Echoes

By: Marissa Lete

Narrated by: Brogan Werder

Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

What if you heard yourself falling in love with someone you’d never met?

Seventeen-year-old Laura Jones has always heard the echoes of the past wherever she goes. She’s gotten used to them, of course, and has learned how to live a relatively normal life despite hearing last year’s teachers in her classrooms, the past chatting in the hallways, and even herself talking to her family at home during years prior.

But one day, Laura hears her past self meeting Maverick exactly one year ago, and she doesn’t remember him at all. At first, she thinks it’s just a small encounter she forgot about, but when Maverick starts to pop up in Laura’s echoes more often, her confusion grows. Had they dated? Why doesn’t she remember? Soon enough, a new threat appears: a menacing black Suburban that begins to follow Laura wherever she goes.

Will a boy she doesn’t remember guide Laura to the answers she seeks, or will echoes of a forgotten past push Laura deeper into a dangerous future?

©2021 Marissa Lete (P)2021 Marissa Lete

A must read book!

I loved this book! It's a great story with twists you won't see coming.

Rapt Attention

This story clips along at a great pace! It has a fascinating premise with a very interesting twist on superpowers. I appreciate that the author uses the term "munching" and other unique vernacular. Finding myself clamoring to get back to the book makes pushing through dishes and other chores much more manageable. It's a great reward to listen to, and I look forward to reading more from Marissa Lete!

Intriguing and Original Story with a Great Performance!

What a great read! It’s been a while since I read a YA book, and I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this series. Even though we’ve all read and watched a million stories about a teenager with a secret power, this one felt fresh and original. I loved the specificity the author provided that Laura can’t just generally hear sounds from the past, but sounds that were created exactly one, two, five, etc. years ago. So much thought went into the accommodations she had with her noiseless office and newly built (free of echoes) house. I was hooked on this book as an adult and only wish I’d had it to obsess over as a teenager!

I read this book half ebook, half audiobook. I love the current cover art and the stars on the chapter pages! The narrator for the audiobook was easy to listen to and sounded age appropriate for the main character. They also did distinct voices for all the different characters that brought them to life, and I was able to keep track of everyone easily even when 3 or more people were having a conversation.

(Some light/vague spoilers ahead)

Because of these powers, the author introduced Laura and Maverick’s relationship in such a creative way: hearing their relationship begin in her echoes, following the sounds, and searching for physical evidence of his existence when no one seemed to remember him. By the end, she’s left what remained of her ordinary life behind, and I’m so excited to read the next book to see where she and the people in her new life go now.

Kept me entertained for 10 straight hours!

This book is extremely awesome! There are non-stop questions and it kept me excited to know what would happen next!

Hooked.

I. Loved. This. Book.
The premise hooked me and it only got better from there. The ending was fantastic.
The narrator was good, but it was like pulling teeth at 1x, so expect to do at least 1.5 (I listened at 2.25 for most of it).

A Unique and Fun Listen!

Echoes is a Young Adult novel about 17-year-old Laura, a girl who can hear echoes -when she enters a room, it is already full of all the noise that occurred in years prior. Such an ability is often more of a curse than a gift, as the noise is chaotic and distracting more often than helpful. However, one day Laura begins to hear the echoes of herself, interacting with a boy named Maverick - but she doesn't remember these interactions. The book is a mystery just as much as it is a thriller - who was Maverick? What happened? Is Laura being followed?

Echoes is a brilliant and creative debut novel by Marissa Lete. The premise is so unique, and the writing is funny, witty, and suspenseful. I recommend this book to fans of YA novels - Echoes has everything you're looking for! It has romantic banter, thrilling chases, unexpected twists, and of course, a sprinkle of good, old-fashion high school drama!

You're going to binge this book

If you enjoy normal people with unique superpowers who are trying to stay out of the grasp of an evil scientist and a story with a heavy romantic subplot, then you'll love this book. It's a straightforward plot with a lot of mystery, action, high school friend drama and romantic angst that will make your heart skip a beat. I'll definitely be picking up the next books in the series!

Great listen for those who enjoy romance & mystery

I will be up front in saying that I have a personal connection to the author, which you may rightly read as biasing me to leave a good review. HOWEVER, I am not someone who seeks out young adult (YA) fiction, and I certainly do not enjoy recalling high school (hence I quoted "glory days" in the title). I am also a writer, so my lens for critiquing a book is perhaps more focused and discerning than the average person. I like to think this push and pull helped me keep an objective outlook while listening.

Despite the fact that I do not make a habit of reading young adult fiction, I found myself gripped by the central mystery and the relationship it's connected to. That need to know what happens propelled me forward.

The supernatural element to this story was a definite plus since I also write speculative fiction and enjoy exploring the unknown. I am also envious of the scenes around the protagonist Laura's relationship and the romance elements throughout. As I discussed with a fellow writer, capturing the nuances of attraction and intimacy is more challenging than many people realize, and to me these parts of the book felt the most real of all, so that is quite an achievement.