EXCITING TIMES

Narrator Aoife McMahon is terrific delivering Naoise Dolan's impressive debut novel. Twenty-two-year-old Ava moves from Dublin to Hong Kong to teach English. There she meets Julian, an odd, self-involved banker. They start an unconventional relationship. She moves in. Julian picks up the tab. Eventually, they sleep together. They have great discussions. There are no emotional ties. McMahon makes Ava a believable millennial, politically aware and socially conscious, complete with melodic Irish accent. She is spot-on with Julian's indifferent affect, yet she makes him appealing. After Ava meets Edith, a coolly elegant lawyer and Hong Kong native, McMahon delivers a tender/prickly love story. Dolan poses contemporary questions and sets up credible scenarios by using honest, simple language and snarky humor. McMahon's performance is bright, sassy, and delightful. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2020]