This audiobook was a bit slow and not overly interesting. I didn't love the narrator but it was not a bad one to listen to before going to bed. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to and review this book.

I selected this book in audio form, and I suspect that the problem for me was that the narrator was pretty lifeless and monotone. I really did want to get into this book, but I just found it a chore to listen to, and a little past the halfway point I made the decision to DNF this audiobook. Not being from Canada, I did enjoy learning about life in Edmonton and how it was similar and different to my life here in Texas. I think I may pick up a print copy of this book this summer and give it another try in that format as I hate not completing a title.

I didn’t actually realise this was non-fiction until I had started it and I’m really glad I didn’t as I don’t generally read non-fiction so it would have put me off. However it was a book I really enjoyed. Although I haven’t been to Edmonton myself, I have lived fairly nearby, but I don’t think the location matters all that much. I think the premise of this book can be transferred to pretty much any city in the world and still hit home. It was fun as well as interesting.

These are a warm and uplifting collection of essays brought together to give us a memoir style book where Carissa Halton’s strength, determination, integrity and kindness leap from the pages. I’m very grateful to the people who allowed Carissa to share their stories alongside her own.

I’m far from Alberta Canada yet so much sounded so familiar and so much sounded so alien. I wanted to move right in beside her though, her family, her neighbours and friends sound like wonderful people who have achieved great things, I had tears in my eyes, pain in my heart and a smile and a laugh on the way. I kept thinking it takes a village to raise s child and it takes a town to make a community.

Thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Marysia Bucholc, in fact I had to make check as I thought it was narrated by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.