Thank You for Listening does not read a straight romance to me. It's really a romcom that uses ALL the romance tropes to good effect. And that's ok! But it's... not quite a romance. I wish so much that we had had more interior monologue from the hero. Or that he appeared on the page a lot sooner. But these are quibbles. This book did a great job of giving two characters some real challenges and helped them work through them- on their own, but with support from their family, friends, and each other. If there had been more each other parts, I would have liked this book a full half star more! Again, quibbling.

What did I like, to make me give it four stars and change? I loved the grandmother. I loved the best friend. I loved the idea of acting as art, and narrating as art, and that books in audio form are not less than but an alternative. Knowing that Julia Whelan knows the world of audiobooks better than most made the insider jokes and wit extra fun. And let's be real- I was imagining our hero and his voice throughout. What an amazing audiobook this would make!

I really enjoyed reading this, even in the hard parts. I love the idea that even when our life changes instantaneously, it's still up to us to accept our new selves. The people we love will follow us if we only lead the way. Thanks for that, Ms. Whelan. Also thank you for writing!

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Audiobook Narrators
❤️ Love Triangles
❤️ Virtual Crushes
❤️ Banter
❤️ Spicy Vibes🔥

Book Review:
After reading My Oxford Year in 2019 and falling in love with Julia’s writing I knew I’d be keeping an eye out for anything else she wrote so when this one popped up on NetGalley and I was lucky enough to get a copy I felt so blessed. And I have to say, now that I’ve read this one, Julia has absolutely been added to my auto-read author list!

The banter between Sewanee/Sarah (her narrator name) and Brock was absolutely *chefs kiss* as they emailed and texted back and forth as they got to know each other while working on their narration project together. I loved the witty back and forth and all the one upping of sexual innuendo they used inspired from the romance novels that they have narrated.

When they finally meet in person, I loved how it was done when we got the reveal of the people behind the narrators. And all the goodness that came as a result. The banter, wit, innuendos, trope jokes, all made this one perfection, not to mention the supporting characters that were also so well inserted.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishers, and Avon Books for the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release in exchange for my honest feedback!

Sewanee Chester had her life mapped out. She was hitting her stride when an accident occurs. Instead of life on the silver screen, she has become the premier audio book narrator. This allows her to be close to her grandmother, who has dementia. A woman who gave her the chance to break into audio books has died and has left a last request. She wants her final project to be done with Brock McKnight and her. Now Brock McKnight is the hottest narrator doing romance books. I loved the back and forth between them, never meeting. They've established a friendship. Little did they know, that "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" became real. How to reconcile both parts. Nick/Brock was all for it. Sewanee/Sarah Westholme. ran. Trust mom and her best friend to set her straight. Loved the ending!

I loved Sewanee figuring out what she wanted!

Sewanee Chester had moved on from acting to audiobook narration after her accident starting with indie romances and then moving on to other genres using her acting training. Everything changed when Sewanee had to fill in at panel at BiblioCon in Las Vegas and spent a night with Nick Sullivan from Dublin never expecting to meet him again.

Sewanee never intended to do another romance until she was asked to narrate June French’s final project with Brock McNight who was the hottest voice in romance that would pay for her grandmother’s memory care that she was starting to need. But exactly who was Brock McNight?

Thank You for Listening is light on the romance but heavy on Sewanee trying to figure what she wanted to do with her life.

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

A blogger regret I had was not reading my ARC of My Oxford Year for so long because that book was stupendous. When I got my hands on Thank You for Reading, you can bet I did not delay, and once again, Whelan has written a story that checked every box for me.

The entire story was enjoyable, from beginning to end. It was funny and witty and tugged at my heartstrings. It featured friendship, family, overcoming huge setbacks, and romance too. What a fantastic mix of elements, and what a treat that it was set in and about the audiobook industry.

Whelan really opened a window into the world of audiobooks for me, and I was completely fascination by it all. From the preparations to the recording process, it was interesting. I was very impressed by how Whelan was able to pull me into it all without losing me in the specifics.

This story had equal parts heavy and light, and the author did a beautiful job balancing the two. I went from grinning and laughing to drying my tears, and the ebb and flow of these emotions were perfectly paced and placed. I was also very happy to be part of Sewanee’s personal journey. I am trash for stories of self-discovery and self-acceptance, and Sewanee made so much progress on both these fronts. I was thrilled for her and moved by everything she accomplished during this book.

Overall: Thank You for Listening hit all the right notes for me and was an utter delight. Whelan deftly wove my favorite elements together to produce a deeply touching and meaningful story that brought me laughter, tears, and lots of joy.

(ARC from NetGalley) That was like a warm hug tbh. Without spoiling it or being repetitive (as you can also read the synopsis) this story is about Swan finding her way back to herself. After her accident, she’s given up acting for audiobook narrating and is very adamant about not touching Romance because HEA’s are bullsh*t, BUT she gets an offer she can’t refuse. I fell in love with Swans anger, messy family, insecurities and passion. I wanted to reach through the page and throttle her but then also cry with her because life isn’t fair. Also, Nick was hot.
Please pick this up.

This was such a sweet, fun story. I really liked both of our main characters and seeing them overcome their own insecurities. As an audiobook lover (and a Julia Whelan audiobook lover) it was also so much fun to hear about the behind-the-scenes of the audiobook world. It was interesting to hear the MC's take on romance as well, since I think a lot of people do turn their nose up at romance, unfortunately.

There were also some great side characters. I love all of Swanee's different relationships- from the strained relationship with her dad, to the sweet relationship with her grandmother, and the fun, loving relationship with her mom and stepdad. Her friend Adaku was a really great side character, as well.

Given all of these great side plots and side characters, I didn't necessarily feel that this book was as romance heavy as I was thinking it would be. It definitely felt like, especially in the first half, the book was mostly just about Swanee and her life- which was totally fine, just not as heavy in the romance as I thought. We definitely got more in the second half, but I would even call this more women's fiction than romance, personally.

The author is a favorite audio narrator herself? Check.
Contemporary romance? Check.
A tongue-in-cheek look at the romance genre? Check.
Learning to live after a life-altering event? Check.

I found this to be a delightful story that lets the reader peek into the behind-the-scenes of both the romance genre and the audio book industry. Early on we learn Sewanee experienced some kind of accident that altered the trajectory of her career and her life. She has become a successful narrator who has left the romance category but circumstances pull her back for one last book.

There are family issues, relationship complications, and, of-course, the rock-steady best friend. It is a fun read with a requisite HEA.

I was thrilled to read the ARC of Thank You for Listening thanks to NetGalley.

I don’t listen to many audiobooks, but I really enjoyed learning about the process in this book. Told through a modern epistolary format with third person supplemental narrative following Sewanee and emails/texts with infamous romance narrator Brock, this story follows an actress who has chosen a different career path after suffering a debilitating accident that threw her dreams into turmoil. To add to the chaos, she is butting heads with her father over her grandmother’s care due to dementia.

The banter with Brock lightened the load of issues that Sewanee was dealing with and I laughed and I cried. Sewanee also has a fabulous best friend in actress Adaku whose career is currently on fire making Sewanee both proud and jealous, and a mother who she can confide in although Marilyn is out finding her own life traveling the world with a new love. From Vegas to the sound booth to Venice, I enjoyed every moment of Sewanee’s journey to accepting who she is and figuring out what she wants to do next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the free copy provided for an honest review.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING by Julia Whelan is smart, romantic, nuanced, a marvelous and totally immersive escape. In this novel, Whelan shares Sewanee Chester's story. Wounded, but not thoroughly broken, Sewanee navigates personal and professional challenges, complete with beloved grandmother, aggravating father, best friend living the life that Sewanee might have had while Sewanne narrates audiobooks for a living. One unforgettable night in Las Vegas starts a rapidly escalating series of domino tumbles that ultimately end happily for the characters as well as this incredibly satisfied reader. Fantastic novel by a profoundly talented writer who had me laughing, gasping, and teary-eyed through believable and heart-stopping moments. I received an early copy of this novel and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Who better to tell a story about the life of an audiobook narrator than one of the absolute best in the field? I loved this beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, and acceptance. The only thing that would have made this better would have been to listen to Julia Whelan narrate it, so I suppose I’ll have to get the audio version when it comes out next week. Don’t miss this fun read with surprising depth.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

Want a book that'll put a smile on your face from page one? Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan is that book.

Sewanee Chester is an audiobook narrator who has refused to narrate romances for years now. Truth is, she doesn't believe in them. But now, she has the opportunity to narrate a book by a late beloved friend with the sought after male narrator, Brock McNight. Once she starts to work on this book, instant sparks fly with Brock under the guise of fake names and studios. With secrets left to be unfolded, will the readers be thankful to listen? .
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I was able to read Thank You For Listening in a daily and adored it. Julie's writing style left me wanting more from each page and gave each character the appropriate voice. This book was a self love book as well as a find your true happiness. I recommend any reader pick up this novel as if hits shelves the first week in August.

I really enjoyed the start of the book and the story of a woman who is hiding in a job she doesn’t love, plus some slow burn romances that keep her on her toes. Half way in I got a bit lost as I knew the twist and it became a bit predictable for me. I still really enjoy Whelans writing g and dialogue but ended on a 3.5 for me, rounded up to 4.

I looooooooved this book. There is so much heart and humor and tropes galore - so many tropes - but it worked seamlessly. I laughed out loud several times and thought the emotional turmoil gave me the perfect amount of heartache.
In trying to write a short synopsis, words fail. I went in without having read the premise, and it was a fantastic way to go. There's a heroine to root for within a one night stand, epistolary, love triangle, second chance, workplace, destination romance. It's the sweetest kismet.
This reads like a love letter to audiobooks and narrators. Julia may not have meant it that way, but I am a huge fan of listening while I work or run errands and it put a perma-smile on my face. I'm not sure how she has time for sleep with all that she does, but whatever it is Julia is doing, I want more books from her asap.
As if I haven't gushed enough, I had the opportunity to read and listen. The audiobook is amazing and I love so much that Julia's talent allows her to perform her book as she envisioned while writing. The accents and intonation she meant, we get to hear.
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the advanced copy and Libro FM for the alc. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Romance: open door

After her life as an actor was unexpectedly cut short, Sewanee became a successful audiobook narrator, dazzling audiences with her skills. While on a business trip to a Las Vegas book convention, she spends a delightful and unanticipated night with a stranger, faking her name and departing the next day back to the real world. Once home, Sewanee begins a new narration job for an old colleague, the recently deceased author June French, who specifically requested Sewanee and the hotshot male narrator, the mysterious Brock McNight. While Brock and Sewanee get to know each other (each with a pseudonym), their connection becomes real, and each facet of Sewanee's life is called into question as she considers what to do next.

I have loved every book Julia Whelan has narrated, so reading one of her own books and finding it absolutely delightful was serendipitous! Thank You For Listening was laugh-out loud hilarious from the first chapter. I love audiobooks, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting this fictional look at the creation of them. The character depth and banter, the relationships with family and friends, the interpersonal struggles - it was all exceptional!

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

How fun is it to listen to a book about a character who reads audio books for a living! Recently I watched a video of how an audio book is made and it was pretty cool. A friend was talking about a certain woman who she loves listening to and it made me realize I've never paid attention to who's reading the book before. I've heard voices I couldn't connect with, voices that had the most perfect accents, and the best celebrity voices reading their own memoirs. Thank you for listening is a cute romance with a splash of "Bookish"fun. Sewanee Chester is an actress turned audio book narrator. She enjoys her job and generally reads all genres, except romance. Her past relationship has ruined her to all the sickly romantic junk that goes into a relationship so she steers far away from it.
Sewanee Chester is an actress turned audio book narrator. She enjoys her job and generally reads all genres, except romance. Her past relationship has ruined her to all the sickly romantic junk that goes into a relationship so she steers far away from it.
Sewanee works hard and for fun she loves to spend time with her grandma "Blah Blah". Her granny is feisty and keeps everyone at the retirement home on their toes. Blah Blahs health is slowly declining and Sewanee hates to be apart from her, but she has a convention in Las Vegas she must attend. Book conventions can be a lot of work but somehow Sewanee ends up meeting a very handsome man and having a very fun evening.
Back home she is offered a job reading a romance book with the top leading male voice in audio books, but she said she would never read romance again! She needs the money to help Blah Blah so she bites the bullet and accepts the job. Sewanee is hiding behind her old pseudonym but so is Brock. When the two start working together their characters as well as their true selves start to build a connection.
Soon they will discover that they aren't who they say they are, but then find out who they really are, sparks will fly both good and bad.
Sewanee just needs to remember she's doing all of this for her Blah Blah so she can continue to care for her the way she deserves, but maybe Sewanee will also find out what she deserves too!

Thank You For Listening is funny, quirky, and so cute - I loved every minute!! The characters are romance audiobook narrators (like the queen of audiobooks herself) which was so different & loved it! Because the characters are working together remotely, they spend a lot of time texting and the convos were so fun! I loved the format of the emails and texts and it was an easy & fun summer read!<3 l'd recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted romcom about family, friendships, love, & behind-the-scenes of audiobooks! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the publisher for a free Netgalley & Libro.fm for a free audio.

I really enjoyed this book. Like really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and the little storylines to go with the major story line.

But holy moly. 432 pages. Four hundred thirty-two. This honestly could have been 100 pages less and been just as great. If I remember correctly, this was my biggest meh for My Oxford Year as well.

Thank you Avon, NetGalley, and Libro.FM for the eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I had a really good time reading this one and enjoyed the banter between Sewanee and Brock. I also enjoyed the little glimpse into the creation of audiobooks and their narrators.

I think this one may lean a little bit more towards women's fiction than romance as we follow Sewanee battle what she wants to do with her career moves as well as tries to tackle family issues for much of the book. It's not that the romance took a back seat, but that these plot points were big plot movers when it came to developing the romance.

TW: On the topic of family issues, it is worth mentioning the following trigger warning: family member with progressing dementia. This was a surprise to me and I had to take a step away from it to get my bearings as someone who has lost several family members to dementia.

This that made this four stars instead of five: the use of dementia as a way to 'motivate' Sewanee and the friendship was a bit lack luster and could've used a bit more building than just the two of them building their careers off each other. The main friendship almost seemed toxic.

All in all, I highly recommend this one and definitely recommend on audio as Julia narrates it herself.

When a popular audiobook narrator writes a romance plot about an audiobook narrator and how she handles life when dealt with a bad hand. It is a slow burn romance that romance readers will absolutely enjoy. Sewanee and Nick haven't had an easy life so far and are wary of romance but when cupid hits, do they even have a chance at evading it?? As a self-proclaimed fan of sassy and witty banter, this totally lived upto my expectations in that arena.

It was hilarious, heartwarming and the ending was too neat but since I was rooting for them, it worked for me!