AFTER I DO

Julia Whelan narrates the story of a couple who are struggling with a rough patch in their marriage. Lauren and Ryan met at 19, and married at 24. Now 29, they are struggling to remember why--or even if--they still love each other, so they decide to take a year-long break. Whelan perfectly captures the arc of their relationship, which moves from awkward college flirting to the caustic sniping of a marital fight over something truly stupid. Her skill at narrating the everyday is both a strength and a flaw: For some this performance might be too uncomfortably like their own lives laid bare, while for others it could be deeply cathartic. Whelan also gives depth and personality to secondary characters, who are generally underdeveloped in the text. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2023]