e-Audio, 09:33:43
Narrated by: Justis Bolding & Chris Nelson
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Published by: Recorded Books, Inc.
Read from: August 15-17, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received an early e-Audio copy of this book from the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Ableism, Emotional Abuse, Vomit, Panic Attacks/Disorders, Bullying
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Neurodiverse MCs, Realistic Fiction, Set Outside the USTilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite—feeling things for her he can’t quite name—and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.
As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.
Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I’ve been a fan of Mazey’s since her debut, so I was hella excited to see that she had a YA coming out. I immediately jumped on the chance to read it. I knew I was going to love it and sure enough, I did. This book was what felt like a small look into my childhood because I also have ADHD and anxiety. I really connected to this book like I haven’t in a long time.
Tilly is ready to start fresh, but she didn’t imagine she was going to have to do so under the watchful eye of her sister for her nosey mother. It’s a lot going on, but if she endures it she gets a free trip to Europe, she just as to be her sister’s intern. On the plane she meets Olly who seems to be the complete opposite of her. Of course they end up having to work together with her sister after deciding they hate each other on the plane. As we follow them around Europe, watch as they fall for each other and realize they are actually perfect for each other.
I’m not going to lie, I spent the majority of my time reading this book relating to the main characters and wondering what color my aura was. Reason being was because I really felt like I was Tilly. In so many ways I felt her and the pain she carried. Like her ADHD embarrassing her, the rabbit holes she was always going down, and of course the anxious thoughts making her pack more underwear than she’d ever need. Yeah it sounds like a little thing, but it really made me feel seen. And that was all I needed.
Mazey definitely knows how to make sure her romances will gut you. And this one did exactly that. I was swooning from the very beginning, but then I also was scared and yelling at them for both not thinking of the other or their diagnoses when it got to the end. I remember saying “you did the very thing you didn’t want anyone else to do to you to each other!” That’s just how invested I was. I loved that they were so willing to help each other and listen to what the other needed. Adults in relationships don’t always do this, so it was nice to see the two of them in such a good relationship.
And I can’t not talk about Eddings’ writing style. I felt so much in this story. I was laughing out loud, I was sad, like I went through so many emotions. That’s how I know I like a book tho. If it makes me feel real emotions and I’m invested it’s a win for me. And this one did exactly that.
As for the narrators, I think they did a great job. I hadn’t heard either of them before, so it was nice to get an introduction to some new narrators. I didn’t have any issues or anything, so that was nice. All in all i think they did great and I’d listen to them if they narrated something else in the future.
Overall, I give this
