A Song for Summer

Penelope Rawlins’ narration is *the* reason to pick this audiobook up, and she delivers in spades. Her voice has the kind of effortless authority that makes you forget you’re listening to someone read—like having a brilliant, witty aunt tell you a story by the fire. She nails the period details, from the clipped vowels of the English characters to the melodic lilt of the Austrian locals, and her timing is impeccable. There are moments, particularly in Ellen’s early scenes, where her performance feels almost too polished, like she’s holding back the full force of the character’s youthful enthusiasm. But once the war intrudes and Ellen’s naivety curdles into steel, Rawlins’ restraint becomes a strength, letting the emotional weight of the story hang in the air unspoken. The book itself is a slow burn that somehow never drags, thanks to Ibbotson’s knack for character-driven drama. Ellen’s journey from wide-eyed idealist to someone who’s forced to make impossibly hard choices is compelling, even if her transformation occasionally feels too tidy. The supporting cast—especially the school’s crusty old gardener, who delivers some of the sharpest lines in the book—steals the show. That said, the wartime setting occasionally feels underdeveloped; we get hints of the horrors unfolding outside the school’s walls, but Ibbotson’s focus on the microcosm of the boarding house sometimes blunts the broader stakes. Still, this is a minor quibble in a story that’s ultimately as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. If you’re in the mood for a love letter to resilience wrapped in a cozy, old-fashioned tale, this is your audiobook.