32 Candles

A Novel

By: Ernessa T. Carter

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

32 Candles is the slightly twisted, utterly romantic, and deftly wry story of Davie Jones, who, if she doesn’t stand in her own way, just might get the man of her dreams.

Davie—an ugly duckling growing up in small-town Mississippi—is positive her life couldn’t be any worse. She has the meanest mother in the South, possibly the world, and on top of that, she’s pretty sure she’s ugly. Just when she’s resigned herself to her fate, she sees a movie that will change her life—Sixteen Candles. But in her case, life doesn’t imitate art. Tormented endlessly in school with the nickname "Monkey Night," and hopelessly in unrequited love with a handsome football player, James Farrell, Davie finds that it is bittersweet to dream of Molly Ringwald endings. When a cruel school prank goes too far, Davie leaves the life she knows and reinvents herself in the glittery world of Hollywood—as a beautiful and successful lounge singer in a swanky nightclub.

Davie is finally a million miles from where she started—until she bumps into her former obsession, James Farrell. To Davie’s astonishment, James doesn’t recognize her, and she can’t bring herself to end the fantasy. She lets him fall as deeply in love with her as she once was with him. But is life ever that simple? Just as they’re about to ride off into the sunset, the past comes back with a vengeance, threatening to crush Davie’s dreams—and break her heart again.

With wholly original characters and a cinematic storyline, 32 Candles introduces Ernessa T. Carter, a new voice in fiction with smarts, attitude, and sassiness to spare.

©2010 Ernessa T. Carter (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Incredible first novel

I am typically hesitant about using my credits for an unknown author and even more so when I am purchasing books with my own money. 32 Candles was well worth it all!!! I loved this book and can't wait for more from this author. The characters are well developed and the remarks pithy. I was so lost in this book that I forced myself to stay up way past my bedtime to hear what would happen next because I just didn't want to stop listening...much the same way I felt when the book ended.

best audio book - best narration

I dont often write audio book reviews, however I cannot stay silent for 32 Candles. Adenrele Ojo has taken a very good book and made it excellent with her narration .... If you were a teenager in the 80's have a listen ... and remember the days you dreamt of a Molly Ringwald ending ....

Loved it from the start

I liked this book from the very beginning and finished it in less than two days. My heart went out to Davie "then" and "now" (titles she gives to her life). "In between", the revised edition, made me look at her in a completely different light and I could no longer empathize with her.. I understand she was hurt, young and inexperienced in love but, wow! I did love however how she made amends and then some. The very end could have been stronger, IMO. I was waiting for her Molly Ringwald ending but when it came the author ended it too quick. I wanted a little more dialogue there. All in all I loved the book and would definitely recommend.

Great book

Took me awhile to get used to the narrators accent but the book turned out to be very good. I really enjoyed it!

Great read.

This was an unexpected great read. It is a book I will be ready g again in the future.

love this book

loved the book and the narrator's voice makes this book so exciting. I hope she narrates more, I can't get enough of her.

I loved this book!

Best 10 hours I've spend in a while. More captivating thab any TV show. I could not stop listening. The last chapter had me on the edge of my seat. *wipes away tears

Great Read

This was a great story! at first it was kind of boring but towards the middle I couldn't stop listening. The story line and main character shares her life story so well and humorously

Phenomenal Writing!

I'd experienced every emotion as I read the coming of age for the main character. Laughed, empathized, Cried & Cheered at least 32 times. Can't believe this title hadn't crossed me in all the years it's been around. Highly recommend & praised the author for finally delivering an Urban story without the negative stereotypes that's usually in the contents. She kept it Soulful & refined with great character development. And an ovation goes out to the narrator for bringing the characters to Life. Buying the book too. Well Done Story telling. Thank You

I can really realate to this story..

What did you love best about 32 Candles?

The honesty of the story. I loved how she totally expressed the good and the bad of her life

What was one of the most memorable moments of 32 Candles?

Toward the end when she finally realize that Veronica James and Tammy were just people and that she did not have to feel inferior to them any more. They are flawed just like poor people.

What about Adenrele Ojo???s performance did you like?

Her Southern accent was great..