Never Just Friends

Narrator Emily Beresford channels two women's fraught emotions as they confront long-suppressed romantic feelings. Georgie and Madelyn, formerly lifelong best friends, are estranged at the time the two of them become stranded at a remote cabin in the Canadian Rockies after a snowstorm. Chapters alternate between Georgie's memories of their youthful friendship and current-day scenes at the cabin, told from Madelyn's perspective. Their young voices are reflected in Beresford's modified tone and pitch. In the present, her exuberant portrayals of the characters amplify their personalities as they grapple with potential changes in their relationship. At times, listeners may struggle to connect with the chemistry of the two lovers as Georgie's volatile reactions clash with Madelyn's placating responses. Nonetheless, the story ultimately earns its happily-ever-after. J.R.T. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine