Lover Birds

Gr 9 Up–Debut YA author Egan and playwright/actor Cranney—both born-and-raised Liverpudlians—present a charming enemies-to-lovers narrative that’s equally a love song to their natal city of Liverpool. Lou—not Eloise which “makes her sound like the heroine in a period drama… and not in a sexy Bridgerton kind of way”—and her friends are tasked with making new girl Isabel from London feel welcome. Their initial encounter leaves Lou “not knowing when to shut up” while Isabel “actually winces.” The two couldn’t be more different: newly neurodiverse-diagnosed, working-class background Lou vs. posh, privileged, closed-off Isabel. Although she’s relatively new to audiobooks, Cranney is an excellent cipher, easily adjusting regional accents, bestowing distinct personalities particularly on messy Lou and controlled Isabel, turning their will-they/won’t-they dance into an aural delight.