HOLDING PATTERN

Annie Q narrates this heartwarming comic novel with a relaxed cadence and just the right amount of dramatic flair. After breaking up with her boyfriend and leaving grad school, Kathleen Chang returns home to Oakland. There she discovers that her mother is getting married--and her life is full of all the sparkle that Kathleen lacks. Aimless and lonely, she gets a job as a "professional cuddler" and slowly begins to untangle her relationship with her mother, her hometown, and herself. Annie Q perfectly captures Kathleen's dry humor, as well as the heated but affectionate arguments she has with her mom. Her humorous voicings of Kathleen's various clients, including tech bros and a kind, quiet widower, make this an engaging and well-rounded performance. L.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2023]