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Title details for It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood - Available

It Sounded Better in My Head

by Nina Kenwood
Katherine Littrell
Audiobook
2 of 2 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
2 of 2 copies available

From debut author Nina Kenwood comes a tender and funny audiobook about first love and its confusions, and all of the awkwardness of teen romance.
When her parents announce their impending divorce, Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting, or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. She'd always imagined she would end up with Zach one day—in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining, and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed, and nothing is quite making sense. Until an unexpected romance comes along and shakes things up even further.
It Sounded Better in My Head is a compulsively listenable love letter to teenage romance in all of its awkward glory, perfect for fans To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Emergency Contact.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books
"With candor and affection, It Sounded Better in My Head captures a teenager navigating the final moments of one stage of life and the first moments of the next." — BookPage

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    April 7, 2020

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250227829
      • File size: 211053 KB
      • Duration: 07:19:41

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 20, 2020
      Kenwood’s well-written, Melbourne-set debut follows Natalie, 18, whose life has improved since puberty, during which a growth spurt, heavy periods, and painful cystic acne had left her feeling “messy, leaking, uncontained.” Now, her acne is under control; she has two best friends, Zach and Lucy; and she’s waiting to hear from universities. But her parents are splitting up, and years of feeling awful about herself has left marks, both physical (acne scars pit her back) and psychological (she’s insecure, still a bit of “shut-in,” and has never had a romantic relationship). It’s both exciting and terrifying for her when a series of events nudge Natalie toward Zach’s older brother, Alex, whom she’s written off as the kind of popular guy it’s best to avoid. No one thinks Alex and Natalie should be together, but not for the reasons she assumes. Natalie conveys the difficulties not only of puberty but of moving past internalized negativity in a voice that’s sharp, funny, and self-aware, making it even more satisfying for readers to see her realize that she can be the star of her life, not just the sidekick. Ages 12–up.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The spectacular narration and skillful writing work so well together in this debut audiobook that listeners will enjoy both the adorable and uncomfortable moments that come with teenage romance. Narrator Katherine Littrell delivers a delightful performance with an authentic-sounding Australian accent as she portrays Natalie--an introvert whose personal life is in shambles. Her parents have hidden their pending divorce for almost 10 months, her body is ravaged by acne scars, her best friends are dating, and her confidence is severely lacking. But when an unexpected romance begins, everything changes. Full of awkward interactions and relatable insecurities, the story as told in Littrell's dulcet tones makes these experiences sincere and relatable. Littrell masterfully expresses Natalie's vulnerability, emotional pain, and personal growth. E.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
    • Books+Publishing

      June 6, 2019
      Natalie is caught in-between: between year 12 exams and uni results, between her parents’ slow-motion divorce, between her two best friends, Zach and Lucy, who have been dating for a while. Her self-confidence was shattered by a spate of acute acne when she was younger and, while her skin has cleared up, Natalie still bears the physical and emotional scars. Her refuge is writing stories, but even in her imagination she’s never the centre of attention. Cue some major life decisions, alongside a summer romance, and Natalie’s anxiety is off the charts! Winner of the 2018 Text Prize Nina Kenwood has created nuanced and authentic characters, each caught up in their trajectory towards adulthood. Natalie is a fun, if neurotic, narrator and the plot bounces along from cringe-worthy and sweet first experiences to the more serious navigation of friendships, dating and family. Ideas of consent and trust are particularly well broached, modelling sensitivity and awareness while keeping the book free of R-rated content. This is a gorgeous and funny coming-of-age novel that perfectly captures the awkward, liminal nature of adolescence. The seamless combination of humour and heart is reminiscent of Barry Jonsberg or Kate De Goldi and is recommended for readers aged 15 and above.

      Annie Waters sells books, writes about books and podcasts about books

    • BookPage
      It Sounded Better in My Head takes place in Australia, where summer is in January and senior year ends before college admissions are announced. The novel’s narrator, Natalie, feels in between. She’s in between her parents, who have blindsided her with an amicable announcement that they are divorcing, and in between her best friends, Zach and Lucy, who have started dating. But mostly, Natalie is in between being an introvert with severe acne and being an outgoing teenager who goes to parties. And then at one of those parties, she plays a game of spin the bottle and kisses Zach’s brother, Alex. In this deceptively complex book, superficial questions about the intricacies of texting your crush accompany serious explorations of body image, sibling dynamics and interpersonal trust. Debut author Nina Kenwood hilariously chronicles Natalie’s bumbling attempts to pursue Alex through an awkward first date, unintended mishaps and more. But Kenwood also follows Natalie as she engages in meaningful conversations with Alex about physical intimacy. The pair’s on-the-page discussions of contraception, past partners, STIs and infidelity are frank and honest, and would serve as excellent models for readers in need of a script for such conversations in their own lives. It’s also heartening to read Natalie’s realization that intimacy and intercourse don’t need to be synonymous: “I never thought about how nice it would be to just have someone touch you softly and gently. . . . I thought it was sexy stuff or nothing.” With candor and affection, It Sounded Better in My Head captures a teenager navigating the final moments of one stage of life and the first moments of the next.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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