Cookie

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first. Another ‘rich girl with problems’ story? But *Cookie* disarmed me within chapters. Wilson’s real subject isn’t Beauty’s wealth—it’s the universal terror of being *seen*, especially when you’re convinced you’re unworthy of attention. The school scenes are so viscerally rendered that I found myself flinching during Beauty’s public humiliations (a botched class presentation, a birthday party where no one shows). Williams’ narration is key here: she doesn’t overplay the drama, but her pauses—like the beat before Beauty forces out a lie—are devastating. I also loved how the audiobook leans into Wilson’s dark humor, particularly in Beauty’s interactions with her chaotic, cookie-obsessed namesake grandmother, whose scenes provide much-needed levity without undermining the story’s emotional weight. That said, the ending feels slightly rushed. After spending hours in Beauty’s head, her final act of defiance—while satisfying—lacks the nuance of the buildup. And while Williams excels at voicing Beauty, some secondary characters (notably the mean girls) blur together tonally. Still, these are minor quibbles. What lingers is the audiobook’s fearless honesty about how girls police each other, and how even the “lucky” ones can feel invisible. It’s the kind of listen that’ll have tweens nodding in recognition and adults wincing at how little schoolyard politics change. Just be warned: you may never look at a pack of custard creams the same way again.