Which Brings Me to You, Steve Almond
Which Brings Me to You, Steve Almond
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
Club: $11.47

Which Brings Me to You
A Novel in Confessions

Author: Steve Almond, Julianna Baggott

Narrator: Renée Raudman, Kirby Heyborne

Unabridged: 9 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/16/2024


Synopsis

Now a major motion picture starring Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff.A pair of romantic flameouts meet at a dull wedding and wind up entwined in a deserted coatroom. Shockingly, Jane and John decide not to have sex. Instead, they embark on a far more dangerous endeavor: sharing the stories of their past love affairs. They tell each other everything, aiming for radical honesty over polished seduction. Jaded as they may be, these two sense that they just might be soulmates.Which Brings Me to You, cowritten by bestselling authors Julianna Baggott (Pure, Harriet Wolf’s Seventh Book of Wonders) and Steve Almond (Candyfreak, All the Secrets of the World), is “poignant and meaningful...fresh and intriguing...a great story.”—Booklist. It has been brought to the screen by director Peter Hutchings (The Hating Game).

About Steve Almond

Steve Almond is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Candyfreak and Against Football. His essays and reviews have been published in venues ranging from The New York Times Magazine to Ploughshares to Poets & Writers, and his short fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories, The Pushcart Prize, Best American Mysteries, and Best American Erotica. He teaches creative writing at the Neiman Fellowship at Harvard and Wesleyan and lives with his family in Arlington, Massachusetts.

About Julianna Baggott

Julianna Baggott is a poet and the author of several novels for adult readers, including Girl Talk, The Madam, and The Miss America Family, as well as Which Brings Me to You, cowritten with Steve Almond. As the pseudonymous N. E. Bode, she has written The Slippery Map, The Anybodies, The Nobodies, and The Somebodies. She lives with her family in Tallahassee, Florida.

About Renée Raudman

Renée Raudman, a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator, is an actress who has performed in film, television, radio, and on stage.

About Kirby Heyborne

Kirby Heyborne is an accomplished actor, musician, and comedian. He has received critical acclaim for his starring roles in the award-winning World War II drama Saints and Soldiers, the lighthearted family comedy The R.M., the award-winning boy-band mockumentary The Sons of Provo, and the award-winning quixotic comedy Pirates of the Great Salt Lake. He has had starring roles in thirteen features and many short films. Kirby has also appeared on the WB's Everwood and many national commercials. Recently, Kirby was seen as a recurring character on the hit FOX sitcom Free Ride. Kirby has received a number of AudioFile Earphones Awards for excellence in audiobook narration. He has narrated such titles as Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, Breathers by S. G. Browne, and The Genius by Jesse Kellerman. Kirby is a cofounder and director of the celebrated Los Angeles-based improv comedy group The Society. Also a successful musician, Kirby has released four solo albums and has had his music featured in many films. Kirby has delighted audiences across the country with his ability to blend heart-warming stories, beautiful music, and comedic wit.


Reviews

Goodreads review by kthread on October 04, 2008

I have always thought the opening sentence of a book is the author's best pickup line pitched at the reader. More so, then, in a book where well-constructed paragraphs hold the explicit promise of intimate relations--that, at least, is the premise of this post-postmodern epistolary novel where the t......more

Goodreads review by Michael on August 05, 2014

John and Jane meet at a wedding and find themselves instantly attracted to each other. When their attempted tryst in the coat room goes awry, the two decide there could be something more to them than just a post-wedding fling and decide to try something different -- writing confessional letters abou......more

Goodreads review by itsallaboutbooksandmacarons on December 23, 2023

Embarking on this auditory journey, I found myself captivated by the allure of a world illuminated by letters. The storyteller skillfully transported me back in time, painting vibrant scenes with words that spoke of a bygone era. Each letter carried a weight of emotion, weaving a tapestry of connecti......more

Goodreads review by Krista✨🪩 on January 24, 2024

This really just didn’t do it for me. The letters back and forth being 95% of the book just didn’t keep me interested. Then when they did meet back up it was awkward. It just didn’t seem line they actually liked each other the way the author kept trying to make them. It felt very forced. Not to ment......more

Goodreads review by Michelle on January 08, 2024

Written in the form of letters between the main characters, who almost hooked up in the coatroom at a wedding but decided to get to know each other first, Which Brings Me to You tells the romantic history of the two, prior to their meeting. I did like the idea of getting to know each other first, an......more


Quotes

“Sexy, funny, and touching…provides keen insights into sex, love, and coming to terms with one’s own unruly imperfections. A winner.” Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The writing is piercing, funny, and emotional. Baggott…and Almond’s…collaboration makes for a delightful and robust work that readers will not be able to put down as they savor every messy confession.”
Library Journal, starred review

“Sharp humor and insights into the modern psyche pervade the book.’‘ Publishers Weekly

“Coauthored by pop culture darlings Baggott and Almond, this is a
surprisingly poignant and meaningful read…a no-baloney, no-holds-barred, show-me-your-soul roll in the emotional hay. No gimmick here, just a great story.” Booklist

“A clever and touching exploration of love and longing…an intriguing mix
of funny, rueful, poignant, and erotic.” The Hartford Courant

“Their two-sided tell-all details the pitfalls of modern love and is sprinkled with death, love, punk bands, and nasty run-ins with postal carriers. Which Brings Me to You is sure to be the most insightful and intelligently written novel you’ve read in quite some time.” BookPage

“Enormously satisfying…coauthors Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott expertly capture the swooning optimism hiding in letters that are often arch or even glib…it is the bright and funny writing, even in the telling of sad stories, that makes the book great reading.” MSNBC

“Page-turning reading.” NPR, Here & Now

“The constant mix of sweet and sour, of heart-swelling romance and smart-ass banter is the official language of Modern Urban Singledom. The bestselling author duo (he of Candyfreak, she of Girl Talk) make fine use of the epistolary form—with a few funny postal mishaps lending a hip meta touch. Their couple’s distinct voices and push-pull dynamic are terrifically engaging. A-."
Entertainment Weekly

“Coauthored by pop-culture darlings Baggott and Almond, this is a surprisingly poignant and meaningful read. The epistolary novel is nothing new, but here the form seems fresh and intriguing. The two letter writers, Jane and John, meet at a wedding and decide to become each other’s confidantes, confessing all the foibles and deep pains of their meaningful romantic relationships to the present. The letters that result are intense and emotional and reveal a dark and sad side to both love and sexuality for those finding themselves single in their thirties today. From relationships that seem to be little more than sexual fireworks to those that are so tender they border on schmaltzy, John and Jane tell each other all the things that they’ve found in their love lives. In the end, and not surprisingly, this unburdening becomes the crux of their own relationship—a no-baloney, no-holds-barred, show-me-your-soul roll in the emotional hay. No gimmick here, just a great story.” Booklist