Julia Whelan is one of my favorite audiobook authors so what a delight to read/listen to this book. I loved the “inside baseball” stuff about audiobooks. However, I felt like this couple wasn’t really that well suited for one another. They spent a lot of time upset with one another.

This book was an absolute pleasure!

Actress Sewanee Chester—Swan, for short—was on the fast track to becoming a household name when an accident left her face permanently scarred. Feeling like the accident has destroyed her acting career, Swan pulls herself out of the limelight, losing sight of herself in the process. She turns to audiobook narration, where she garners quite the following. She's offered an incredible contract to narrate a project alongside another very well-known narrator, and they soon begin emailing back and forth about their work. Work turns to friendship turns into maybe something more... but it's all via screen.

This book was warm and touching and such a fun look into Julia Whelan's own world as an audiobook narrator. All the characters were so well thought-out and believable. Would give it 4.5/5. Definitely recommend, especially if you liked her other book, My Oxford Year!

Format - E ARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶

Series- N/A

Troupes- hookup, secret identity, audiobooks, disability

CW-

Oh my God, how is this book one of the most engaging things I’ve read all year?? I’ll be honest I had low expectations of this book going in it had been on my netgalley shelf for a while and I with it’s release coming up I decided to finally read it. And I some how spent an entire day immersed in Whelan’s storytelling and this scared and scarred weirdo of a character Sewanee.

Then I had to go to work and I still could not put this book down reading every chance I could get while running quick changes for this giant musical. When I say this book was un put downable it is literal.

And y’all there is no explicit sex in it. Like at all, some age day dreamy remembering but no on page banging.

So I’ll ask again how did Whelan with this, only her second book make me unable to stop thinking and reading this damn story?

I say it’s witch craft, but but more likely it’s her work smithing, plot pacing, character development and chapter construction. It was the mysteries and secrets, the peek into the world of audiobooks and how they are made, its was the journey we go on with Sewanee as she finally comes to terms with her life and how she’s going to move forward into her future. Along the way we pick up some excellent side characters and we get a Nick.

Nick with his accent and his flaws and his absolute adoration of Sewanee even when she was spiraling and pushing him away.

I loved this book, I will be getting myself a paperback copy of this book and I will be marking and tabbing it all up! I’m so excited for this book to be released into the wild on August 1!

Oh man, y’all. I wanted to love this. I was rooting so hard for Julia Whalen. And for the first half I thought it might be my new favorite romance. It was on the fast track to 5⭐️. Then, it fizzled, and completely fell apart for me. Womp. Womp.

What I DID love:
- All the characters. Every single one of them
- The premise and the obvious similarities to the author
- The banter and wit
- The fact it made fun of romances but also embraced them fully and loved them for what they are.
- A lot of the side plots like her relationship with her grandmother and her BFF were sweet and fun
- Swan’s ultimate journey career-wise

This plot just lost me guys. I didn’t get it. And this one went from a page turner to one I just wasn’t that excited about.

I think some of you will love this. I’m not, NOT recommending it. But it didn’t work for me.

Thank You For Listening is as close to perfect as a romance gets for me. I'm a romance curmudgeon, so picking up this book was a gamble. But it paid off. The story, set in the world of audiobook recording, is intellectually satisfying and original. Readers who enjoy listening to books will enjoy learning the ins and outs of their production.

Thank You For Listening's characters are engaging and multidimensional, each with enough baggage to carry a good novel. At the same time, the female lead is not a swooning damsel in distress trope (something I detest about some romance novels). Because both lead characters work in the romance novel industry, plenty of self-reflection also adds interest. I especially appreciated the ongoing discussion about HEA endings (happily ever after).

So, even if romance is not your typical genre, if you are looking for a fun, rewarding novel with a healthy dose of humanity, this book is well worth the investment.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for Listening by Julia Whelan is the story of Sewanee Chester, a woman who wanted to act, but lost an eye in a horrific accident and now narrates books for a living. She's never quite accepted the changes to her life and dreams, but continues on, doing what she has to do to make it. When she's offered a job to do a romance novel, but has to do it with Brock McKnight, the secretive narrator of all things romance, she hesitates as she hates doing romance titles, but eventually gives in. Her journey of self discovery is the best part of this novel!

Thank you to the author,Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Julia Whelan is one of my favorite narrators so it came as no surprise that she wrote a rom com about two narrators and audiobooks. With a wide range of characters and only Julia herself narrating 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚, I can only imagine how amazing the audiobook is.

This book is part quirky rom com about happily ever endings and part women's fiction tackling loss, second chances, and accepting yourself as you are. The inside glimpse of the world of narration is a nice bonus, especially the narrating tips!

Overall, I enjoyed the book with the fun banter, great chemistry, and an unique premise. The timeline and pace jumped around a bit, but my biggest pet peeve were the character name choices. The main character is named Sewanee (pronounced Swan-knee, not what I expected) with a nickname of Swan. The worst was the Blah Blah nickname for her grandma. I get she was unable to say Barbara when younger; yet, everytime I read Blah Blah, I cringed. I had no doubt in my mind that Sewanee loved her grandma, but the nickname was not cute.

Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for this gifted copy. All opinions are mine. 3.5 rounded to 4.

I have been a huge fan of Julia Whelan's narration for years. She has an uncanny ability to make a story feel so deeply present like its warmth is enveloping you. Thank You for Listening felt like this: cozy, kind, a little sharp in the best way, and totally present. I loved the way this story was sad and real and hopelessly romantic. I adored the way this was a love story in so many ways, between friends, family, art, and of course, between two like-minded but completely different people with chemistry off the charts. I loved loved loved this book.

This book just might be perfection. Julia Whelan is so amazingly talented that her skills as an audiobook narrator and her writing combine in this book to create a listener's happy place. The story set in a world of audiobook narration combines what we all know and love about romance with depth of characters, real life inner struggles as well as personal issues that affect the choices we make and how we view ourselves.

A one night stand sets the course of Sewanee's personal live over the span of months. As we watch/listen to her interact with her friends, her co workers and her family, we fall deeply in love with this world and these people. I have listened to Julia read for many books, but this is my first experience with her writing. It definitely won't be the last.

If I have forced you to read Katherine Center in the past year, you need this one, too.

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.