This Is Where We Live

A Novel

By: Janelle Brown

Narrated by: Erik Davies, Phoebe Zimmermann

This Is Where We Live tells the story of Claudia and Jeremy, a young married couple (she’s an aspiring filmmaker, he’s an indie musician) who are on the verge of making it. Her first film was a sensation at Sundance and is about to have its theatrical release; he’s assembled a new band and is a few songs shy of an album. They’ve recently purchased their first home—an adorable mid-century bungalow with a breathtaking view of the city of Los Angeles—with the magical assistance of an adjustable-rate mortgage. But a series of seismic events—the tanking of Claudia’s film, the return of Jeremy’s ex-girlfriend, and the staggering adjustment of their monthly mortgage payments—deal a crushing blow to their dreams of the bohemian life and their professional aspirations and make them question their values and their shared vision of the future.

This Is Where We Live is a novel about the crucible of this economic moment—the way these times play with our hopes, compel us to reckon with our ambition, test our capacity for reinvention, and ask us to question the very things we love.

©2010 Janelle Brown (P)2010 Random House

Hard to listen to

I made it through but not sure how. The story line meanders and then it ends. True head scratcher. The readers voices really were tough to listen to - especially when the guy gives his wife’s perspective. 😬. The first audible I can’t recommend - from storyline to performance.

boring

struggled the entire book. did not want to finish. I held fast editing saddening yuk

it held my interest but....

I didn't like the male narrator, I would of preferred the female to do the whole book. I also hated the male character, he was weak and spinless. I couldn't feel for him at all.

Good but nothing to write home about

The book was pretty good, I mean it kept me entertained during my commute/work but found it to be very basic. Like the storyline and all i was not surprised by any of it. Some big words though so that was a nice learning experience!

Meh

I kept waiting for this story to become even mildly interesting...it never did. I finished it only because I felt too far invested to turn back. I couldn’t wait to get it over with and the ending solidified that sentiment.

Yawn. Forgettable (and that’s being kind). Don’t waste a credit.

like the novel; like the author

This is not what I usually read (hear). Read Pretty Things, liked it, then this one...like it more. Author's voice is credible to me and never pretentious. I like books that give me a look at places I've never been and will never see...sorts of people far from my orbit. This novel was engrossing and touching. Lots of insights into flawed humans and our blundering dealings with the world and with one another. The writing is intelligent and raw without cynicism.

One of the best books I’ve heard this year

I’ve bought far too many audio books this year due to COVID-19 and being shut in.

Author Janelle Brown’s “This is where we live” is among the top 5 of them.

A coming of age for 30 year olds; the recession of the early 2000s combine with adults who are having a hard time growing up and Los Angeles with all its artifice create a wonderful interplay.

Excellent narration this is one of the very few audio books where protagonists play well off each other. Having 2 narrators was quite necessary here.

Highly recommend a good listen that can capture your interest and hold it.

Good book but not so good ending

Not gonna spoil the story but the ending leaves much to be desired. Great book until the very end. I mean to just get back together after all that? Seriously?! I almost feel like the author ran out of steam at was like-the end.

I don't want to live here...

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. It was not an interesting listen. The story was weak and didn't really have any point.

Would you ever listen to anything by Janelle Brown again?

No.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes.

Do you think This Is Where We Live needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. It does not need any sort of followup. It needs a Lifetime movie.

ending is a low blow

It's like the book was on a "film budget" and the last pages were really supposed to be middle, but they ran out of money and had to wrap it up.