Until It's Time to Go

By: Connie Bailey

Narrated by: Peter B. Brooke

When a tragedy derailed his life, screenwriter Isaac Zevin became a recluse. Between the cheesy straight-to-video action scripts and his drinking problem, he's surprised to get a call from Tony Kendall, the award-winning director he was slated to work with just before he fell off the map. After some persuading, Isaac agrees to help Tony realize his modernized vision of The Picture of Dorian Gray.

On set, Isaac is horrified to find the lead role filled by heartthrob superstar Colby Lightner, an actor Isaac believes embodies everything that's wrong with Hollywood. Colby, on the other hand, couldn't be happier to work with Isaac and resolves to make Isaac like him. As Isaac deals with his unwelcome attraction to Colby and the stress of writing a script during production, Laith, his troubled godson, shows up at his door looking for help. Isaac knows if he turns his back on the boy, he'll never forgive himself. But how can he juggle his craft, his crush, and his godson's problems when he can't even take care of his cat?

©2013 Connie Bailey (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

Good listen

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It is told mostly from Isaac's POV, although there are a couple of other character's POV scattered in there. Isaac is a broken man after the tragic death of his fiancée. He handles it in self-destructive behavior and acerbic wit to push people away. His only close relations are his godson, his best friend, and a cat named Pumpkin. Colby is a well known in the closet actor, who is 11 years younger and falls into lust with Isaac. This is not a lovey dovey story; most of it is about Isaac getting over his partner's death and reengaging in society.

Both characters are not instantly likeable and could rub some readers/listeners wrong. In addition, the narrator (who is one of my favorites) chose to give Isaac a sometime grating voice, which I liked, but others may not. I thought it suited Isaac's personality, but it sometimes sounded like a grouchy old man. I liked this couple because they are both so flawed.

That said, I didn’t buy them as a couple; they just didn’t seem to have any chemistry. However, Isaac’s journey alone makes this worth a credit. On a side note, I have no idea what the book cover art has to do with the story. It looks like there might be some BDSM in the story, which there is not.

Worth the time

I really enjoy a book with interesting character's and this book has a good mix of well developed chatacters.
Along with a good storyline to kept me reading.

Snarky love

all the angst is in the prologue. cute story but moments that could have been heartrending just weren't taken that far. pleasant listen.

It wasn't worth it.

What disappointed you about Until It's Time to Go?

The characters were empty although the main character might have been interesting if the narration wasn't so horrible. The plot was mediocre.

Has Until It's Time to Go turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Peter B. Brooke?

Anyone. The narration ruined any chance of making the book likable. The nasal voice for the main character was so off-putting.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Until It's Time to Go?

The last intimate scene was not terribly sexy.

Any additional comments?

The Colby character was impossible to understand why he would be interested in the main character. Colby was like an empty shell of a character.