The Laughing Listener
June 2018
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Ali Ahn
Length: 10 hours & 30 minutes

Story Rating: 4 Stars
Performance Rating: 3 Stars
Overall Rating: 4 Stars



*Sighs dreamily* I freaking love this book. Although to be fair, about 83% of my love is pure nostalgia. This was a reread for me and I was suuuuuuuper worried my middle school memories would make the real thing dull in comparison. But I’m both relieved and excited to report that’s not the case!

It’s been at least a decade since I last read this and I can still relate to it HARD. Remy and I share the exact same jaded cynicism, which is probably a depressingly terrible thing to say, but it’s still such a relief to see on paper. Remy’s not perfect and makes a lot of terrible mistakes, but that’s actually what I love most about her. Even though she makes some questionable decisions, I understood her motivation behind everything and Dessen did a fantastic job of making Remy feel REAL. Remy might be a fictional character, but she still somehow gives me hope that maybe love isn’t as hopeless as it sometimes seems.

And let’s be honest, Dexter is the one carrying this story. The FREAKING ADORABLE hilarious musician with the FREAKING ADORABLE curly hair and the FREAKING ADORABLE dog named Monkey is pretty much why we’re all here. I love him SO MUCH. And reading the banter between him and his band mates was just the best. I want a Dexter of my own!!!



The downside to Dessen books is that once you’ve read one, you’ve kind of read them all because most of them follow the same general formula. I’ve read four now and even though I love their light hearted romance, there’s nothing revolutionary about them. This was the very first Dessen book I ever read, which is why it holds such a big place in my heart. But if you’ve read her other work, don’t expect anything too different with this one.

Oh, and by the way. Remy’s friends are kind of terrible??? I don’t remember them being that bitchy the first time around, but DAMN. Really wanted to slap her friend Chloe in the face a few times. Just saying.

FINAL WORD

Loved it! Another light hearted romance that brings the humor and is easy to relate to. DIBS ON DEXTER.