All This Time - Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott

All This Time is the newly released YA novel from Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott, authors of the New York Times Bestseller, Five Feet Apart. I really enjoyed Five Feet Apart and happily picked up this newest collaboration. (Isn't that cover gorgeous?)

Kyle and Kimberley have dated all through high school. But the night of grad, they argue while in the car....and yes, there's an accident. When Kyle wakes up in hospital, he learns that Kim didn't make it. And he feels like no one can understand his grief - until he meets Marley. She too has suffered the loss of a loved one.

The book is told solely through Kyle's voice - memories, hopes, dreams, sorrows and more. Daughtry and Lippincott have created quite an emotional lead character, one who loves love. That pursuit seems to drive his life. The word obsessed did pop into my thoughts. Now that being said, I did initially enjoy the back and forth, yes, no, maybe so of Marley and Kyle. But after a bit, I found Kyle's intensity somewhat off putting. His determination to have Marley to feel the same was a bit off putting. The same intent and emotions are repeated over numerous chapters. And I grew a bit weary. I wanted something more to happen. It did - there's a twist about two hours from the end of the book. It's a device often used, but it worked and my interest was caught up again. I did like how things ended. 

Daughtry and Lippincott do a good job depicting grief and I'm sure everyone can identify with some of the emotions depicted.

I chose to listen to All This Time. The narrator was Tim Andrés Pabon, an new-to-me reader. He was a great choice for this story. I absolutely believed that a high school senior was talking and his voice matched the mental image I had created for Kyle. His voice had a nice soft tone to it that easily caught the emotion of the character. His reading was clear, easy to understand and pleasant to listen to. Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of All This Time.

A good listen, but not as good as Five Feet Apart in my opinion.

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating - Christina Lauren

Every so often, I need to step away from the murder and mayhem that populates most of my reading. I found my latest light, fun escapist listen in Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren.

Hazel. Well, Hazel could be easily (and accurately) described as 'over the top'. She says what she thinks, does what she wants - most often without a filter. Josh. Calm, thoughtful and the complete opposite of Hazel. The two meet at college and surprisingly become friends. And life moves on. Could their relationship move to a different level as well?

The yes, no, maybe so of this possible relationship is filled with quirky situations, humorous moments, fun dialogue - and yes, romance. Do opposites really attract?

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is told through both Josh and Hazel's viewpoint. It was fun to be a fly on the wall, privy to what both were thinking, often about the same situation. Now, here's the thing - as much fun as Hazel is, I did find her a bit overwhelming as the book progressed. I was more enamoured (okay reader crush) of Josh. Yup, he's everything you would want in a boyfriend. We also get to know the families of Josh and Hazel. I found these relationships and characters charming and heartwarming.

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is narrated by two readers -  Todd Haberkorn and Jayme Mattler. Both readers were excellent. Mattler's voice has a young, fresh tone with a nice little gravelly undertone. She's very expressive, interpreting the character perfectly and creating a vivid mental image of Hazel for me. Haberkorn's voice also has a tone that suits the character. It's easy to listen to and again painted a vivid mental picture of Josh. His voice has a lot of movement and brings the story to life. It has a soft, mellow tone that suits Josh's pace. Listen to an excerpt of Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating.

I can absolutely see this one as a rom com movie. This was a first read/listen of Christina Lauren for me, but it certainly won't be the last.

Dry - Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

I'm a bit of a insomniac and often to listen to audiobooks at night. I eventually drift off and sometimes have to backtrack the next night to see what I missed. But this wasn't the case with Dry  by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. It was so good, I just couldn't stop listening!

California's drought issues are ongoing and worsening - until the day of  the Tap-Out. The day the water is completely shut off, stores are stripped of water and thirst drives people to unthinkable choices.

Teen Alyssa, her younger brother Garrett and her teenaged prepper  neighbor Kelton are at the heart of the narrative. Two others - Jacquie and Henry become part of the story as well.

The first thing I thought to myself was this was not a far fetched premise at all. The Shusterman's imagining of what might transpire if the water disappeared was completely believable - and frightening real. Anarchy.

Each of the five characters is given a voice through their own chapters and outlooks. Each player has a different take on how to survive this catastrophe. What choices will they make? As a group? As individuals? What would you do?

The decision to record this audiobook with an ensemble cast of five narrators was brilliant. Each voice completely matched the character they were reading. Alyssa, (Jenni Barber) is the voice of reason, more disposed to consider society than the individual. But as things go from bad to worse, she is forced to make some terrible decisions. Garrett, (Kivlighan De Montebello) is young, frightened and innocent of what this shortage will mean. Kelton, (Noah Galvin) I quite liked - pragmatic on the outside, paddling hard on the inside. Henry, (Michael Crouch) oh Henry. As my Gran used to say - he's a piece of work and his inner dialogue and actions made me so angry. And then there's Jacqui (Candice Thaxton). She's tough, smart and a survivor. I have to say, she ended up being my favourite character. Each voice was clear, easy to understand and absolutely matched the character they were playing. Listen to an excerpt of Dry.

A few times, I said to myself - 'why don't you....?' But then I reminded myself that these were teens.

Bottom line - loved it! Honestly, I wanted more. But as the credits rolled, I thought hey, this would make a great movie. Turns out Paramount Pictures thought the same thing. And I also thought - I better pick up a few cases of water - you know - just to have on hand......