THE GIRLS

Christine Rendel gives a quietly unforgettable performance of this dark and witty 1986 novel--a queer classic that is finally available on audio. Janet and Susan, known around their Cotswolds village as "the girls," live a comfortable life running a quaint gift shop. When Jan gets pregnant, it leads to a series of unexpected (and dramatic) events. Rendel's narration captures every nuance of tone in this masterful audiobook. Her voice is full of dry humor; it often feels like she's winking at the listener. But she also leans into the deep emotion that makes this story good. Jan and Sue are not cardboard characters whose purpose is to advance a murder plot, but multifaceted queer characters with rich interior lives. This audiobook is a triumph on all counts. L.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]