First Verse

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when First Verse pitched itself as a romance where the grand gesture comes in the form of a poem. But Halloran’s writing—sharp, poetic, and achingly human—won me over in the first chapter. Isabelle Ruther’s narration is the secret weapon here; her voice drips with the kind of teenage awe that makes Iris’s infatuation feel both cringe-worthy and endearing. Austin Stone’s Wilder is a revelation, too—less the brooding love interest and more a guy whose entire world shifts when he realizes the girl he’s known forever has been writing him love letters in iambic pentameter. The pacing is nearly flawless, though I did wish we got more of Iris’s internal monologue in the middle act when the story settles into a more traditional romance rhythm. The production quality is top-notch, with subtle guitar riffs woven into the audio that make you feel like you’re in the room where it happens. My only real critique? The ending wraps up a little too neatly for my taste—I wanted more friction, more mess. But if you’re a sucker for slow-burn romance that feels like a mixtape of your own teenage years, this audiobook will wreck you in the best way.