I struggled but made it through—

I am not sure if it was just the narration or partially the story itself but I struggled through this book. I realize that the narrator had a lot of different
voices to do so I am sure that was difficult. The male voices weren’t varied enough, the sound editing seemed off at times because it would be whisper quiet and then the narrator would suddenly yell one or two words. I kept wondering if the book would be better than the audiobook but I wasn’t interested enough to give it a try. I am sure that the narrator has done great work in other books.

8 people found this helpful

Compelling story, unpleasant narration.

This is the first Emily Henry book I've read/listened too, and I'm impressed! The cast of characters is complex and well-developed, and the plot is compelling. My only complaint with the audiobook: the voices the narrator used for dialogue, especially lines spoken by the male characters and the younger version of Franny (in flashback scenes), which range from cartoonish to whiny to gratingly gravelly. I had to turn the volume way down and turn the speed up to get through some dialogue-heavy sections. If you're particular about audiobook narrators, this might not be for you.

9 people found this helpful

terrible narration.

By far the worst "female doing a male voice" I've ever heard. They don't need to sound like slingblade!

2 people found this helpful

Couldnt stop Listening

Strange story. But good. Sad but hopeful. Mostly well narrated. I’d listen to more by this author

2 people found this helpful

Metaphysical alien philosophy....?

This is one of those stories you can't describe or else you'll ruin the the whole book. I really enjoyed the fast pace, the majority of the story, and couldn't wait to get to the end of this mystery, but then it seemed to have an end that was for a different book altogether. Take the story Stand By Me, mix it with X-Files for 3/4 of the book and end it with What Dreams May Come. All 3 stories are excellent individually but chop them up, don't mix together, and make them one story not so much.

1 person found this helpful

Terrible engineering

Had a hard time following this because of all the pauses. Terrible engineering on this production. Kind of ruined a decent story.

1 person found this helpful

Young adult twister

it was a slow starter, for me. It picked up very quickly. The whole way through the book I was thinking 'I see where this is going'. Nope!! Didn't see at all. Great twist.

Beautiful Writing, Wonderful YA Coming of Age

I listened to this entire reading in one day. I found myself immersed in Frannie’s life as well as the simple teenage friendship circle which turned out to be deeper and more committed than any of them thought. The ending lifted me with light and hope. I recommend this story to anyone who likes YA Coming of Age narratives, with sometimes luminous writing and varied moments of tension driving the characters onward.

This is usually my type of story…

…and it was very good, although I was hoping for a more supernatural payoff. Instead it turned out to be a rather Stand By Me, coming of age, revelation story, which was lovely, in it’s way.
It’s just that the beginning of the book promised Sci-Fi and then delivered warm and fuzzy feelings at the end. The narrator was very good in her own voice, but I didn’t care for how she did the boys.

Extraordinary!!!

Thank you Emily and Amara I really needed this time with you all in Splendor!g