Time for You

I went into *Time for You* expecting a forgettable small-town romance, but Harless surprised me with the sharpest small-town heroine since *Gilmore Girls*. Emma isn’t just stuck in her hometown—she’s suffocating, and her rage at missed opportunities simmers beneath every interaction with the infuriating (but oddly magnetic) retired hockey player who won’t stop hiring her as his personal contractor. The dialogue crackles with humor and heart, especially in scenes where Emma shuts down love interests with the finesse of a woman who’s heard every bad pickup line in the tri-county area. Paige and Reid’s narration elevates the material further; their voices feel like longtime neighbors who’ve gossiped over the fence for years. Paige’s growl suits Emma’s stoic exhaustion, while Reid’s melodic cadence sells her determination—even when her plans go sideways (because of course they do). That said, the production isn’t flawless. At 7 hours and 20 minutes, the slow burn occasionally drags, and a couple of subplots (the town’s annual pie contest? Really?) feel tacked on. The romance resolution leans into a well-trodden trope, though Harless at least tries to justify it with nuance. Still, I laughed out loud twice, teared up once, and now want to move to a town just like Emma’s. If you crave romance that’s more *About Time* than *The Notebook*, this audiobook is your jam.