While We Were Dating

I’ll admit: I groaned when I saw the ‘fake dating’ premise. Again? But *While We Were Dating* won me over in the first 30 minutes—thanks in no small part to Janina Edwards’ narration, which turns what could’ve been a by-the-numbers romance into something *alive*. Edwards has this incredible ability to make even throwaway lines land with intention. When Anna snaps at Ben, you *hear* the years of frustration behind her words; when Ben’s voice cracks during a rare honest moment, it’s not overdone—just raw enough to sell it. The audiobook’s pacing is another standout. Guillory’s writing is already snappy, but Edwards’ delivery makes the banter *sing*, while the slower, more introspective scenes (like Anna’s conversations with her sister) never drag. That said, the middle act sags slightly—there’s a stretch where the conflict feels repetitive (how many times can Ben almost-sabotage things before it tests credibility?), and I wished Guillory had leaned harder into Anna’s political career as a counterbalance to the Hollywood glamour. But the last third *soars*, especially in audio. The climactic scene—set at a chaotic public event—is a narrative tour de force, with Edwards juggling crowd noise, rapid-fire dialogue, and emotional beats without missing a beat. And the epilogue? Perfection. If you love rom-coms but need one with *bite*, this is your pick. Just be warned: Edwards’ performance might ruin you for lesser romance narrators.