I Kissed Shara Wheeler (Audiobook)

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The details…

  • Title: I Kissed Shara Wheeler
  • Written by: Casey McQuiston
  • Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
  • Publisher: Macmillan Audio
  • Publication date: 05/03/2022
  • Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
  • Other formats available: ebook, paperback, hardcover 
  • Digital file size: 3665 KB
  • Print length: 361 pages
  • Genre: young adult LGBTQ+ fiction
  • Themes: coming of age/coming to terms with oneself, homophobia, high school drama, religion, private school, small town mindset, bisexuality, queer romance, women loving women 
  • Tropes: enemies to lovers

The blurb from the publisher…

Chloe Green is so close to winning. After her moms moved her from SoCal to Alabama for high school, she’s spent the past four years dodging gossipy classmates and the puritanical administration of Willowgrove Christian Academy. The thing that’s kept her going: winning valedictorian. Her only rival: prom queen Shara Wheeler, the principal’s perfect progeny.

But a month before graduation, Shara kisses Chloe and vanishes.

On a furious hunt for answers, Chloe discovers she’s not the only one Shara kissed. There’s also Smith, Shara’s longtime quarterback sweetheart, and Rory, Shara’s bad boy neighbor with a crush. The three have nothing in common except Shara and the annoyingly cryptic notes she left behind, but together they must untangle Shara’s trail of clues and find her. It’ll be worth it, if Chloe can drag Shara back before graduation to beat her fair and square.

Thrown into an unlikely alliance, chasing a ghost through parties, break-ins, puzzles, and secrets revealed on monogrammed stationery, Chloe starts to suspect there might be more to this small town than she thought. And maybe—probably not, but maybe—more to Shara, too.

Fierce, funny, and frank, Casey McQuiston’s I Kissed Shara Wheeler is about breaking the rules, getting messy, and finding love in unexpected places.

My thoughts…

I got swept into the narrative of this young adult contemporary romance a few short minutes after pressing play. Listening to Natalie Naudus is a dream; she is a fantastic narrator and her performances are always a pleasure. She has mastered the art of character transition, and that is so crucial in good story narration. Her voices are unique and distinctive for each character, making it easy for listeners to not only follow the story, but fall into it.

As far as the writing, it’s top notch. Fans of McQuiston have admired her talents since her 2019 debut best seller Red, White & Royal Blue. Now with I Kissed Shara Wheeler, readers can easily see why McQuiston is met with considerable critical acclaim. 

Listeners will find this young adult novel to be a real gem. It’s very southern small town, private high school and anyone who’s been there will definitely relate. The storytelling is unique and original; everything about it just works, especially the dialogue. McQuiston makes it jump off the page with her quick wit and sharp tongue. More than anything though, she uses it to effectively transfer an understanding of teenagers in a capable and compassionate way. Furthermore, her signature style and tone accentuate the mood of high school that is often found in this genre, enabling the narrative to glide along easily and naturally. Essentially, listeners are greeted with something that’s fun, inviting and hard to resist.

Final remarks… 

There is no disputing the fact that Natalie Naudus breathes the right kind of life into Casey McQuiston’s well-written contemporary tale. These two creatives are perfectly paired, making this audio well worth the listen. I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a funny and compassionately told coming of age story, and if you like those, then this one is for you.

Strengths…

  • Well-written 
  • Well-narrated 
  • Entertaining 
  • Fresh
  • Original 
  • Engrossing characters

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A bit about the author…

Casey McQuiston writes books about smart people with bad manners that falling in love. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue and One Last Stop. She was born and raised in southern Louisiana, which taught her how to love a good story and a great biscuit. She now lives in New York City with Pepper, her poodle mix and personal assistant.

Connect with the author…

A bit about the narrator…

Natalie Naudus is an Asian American audiobook narrator of over 250 titles, but she started out as an opera singer. She now narrates, relishing the emotional journey through each book, finding a unique and honest voice for each character, doing her utmost to honor the words of the author. 

Her narration has been described as rich, evocative, and elegant. Her character voices range from sweet to insane and her language training gives her great accents and convincing foreign language dialogue.

Connect with the narrator…

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