Between You and Me

By: Carol Mason

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Is her new husband really who she thinks he is?

When young doctor Lauren Matheson meets Joe, an older divorced businessman, at a glittering poolside in California, it’s a chance encounter that seems life-changing for them both. Back home in London, their feelings only strengthen. But Lauren soon discovers that building a happy future with Joe is going to be an uphill struggle...

She’s determined to be a good stepmother to his children, four-year-old Toby and complicated teen Grace. But under the watchful eye of Meredith, Joe’s intimidating ex-wife, Lauren can’t seem to do a thing right. Why won’t Joe ever take her side against Grace? And what really happened between him and Meredith?

As her husband retreats into a cold, secretive version of the dashing man she met in California, Lauren starts to wonder if she’s made a costly mistake. Was Joe ever the man she thought she married?

©2021 by Carol Mason. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Moira Quirk narrates this relatable family drama with nuanced versatility.… She also shows vocal nimbleness as she pivots from the voice of an American man in his forties to that of an English teenage girl. The emotional depth Quirk adds to this audiobook about challenging family dynamics makes it an intriguing listen.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Page-turning pleasure!” —Catherine McKenzie, USA Today bestselling author

“Mason is so gifted at exploring relationships and delving deep into her characters, and this books is truly one of her best. Between You and Me features the perfect blend of loveable and complex characters, which kept me hooked until the end!” —Soraya M. Lane, bestselling author of Wives of War and The Last Correspondent

Enjoyed

Enjoyed Really enjoyable to read love the contents Sort of like a little better and thing but we get the jest of it Thank you

luv this book.

luv !!! luv !!!. A great story told with feeling & true emphathy. Slow at the beginning switched to audio book. so glad I stayed with this novel. spoke deeply to my heart and soul.

Enjoy this one too !

I really like Lucinda's style of writing.
Her stories bring out alot of emotions
I can connect with. I can't wait to listen or read another of her books.

A challenging new marriage !

Another great story about a difficult relationship. How no one really can control their future when other people say and do unexpected things. I really enjoy the way the main character is challenged to make hard choices. Very relatable for anyone who has had a step mom or been one. Love the narrator too. I have enjoyed all of Carol Mason's other books too. Always filled with depth and perspective and mystery....hoping for a sequel to this one!

Oh, the life of a step-parent

There isn't a Carol Mason book that I haven't liked. Here is one more to add to that list.

So good! So engrossing!

I get so tired of books set in NY about 20-something angst, but despite the MC being 29, this story is not that--and it's set in London. This wasn't even a book I normally would have listened to because I would expect it to be the usual trite "younger woman marries older man with 2 kids and evil ex-wife, and chaos ensues." But I had read another book by Mason (After You Left), which I really liked and, well, this was free. It would have been worth a credit.

I especially liked that it was always taking a turn to somewhere I didn't expect. I kept expecting "the usual," and it never was. I would have settled for something "readable," but this was so much better than that.

I think my average star rating for contemporary fiction is a 2 (ok), so 4 stars is a ringing endorsement.

Exceptional

Love the author, will look for more. Enjoyed storyline.
Narration was great as well.
Great ending make me think there could be a continuation.

Well done but frustrating

By chapter 19 I'd had enough of the unfairness towards the protagonist and the negative mini-events that defined the story. I wanted to see Lauren speak up a little more, but I couldn't handle any more of her step-children's antics and her husband's lack of support. Almost the whole time I was listening I was angry, so I had to give it up. The writing is excellent though and so was the narration.

Too Slow

I just couldn't get into this book at this time. I may try again at a later date.

Pointless and depressing.

I love books with great characters that I will miss when the book ends. This one, unfortunately, just made me wish I didn't always also feel the need to finish every book in hopes that it will magically get better.
Moira Quirk is still a solid narrator, despite some volume issues. The book failed to even meet up to what it was supposed to be about. No mystery, no puzzle to solve... and if you suffer through migraines & listen to audio books while waiting for the pain to subside? *do not wear headphones*. The amount of screaming is endless. So so loud.

I just can't recommend this book.