I have been a Julia Whelan fan for years - as a narrator. I was so excited to read this one and overall it was okay for me. I found it a bit hard to get into in the beginning, but overall it was good.
Thank you!

I am a massive Julia Whelan fan, beginning with her days on Once and Again. I adored My Oxford Year, which is another book you think about long after you finish it, and I've been waiting four years for another of hers!! I will listen to anything she narrates, and she has enhanced my reading experience so much with some of the books she narrates. Her own books are phenomenally written, well developed characters, with a strong supporting cast. I absolutely loved the banter and the twists in this one!

Sewanee Chester is a well-known audiobook narrator and former actor, after a tragic accident, her acting days were short. She is approached to narrate the final book written by a late author she admired, in the romance genre. She hasn't touched romance books in years since she stopped believing in the Happily Ever After. But the financial appeal is too strong since she is also a caretaker for her grandmother with advanced Alzheimer's.

The co-narrator for the project, Brock McNight, is beloved and mysterious in the industry and the two set out to narrate this book without ever meeting.They find themselves becoming friends through email, texts, and voice messages. 

This is a story of second chances, reimagining your life after an unexpected tragedy, self-acceptance and gaining confidence, taking risks, being seen by others, loyalty and love for family and friends. This story is sharp, melancholy, funny, and charming.

This is reminiscent of Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. I laughed so much throughout, empathized with Sewanee, and adored her relationship with her grandmother, Blah Blah. As a major fan of audiobooks, I loved learning more about the industry and process, learning more about the collaboration of co-narrators, the discussion of tropes and poking fun at the tendencies of audio listeners! I laughed so hard at some of the comments fans say about specific narrators and bumping the speed up to 3x, both of which I am guilty of too! I loved hearing them mispronounce words and their inside jokes. For Pete's sake! The tellingphone! The scenes at the Seasons with her grandmother were pure comedy. Sewanee's friendship with Adaku is genuine and you feel their love and undying support for each other. This is a book that will give you that book hangover feeling! It is so realistic and will put a smile on your face! And since Julia narrates this, I will definitely be doing a reread when this comes out on audio!!

For those that love audiobooks - what speed do you listen at? I usually am at 2.5Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted ARC via NetGalley. Pub date is 8/2/22.

I read this entire book in one sitting because I was absolutely loving the banter and the twists (even if I did have my suspicions all along). I loved the humor mixed with the real and raw emotions that come with processing hardships and changes in life, and the fact that the two can coexist.

Sewannee Chester is well-known for her audiobook narrations - both as herself and under a pseudonym. It’s not where she ever thought she’d see herself, but after an accident cut her days on the silver screen short, she finds joy (and financial security) giving a voice to the books on people’s shelves.

When Sewanee is approached with the request to narrate the final book written by a late author she admired, she balks at the idea. She hasn’t narrated romance - or touched her pseudonym - since she stopped believing in Happily Ever Afters herself. But the opportunity to provide her aging grandmother with the care she needs proves to be too good to pass up - and Sewanee teams up with another narrator - Brock McNight, the most beloved and mysterious in the industry - to try and do justice to the late author’s last book.

As they narrate - from across the country and without ever meeting - Brock and Sewanee find themselves becoming friends - and maybe more - but the fact of their total anonymity and well-kept secrets may cause everything to come crashing down.

Thank You for Listening is one is for all the Nora Ephron fans out there! It is Sleepless in Seattle meets You’ve Got Mail for the 21st Century. I laughed out loud, I cried, I read it all in one sitting! And yet I am so sad I finished reading it.

This book will definitely give you that book hangover feeling. It is so, so funny, but also realistic. My only goal in life now is to grow old and live at Seasons with friends like Mitzi, Betsy, and BlahBlah.

“Thank you for Listening” by Julia Whelan was about Sewanee Chester an audiobook narrator. She had big dreams of being a film star but a tragic accident derails those plans along with some of her confidence. She however creates success in the audiobook world and decides to lend her voice one last time to a beloved author on a romance. She is however co authoring with the voice of the infamous Brock McNight. With new connections, new adventures and friendships along with some unexpected twist will Sewannee gain all her confidence back to pursue all her potential?

I love a good audiobook so getting a little glimpse into that world was so fun. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#julesbookshelf #thanksforlistening #juliawhelan #audiobooks #netgalley #arc #goodreads #release8/22

Thanks to NetGalley & HarperCollins for the e-ARC.
I've been waiting 4 years for another Julia Whelan book. I loved My Oxford Year, one of those books you think about long after you've finished it. The same is true here. The characters are wonderful, so well written you feel like you know them. I'm guessing Ms. Whelan is as much of a "word nerd" as her main character, Sewanee; her writing is so beautiful: "....the sunset was less a bowl of bright sherbet and more a slowly expanding puddle of spilled strawberry milk shake."

From the very beginning of the book, you'll be laughing out loud. The texts between Sewanee and Brock are absolutely hilarious. The euphemisms, the "tellingphone" - brilliant! The scenes at the Seasons with her grandmother & other residents unfold like a comedy on film. The relationship between Sewanee and Adaku is so real, you see yourself & your own best friend in them. And then there's Nick. Can't say too much without spoilers but man, don't you just want a Nick in your life?

This is so much more than a rom-com (although it is that!), so nuanced. I can't recommend this highly enough. Would give it more than 5 stars if I could. Thank you for writing, Ms. Whelan.

☀️☀️☀️Coming Soon☀️☀️☀️

🎧Thank You For Listening by Julia Whelan🎧

I went from a book slump to a book hanger in 18 hours. Just long enough to binge read this long awaited book. As many of you know I’m an unapologetic Julia Whelan fan, and that set high expectations. I have to say, It’s pretty much perfect, absolutely over delivering. Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted ARC via NetGalley. Pub date is 8/2/22.
This is a story of moving forward, of reimagining a life in unexpected and beautiful ways. It’s about serendipity, a little matchmaking, and the undeniable power of being seen…even when we don’t see ourselves. It’s about the fierce loyalty and love of family, and how they can see right through you when you need it the most.
Having changed careers from acting to audiobook narrating, Sewanee Chester is hardly an advocate or believer in HEA: Happily Ever After. This makes her an unlikely moderator for the Romance forum at BiblioCon but a large chunk of Sewanee’s work is under an alias in steamy romance. She is contacted to collaborate on a book, a last request that the author made. It must be Sewanee under her alias and Brock McNight, THE male romance narrator.
This is not only one of my most anticipated books of the year, but most surprising. It’s romance, it’s steamy (that door is OPEN friends) 😉, but there’s so very much more to this story. Sewanee has been through some trauma, physical, emotional, and she’s still sorting it out. I loved the dialogue between she and Brock. It’s sharp, funny, brash, and knowing. They are communicating largely electronically so the anonymity frees both to be and explore who they genuinely feel they are, and serves as framework for each to answer who they want to be.
I give Thank You For Listening my very highest recommendation. It’s perfect for fans of romance, women’s fiction, and books about books. This is going to be an absolutely perfect pick for beach bag and poolside reading. I’d be remiss in not mentioning for my audiophile friends that Julia Whelan does indeed narrate this (yes, I’ve preordered!).

I genuinely enjoyed this read from Julia Whelan. It's a love letter to romance books and romance readers and audiobook creators and lovers especially. I loved the looks inside the world of audiobook creation and narrating and was truly captivated by the personalities around Sewanee. The excerpts from June's "article" with cosmopolitan article were pure love from romance readers everywhere.

I liked our main characters and the tropes they went through throughout their relationship overall, but I felt like the characters didn't grow as much on their own as I would've loved. I liked the complexities of Sewanee and her life and the relationships around her. They gave her depth and made her feel like a friend I could love and understand.

Many book lovers know author Julia Whelan from her award-winning audiobook narration work. But truthfully, I recognized her from her role on the brief but brilliant television show “Once & Again.” When I saw her name on the book cover for “Thank You for Listening,” I was intrigued, wondering if her writing would be as smart and poignant as her dramatic performance in the early aughts.

“Thank You for Listening” is a treat. It’s sharp. It’s romantic. It’s funny. It’s melancholic. It’s about Sewanee Chester, who once upon time was a Hollywood star on the rise, but now, following a tragic injury, is an audiobook narrator/studio manager. Her life is busy but also strangely bare… days are filled with challenging narrating work; studio errands and chores; visits with her lively but mentally-deteriorating grandmother; and chats with her best friend, who is the half-glass-full to her half-glass-empty. But then a chance encounter in Las Vegas with a handsome stranger, a once-in-a-lifetime job offer, and a flirtatious email correspondence with a witty colleague upend her usual routine and make her rethink what else is possible.

“Thank You for Listening” is more than a love story. Yes, it engages romantic tropes—so much so that chapters are named after them!—and it does so in a clever, fun way. However, while the chemistry between Sewanee and Nick and then between her and Brock is strong and captivating, the dialogue and depicted relationships between our protagonist and her friends and family members are also rich and compelling. The book is about love, but it’s about self-acceptance, female friendship, and familial bonds (both the close ones and the fractured) too.

My only complaint about “Thank You for Listening” is that the last quarter of the story seemed overstuffed and even a bit overwrought at times. But overall the book has so much humor and heart that I would still recommend this romance mash-up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. My review was posted online on April 8, 2022 here on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4636912811.

"Do they talk in these romance novels of yours or just get straight down to business?"
"Of course there's talking. Talking is foreplay. The other stuff doesn't work without the talking."

So so precious! I love a good look behind the scenes of nearly anything so that mixed with a romantic comedy is a match made in heaven for me. Julia Whelan's "Thank You For Listening" takes the inner workings of audiobook narration and publishing and combines it with a mystery man, will they won't they, slow-burn romance to make a five-star read.

The chemistry between Sewanee and Nick/Brock is obvious, from the night that Sewanee and Nick meet in Las Vegas through Brock and Sewanee's text flirtations, to when they finally come together in real life. There's just enough banter and heart to make you believe in them as people and their relationships.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to see what Julia Whelan can give us next.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!

I really enjoyed this book and the characters. The love story was fun and I loved the email and text communication in the book. I know that can bother some readers, but I love how authentic the communication feels when reading transcribed messages between two characters.

A lot happens in this book, and I think it might have been too much. There were a lot of subplots going on which made the book drag on a little bit. I think it is a little too long for my specific romance reading taste. Certain parts got slow, and some were also a bit heavy, which is not uncommon for a romance, just something to note.

I loved the couple in this book - Sewanee and Nick - and I loved how they came together and worked through the things that bothered them. They had great communication for the most part, and great chemistry as well. *For my specific reading taste*, I would have like some more spice lol. Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this, and I think a lot of readers will love it - it just wasn't an all-time favorite for me.

I wish I could read this one again for the first time - it was EVERYTHING I Love in a book! I admit, going into it I was not familiar with Julia Whelan, but I had kept hearing about this book and was so lucky to be able to read an advance copy. The writing was quick and smart, the romance was GOOD and the perfect amount of steamy, I absolutely loved the characters. They have such heart and they are not one dimensional.
Now, realizing that Julia Whelan is actually the queen of audiobooks, this makes sense as to why I felt like I was getting a behind the curtain look at the audiobook world. The main character is an audiobook narrator and learning about that process and that world through her life in this book was fascinating to me.
I don't want to spoil any thing, so I just will say - READ IT. I read it in a day and am actually sad it's over. I will absolutely read it again.

Thank you to Avon Books & NetGalley for the Advance E-Galley of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Full transparency, I enjoy the occasional romance novel but rarely ever READ them (as opposed to listening to them). They are part of my "guilty pleasures" category, that is typically relegated to audio-only so multitasking can occur; my inner book snob can't quite accept giving up productive life time for something with less meat.

Julia Whelan is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, though, so I couldn’t resist the urge to check out her writing chops and found it a very fun and engaging time.

In a nod to her own profession (and must be at least somewhat semi-autobiographical, right?), Thank You for Listening stars former actress and hit audiobook narrator Sewanee (pronounced Swa-nee) Chester, as she hits her “face the demons and come into her own” stage of life. After a tragic accident altered both her appearance and self-confidence, Sewanee found she could easily hide from the demons in a sound booth, translating her acting talents into narrating audiobooks. She lives in a prime spot in the Hollywood Hills, her best friend is a successful actress, and she gets to be near her elderly grandmother. All well and good, except she’s still essentially hiding. When a famous romance author whose books she narrated in her earliest days passes away with a wish for Sewanee to perform her last book, she sacrifices her never-again rules on reading romance in exchange for the handsome payout that will allow her to upgrade her grandmother’s care. What follows is a classic romance trope of mistaken identities, improbable coincidences, and a lead character forced to accept she deserves happiness.

It is not without its cliches - a damaged lead with some family skeletons, a successful best friend unintentionally rubbing success in their face, and a creative meet-cute are clearly requirements to be given the romance genre label. With few exceptions, though, Whelan overcomes the predictability that is a big part of why I don’t devote much time to romance and women’s drama…er…fiction. You still know where you’re going because happily ever after is an actual requirement, but little twists and snappy, engaging dialogue and scene settings keeps you from knowing too far in advance how you’re going to get there. A large part of this should be credited to there being more attention to the quality of the writing than is often given to romance novels, where the machine of cranking out 2-3 books a year sometimes leaves you feeling like you just read a story full of steamy flirtation written by a 5th grader.

The other bonus was learning more about how audiobooks actually come to be. Whether any bits of the story are autobiographical or not, Whelan’s extensive experience as a narrator lends credibility to details. At heart I knew there was much more to a successful audiobook performance than just sitting down and reading a book to a microphone, but reading the little tidbits added a great extra layer to the quality.

While not perfect (biggest complaint is the source of Sewanee’s trauma, it is just a skosh too outlandish for me) and technically a romance, the creativity of the story and quality of the writing make it an enjoyable read. And because it will be Julia Whelan reading Julia Whelan, I will very likely reread when the audio is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A tale as old as time, what happens in Vegas never ever stays in Vegas. As a reader who recently has found a love for audiobooks, I was intrigued by the plot and having a lead who is an audiobook narrator.

Sewanee is a previous romance narrator who doesn’t believe in the notion of a HEA and Brock is the most in demand narrator who’s over the years of page sex. This author humanizes the people who bring our favorite characters to life. Sometimes it’s hard to differentiate the character from the narrator, but there is a level of intimacy the author creates between the reader and Sewanee and Brock that makes them real.

One thing I adored about this book is the way it was set up. The quotes to divide the sections of the story, email and text exchanges, and titles for each chapter really help foster this book into a fun and entertaining read.

This is more than just a romance book, it’s a journey towards self acceptance from emotional and physical wounds. It's a charming story that makes you reevaluate your dreams while realizing the true definition of a HEA, for Pete’s sake. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC

A book my one of my favorite audiobook narrators? Yes please.

The story of Sewanee, previous romance audiobook narrator going back to her roots for some extra cash to pay for her grandmother’s assisted living.

I actually enjoyed learning more about the audiobook Industry more than the main plot, but still enjoyable.

My only dislike was the too many texts and email exchanges within the story. Never my favorite writing device.

Well this was cute! Normally I don’t go for love triangles but this was a “sort of” love triangle so it worked for me. The voice acting aspect was neat, I’ve heard the audiobook is even better!

Thank You For Listening is a perfect gift for audiobook fans - whether you read it in paper format or listen to it! Julia Whelan, a fan-favorite audiobook narrator, takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the audiobook world while also crafting a fun romance story. Sewanee and Brock, two audiobook narrators, connect while working on a serial romance series from a beloved romance author. As a fan of audiobooks, the peek behind the curtain is so fascinating! I loved seeing how the narrators prepared for their scenes and just learning more about the business.

Thank You For Listening is also a romance novel that explores conventions of the genre. Whelan cleverly uses pseudonyms and secrets to keep these two from realizing who the other is in real life. It takes a bit for the romance plot to pick up but it has a satisfying ending.

Readers should know that a large part of Sewanee's story is about caring for her beloved grandmother who has Alzheimer's. Sewanee is also grappling with accepting her new face after sustaining an injury in an accident.

Thank You for Listening made my heart squeeze in the best way possible. The banter, a staple of all good rom coms, was fantastic. I fell in love with most of the characters, and was rooting for each one. Other than the plot and characters, I enjoyed learning a little about the audio book biz. Who knew eating a bite of green apple helps keep a mouth from making a smacking noise when talking into a Mic😉 I will recommend Thank You for Listening to my customers that buy romance. I think it will be a hit summer read.

This is the second novel by Julia Whelan, and I must say I thought it was really good!! I felt so connected to these characters. Sewanee Chester is so witty, and beautiful, and strong. I was already loving her and her best friend Adaku, and her and her boss/landlord/friend Mark but then we met Nick. As soon as Nick and Sewanee connected in this book I was hooked. Literally one night and I was like we need so much more of that!!
What I loved the most about this book (other than the story obviously) were the characters. They were very dynamic and lovable and I enjoyed reading about them! Our two main characters both have given up on their dreams due to life’s circumstances and I loved watching them come to accept life's challenges and how it changed their lives and finally grow/move on from it.
This story was a slow burn romance, but the family relationships also pulled at my heart strings. Sewanee’s grandma Blah was a favorite character for me. She suffers from memory loss and is in a home, which is why Sewanee takes the opportunity to work with Brock McNight on the newest romance project. And then things really heat up!
I loved the unexpected surprises this book gave you. It was a slow burn but I didn’t feel bored through it because I genuinely enjoyed the writing and the characters. I am trying my best to write a spoiler-free review so I think I will stop there because I don’t want to blab too long!

This was a 4 star read for me!

I am so happy I got to read this book and received this ARC. Special thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! I am so thankful. This book releases on 8/2/2022 and I highly recommend it!

This book. I was not ready.

Reading Thank You For Listening is like having a slice of those decadent chocolate 20-something layer cakes…it seems like there’s too much going on, that it’s possibly overdone, yet the layers are all basic and familiar…and so fucking delicious! Seriously, I greedily devoured this book in 2 days and neglected my family all weekend. It was a worthy sacrifice.

The premise of the story centers around Sewanee (pronounced Swan-knee) and her many talents as a renowned audiobook narrator who’s dipping her toes back into the romance pool that she once thought she was done with. She’s at several crossroads in her life that all seem to converge at once and she needs to figure out which paths will lead her to her own HEA. Bursting with literary references and innuendos, this book is a romance reader’s wet dream. The tropes! The banter! That window scene!!! 🥵 I mean c’mon…WORD FOREPLAY! PAGE SEX! Everything you want from a romance and more! (Seriously, as an avid romance reader, I particularly get delighted when my books start taking on a meta vibe.)
Romance genre aside, other themes in this book hit deeply on so many levels (CW: suicidal thoughts, accident causing disfigurement, death).

*sigh* What a blessing and a curse to have read this as an ARC. Blessing because I got to bask in this book’s sunlight early on. Cursed because I simply can’t quote the many, many, MANY highlights I had throughout yet. Also cursed because like all book hangovers, I don’t want to move on! I just want to soak in all my feelings. I can’t wait for TYFL to drop in August 2022 and see how it lands because I think it’s really something special! 5 solid stars.

*Thank you to Avon/Harper Voyager via NetGalley for the ARC*