Life as Planned

I’ll admit, I was skeptical when Amanda Prowse announced she’d be narrating her own work—could an author truly deliver the emotional nuance the audio format demands? The answer is a resounding yes. Prowse’s narration is a masterclass in subtlety; she doesn’t overact or rely on vocal theatrics, instead letting the weight of the story do the heavy lifting. Her performance shines brightest in the quieter moments, where Beth’s simmering guilt or Sarah’s simmering rage crackle just beneath the surface. The pacing is relentless, too—this isn’t a book that meanders, and Prowse’s delivery keeps you locked in, even when the narrative hits its most painful crescendos. That said, there were moments I wished for a bit more breathing room in the production. Some transitions between characters feel abrupt, as if the editing team rushed to keep the runtime tight. And while the story’s premise is compelling, the resolution lands with a thud, as if Prowse herself couldn’t quite figure out how to tie the emotional threads together cleanly. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise stellar listening experience. If you love character-driven fiction that punches above its weight, this is a must-listen.