Coming Up for Air

Middle-aged Alabama mom Ellie Calvin is trapped in a loveless marriage, but finding and reading her deceased mother’s secret diary gives her the courage to choose a different life and take control of her future. Janet Metzger fully embodies the role of Ellie: she sounds as though she’s thinking out loud, trying to understand her own feelings, piece together the meaning of both her mother’s diary and her own life, and explain the choices she’s made. Although the book’s characters are all Southern, Metzger gives each one—both male and female—a unique voice and makes it abundantly clear which character is speaking, even during conversations between multiple characters. Additionally, Metzger reads the secret diary entries in another distinctive, pitch-perfect voice. This audiobook is an excellent choice for female listeners who enjoy character-driven fiction. A St. Martin’s Press hardcover. (Aug.)