★Callender, Kacen. Stars in Your Eyes. Hachette Audio. Oct. 2023. 9:54 hrs. ISBN 9781668631386. $27.99. LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE

Mattie and Logan have been cast as leads in a huge blockbuster romantic comedy. When Logan’s quick temper brings bad press, the producers decide to have them fake a relationship for publicity. Despite Mattie’s golden-retriever reputation and Logan’s bad-boy persona, feelings start developing. They start seeing each other as they really are, wounds and all. But will they find solace only in each another, or can they find peace within themselves? This multiple-narrator audiobook takes a critical look at diving into a romantic relationship while carrying unexamined trauma. Callender’s (King of the Rising) first foray into adult romance is a touch didactic about the healing required to make a solid relationship, but it strikes home nonetheless. The main narrators are perfectly cast: AJ Beckles as Mattie brings rough, raw emotionality, while André Santana as Logan brings polish and a variety of accents. Interstitial narrators have also been carefully selected and perform with aplomb, including Patryce Williams, who voices uwuhearts and delivers her patently ridiculous lines with fangirlish fervor. VERDICT A tender and emotional story, capturing desire, discovery, and the challenges of balancing the private and the public.—Katherine Sleyko

★Hall, Alexis. 10 Things That Never Happened. Dreamscape Media. (Material World, Bk. 1). Oct. 2023. 10:09 hrs. ISBN 9781666646313. $17.99. LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE

Prolific and wildly successful Hall’s (A Lady for a Duke) latest romantic comedy is the first in the “Material World” series, a spin-off of his popular “London Calling” series. Sam, the reluctant manager of the Sheffield branch of a home goods store, inadvertently claims to have amnesia after a shower door falls on him during an argument with his grumpy boss, Jonathan. Hoping to stop Jonathan from making drastic staffing cuts at store his during the Christmas season, Sam moves into Jonathan’s house for two weeks of concussion monitoring. Falling in love is difficult when one man is fibbing and the other is concerned about being sued, but the two men end up with a happily-ever-after, following a few roadblocks. Narrator Will Watt superbly handles English accents from Liverpool, Sheffield, and London and delivers the novel’s comedy with perfect timing. It’s generally lighthearted, but Hall creates realistic backgrounds for secondary characters that involve economic downturns and complicated familial relationships. VERDICT Watt voices difficult conversations with sincerity and emotion, and listeners will breeze through this entertaining and excellent audio production. Recommend to fans of romantic comedies.—Sarah Hill

★Ruiz, Sarah Grunder. Last Call at the Local. Books on Tape. Jan. 2024. 7:48 hrs. ISBN 9780593739303. $66.50. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

In Ruiz’s (Luck and Last Resorts) latest contemporary romance, a chance encounter between two seemingly polar opposites grows into much more. After nearly all of her belongings are stolen, including her beloved guitar, wandering musician Raine finds solace—and a temporary job—in a near-empty pub in Cobh, Ireland. After frankly telling a handsome, tattooed stranger how she thinks the pub could be improved, she’s embarrassed to find out he’s the owner. But Jack likes Raine’s ideas and offers the beautiful redhead a job as the pub’s entertainment coordinator. Gary Furlong and Karissa Vacker, the latter of whom narrated previous Ruiz audiobooks, showcase their talents with expert performances in this slow-burn romance, drawing listeners further into Raine and Jack’s lives, as told in both protagonists’ points of view. Furlong and Vacker imbue their expressive performances with their characters’ essence, capturing the intricacies of their personalities. Secondary characters are equally brought to life. VERDICT With their impressive audiobook-narration résumés, it’s no surprise that Vacker and Furlong shine, and listeners will enjoy this excellent production. A must, especially for libraries seeking to build their audio romance collections.—Amanda L. S. Murphy