Fifty Shades Freed

Book Three of the Fifty Shades Trilogy

By: E. L. James

Narrated by: Becca Battoe

Length: 20 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

MORE THAN 150 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

Look for E L James’s passionate new love story, The Mister, available now.

When unworldly student Anastasia Steele first encountered the driven and dazzling young entrepreneur Christian Grey it sparked a sensual affair that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Shocked, intrigued, and, ultimately, repelled by Christian’s singular erotic tastes, Ana demands a deeper commitment. Determined to keep her, Christian agrees. Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate.

Ana must somehow learn to share Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with the demons of a tormented past. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

This book is intended for mature audiences.

©2012 E.L. James (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"In a class by itself." ( Entertainment Weekly)

Missed all the hype

What was all the hoopla about? Enjoyed the series and don't need anyone telling me what to read or enjoy. They should mind their likes and dislikes!

Fifty Shades Feed is Captivating!

Storyline has just the right amount of danger, love, intrigue, sullen moments, mystery, suspense, and captivation. The description of each scene is perfectly detailed.

Becca Battoe is marvellous with her reading of the characters, she gives each one, including the children, their own identity without missing a beat.

Best of the three...

What made the experience of listening to Fifty Shades Freed the most enjoyable?

Becca Battoe made this book (I cannot remember the director, she probably had a lot to do with it as well)

Ms. Battoe's ability to bring the emotional content of this book to life is stunning. My other reviews deride, playfully and not seriously, that Ms. Battoe has an "Annoying West Coast" voice. Her voice is still the voice of all the characters and her voice IS the voice of Ana Steele...and will always be the voice of Ana Steele (Sorry Dakota Johnson, while you may look the part, your voice isn't "Pacific NorthWest" enough.)

I can only imagine now talented Ms. Battoe truly is, her ability to bring absolute rage, absolute despair, unending love, forgiveness and every other emotion to life is brilliant. It must has been a huge pain in the butt to read all the heavy emotions and then have to come back later and do the standard "text read."

Fantastic!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ana, duh. The insight into Ms. Steele's mind, while a little clumsy in the first book, expanded and truly grew in books two and three. The best part of her character, in my opinion, was a slight insight into the mind of my own wife's mind.

I hear often that "men are exasperating, complex and hard to understand." That is not true, we are very simple and literal creatures. Ana's mom, hit that right on the head. The inner dialogue inside Ana, the rampant thoughts running wild, her separate "parts" of her mind helped elucidate this to me. I am very thankful that Ms. James toned down the use of Ana's "Inside Out" characters...they were apart of the story but were not central to the thought process of Ana. Much improvement on the writing.

Which character – as performed by Becca Battoe – was your favorite?

Ana again. The torture was profound in her voice and execution of the thoughts and feelings Ana had at the mention of "Baby Bird." That chapter was heart wrenching and well executed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Their playful banter in email, as always, brings a laugh. The interactions of the family with Mr. Grey brought laughter.

"Baby Bird" was probably the hardest part of the book to listen too, the emotion was very strong. The torture in Ana's voice at the bank was so intense when she was talking to Mr. Grey and it was absolutely a tearjerker.

Any additional comments?

The writing of this book improved immensely from Book 1 and was still more mature than book 2. The distraction of "the cutting and pasting" of Ana & Christian's "intimate" scenes was lacking in this book. No longer was everything "explosion" this, "tensing" that. No longer was it "Down there," "my sex." They were still in the book but every encounter between the two characters was not identical in description. I was very pleased that this changed because it was distracting in Book 1 and to a lesser extend in Book 2.

For all the haters that thought Book 1 was weak, poorly written and boring who didn't read Book 2 & 3, they missed out on a pretty good love story. Ms. James writing improved and Book 3 is pretty well written.

Again, this isn't a "great literary novel" of our time but it is a pretty good story about two tortured souls that meet, find love where one should never find love and live. Some of the Deus Ex Machina in the book is far fetched but one just needs to suspend a small amount of reality to enjoy the story.

Ana is unique and fresh, your imagination blooms

to life in this audio version. Hard to walk away not wanting more of this unique love story. Compassion and unconditional love rules even the darkest soul. Christian replaces his monsters of the past with love and light and becomes the modern day Prince Charming.

Awesome!

Would you listen to Fifty Shades Freed again? Why?

I would definitely listen again! Toward the end of the book E.L. James brings the story around full circle, which made me want to listen to it at least a second time to pay more attention to how Christian acts.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ana for sure, because I can see myself in her character.

Which character – as performed by Becca Battoe – was your favorite?

I think she did a good job with Ana and Christian. She contrasts her playful side with his strict personality really well. This is her best performance by far!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

oh my goodness... If I did not have to concentrate at work and sleep I would want to listen to this all day every day!

Any additional comments?

I loved this book and trilogy and definitely recommend it to all of my close girl friends! Hats off to you E.L. James :)

Great!

Loved it! Its more than just sex, buy how she sees through him and sticks by him and helps him see himself. She didn't know she had it in her re: playroom. lol.

Incredible! Bravo Trio!!!

It was an incredible story and finish to the trio. I did not expect the ending to be so peaceful and loving. Every woman needs a Mr. Grey.

Awesome book

I would recommend this book, It is an amazing book that keeps you on your toes. Makes you laugh and cry.

WORST READER EVER!

The horrible reader Ruined this excellent story! I absolutely love my Fifty Shades books but this reader tore this book up! So sad, I could've done better!

Sex gets tiresome

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, the underlying story line is good. The repeat/nonstop sex gets a bit tiresome.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

less sex scenes.

What about Becca Battoe’s performance did you like?

good pace, good voices

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no