One of my favorite author/narrator combos! I personally think Karen White narrating Julie James is one of the most perfect pairings – James’ prose delivered in that smart, sassy, humorous way just does it for me, and how James moves the protagonists in this book from rivals to lovers worked so well – and the side-splitting antics they go through make the book truly delightful.
Practice Makes Perfect pits two lawyers, eight-year associates in their firm, against each other. Payton and J.D. joined the firm at the same time, so they are up for partner at the same time as well. Suddenly they learn that there is a place for only one of them as partner in their department in order to keep from pushing older lawyers out, and it’s game on for these two competitors.
From the first day they met, they established a rivalry when something Payton said to J.D. was interpreted as an insult, and they’ve spent eight years hating one another and playing tricks and otherwise trying to trip up the other. Payton was raised by a single hippie vegan mom, and Payton herself is vegetarian and liberal; J.D. comes from Old Money, Republican and traditional in every way. Of course, the chemistry between them is so electric it’s funny that everyone but them is aware of it.
James puts them in the most hysterical predicaments – I found myself laughing out loud several times. One of the many funny highlights of the book takes place in a cab, when J.D.’s best friend Tyler tries to convince him to use Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to woo Payton, and the cabbie chimes in with his opinion of the plot of P&P as well. And James builds the tension slowly, so slowly, that it takes almost to the end of the book before you even get a glimmer of hope they’ll resolve their differences. When I first read it, I kept wondering how they would pull the relationship together in light of the threat that one of them would have to leave the firm, and I still love the resolution!
Karen White shines with contemporary romantic comedy. Her perfect pacing, her comedic timing, her ability to deliver the dry wit as well as the slapstick situations all make this a truly wonderful experience. She creates complete characters for all the many people in the story, from their smarmy boss Ben to the various clerks and secretaries to the Jane Austen fan cab driver. But don’t get the idea that the book is farce – there are also true emotions and a wonderful grand gesture/grovel at the end. It’s a true 5-star experience, not to be missed.
Melinda
Narration: A
Book Content: A
Steam Factor: Glad I had my earbuds in
Violence: None
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Tantor Audio
I discovered Julie James in print with Practice Makes Perfect and she immediately went to the top of my favorite contemporary romance authors list. Then to see it recorded with Karen White’s perfectly suited style made it one of my all time favorite romance audiobooks. It remains my favorite James title as well. I absolutely adore this book!
Thanks so much Melinda and Vicky! You know I look forward to Julie’s books every year. I think PMP would be a great warmup to Julie’s new book coming out in June, SUDDENLY ONE SUMMER. Although there are a few character connections to the FBI/US Attorney series, it’s characters are not part of that cohort and is definitely contemporary romance instead of romantic suspense, and works as a standalone. Victoria is a divorce lawyer and Ford is a journalist, and they BOTH have good reasons to have issues with commitment, which creates problems, as you can imagine!
Can’t wait! I’m doing the JJ/KW marathon now.
I love Julie James and Karen White! What a perfect pairing they are. I think this book was the first of that duo I listened to and with it I was hooked.
Melinda don’t you think “the side-splitting antics” could be interchanged with “skirt splitting antics”? I laugh every time I think of that scene – listening to it is even better. :D
Good one, Brenda!
Too funny! and yeah, I laughed again – but you know this time, the cab driver rhapsodizing about Pride and Prejudice got me going even more than any other scene. I need to put this on my Read Once a Year list!
Julie James/Karen White never get it wrong………..a great romance duo to be sure. Sexiest Man Alive and Practice Makes Perfect shoved me through the door of contemporary romance…..It’s funny how something like a MMPB left in a hotel can change one’s reading experience. The audios just enhance the greatness that is Julie James.
Thanks for the terrific review!