Speak Now

De: Ash Perez

Narrado por: Jena Malone, Arienne Mandi, Benjamin Norris, Inés del Castillo, Charles Linshaw, Ali Andre Ali, J.S. Arquin, Jason Culp, Kevin R. Free, Kelly Krauter, Jane Oppenheimer, Bahni Turpin, Jesse Vilinsky

The wunderkind chef of an acclaimed restaurant is reunited with “the one that got away” when she’s hired to cater her wedding in this charming, full-cast queer rom-com, perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Casey McQuiston, by TV writer and former BuzzFeed personality Ash Perez.

What would you do for a second chance at your first love?

Alex Perez is a culinary genius: she’s on the verge of becoming the youngest ever head chef at the famed Sempervirens restaurant, a fine dining treasure tucked away in a boutique hotel in the majestic Big Sur mountains. Her demanding schedule and perfectionist tendencies leave little room to think about romance. That is, until her ex-best friend Genevieve shows up at her restaurant—and gets engaged.

Twelve years ago, Alex was just a quiet transfer student with no friends until she met Genevieve Jones, an effervescent extrovert who took Alex under her wing. They remained inseparable through the rest of high school, until a fateful road trip changed everything, and they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since.

Now Genevieve’s longtime boyfriend Derek, a real estate mogul in the making, has brought her here not only to propose, but to offer sizable investment in the hotel…if they can host and cater the perfect fairytale wedding. Leaving Alex in an impossible situation: cater the wedding for the only woman she’s ever loved, or give up her dream job as a head chef.

Speak Now is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny story of self-discovery and second chances from an exciting new voice in queer fiction, performed by a full cast led by Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Pride & Prejudice) and Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q, Chicago PD).

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Listeners will find themselves laughing out loud while contemplating second chances."

"Featuring a talented cast and full sound effects, this audio original is an immersive listening experience. Primary narrator Arienne Mandi gives voice to Alex Perez, a culinary genius on the verge of becoming head chef at Sempervirens, a high-end restaurant in Big Sur, California. This goal has been Alex's sole focus until Genevieve, her former best friend and secret love, re-enters her life. Their reintroduction comes when Genevieve's boyfriend, a real estate professional, proposes at the restaurant and offers an opportunity to help expand it—if Alex will cater all their festivities. As the story is told through a mix of vulnerable voice notes, flashbacks, and comical interactions, Alex must decide what matters more: her dream job or her true love."

"A vibrant, immersive audiobook for anyone experiencing a little gay panic in their life. With its breezy pacing and lively conversational energy, Ash's debut is an easy, joyful listen from start to finish.” (Page Powars, New York Times bestselling author of And They Were Roommates)

"Cinema for my ears! Speak Now is a master class in romantic fiction with witty banter, swoon-worthy romance and heartfelt tension that had me buzzing. Perez elegantly strikes a balance between a story of self-discovery and a yearning-filled second chance romance. This cast is spectacular and had me glued to my earbuds to consume every word and sound. Will be relistening. An absolute MUST listen for your next audiobook!" (Peyton Corrine, bestselling author of Unsteady)

“Hilarious and utterly charming, the world fell away listening to the brilliant performances and engrossing, messy queer love story between Alex and Genevieve. A triumphant love letter to good food, unwavering friendship, and the power of choosing the love and life you deserve. I can’t wait to read everything Ash Perez writes.” (Carlyn Greenwald, author of Sizzle Reel and Director’s Cut)

Bad audio

I loved the voice actors and story! But the constant change it volume made it hard to listen to at points. All the whispering scenes and voices muffled made having to constantly change the volume up and down pretty annoying.

You’ll be pulled in immediately.

The voice work is superb. You can’t help but become invested in how these characters interact and develop. Great writing helps of course. Great collaboration overall.

Very immersive

Love the full cast! They did an excellent job conveying the emotions to really bring the reader in. A traditional trope from LGBTQ+ history but it’s done in a great way that is read well by the actors. Great work to all involved! I would love to see a spinoff with the bridesmaids.

To short !

This book was such a great read—I honestly didn’t want it to end. The story felt so relatable, like pieces of it reflected real life in a way that made it easy to connect with the characters. On top of that, it was genuinely funny, not forced humor but the kind that just sneaks up on you and makes you laugh out loud.

What really made it stand out for me was the narration. The actors did an amazing job bringing everything to life. Each voice felt natural and added so much personality, which made the whole experience even more engaging.

It kept me hooked from beginning to end, always leaving me wanting more after each chapter. Definitely one of those books you wish you could experience again for the first time.

Captivating from the start

Great story, excellent narration, and a truly enjoyable listening experience. The plot was engaging from start to finish, with well-developed characters and a story that kept me invested throughout. The voice performances added so much depth and emotion, making the audiobook even more immersive than I expected. Arienne Mandi's narration was a standout, bringing authenticity, warmth, and personality to the characters. I would love to see her narrate more audiobooks in the future, as her performance was a big part of what made this one so memorable. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great storytelling paired with outstanding voice work.