Written in the Stars

By: Alix Bekins

Narrated by: Peter B. Brooke

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Bailey McMillan's life is a mess. The general public blames him for his former employer's nuclear pollution, resulting in professional disgrace. Humiliated, he takes a job as an editor at a science magazine run by his best friend, John.

That part isn't so bad; Bailey is fond of John, who seems to find Bailey's abrasive nature amusing. Unfortunately, working for John also leads to writing an astrology column in exchange for getting free rein in some op-ed articles, and then being sued over one. The (totally coincidental) accuracy of the column offers opportunity for further professional disgrace if anyone discovers its author. And then Bailey digs himself a little deeper.

In an attempt to prove astrology is bogus, he agrees to an experiment to date someone from each star sign. As if that weren't bad enough, Bailey's got a stupid crush on John, who stubbornly insists on a detailed breakdown of every date, bad and otherwise. Bailey's luck has to improve sometime, right?

©2012 Alix Bekins (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

Great fun

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It has fun, witty characters and the narrator was awesome. Bailey is brilliant scientist in love with his own mind. That should annoy me, but he is so wonderfully clueless and has a good heart. However, that doesn't stop him from believing that geologist are "glorified miners" and biology is too inexact to be a "real science." He is hysterical as he laments to not having enough minions to do his bidding while he saves the scientific community. The story revolves around his bet with his best friend to prove that astrology is crap and has no scientific merit. This book should really be called 12 dates, as that is how he sets out to prove it; and hilarity ensues. It is really well written and I was engaged the entire time. The narrator really does an awesome job. Mr. Brooke has always been one of my favorites and is really the reason I bought the book in the first place. He does a variety of accents and gives a perfect delivery of the sarcastic humor of Bailey and John and the various supporting characters. Just wonderful. Definitely worth a credit.

It could have been fun but...

Any additional comments?

Bailey is a pompous ass who is forced to write horoscopes by the scientific journal he works for. It’s totally beneath him and he hates it.
John is the editor of the journal and also Bailey’s best friend.

As an experiment Bailey agrees to date a variety of men from the different astrological signs and this is the story of all those horrible dates.

In the end John sets up himself as the final “date” because he’s always had an attraction for Bailey and wanted to prove to him just how good they’d be together.

**
There is a lot of really funny stuff. Alix Bekins clearly has a sharp mind and writes very witty dialog. I thought John was a dear and way too good for Bailey and I never, never, never liked Bailey. At. All.

So… it was hard for me to get behind his success in the dating department. Especially when he ends up having sex with some of his dates.

Call me old fashioned, but that just ruined this for me as a romance.

I wanted it to be all about Bailey and John and developing their relationship. But beyond showing us how un-suited all the other men were (and what a prick Bailey can be) I was never really convinced John deserved to be saddled with Bailey for all time.

Audio
Peter B Brooke did a nice job with the narration. He definitely added to my enjoyment and I probably enjoyed this more as an audiobook than if I’d been simply reading it.

Overall I give it 2.5 stars for humor, good writing and a nice narration, but can’t recommend it as a romance because it just wasn’t that believable or engaging on that front.

Starstruck

Where does Written in the Stars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks way up there.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bailey is my fav. He's intelligent with a dry wit who doesn't suffer fools gladly. I could be friends with him.

Which character – as performed by Peter B. Brooke – was your favorite?

Bailey again.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

This book surprised me. I came for the narrator but stayed for the story.

Light listening

An enjpoyable listen that didn't really demand much of the listener. If you want deep and meaningful this isn't the p[lace to find it but if you are looking for a bit of light distraction without mucg angst this is a good place to start.

A great read

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It has fun, witty characters and the narrator was awesome. Bailey is brilliant scientist in love with his own mind.