who turns out to be Reagan's high school acquaintance. There's a dystopian quality to their backyard pandemic musings, which Lowman distills to sarcastic moments of humor. Mason's voice sounds mild and faintly agreeable as he balances Reagan's isolation-fed anxiety. Lowman captures Rowell's tone and spotlights the surreal encounter that jumpstarts Reagan and Mason's romance. C.A. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2021]