Who We Are

By: TJ Klune

Narrated by: Charlie David

Bear, Otter, and the Kid survived last summer with their hearts and souls intact. They've moved into the Green Monstrosity, and Bear is finally able to admit his love for the man who saved him from himself.

But that's not the end of their story. How could it be?

The boys find that life doesn't stop just because they got their happily ever after. There's still the custody battle for the Kid. The return of Otter's parents. A first trip to a gay bar. The Kid goes to therapy, and Mrs. Paquinn decides that Bigfoot is real. Anna and Creed do... well, whatever it is Anna and Creed do. There are newfound jealousies, the return of old enemies, bad poetry, and misanthropic seagulls. And through it all, Bear struggles to understand his mother's abandonment of him and his brother, only to delve deeper into their shared past. What he finds there will alter their lives forever and help him realize what it'll take to become who they're supposed to be.

Family is not always defined by blood. It's defined by those who make us whole - those who make us who we are.

©2013 TJ Klune (P)2013 TJ Klune

Once again amazing

It’s been hard to make myself work while listening to this series. I love all the characters. Reading it is like being inducted into a family, one you love and cry right along beside. Looking forward to Ty’s story next.

Amazing sequel - new narrator - still awesome!

This is not a standalone. LOL. It’s book two of 4? – for now 3.

We met everyone in book one and Bear and Otter had just gotten together and told Creed and Anna. Now it’s time to tell the parents. (I gotta tell you that scene made me laugh out loud so often my husband had to Shush me!)

There’s more angst regarding the Kid and his mother. We also meet Dominic (who is one of my favorite characters in this series!)

Anna and Creed have some important news and we are faced we a HUGE crisis near the end of the book – HUGE.

I liked this story a lot more than I liked book one because it felt more grounded, to me was funnier, it had a more emotional and physical connection between Otter and Bear and seemed to address what felt like actual issues than just the stuff in Bear’s head. (Also it’s shorter and felt more tightly edited – but that could be in my head.)

That being said, I really liked book one, too! And I think I liked Sean Crisden’s narration a lot better than Charlie David’s. It’s not that Charlie does a bad job, he’s an amazing voice actor/actor/narrator but to me Otter needed the deeper voice and Bear’s should have been less growly. Also I wanted something a lot different for Dominic than we got. I thought his Mrs. Paquin was hysterical though and the family dinner scene with “dranken” Bear was SPOT ON!

So… it’s not that he didn’t do a good job, it’s just that I liked Sean’s a bit better.

In any case, if you’re a fan of audiobooks you’ll still want to listen to this because it’s great and funny and sweet and tear-jerking and wonderful! Also, the book is good too if you don’t like audiobooks.

Highly Recommended.

The story was great, but the narration just good.

The story itself was just as amazing as the first. Lots of great moments. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I got happy. TJ Klune really knows how to check all the boxes. Undoubtedly one of my favorite authors. But, the narration from Charlie David while not being terrible, wasn't as smooth or enjoyable as the first guy in the previous book. He did some amazing work, like during the dinner scene with the families all together. I thought he did very well in that part and many others. but overall, it just didn't sound as good. There were some pauses that seemed out of place. Phrases that didn't sound like they were said correctly. Just some small things. Definitely still worth a listen, and no hate to Charlie, he still did good. Also, there was one part early on where you can hear a page turn. I thought that was kinda funny.

Another great installment

Would you listen to Who We Are again? Why?

I think I prefer the first book, but it was simply for narrative reasons. TJ Klune is a fantastic writer. However, I'm not a fan of Charlie David's narration. Pretentious pronunciation and a rather annoyingly terriblly awful and unnatural British accent for a character who wasn't previously British.

What other book might you compare Who We Are to and why?

There's really nothing to compare it to, besides its predecessor. The main character's narration is wonderfully verbal and neurotic. Its so deliciously funny!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Charlie David?

The previous narrator for Bear, Otter and The Kid. He did a fantastic job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's very long, which makes it rather impossible. But, if I could, I would have eaten it up in one sitting.

4.5 Stars 🌟

This is the second book in the series that introduced us to Bear and The Kid (lest us not forget that Otter is also part of this trio). I'm not exactly sure why, but I enjoyed this book even more than the first book. It is still told from Bear's perspective, but there is finally a little bit of stability in the lives of Bear and the Kid.

They have moved into the Green Monstrosity and we get to see everyone's life progress from the utter mess that it was in the beginning. No, things are not perfect. Yes, there is still a whole lot of crap that has to be dealt with but somehow, I was invested. BOY was I invested.

I don't even know how to explain this, but somehow Mr. Klune seems to have a direct line that somehow sinks directly into my heart. He does this EVERY SINGLE Time.

Without going into spoilers, let's just say that there are parts of this book that grabbed me and grabbed me HARD. Honestly, I should just expect it by now. He has a way of making me FEEL each and every emotion with his writing. This book was no different. Just when we felt like things might be leveling out and maybe, just maybe, that things might be on the upswing....NOPE. That should be my warning bell that I needed to stay close to a box of Kleenex's. And boy oh boy did I freaking need those Kleenex's.

UGH....Every. Single Time.

Would I have wanted to not read this book in order to not feel the feels? Absolutely not. It was worth every word. Every single freaking tear. I do not know how he does it, but I have fallen completely and utterly in love with Bear and with Otter and with the Kid.

Truly and utterly in love.

Now, I have to go because I need to read the next book in this series. Heavan help me, I'm not sure if I can take it, but I can't even contemplate not knowing what is coming next.

Loved It! Great Addition to Series

I thought Charlie David did an excellent job narrating this story in the series. Excited to listen to next book in series.

Great sequel, great & not-so-great narration

At just I was thinking “wow! Is this so much funnier than the first book because of the narrator, the author, or both?” I’d say the answer is both, but I give a good deal of credit to the narrator for his comic reading. What I didn’t like was that sometimes his pronunciation was way off, like saying egregious as “e-gregarious.” I heard papers shuffling sometimes. I didn’t like the unrealistic British accent he gave Mrs. Paquinn, who is not even a Brit. Other than that, I loved his narration and blame his producer for not directing and editing him better. Overall, great book worth listening to!

Another winner with BOAK

What did you love best about Who We Are?

The Kid!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The kid and his wisdom and humor.

What does Charlie David bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great voices

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the kid actually becomes a kid when 2 of the characters are in the hospital. Also when Bear yells at God by the ocean.

Loved it

Ok let me start by saying at first book didn't think I liked series. But gave it a chance and don't regret it I love this series and am looking forward to third book!!!!!

Great Book!

Would you consider the audio edition of Who We Are to be better than the print version?

Did not read print.

What did you like best about this story?

Humor and emotional depth of characters,

What aspect of Charlie David’s performance would you have changed?

Sounded too effeminate.

Who was the most memorable character of Who We Are and why?

I love Otter. He sounds so sexy!!!!

Any additional comments?

This book was very well written. I never got bored and was always eager to pick it back up when I had to stop listening. I have listened to it three times. When I need to relax or distract myself from the stresses of life, I just listen to the story and escape into a world full of humor, love, and romance.