SMALL JOYS

Sometimes an audiobook sounds like it was meant to be delivered by a particular narrator. That’s the case with this bighearted debut about the friendship between Harley, a Black, gay 20-something who’s just dropped out of uni, and Harley, his cheerful rugby-playing white flatmate. British narrator Mendez captures the heart and soul of this audiobook. They smoothly navigate the many regional accents, bringing every character to life, and they deliver the abundant dialogue in a way that sounds natural. As the novel balances humor and a moving exploration of trauma and its effects, Mendez modulates their voice perfectly. They get the tone just right for every scene, whether it’s tender, hilarious, or heartbreaking. A knockout of a listen. L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2023]