Bright Lights and Summer Nights

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘quarter-life crisis in the Hamptons’ premise—until about 30 minutes in, when the protagonist, Jordan, stole a bottle of rosé from a yacht club and chugged it in the bushes. That’s when I knew *Bright Lights and Summer Nights* was something different. Singleton’s writing has this uncanny ability to make you cringe and cheer for Jordan in the same breath, and the audiobook’s narration sells every awkward, triumphant, and mortifying moment. Savannah Peachwood’s performance is the heart of this audiobook. She delivers Jordan’s internal monologue with a mix of exhaustion and defiance that makes her feel like your funniest, most chaotic friend—especially in the scenes where Jordan’s anxiety spirals into rambling tangents. Lee Samuels, as the love interest, starts off a little too smooth for my taste (his initial ‘rich guy’ voice borders on caricature), but he grows on you as the character’s layers unfold. The real magic, though, is in the back-and-forth—their chemistry in the fake-dating scenes is electric, with Peachwood and Samuels playing off each other like a verbal tennis match where every volley lands just right. My two critiques: The pacing drags slightly in the middle during the ‘will they/won’t they’ limbo, and a subplot about Jordan’s career feels underdeveloped compared to the romance. But the payoff—both emotionally and in the steamier scenes—is worth the wait. The production quality is top-notch, with subtle soundscapes that immerse you in the Hamptons without distracting. If you love romances that feel like a wild night out—equal parts hilarious, messy, and secretly heartfelt—this is your next listen.