WHAT I HAD BEFORE I HAD YOU

Recently divorced, Olivia Reed takes her children to visit her Jersey Shore hometown before they start their new life in New York City. Karen White's well-paced reading adds to the misty feeling as the trip to the beach unleashes Olivia's memories of her 15-year-old self and the summer she discovered the truth about her parents and her own sometimes strange behavior. White transitions smoothly between the adult and teen Olivia, altering her intonations to reflect the character's stage of life. Bipolar disorder is central to this family story, and White's sensitive performance captures a wide range of moods as Olivia, her mother, and her son each battle his or her own version of the disease. Listeners will remember Olivia's coming-of-age story long after they've heard the last paragraph. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2014]