Cambria Sky

I picked up *Cambria Sky* expecting a breezy escape, and what I got was a smart, snarky underdog story that sneaks up on you with surprising emotional depth. Avie Paige’s narration is the glue holding this audiobook together, especially in Gen’s more introspective moments. When Gen admits she misses the thrill of the chase in Manhattan’s art scene, Paige’s voice drops into something softer, almost wistful—it’s a subtle shift, but it sells the character’s internal conflict better than pages of exposition ever could. The pacing is tight, with each chapter dropping you into a new mini-stakes scenario, whether it’s Gen fending off a nosy neighbor or dodging the advances of a charming but clueless local handyman. If I had one minor quibble, it’s that the romantic subplot with the artist feels a touch too neat, like the universe conspires a little *too* conveniently to reunite Gen with her past. The book’s strength is its realism, so this resolution teeters on the edge of saccharine. That said, Paige’s performance makes it hard to stay critical—her delivery is so lively during the banter scenes that even the slight contrivance feels earned. The audiobook clocks in at just under eight hours, but it flies by, leaving you with the lingering urge to book a last-minute trip to Cambria or, at the very least, to hunt down that artisanal salsa Gen keeps raving about.