Beautiful and Terrible Things

A Novel

De: S.M. Stevens

Narrado por: Nicole Cash

Duración: 14 h y 1 m

Resumen del Editor

A beautifully crafted story of friendship and self-discovery set amidst the harsh realities of today's world. Superb! Eileen OFinlan, author of Erins Children

Charley Byrne isn't really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xanders circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation. She thrives, even leaving her comfort zone to join protests in a city struggling with social justice ills.

But the new friendships bring back-to-back betrayals that threaten the bookstore—Charley's haven—and propel her into a dangerous depression. Can her friends save the store? And Charley?

Beautiful and Terrible Things offers a compelling portrait of modern American life in a major city with its vibrant culture and rampant social issues. At once enlightening and entertaining, it reminds us that friendship has the power to validate, destroy, transform, and save lives.

©2024 Black Rose Writing (P)2024 Black Rose Writing

Great book elevated by a tremendous performance!

This is a book that should be on every nightstand, dealing with difficult issues with empathy and authenticity. It’s what our country needs right now. The narrator brought the story and diverse characters to life - each one distinct and unique which allowed me to know them and feel as if I was a part of their group of friends. Highly recommend!

A Captivating Book

S.M. Stevens skillfully unveils the complex character of Charley Bryne, a woman with a troubled past who finds solace in the bookstore she manages. Her confidence, once robust, has waned, and she now seeks refuge in the store, her modest apartment, and a predictable routine that includes feeding the standoffish cat named Baggage. The arrival of Xander, an environmental activist, disrupts her solitary existence with his intellectual fervor and inquisitiveness about Charley. His influence leads her to meet his heterogeneous friends, setting the stage for a transformative journey.

The setting is painted with a broad brush of various colors and textures, depicting nearly any contemporary city in America. The people living in the diverse neighborhoods are threatened by the climate of suspicion, hatred, and prejudice on one side, with families, love, and hope on the other. S.M. Stevens uses her character diversity to give readers an inside look at a myriad of sensitive, emotionally charged topics, including racism, homophobia, transgender, environmental convictions, big business, mental health, and immigration, making it a compelling read for those interested in contemporary fiction and social issues.

As the story unfolds, the characters embark on an emotional journey. Unintended deception leads Charley to nearly succumb to her worst fears. These characters are not just words on a page but living, breathing individuals who make a difference for one another. Their journeys are profoundly moving, making this book a deeply emotional reading experience.
These six friends, Charley, Xander, Jessica, Terrance, Sunny, and Buwan, are brought to life by the consistent yet distinctive voices delivered by Nicole Cash's outstanding narration. Listeners will appreciate this masterfully written story's timely intonations, subtle accents, and perfect pace. Nicole Cash also delivers distinguishing supporting character dialogue with appropriate emotion, inflections, and sounds of their age. There were no issues with the audio performance.

S.M. Stevens' "Beautiful and Terrible Things" is a compelling book that will appeal to readers from all backgrounds. The story is engaging from beginning to end, and readers will find it challenging to pick a favorite character in this tale of hope, love, friendship, and identity.

I fell in love with the characters and their individual struggles and celebrations.

Wow!!! (Listened on Audible)
This book reminded me of “Friends”, but with a more diverse set of characters that dealt with major issues. Stevens was able to incorporate topics such as racism, homophobia, transgender, mental health, immigration, corporate America, and environmental issues, to name a few, and it didn’t feel forced…at all!

The last 2/3 definitely picked up, which I was grateful for as the beginning called for me to put it down and disengage at times. But I’m beyond thrilled that I kept with it.

I absolutely fell in love with the six friends and would love to be included in their friend group, if given the chance. I think this is due to amazing character development and the narrator, Nicole Cash. Nicole brought the huge number of characters, big and small, to life with her voice and how she depicted each personality. I actually felt like I could visualize them and see how they spoke and interacted with their mannerisms.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, I do NOT give them out easily, but Beautiful and Terrible Things earned each star by telling a story that interwove heavy topics, evoked feelings and emotions, and made me angry and satisfied many times over.

Thank you S.M. Stevens! I cannot wait for what is next to come from this author and I’ll be searching for anything narrated by Nicole Cash!

Absorbing Narration!

A character-centered story with a multitude of diverse voices, expertly rendered through Nicole Cash’s voice talents. I was so absorbed by the authenticity of dialects, accents and personal eccentricities that it sounded like a full cast performance. The author tackled a range of difficult subject matter with sensitivity, leaving the reader with challenging food for thought. I think this would be an excellent choice for book club discussions.