Kristin's Bookshelf

📖 Call Me Maybe
✍️ Cara Bastone | @carabastone
🎙️ Luci Christian | @luci_loves_mic & Neil Hellegers | @neilhellegers
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this expecting a cute little palate cleanser from all the psychological thrillers I’ve been reading.

I came out with a 5-star read, a new “if she writes it, I will read it” author AND a new “if she narrates it, I will listen” narrator in Luci Christian.

This was SUCH a fun, cleverly written rom-com. I listened to the entire thing in one afternoon because I legit could. not. stop.

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed out loud this much at a book. EVER.

And the best part?! IT’S IN THE AUDIBLE PLUS CATALOG. 🙌 Cara Bastone has several others available, so naturally I immediately added lots to my queue. 😂

☎️ Meet Vera
Bubbly, feisty, and a chronic oversharer. She runs Date-in-a-Box, which she gleefully points out sounds like “Dick in a Box.” She loves what she’s created, even if a healthy dose of imposter syndrome sometimes creeps in, especially when it feels like her family doesn’t quite believe in her.

☎️ Meet Cal
A sweet, IT customer service rep who answers Vera’s call when her website goes wonky… and then basically spends HOURS taking care of this woman from the other end of the phone.

He fixes her website.
Helps get her car to a repair shop.
Goes on a FOOD STRIKE in solidarity when she can’t eat. 😂
Buys her dinner when she finally gets home.
And constantly builds her up, reminding her that she isn’t someone who “quits things.” She’s someone who “tries things.”

IF THERE EVER WAS A GREEN-FLAG BOOK BOYFRIEND, CAL IS IT. 🟢🟢🟢🟢🟢

But honestly? I kind of want to date Vera too. Sorry, Kenny. 😂 She would be an absolute blast.

And the narration! Luci Christian and Neil Hellegers made the chemistry work SO well, especially for a story where the relationship develops over the phone. I completely bought into Vera and Cal’s connection, and Luci’s comedic delivery had me cracking up throughout. The banter!!!! These two narrators brought this story to ABSOLUTE LIFE!

Cute. Hilarious. Ridiculously charming. Zero murders required.😂