Audiobook Sample

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Hola, fellow wanderers and lovers of stories,

There’s something magical about the way a story unfolds when you’re on the move – whether it’s the hum of a bus winding through a snowy city or the crunch of gravel underfoot in a far-flung desert. It reminds me of a time when I was driving through Chile’s Atacama Desert, the surreal landscape stretching endlessly before me, while Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” poured through my headphones. The narrator’s voice wove a spell, turning the barren expanse into a tapestry of magical realism. That memory flickered back to life as I settled in with “One Day in December: A Novel” by Josie Silver, narrated by Charlie Anson and Eleanor Tomlinson. This audiobook experience swept me up like a winter wind through London’s streets, carrying me into a romance that’s as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

Let me set the scene: It’s a snowy December day, and Laurie, our dreamer of a protagonist, locks eyes with a stranger through the fogged-up window of a bus. You can almost feel the chill of the glass against her fingertips, the spark of possibility igniting in that fleeting glance. She’s convinced he’s “the one” – a belief I’ve chased myself across continents, from the bustling markets of Oaxaca to the quiet cafes of Lisbon. But then the bus pulls away, and he’s gone. What follows is a decade-long dance of fate, friendship, and missed chances, as Laurie, her best friend Sarah, and Jack – the man from the bus – navigate the messy, beautiful terrain of love.

This story hit me square in the chest. It’s not just a romance – it’s a meditation on timing, on the roads not taken, and the quiet ache of wanting what you can’t quite have. I’ve felt that ache before, sitting on a rooftop in Porto, sipping vinho verde as the sun dipped below the horizon, wondering about the people I’d met and lost along the way. Josie Silver captures that longing with a tenderness that sneaks into your heart and stays there. The story unfolds like a well-worn travel journal, each chapter revealing a new layer of Laurie and Jack’s journey – sometimes joyous, sometimes gut-wrenching, always real.

The audiobook experience elevates this tale to something truly special, thanks to the dual narration by Charlie Anson and Eleanor Tomlinson. Charlie’s Jack is all charm and gravelly warmth, the kind of voice you’d want telling you stories over a campfire. He brings out Jack’s roguish appeal but also his vulnerability, especially in those moments when he’s wrestling with his own choices. Eleanor, as Laurie, is a revelation – her tone brims with hope and quiet strength, tinged with just enough melancholy to make you root for her. Together, they’re like two sides of a coin, their voices weaving in and out of each other’s narratives with a chemistry that mirrors the push-and-pull of the characters’ relationship. The audio quality is crisp, immersive – you can almost hear the clatter of London buses, the fizz of champagne at a Christmas party, the hush of snow falling outside.

That said, it’s not a flawless journey. The pacing stumbles at times, lingering a little too long on certain beats – like when Laurie’s search for Jack drags through yet another cafe scene. I found myself itching for the story to pick up speed, much like when I’m waiting for a delayed train in some remote station. And while the dual perspectives enrich the tale, there’s a stretch in the middle where Jack’s chapters feel less urgent, almost overshadowed by Laurie’s more vivid emotional arc. Still, these are minor detours in an otherwise captivating ride.

What struck me most was how this audiobook mirrors the oral storytelling traditions I’ve encountered in my travels. It reminds me of evenings in Oaxaca, where a grandmother would gather us around with tales of love and loss, her voice rising and falling like a song. Charlie and Eleanor capture that same intimacy, that sense of being let in on a secret. It’s a reminder that the best narrators don’t just read – they “tell”, pulling you into the story as if it’s happening right beside you.

Compared to other contemporary romances – like, say, Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You” – “One Day in December” stands out for its lighter touch. Where Moyes leans into tear-jerking drama, Silver offers a softer, more hopeful lens on love’s twists and turns. It’s less about grand gestures and more about the quiet moments that define us – a glance across a crowded room, a laugh shared over coffee. If you’re a fan of the genre, or just someone who loves a good story about human connection, this audiobook is worth the listen.

For me, it’s personal too. I’ve spent years chasing stories across borders, collecting fragments of lives not my own. Laurie’s quest for Jack felt like a echo of that – of searching for something elusive, something that feels fated. Listening to this audiobook free through a service like Audiobooks.com (yes, you can snag it there!), I found myself reflecting on my own near-misses and what-ifs. It’s the kind of story that lingers, like the taste of mole after a meal in Mexico or the scent of rain on cobblestones in Europe.

So, who’s this for? Anyone who’s ever believed in love at first sight – or doubted it. Anyone who’s missed a chance and wondered what might have been. The audiobook experience amplifies Silver’s heartfelt writing, and with Charlie Anson and Eleanor Tomlinson at the helm, it’s a journey you’ll want to take. Grab it, pop in your earbuds, and let it sweep you away – whether you’re on a bus in London or a dusty road somewhere far from home.

Until our next adventure in stories, amigos,
Marcus Rivera