I loved this! Julia Whalen’s insider status as a IRL audiobook narrators made this story come to life from first-hand author view. Her tone and flow of the story made for a wonderful palate-cleansing read!

As an avid audibook listener and fan of Julia Whelan, narrarator, I was so excited to get my hands on a book about an audiobook narrator by author, Julia Whelan and it did not disappoint. The back and forth between the two main characters kept me engaged in the story and provided a few chuckles as I read. Although coined as a romance (and featured quite a few romance genre tropes), I felt like it covered a variety of issues relavant to women. A five star read for me.

I really enjoyed this! I liked the inside look at the audiobook industry and I liked how the secret identities were believably secret. I appreciated that both characters were adults and not making inexplicably wacko decisions just for plot reasons. The hero was a great guy and I loved the uniqueness of a heroine with an eye patch. Definitely a good romance read!

When my favorite audiobook narrator writes a book about an audiobook narrator, it’s a must read ( or listen, of course). I felt so deeply Sawanees connections to every character. Her best friend, her grandmother, her Nick, her past. Really beautifully touching and moving and I can’t recommend it enough.

Sewanee Chester is on the fast track to becoming the queen of audiobook narrating. That being said, she still can’t shake the loss that she feels after the accident that stole her acting career, especially as her best friend is about to hit the big time in Hollywood. She also can’t shake the one-night stand she had with a sexy stranger in Vegas the other month, even as most of her attention is on her grandmother’s rapidly progressing dementia. Out of nowhere, a dream job lands on her desk – narrate a romance novel with Brock McKnight, the mysterious narrator that women around the world go nuts for. She swore off romance years ago, finding the tropes and HEAs nauseating, but the money could pay for her grandmother’s care. As the project continues and she and Brock correspond she feels undeniably drawn to the man behind the pseudonym. The question is, is the risk worth it for both of them to be unmasked?

Julia Whelan is such a gem. This book was sweet, funny, sarcastic, sexy, and a fun insider look into the audiobook industry, from the audio queen herself. I loved her first book, and am also impressed by how different Thank You For Listening was while still being gripping. I flew through this one and especially liked the way it poked fun at the romance genre, while still being romantic. Whelan has an ability to write characters who are incredibly witty, with great chemistry, but also feel very real and down to earth. This book, while openly making fun of classic romance tropes, is outside of the normal tropes in a way that I found incredibly refreshing and unique. If you are looking for a fast-paced contemporary romance with a lot of humour, while maintaining depth, this one is for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for a free E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a sweet book based on an audio book reader. Sewanee is a mess she no longer wants to do narrate based on romance when she’s given the opportunity of a life time. To read a book from an author she admires. In comes Brock the other narrator for the male role. They haven’t met in person or have they. The chemistry between the two is sweet and the banter is fun. When they finally meet in person the misunderstanding puts a halt to any romance, for a time. By the time you finish this book you will stop and want to read it again

This was a great story - while the main storyline was a bit predictable, it was an enjoyable read with characters that you cared about and cheered on. I would recommend this book!

2.5 stars rounded up. I love Julia Whelan as a narrator. But this story fell flat for me.

Pros: the email/text banter. Very funny. And the first chapter of the book had me lol’ing.

Cons: there were so many stories happening at once and it was hard to keep track. I didn’t feel the romantic connection, which is a bummer for a romance book.

Overall, disappointed. But maybe reading it physically while listening would have helped. So if you consider picking this up, I recommend physical book with audio!

This was such a unique, little romance book and I absolutely adored it! While the main characters' professions are to narrate audiobooks, and I rarely listen to audiobooks, I still enjoyed this so much. I feel like if you are an avid audiobook lover it might up your engagement even more. I loved Julia Whelan's last novel (My Oxford Year) and this one was no different. If you like a surprising romance novel and you enjoy books (duh!), then don't hesitate, find this book, and read it as soon as possible.

Sewanee Chester doesn't believe in love. Her dreams of becoming a famous actress disappear after a tragic accident. Now, she sustains herself with her job as an audiobook narrator. Sewanee loves her job and the people who work close to her.

During a book convention in Las Vegas, she has an unforgettable night with a stranger. Regrettably, She didn't tell him her real name and she didn't ask for his phone number either.

When she returns to LA, she has a new book to narrate if she agrees to do it. It is the last novel written by famous romance author, June French. If she accepts, she will be narrating it in conjunction with the "it" voice in the romance world, Brock McNight. At first, they shared emails but soon texting becomes their new way of communicating. Sewanee starts believing that maybe falling for someone is possible until they decide to meet....

I loved this one. It was so much fun listening to it. I love the couple's banter, and I thought Julia Whelan did an excellent job at fleshing out this book's characters. The same thing goes for the secondary characters. Adaku, Blah, Mark, and her mother were all wonderful additions to the novel.

I can see either book by Julia Whelan becoming a movie. I wonder who she has in mind for the characters.

4.5/5 stars

TW: Dementia

Sewanee Chester works as an audiobook narrator, and though it is very different than her initial Hollywood dreams, she has found success and happiness through doing what she does and has a stable way of helping pay for her ailing grandmother’s living expenses. Then one night at Las Vegas where she was booked to attend a book convention, she meets a charming stranger who sweeps her off her feet and Sewanee throw caution to the wind and loses herself to the night. When she returns home, an opportunity is brought to her to narrate the last work of the author who had given her the jumpstart to her career, the only problem? She no longer narrates romance. With a pay offer she cannot refuse; she accepts and will be narrating along the mysterious and suave Brock McKnight. Once she and Brock begin to communicate, they forge a real connection which allows Sewanee to open and be vulnerable. The closer Brock and Sewanee get the more secrets are revealed and the pressures of life threaten the beautiful bond they have built.

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I must start off by saying this book has the best banter I have EVER read in a romance. The email and text exchanges between Sewanee and Brock were amazing and you could feel their connection burn through the pages. This book had me laughing out loud with its humor and colorful characters while also tearing up as we see Sewanee struggle with her grandmother’s deteriorating memory. This was a sweet romance but touched on some very heavy themes like dementia and Sewanee’s accident that changed her life. The relationship Sewanee has with her best friend Adaku and her grandmother made my heart swell 🥹 The twist in this one was very predictable so I was curious to see how things would unfold and I did think it was very well done. There were some parts that ran a little too slow for me but overall, I REALLY enjoyed this one. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This title is available now for purchase!

I love Julia Whelan's audio narration, so I was excited to see she was also an author. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this was a solid romance book with complex characters.

Probably one of my favorite first chapters in any book I've ever read and it only got better from there. I think this is one of those that sort of straddles the line between WF and romance, especially because it feels as much about Sewanee's self-journey, or even moreso, than her romantic arc, but there IS a HEA here, so take that as you will. Engaging prose, exciting characters, cleverly titled chapters, and so many tropes abound in this one that feels like a dedication to both the audiobook and romance communities with a very sweet ending that brings the entire plot full circle — and maybe leads you to wonder whether Sewanee crossing paths with her love interest (that I don't want to spoil because the reveal is GREAT) was more a result of romance author meddling than chance encounter.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a delight! I loved a glimpse into the world of audiobook narration! As a big audiobook listener, and huge fan of Julia Whelan, this was such a treat.

I was looking so forward to listening to this book as Julia Whelan is an accomplished audiobook reader. It did not disappoint! I loved all the references to the world of audiobooks as I am an avid listener.

I loved this one. This was my first book by the author, although the reason I picked it up was because I loved her as a narrator.

While I was hoping for a romance, this was more women's fiction to me. Loved the insert that the author put in conversation about the differences between romance and women's fiction. So for that reason, this book fell a little flat for what I was hoping this would be.

But I still really enjoyed seeing Swan navigate this part of her life. A few years after an accident, she's trying to resolve who she was with who she is now, and what she wants from her career. Throw in a little fling while she was in Vegas for a convention, which turns into something else entirely.

A small part of the book, but I loved the chapter titles. I love to see it.

Overall I would still recommend this one and pick up other books by this author in the future. As long as your expectations are more women's fiction rather than romance.

Highly recommend you check out the audiobook as well, as the author narrates it herself. I loved the different voices and accents.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This romance has hidden identities, joint work projects, and living with a disability. The romance between Sewanee and Nick is great, and I love their banter and growth together. Sadly, the romance didn't seem to have time to shine as much as other elements in the story. The book felt a bit chaotic beyond the romance, which may have been intentional with all that is going on in their lives. Other than the romance, my favorite part of the story was Sewanee's relationship with her dying grandmother.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
I have listened to many audiobooks narrated by Julia Whelan, and I was interested in reading one of her own stories.
I enjoyed this twist on a romantic comedy starring audiobook narrators Sewannee Chester and Brock McKnight. Set in Los Angeles, the plot of Thank You for Listening has an old movie set feel; Sewanee’s grandmother was in show business and retired to an acting-themed senior living facility in LA.
This was a story with many “HEA- happily ever after” romantic tropes, many of which are brought up within the story. Even with this tongue-in-cheek tone, the characters have a lot of depth. I definitely wanted to find out the backstory to further understand where each character was in his/her life. The unfolding was natural and the use of texting, emails and letters moved the action along quickly.
I would recommend this book and have out her previous book, My Oxford Year on my TBR list. I would also recommend her many audiobooks and will listen with new ears after hearing some of the tips, techniques and routines of an audiobook performer.
#netgalley

I think the only way to read this one is to listen to this one--amazing narration. I wanted to love this one--as I love Julia Whelan, but I felt like the story was just missing something. The connection between the two narrators was great, and super fun, but I felt like I missed something in the story, waiting for more.

Thank You for Listening, Julia Whelan's second novel, will go down as one of my favorite books of the year. I listened to it and kept taking the dog out for long walks because I needed to know what would happen next. Whelan has developed lovable, deeply flawed characters that you can't help but root for and placed them in a wonderful meta-romance. Romance lovers and newbies to the genre will find a lot to enjoy.