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Unnecessary Drama

Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
3 of 3 copies available

"With clear enunciation and an emotive tone, Withington captures the story's humor, as well as Brooke's personality, especially her anxiety. The slight variance in voices is just enough to differentiate the characters. Romance fans, regardless of age, will enjoy this production."- AudioFile

From the award-winning author of It Sounded Better in My Head comes a deliciously entertaining enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy about two high school nemeses who end up sharing a house together their first year of college
Eighteen-year-old Brooke is the kind of friend who not only remembers everyone's birthdays, but also organizes the group present, pays for it, and politely chases others for their share. She's the helper, the doer, the maker-of spreadsheets. She's the responsible one who always follows the rules—and she plans to keep it that way during her first year of college.
Her student housing only has one rule: "no unnecessary drama." Which means no fights, tension, or romance between roommates. When one of them turns out to be Jesse, her high-school nemesis, Brooke is determined she can handle it. They'll simply silently endure living together and stay out of each other's way. But it turns out Jesse isn't so easy to ignore.
With Unnecessary Drama, Nina Kenwood perfectly captures the experience of leaving home for the first time, dealing with the unexpected complications of life, and somehow finding exactly what you need.
A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 3, 2023
      Teens learning to trust again and discovering that drama is sometimes necessary for growth populate this sunny rom-com by Kenwood (It Sounded Better in My Head). Eighteen-year-old Brooke, a college freshman studying economics in Melbourne, is both excited and anxious to move into her “share house” with new dormmate Harper. As the two await their final roommate’s arrival, Harper, whose family owns the property, lays down the ground rules: “No pets; no romance between housemates; and no unnecessary drama.” Type A Brooke anticipates that following these rules will be a breeze, until she learns that her mystery roommate is Jesse, Brooke’s former high school friend who broke her heart when she was 14. To keep things civil, Brooke feigns friendliness in public and avoids Jesse at home, but the forced intimacy of their proximity erodes her long-held grudge. As the pair rehash old arguments, heal open wounds, and confide in each other about family conflict, Brooke finds herself falling back in love with the boy she swore to hate. Brooke’s high-intensity personality, amicable chatter, and hyper-independence propel the narrative through its believable and hilarious goings-on. Main characters cue as white. Ages 13–up.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Maddy Withington narrates an enemies-to-lovers romance set in Australia. While in high school young teens Brooke and Jesse became best friends; however, after an embarrassing incident, Brooke's feelings for Jesse turn to scorn. When they both end up in Melbourne for college, they're surprised to find themselves housemates. Remaining cordial for the sake of their other housemate, they rekindle their friendship--as well as their attraction. With clear enunciation and an emotive tone, Withington captures the story's humor, as well as Brooke's personality, especially her anxiety. The slight variance in voices is just enough to differentiate the characters. Romance fans, regardless of age, will enjoy this production. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
    • Books+Publishing

      July 19, 2022
      Things are going well for Brooke. Fresh out of high school and going straight into university, she is determined to reinvent herself from the nerdy and awkward person she once was. No more unreliable and despondent father, or sister that drinks too often and too much, or well-meaning but sometimes overbearing mother. But life catches up to Brooke the moment she meets her new housemates, one of whom is her old friend turned enemy Jesse. Nina Kenwood’s Unnecessary Drama, much like her debut novel, It Sounded Better In My Head, has potential to connect with YA readers. It takes readers through the tumultuous uncertainty that exists on the cusp of transitioning out of high school into adulthood; exploring one’s identity and discovering where it fits into the world. Through first person perspective, Kenwood presents Brooke's anxiety in an intimate way, taking the reader into her spirals. For example, at the first party the share house hosts, we see how Brooke examines every action and reaction with endless 'what if' questions. However, at times the oversaturation and use of anxiety as a narrative device for Brooke’s characterisation takes away from the book's impact and means it leans more towards caricature, which is hard to connect to as a reader. Ultimately though, readers will still root for Brooke to overcome her insecurities and struggles. Bohdi Byles is a freelance reviewer with a background in bookselling, publishing and writing.

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