An ensemble cast performs a story of love and loss. Dara and Austin are just weeks from their wedding when Austin is given life-changing news. Their wedding is called off, and Dara hesitates to tell her family what has caused this rift. She travels to California and South Carolina, hoping to find solace. Austin flies home to the fate that awaits him in London. Told from multiple points of view, each performed by a different narrator--friends, family members, and the protagonists--the story pulls listeners into the young couple's lives. The varied backgrounds of the characters, who are chiefly British, Indian, and American Southerners, are expertly performed by all, adding depth to the production. An exquisite production, sure to be enjoyed.
Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593948132
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Despite Powers' strong performance, Diaz’s fans may be disappointed.
Narrator Imani Jade Powers puts her all into Diaz's first novel since his Pulitzer Prize, but the story’s emphasis on philosophy, physics, and politics over personality works against her. Powers maintains momentum through the driest sections, though it may be nearly impossible to put a great deal of passion into a speech about Heraclitean philosophy. The story is about a pincher (electricity thief) who gets involved with an orphan and a scientist possibly suffering from dementia. Nearly all the characters come from the same unnamed city, so accents are not an issue, but Powers clearly distinguishes characters and does what she can with the often restricted emotional ranges.
Despite Powers' strong performance, Diaz’s fans may be disappointed.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217406203
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Aleman relates Rey’s story with humor, compassion, grumpiness, and authentic accents.
In a month, 75-year-old widower Reyes Miguel Calderón must leave his apartment for the retirement village he and his wife chose a decade earlier. However, Rey is still grieving her eight years after her death, and he doesn’t want to leave the neighborhood that’s been home for so long. Narrator Zac Aleman lets us hear Rey’s grief, isolation, and frustration with an uncaring bureaucracy. The friendship that slowly develops between Rey and Q, a troubled teenager he’s known all her life, sounds real as attitudes of impatience, snark, and disrespect slowly evolve into empathy, respect, and a new lease on life.
Aleman relates Rey’s story with humor, compassion, grumpiness, and authentic accents.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 19 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668659526
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
