Audiobook review: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday
Archie and his friends, Effie and Simon, take an annual trip for a fortnight every September. It’s a chance to reconnect and unwind. Their friendship transcends titles and backgrounds because the men are open and honest with themselves and each other. The author opens Earls Trip with a quote from the TV show Ted Lasso, referring to his group of guy friends, the Diamond Dogs. I can see how this group formed the foundation for Earls Trip. They have a rare friendship, even by today’s standards. They share fears and joys; they rely on one another for advice and support. I adore how close they are, and their friendship creates a calmness that permeates the entire story.
After Clementine called off her betrothal, she was shocked to discover her younger sister Olive skipped town to elope with her ex, Theo. Determined to save Olive from a horrible man, she tracks down the pair; meanwhile, their father asks Archie to save his daughters from ruination. Luckily, the situation resolves itself fairly quickly, and the Morgan sisters join the Earls on their vacation.
Earls Trip is such a lovely romance. Clem and Archie are childhood friends that grew apart and then circumstances bring them together again. Their friendship deepens to something nearly perfect, because Archie is nearly perfect. He loves with his whole heart and is utterly accepting of his friends just as they are. Stuck unchaperoned in an ancient castle, the group becomes very good friends during their short time together. I enjoyed seeing different characters expose themselves to their friends and lean on the group for support. While the characters are way too forward thinking for the times, the juxtaposition of the historical setting with the modern friendship works for me.
Clementine is a staunch vegetarian and is determined never to marry. Overly aware of her stances, Archie first tries to show her aspects about himself to explain why he enjoys activities she does not (hunting). Then he realizes he’d rather give up hunting than see her hurt. He loves her so much, although he’s not aware of it. He’s so respectful of her wishes that he’ll take whatever he can of her. This broke my heart because he has such feelings for her and will do what she asks, even if it hurts him.
Narration: The story is shared in the alternating third person POVs of Clementine and Archie. Frost narrates both POVs in a proper British upper class accent. He slightly alters his cadence and tone for each character’s dialogue. While the differences weren’t noticeable at first, I found after a few chapters that I could easily identify most characters from his performance alone. He adjusts the dialogue based on gender, age, and socio-economic background. Overall, his voice is pleasant and soothing, although he successfully adds urgency and emotion when called for.
I enjoyed the romance in equal parts as the bond of friendship. Earls Trip is fun and emotionally satisfying. I was brought to tears by a touching scene near the conclusion of the book that will speak to anyone who has lost a loved one to dementia. Earls Trip is an utterly delightful story that put a smile on my face and left my heart a bit lighter.
My Ratings
Story: A-
Narration: B+
Jen
About the Book:
The first in a sparkling Regency-era series with a delightfully modern feel, set against the irresistible backdrop of an annual trip taken by three handsome earls . . .
Even an earl needs his ride-or-dies, and Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt, counts himself lucky to have two. Archie (the jock), Simon (the nerd), and Effie (the goth) have been BFFs since their school days, and their annual trip holds a sacred spot in their calendars. This year, Archie is especially eager to get away—until an urgent letter arrives from an old family friend, begging him to help prevent a ruinous scandal. Archie’s childhood pal Olive Morgan must be rescued from an ill-fated elopement—and her sister Clementine must be rescued from rescuing Olive. Suddenly the trip has become earls-plus-girls.
This . . . complicates matters. The fully grown Clementine, while as frank and refreshing as Archie remembers, is also different to the wild, windswept girl he knew. This Clem is complex and surprising—and adamantly opposed to marriage. Which, for reasons Archie dare not examine too closely, he finds increasingly vexing.
Then Clem makes him an indecent and quite delightful proposal, asking him to show her the pleasures of the marriage bed before she settles into spinsterhood. And what kind of gentleman would he be to refuse a lady?
Author: Jenny Holiday
Narrator: Harry Frost
Series: Earls Trip #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Audiobook Release Date: May 7, 2024
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins
Source: publisher
Audio Speed: 1.3x
Purchase info:
Audible/Amazon (affilate link)