Daddy-Long-Legs

I approached *Daddy-Long-Legs* with skepticism—another “poor girl gets a rich benefactor” trope, right? But Sara Young’s narration sold me within the first ten minutes. Her Judy isn’t a simpering waif; she’s a firecracker, her voice brimming with irreverence and a barely contained grin. Young’s pacing is impeccable, too, balancing Judy’s relentless wit with the quieter moments of loneliness that snuck up on me. The letters themselves are a delight, blending dry humor with genuine pathos—it’s the kind of book that makes you laugh out loud in one scene and pause to reread a line in the next. That said, the audiobook isn’t without quirks. Young’s attempt at a posh, aristocratic narrator voice for Judy’s benefactor (who remains unseen) occasionally veers into caricature, and I found myself wishing for more subtle differentiation between the older male characters. Still, these are minor flaws in what is otherwise a pitch-perfect listening experience. Webster’s wit is timeless, and Young’s performance makes it shine brighter than any modern YA adaptation could hope to. If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at institutional pity or cheered for an underdog’s rise, this is your audiobook. Trust me, you’ll be rooting for Judy by chapter three.