IF WE'RE BEING HONEST

Narrator Kathleen McInerney's range is perfect in this touching comedic drama. When a beloved patriarch dies suddenly, his wife, three children, and four grandchildren unite for his funeral in a small Georgia town. During the eulogy, Gerry's best friend shares a secret, which sets the town abuzz with gossip. Over the course of a week, each family member faces their own struggle, mortality, and dreams for the future. Segues between familial perspectives can be confusing, but each character's journey is engaging. McInerney uses a Southern accent thickened by alcohol for a confession and a gravelly voice for the family matriarch. A phrase repeated softly with incredulity is juxtaposed with the exaggeratedly calm tone of a meditation app that is being drowned out by an argument. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2023]