This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Avon and Harper Voyager and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Witty, cute, rom com with batter that’s on point.

Cuteness overflow!!! This is on of my favorite reads so far. I love the process of the details of this book. It wasn’t what I expected but I needed. I was a little on a book slump but this book has made me feel oh so good.

A great rom com read. The witty banter was superior, and I greatly enjoyed learning about how audiobook narration works.

Being an audiobook narrator herself, Julia Whelan knows the world of audiobooks really well and that shows in her new novel Thank You for Listening. After reading her last novel, The Oxford Year - I knew I was in for a bit of an emotional ride - and this novel definitely takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster. Sewanee Chester is an amazing character - full of strength and moxie yet held back by her own insecurities and fears. And her feelings are certainly justified - she is dealing with a lot! Caring for her grandmother BlahBlah was particularly emotional for me because of my own family - and her depiction of dementia/Alzheimer's definitely triggered certain memories of my own grandmother's dementia. On the less tear-inducing side of things - this novel has some of the best banter I've read in a romance - both with in-person conversations and the texts/emails back and forth between the two main characters. So hilarious and so entertaining. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

After Whelan wrenched my heart in My Oxford Year, I was eager to see what damage she'd do to me in Thank You for Listening and I'm happy to report that I made it out alive and heart fully intact.



I've been in a weird reading space where I'm either zooming through books in a day or laboring over them with half a mind to DNF them but stubbornly persisting. In many of these cases the end result is a mixed bag. I don't know what's going on with me, because let's face it--it's most likely a me thing and not the book, but I have been seeking something with a little more to it than just the feel good glow at the end. Thank You for Listening gave me that thing that I've been looking for. It gave me those much needed moments where I put down the book, stared off into space, and reflected on how certain things applied to me, if they applied to me, and what I could foresee doing about them, if I did anything at all. I guess what I'm saying is that I appreciated the opportunity to reflect and ponder and get lost in the story and myself all at the same time.



So needless to say, Sewanee's story of cynicism and loss transitioning into that one that shows her emboldened and content at the end was just the story I needed today. While there were sections that were more introspective and serious, there were also just as many times I laughed out loud or found myself smitten by one of the other characters. And now having enjoyed both of her novels, I can definitively say that Julia Whelan is a definite one-click, must read for me.

I loved this book, the troupes, the chemistry and the secondary characters. I loved the inside peek we got to the world of audiobooks and I love books set in Hollywood. I felt that Sewanee’s professional journey was left a little too ambiguous for me but overall I definitely sobbed way less than my Oxford year.

Wow. Just, wow! First of all, Julia Whelan is my favorite audio book narrator and I had no idea that she was an author (I had her voice in my head the throughout the entire book btw)! I loved this book so much. I devoured it and I just want to go back and read it again. I love the characters (although the names, specifically Blah, is a little weird but hey whatever). I love the story. I love that it's about audio books! I laughed and I cried and I was rooting for Swan the entire time. Stop what you're doing and go read this book!
Now I need to see if Julia Whelan has written anything else because I have to get my hands on it if she has.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I’m not an audiobook listener/reader so had never been aware of the narrating powerhouse that is Julia Whelan. Turns out I’ve actually read quite a few books whose audiobooks were performed by her.

When Emily Henry—an author whose writing I’m rabid for—mentioned “Thank You For Listening” on a podcast and that it was written by her narrator, I decided to request the ARC. So glad to have been approved and even more ecstatic that it was an INCREDIBLE read!

This story is filled with so much wit, heartbreak and most importantly, SOUL. It spoke to me in a way I didn’t expect—a punch in the gut and an ache in my chest—I am now (and forever) a Julia Whelan fan girl. I want to know/read/listen to everything this woman has done!

I loved the premise of two audiobook narrators meeting under Vegas “circumstances” and then subsequently falling in love with each other’s alter-egos. Is this story likely to be almost improbable? Possibly. But fuck it, leave your cynicism at the door, because this is ROMANCE and we are talking about some real fated mates type coincidences here. Sewanee and Nick are meant for each other and I am 100% on board with this!

I’m not going to say more because you should really just read this yourself. Learn how layered and wonderfully lovable all these characters are, even the secondary ones. Laugh at the quick fire flirting and undeniable chemistry between Sewanee and Nick. Cry at the parts that challenge deep fears about self-doubt, loss and failure. Most importantly, hope that the future brings with it a HEA worthy of real life.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this AMAZING ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure to read and I can’t wait for more people to discover Julia Whelan’s talent beyond the sound booth!

Thank you for Listening offers a view into the audiobook narrator industry, and it's made all the more interesting due to the author, Julia Whelan, being an audiobook narrator in real life. As someone who doesn't read audiobooks, I found this aspect really fascinating.

The main character, Sewanee Chester, is an award-winning audiobook narrator. After being forced to attend a Romance Book conference in Las Vegas, she spends a night with a charming stranger. After she returns to Los Angeles, she's offered the audiobook narrator job of a life time; however, there's a catch: she has to resurrect her romance pseudonym - one that she hasn't used in years. And she has to work with Brock McNight - an illusive audiobook narrator of romance that no one has met in person.

I really enjoyed this! Sewanee (aka "Swan") is an engaging lead who's trying to figure out where she wants to be. Her friends and family were amazing for the most part. BlahBlah, her former actress grandmother, is amazing, even though her health is declining. I'm rooting for Swan's best friend, Adaku, to have a book now. Her mother, Marilyn, and partner Stu are also cool. This isn't even touching on Swan's audiobook narrator friends. There's just so many solid side characters in this!

The romance in Thank You for Listening is handled so well! (And that's all I'm saying because there's some spoilery things associated with the resolution)

All in all, this book completely took me by surprise. It's a really heartfelt book about accepting who you are and discovering the next chapter in your life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC! I really appreciate it!

This book follows audio book narrator Sewanee Chester who once had dreams of being an actress before a tragic accident changed that. Since then she has become one of the most accomplished audio book narrators but she doesn't do romance novels because she doesn't believe in happily ever afters. After returning from a conference in Las Vegas where she has a one night stand with a charming stranger, she learns that one of the most prominent romance authors who recently passed away left instructions that her final work be narrated by Sewanee and male narrator Brock McKnight. Brock is the industry's hottest male romance narrator right now and has a seductive voice. The only thing is, he never shows his face and no one knows who he really is. The project pays well so Sewanee agrees as she needs the money to care for her ailing grandfather. As she and Brock work together and get to know each other over texts and emails the cloak of anonymity makes it easy for them both to open up and be themselves. But eventually reality comes crashing in and secrets are revealed. Can Sewanee learn to open herself up to a life she once thought was long gone?

This book is charming and sweet and I really enjoyed it. There is so much depth to these characters and this is such a great exploration of grief, and learning to life your life to fullest no what cards life has dealt you. If you are an audiobook junkie like me, this is also a fun look behind the curtain at audiobooks and how they are made. While I felt the plot twists were predictable, it didn't take away anything from my enjoyment of the book as these amazing characters propelled the story forward and kept me turning page after page so see what happened.

This was yet another great work by Julia Whelan.

I loved this story so much. I loved the inside view of the audiobook world and what the recording process takes. I thought it was a gentle exploration of multi-faceted grief. I enjoyed that every relationship was nuanced and felt complicated - there was an authenticity to how each character was presented.

This book made my romance loving heart so happy! I was impressed with Whelan's debut novel, My Oxford Year, and I'm glad to say that I loved Thank You for Listening just as much.

A book about audiobook narrators... as someone who does a majority of her reading via audiobooks, I loved the premise of this story. Sewanee was an actress until an accident changed her path. Ever since, she's been an audiobook narrator, and a successful one at that. She's an actress at heart and that translates well into narration. While at a convention for audiobooks, she meets someone. They spend one impactful night together. But we'll get back to that later.

Sewanee is one of those characters you can't help but love. She has her job, but also helps take care of her grandma. I have a soft spot for grandparents in books, and I loved their relationship. Now, back to the narration... Sewanee narrates all kinds of audiobooks, but not romance. She did at the start but hasn't in some time. Until the queen of romance gives Sewanee an offer she can't refuse. Narrating with Brock McKnight and making the money she needs to help grandma.

I'm going to be a little tight lipped about the romance, because I loved how it played out and I don't want to spoil it. This had a bit of the grumpy/sunshine troupe I love so much and our hero was such a gem of a character. Every time he was on page, I had a huge smile on my face. It was serendipitous, how these two got together and fate kept bringing them back.

If you love audiobooks and romance novels, you need to pick this book up. It's not just an epic love story, but it's a story of friendship, family, and self acceptance. It's witty, romantic, fun, and has so much heart. It was perfect for me and as much as I loved reading it, I can't wait to listen to it when the audiobook releases. Julia Whelan is not only a fantastic author, she's one of my favorite narrators and I know she'll knock it out of the park narrating this one!

Thank You for Listening was stellar! It had a wonderful premise, witty and smart writing, and great emotional depth. Julia Whelan was able to bring the audio book narrator profession to life while giving the reader a fated mates story to swoon over.

Sewanee is a former actress turned audio book narrator after a terrible accident. She is still coming to terms with all she has lost and trying to figure out where to go from there. I'm not going to give the name of our leading man. There's a bit of a mystery there, but rest assured, he's perfect for her. As a couple, they have great chemistry and banter, and their meant-to-be-together story is a romance reader's dream.

I just adored this book. It was like a love letter to romance readers with lots of classic tropes thrown in and some great insight into the audio book world. There was an epistolary section of this book that is perfection. There were so many wonderful supporting characters in this book that are fully developed characters with ups and downs of their own. Blah, Sewanne's grandmother, was my personal favorite.

If you are an Emily Henry fan, this book is for you. There is so much more going on here than a typical rom-com, although it is both romantic and funny. It is a heartfelt, sweet, smart story with tons of depth. I left this book with the same feeling that I had after Beach Read, knowing that I just read something that is so special!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-book in exchange for my honest opinion!

I. Loved. This. Book.

Between the very thorough insider details about the audiobook world, the well developed characters and relationships, the artfully deployed tropes, and the amount of sizzle between the MC and LI, I could not put it down. I laughed frequently, I wept more than once (BlahBlah broke my heart!!), and for once in my life I might actually want to listen to an audiobook?

Perfect summer read! Julia Whelan has a way of flipping romance tropes on their head and it just feels so smart and real. I loved how this had almost every trope and transcended above them all to be so fresh and new. This book was so authentic and real - like nothing I had read before. The characters were just so well written and had real flaws and just were so cool - you wanted to be friends with them.

Incidentally - I totally am going to check out the audio copy when it is available. The leads both being romance narrators is just too perfect.

Really fun read and I def have Whelan on my auto buy for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I've gotten slightly tired of meta-romance. The kind where the characters say "oh no, it's Just One Bed. We're a cliche!" This book was SO good, though, and it reinvented the tropes a bit while still naming them. The characters (and Julia Whelan) have the experience in the audiobook and/or romance industry to bring interesting details to the discussion, too. I immediately pre-ordered the audiobook when I saw she narrates it herself.

Thank You For Listening is one of the more unique romances I’ve read. Sewanee Chester is a actress turned audiobook narrator after a tragic accident (thought she doesn’t narrate romances). Following a whirlwind one night stand with a stranger in Vegas, she finds herself pulled back into the genre working on a new project with the elusive narrator Brock McKnight.

You can tell Thank You For Listening is intentionally meta. Fans of audiobooks, the romance genre will enjoy the references. That being said, if you’re someone who doesn’t like a lot of dialog (understandable from Whelan, a prolific audiobook narrator or herself), you might not like this one. Ultimately, while there wasn’t anything I disliked about this, there wasn’t anything I really loved either. In terms of rating, I’m somewhere between a 3.5 rounded and 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyage for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I haven’t written a proper book review in years but this book makes me want to. I’ve listened to audiobooks, several narrated by Julia Whelan, and I know this isn’t the first book she’s authored, though it’s the first I’ve read. This is the book I didn’t know I needed. It’s sweet and snarky, touching and emotional but funny as hell. It’s the perfect blend of rom com and women’s fiction (that name- grooaaan). It’s a book for not just book lovers but lovers of the written- and voiced- word. I’ve no idea if this one will hit it off with mainstream readers, or if only ex-book bloggers- who tend to get lost in the books they read for days and who have fantasized about both writing and narrating books - will truly appreciate it. I hope so- it deserves the recognition. It’s my favorite read of the year even if the main character’s name reminds me of a Stephen Foster song. ♥️

I was very excited to read this book as I am a huge fan of her other work, My Oxford Year, Unfortunately I did not enjoy this one nearly as much. I struggled to connect to the characters and story. The behind the s of the audiobook industry was the most interesting part. The story got more interesting at the end but I still struggled to connect with it.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to explore how the story played out and was more thought provoking than I originally expected. I read the book, but would have loved to have listened to an audio version!