Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Not So Sincerely, Yours
SERIES: For Him, Book 2
AUTHOR: A.M. Johnson
NARRATOR: Kirt Graves and Aaron Shedlock
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 10 hours and 17 minutes
RELEASE DATE: October 19, 2021
BLURB:
Ethan,
About last night . . . I could blame the bourbon. I could say I let things get out of hand, that I should have never called you, but I’m done lying to myself-to you. I know what you’re going to say. You’re not very good at keeping your opinions to yourself, but this can’t happen. It’s inappropriate, at best. I’m your boss. Not to mention, you’re clearly still hung up on him. I’m not a consolation prize.
Anders~
Anders,
You didn’t think it was inappropriate when you had your tongue down my throat, but I digress. As for your accusation, I’m not the only one stuck in the past, but at least I’m not running from it. I can’t believe I’m about to say this . . . Maybe you’re right. You shouldn’t have called me. Especially if you never intended to own it. Own that you wanted it to happen. Admit that you wanted me.
Not so sincerely, Yours
Contains mature themes.
REVIEW:
As I mentioned in my review of Love Always, Wild, Book One in A.M. Johnson’s For Him series, I initially read this series out of order, starting with this book, Not So Sincerely, Yours. I started from the beginning when listening to the audiobooks, though, so I experienced the series in the order in which it was intended. You absolutely can read each book as a standalone, though, without much difficulty.
Having read the books in order and out of order, I still reach the same conclusion: Not So Sincerely, Yours is the shining star of this series so far. I struggled with Wild’s character in Love Always, Wild, but I had no such difficulty here. Ms. Johnson creates accessible, likable, relatable characters in Ethan and Anders. You can feel the sexual tension between them like a taut bowstring just waiting for the inevitable snap. And snap it does. 🔥🔥🔥🧯🧯🧯
Ethan and Anders are complete opposites, at least superficially. However, Ms. Johnson shows us that they surprisingly have many things in common. This includes similar burdens that weigh them down, like prior relationships that linger. Ms. Johnson brought their fascinating, complex dynamic to life, seamlessly moving these two men from enemies to lovers, despite the improbability of that event. The dialogue and especially the emails, from which the title hearkens, overflow with sexy, swoony passion and some serious snark. Not So Sincerely, Yours represents Ms. Johnson’s best work to date, exhibiting excellent, emotionally nuanced, and impactful writing in a captivating story arc.
The audiobook solidifies my view of the Not So Sincerely, Yours book itself. Although I’m not sure it necessarily improves on it because the bar is set high, it proves to be a solid companion media which rounds out the characters and their interactions.
In a switch from the first book in the series, Love Always, Wild, Aaron Shedlock replaces Tim Paige as narrator alongside Kirt Graves, who returns with his slight southern drawl, narrating Ethan. Admittedly, I felt the loss of Mr. Paige’s voice on this audio, especially in light of my effusive praise for Mr. Paige’s excellent vocal performance as Jax in Love Always, Wild. Mr. Shedlock has big shoes to fill here, and as a new-to-me narrator, he faces a challenge.
I’m pleased to say, though, that Mr. Shedlock establishes himself as a solid, skilled narrator through his invested vocal performance of Anders. He gets all the fundamentals right. His pacing and tone suit Anders, and he infuses his delivery with emotional connection. He also uses emphasis and inflections well, highlighting the texture of the narrative.
Mr. Graves gives a powerful performance in Love Always, Wild. Here, he again brings his evident skill and intuitiveness to the audio booth for Not So Sincerely, Yours. Mr. Graves has an easy way of telling a story and making it accessible to the listener. He reels you in with his charm and casual tone.
My only “complaint” about the vocal performances from both narrators, derives from dynamics that lack the intensity that this story demands. Anders and Ethan’s relationship starts from Wild and Jax’s pre-wedding party. Anders commits a verbal faux-pas during the party concerning Jax’s disabled brother Jay, inciting Ethan’s ire. Ethan has drunken sex with his boyfriend in Anders’ bathroom, infuriating Anders. After the party, Ethan and Anders have a hostile relationship. Right from the beginning, these two men have strong feelings about (if not for) each other, provoking extreme reactions.
Then, as Ethan and Anders’ relationship progresses, they improbably become boss/employee, then flirting friends, sliding into lovers, and then more. Their journey is volatile and emotional, with a lot of intense, even conflicted, feelings. That warrants an attuned vocal expression of the myriad emotions these two men experience, calibrated to the depth of their feelings. Mr. Graves’ and Mr. Shedlock came close, but didn’t quite hit the mark there, in my opinion.
That being said, both Mr. Graves and Mr. Shedlock deliver skilled, enjoyable performances that are easy to listen to and engage with. They breathe life into Ms. Johnson’s story. Their more than capable vocal performances, coupled with Ms. Johnson’s excellent story and writing, result in an audiobook worth a listen or two.
RATING: 
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