The Cuckoo's Call

By: Lily Morton

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can a summer romance last forever?

Wren Roberts thought he’d found his fairy tale when he met Mateo Rossi on holiday in Majorca. The wealthy and successful older man swept him off his feet, and before he knew it, he’d thrown caution to the wind and was living in Mateo’s waterside apartment in Venice. It’s a far cry from his harsh upbringing and crummy flat in London.

But as the summer turns to autumn, cracks begin to show. Mateo’s family aren’t welcoming, and there doesn’t seem to be a place for Wren in Mateo’s world. He could have coped with all of that, but Mateo himself seems like a different person away from the sunshine island.

Should Wren have been more cautious in riding off into the sunset when he wasn’t sure what lay over the horizon?

From best-selling author Lily Morton comes a romance about two men who find that sometimes happily ever after doesn’t end there.

©2021 Lily Morton (P)2022 Lily Morton

Okay

This is a tough review for me. I love most of Lily’s work and I’m always excited for a new book. Unfortunately, this audio was let down a little. The execution of the plot and characters are competent. Wren Roberts is clever, witty, and intelligent. Coming up in this world has been rough for him. Mateo Rossi heir to hotel dynasty and overworked. He spies Wren doing some of his best putdown work and becomes fascinated with him. I found myself wanting skim a bit, Joel Leslie was not at his best. His accent wasn’t great. I kept asking myself is he doing a “Mario” impression from MarioCart. I am having a hard time telling the difference between characters in every book because they are sounding the same. I keep hoping for a different narrator or better voice work from the current narrator.  I would say listen if you love the narrator, this will not be listening to this again. This my honest review. I received an audiobook by Gay Romance Reviews.

Great book

Another excellent book from Lily Morton. One of my favourite authors. Joel Leslie once again does an excellent job Narrating this book.

love

Worth the credit or money. if I have to say what's annoying about the book is how many times they point out the white shiny smile but that's it.

Cute

I love Lily Morton. Her books are always fluffy and sweet. I wish they had a little more meat to them but I enjoyed the Cuckoo’s call. It was like most her books very predictable but enjoying. I always enjoy the incredible talent of Joel Leslie. With that said I do wish Lily would step out with a different narrator. All her books sound the same because of always using the same voice. I wish she’d try Hamish Long orGary Furlong. Cute book worth the money.

Another Winner!

I have yet to be disappointed in a Lily Morton novel. Combine that with Joel Leslie's stellar narration and you're in for a treat. Joel Leslie is a master at accents and once again, he has accomplished perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book.

Funny witty and heartwarming

A great read that transports the listener to far-off lands. Perfect to escape the everyday. Both characters are well developed, interesting an endearing. A great choice!

Could not put it down

I loved this book. I was completely drawn in by the characters, and their story touched my heart. I was up half the night because I just could not wait until morning. I am quite sure that this is one that I will listen to again. I did not know Lily Morton before reading this, but I will be looking for more of her titles now.

One of the most sweet stories of Lily

Even that is longer as I thought,is very sweet, you will laugh and also you will cry, Rem is the sweet guy who changes lifes as he goes including Theo, who think he can scapes this adorable charming younger guy.Joel Leslie, did an excellent job, I have the version in kindle and I couldn't avoid the audible option, Joel is incredible doing the characters, is the perfect chameleon performing the voices and putting so many emotions that you become evolved into the story very easy. I really recommend this book.

as warm as the Mediterranean Sun

simple warm and fuzzy story plenty of Adventure plenty of heat and a lovely narrator

More of Teo & Wren

This is definitely one love story that could be taken further. I cannot get enough of Joe Leslie’s narration and different characters that he creates. More more

Fun story

To me this is a romance but so much more. I feel it’s a combination of fun and heartache. Fun in that Wren is such a unique character. His history is so sad yet he doesn’t let it pull him down. He keeps coming up with things he has learned and uses them in a matter-of-fact way. Most people don’t see through the front he puts on that he is always fine. He really has some negative feelings about himself and it causes relationship problems. Then he meets Mateo.
Mateo has a personality that caused me to be sad for him. He has had nothing from his parents to show feelings and relationships are something he wants. Yet when he meets Wren, he is faced with someone totally different than he has met before. Wren is upfront with his opinions. He has no trouble telling Mateo the good and bad. Mateo wants Wren to stay around so he comes up with ways for Wren to be needed.
The problem between them comes when Wren doesn’t feel good enough for Mateo and Mateo doesn’t do relationships nor feelings. Good thing for Mateo’s grandfather. His grandfather is a joy. He has a way of seeing things around him and trying to resolve the issues. He recognizes Mateo’s feelings for Wren even if Mateo doesn’t. He also sees Wren as who he really is.
I really enjoyed listening to this story. I feel Joel Leslie was perfect as the narrator. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I don’t think anyone else would have fit these characters as well.

Sweet, heartfelt story

This is such a great story! I loved Wren and his kind, but snarky personality. I loved the way he held his own in the face of false friends, cruel harpies, and a slew of rich entitled people looking down their noses at him. The whirlwind "relationship with a deadline" is torrid and passionate, but I couldn't help being a little angry with Mateo. For all his generosity with money and things, he seemed completely blind to the terrible situations he left Wren in, especially knowing how his family is. At least Wren had a friend in Mateo's grandfather. The epiphany at the end came fast and sudden, bit the epilogue helped to smooth out the ending. I hope the author will bring readers the story of Enzo next. I really want to know more about him.

The narration by Joel Leslie was excellent and he really brought the characters' passions and emotions to life. I loved the accents.

I received a free copy of this audiobook and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Fairy Liquid Soap Opera

OTT narration spoilt what may have been an amusing tale, chosen after reading the reviews left by others. I gave up after an hour of cringing wishing Gary Furlong or even Nick J Russo would've performed this book bringing their exquiisite brand of drama and skill. Sadly Joel Leslie made Mateo sound like an idiot and the story trite; Mr Leslie has now arrived on my list of narrators never to listen to again. Top of the list is Michael Dean/Pauley or whatever name he's using this week.

SPOILT BT NARRATOR. DISAPPOINTING

Spectacular! ❤️❤️

Thank you Lily for yet another spectacular audio/book!


I absolutely adored Teo and Wren - so so adorable and swoon worthy!

I loved the locations, the MC’s and especially Teo’s mother and Grandfather - soooooo sweet but see the much bigger picture even if Teo doesn’t at the time!

It was also great that Charlie gets a mention as Wren goes to the library where Charlie works and is fascinated by books - who wouldn’t be?!!

Joel Leslie as ever is absolutely brilliant and refreshing - I can totally understand why this duo (Lily and Joel) are such a formidable team - just stunning and brilliant 🤩

Can’t wait to see what Lily comes up with next!


Definitely gets a 5 ⭐️ review from me!! ❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰

Great narration

Joel Leslie gave a great performance here. The mix of Spanish and Italian for Mateo must have been challenging and for the most part it was done well. Wren's pov chapters were perfectly executed.
This is my second time through the story and while I was charmed again by Wren, little niggles appeared.
On the whole, I love Lily Morton stories but there will always be one that doesn't work the same as the others, and this is that one for me.
I will happy listen to After Felix forever and ever and though I enjoyed this listen, it isn't one I'd necessarily return to.

Couldn’t put it down

Yet another brilliant. Funny, sarcastic book from Lily Morton. Her personal snipe and humour are brilliant. Travel the world in this one and enjoy the sites and sound. Brilliant.

What a great story

Best love story I have read in ages.
Truly authentic and evidencing that age really is just a number

Uplifting Romance.

If you ever need a story to cheer you up this is definitely the read/listen for you. It’s an incredibly cute romance story – with two of Lily's most endearing MCs yet.

I love a romance, especially one where one of the characters fights it, and boy does Mateo not take a hint, even when it hits him in the face! Mind you, I understood where his reservations came from, after meeting his incredibly toxic family.

I found Wren so endearing and loved how even though he had a heart of gold, he was also a tough cookie when needed. I also immensely enjoyed his development throughout. He is honestly one of Lily's most likeable characters

This genuinely is a glorious romance. The banter, the quirky Wren, and the sweet loveable Teo were a balm to my soul. It's funny, adorable, sweet as sin, spicy, but tense in parts, and I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed it. it's a great read and listen. Joel Leslie yet again does a wondrous job in representing both MCs. He really is one of the best narrators out there.

Gorgeous

As usual Lily Morton writes another stunning romance. Extreme opposites attract in this holiday romance which becomes more.
Excellent characters with oodles of chemistry and LMs trademark humour are only complemented by the superb descriptions of Venice and Majorca. As seen thorough Wren's eyes it's almost another relationship, one of awe and wonder.
The way the story is split into two parts really helps focus on the 'what happens after the HEA' part of the relationship.
And yes, I cried. I always cry at LMs books. It's because I care about these characters so much.

Joel Leslie does an excellent job as usual. In fact I was crying before the end of the prologue.

I loved this opposites attract story.

I read this book nearly a year ago. Listening to Joel Leslie's excellent audio performance was like experiencing the book for the first time all over again; he's one of my favorite voice actors. There's really nothing more I can add so I'm just going to paste a copy of my original review below:

I knew after reading the Prologue that this story was probably going to tear me up at times while reading but I was also confident that Lily Morton would have everything work out fine in the end.

Wren is absolutely the most wonderful character. He was raised in the foster care system and bounced around from home-to-home but he’s never let it get him down. He has such a wonderful view on things. Even when sh** happens (like his “best” friend abandoning him) he doesn’t let it get him down for long.

Mateo is wealthy and totally out of Wren’s league (so says Wren) but he rescues Wren and the two of them form a friendship. Mateo sees right away that Wren has great insight for a lot of things and he enlists him to help temporarily with his business. His outlook on relationships has been colored by his father’s failed marriages and his current wicked step-mother and half-sister.

The story is set in Majorca and Venice. Lily Morton’s richly descriptive writing made me want to visit both of these places. Since that isn’t likely to happen, I will just enjoy remembering what she wrote in this book. 😊

I loved Wren and Mateo together even if I wanted the smack Mateo a few times and tell him to wake up and appreciate Wren. This is a story that is full of heart with just enough lighthearted bits mixed in with the parts that had me nearly sobbing. In the end I was sobbing happy tears.

The epilogue, set two years after the end of the story was really wonderful. Epilogues are often my favorite part of a book and I loved getting a little more time to spend with Wren and Teo and learn where life has taken them.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.