Kismet
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$0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus voucher
Kismet
Buy Now for $22.00
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Narrated by:
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Julia Whelan
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Shane East
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By:
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Lauren Blakely
In this audio-first rom com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, a scorching one-night stand with a stranger turns into a deliciously forbidden romance...
My first evening in London feels like kismet when I bump into a charming, book-loving Englishman, and by the end of the night, he’s making me see stars. I’m floating when we make plans to meet again.
Then fate decides to pull a fast one on me.
Turns out, my smoldering new lover is my red-hot competition, and we’re vying for the same promotion at the elite auction house I crossed an ocean for.
If that’s not enough, the hottie and I are forced to work together on a brand new collection. Every. Single. Tempting. Day.
What's an American woman in London to do?
Staying far, far away would be the safe choice, especially when I learn about his past and how it mirrors mine. But I don’t always play it safe with my heart…
©2022 Lauren Blakely (P)2022 Audible Originals
About the Creator
The narrator putting on a girls voice drove me crazy when the story was being read by both male and female, it feels unnecessary for them to mimic the other gender.
Nice little listen
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I’m a big fan of shane east and both him and Julia do a good job.
Little to no angst
Hea? Yes
Romance? Yes
World building? Not really. Totally fine as a stand alone. No big secondary characters.
3 stars
Currently available on audible plus for free listening
Cute duel narration
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Feel Good
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Light read romance
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I could listen to both of these performers narrate all the parts in any story, so listening to Kismet in dual is an absolute treat. 10s across the board.
📝 My thoughts
This audiobook ticks so many boxes for me:
✅ Julia Whelan
✅ Shane East
✅ London
✅ Art world
✅ Protagonists that communicate with each other 👏👏👏
Our MMC is Heath, a 40-something widower who was bereaved five years ago. Think Jude Law in The Holiday, but described as looking like Harrison Ford circa the first Indiana Jones films. He’s mildly misanthropic, would much prefer working alone (I hear you, Heath) in an art auction house, and has narrowed his world to spending as little time with others as possible in his hometown of London. Since his wife died he keeps his circle to his bookshop-owner best friend and his actor brother (Jude). Jude is his wingman for a one-night stand (ONS)…
Which brings us to our FMC, Jo. A 30-something American who’s up for a promotion in the UK, and at the urging of her friends, also up for a ONS.
The story follows the predictable beats of ONS to surprise colleagues, forced proximity to friendship, to love conquering all. But our main pair are so well matched. They’re equals. They deserve each other and their happily ever after.
What I particularly enjoyed was that the FMC and MMC talk to each other about how they’re feeling. They think about what is best for the other person, but they don’t unilaterally act on it in an ‘I know what’s best for you so here’s an unwanted grand gesture or supposedly selfless act’ kind of way.
And I am loving a slightly older, world-weary MMC who knows what he’s about and isn’t afraid to jump feet first into a capital ‘R’ Romance.
Heath is swoon worthy. Full marks for a man who yearns.
There are no great surprises here, which probably keeps it from being a five-star read for me, but the predictability is part of its comfort-read charm.
❝ Quotable quotes:
“I just want to do the job I love and be with the man I love.”
🎯 Perfect for readers who enjoyed...
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne or Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry.
🎧 Would I spend an Audible credit on this?
💳 Immediately
❤️ Tropes and vibes:
🛏️ One-night stand (kind-of)
💼 Workplace romance (equals)
⚔️ Workplace rivals to lovers
💘 Age gap
🌨️☀️Grumpy/sunshine
🛏️ One night stand (kind-of)
🤫 Secret-ish relationship
💚 Healthy communication
🇬🇧🇺🇸 UK/USA pairing
Setting: London
🌶️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
(Chapters 5, 18, 19, 23, 27)
Tone
💞 Tender
❤️ Romantic
🔥 A+ bed chem
🥰 Comfort read
Pacing
⏱️ Well-paced
Ending
🎁 HEA
✨ Satisfying ending
🏷️ Name Game: ★ (super normal)
Birth names: Heath (MMC), Jo (FMC), secondary characters: Jude
Nicknames: Nope
Healthy communication is hot, actually
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