Leah on the Offbeat

Narrator Shannon Purser proves to be a great match for the wry, anxious, funny, self-deprecating, snarky, and longing inner voice of Leah (Simon's BFF in SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA). It's her senior year of high school, and Leah is dealing with a lot--from graduation worries to unrequited crushes. Her whiplashing emotions are always front and center for the listener, which feels endearing, exhausting, and relatable. While Purser taps right into the essence of Leah's character, she doesn't differentiate voices for other characters, and listeners may find themselves confused about who is speaking during scenes with unattributed dialogue. Still, the story is Leah's, and as prom approaches, listeners will worry right along with her about whether everything is, indeed, going to turn out okay. J.M.D. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine