MARCH 2021 - AudioFile
Nicola Barber narrates a teen romantic dramedy. Audrey wants nothing at all to do with love, so why does the cute boy she works with flirt with her at every opportunity? Barber’s narration is solid and breezy, highlighting the fronts that Audrey and Harry present to the world, as well as their true inner selves. Some awkwardness that Barber’s strong narration cannot overcome is the result of the British story being reworked for a U.S. release, with strange and inconsistent vocabulary substitutions having been made. But the principals are well done. Audrey flips believably between poised, angry, and insecure as her world crumbles around her, while Harry is incredibly—and at times obnoxiously—charming and glib. Barber also gives all the secondary characters distinct and charming portrayals. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
★ "It's enough that this well-cast British import cleverly elevates and deconstructs genre tropes without ever belittling them, but it goes beyond even that, candidly addressing the weight of expectation behind a first sexual experience and the misconceptions that women especially often have about theirs. A substantial romance for even the most skeptical teens." —Booklist, STARRED review "Audrey and Harry’s relationship sings with witty banter, electric heat, and feverish emotion, but Audrey’s journey to self-discovery reaps even more rewards, leaving readers with a fresh, realistic look at first love...A wild ride that’s high on drama and deep in self-reflection." —Kirkus "Alongside snippets of Audrey’s rom-com essay, British author Bourne draws her protagonist as a believable mix of self-awareness and inexperience as she does her best to cope with her selfish father and hurting mother, her largely absent brother, and Harry’s omnipresent ex....a smart, funny, and emotionally satisfying rom-com." —Publishers Weekly "YA readers will relate to the struggles Audrey faces and be pleased by the refreshing conclusion to this love story."—School Library Journal —
MARCH 2021 - AudioFile
Nicola Barber narrates a teen romantic dramedy. Audrey wants nothing at all to do with love, so why does the cute boy she works with flirt with her at every opportunity? Barber’s narration is solid and breezy, highlighting the fronts that Audrey and Harry present to the world, as well as their true inner selves. Some awkwardness that Barber’s strong narration cannot overcome is the result of the British story being reworked for a U.S. release, with strange and inconsistent vocabulary substitutions having been made. But the principals are well done. Audrey flips believably between poised, angry, and insecure as her world crumbles around her, while Harry is incredibly—and at times obnoxiously—charming and glib. Barber also gives all the secondary characters distinct and charming portrayals. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine