ALL GROWN UP

New Yorker Andrea Bern seems intent on absolving herself of responsibility for her own life and turning a blind eye to the misfortunes of others. Narrator Mia Barron gives her a wry and knowing voice that breaks at key moments ever so briefly into a revealing whine or falseness. Emphasizing just the right phrases from other characters and perfectly exploiting the most telling responses from Andrea, Barron capitalizes on every scene in the novel, most of which confirm that Andrea is no more tragic than anyone around her. Barron's technique creates space enough for listeners to question whether Andrea perceives life as clearly as she thinks she does. Those looking for a redemptive tale won't find it here, but they will find a narrator who can lay a character's faults bare. K.W. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2017]