November 1, 2022
When her plans for post-college life are upended overnight, Esme spends the next seven years in a holding pattern she can't seem to escape. Her father's death frees her from familial duties and allows her to start truly living. Unable to figure out what she wants to do, she takes a temporary dog sitting job in New York City. Discovering that the dog's owner has the same shoe size, Esme dons the collection of haute couture shoes. New friends open up many possibilities to find herself. Coming to life again, she struggles both with opportunities for love and with the newly recognized truths from her past. Narrator Beth Hicks aptly captures the wide range of emotions Esme experiences throughout this contemporary novel. Though she has a slight variance between male and female vocal tones, she still captures the characters' unique attributes, allowing the audience to follow conversations. Hicks's clear, emotive performance showcases her rich voice and aids listeners in following the story without losing interest. VERDICT Rosen's (Eliza Starts a Rumor) delightful novel is a good addition to collections where contemporary fiction with a side of romance is popular.--Amanda L.S. Murphy
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