This is my first listen to K.L. Walther, author of a series of entertaining YA novels all set in the Northeastern USA.
In her latest effort, “Maybe Meant To Be,” Charlie Carmichael and Sage Morgan are inseparable friends that everyone assumes are meant to be. Sage, however, has secretly started kissing Charlie’s twin brother, Nick. Meanwhile, Charlie, who has been serially dating all the eligible young women at Bexley boarding school, is secretly pining for the new boy at school, Luke Morrisey. As Charlie and Luke begin to spend more time together, Sage sees the opportunity to spend quality time with Nick, and they begin a secret relationship. When Charlie and Luke suddenly become more than friends, Charlie’s fears of what others may think of their relationship weigh heavily on his mind and cause friction in their relationship. Sage soon learns of Charlie’s predicament and vows to keep the boys’ relationship a secret, causing a rift between herself and Nick. Charlie and Sage then rely on their lifelong friendship to weather the storm that comes their way.
The storyline is straightforward and mostly dialogue-driven. From the very first chapter, listeners are fully immersed in the world of Bexley boarding school, the central characters, and their varying personalities. The story itself, although charming and engaging, is quite predictable. Seeing as the characters are so likeable, it would have been more interesting to have an open-ended conclusion, potentially leading to a sequel and further adventures with these characters outside the walls of Bexley.
Narrators Alexa Elmy and Graham Halstead deliver very engaging and upbeat performances of Sage and Charlie, realistically portraying the characters’ formidable adolescent bond with a great range of emotion and drama. If you’re in search of a heartfelt coming-of-age YA story filled with charm, memorable characters, and entertaining narrators, don’t hesitate to give this a listen!
