The Ex I Buried

I’ll admit, I went into *The Ex I Buried* expecting a soapy revenge tale, but Simmonds subverts that early. The protagonist’s voice—caustic, self-aware, yet painfully human—carries the story, and Kennard’s performance sells every jagged emotion. There’s a scene midway through where she’s describing a confrontation in a church bathroom, and Kennard’s hushed, trembling delivery made me *lean in*—that’s how good the narration is at turning internal monologues into something visceral. That said, the pacing stumbles in the second act. The funeral setting, while claustrophobic in theory, sometimes drags under repetitive mourner interactions. And the big ‘lie’ that ended their relationship? The payoff feels underwhelming compared to the buildup. Still, the audiobook’s strength lies in its atmosphere—Kennard’s ability to make silence feel loaded, and Simmonds’ knack for writing dialogue that’s equal parts barbed and heartbreaking. If you love morally gray protagonists and narratives that simmer with quiet rage, this is your kind of funeral. Just don’t expect neat resolutions; the real burial here is of the idea that closure exists.