Book Smart Kate

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

by Natasha Madison (October 18, 2024) Many thanks to @natashamauthor for the #gifted digital and audiobook copies of this gripping first book in a new series—I’m 100% hooked and all in for the rest! Below is my honest review.

Almost a decade ago, a horrific accident shattered the lives of six people and the entire Montgavin Township community. A night that started with fun ended in tragedy, leaving only a four survivors. Charlie has spent the years since that fateful night in a downward spiral of grief and anger, mourning the love he lost. Meanwhile, Autumn was driven out of town, blamed for not doing more to prevent the accident. Now, years later, Autumn returns to Montgavin to care for her ailing father and try to save their struggling family business. Her return stirs up old wounds, and no one is more furious than Charlie. Their mutual hatred is palpable, both for each other and for themselves. But what Charlie doesn’t know is that he’s missing key pieces of the truth about that night—truths that could change everything.

This was my first book by Natasha Madison, and when I say I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook, I mean it—I was hooked from the very first paragraph. The story begins with the dramatic accident that changes everything, pulling you in immediately. Madison expertly explores how Charlie and Autumn each cope with their grief, making their journey powerful and raw. Fair warning, this is a very spicy book, with the tension between them playing out both in their hatred and their eventual healing. I also loved the interesting secondary characters, and I can’t wait to see how they evolve in future books of this series.

There are important content warnings (which Madison outlines thoughtfully), including a fatal car accident, driving under the influence, long-term alcohol abuse, and domestic violence (not between the main characters). Madison handles these heavy themes with care and depth, making the story feel real and poignant.

The audiobook features dual narration by Gregory Salinas (new to me, and great!) and Savannah Peachwood (a favorite of mine, known for her work on Elsie Silver’s books). The performance, which runs just over 8 hours at 1x speed, was spot on—no notes at all, truly excellent.

What are you reading this weekend?