Burnout

I’ll admit, I approached *Burnout* skeptical of yet another ‘forbidden romance,’ but June’s writing and the audiobook’s execution won me over by sheer force of honesty. The narration is the star here: Bray’s portrayal of the protagonist’s spiraling obsession is *visceral*—she nails the breathless highs and the gut-punch lows, especially in scenes where the character’s self-awareness clashes with her desires. Darby, meanwhile, plays the teacher with a dangerous quietness; his voice never slips into villainy or cliché, which makes the dynamic all the more unsettling. The chemistry between them is electric, but the audiobook smartly resists glorifying their connection, leaving you squirming in the best way. That said, the pacing stumbles in the middle. A few repetitive internal monologues about ‘what could’ve been’ drag when the story’s strength lies in its *action*—or inaction, rather. The tense, near-misses between the characters are where the audiobook shines, and I wished for more of those instead of circular ruminations. The production is otherwise flawless: clean audio, well-timed shifts between narrators, and a subtle use of silence to underscore the story’s emotional beats. It’s not a perfect listen, but it’s a *compelling* one—ideal for fans of morally messy romances who don’t need a neat bow on their endings. Just be prepared to cringe, ache, and maybe question your own past crushes by the final chapter.