RENTAL HOUSE

Jen Zhao delivers an insightful performance of this novel, which is structured around several family vacations. College sweethearts Keru and Nate have never fit in with their families and have made their own family with their sheepdog, Mantou. Cultural differences between Keru's cautious immigrant parents and Nate's boisterous American parents have created an additional fissure, so the families have taken up vacationing separately. When Keru and Nate meet a European family on vacation, they must reevaluate their feelings about their families and their marriage. Zhao's even-paced voice provides empathy and unexpected humor. Using Romanian, Chinese American, and Southern accents, Zhao breathes life into the characters. This contemplative novel is a quick, thought-provoking listen. C.R. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]