Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: What Happens in Paradise
- Author: Elin Hilderbrand
- Narrator: Erin Bennett
- Length: 09:48:58
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 08/10/2019
- Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
- Genre: Romance, Fiction & Literature, Contemporary, Contemporary Women, Family Life
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
As someone who’s spent years chasing stories across sun-drenched islands and bustling cities, I can tell you that Elin Hilderbrand’s “What Happens in Paradise” offers one of the most transportive audiobook experiences I’ve encountered since that magical evening in Oaxaca when I first understood the power of oral storytelling. Erin Bennett’s narration wraps around you like the warm Caribbean breeze described in these pages, making this sequel to “Winter in Paradise” an absolute auditory delight.
The story picks up with Irene Steele returning to St. John to uncover the truth about her late husband’s double life – a premise that immediately reminded me of my own travels through the Caribbean, where every island seems to hold its own secrets just beneath the postcard-perfect surface. Hilderbrand’s gift for creating rich, complex family dynamics shines here, particularly in how she explores the different ways Irene and her sons process their grief and betrayal.
Bennett’s narration is nothing short of masterful. She captures Irene’s quiet strength with a voice that’s both vulnerable and resilient, while giving each of the Steele sons distinct vocal personalities that make following the multi-perspective narrative effortless. There’s a particular scene where Cash confronts his father’s mistress – Bennett’s delivery of that confrontation had me pausing my morning hike along the California coast just to catch my breath, the emotions were so palpable.
What struck me most about this listening experience was how perfectly Hilderbrand’s descriptions of St. John aligned with Bennett’s performance. The way Bennett lingers on descriptions of the island’s “water so blue it hurts your eyes” or the “scent of frangipani heavy in the humid air” transported me back to my own first visit to the Virgin Islands. It’s rare to find an audiobook where narrator and material are so perfectly matched – like that perfect pairing of local rum and fresh coconut water you can only find in the islands.
The novel’s exploration of rebuilding after loss particularly resonated with me. Having documented recovery stories from hurricanes across the Caribbean, I recognized the authenticity in how Hilderbrand portrays Irene’s reconstruction of her life. Bennett’s nuanced performance captures every stage of this journey – the shock, the anger, the tentative new beginnings – with remarkable sensitivity.
While some might dismiss this as ‘beach read’ material, that would be missing the depth Hilderbrand brings to these characters. Yes, there’s plenty of sun-soaked romance and drama (delivered with perfect comedic timing by Bennett), but there’s also real substance here about forgiveness, reinvention, and the families we choose. It reminds me of those perfect beachside bars where the cocktails come with umbrellas, but the conversations stay with you for years.
If I had one critique, it’s that some of the secondary romantic subplots feel slightly rushed compared to the main storyline. However, Bennett’s performance keeps even these moments engaging, finding emotional truth in every interaction.
For audiobook lovers who enjoyed “Where the Crawdads Sing” or Hilderbrand’s own “The Identicals”, this is a must-listen. The production quality is excellent – crisp audio that maintains clarity whether you’re listening through car speakers on a coastal drive or earbuds during your morning commute. At just over 10 hours, it’s the perfect length for a weekend getaway or your daily work commute.
As I write this from a seaside café in Mexico, with the waves providing their own rhythm to Bennett’s narration playing through my headphones, I’m struck by how this audiobook captures what I love most about travel literature – the ability to transport you completely to another place, another life. Hilderbrand’s St. John becomes as real through Bennett’s voice as any destination I’ve actually visited.
May your next listen transport you somewhere wonderful,
Marcus Rivera
