MAPTON ON SEA Laughter, Love, and Mayhem at the British Seaside

Alison Larkin does a fine job with the assorted regional and class accents of British speech. The novel is often funny and sometimes touching--although the tangling and disentangling of London artist Stella Distry's relationships with her grandmother and new American boyfriend, and with the whole town of Mapton on Sea, are somewhat predictable. Larkin is especially good with grandmother Gina and her Polish carer, Grazia, and their gradual (and carefully hidden) affection for each other. There are bits of awkward prose and plotting, but overall this is a fun listen. The audiobook ends with Larkin's interview with author Sam Maxfield. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]