Alex, Approximately

By: Jenn Bennett

Narrated by: Amy Melissa Bentley

Classic movie buff Bailey "Mink" Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by "Alex". Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.

Faced with doubts (what if he's a creep in real life - or worse?), Bailey doesn't tell Alex she's moved to his hometown. Or that she's landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she's being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth - a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she's starting to feel for Porter....

And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex...approximately.

©2017 Jenn Bennett (P)2017 Tantor

Normally don’t leave a review but felt compelled

I have listened to this several times now, and it’s just so well narrated. I have a hard time sinking into the story with a lot of narrators, but Amy Bentley does it so so well, especially for this story. Love the book, love the narration, 5 stars all around.

Nice twists, romance and dialogue

For a longer book, it kept my interest with few gratuitous plot lines. The main characters remain fun and confident despite their issues, and the setting was a great character in itself. There is sex, and it's handled in an indirect way that seems in keeping with the story, but still adds a nice splash of passion. I highly recommend this book, and only marked down the narration because while it was good, it wasn't age appropriate - it made the characters sound like they were in their 20's, not their teens.

Cute listen

I liked the story and characters! Very cute listen. This would make a very cute movie or series one day.

Great Read!

I loved it! if you dont want to know what happens in the book. DO NOT read the synopsis! In a way reading that little part that described the book ruined the ending for me, but it was still a great story! I did however fall in love with the characters. It was a great read!

Character development! Trauma recovery! Consent!

A book I'll definitely return to! Not only does Bailey fall in love, but she grows as a person, deals with trauma, and learns how to be a good friend & daughter. She has a whole world around her.
Also I really want to eat churros on the boardwalk now.
My main gripe with the narration is sometimes it's hard to tell whether Bailey is thinking something or saying out loud, which can be awkward, but usually you can figure it out from context.
Also don't judge it by its weird cover, which has nothing to do with anything.