Stay Another Day

I’ll admit: I went into *Stay Another Day* expecting a fluffy queer holiday rom-com, and instead got **emotionally gut-punched** in the best way. Dawson doesn’t just write family drama—she **dissects it**, exposing the rot beneath the festive veneer. The siblings are all deeply unlikable at times (Fern’s judgmental monologues had me wincing, Rowan’s self-loathing made me want to shake him), but that’s the point: their flaws make their eventual moments of connection **earned and devastating**. The story’s pacing is **uneven by design**—lingering in awkward silences, then hurtling through revelations—but it mirrors the **stop-start rhythm of real family dynamics**. The narration is where this audiobook **soars or stumbles**, depending on your taste. Holmes and Thomason commit fully to their roles, but their performances are **so distinct** that the shifts between perspectives can feel jarring at first (Thomason’s Willow is *loud*, both in volume and energy, while Holmes’ Rowan is a muted simmer). That said, the contrast grows on you, reinforcing the siblings’ emotional disconnect. My one critique? The **sound mixing occasionally falters**—some of Willow’s rants peak just a hair too loud, and a few of Rowan’s quieter lines get lost in ambient noise. But these are minor quibbles in an otherwise **immersive, heart-squeezing** listen. If you love stories where **love and resentment are two sides of the same coin**, this is your next obsession—just keep tissues (and maybe a stiff drink) handy.