Smile Like You Mean It

Charlotte Reynolds, Book 1

By: Willow Hadley

Narrated by: Tim Paige, Heather Costa

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

After Charlotte’s father died, her mother changed. She became cold and distant, and Charlotte slowly withdrew into herself.

She spent years feeling lonely and insignificant, and rarely spoke more than a few words to anyone. One night, after a traumatic incident instigated by her mother, Charlotte is arrested and taken to juvie.

A year later, Charlotte’s being released from juvie for the second time. Instead of an awful group home, her social worker brings a welcome surprise: Charlotte’s long-forgotten uncle, Arthur, who is all too eager to help her after everything she's been through. When Charlotte learns that Arthur has a stepson her age, she’s even more apprehensive. How could he not resent having a stranger thrust into his home and family?

To her surprise and relief, Sebastian is kind and friendly. He and his four best friends—Grayson, Remy, Liam, and Elliot—make Charlotte feel welcome. They never make Charlotte feel badly about her past or her anxiety. They make her feel seen. As she gets to know the boys, she realizes they each have their own issues and demons they’re fighting, and she forms a unique bond with their group.

It doesn’t help that they’re ridiculously attractive. How could Charlotte not fall in love with all five of them?

©2022 Willow Hadley (P)2022 Podium Audio

sigh

Sad girl, new town, adopted by a group of boys is my favorite theme. This story is exactly that with a sprinkling of internal teen angst and a heavy dose of sugary sweetness. I've read the physical books and did not hesitate to purchase the audible version. The male narrator does a good job portraying the characters as young men, not gruffing it up to make them seem older than written.

Good story!

This is one of my favorites! I’ve read and listen to it multiple times. Definitely recommend!

The Perfect Remedy To Warm Your Heart.

I love how this book didn't fall into the cliche bully romance. all the guys were so sweet and caring to her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a smile in their life, it definitely made me smile a lot! ty Willow Hadley 💓

Great storyline

I love this author. I read the Cricket series and was looking for more of her books when I got this one. The female lead was very realistic, and so was the male leads. The narrators were good.

Wonderful 😊

This audiobook was wonderful. I enjoyed every moment of it. The whole thing was just pure sweetness. The narrators also did a great job of bringing the characters to life.

Great plot idea but heroine is a bit much

So, the idea for this RH is exactly what I was looking for. It's the story of a young girl who has had a rough past but now finds herself in much better circumstances with her uncle, his stepson and the frequently present friends of the stepson. The heroine is likeable, though a bit saccharine and Mary Sue-ish in character. And she giggles. A LOT. But don't worry, one of the heroes giggled, too. Ew. Despite this, I like the protectiveness of the heroes and the little moments showing them all getting to know each other. I would have liked less repetition in some of the words and ideas used. I will read the next book in the series because I already bought it, and that will tell me if I continue the series

Incomplete - a tediously long excerpt w/no ending

This book started well - heartwarming, and we're all rooting for all of the main characters. But then it's just a long, long time detailing about how everyone really, really wants to kiss everyone. All five of the boys want the girl, and the girl wants all five of the boys, and everyone else is just cardboard cutouts in the background. Even the main character is half cardboard - she's the most ravishingly beautiful girl the earth has ever seen, but has no idea of this whatsoever and is really, really shy, except when she's hitting someone or yearning to kiss every guy within reach.

Finally, the girl opens up a little bit, and then the story suddenly stops.