Never Faking About You

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at the ‘constant bickering’ premise—until about five minutes in, when Fire Carlson opened his mouth and I realized this wasn’t just bickering; it was forensic-level emotional warfare disguised as flirtation. Aubry J. writes dialogue that *demands* to be heard aloud, and the narration duo more than delivers. Myles Washington’s Fire is all smug confidence, but with a rasp in his voice that betrays the effort it takes to keep up the act. Meanwhile, Trei Taylor’s performance as the love interest is the perfect foil: her exasperation never tips into whining, and when she finally fires back, it’s with the satisfying *thwack* of a mic drop. The story’s strength lies in its refusal to let the romance overshadow the *people* at its center. Fire’s relationship with his daughter isn’t just a plot device—it’s the emotional core, and the scenes where he’s parenting (or failing at it) are some of the most tender in the book. That said, the middle act drags slightly with a subplot that feels like wheel-spinning, and I wished the audio editing had smoothed out a few abrupt transitions between chapters. But those are quibbles. The real triumph here is how the audiobook *sounds*: like eavesdropping on two people who are equal parts annoyed and obsessed, with narrators who understand that the best chemistry isn’t just heat—it’s friction. If you love romance that’s as funny as it is felt, this one’s a slam dunk.