This book was exceedingly lovely. This was my first book by Julia Whelan, but I've had the good fortune to have been able to listen to her narrate a few audiobooks, including one of my favorites and she is clearly extremely talented. I loved getting a glimpse into the world of an audiobook narrator from one of the best in Thank You for Listening.

After an accident causes Sewanee Chester to retire from acting, she makes a living as an Audie award-winning book narrator, but she has one rule: NO MORE ROMANCE. When one of her favorite authors dies and leaves instructions for Sewanee to narrate her last book, to be narrated posthumously, Sewanee has no choice but to accept the job - and the large paycheck that comes with it that will go a long way to helping out her beloved elderly grandmother.

Sewanee takes the job and what comes after is a loving tribute to romance, family and forgiveness. Sewanee needs to work through a lot of guilt and grief in getting to a point where she can open herself up to love and friendship. Despite the meta-conversation the book discusses what constitutes "women's fiction" versus "romance" I think this book leans slightly in the corner of women's fiction. That being said, the romance in this book is really lovely and I feel like revealing any more would be a spoiler.

Honestly, every book should have a lengthy epistolary chapter in the middle. We would all be better for it.

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A book about an audiobook narrator written by my favorite audiobook narrator? Sign me up!

I loved Julia Whelan’s debut, My Oxford Year, and so her sophomore title, Thank You For Listening, was one of my most anticipated 2022 releases. Sewanee “Swan” Chester is one of the most sought after audiobook narrators, known for bringing all manner of books to life, but never romance. Back home in LA, Swan gets the offer of a lifetime to narrate the final title by romance legend June French. Facing mounting bills from her grandmother’s assisted living facility, Swan can’t turn it down even though she’s sworn off narrating romance. Her narration partner is none other than Brock McNight, king of romance narrating and an elusive figure no one has ever met.

This book brought a lot of love. The characters have depth and develop over the course of the book in believable and interesting ways. I loved seeing an inside perspective on audiobook narrating! There’s a scene where Swan and Brock are recording and they mess up and it had me in absolute stitches. I thought there were some storylines I would have liked to see wrapped up or tightened to keep the focus on Swan, but overall I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to reread when the audio comes out since it’s narrated by the queen herself!

Content warnings: Swan was in an accident that leaves her injured; there’s a scene where the accident involving an airplane is described in a lot of detail. Swan’s grandmother has dementia and lives in assisted living. These scenes are really well done but can be difficult to read. Brock’s mother dies when he’s a child and he’s raised by his aunt.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I really liked this book, the first book I have read by this author. Think: funny banter, amusing situations, a strong female voice but poignant, when you consider everything Sewanee had to go through. I appreciate that the author also highlighted her disability and how difficult it is to get past a physical disability (a past accident had blinded one eye and led to her quitting her job as an actress.)

I also absolutely loved the peek into how audiobooks are developed. Sewanee is an audiobook narrator who does not do romance anymore. Brock is the romance king of narrators but intensely private (like Joe Arden or Sebastian York- oh a casting idea perhaps!) . They are paired to do a book together, a romance serial, and Sewanee agrees to get funds to take care of her grandmother, who is in assisted living (some of those scenes made me cry). They collaborate and through a series of texts, the reader gets to hear about what seem like a realistic back and forth about aspects of audiobook development (pronunciations, preferences, viewpoints, etc)

This is a fantastic story but I thought a bit drawn out; it is a long story and while it was well paced, it felt a bit plodding as it got to the big reveal, which was obviously going to happen. This is a slow burn romance but the romance was secondary to highlighting the struggles that Sewanee faced because of her deformity and her grandmother. We also primarily got her view not Brock’s and so I wish the viewpoints were more balanced. That said, I found the writing engaging, the characters really fun (including the supporting characters) and the story well rounded, with elements of humor, a bit of sadness and of course, romance.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an early read!

Thank You for Listening drew me in from the first chapter. I would have died of embarrassment if I was in the main characters shoes. Loved the premise of the story and it was fun to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into recording audiobooks. I can’t wait for this to be released so I can also listen to the audiobook version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!

My audiobook, romance loving heart just adored this book! When I saw this was the author of My Oxford year I was extra excited to read it. Loved that book! .
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Sewanee and Nick both have a lot in their past, pasts traumas and hurts that haven’t been healed, and they are both cynical about love.
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Be prepared, this book has so many tropes, but in the best way! (Snowed in, only one bed, one night stand, mistaken identity, just to name a few!)
It’s a bit of a slow burn romance with lots of funny wit and banter, but it also has lots of heartfelt and emotional moments.
I loved learning more about the process behind audiobooks and I especially loved the epistolary aspect. It was probably my favorite part of the book.
Overall, it was a book about love and acceptance and really making your own HEA.
I HIGHLY recommend this one!!
4.5 stars!!
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Thank you @netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to read this book. This one is going to be a big hit!

Following the abrupt end of her screen acting career, Sewanee has found success as an audiobook narrator (of everything but romance, which she adamantly avoids). When she’s asked to do a joint narration of a romance novel with the current most in-demand male narrator, Brock, she only agrees in order to be able to pay for her grandmother’s nursing home as dementia continues to worsen and the care expense increases. She grudgingly begins the recording and less grudgingly falls into a lovely epistolary relationship with Brock. As they continue to become closer it’s clear that both Sewanee and Brock have a lot of work to do on themselves in getting over past disappointments and wounds, both physical and emotional, before they can give a real, in person relationship a shot.

I feel like my description doesn’t do this book justice. I’m definitely trying to avoid spoiling, which makes more detail difficult. This was a great book. Julia Whelan is one of the most in-demand audiobook narrators herself (if you haven’t listened to any of her work, you’re really missing out). She brings life to this industry, about which I know almost nothing, without getting hung up in the minutia. Sewanee’s background and her struggle to adjust to life as it is now is heartbreaking. That said, this book is also incredibly joyful, full of incredible banter, both in person and over email and text. If you are a reader of romance or (ugh) “women’s fiction,” you’ll love the knowing discussions and hilarious distinctions. CW: past serious injury, dementia. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC. Available 8/2/2022.

Oh how I loved this book! I started it 2 days ago and I couldn’t put it down. Two audiobook authors? Who don’t know they’re talking to each other?! Ugh sign me up! This book was so well written, heartfelt, and yet funny. It does deal with serious subjects but in a respectful way. This was a 4 out of 5 stars read for me!

This is such a lovely well written book. The heroine even as she’s living in the present seems to be working through giving up on her old life in the past and moving forward. She was an actress but now it’s an audio narrator. She stopped doing romance novels when she felt her own past wasn’t happy but she has agreed to narrate for a famous romance novelist last book. The male narrator and her start to just from the recordings and talking feel something for one another. It’s an interesting way to set up a romance and also deals with letting go of the past in order to move forward in the future. It’s a beautifully written novel with complicated and well written characters .

While I was approved to read Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan via Net Galley, I had to listen to it narrated by the author as it has to be a rule to listen to a book about an audiobook narrator that Julia Whelan wrote and narrated!⁣ This book is about Sewanee (pronounced Swan-ee), an audiobook narrator who has stopped narrating romance books (with a pseudonym) because she no longer buys into happily ever afters. However, she is asked to narrate a book written by an author she loves and she needs the money to support her grandmother’s increasing care needs, so she agrees to do it. She will be sharing the narration with Brock McKnight, and the two begin an email and text conversation that is full of banter and at times hilarious. ⁣There is a lot to love in this book including the main character’s use of an eye patch due to having lost her eye, Sewanee’s best friend and what she deals with as a Black woman actor, and Sewanee’s relationship with her beloved grandmother. The romance is swoon worthy as well! And if you are an audiobook fan, I highly encourage you to listen to this one, as Julia Whelan is amazing.

Whelan's novel is a fascinating look into the world of audiobook narration combined with a sizzling romance. I enjoyed how Whelan explored Sewannee's past and how it affected her future, but felt that the romance got a bit of a short thrift at times.

After a tragic accident, an actress turned audiobook narrator struggles to find her place in world. Many aspects of her life are in turmoil including her family, work and romantic life. All of Whelan's characters, including the group of extended family and friends, are layered and complicated and so, so funny. It was great fun and oh so interesting to see the romance and audiobook industries behind the scenes.

I loved this book, the voice, the pace and how they don't give up on themselves or each other.

I enjoyed this book more than this author's debut and I absolutely loved the first 2/3 of the book. The last 1/3 was not as good for me but I still think the characters were interesting and the storyline was unique. It was also well written even if it got a bit too HEA at the end for me. Definitely would be a good summer read and I think a lot of people will love this book!

Thank You For Listening comes out next week on August 2, 2022 and you can purchase HERE. You can read my review of this author's debut HERE.

"You know who should read these books? Men. If they really wanted to understand what makes women tick."

Julia Whelan is an expert audiobook narrator, but she’s an expert storyteller as well.

Thank you Avon for the gifted copy via Netgalley.

This novel is HILARIOUS. The humor in this book stands out above it all because it made for a fun experience and wonderful characters. The story engages you from the get-go and doesn’t let up.

If you’re a fan of romance novels and audiobooks, then grab this one when it publishes on August 2.

A fun and steamy glimpse into the world of Audiobook narration! I'm a huge audiobook fan and so I was immediately intrigued when I read what 'Thank You for Listening' is all about. I'm a sucker for good banter, and this book DELIVERED. It’s sharp. It’s romantic. It’s funny. I loved this book from start to finish. Thank you NetGalley! :)

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager Publishing for an ARC copy of Thank You for Listening!

3.5 stars rounded to 4. I will be the first to say that I absolutely ADORE Julia Whelan, but this story fell a little flat for me. Because there was not much "world building" in the beginning of the story, I had a hard time connecting to the characters throughout the book. The story felt a little slow until about 60% through, and then it really picked up and pulled me in. While the ending was sweet, it felt a little rushed, whereas some details throughout could have been skipped to allow more space to flesh out the ending. I will also add that the MC felt a little... whiney? Throughout the story she complained about circumstances of her own creation, and I didn't feel like there was much growth for the MC.

Overall, a cute story, but not Julia's best.

This is an outrageously delightful rom-com!

I have never laughed so hard at the opening chapter of a book before. This story focuses on some heavy topics: the main character lost an eye in an accident several years prior to the story starting and is still working through lasting trauma, and throughout the story her beloved grandmother's memory slowly declines. However, there is always humor running through the story, as well.

I loved the early banter and conversation between the two main characters. I did think the book was a bit too long, with too many side characters. I still adored the epilogue, though, and I'm sure true romance lovers will love the story! I'm more of a casual romance reader.

Thank You for Listening is a love letter to fans of romance, Julia Whalen, audiobooks, and Happily Ever Afters (HEAs). More than just a love story, it touches on feelings of self worth, disfigurement, and caring for a grandparent.

Julia Whalen knocked this one out of the park. I loved the characters, loved the witty banter, and loved her writing style. I read the ebook and while I don’t typically reread books, I think I will make an exception to listen to this one again as I have a feeling the audio version will be even better.

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of Thank You for Listening in exchange for an honest review.

My review is an appreciation for Julia Whelan in many ways! I love her as an audiobook narrator, many of us do, and I am so glad I can support her creative voice here with her new book Thank You for Listening. Avon and Harper Voyage granted me a review copy via NetGalley, thank you.
1. I appreciated perhaps a more nuanced insight into the world of audiobook narration and the literary world; I love book sent in publishing and writing words and this expanded that to audiobook development and production in a fun and welcome way.
2. Ms. Whelan also has an astute understanding of chemistry, banter, and the value of knowing that readers like me are looking for a way to hear her wonderful voice acting come across in written form (in that I can feel her pacing, her use of tone, her ability to weave mood and emotion into phrasing in her written work just as I can hear it in books she narrates). I thought the mysterious male voice actor was funny and well developed and the chemistry between Sewanee and Brock was spot on, just what I want in a contemporary romance. The characters were interesting and engaging.
3. Finally, I liked the bookish dialogue, the examination of what we call different genres and the labelling of books as women's fiction, as I felt in ways Ms. Whelan was offering us a book that challenged those labels, one that was her desire to say can't a book just be a book without a writer feeling labeled and forced to write one kind of book or for a certain audience.

I recommend this for fans of Ms Whelan's, if you like her audiobook voice, try her written voice! Again thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ebook copy on NetGalley.

I love Julia Whelan as an audiobook narrator and was intrigued when I saw she was writing a romance book about audiobook narrators! This was a fun and heartfelt read that I fully enjoyed!

💭Thoughts:
I loved the unique setting and getting an inside look at the world of audiobook narration and the process that goes along with making a book come to life.

The character development was great, including the supporting characters. I loved Sewanee’s grandma Blah Blah and the connection that they had. I also loved watching the relationship between Sewanee and Brock blossom. The text exchanges and witty banter was laugh-out-loud!

While this story is definitely a romance, it also deals with loss, second chances and believing in yourself - about moving forward and realizing that your life can still be beautiful even if it doesn’t turn out exactly how you envisioned it.

Julia Whelan is my favorite audiobook narrator. When i Dream, it’s in Julia Whelan's voice. When Thank You for Listening came up on Net Galley I had to try it. Thank you to HarperCollins publishing for allowing me to read an early copy. It was amazing. inject more of this into my veins. I didn't read My Oxford year, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it completely captured the when you think your life is gonna go one way and it doesn't go that way and you have to decide something else and just hope that it's better or as comparable as what you originally wanted to do and how to deal with it. The best friend relationship was A+. The parental struggles were well thought out. It’s a great way to get inside of audiobook creation, the background and how strenuous it is. Julia is able to connect with us reading her book and also reading others works