The Words

By: Ashley Jade

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Erin Mallon

Length: 16 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ashley Jade comes an edgy, enemies-to-lovers standalone romance about mistakes, forgiveness, and second chances.

He was the talented bad boy everyone wanted. I was the irrelevant geek everyone hated.

He was the sun...drawing all of us in. I was a black hole...taking up space. He was destined to be a star. I was destined to remain an insignificant no one.

Until he made me believe I was special...and then he destroyed me.

I never thought I'd see Phoenix Walker again after he broke my heart, but fate had other plans. One tour. Eight weeks. Forty shows. Countless opportunities to make him pay.

The world thought he was a god...but I know the truth.

©2022 Ashley Jade (P)2022 Podium Audio

WOW!

I held off on this for a while after looking at the reviews, I let the bad ones influence me for a while but I really shouldn’t have listened to them. This book was FANTASTIC! The spice, the plot, the characters just *chefs kiss* I was completely immersed! I hope there’s books for Storm, Quinn, Skylar and all the rest! 5/5 stars for everything!

The Words

Wow! This book really hit close to home. I am not usually a crier. This book broke me and had me tearing up several times. Lennon is the FMC. She is a curvy size 18 girl in high school. She was bullied due to her size all through school. I connected with Lennon on so many levels. Several weeks before the end of school her English teacher asked if she would help tutor a fellow student. Phoenix Walker just so happen to be that student. She has secretly been in love with Phoenix for a while. Phoenix is the HOT guy in school. While helping Phoenix pass his English final they both got to know each other on a deeper level. Phoenix and his best friend Storm get the opportunity of a lifetime. They get the chance to perform in front of a big music producer. Phoenix learns that Lennon can not only sing but writes her own music too. He does something that changes everything. Then the book jumps forward several years. Phoenix and Storm are now part of the biggest band at the time, all because of Lennon’s song. Phoenix’s band May be on top of the worlds, but he is on a downward spiral. Lennon gets offered unimaginable money to become Phoenix’s personal babysitter, to keep him out of trouble. This is a second chance/ forced proximity romance. This book is very emotional. I loved everything! However I hope there will be another book about the other band members. This book ended on a HFN leaving the perfect opportunity to make this a series. I am not completely ready to say goodbye to Phoenix and Lennon. Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton did phenomenal job narrating this book.

Great story

Love this story-it was so different from all the rest. The characters were amazing and a lot of room to make other stories off this book.

I loved everything about it

I loved the story. I laughed, I cried, I looked around nervously when they did the sex scenes and I was at work listening.
The narrators were perfect for it. The emotions really can through on their voices.

Gahhhhh!!!! Phoenix and Lennon Forever

My favorite listen of the year is The Words by A Jade!! Beautiful story with all the feels, it’s a must read and a must listen.

Dual narration by 2 incredibly talented narrators makes this story an all consuming listen.

5+ Stars!!!!

Definitely worth all my time!

I haven't read many of Ashley Jades books but every book series I have read leaves me wanting more. I feel like there will be more to come and if there is I will be getting it the minute it hits the release date. So many possibilities with Skylar/Mason or Storm and Quinn. Has to be more to it.

Loved the book.

I loved this book, one of my favorites. I finished reading the book not too long ago but I decided to get the audiobook to re-live the story when I am in traffic. I do have to say I was annoyed with the performance of Lennon's character, I honestly couldn't get past the way Erin Mallon's cadence was like when reading inner monologue. She ALWAYS ended it in a falling intonation which made me feel like Lennon was always pessimistic about everything! Every sentence she would say ended with the same inflection so the audio format of this book made me not like Lennon at all.

Unexpected

I bought this audio book because the descriptive blurb interested me. I started listening without any idea what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. This story could have been broken into two or three books seeing as the story takes place over a few years; however, we lucky readers/listeners got the story in one book. The characters are well developed and realistically written. Those who have triggers because of bullying and domestic violence should be forewarned. Language might be a problem for some. I know that many who enjoy romantic stories appreciate descriptive gratuitous sex scenes but I find them annoying after a while. This book had far too many. Still, this is the kind of story that compels one to read or listen more than once.

Definitely lives up to the hype. Fantastic audio.

I absolutely loved this one. This story is steeped in angst and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic that had me gripped. I definitely would check your triggers if you have trouble reading about disordered eating, fatphobia, and other body image challenges. Having struggled myself I could totally relate to Lennon. I felt that Ashley writes wholly authentic experiences and really gets us inside Lennon’s head. Add to that Phoenix who is struggling with the one decision that changed his life, and you have a recipe for a rollercoaster of a romance. With glimpses of the rockstar lifestyle and plenty of the teenage backstory, this book has it all.

I’m not gonna spoil this for you, so pretty much nothing about the plot but just know this book definitely lives up to the hype and although it’s nearly 17 hours long it really didn’t feel like it. Erin Mallon does a fantastic job with Lennon. We feel her betrayal, frustrations, self-loathing, and grief. She put it all out there for us to lap up. Teddy has less airtime in this one but when he’s on, he’s ON. He makes you experience Phoenix’s inner turmoil and desperation to make things right. His want to atone for his sins and his need for Lennon is right there in our ears. A great audio experience for sure.

Grab this one if you like…
Rockstar romances
A story with real pain
Fiery bedroom spice
Angst upon angst
Love that drags two people together kicking and screaming.

Great listen!

I really enjoyed the story and performances. There were unexpected twists and turns. Overall great.