I never expected to be approved for an advance review copy. I was DELIGHTED when it went through. I was also nervous. I really enjoyed Julia Whelan’s first novel, My Oxford Year, until I didn’t. I thought it would be one thing and turned out to be another, in what I think of as the JoJo Moyes genre. And that’s fine, but it’s not for me.

Well, I needn’t have worried. Because man, I just enjoyed this so much! It was so fun, well done, and interesting to see inside the audiobook industry, particularly as I am a rabid audiobook fan. And, I think it can be really tricky to pull off writing a fictionalized version of your own industry. Or perhaps more accurately: I usually find nods-within-the-book at writing and/or the genre to be annoying—but she does SUCH a nice job with it here.

If you’re a book lover, audiobook lover, fan of Julia Whelan, or just really enjoy a good book, I think you’ll really enjoy this insider look at the industry, wrapped up in a great story.

I will definitely buy it and read it again on audio when it comes out. Julia Whelan narrating her own book about narrating books—what’s more fun than that?!

My one quibble: the injury/accident is the same as something that happened to a real person and was in the news ten years ago. Not sure if that was intentional. I’m also not super comfortable with someone writing about a disability they don’t have. Both those things did at times take me out of the book. But overall, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review!

I truly loved this book, which is definitely in the running for my favorite book of the year.

After a horrible accident, Sewanee turns away from acting and becomes a very successful audiobook narrator (a truly fun meta storyline from the author, a wildly popular audiobook narrator herself). While she initially narrated some romances early in her career, she has since sworn off them, thinking they sell a false bill of goods: the HEA. But when a romance novelist she previously worked for and admired passes away, leaving one last project she insists Sewanee narrate (one that will provide handsome compensation Sewanee desperately needs), she can't resist. The catch is this project will be dually narrated, and her co-narrator is none other than Brock McKnight, the hottest narrator in the romance biz who is as elusive as they come.

What follows is a beautiful exploration of self, love, family, and friendship quite unlike anything I've previously read. I'd say this book definitely veers more romantic fiction than romance, delving deep into Sewanee's relationships with her complicated father, her beloved grandmother, and her successful best friend, but I loved how each of those foundational relationships played into the main arc of the story, which is Sewanee's path to accepting who she is after her accident. The romance here is a key element of that journey as well, and oh boy did the romance work for me. The meet cute here is one of the best I have ever read - just banter and chemistry leaping from the page. How all the threads of this story tied up really worked well for me, too. I have seen some reviews that note that this book feels overstuffed at times and I don't think that's an unfair criticism but sometimes a book just hits so right - if any of this at all sounds appealing to you, give it a chance, because it might hit right for you, too.

One last note - as someone who is not disfigured, I can't really comment on the rep here. It's unclear to me whether sensitivity readers were engaged on this project (my advanced copy didn't have acknowledgments included) but I'd hope that they were, given that as far as I know, the author is not herself disfigured.

Thank you very much to the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions my own.

The moment I picked up Julia Whelan's My Oxford Year, there was just something that just spoke to me (maybe it was my Anglophile side or just the book's captivating nature, not quite sure). So, when I learned that Whelan had penned another novel *and* it had a bookish setting, I was instantly exciting. As I started reading, I found it so easy to get drawn into this pen pal-like romance that was very fun, very cute and very adorable. While the chapters were pretty long and drawn out, it still read quite quickly.

This book is perfect for romance audiobook listeners as you learned how your favorite books are made. I loved Sewanee's journey to healing after the accident, the you got mail vibe with a secret identity. This book was fun ride.

I wasn’t sure about this book because I thought it started a bit slow. But I ended up loving it. I loved Sewanne and Nick and the love she had for her Grandmother Blah Blah. It was interesting to hear all about audiobook narrators. A very enjoyable boook.

I have been a fan of Julia Whelan for years. I often listen to books that I would never read simply because she narrates them. I was so excited to see she had written a book and requested it immediately. Oddly enough this one was not an audiobook but any fan will hear her voice while they read it. It had such fun insight into the life of an audiobook narrator - I found that really interesting. But more than that, the way she told the story won me over. I hate romance books and every time I try to read one I am reminded that they aren’t for me. But this one was great! I love the dialog, the way she tells the story, the characters, everything. You should all read it. And then go listen to one of her books because she’s the best out there.

This author is so frickin cool! She writes and she narrates! I hope she does her own audiobook, that would be so cool. Four fun stars!

Julia Whelan is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, so perhaps the only thing that would have made this title more enjoyable (and enjoyably meta) would have been hearing her narrate the audio version! But impatience got the better of me and I couldn't resist the chance to read an ARC via Netgalley. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING is a witty, fun romance that embraces fans and skeptics of the romance genre alike, without taking itself too seriously.

Whelan hit all the right notes with a memorable supporting cast and an extra layer of depth as the protagonist had to learn to forgive herself for her most life-altering mistake long after her scars had (literally) healed. The result is a fresh take on how we have to love ourselves before we can fully share our hearts with anyone else.

While this book was fairly predictable and I could see where we were going from the start, that didn’t really detract from the enjoyment of the journey. I enjoyed the peek behind the scenes of audiobook narration and also the mixed media format of the book. The characters were delightful - and although the last bit of the book dragged just a bit for me, overall this was a delightful read!

Rating: 3 stars

What piqued my interested in this book was the fact that the two main characters are audiobook narrators. I love audiobooks. I did not read this as an audiobook. I read an ebook about audiobook narrators. Now that we have that distinction set, let's move on.

For every trope or plot event or character trait I loved in this book, I kept coming across things to be less than pleased by. I love me a Hollywood setting with characters who have talent/entertainment professions. I loved the *double* secret identify plot lines. That trope really works for me and it made an appearance x 2.

Everything surrounding the trope didn't work for me. I was already falling out of love with the Hero by the time he confessed that he doesn't like reading. at all. I found the dynamic between the two main characters to be quite toxic at times. They immediately jump to insults and accusations during arguments, which is the biggest red flag of an unhealthy relationship to me. They were both extremely unstable individuals, and I found myself preferring an ending where they stayed broken up and went on individual journeys of self-discovery. For those who wish to know, there's practically no spice. I'd rate it a 0.5 out of 5, and that's generous.

Non-comprehensive list of Trigger Warnings: questionable (?) act of self-harm, family member with advanced stage of dementia, disability due to traumatic event

The reader obviously knows early where the story is going, but that doesn't detract from the delight of the journey.

There are a few sections, especially early in the book, when the author uses ridiculousness to patch over some rough areas-- these section made me think of the Stephanie Plum series ([book:One for the Money|6853]) but they were fortunately few; a little more polish and this author will be a complete treasure.

With all the author/editor books out recently, I don't know what was in the water at the publishing houses, but this is a nice addition and includes a few details about the audiobook industry that will appeal to readers and to devoted listeners.

Recommended to fans of Emily Henry. ARC from NetGalley.

Two audiobook narrators find themselves working on the same project and falling in love. Boy meets girl's voice? It's a cute summer romance.

4.5 Not Raspy Stars!

I loved getting a behind the scenes peek into audiobook narration!

Sewanee is covering for her friend at a book convention in Las Vegas. She meets a stranger with a sexy accent and after a wild night of dinner, drinks, and dancing (of the horizontal tango variety), she heads back to reality. Except things go a bit topsy-turvy when she is offered a job from a famous romance author she had worked with at the start of her career, before she decided romance was a sham. The author has passed and had requested that Sewanee narrate her last book with the golden boy of the industry, Brock McNight.

When I sat back to write my review, I found myself almost overwhelmed thinking of everything that happened. It was a lot, but life can be a lot, and this followed Sewanee at a pivotal point in hers. It was bound to be messy, and I mean that in the best way.

This was laugh out loud funny, the banter between characters was ::chef’s kiss::. The side characters were all unique and layered. I adored the e-mail and text exchanges.
I felt it dragged a bit in the last quarter, but that could be due to my attention span. I also did get annoyed toward the end with a certain character being needlessly stubborn, but that’s a personal preference.

Overall this was a great read, at times heavy, but always bringing it back to happy.

Check it out, when it hits shelves, 8/2/22!

A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED IT! SO SO MUCH! It delivered absolutely everything I look for in romance, the range of emotions I experienced was wild! The humor, the wit, the innuendos, the A + secondary cast, the romance genre references (and jabs!), the epistolary premise (HEART), the slow burn, the heat, the absolute chemistry between two cynicals getting the HEA they both sarcastically mocked and declared unrealistic expectation! AHAH!
You know how with the grumpy/sunshine dynamic we love to witness the grump do things only & ONLY for their sun? Cynical love interest is twice the reward, we get to see them both light up at all the little things they thought weren't for them or had stop believing in. 🤌🏼💋
Julia Whelan most definitely understood the assignment!

I LOVED this book. Sewanee is a great protagonist, and her story is engaging and compelling without being heavy. I genuinely laughed out loud several times and also cried a few tears before I was done. I can't wait to hear the audiobook!

This was an enjoyable, but predictable romance. I enjoyed the play between Sewanee and Nick, and Sewanee's relationships outside the romance were full and engaging. However, this book's pacing dragged a bit for me.

Those who have experience with the later life care of a relative will find relatable moments and moments to escape into.

I wanted to love this book and in the first few chapters I was convinced I was going too. It had me laughing out loud and made the 8 hour flight I was on seem like nothing. I especially loved the main character buying a last minute plane ticket and fleeing to Italy because her life was falling apart. I found that oddly relatable as I was on a flight to Rome because real life is a lot.
But it fell flat for me in the end. Swan just seemed to attack Nick for no reason. Her reaction to learning the truth about him seemed a bit off. She didn't really get to be uspet with him as she was lying to him about the same thing. And it wasn't even lying. And then there fight in Venice just seemed all over the place.
It was a fun read and I would recommend it but the ending just left me a little disappointed.

I can’t do this book justice without spoilers and I don’t want to give anything away because this book is genius!!

Though you might catch on I still don’t like to show all the cards and you have to just trust that you will love the twists and little discoveries as you read this beautiful love story!

The story isn’t packed with heat but it’s overflowing with love! Sewanee is our leading lady and as she find healing and her way we embark on the journey with her! I really felt a part of the story and it’s single POV but the back and forth between our two main character is enough to fully understand both! Their conversations are funny but real and that’s what I loved about this book!!

A first for me by this author and not the last!

I absolutely loved this book! I adored Julia Whelan's debut, My Oxford Year, so I was thrilled to hear she had a new book coming out. The fact that Thank You for Listening is set in the audiobook world is just the icing on top of a very delicious cake.

Whenever I'm in the mood for an audiobook I search, not for a book or an author, but for Julia Whelan as the narrator. Her voice can transform a story and I've fallen in love with so many books because of her. She is truly one of the best and an absolute master at her craft. She took that skill set and created a wonderful book with so much heart. Thank You for Listening is a story about finding yourself and creating a life you love even when nothing is going the way you expected it to.

Whelan's writing is spectacular. It's smart and witty and I love the characters she has created. The banter is some of the best and the chemistry is perfect. I read the physical copy but I've already pre-ordered the audiobook because Thank You for Listening deserves to be enjoyed both ways!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Julia Whelan for allowing me to be an early reader.

If Julia Whelan narrates it, I'm 100% going to buy it. I was ecstatic to see this come up on my feed, and I almost cried happy tears when I got approved. A book written by a audiobook narrator about narrating audiobooks? Love.