Dolly All the Time

About This Audiobook

Annabel Monaghan’s *Dolly All the Time* is the audiobook equivalent of a sun-kissed playlist—bright, briny, and impossible to pause. At its core, it’s a fake dating rom-com with teeth: single mom Maren returns to her coastal hometown to lick her wounds, only to get tangled up in a performative relationship with West, a coldly ambitious heir who treats love like another spreadsheet. But Monaghan’s sharpest trick is how she turns their arrangement into a mirror—Maren’s forced cheerfulness cracks under scrutiny, exposing the messy, human need beneath the polished facade. West isn’t just a grumpy love interest; he’s a man whose workaholic armor hides a vulnerability that feels painfully real. The setting—think misty mornings, salt-crusted boardwalks—isn’t just backdrop; it’s a character, amplifying both the warmth and the isolation of homecoming. Narrated by Julia Whelan, this audiobook crackles with energy, her voice shifting seamlessly between Maren’s dry wit and West’s clipped defensiveness, making every argument and affectionate tease feel tactile. Whelan’s performance elevates the story from charming premise to something you’ll want to press pause on—just to savor the chemistry.