Full Cast Audio
Publisher: Audible Audio
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Audiobook
Published: March 2nd, 2023
Rating: 3/5 Stars
I found this to be a bit hit and miss – definitely one of those books where I think the characters became more likeable as we got to know them, but for a fair while they just felt a tad annoying. The voice actors were great, but Santino Fontana’s voice (which I usually adore!) didn’t quite fit the preppy, sunshiny character. He’s the “sappiest man alive”, and maybe it’s the type of characters I associate with him, but I kept having to remind myself he wasn’t being sarcastic!
The premise was intriguing – Marigold has been paired up with Robbie for a Psych 312 assignment, determining whether love at first sight really exists. For this, they have to interview different couples to find out their stories, how they met, when they realised they were in love with each other, and their relationship rituals. It’s a full cast audio, which made the interview portions really interesting as we hear from couples at different points in their lives. I enjoyed the conversations, but it was the parts focused solely on Marigold and Robbie that started to lose me a little.
Again, the voice actors are great, but the chemistry felt off. It’s grumpy/sunshine, but Robbie was so sweet my teeth hurt, especially considering everything the poor boy’s been through. The premise grows flimsy, too – the idea is they’re recording everything for the project, but they often leave the recorders on (I think? It wasn’t always clear!), capturing moments that are a little more intimate, or characters talking to themselves, etc. The problem with this is how flimsy it gets, similar to watching a poorly thought out found footage where the main question becomes “why are you still recording this”.
The balance between the two felt off, and the way the ‘reveal’ was handled about both of them almost getting expelled was a stretch. I appreciated the interview portions, and there are some delightful moments here, but generally I found this to be a bit of a middling experience.
Reading Challenge
Musicals Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt: Hairspray – You Can’t Stop the Beat – Upbeat
Progress: 12/24
Unwrapping Words 