Raise the Curtain

By: Kirby Hall

Narrated by: Amanda Stribling

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Seventeen-year-old Alexa Cross is desperate to get to Broadway, but when she receives a failing math grade, hopes of a scholarship disappear.

Now she'll need her father's help to achieve her dream. The only problem is he doesn't consider her choice of careers to be sensible, and after the pain her family has suffered, Alexa can't go against his wishes.

Trapped between a family she loves and her love of the stage, Alexa will have to find another way to achieve her dream or settle for what her father wants.

West Howell does his best to keep his head down and go unnoticed. It's easier to be cut off than to try to explain to people why he's so screwed up. After all, he can't afford to get into any more trouble.

When he's recruited to tutor the hot, prissy girl from math, he never expects to fall in love with her - or that she might be the one person who can relate to him.

Together, they may find a way to heal each other and get what they both desperately need, as long as Alexa's father doesn't decide the one thing worse than his daughter's love of the stage is her love for West.

©2016 Christina Kirby (P)2018 Christina Kirby

Loved This YA Romance!

When Alexa falls behind in her math class, her teacher assigns her a tutor to get her grade back up. The problem is her new tutor is West, the loner with an attitude who rubs Alexa the wrong way. Alexa's feelings for West are complicated by his doubts and the fact that her father disapproves of West. They need to overcome much more than Alexa's dad to finally be together.

This book really scratched my YA itch! It's told from alternating points of view, so we get to know both West and Alexa really well. I loved the characters, they're all well written and likable. There's an angsty loner boy with a troubled past, a talented and driven girl with an overbearing father, an adorable little brother, and a pair of supportive friends. I loved that West and Alexa didn't fall in insta-love, their relationship built over time and it felt real. The narrator's voice and style fit the story well. It was a really sweet YA read I'd recommend for teens on up, and I'll be keeping an eye out for more by this author! I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Bad Parenting 101

From start to finish, this book was mostly about the things parents can do to mess up their kids - intentional or not. The love story played within that backstory.

The talented but misunderstood rich girl and the hunky and equally misunderstood nowhere-near-rich boy meet and the fun ensues.

The narrator was really good, especially for a YA subject. Her portrayals rang true and that is much appreciated.

The parents get an education. The kids live HEA. And another YA book is enjoyed.

Sweet YA Romance

This was a cute and clean young adult romance. Set in a high school and shows the class clash that still happens in some places today, kind of a modern day Romeo and Juliette without the tragic ending. The narrator did a great job and I would recommend to the high school audience.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Terrific Story & Audible Listen🎧 4.5 Stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a terrific story, a great young adult romance novel that is well written and well told. The characters are complex and well developed. Alexa, dreams of being on a Broadway stage one day. She lives for theater, acts and sings in her schools productions. She also competed in regionals and her performance won first place. The one thing getting in the way of her dream of going to college in NY was math, well actually her failing grades. Her teacher assigns her a tutor, who happens to be West Howell, a boy in her class who she has had a couple of run in with, including him coming to her rescue after a car accident. Their meetings so far have been awkward and not very pleasant. The two are from different worlds but they have to make it work. They soon find out they have more in common then they thought. Kirby Hall did a great job capturing the life of a teenager, the challenges they face both in school and at home, the drama, the angst and young love. I loved how West faced Alexa’s father and he finally came to his senses. I highly recommend this entertaining young adult novel it is enjoyable and great for any age. Thank you for a great story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.

I listened to the Audible edition, narrated by the talented Amanda Stribling who once again knocks it out of the park. She is a wonderful storyteller and voice performer, who brings the character to life, giving each their own distinct voice and personality. It is always a pleasure to listen to her work. Thank you for another great listen🎧

Thank you 🎧@AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsessionReviewer

YA story

I believe YA would love this and adults as well. It does start of slow in my opinion but we get to know the characters and the people around them. This is a contemporary romance about problems, finding yourself and family.

YA Romance

I really wanted to love this book and it had great promise for a YA story.

Alexa is very mature, I will give her that, and her father doesn't let her make any decisions in her own life. Her dream is to be an actress and she enjoys theater in high school but her father doesn't think it's necessary. When Alexa gets a failing grade in Math he immediately forbids her to be in theater.

West is a quiet guy at school who keeps his head down and gets good grades so you know there's a story.

WONDERFUL YA ROMANCE/FAMILY STORY

This was a very sweet story about a young girl faced with many mature choices as she comes of age. She wants Broadway, but she also wants West, a guy who is pegged to tutor her in math after a failing grade and lost scholarship. She's torn between the wishes of her father, and her dreams in life. It was very well written and beautifully narrated, I enjoyed it very much and would love to read/listen to more from both author and narrator :)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

parents doesn't always know what's best

a very mature and lovely story about a girl that struggles between her dreams and the wishes of her father the story teaches us the listeners a lot I think it's the lovely young adult book Incredible story and very good narrator a great package deal
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Grieving together is better then alone

Loved that 2 broken soles could come together and make things work out better for both! Would of liked to of seen an epilogue, instead of the hault to the end! Narrators did a great job balancing characters and emotions! Over all great quick read!!!

Young love

This is a lovely story of young love and the trials and tribulations of a parent being over protective. Good characters. Good storyline. And a great performance from Amanda.
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