For Wrath and Redemption (The Hometown Heartless)

De: Brit Benson

Narrado por: Mollie Stark, Jason Clarke

This temptation is my punishment.

His redemption is my penance. Jonah Hendrix is the bad boy of the music industry.

As lead guitarist of The Hometown Heartless, negative press follows him like a scorned lover.

And even his fans fuel the flames of his torched reputation.

Despite his permanent residence in the media, he’s never been on my radar.

Not until my boss comes to me with a proposition:

Join The Hometown Heartless on tour to redeem Jonah in the public eye, and finally get the promotion I’ve been working toward.

I’m not a PR specialist, and it’s not my career ambition, but I’m determined to see this job through.

As long as I treat the surly rock star like a brand, I’ll succeed in rehabbing his reputation and survive the tour with my sanity intact.

The problem?

Jonah and I have more in common than either of us realized.

And that desire for connection?

It’s proving to be irresistible.

FWAR is Jonah's book.

It is the third standalone in The Hometown Heartless series and contains a crossover character from The Next Life series.

This book DOES contain spoilers for The Next Life duet and The Hometown Heartless series.

While it is not necessary to listen to any of the previous books, listening to them will enhance your appreciation of this story as well as provide a better understanding of the depth of the character dynamics, personalities, and backstories.

For clarification, FWAR takes place chronologically as the next story in both The Hometown Heartless series and The Next Life series.

Title, Cover, and Blurb reveal in January.

©2025 Brit Benson Books (P)2025 Brit Benson Books

Amazing!

This series has me in a chokehold. Every installment delivers, but this one? It owns me. The story? Gripping. The narration? Flawless. Mollie and Jason’s chemistry crackles through every line; sharp, emotional, and so real it hurts (in the best way).

That scene. You know the one, where he sends the pic to rile her up? I lost count of how many times I hit rewind. Mollie’s sass, her fire, her delivery? Iconic. Jason matched her beat for beat. Their banter was pure gold, and their performances? Straight-up chef’s kiss.

Jason Clarke & Mollie Stark duet narration

I'd like to say this was my first narration with Mollie and she did amazing! She brought Claire alive and made you feel what Claire was feeling, I was in tears & could relate with Claire with some of my own experiences.
I've listened to quite a bit of Jason's narrations. He always knocks it out of the park. He had me in tears in the prologue...the freaking prologue!! 😂 that wasn't the first or last time. All I'm going to say is Chapter 23 🫠 iykyk 😏

100% will listen to Jason Clarke again, duh 🤗
100% will be keeping an eye out for more of Mollie's narrations 🥰

Hurt people, hurt people

How can I possibly find words to describe For Wrath and Redemption? But I'm going to try.

Brit introduced us to Claire Davis in the Next Life Duet, she became the villain in Macon & Lennons love story for so many but I've had a soft spot. The saying "hurt people hurt people" is the overarching theme as Brit slowly unravels Claire's layers.

Jonah Hendrix has been waiting in the wings for his moment with the Hometown Heartless crew. I think it's safe to say the prologue will destroy you. And slowly Brit starts to put pieces back together, until she rips you apart again, and again and again. And I loved every single second of it.

Claire is determined to do the job she was hired for, making Jonah Hendrix a media darling. And the way Claire sets to work, she knows what she is doing. Jonah on the other hand is resistant (shocking) and takes some serious time to get on board.

The way these two see into each other's darkest places is beautiful, terrifying and beyond what either can comprehend or handle.

Mollie and Jason tackled every single word and elevated this story in a way I didn't know was possible...mostly because it was perfect when I read the ebook.

Redemption

If you met Claire back in the Next Life duet, this is a must listen

Angsty and Addicting

"We're two disasters, he and I. Two broken, damaged people who've made so many mistakes"

Brit Benson could write a bunch of random words on a napkin, and I would rush to read it, but I admit I was nervous about starting this book. For anyone who has read the Next Life or Hometown Heartless books, you know these two characters haven't made the best first impressions. I knew this book would be frustrating and emotional, and I was also a little hesitant to give Claire a chance (ifykyk). But I trusted Brit and I am so unbelievably happy I did.

This story is raw and angsty and written so beautifully. The emotions that are pulled from these characters are palpable, from heartbreak to happiness and (literally) everything in between. From the outside, Jonah is the troubled bad boy who doesn't give a f**k, but on this inside? He's broken and lonely and just wants to be loved. And as much as I didn't want to admit it, Claire is the best thing that could have happened to him. I truly don't think either of these characters could fit with anyone else, and their fractured pieces fit seamlessly together. Do I love her now? No. But I understand her a little more, and if you have ever heard me talk about this character knowing that I can say that shows just how incredible of a writer Brit Benson is. She created literal magic with this story and I was blown away by how much I loved it.

I went back and listened to the audio after finishing the ebook, and I couldn't have asked for better narrators. Jason Clark, as always, was exceptional as Jonah, seamlessly bouncing between his different moods and emotions. Mollie Stark is a new to me narrator and I absolutely loved her portrayal of Claire. She brought out the sass and sensitive in equal measure, and together these two were absolutely perfect for the story.

Amazing audiobook

✨Book Rec✨
For Wrath and Redemption by Brit Benson
Can be stand-alone

1st person dual POV
Spice: 2/3🔥

I don’t even think I am able to put into words how much I loved this. This book hit me in every single one of the feels. What a roller coaster. I laughed, I cried, and at one point I yelled at Brit for putting me through all this turmoil. This book is beautiful in every way and anyone who doesn’t read it is severely missing out. It is cast PERFECTLY.

What you’ll find:
- he’s a famous rockstar
- she’s his new PR manager who is also dating his dad
- forced proximity
- addiction
- check triggers

Jonah & Claire

Y’ALL. This book. This BOOK. I am absolutely wrecked in the best way possible. It has taken me WEEKS to come up with words that are worthy of this book! If I had to bet on the best book of the year, this would be it. The emotions? Raw. The characters? Messy, flawed, and so painfully real. The journey? A storm of wrath, heartbreak, and redemption that completely consumed me. I knew if anyone could make me love a character I once hated, it would be Brit Benson. But Claire? I was shocked by how much I ended up rooting for her.

Claire was hired to be Jonah’s “babysitter”, helping keep him on the right path until the end of the tour. That was supposed to be it. But what neither of them expected? The undeniable pull between them. They had every reason to stay away, yet in the wreckage of their pasts, they found something real. They saw each other. And watching them fight for something they never thought they deserved? Breathtaking. (Even if Jonah fought it every step of the way.)

This book is devastatingly beautiful, with writing that cuts deep and heals all at once. This story was one heck of a rollercoaster. It was an angsty, emotional journey. With characters who hurt and heal together, and a love story that feels like redemption itself.

And if you want to intensify the entire experience, do yourself a favor and grab the audio. Jason Clarke and Mollie Stark were absolutely brilliant with their performance. I don’t know what mesmerized me more: Jason’s delivery of Jonah’s rage, heartbreak, and sweet, slow fall into love or the way Mollie completely transformed one of the most hated characters into someone so vulnerable and real. And those snarky lines? Absolute perfection.

Loved this book already, but I love it even more on audio!

♾️★

“You have to have faith that you’ll grow back better.”

Seriously, Brit, how?! How do you outdo yourself every time you release a new book? I can’t even… just… MIND. BLOWN. 🤯 Every 👏🏻 dang 👏🏻 time! 👏🏻

Unlike Brit though, I can’t outdo myself. I don’t think I can write a review for this one without spoiling anything, including the Next Life duet & the first two books in this series. 🫣 All I can say is, this is my public apology to Claire Davis. If you ever heard me talking s h * t about her these past couple of years, no you didn’t. Claire is a QUEEN. If you’re one of the people who hate her so much you refuse to read this one, please… try anyway! This isn’t a second chance romance, but I know most of y’all love that trope, so if you can forgive some a-hole MMCs—yes, my man, Macon, included—why not give Claire a chance to redeem herself, too?

And Jonah Hendrix? An incredibly-broken-reading-glasses-wearing-rockstar-slash-man-baby-turned-“good boy”? YES PLEASE. This series crossover is the best thing that ever happened. Jonah & Claire were absolutely made for each other.

Listen, I have loved every single book Brit Benson has written. Out of 10 books, this is the 6th infinity star I’ve given her. I've said it before & I'll say it again—Brit Benson can do no wrong. She is a masterpiece writer. She is the goddess of bad-A FMCs, character development, & redemption. I am 100% a grudge holder, but at this point, I’m convinced she can write redemption arcs for the people who have wronged me in real life & I may actually forgive them.

This entire series gets all the stars from me. I love them all, ENDLESSLY. 🥹😭

—

Reread via audio & OMG these narrators!!! 🤌🏻 I didn’t think it’d be possible for me to love this book more than I already do, but Jason Clarke & Mollie Stark were perfect as Jonah & Claire. I am definitely going to be looking for more of their performances.

Really good book

Really good series and book. I really enjoyed this book. The narration is fantastic too. I’m looking forward to the next book

This is a book that hurts, before it heals! Best rockstar series hands down!

This book wrecked me in the best way possible. If you love angsty, emotionally charged romances with characters who feel raw and real, this one will stay with you long after the last page.

Their chemistry is explosive—not just in the romantic sense, but in the way they push each other’s buttons, break down each other’s walls, and slowly unravel everything they thought they knew about themselves. As they confront their pasts and personal demons, their journey evolves from animosity to a profound and healing connection.

And let’s talk about the writing. Brit Benson has this unreal ability to make you feel everything—like, not just surface-level emotions, but deep-in-your-bones, can’t-breathe-right kind of feelings. For Wrath and Redemption isn’t just a story; it’s a full-body experience. Her writing is raw, poetic, and completely immersive. It hits you hard.

One thing that stands out about Brit’s writing is how she doesn’t hold back. She lets her characters be messy, flawed, and painfully real. Jonah isn’t just your typical brooding rockstar—he’s angry, self-destructive, and so wounded that it physically hurts to read his chapters. And Claire? She’s strong, yes, but Brit writes her in a way that makes her real, not some overdone "strong heroine". She’s been hurt. She’s stubborn. She feels things deeply, and Brit lets us sit in that discomfort with her.

And then there’s the angst. Oh my God, the angst. Brit masters the slow burn. The tension, the stolen glances, the words left unsaid—it all builds until you’re practically begging for relief. But she doesn’t give it to you easily. No, she makes you earn it. And when the emotional payoff finally comes? It’s devastating in the best way.

This audiobook wrecked me—in the best way possible. I’m already a sucker for emotionally intense romances, but hearing Jonah and Claire’s story brought to life by Mollie Stark and Jason Clarke took it to a whole new level.

Mollie’s narration wasn’t just good—it was breathtaking. She was Claire Davis in every way that mattered. From the very first line, she pulled me into Claire’s world, making me feel every ounce of her strength, vulnerability, and pain.

What I loved most about her performance was the emotional depth she brought to Claire. Claire is a complex character—guarded but deeply feeling, stubborn yet incredibly fragile—and Mollie captured all of that flawlessly.

Her voice had this quiet resilience that made Claire’s moments of defiance feel powerful, and when Claire started to break down? God. You could hear the cracks forming in her voice, the slight quiver when emotions overwhelmed her. It was heartbreaking in the best way.

When Claire was frustrated with Jonah, Mollie’s tone would sharpen just enough to show her anger, but there was always this undercurrent of something deeper—something she wasn’t ready to admit. And when she did let herself be vulnerable? I had actual chills.

Jason’s performance as Jonah Hendrix completely wrecked me. He didn’t just read Jonah—he became him. Every line was delivered with such raw intensity that I felt like I was inside Jonah’s head, drowning in his pain, anger, and longing.

What sets Jason apart is the way he layers emotion into every word. Jonah isn’t just a brooding, self-destructive rockstar—he’s deeply wounded, and Jason brings out every nuance of that. His voice is deep, gravelly, and packed with unspoken emotion. When Jonah lashes out, you hear the frustration simmering beneath the surface.

When he’s vulnerable, Jason’s voice softens just enough to break your heart. There were moments when he let out these subtle, broken exhales that just gutted me. The way he growls Jonah’s possessive lines? The slight catch in his voice when Jonah is on the verge of breaking? I felt everything.

But what truly made this audiobook for me? The tension, the arguments, the longing—it all felt so alive. It’s a book that hurts before it heals. There were moments I had to pause just to breathe because the chemistry was that intense. By the end, I wasn’t just listening to the story—I was feeling every moment of heartbreak, passion, healing, redemption, and choosing someone even when it’s hard. If you’re an audiobook lover, do yourself a favor and experience this one in audio. It’s not just a book—it’s a performance, and it’s absolutely unforgettable.