Review of ‘Twice in a lifetime’ by Clare Lydon,

Audiobook narrated by TJ Richards

Clare Lydon is an accomplished writer of feel-good lesbian romantic comedies. Her books are the equivalent of a hot chocolate in front of a fireplace: they leave the reader all warm inside. Normally her stories are inspired in London and have a British feel, but this time Ms. Lydon decided to depart from her comfort zone and set her romance in the US and write it in American English. Even though I miss her Britishness, I think she pulls this book off expertly.

Set in Chicago and New York, this is the story of former high school sweethearts Harriet and Sally who accidentally meet again seventeen years later. The plot describes their trials and tribulations at second chances and long-distance relationships. Ms. Lydon puts into the mix an eccentric lesbian aunt, a tight group of friends, witty dialogues and an equal parts sexy and hilarious elevator ‘ride’ for an entertaining and satisfying read.

Having read this book a couple of years ago, I’ve decided to listen to the audiobook. This is my first time listening to TJ Richards and I was very happy with the result. Her performance of the different voices is very good, all distinguishable and recognisable in a dialogue. I particularly liked Aunt Paula’s voice and her quirks. She is such a funny character to read and Ms. Richards brought her to life by getting the vocal mannerisms perfectly. The narrator sets the overall tone light but, despite the rom-com feel, this story has some intense moments that Ms. Richards performed just right. Available with a Scribd subscription, it’d be a pity to miss it. Duration: just over 8 hours.

Overall, 5 stars. Highly recommended for lesbian rom com audiobook fans.