Sponsored by Candace J. Thomas and Shadesilk Press
Simon and Adri have known each other all their lives—but only in dreams. Each is convinced the other is imaginary, until Adri accidentally winds up in an embarrassing viral video and Simon discovers Adri is not a fantasy, but in fact, real. Simon’s wild idea to search for her leads him across the country, all with the hope of finding his dream girl. Read by two different narrators, To Dream in Daylight gives the feel of listening to your favorite fate-driven romantic comedy. “Hilarious and fun… a feel-good, genre-bending romance.” – IndieReader
Hola Audiophiles! I’ll be on a mini staycation by the time you read this newsletter, hopefully eating lots of tacos, sitting in the sun, and snuggling my niece and nephew because that is my favorite hobby these days. I’ll also be fully vaccinated! So much to look forward to.
While my reading has screeched to a halt this month, I’m going to need to catch up because these audiobooks don’t quit. So many great listens out this week! Ready? Let’s audio.
New Releases – April 20, 2021
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart
I’m so excited for this one! This debut is a Jamaican-inspired fantasy about sworn enemies Iraya and Jazmyne, two witches who enter into a deadly alliance to take down their common enemy. Iraya has lived her life in a cell and Jazmyne is the queen’s daughter, and they’ll both have to navigate the intoxicating effects of power in this bloody pursuit of revenge. (YA fantasy)
Read by actress Nicola Lambo (American Crime Story: Versace, NCIS) and Tamika Keaton-Donegal — both appear to be new to audiobook narration but that sample sounds amazing.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
I have been seeing this book everywhere, it’s time to add it to my queue. Michelle Zauner is an indie rock star of Japanese Breakfast fame and the author of the viral 2018 New Yorker essay that shares the title of this book. This is her memoir about growing up Korean American, losing her mother, and forging her own path in the wake of that loss. Everyone I know who’s read this has said it made them cry, too. (memoir)
Read by the author
The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur
In 1426 in Joseon (Korea), Hwani’s family hasn’t recovered since she and her younger sister went missing and were later found unconscious in a nearby forest next to a grizzly murder scene. Years later, Hwani’s detective father learns that 13 other girls have disappeared in that same forest. He travels to their hometown to investigate, then vanishes himself. Hwani takes it upon herself to find her father and get to the bottom of these awful disappearances, and the secrets she unburies in the process suggest the answer could lie within her own buried memories. (historical YA mystery)
Read by Sue Jean Kim (If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha, another book I keep meaning to read!)
Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli
Kate Garfield and Anderson Walker are super besties with a mutual love for all things musical theater and the same taste in boys. That becomes a wee bit of a problem when Matt, their long-distance crush, shows up at their school (how dare!) and lands the lead in a musical opposite Kate. Kate thinks Matt might actually be into her, but she doesn’t want to go for it and hurt her bestie’s feelings. Turns out mutual crushes are a little less fun with when real life feelings are involved. (YA romantic comedy)
Read by actress Bebe Wood (Love, Victor, The New Normal)
Latest Listens
There is a lovely piece going up on the site next week (a week from today) about rereading the Ramona books as an adult, and it got me right in the feels box. Ramona was 👏🏼 my 👏🏼 girl! I named my doll Chevrolet and bonded with that little pest in a “my family can’t afford my haircut” moment of my own. I got a little emo when Beverly Cleary died thinking of everything those books meant to me, so editing that post was especially meaningful.
While I’m still going to purchase the boxed set for my Independent Bookstore Day, it occurred to me to check Libby to see if the audiobooks were available, too. Not only are they available, but they’re read by Stockard Channing! I downloaded those with the quickness.
So I don’t have a true Latest Listens review today, but instead want to encourage you to treat yourself to an audio version of a beloved children’s book. I’ve been spending time with my favorite pest on my walks and find myself smiling the entire time. The books are taking me back to a time when small problems felt like big ones to my child self, and that somehow reminds me that everything, if not immediately, will be okay.
From the Internets
at Libro.fm: Your Event Guide: Independent Bookstore Day 2021 (It’s almost here! Mark your calendars for April 24th and support your local Indies!)
at Audiofile: Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks That Will Make You Laugh
at Audible: Yo-Yo Ma’s Beginner’s Mind Is a Musical Meditation on the Power of Art
Know an audio newbie? Direct them to this guide for getting into audiobooks.
Over at the Riot
I Took Love Advice from the Bridgerton—Here’s How It Turned Out
A History of Audio Storytelling: From Radio and Audiobooks to Podcasts
Thanks for hanging with me today! Shoot me an email at vanessa@riotnewmedia.com with with all things audiobook or find me on Twitter and the gram @buenosdiazsd. Sign up for the In The Club newsletter and catch me once a month on the All the Books podcast.
Stay bad & bookish, my friends.
Vanessa