COME AS YOU ARE

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw delivers a heartfelt performance of this quirky YA romance. Evie is tired of being the nice girl. At her new boarding school she asks her dorm mate, Salem, an easygoing slacker, to help her become cool. In exchange, Evie will help Salem become a model student. They grow closer, but Evie is harboring a secret relating to why she's enrolled at this school. Hutchinson-Shaw expertly voices a complex character in the midst of a rom-com setup. While Evie is depicted as a young woman who is discovering her adventurous side, Hutchinson-Shaw also projects her vulnerabilities with tenderness. Eccentric dialogue will draw laughs, but the gripping romance will entice continued listening. G.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]