The book team is switching things up a bit! While we usually review and recommend audiobooks in our monthly Sweet Listens column, we’re writing a full audiobook review today! Introducing Know Your Newlywed, an audiobook production by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor, and Elena Armas.
Know Your Newlywed stars a full cast of narrators, including Mary Mouser and Tyler Posey as our main characters, Cleo and Javi. This audiobook follows their relationship as they compete on a couples’ gameshow for newlyweds, despite only knowing each other for a short time.
We absolutely love the premise of Know Your Newlywed, and we think you all will, too! But if you haven’t gotten into audiobooks yet, we hope we can convince you to start. Here are three things we love about Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor, and Elena Armas!
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Book Overview: Know Your Newlywed
Content Warnings: mention of parent death, divorce
Summary: Cleo is a researcher with big dreams of a PhD in anthrozoology, and a guilty pleasure obsession with Know Your Newlywed, a decades-old gameshow where married couples compete by answering obscure questions about each other. She’s more invested in her career than in finding a relationship of her own, though—that is, until she comes across Javi’s dating app profile, which says he’s “looking for someone to win Know Your Newlywed with.”
Sparks fly, and when Cleo and Javi catch wind of a reboot of their beloved show, they apply on a whim, pretending to be newlyweds themselves. Before they know it, they’re cast as contestants, playing the part of smitten married couple better than they could’ve imagined. Their very real chemistry is impossible to ignore, and as the competition heats up, they quickly become America’s sweethearts. But how far can Cleo and Javi take their secret? And as they inch closer and closer to a life-changing cash prize, will the mounting pressure and their individual ambitions get in the way of their blossoming romance? Or is their connection strong enough to last once the cameras stop rolling?
The Refreshing Format
First, let us start by saying the format for Know Your Newlywed completely changed what we thought an audiobook could be. There usually tends to be one or two narrators reading the book, depending on how many POVs there are. Then they take on different voices during the dialogue, which is already an incredible feat. But this audiobook reads like a show and immerses us even more than we could’ve imagined. It feels like we’re standing next to Cleo and Javi or watching them from the live audience. We could definitely get used to more audiobooks like Know Your Newlywed.
Cleo And Javi’s Romance
Another thing we love about Know Your Newlywed is how much Cleo and Javi are fated to be together. They start talking on a dating app while Cleo waits at the Chicago airport on her way home to Boston. And they both have an obsession with the Know Your Newlywed gameshow from decades past. Imagine meeting someone who shares the exact same niche interest as you. If that’s not fate, then we don’t know what is! Cleo and Javi mesh together so well, and we could feel their romantic chemistry from miles away.
On-Screen Interactions
Speaking of chemistry, we especially adore whenever Cleo and Javi participated in the reboot of their favorite gameshow. Though it surprised them both that they passed the introductory rounds, no one could deny their relationship felt right. Even though they weren’t actually a newlywed couple, they kept it as real and honest as they could. Cleo and Javi didn’t need to put on much of an act because their feelings were absolutely real. Not only did they win us over as soon as they met for the first time, but they also won the hearts of thousands of viewers. (As they should!)
With a refreshing format and an immersive plot, Know Your Newlywed treats us to a delightful new rom-com and raises our standards for audiobook experiences!
Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor, and Elena Armas comes out December 10th, and you can order the audiobook here!
Did we convince you enough yet? What do you think of Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylor, and Elena Armas? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Interested in more book reviews? We got you!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HILLARY NUSSBAUM:
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEATHER TAYLOR:
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TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ELENA ARMAS:
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