THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME

In a silvery tone, narrator Mela Lee recounts the story of a bittersweet holiday house swap. Struggling Malibu artist Chelsea and Chicagoan Ramona agree to swap houses during Christmas week. Chelsea needs to make some money, and Ramona wants to avoid her family over the holiday. When Ramona's West Coast experience begins with an incident of racism, Lee conveys how its menacing quality overshadows her entire stay, despite a budding romance with a free-spirited surfer. Lee's thoughtful delivery effectively portrays Chelsea's artistic renewal in Chicago, helped by Carlos, Ramona's cousin. Voicings are subtly different, although it's Lee's somber tone that is most striking. While the holiday spirit is muted, Lee's tone--sometimes resigned, sometimes hopeful--captures a pivotal week in two conflicted women's lives. C.A. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]