I WANTED TO BE WONDERFUL

Narrated by Sara Sheckells, this audiobook is a tender but brutal look at motherhood. Two alternating storylines unfold. One features a young mother who is struggling with her sick daughter while mourning her own independence. The other tells the story of a "princess" who lives an ideal life with her "prince" and their two "heirs." Sheckells uses a breathy, almost ethereal, voice when narrating the "princess" sections. She convinces listeners that her "royal" life is truly what she wants despite the problems in her marriage, including financial issues. When narrating the other storyline, Sheckells vividly expresses the young mother's anxieties; her yearning for her old life is visceral. This format could have been confusing, but each mother is distinct in Sheckells's thoughtful narration. C.A.P. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]