Ingenue (The Flappers)

This second book in Larkin’s the Flappers series and follow-up to Vixen charts the lives of two teen girls—whose friendship was torn apart by betrayals, misunderstandings, and jealousies—as they navigate Roaring ’20s New York in search of romance and revenge. This colorful tale of flappers, speakeasies, and gangsters translates well to audio, with Abby Craden providing compelling narration and embracing the breezy spirit of the novel. She gamely tries to provide the book’s characters with distinctive voices (her rendering of various speakeasy employees and gangsters are especially fun and feature nasally, whiny, or gravelly tones), but with so large a cast, some of the voices she creates sound a bit similar and listeners may find it difficult to keep track of everyone. Still, this fun-filled narrative with its star-crossed romances, betrayals, danger, and fabulous clothes is a treat to listen to. A Delacorte Books for Young Readers hardcover. (Aug.)