THE ADULT

This queer coming-of-age novel is melancholic and reflective, and Emma Love's performance perfectly matches its tone. Just after Natalie arrives at university in Toronto, she's swept into an affair with an older woman. While adjusting to city life, navigating new friendships, and journaling for an intriguing poetry class, she finds herself falling ever more deeply into her relationship with Nora. Emma Love gives Nora a deep, assured voice and portrays Natalie's friends with lots of teenage excitement and occasional bravado. Love's performance animates Natalie's intense introspection, making the many long self-reflective passages a pleasure to listen to. The story sometimes gets bogged down in observations about art. Nevertheless, it's a poignant listen. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]