Finding Audrey

This was a significant departure from Kinsella's usual work, and I didn't love it. The overall plot, pace, and characters were okay, but I had some significant complaints as I read. Nothing irritates me more than a book that plays up a dramatic event but never actually says what happened. Kinsella's understanding of psychopathology is also severely lacking. I'll give this 4 stars because I'm a huge fan of this author; otherwise, it would have been a 3-star book for me.

I bought this book because I love Sophie Kinsella. I did not read any reviews, because I was pretty sure that would be the best.

This book has nothing to do with our funny and loved Becky Bloomwood. This book is a teenager reading and it not that deep.
I enjoyed reading it, just be aware of the content!

There's a lack of closure. How exactly Audrey was bullied was not revealed. Not worth the money. I bought it because I buy all Sophie Kinsella's books. They make me laugh. It's witty. OverAll, I am not very satisfied with this particular book though.

The perspective of the teen struggling with anxiety and depression was interesting. I think it was also very insightful. However, not knowing what actually happened made it more difficult to stay in the story. I often found myself asking what this "incident" was - wanting to know if it was just an "episode" or if there was more to it. The story alludes to the possibility that this was an on-going scandal like event with bullying to boot, but the reader is never really sure. I really enjoyed the compassion of Linus, and how he tried to understand Audrey instead of just being freaked out by her. He really wanted to help, and was willing to give her time and space as needed to make progress with her illness.

Rating: 3/5

Genre: Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (mature scenes, language. Some triggering scenes)

Favorite Quote: “But, Audrey, that’s what life is. We’re all on a jagged graph. I know I am. Up a bit, down a bit. That’s life.”

“Audrey wears dark glasses all the time, even in the house. She almost never goes out, doesn’t talk to new people, and finds making eye contact to be nearly impossible.

But then one day she meets Linus. Linus is her brother’s friend and a sensitive spirit with whom she can talk through her fears. He makes her laugh and doesn’t leave her feeling like she’s being judged. As their friendship deepens, Audrey’s recovery gains momentum, and she and Linus begin to develop feelings for each other. But how can they have a future together when Audrey hasn’t dealt with her past? And how could anyone ever love her once they’ve seen her at her worst?” – the store.com

I never thought I would be the one to fall in love with audio books. I had actually won this audio book in a giveaway and I thought I would try it out. The biggest reason I wanted to try it out was because I had recently been in a car accident… and as a result I’ve been having mini freak-outs in the car while driving. I thought the audio book would help me be calm and surprisingly it worked. However, this won’t be a lasting fix, kind of like what Audrey is dealing with. She fixes herself with dark sunglasses and by sitting in dark rooms. She doesn’t go outside and she stays away from anyone not in her safe circle. And while her doctor urges her to push herself, it’s really hard.

I have never read a book that I cheered for the main character to succeed more than this one. I fell in love with Audrey and her struggles became my struggles. The story was so beautifully narrated and I loved the back and forth style between a regular writing and the transcripts of the videos Audrey was urged to make by her doctor. I also loved how the book was written in a way that Audrey continually breaks the fourth wall. The characters were also, for the most part, very well developed and they felt real as well.

While I enjoyed this book and I found myself sitting in my car listening to it well after I had parked, I felt that the plot could have been better. I fell that the main climax of the story happened way too late and that some of the events could have been written better. I felt that Audrey didn’t have as many “setbacks” as someone who is dealing with mental health issues does. It felt that when she found a guy that most of her problems resolved themselves and that the main climax was a bit of a letdown. I also felt that the book didn’t discuss the dangers of what happened to Audrey towards the end enough. The main character was fine and nothing seriously dangerous happened to her, while in reality the type of activity she engages in can do serious and sometimes irreparable damage to people. Furthermore, the main action that happened to Audrey was never discussed in the book. While I kind of liked how the event wasn’t discussed (because this story was made to focus on mental health issues) I didn’t like how the event was mentioned, but never fully discussed. It’s aggravating to a reader to not know the whole story and that’s the situation I found myself in, aggravated and needing more when there is no more to be had. Overall I enjoyed the book for the most part and I felt that it was a very good first audio book, I just wish that the book was better in many ways.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella is about a teenaged girl named Audrey and the social anxiety that plagues her and keeps her sequestered. When she’s introduced to her brother’s friend, Linus, she starts to come out of her shell and realize that being in the outside world isn’t so bad after all.

I enjoyed this book! While it had some serious themes, it was presented in a very cute and sweet way. The book was fun and lighthearted, which makes it a good beach read or a snack break in between reading heavy tomes. If you’re looking for something light, this book might be right for you.

The writing in Finding Audrey was good—quick and witty—and the pacing was decent. About halfway into the book, I thought the pace lagged a bit, but it still held my interest.

The overall story idea was wonderful. Audrey was a fantastic character, and it was nice to see her go from a timid mouse to someone who could approach strangers without having a meltdown. Audrey didn’t have an easy go of it, but she showed a lot of courage as she stepped outside of her comfort zone. I also liked what the author did with Linus’ character. Linus was really the pivot for Audrey—what she needed to turn her life around. It was fun watching their relationship grow over the course of the book.

While the story concept was great, I wish there had been more backstory on Audrey’s life before her breakdown. It was touched on briefly several times, but I never felt as though I got the complete story. I also thought Audrey’s mental illness seemed a bit too easy, meaning, she had extreme social anxiety that kept her inside, but as soon as she met a boy she liked, she suddenly got over it. Okay, it wasn’t that simple in the book . . . but it kind of was? I would have liked to have seen more of the mental struggle that I’m sure someone in that situation would have gone through. I know the book is pegged as lighthearted, but I think it was a disservice to not explore Audrey’s feelings a bit further.

The ending was cute. Everything was wrapped up nicely and came full circle for Audrey, Linus, her brother, and parents.

The characters in Finding Audrey were fun. While there wasn’t a whole lot of depth in the character development, you get to know Audrey’s character well. You also get a strong feel for Audrey’s brother, parents, and Linus. While I typically like books with more depth in character, I think it worked for this book. It helped keep the book light.

The narrators were perfect for the audiobook. I couldn’t have asked for better narrators. I especially appreciated the mom’s voice—she captured an exasperated mom flawlessly.

Overall, this book was a cute read! Yes, I know I only ranked it 3 stars, but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to others in the market for a new audiobook or a quick read to take to the beach.