This story follows Sewanee, an audiobook narrator whose dreams of becoming an actress were cut short after an accident resulted in the loss of one of her eyes. Sewanee finds comfort in the booth, away from her insecurities from the accident, but she wants more. So after an audiobook convention in Vegas, she meets Nick, an Irish man who walks up to her in the hotel bar. Sewanee and Nick share a whirlwind night but ultimately go back to their realities in the morning. Sewanee is trying to forget Nick by visiting her grandma in the nursing home and a new job opportunity narrating a popular romance book with the most sought-after voice actor Brock Mcknight. She and Brock share a connection; both their identities are hidden, but they feel something for each other. Sewanee has to deal with her feelings for Nick and Brock, all while dealing with the trauma of her accident and her sick grandmother, who's losing her sense of self.

This falls more into the category of women's fiction than romance, but I still enjoyed it. I found Sewanee as a character fascinating and relatable. Also, the connection between everyone was so much fun to read about. While the story seemed to get repetitive and deviate from the goal, I still could appreciate what it was trying to do.

Sewanee Chester was a former actress who became a successful audiobook narrator. After a tragic accident, she lost sight of her dreams, and who she was now. She went to Vegas to a book convention, and spent a whirlwind night with a stranger. When she got back home, she learned Sewanee discovers one of the world’s romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. At first, she wasn't going to do it, but when her ailing grandmother needed more cars that would cost a lot more, she decided to do it. She and Brock were doing the narrating separately, and by email. They eventually did begin working together and in person, and they discovered that they had met in Vegas. Sewanee started enjoying doing the reading with Brock. The story is about the business, and audiobooks, but it is also about realizing you have to figure out who you are now and what you want now. Finding the courage to be honest, even with yourself. Then take the steps to move forward in your journey and see where the path takes you. That is what Sewanee is doing, and reading it as it unfolds, made the story interesting and so real.
I received an ARC from Avon through NetGalley.

Sewanee. Such a complicated character. She's faking it till she makes it. Wounded physically and in her soul from a tragic accident, neither her best friend or her beloved grandmother can make her believe she's ok.

It takes a one night stand with Nick, and a You've Got Mail relationship with fellow narrator Brock, to make her come to terms with her trauma and feelings.

Toss in a very real desperation with her grandmother's health and her strained relationship with her father, she finally reaches her limits emotionally and professionally.

She does get a HEA, and its delightfully complicated.

If you listen to audiobooks there's no way you've NOT heard Julia Whelan's voice - so when I saw she wrote a book that was coming out this year I know I needed to read it! I simply couldn't put this book down! (and think anyone who reads and loves Emily Henry will feel the same way). This book gives you a side to publishing that we dont' see credited enough, the connection between characters, self awareness and don't leave out romance! Love this book so much highly recommend

thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

Wow! This was fantastic.

I absolutely loved watching Sewanee’s progression through this book. I loved all the info about narrating audiobooks.

I loved the interactions between Sewanee and Brock. Their banter through email and text was great. I loved the big reveal and the the reactions everyone has to it.

I also loved the interactions between Sewanee and Adaku. Their friendship was lovely. Their support and banter was also fantastic.

Basically, for me, this was such an enjoyable listen.

[cw - injury, dementia]

I loved this book. Sewanee was such a great main character - she was so easy to root for, and was flawed in ways that most of us can relate to. This book is less focused on the main couple than a lot of romance novels but it really worked. I was just as (if not more!) compelled by the family and friend relationships in this novel. That being said, I wish there was a little bit more attention to the non-romantic relationships in the end of the book, as these plot lines were wrapped up a bit too quickly for me.
I also loved all the insider info about the audiobook and publishing worlds! Julia Whelan's expertise in this field shows!!!
Though this book was objectively a little bit cringy at times, the pure serotonin boost I got from reading it more than made up for it. Low on the steam scale, but high emotional impact!!
4.5 stars

I am obsessed with Julia Whelan as an audiobook narrator, she elevates every story she tells. If she is voicing something, I know I want to listen. I'm also very interested in the industry, so for this reason I wanted to read/listen to THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, not expecting that the writing would be the draw. However, I was stunned to find Julia is an excellent writer-- on par with her vocal storytelling- and I LOVED this book.
The protagonist was endearing, relatable, flawed, complicated and worth rooting for. Her love interest was funny, charming, interesting, damaged and flawed and worthy of our heroine.
This book is witty and fun, rooted in real life and emotion, and flew by so quickly. Highly recommend listening or reading the author's notes, such interesting perspective on romance, audiobooks, separating fact from fiction, and the way the world shapes the stories we read- as our authors write during shifts in the world, so is their writing shaped.

Thank you for listening made my rom com loving heart so happy! After a tragic accident, Sewanee Chester left her acting career behind and is now a successful and popular audiobook narrator. After one memorable night with a stranger in Vegas, Sewanee receives the offer of a lifetime to record an audiobook with a popular male narrator. The money will help pay for her grandma’s care but she is hesitant because the book is a romance. As Sewanee finds herself at a crossroads in her life, she looks to her friends and family to help her find her way.

The witty banter between the leads drew me in and I loved that this romance had some depth. Sewanee’s relationship with her grandmother is one of the highlights as is her friendship with Andaku. This book had me laughing out loud, tearing up, and rooting for Sewanee to get her HEA.

This book reminded me so much of my favorite movie You’ve Got Mail. If you are a fan of rom coms and romances with heart and depth, this book is a must read!

Excuse me while I fan girl over @justjuliawhelan 🤩

I loved 𝗠𝘆 𝗢𝘅𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿, which Julia wrote and narrated, and since then, I now search for audiobooks that she narrates because she adds so much to the story.

In​​ 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, Sewanee is a former actress who, after a freak accident that left her disfigured, takes the passion she once brought to the stage - and brings it to the page using her voice as an audiobook narrator.

Sewanee is excited when she gets a job to narrate a romance novel with the very secretive but sexy voice of Brock McNight. She doesn’t typically do romances because she’s not a big believer in HEAs, but she needs the money to care for her grandmother.

Brock and Sewanee start to text and email back and forth to prepare for the production of this audiobook, and it is hilarious. Julia Whelan knocked it out of the park with the fun, sassy banter in this one. She also peppers in a little spice and a bit of a misunderstanding due to the use of professional pseudonyms, adding more amusement.

If you’re an audiobook lover or books about the book world lover in general, this one will be an absolute delight. And take the time to listen to Julia’s Notes at the end!

Thank you @libro.fm for this gifted audiobook and @avonbooks for an ebook.

Listen to this on audio - it’s a delight! Don’t be confused - it’s fiction - but @justjuliawhelan writes about what she’s familiar with. Sewanee is a former actor whose tragic accident pushed her to audiobook narration. When an opportunity arises to co-narrate a famous romance authors final book, she can’t turn it down even though she’s sworn off the genre. There’s grief, regret, and longing but also perseverance, love and friendship.

Thank you @netgalley @librofm @avonbooks and @justjuliawhelan for the eARC and advanced audio versions of this one! It’s out August 2nd

This was a DNF for me.- I love JW but I was just bored listening and found myself not really caring - I got about 30% in and just wasn't into it - reviews are super great for this already though so I think I'm an outlier.

Sewanee Chester is a riveting audiobook narrator. A former actress, she now spends her days narrating fantasy worlds and visiting her grandmother. Due to a tragic accident, she prefers to spend her days in a booth and away from the spotlight. However, after filling in at a book convention and spending an unexpected and extraordinary night with a stranger, she returns home to a request. If she resurrects her romance narrator persona for a popular romance author, she will be rewarded handsomely and will be able to continue caring for her grandmother. She soon forms a connection with her co-narrator but everything may not be as it seems.

I loved this story and these characters so much! The fact that this book was written by a renowned narrator just makes it so perfect. The banter between characters was amazing and I often found myself laughing, blushing, and swooning like a teenager. Beautiful!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I ended up loving this book SO MUCH. With Whelan's penchant for evoking intense emotion (hello, My Oxford Year), I knew this was going to be a wild ride, but it really hit at my romance-loving, audiobook listening heart. In this story we see former actress, Sewanee, now working as a successful audiobook narrator--in anything but romance. While she entered the game under a pseudonym, and ultimately recorded for the most successful romance novelist of all time, she's frustrated with their constant HEA's, given the way her original career went up in flames when she suffered a terrible accident seven years prior that resulted in her losing her eye. But when he agent receives word that she was specifically request to record for a now-deceased, famous novelist, along with the romance's current hottest male voice, Brock McNight, she can't turn down the money. In the most self-aware moment, the book acknowledges the many, many tropes it manages to fit in seamlessly, including Snowed In, Epistolary, Secret Identity, and more.

I can't recommend this book enough--it brought me so much joy. While I would have loved even more to the ending, which is somewhat abrupt despite an epilogue, romance readers will rejoice about this love-letter to the genre. And isn't it ironic that this romance masterpiece stars a romance-hating heroine? And I would be remiss if I didn't remind readers not to skip the quotes at the beginning of the chapters (which I am guilty of normally doing). These are worth catching!

Thanks to Avon for my eARC of Thank You for Listening! All thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm tempted to try this one out on audio now, just to see what it's like...

5 stars - 10/10

I loved Julia Whelan’s debut novel, so I was super excited to get an early copy of her next and it did not disappoint! It was a bit slow to start, but once I got invested in the story and the characters, I couldn’t put it down! I enjoy that Whelan writes characters that feel like real people, with flaws and passions, who sometimes make mistakes, but communicate and come together in the end. I also really enjoyed the “perk behind the curtain” of making audiobooks. I definitely recommend picking this one up when it releases in August!

Publication date: August 2, 2022

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the early copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the eARC of Thank You for Listening.

I was drawn to this title since I adore audiobooks and Julia Whelan has narrated a good quarter of my Audible favorites.

While the premise of the book didn’t immediately suck me in, I somehow unknowingly fell in love with the characters. A plot both equal parts ridiculous and too based in reality made for the perfect unexpected read.

I will be sure to track down the audiobook after release day to see how Julia’s voice can add even more life to these dynamic characters.

(3.5/5)

I’ve never been one for audiobooks (just a personal preference, audiobooks are 100% real books!), but after reading this, I might have to try one! I really liked this look into the world of audio narration. It was really interesting! Sewanee was a really great MC. I like her confidence, but also her vulnerability and feelings of not being good enough. I loved how much she cared about her grandmother. The scenes with those two were really sweet and well done. The texting and emails between Sewanee and Brock McNight (fantastic name) were really clever and funny and cute. I loved their flirty banter and jokes. The book did keep my interest, but I did feel like it dragged in a few spots. I liked that all the chapters were named after romance tropes, that was a cool touch. Overall, I enjoyed this contemporary romance!

What else can I say but that I just really enjoyed this book. It was delightful from beginning to end!

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan tells the story of Sewanee Chester, an audiobook narrator, who once had aspirations of being a famous Hollywood actress. When she goes to Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger. When Sewanee returns home she’s given an opportunity to return to narrating the final romance book written by June French – who has recently passed away – with the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice, Brock McNight. Neither of them actually believe in what romance novels are selling/peddling, but by working together they gradually form a real connection behind their anonymity. Through this friendship both characters ultimately find their true selves and each other in the process.

I really loved how all of the chapter titles were romance novel tropes, and the banter during the episolatary chapter was just *chef’s kiss*, as I’m a sucker for a book with great email/text exchanges that help the characters get to know each other better, but also let you as the reader really get to know the characters. I also really enjoyed the interview quotes from June French during the different sections/parts. Especially the one about there needing to be an HEA in romance books – because of course as an avid romance reader it’s what we want when we pick up these books!

Overall, a really good read, like I said before I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Julia Whelan and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

Wow, I really adored this one. There is no secret that Julia Whelan is my favorite narrator and she knocked it out of the park writing and narrating this one.
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This is a meta story about the world of audiobooks and their narrators, but it’s so much more than that. This had me in tears of sadness and laughter, and it captured every other emotion. This story has so much heart and emotion and definitely is one of my favorite audiobooks of the year.
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Thank you so much #Avon and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Oxford Year is one of my all-time favorite books, so I definitely had very high expectations for Thank You for Listening, and while I enjoyed the book, I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would.

I enjoyed all of Swenaee and Brock’s back and forth before they met, parts had me laughing out loud. And I liked how vulnerable they were able to be with each other. I did find myself getting lost multiple times throughout the book. This may not have happened had I read it over listening, but at times I felt like too much was trying to be packed into the book.

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan is about Sewanee Chester. Sewanee is a former actor who lost an eye in an accident, causing her to give up her acting career and become an audiobook narrator instead. She hates romance novels, but out of desperation, she takes a job co-narrating a romance novel with one of the industry's hottest voices, Brock McKnight. What follows is a delightful romance that manages to hit a bunch of stereotypical romance plot points in a fresh and fun new way.

This was such a fun read! The romance was cute, the banter was great, and I loved the You've Got Mail-ish plot. It was interesting to read about audiobook narrators, which is not a profession that I have ever given much thought to. But reading about their lives behind the scenes was fascinating!

This is a clever and entertaining romance book, and one that I definitely recommend for fans of the genre! It would make a great summer beach read, and it's out on August 2!