JUST FOR THE SUMMER

Fans of the author will welcome back familiar narrators in this stand-alone rom-com. Every woman Justin dates finds her soulmate immediately after they break up. Emma, who is similarly cursed, messages Justin after reading a Reddit thread about his love troubles. The two decide to "fake date" in the hope that their curses will cancel each other out. Real feelings develop quickly, but are they enough to combat the couple's emotional baggage and bad timing? Zachary Webber uses a tender questioning tone as Justin tries to connect with his sister and in another scene is hilariously drunk. Christine Lakin's nuanced performance is perfect, especially when she concedes to a friend that they've done stranger things than "fake date" to find romance. A.L.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2024]