Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings #JustisBolding @recordedbooks

the setup…
Tilly Twomley is at a crossroad and she’s only 18-years old. The trouble is, that crossroad has a lot of intersections and she has no idea what she wants to do with her life. But Tilly knows it’s not the path her mother wants her to take, going to college and becoming a business success like her older perfect sister Mona. There’s no way she’s going that route after struggling through high school and her ADHD diagnosis but maybe her summer internship in London with Mona’s startup will help her figure it all out. Oliver Clark is quite the opposite, knowing exactly what he wants to do. Being autistic may have created difficulties for him socially but his exceptional talent with color theory connects him to the world in unconventional ways. When he’s seated next to Tilly on the plane back to home to London, it starts off disastrously but by the time they land, he’s come to see her in his own unique way. And, they both have a surprise in store.

the heart of the story…
I’ve only recently become familiar with the term neurodivergent and it perfectly describes these two young people. Tilly and Oliver are fascinating in their individuality but together? They are indescribable. The idea that someone with autism could find a connection with someone with ADHD didn’t seem at all likely but at the heart of their relationship was how they “saw” each other exactly as they are. Most of the world relates to their differences and Tilly especially has grown up in an environment where there’s constant pressure to conform to “normal.” Being with Oliver, who saw her many colors as vibrant and valuable, gave Tilly the confidence to fully embrace her talents and expression. She fell for him early, and he her, but it was hard for him to convey that and for her to see it.

the narration…
I loved the two performances as they embodied Tilly and Oliver so beautifully. They provided voice distinctions nicely for everyone else but it didn’t matter because they were so believable in capturing these two wonderful characters.

the bottom line…
I rarely read YA but was convinced to try this story after reading a review by a friend that promised something special. Tilly and Oliver taught me how to “see” them, experience them as different, unique and as individuals. Most importantly, to not see them as abnormal. This is a fun story but it’s absolutely beautiful in its purity and authenticity. Tilly and Oliver’s friendship came first and it was just lovely. Of course it had not choice but to turn romantic and I’ll never forget these two.

Book Info

• Release Date: August 15, 2023
• Narrators: Justis Bolding & Chris Nelson
• Audio Length: 9 hours, 33 minutes
• Publisher: Recorded Books

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