Carrie’s mini-review of a grumpy/sunshine couple raising a baby together –
Narrated by Glen Lloyd
Gideon Ellery had the perfect life. Nice house, great job, and a long-time boyfriend. Weeks after adopting his nephew, his boyfriend splits, leaving Gideon a single father to a newborn. Overwhelmed, sleep deprived, and unsure how to navigate fatherhood, he’s asked to return to the office. He’s overwhelmed and at his breaking point.
Toby Barlow is back in Sydney after three years of studying, travelling, and nannying in the UK. He needs work and a place to live, and the perfect solution drops in his lap. After all, caring for a sweet baby in a beautiful home owned by a gorgeous single man isn’t exactly terrible.
Gideon isn’t too keen to share his life with a stranger, but his need for help is too great. Sunshiny Toby isn’t prepared for a grumpy Gideon or his utterly adorable son, Benson. Or how easily he slots into their lives. And Gideon’s not prepared for how much he needs Toby.
Or how much he wants him.
Neither is prepared for the complications of falling in love.
To the Moon and Back is a low conflict romance with a grumpy/sunshine vibe that also has enough emotional depth to make it satisfying. N.R. Walker does an excellent job showing us Gideon’s sadness, exhaustion, and lack of confidence when he unexpectedly finds himself the single father of a newborn. He’s at his wit’s end when he agrees to hire a nanny. Toby shows up with a smile and a take-charge attitude, and is quickly able to soothe both father and child with his practical help and upbeat humor. As the weeks go by, the two men bond over their shared love for Benson and begin to spend more free time together eating, watching TV and becoming friends. As the lines between their professional and private lives begin to blur, both men face tough decisions about the future.
Glen Lloyd narrative skills are a perfect match for this story. He conveys the emotional content well in both the dialog and the narrative passages while still keeping the overall tone of the story upbeat. His voice for Toby is pitched a bit higher, with a little snark and playfulness added in which feels perfect for a children’s nanny. Gideon’s voice is slightly lower and more serious, and Lloyd aptly portrays both Gideon’s insecurities and his joy at being a dad.
To the Moon and Back may not break any new ground, but the author succeeds in freshening up the tropes with likable characters, snappy dialog and a satisfying amount of mutual pining. Glenn Lloyd’s capable narration brings the story to life, making this audiobook one that is sure to make you smile.
Carrie
Buy To the Moon and Back by N.R. Walker on Amazon
This sounds like a great comfort listen.
I loved Glen Lloyd’s narration of ‘Dearest Milton James’.
It was a sweet story, but with enough going on to engage my interest and keep it. And, yes, I loved Glen Llyod on the ‘Milton” book, and he is just as good here.