Stranger Things Have Happened

About This Audiobook

Kasie West’s *Stranger Things Have Happened* isn’t just another rom-com—it’s a sharp, unflinching look at modern dating, therapy culture, and the thin line between convenience and connection. Sutton, the book’s perpetually exhausted heroine, is juggling the launch of her first restaurant with the emotional labor of caring for her emotionally stunted mother, all while dating men who treat her like a therapist with benefits. Enter Jake, her smarmy but undeniably charming ex-boyfriend, who proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement: fake dating to bolster their social media presence and, more importantly, their egos. The premise could’ve veered into messy soap territory, but West’s knack for snappy dialogue and unapologetic humor keeps the stakes feeling grounded—if only just.

Narrator Karissa Vacker steals the show with her effortless delivery, toggling between Sutton’s dry, exhausted wit and Jake’s infuriating but oddly endearing bravado. Vacker nails the audiobook’s tonal balance—playful enough to feel like a rom-com but grounded enough to avoid eye-roll-inducing tropes. The production, too, is slick, with a clean audio mix that ensures even the most cringe-worthy flirting scenes land with a smirk rather than a groan.