e-Audio, 11:03:03
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: April 6-11, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH App
TW: Death of a parent, Grief, Alcohol/Drug Use, Pregnancy
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Adult, Tear Jerker, Fake Dating, Second Chance Romance, Realistic Fiction, Spice Level 2Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college—they go together like salt and pepper, honey and tea, lobster and rolls. Except, now—for reasons they’re still not discussing—they don’t.
They broke up six months ago. And still haven’t told their best friends.
Which is how they find themselves sharing the largest bedroom at the Maine cottage that has been their friend group’s yearly getaway for the last decade. Their annual respite from the world, where for one vibrant, blue week they leave behind their daily lives; have copious amounts of cheese, wine, and seafood; and soak up the salty coastal air with the people who understand them most.
Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth while trying not to notice how desperately they still want each other. Because the cottage is for sale and this is the last week they’ll all have together in this place. They can’t stand to break their friends’ hearts, and so they’ll play their parts. Harriet will be the driven surgical resident who never starts a fight, and Wyn will be the laid-back charmer who never lets the cracks show. It’s a flawless plan (if you look at it from a great distance and through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for one week… in front of those who know you best?
A couple who broke up months ago make a pact to pretend to still be together for their annual weeklong vacation with their best friends in this glittering and wise new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.
*MY THOUGHTS*
My initial thoughts on this was that it was my favorite Emily Henry book…. And that hasn’t changed. I think the fact that I was able to first read this via audio was the reason why. The narrator was EXCELLENT. I don’t think I would have sounded that good in my imagination lol
Aside from the near perfect narration, I also liked the characters. Harriet is me and I am her. She is such a people pleaser and I related so hard. It was sad because I knew immediately that’s what she had going on. I recognized all the signs almost as soon as they appeared. And I really felt bad thinking of the money and time she wasted. I know it wouldn’t have done anything (because it doesn’t do anything for me) but I really wanted to hug her.) As for Wyn, I wasn’t as happy with him. He just seemed really cold and closed off the whole time. I know it was a “front” (and come on his reasoning for not saying anything in the first place was kinda sweet I thought lol) but I never really “GOT” him if that makes sense. But when it finally came down to it, they made a lot more sense together.
What I didn’t like tho was there was this amazing book that had this amazing girl who I related to and this guy who was really mean…. And then their reasoning for all this fighting and all that yelling and stuff was just a miscommunication. I swear the whole book could have been finished early if it they had just talked. It was stupid. Why do authors do this? At the very least, they could have done just been expecting different things at that point in life or something. But do something more creative than just saying giving a situation where they could have talked it out.
Again, this Emily Henry book was probably my favorite. I think it was because of how her writing was? Idk, this made me so much more emotional than her others? I want to say it was because of the situation they were in, but it really felt like her writing style developed a bit more. Like she made it more emotional on purpose? I don’t know. But whatever it was had me hooked to this one. But what’s funny about that is if you liked People We Meet On Vacation more than Beach Read, you don’t really enjoy this one. The opposite is true for me, so I LOVED this. I really hope her next one is just as mature and just as emotional as this one!
And just like with all of her books, the setting of this was perfect. Henry thought of everything and I loved that. I was fully enveloped in the story because of all her fluff and details. And since I was listening to it, and I have lived on an island before, I really understood the decor and the way things were kitchy and island themed. It really made me feel like I was IN the story. Pair that with the way I related to Harriet’s character already, in some places I felt like I was in the story.
Speaking of emotions, the way Julia Whelan performed this! Lordt I wanted to give her a standing ovation when I finished. She was there for every character change, every sound effect, and every emotion. That moment when they are finally getting some things left off their chest, I heard the tears choking Julia as if she was really having that conversation. And when the claustrophobia came up and she had to be the person talking the other person down?! Idk, she really brought it with this narration and I was seriously impressed. I remember looking through the rest of her back catalog because it was that good.
Although I really liked it, it didn’t come without its flaws. But this one felt more real than all the others. I really enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more from Henry. Also, did anyone catch any Easter eggs? I tried listening for them, but I only got one. If there was more, someone let me know what I missed lol
Overall, I give this
