Audiobook Review: Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Title: Two-Way Street
Author: Lauren Barnholdt
Narrator: Cassandra Morris
Published: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Length: 6 hrs 55 mins
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other.

This just happens to be my very favorite type of audiobook - a YA contemporary story with a light, fun romance aspect.  I've definitely been on a YA contemp kick lately, especially when it comes to audios.  I simply adore them.  So light, fluffy, silly, romantic and fun.  It's exactly what I need while on the road.

The whole premise of this story was right up my alley!  Courtney and Jordan, high school sweethearts, happy as can be.  They end up getting into the same college and plan to drive together for orientation.  Right before the trip, Jordan breaks up with Courtney for a girl he met on the Internet.  Poor Courtney.  She doesn't want to go on the trip anymore, begging her parents for a flight instead... but her parents insist that she already agreed to go, and therefore she needs to follow through with her commitments.  Seriously?!  Poor Courtney .. I can almost feel her pain...

Two-Way Street was fabulous.  With the flip-flop between Courtney and Jordan, it really helped see the whole picture.  It was awesome getting to hear both sides, especially when they were dealing with their friends.  Aside from Courtney being absolutely adorable and lovable from the start, she was also childish, naive, insecure and over-analyzed almost every aspect of her life.  This quirk of hers made several scenes in the story laugh-out-loud funny!  Jordan was equally fun-loving and adorable himself, struggling with issues of his own, including the fact that he was still in love with Courtney.

It was really refreshing to read such a realistic story.  And the narrator... oh my gosh!  She was perfect!  She totally rocked Courtney.  She talked and acted exactly how I pictured her.  My only complaint was the narrator's lack of voice change when she was reading for Jordan.  I got confused a couple times, forgetting that it was Jordan talking and not Courtney.  But I was so in love with her as Courtney that I was able to overlook this and enjoy the story regardless.

I would absolutely recommend Two-Way Street to readers who enjoyed Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.  If you're an audio reader, definitely try this one.  I thought the narrator added a lot to it, making Courtney so lifelike it was impossible not to love.