I really enjoyed this book. It was difficult to review without spoiling anything because a lot happened and it was so throughly entertaining. The story was written in a way that made it easy to see yourself in it. My interest did drift a few times but never for long.

The characters were super relatable and fun to read as they interacted with each other. I laughed out loud throughout the entire book but especially during the conversations between “Sarah” and “Brock.” This was my first book by this author but I loved that the book centered around a topic they knew well.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher and the author, Julia Whelan.

This was a cute read and was a fun, meta “look behind the curtains” at the audiobook publishing industry.

This book is DULL DULL DULL. No other way to put it. The characters really do not speak to me. Sewanee is so 1D. A protagonist needs to carry a book more. The only part of the book that captured my attention were the emails between Brock and Sewanee. Though cute, the email portion was likely more entertaining only due to its brevity. The fact that this book tried every single romance trope just makes it trite, not charming. I could not wait for this book to end. So boring. Not worth anyone’s time.

Great writing, interesting characters. Could have used some more steam.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was such a good book. I really like Sewanee and Nick and I felt I learned from both characters. I also thought the secondary characters were funny. The information about the Audiobook industry was interesting especially the exchanges about how to read certains scenes. I also enjoyed the way the characters went about separating their identities from their work and life.

I found "Thank You for Listening" a bit unusual--which is not necessarily a bad thing. There seemed to be a lot of . . . movement, maybe? in the book; several locations, lots of characters and switchups of narrative, emails, and texts. It could have easily been confusing, but somehow the author made it work. I managed to keep up with the action, once I loosened up and reconciled myself to it, and ended up enjoying it all. The book is pretty lighthearted, in spite of some heavy baggage lugged around by the characters, and it is best taken that way.

The main character is a book narrator, a profession I knew nothing about. I did enjoy this glimpse into the world of narration, though, and couldn't help wondering how much of the MC's life reflects the reality of the profession.

Why four stars instead of five? I don't know, exactly--maybe the messiness of it all, even with the author's deft handling. Maybe I need to read another book by this author before I make up my mind, but I was a teensy bit unsettled when I finished it. And maybe that's not a bad thing, either.

One of my favorites of 2022! A terrific story about love, friendship, and hard-earned happiness, set in the world of audiobooks, with many knowing winks to romance genre tropes. Just wonderful.

5️⃣ ⭐️ BOOK

We all know and love Julia Whelan for being our absolutely favorite and go to audiobook reader. Every year she reads the books that land on the best seller list for weeks on end. While these stories are fabulous and would be great books without her, she is definitely one of the reasons why they stay on the best seller list for a extended length of time. Not only can she transport you to another place when she narrates, but the girl can write too!!

Her sophomore novel, Thank You For Listening is by far my favorite romance, not love story (as she comically addresses the difference in the book🤪), of 2022! There is so much to love and for a book and genre about living Happily Ever After there is not one thing I would change. 💏

💗Why I Love This One More Than Other Romances💗
🔆The main characters, Sewanee and Brock, are a breath of fresh air. I appreciate that Whelan showcases a woman with a physical disability at the forefront and explores the up and downs life would take when the disability takes away all that has defined you.
🔆Sewanne (Swam) is an audiobook reader as a profession in the novel. I love that we get insights into the daily routine and ins and outs of that booming business.
🔆The Banter…so good!! I have harped on other novels with their annoying banter that makes you want to punch yourself, but this one is perfect amount of banter filled with sexual tension and humor.
🔆 The secondary characters in this romance are the perfect compliment to the protagonists. They are equally as developed as the main storyline. Between her grandma Blah (Barbara) and her crazy friends at the upscale nursing home, Swan’s best friend Adaku, and her mom and her eccentric lover you will fall in love with all of them as much as you do Swan and Brock.
🔆A well developed story line!! Sometimes romances are fluffy and cringy (which sometimes we are in the mood for), but this felt close to real life with a perfect sprinkle of serendipity.

Add this delightful, laugh out loud, and unputdownable novel about finding love and finding yourself to your TBR! You will be happy you did! 💗

Julia Whelan, everyone’s favorite audiobook narrator, nailed her second book. I enjoyed the addition of the authors note at the end, explaining that while the audiobook aspect of the book itself wasn’t entirely based on her experiences, her experiences influenced her writing.
I love romance books that have a deeper emotional aspect behind the characters connection that create conflict, and this book completely fits in with this category.

In Thank You for Listening, author Julia Whelan writes about a topic she is very familiar with as an audiobook narrater, creating her main character, Sewanee Chester, as an award-winning audiobook narrator, although Sewanee is unsure if that is the direction she wants her career to maintain. Sewanee was an up and coming actress with a promising future when a fateful accident derailed her hopes and dreams. As she's pondering her future possibilities, she agrees to narrate a romance out of a feeling of obligation and respect to the author who was supportive early in her career. From there, the hilarity ensues as she must work remotely with the mysterious and charming Brock McKnight, a famed and lusted-after romance narrater, who is also questioning his line of work and pondering his future. The book is heartfelt, hilarious, inspiring, sizzling and heartbreaking. It covers topics of how to deal with a life that is not on the trajectory you had anticipated, connecting with family (even those who are difficult to connect with), and creating the future where you will have little regrets because you valued what is important. I loved that Sewanee was close to her grandmother --their relationship was so special and Grandma "Blah Blah" was indeed the star she always longed to be! The "twists" were not surprising, but I loved the road there and the stories along the way! The ending was perfect!

Like 97% of audiobook listeners, Julia Whelan one of my favorite narrators (tied for 1st with Bahni Turpin) so when I found out that she had a romcom ABOUT an audiobook narrator coming out, I clicked request on Netgalley so fast they didn’t even see me coming. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled when Libro.fm offered this on audio as part of their influencer program last month.

If it’s an option for you, I strongly recommend you read this one as an audiobook. I can’t wait for launch events, because I’m so excited to hear Whelan talk about the specific choices she made for this book, as an audiobook narrator, knowing that she’d be narrating it. I know the wide array of accents must have been purposeful, but what else. Julia, tell us your secrets!

Sewanee (pronounced swan-ee) Chester is an audiobook narrator who used to narrate romance under a pseudonym, but has since left them, and her own ideas about happily-ever-afters behind. When it turns out that the late author who helped her get her start had specifically requested she narrate her final project, and that the generous compensation will help her take care of her grandmother, Sewanee decides to make a return to romance narration. She quickly connects with co-narrator Brock McNight, comfortable that neither of them know the other’s true identity. Although, maybe Brock isn’t as much of a stranger as Sewanee thought.

This was a delight. It’s trope-laden in the best possible way, with humor, heart, and a lot of accents. I enjoyed the witty banter, the various forms of communication, and the chemistry between the main characters. Though this is a romance and there’s only so much that’s unpredictable, I enjoyed the way that things unfolded and don’t want to spoil it too much.

I can’t speak to the disability rep (Sewanee lost an eye in an accident that changed the trajectory of her acting career) here, but wanted to make a note of it.

Readers should be aware that there are mentions of accidental injury/medical trauma, and dementia on the page.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via libro.fm and NetGalley for an eARC/ALC to review.

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

I haven't (yet) read Julia Whelan's first book, My Oxford Year, but I've heard good things about it. And I'm a big fan of her narrations of audiobooks - there's a reason she's at the top of the "favorite narrators" lists of so many audiobook listeners. And yes, I do love a good romance novel. So I knew I wanted to listen to her narrate her romance about an audiobook narrator - a subject where her knowledge could add so much to the story.
And wow, did she ever deliver on both fronts. The story and the writing was just so much fun - smart and sad and sexy, full of heart and just really entertaining. Whelan has written wonderful supporting characters for her main character, Sewannee (Swan) Chester in the form of family and her lifelong best friend. Swan is a former actress and a successful audiobook narrator who doesn't like narrating romances because she's lost her belief in happily ever after. When she's enticed into narrating "just one more romance book" to solve a family financial crisis, the job comes with the opportunity to work long-distance with the mysterious Brock McNight, the narrator with the McDreamy voice whose true identity is a mystery. The usual elements of a romance novel are there and the journey is a delight. The peek behind the scenes of the world of publishing, audiobooks, and book conventions adds an extra dimension to the whole package.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

Thank you so much to Avon and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Wow... Julia Whelan's talent never ceases to blow me away. I listened to this on audio, and I can't recommend picking this up on audio enough.

This story is a pretty even balance between contemporary and romance. This focuses on Sawanee's personal journey as well as her romance with Nick and thought the emphasis on both was done fantastically.

Sawanee is an audiobook narrator who has gone through some very traumatic life changes over the last few years. Because of that, her goals, dreams, and self confidence are severely impacted and she is a little lost and directionless. Throughout this, we grow to understand her defenses and watch her tear down her self-imposed walls and limitations.

The support of Sawanee's friends and family was amazing. This is one of those stories where you fall in love with the side characters as much as the main characters. Her best friend was ride or die and I loved everything about her.

Alongside that we're getting a very tongue in cheek romance between her and Nick. I loved how Julia Whelan played into romance tropes and made this story so self aware. Since Sawanee is in romance, she is constantly comparing events to romance novels and it was just a really fun spin.

Overall I just a had a really good time with this story. I thought it was well balanced, well paced, and Julia Whelan's narration skills are unparalleled. If you're an audiobook lover, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Everyone knows @justjuliawhelan is the best of all audiobook narrators, but did you know that she is also an incredible writer? In her newest book, Thank You for Listening, life imitates art when her main character is a audiobook narrator!

Sewanee is a former actress turned audiobook narrator after an major accident leaves her without an eye. She has found success and is able to care for her ailing grandmother when she meets a handsome stranger one night in Las Vegas. They enjoy one incredible night together and then part ways.

Sewanee narrates many genres, but she does not do romance. When she’s approached to do a huge author’s last romance book with mega star narrator Brock McKnight, she has to really think about it. But this job also comes with a huge paycheck that would help care for her grandmother in the next level of care.

As she and Brock get closer during work, but through email and phone calls only, does Sewanee see that not all romance is bad? I absolutely loved the relationship between Sewanee and Brock. Maybe it’s because they are anonymous and can really be themselves, but they have incredible chemistry.

The book also features Sewanee’s best friend, Adaku who is also an actress. I enjoyed their friendship since both women tell it like it is. They can be real and honest with each other and they have a long history. But the book also discusses what it’s like in the show business industry for a black woman. I found this all really fascinating.

Thank you so much to @libro.fm, @avonbooks, @harperaudio and Julia for my gifted ALC and ebook. Thank you for listening is on sale now and I highly recommend the audiobook to hear Julia! 👸🏻

What’s better than books about books? This book is about audiobooks. And romance books. And has a romance in it. And some of the best witty banter I’ve ever read. The chemistry between the MCs is off the charts. They are together so much in the book it’s simply delicious and I loved it.

I had no idea my favorite female audiobook narrator Julia Whelan is also a writer! This book is a romance that uses a subject close to her heart: the MC is an audiobook narrator who falls for an audiobook narrator. I love audiobooks so much and it's fun to learn the behind the scenes stuff about the industry, but the love story is really good!

Sewanee is a talented VO actress who gets an offer to narrate June French’s final romance novel w/ Brock McKnight, the sexiest voice in the biz. It's an offer she can't refuse despite not doing romance novels. She has a lot going on: her grandmother has Altzheimers, she has a difficult relationship with her Dad, her Mom is off traveling with her new partner, and she had a terrible accident 7 years prior which cut her acting career short. When she starts working with Brock he gives her life just like their banter and connection gave me life while reading it. Email and text conversations in books is one of my favorite devices and the flirty exchanges in these is top notch.

I’m not going to spoil anything because there are a bunch of surprises in this, but I was super hooked and I can't recommend it enough. Listen to it if you can, Whelan does an amazing job as usual.

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Thanks so much to NetGalley & Avon Books for the ARC !!!

Thank you for Listening took me on an emotional journey.

You have to be open to the possibilities.

I loved reading Sewanee and Nick’s story. They are two realistic, flawed and complicated characters. They are both stuck in a life they aren’t happy with after their lives moved in an unexpected direction. They are vulnerable and afraid to take a chance.

This is an intriguing story that had me quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen next because I was never quite sure what direction it would go. It held me captive from start to finish. This story took me through many emotions: falling in love, family dysfunction and losing your dreams,

There are also some interesting and colorful secondary characters included in the story. I especially loved Sewanee’s grandmother, she was a hoot. Julie Whelan writes a beautiful and touching story.

I LOVED THIS! Sweet, emotional, hilarious, romantic, and an absolute delight! I love that this book centers on audiobooks because I love listening to audiobooks and I found it fascinating learning more about the process. The romance is just top-notch and sexy and so real!

Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan was such a fun read. This book just had the best overall balance for everything you would want and need in a story. I can not say enough good things about this authors storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more books by this author in the future. Five star +

This book was delightful. Julia Whelan is my number one audiobook narrator and I was way too excited when I saw Thank You For Listening was written by her!

Sewanee Chester, former actress, current jaded audiobook narrator is sucked back into the world of romance books when a flurry of events leads her back to a time she has since given up on. Mixed with friend drama, family drama, and workplace drama, Thank You For Listening is a sweet romance book that also lets the reader peek into the world of audiobook narration.

Sewanee was a good MC and I REALLY liked the male MC. I think there could have been a bit less family drama (a lot of conflicts with multiple family members) and a bit more romance (multiple fade to black scenes). But, overall the banter was fun and the HEA was satisfying (it is a romance book after all).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

#ThankYouForListening:⁣
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Thank you (partner) @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks @avonbooks for the gifted physical copy and headphones! Thank you @harperaudio and @librofm for the gifted audiobook!⁣
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You thought you swooned over Julia Whelan’s voice in Book Lovers as Charlie Lastra? Wait til y’all meet Brock McNight. 👀 👀 Julia Whelan is back, but this time, it’s her own book she’s reading from! Y’all already know I love a JW narration, so why wouldn’t I love a JW narration + plot? ⁣
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Her voice of BlahBlah was SO GOOD. Ugh, I could literally see the crinkle by her eyes when talking about the golden years of Hollywood. There’s one thing I’ll always love about Whelan is that she can be a full cast all by herself.⁣
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The story itself with Sewanee was very unique and I really enjoyed it. It gave me some Birds of California and Malibu Rising feels (both also read by Julia Whelan) You couldn’t help but cheer for Sewanee to finally see herself the way the rest of the world still saw her. ⁣
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Overall, a wonderful hit from my favorite audiobook reader about.. well, an audiobook reader! I enjoyed the different background about narration as we don’t ever get to see that. A unique story for sure. Thanks again @bibliolifestyle, @williammorrowbooks, @avonbooks, @harperaudio, and @librofm for the copies. Thank You For Listening is out now! ⁣
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QOTD: Sewanee has an alias as a narrator. She used the trusty algorithm as her first pet and the street she grew up on. I guess mine would be Brownie Kirkwood. What would yours be?