Wallbanger

By: Alice Clayton

Narrated by: Heather Smith

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she’s gaining an - um - intimate knowledge of her new neighbor’s nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy’s athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed "dating hiatus," and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly....

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

©2013 Alice Clayton (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Beginnning was so GOOD!

I passed on this book several times. But the reviewers convinced me. I love a funny love story. This one started so good. Very funny, Great characters. The dialog was really good. I'm on the fence with the narrator. I think I maybe getting too picky. She has a great voice. I just can't figure out how she gets it so breathy..and extends the ending of words. It is annoying, but it was not a deal breaker. I didn't think I would eeeevvvvveeeerrrr finish this book it became completely different, the characters changed about a 180....and I couldn't enjoy the change. In my opinion this book could of been memorable.

Not sure what all the fuss is about

What disappointed you about Wallbanger?

I expected more given the reviews. It was an OK listen. While yes there were some very funny moments, most of the book was boring. I was tired of hearing about her lack of "O" yes we got it, we got the memo several times. We get it, you can't have an organism. By the end I didn't care about either character. The last hour was literally a headache of continuous oh my god, I'm so totally awesome, i'm having a trillion back-to-back orgasms.

What was most disappointing about Alice Clayton’s story?

The narrator did not add to this story.

Would you be willing to try another one of Heather Smith’s performances?

Yes

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

No major reactions - I just didn't like it as much as others.

Quirky Not-Quite-Erotic Romance meets Chick Lit

Okay about the title. The GUY is called Wallbanger. It's a nickname. In a world where erotic books are everywhere, giving this book such a title may seem a bit misleading. I mean, it's probably the perfect title, but if you're looking for a smexy book, this is not it. It's standard quirky-with-a-cocktail reading with some hotter stuff at the end, but it takes a while to get there.

There's sexy bits, yeah, but it takes a while to get there. So if you want a hot and lusty read, this isn't it.

I found the whole "O" thing annoying. Girl hasn't been able to have an orgasm. She doesn't turn to anything needing batteries though, so she's not trying all that hard. That she fought about her lack of "O" and even named it, got old. And she named other things too. Heart argued with Brain, etc. It was weird at times.

I might need a while to warm up to checking out a sequel.

Clive, Clive, Clive....

From the moment I began reading this book, I was laughing so hard iI forgot everything around me!

Clive, the cat was epic... His love for Purina was epic...and loved his thoughts at the end! Can't wait for the next book and his views about "his people"

OK. Enough about the cat! This was a sweet romance!

I was utterly entertained by Caroline and her quest for 'O' only to find that the one person who could get her rocks off was her next door neighbor aptly named 'wallbanger'

Simon on the other hand, having never been in a normal relationship because of his career finds that banging his 'harem' doesn't do it for him anymore... all he wants is Caroline.

A huge part of the book is comical tales as the two tiptoe around each other... and when they finally get on the same page... they play games..winding them up all for the promise of 'delayed gratification!'

The secondary characters were amazing, the antics and loves stories were touching and a nice bonus...

Can't wait to see what Caroline and Simon do in the next book!

I would say definitely worth a credit.

predictable - so predictable

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Folks who want a typical "Sex in the City" type book.

What was most disappointing about Alice Clayton’s story?

There wasn't a single plot twist I didn't see a mile away. And I listen to books while I'm doing household chores, so I am not paying much attention, most of the time.

Would you be willing to try another one of Heather Smith’s performances?

I might be, depending on other's reviews and ratings.

What character would you cut from Wallbanger?

Mimi

GREAT LISTEN - IT KEPT ME SMILING THROUGHOUT

Now hold on because I'm going to gush a little here.... this was such a fun listen with lol hilarious bits (especially with the cat). It was also an entertaining and romantic listen that had that 'feel good factor' and, as the sexual chemistry kept building between H/H, it got even more so. It had a dreamy 6 pack handsome hero and a good supporting cast of characters that added another dynamic to the storyline as we hear what all the texts say as they fly between each of the six characters.

I hadn't heard of this author before but I will definitely be looking out for any of her future books.

Worth a credit? The hours of listening pleasure this brings you makes this a very credit-worthy listen - so, in my book, that's a YES.

The cat is the best part of the story...

What did you like best about Wallbanger? What did you like least?

I liked the cat because of his personality. The story had a lot of potential but was a very frustrating listen due to the girl in the story always second guessing herself or being super annoying by over thinking EVERYTHING! Most issues could have been resolved if she'd just communicate! Ugh!

Otherwise it's a good listen when you don't want to make your brain think.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The cat. I found the neighbor's career quite interesting.

What aspect of Heather Smith’s performance would you have changed?

She's a bit too breathy. You end up concentrating on her breathing verses reading.

Was Wallbanger worth the listening time?

No not really. The story has a great potential if we'd remove the hours of second guessing and overthinking from the main female character. If she would just commuicate her thoughts I think it wouldve been a far more interesting and fun story!

Premise is good. Had potential.

Had great promise...

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This book should have been a short 4 to 5 hour read. I was pulling my hair out towards the end becase the author would not let the story end....

zero plot line

Caroline, the main character, lives in San Francisco with "her girls," the three of them friends since their college days at Berkeley. At a housewarming party, they meet guys who went to Stanford. Imagine their surprise when they realize that Simon is the "wallbanger" who lives next door to Caroline, literally shaking the walls as he has raunchy sex with not one but three different women on successive nights. When she couldn't stand it anymore, she'd pounded on his door in the wee hours of the morning, telling him to quiet down... and he tells her that it's his right to do whatever he wants in the privacy of his house. He starts calling her "cockblocker" for interrupting his sex with woman number three. And, because he's a class act, he tells his two buddies all about the episode, referring to Caroline as "pink nightie girl."

I am not looking for deep philosophy when shopping for escapist reading. But Berkeley, Stanford... and really? Caroline's fabulous career is to make things pretty. She admires her boss because she's soooooo beautiful, and her super successful boss spends time prying for the latest gossip about "wallbanger."

Because, wouldn't you know, that Simon is a sweet guy.

And knowing that he's banging the hell out of three other women is obviously no obstacle to obsessing about his body parts and screaming his name in her wet dreams, which he of course hears and smirks about.

Doesn't this sound like an empowered, happily ever after scenario?

The bar is set pretty low when the book is about giggling, twirling a strand of hair on your finger, looking down at your pretty bubble-gum pink toenail polish. Using slang that's outdated, and --ooo! texting!

Seriously, high school romances have more substance than this. I figured by Chapter Seven something would develop in terms of a plot line, but the story is about prude with a cat lusting helplessly for a womanizer. A formulaic reform of the rake isn't enough dramatic tension to me interested. I wish I could get a refund the four hours I spent listening before giving up. Grade: F.

No Sex in the City

What did you like best about Wallbanger? What did you like least?

There is actually a good premise here, an unusual start to a romance. Unfortunately the author was trying so hard to be witty and funny and urbane that the characters slide right into the ridiculous. The narration actually made the problem worse, as all three female friends are read with a degree of breathless silliness that was hard to stomach.

Far sillier than Sex in the City, not nearly as entertaining.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator could have toned down the drama and silliness.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Don't waste a credit

Could not wait to get to the end. Hope it would get better as it went along but it didn't .

Sexy and hilarious

OMG such a funny read
Narration by Heather Smith is perfect.
Highly recommend it
Brilliant

Terrible

Really didn’t enjoy this book, my biggest gripe.... Clive the cat. Has the author ever even been near a cat? This “character” was so unbelievable and just an excuse to use the unsubtle double entendre of “pussy” too often. Gave up after 60%.

Real struggle to finish

I got so bored listening to this that I’ve given up after a couple of years of trying. I loved the Redhead books but this was a fail for me. Other people seem to love it but I just can’t connect.

Really tried to like the book

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No would not recommend... there is 13 hours or more of this book and after 10 hours of listening got very bored with the will they won’t they storyline
After 9 hours Of listening still no sex😐
More like a romantic novel not erotica

Would you ever listen to anything by Alice Clayton again?

Possibly

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The narrator is very good
The storyline drags out

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No

so funny

great book. really well read. had me laughing at some points. keeps u very on edge.

Didn't quite cut it for me!

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

This is more for the Sex in the City / Soft Porn types. I'm very comfortable with adult content and i do love a RomCom movie but i found that the story overly drawn out and simplistic.

What will your next listen be?

Back to safe ground, SFF - Star Wars - Path of Destruction, Darth Bane.

Have you listened to any of Heather Smith’s other performances? How does this one compare?

My first book from Heather Smith and i doubt i'll be back. I chose this book as i wanted something funny and this got recommended. It has its charms and i would of rated it a lot higher if it was shorter.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Wallbanger?

The middle section just felt long and drawn out.

Any additional comments?

I was most let down that i didn't get any laugh out loud moments, however i did have plenty of little grins. I really was looking for something that left you embarrassed,you know when you just can t control your laughter. The last book that gave me those moments was Joe Abercrombies First Law and characters like Glokta. Anyway a different genre completely.. Hell i had some laugh out moments readings Tony Blairs memoirs.. If you're into your sex and the city and like your naughty scenes delivered in a light hearted manner then its not that bad, actually you may think its great..It just needed a bit more substance for me.

Sickly Naration

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The narration of this audio book was one of the most sickly,irritating I have come across. It was almost like a child try to come across as sexy, I hope no one in the us really talks like this.

What could Alice Clayton have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Let it be narrated by a more normal, worldly adult, female

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Enormously

What character would you cut from Wallbanger?

Caroline

"LOVED IT"

Would you listen to Wallbanger again? Why?

yes & i have

What other book might you compare Wallbanger to, and why?

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Have you listened to any of Heather Smith’s other performances? How does this one compare?

yes she is brilliant

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

stranger banging on the wall

Any additional comments?

loved it........ funny

My first Alice Clayton audio book and I loved it.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I have recommend this book to friend because it is a great book. I wanted to share it with friends because it made me laugh.