A Swing at Love

Carmen Rose’s narration is the ace up A Swing at Love’s sleeve, delivering a performance that’s as precise as a pro’s swing and as warm as a clubhouse fire. Her rendition of Diane’s dry, world-weary wit lands perfectly, while her take on Tamsin’s impulsive charm crackles with energy—especially during the charged moments when their banter veers from teasing to tantalizing. The production is crisp, with the sound of golf carts and distant fairway chatter grounding the story in its setting, though I could’ve done without the occasional overemphasis on crowd reactions during pivotal scenes, which sometimes felt like a golf commentary track. Rose balances the novel’s tonal shifts deftly, whether she’s nailing a heated argument or a hushed, post-coital conversation where the unspoken words hang heavier than a sand wedge. The pacing is brisk but never rushed; the 5h38m runtime flies by thanks to Bliss’s knack for integrating conflict into every swing (literally and figuratively). My only real quibble? The ending wraps a tad too neatly, as if the author couldn’t resist a fairytale-style close, but given the story’s themes, it’s an easy indulgence to forgive. Overall, a satisfying listen that’ll leave you hungry for more than just a post-round club sandwich.