Please note: This audiobook contains graphic adult content.
The book everyone is talking about. When Ana Steele meets Christian Grey.... Romantic, liberating and totally addictive, Fifty Shades of Grey is a novel that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.
When literature student Anastasia Steele interviews successful entrepreneur Christian Grey, she finds him very attractive and deeply intimidating. Convinced that their meeting went badly, she tries to put him out of her mind – until he turns up at the store where she works part-time, and invites her out.
Unworldly and innocent, Ana is shocked to find she wants this man. And, when he warns her to keep her distance, it only makes her want him more. But Grey is tormented by inner demons, and consumed by the need to control. As they embark on a passionate love affair, Ana discovers more about her own desires, as well as the dark secrets Grey keeps hidden away from public view.
©2012 E L James (P)2012 Random House Audiobooks
"In a class by itself." (Entertainment Weekly)
"The book that made women want sex again" (Mail on Sunday)
"It’s the book everyone’s talking about, becoming a word of mouth hit, topping the bestseller lists, and the film rights have just been bought to bring it to the big screen… a good steamy read. 4 Stars." (Heat)
"E L James's erotic novel, one of a trilogy, has become a phenomenon." (Telegraph Online)
"E. L. James is the talk of the book world thanks to her Fifty Shades... trilogy." (Daily Mail)
"It has become the topic of choice for water cooler chats, school run tête-a-têtes and whispered conversations over the garden fence... Erotic novel Fifty Shades Of Grey is conquering best-seller lists around the world." (Herald Scotland Online)
"Fifty Shades of Grey…is now a mainstream publishing sensation." (Guardian)
"It's the definition of a page-turner… Ultimately, James’s exploration of the dynamics of sexual power is both troubling and intriguing, and women will undoubtedly be discussing it for years to come." (Telegraph.co.uk)
"Fifty Shades of Grey isn't your average bonkbuster. It could change our sex lives forever." (Fabulous, Sun on Sunday)
"..it was a proper love story… If my review has at all persuaded you that Fifty Shades of Grey might be more than just a kinky book full of sex, then I urge you to pick up a copy and try it - I'm sure you won't be disappointed! 5 stars." (ChickLitChloe.blogspot.co.uk)
"This is erotic fiction that firmly falls into the by women for women category. I’ll be buying copies for all my girlfriends this year... an intriguing read 5 stars." (Bookbag)
"Frustratingly bad read"
It is incredibly difficult not to roll your eyes and exclaim "as if" when you listen to this book. The story line itself as an idea could be worked with. However characters are simply ridiculous. In a year 2011 it is simply impossible to be Ana. The language used in the book is also odd. So many repeats and the attempts at creating the funny lovable character - huge fail. All the internal personalities and their names.... Seriously who calls their internal ego “inner goddess"? I am amazed at a line up of very excited people who loved this book. I have pushed myself to finish it.
This book definitely needs more research done on the topic. Its needs deeper characters and more realistic set up. After all this is not a science fiction!
As a narator there was nothing wrong with Becca. Although her reading of male characters did make me laugh at times.
"Shoot Me!!"
Never ever again..
Where do I even begin. I listened to about 2 hrs of the book and couldn't take it any more.
I know this book got lots of bad reviews but so did Diana Gaboldon's Highlander series.
I gave that a try and was hooked. Thought that this would be the same too.
God was I wrong.
The Narrator did her best, but you can't really do much for a crappy book.
nothing at all.
Someone shoot me for even trying to listen to this book
Listening to books is very liberating for me. I am free to work with my hands while "reading" a book. Total relaxation.
"Mills and Boon with sex."
Just a string of cliches, shallow characters, no plot worth mentioning. One reads on to catch the raunchy although implausible sex scenes.
Envy by Sandra Brown
No, nice voice but her reading gives the wrong emphasis on words. She acts out too much and her portrayal of male voices is embarrassing.
Not for TV. Sex is the only interesting part and that couldn't be done on TV.
Disappointing as the name held so much promise.
"50 Shades of Crap"
A plot! Less repetition. Anastasia may have been surprised by some events but the reader was not. If the sexual episodes were cut then the book would be about 2 hours listening. It was like coming up for air when the book eventually ended.
Certainly not the sequel to 50 shades of grey!
Becca did a splendid job with the material given. Can't shoot the messenger and she was really very good at bringing the book to life.
The inner goddess and the subconcious were soooo annoying. Between the IG high fiveing and the subconscious wagging finger and tapping her foot we are left with the vulnerable but worldly Anna, ready to try anything rather than remain a virgin, and "oh my" ,having multiple orgasms at every turn of the page.
E L James has stated that this trilogy is the result of her middle-aged fantasy. She's certainly tapped a vein and deserves all the accolades she receives; thanks to her readers.
"Boring"
The content of this story was just so pathetic, I didn't even bother to listen to more than half an hour of it.
It was so predictable and silly. I did not find this book arousing. I bought this booking thinking it might be sexy, but was very dissapointed.
No, I think someone else could write a much sexier book than this.
I think it's time that a good author took up writing sexy books. There is obviously quite a lot of money to be made and people interested in reading this type of book.
"What's all the hype about?"
It depends on what you expect. I was reading this to find out what the fuss is all about & frankly I'm at a loss....the story is just ok but the writing is bad. Predictable plot, shallow characters & almost unbearable narrating make this an effort to finish. If you can turn your brain off you might enjoy it.
What genre is this in? I was expecting alot more with the references to "mummy porn". I can name books in completely different fields with hotter scenes. As for the so called romance...hmmmm, it almost fools you into thinking there is some.
Doubtful. This narrator makes all the female characters sound like they belong on the 90s film 'Clueless', she mispronounces words as well as emphasising the wrong ones.
Yes as it ends without being resolved & it's not that type of book....there are 2 more of course
I'm sure I'm not the only one to see the similarities to Twilight. It's so obvious at times that I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief - one scene was practically word for word to a Twilight one! Overall it's good enough to finish & I enjoyed it for what it was but not in my list of favourites. I'm really not sure why this has been so hyped up.
"OMG it is like, SO bad!!!"
If you are a 20 year old girl who like, speaks, like, omg, you know in that teenage american way you may like it. As a nearly 40 year old it was embarrassing! If this girl blushes one more time or trips over falling on her face one more time I shall scream. It is a Mills and Boons for teenagers. Maybe it was just the narrators voice. Maybe reading the book would be better. I don't think so. The target audience is definately late teenagers early 20s.
If I had known it was a Mills and Boons genre I wouldn't have read it.
Shocking. That is as a 40 year old. If I was 18 I would probably have loved it.
For anyone over the age of 22 don't waste your money.
“I love all genres of books, however when I listen to audio books as I clean, garden, drive they are better with a lot of heat!
"I couldn't stop listening"
I did not think this was a style of book that I would like. However, when I started listening I couldn't stop. The book is charming, funny with lots of very erotic sex. The characters are very believable and the narrator did a fantastic job.
"Poor service"
Maybe a different narrator, but I did not rate the book either.
No, probably just the author
Maybe with two narrators. Male and female
Did not listen to enough of it to answer this question
I tried returning this book but the system would not let me. I then emailed about it and I did not get a reply. I was disapointed in the pour customer service.
"This will have you panting"
I'm not a fan of the romance genre, so I found Anna's character really annoying. And the way the narrator reads the character is grating (I'm not a fan of silly girls). But, this made the really hot parts of the book so much better. The way Becca gets really breathy and deep for Grey is intoxicating and worth enduring the inbetween parts of the book for.
This is the kind of book where you have to leave your sense at the door - this is an unrealistic fantasy world. I won't even go into the flaws in the themes in the book. I think E.L. James should stick to short erotic stories.
I recommend you suspend reality, curl up on the couch, endure the crappy romance and hold out for the fantastic hot scenes. Becca's reading of them makes the audiobook so much hotter than reading it yourself.