Okay, so I'm just gonna say it: I listened to this entire 12-hour audiobook during nap times and car line pickups, and I have zero regrets. Is Release Me groundbreaking literature? No. Did it make the endless wait for Emma's dance class fly by? Absolutely yes.
Look, I knew exactly what I was getting into. Billionaire hero, mysterious past, heroine who's supposed to be "strong-willed" but keeps making questionable decisions. It's the formula. And sometimes? The formula is exactly what you need when you've already broken up three sibling fights before 9 AM.
The Voice That Got Me Through Target Runs
Sofia Willingham's narration is... interesting. She's got this clear, easy-to-follow voice that works perfectly for multitasking moms like me. I could pause mid-scene to referee a toddler meltdown and come back without feeling completely lost. That's high praise in my world.
But here's the thing - she gets a little breathy sometimes. Like, we get it, Damien Stark is hot. You don't need to sound like you're hyperventilating every time he walks into a room. And during some of the more dramatic moments, she cranks up the intensity to eleven when a solid seven would've been fine. I actually snort-laughed in the school pickup line during one particularly overwrought scene. The mom next to me definitely thought I was losing it.
That said? For the steamy scenes (and there are MANY), her delivery works. She commits fully, which I respect. No awkward narrator energy here.
Yes, It's Basically That Other Book (And I'm Okay With It)
Let's address the elephant in the room. If you've read or listened to Fifty Shades or Bared to You, you're going to feel some serious déjà vu. Honestly, I got that same vibe from Romancing Mister Bridgerton, though that one's way less intense and more witty banter than brooding billionaire. Powerful billionaire with dark secrets? Check. Woman with her own traumatic past? Check. Intense physical chemistry that borders on obsessive? Double check.
But honestly? I didn't pick this up expecting originality. I picked it up because I needed something that would hold my attention during the chaos of my day without requiring me to remember seventeen character names and a complex political system. Mission accomplished.
The pacing does drag in spots - there's this whole subplot about Nikki's business venture that I kept zoning out during. But whenever the story started to lose me, J. Kenner would throw in another scene between Nikki and Damien that pulled me right back. The woman knows her audience.
The Stuff You Should Actually Know
Real talk: this book earns its mature rating. We're talking explicit content, BDSM dynamics, and some heavy themes around past trauma and abuse. If that's not your thing, this isn't the book for you. I listened with my AirPods in for a reason - the last thing I need is Lucas asking questions about what "submission" means.
Also, heads up that this is book one of a trilogy and it does NOT wrap up neatly. You're gonna want the next book ready to go. I may or may not have immediately downloaded Claim Me while sitting in my garage avoiding going inside. (Don't judge. That's sacred car time.)
Would I Recommend It?
For fans of the billionaire romance genre who want something engaging but not demanding? Yes. This is perfect for multitasking moms who need a book that survives constant interruptions. I paused this thing probably 50 times and never felt lost when I came back.
For anyone expecting something fresh and original? Maybe skip this one. It follows the formula pretty closely, and if you're burned out on the trope, this won't change your mind.
The audio quality is clean, no weird background noise or volume issues. I bumped it up to 1.25x speed and it worked great - Sofia Willingham's delivery handles the speed increase without getting garbled.
Satisfying ending? Well, it's a cliffhanger, so "satisfying" is relative. But it's the kind of cliffhanger that makes you want more, not the kind that makes you throw your phone. And at 12 hours, it gave me almost two weeks of escape during the daily chaos.
Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need a predictable escape with a hot billionaire and zero mental effort required. Car time approved.
