THE BALLAD OF DARCY AND RUSSELL

Merissa Czyz narrates a YA romance that takes place over the course of 24 hours. Darcy believes in love at first sight but has never experienced it--until she is stranded at a bus station and meets Russell. Czyz captures the giddiness Darcy feels at meeting a cute boy who actually seems to like her back. As Darcy gets to know Russell, it's clear they have much in common, but both also have secrets. Czyz tempers Darcy's feelings of frustration and betrayal when Russell's secret upsets their plans with the realization that she barely knows him. Sadly, Czyz's childlike delivery--distractingly at odds with Darcy's stated age of 18--makes it difficult to believe she is mere days away from departing for college. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]