This Time Around

I’ll admit: I side-eyed the premise at first. *Another* second-chance romance? But *This Time Around* won me over by refusing to romanticize the past. The heroine isn’t just ‘the one who got away’—she’s the one who *left*, and the story doesn’t let her (or the listener) forget it. Suen’s writing shines in the way she balances humor and heartache; one minute, you’re laughing at a brutally honest quip about exes, the next, you’re gut-punched by a memory that explains why these two are still broken years later. The wedding backdrop isn’t just set dressing—it’s a pressure cooker, and the audiobook’s pacing mirrors that claustrophobic energy. Scenes unfold in real-time, with pauses and overlapping dialogue that feel improvised, like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation that’s been a decade in the making. The narration is a masterclass in contrast. Devon Grace’s delivery is all clipped, nervous energy, her voice tightening when the heroine’s defenses go up, while Troy Duran’s deeper timbre carries a weariness that sells his character’s ‘I’m over this… but am I?’ vibe. Their chemistry is electric, though I’ll dock half a point for a few moments where Duran’s volume dips slightly during quieter lines (a minor mix issue, but noticeable with headphones). My bigger critique? The ending wraps up *almost* too neatly—after so much emotional whiplash, I wanted one last raw, unresolved beat. Still, for a romance this short to linger in my head days later? That’s the mark of something special. If you love enemies-to-lovers but wish it had more bite, or if you’re craving a romance that feels like a late-night confession, this is your audiobook.