WE ARE ALL SO GOOD AT SMILING

Author/narrator Amber McBride begins this audiobook with a trigger warning that the story involves depression, suicide, and self-harm. Whimsy, newly released from rehabilitation, meets a fae boy, Faerry. They are bound by the commonality of magic, unexpressed grief, and determination to find healing through mutual support. McBride brings a special gift to this production by narrating her own material. Skillfully, her pacing reflects the verse format of her novel, providing the rhythms she intends to her words. McBride's narration expresses strong feelings for her characters as she uses lyricism to merge fairy-tale worlds, magical realism, and harsh realities into a complex web describing a search for wholeness. S.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]