Review of The Flaw in our Design by Monica Mccallan, audiobook narrated by Lori Prince

This is the first book I’ve read by this author who somehow flew under my radar even though she’s got a good number of books published. When I saw the audiobook of her latest book narrated by Lori Prince, I decided to give it a try and I’m happy I did as I really liked it.

Olivia Carver lives a simple life in Lake Cabot, New York with her dad and brothers and working as a bartender. She has a few no-strings relationships but doesn’t want any commitments as she lost too much in life already. Valerie Maycomb is in Lake Cabot for the summer before going to Chicago to start law school. She wants a summer fling with a woman and Olivia is the perfect person for that. But when they start getting to know each other and feelings get in the way, will they be able to keep things strictly casual?

This was a very sweet no-strings-attached romance with the background of a small town. It’s a character-driven novel and the author does a very good job in fleshing them out so they appear authentic and realistic. Olivia is the typical dark and broody character who hides behind a cheeky personality and writes during her free time as a way to express her real emotions. Val is sweet, a bit insecure, and completely unaware of her allure. Her awkwardness around Olivia is sweet and super hot. She reminded me a bit of Sutton in Those Who Wait by Haley Cass. Val is the kind of character that any good romance novel deserves.

Even though the reader probably can guess where the plot is going and how the book is going to end, it’s all about the characters’ journey, as a couple and as individuals. I love the way the author slowly reveals their personalities and their chemistry together through their interactions. It’s all about showing not telling, which I appreciate a lot. One of my favourite things about this book is how the dialogues are written. They flow naturally, define the characters, push the plot forward, and pack a lot of life wisdom without sounding preachy. It helps the story to develop in your mind’s eye in a photographic manner.

The choice of narrator for the audiobook version is a clever one. Lori Prince is really good for this lighthearted type of romance (though she can perform dramatic books really well too). As usual, she does an outstanding performance but I particularly loved her portrayal of Val. Ms. Prince does justice to the character, especially in those awkward, sweet moments when Val shows vulnerability. It’s – at the same time – sweet and hot, even if it sounds contradictory, which makes for a fantastic characterization.

If you like sweet, small-town romances, I highly recommend this one to you. 5 stars.

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Available in Scribd