Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Narrated by Rebecca Lowman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble; it has been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems beside the point now.

Maybe that was always beside the point.

Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn't expect him to pack up the kids and go home without her.

When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.

That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts...

Is that what she’s supposed to do?

Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

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I listened to an audio version of Landline, and it was amazing! Rebecca Lowman did an incredible job. I also loved that the main character was my age, and that she was living in a similar situation (husband + kids). It was wonderfully relatable! I understood Neal's frustrations and Georgie's insecurities. It's hard trying to balance everything life throws at you, especially when you have children! They require a lot of time and energy. 💤

In this story, Georgie's relationship with her husband (Neal) isn't perfect. They've lost the spark in their marriage, and they've stopped trying to be better people for each other. Georgie has always known what she's wanted, and Neal has never begrudged her that, although he does dislike pretty much everything about her job. Georgie's relationship with Seth (her best friend even before Neal was in the picture) is a particular sore spot for them both. Her late nights and long hours is something else he struggles with accepting, which I can understand. She's never home, and when she is, she's either on the phone (more work) or too tired to stay awake.

The magical realism in Landline was particularly interesting, especially since most young adults today will not understand how a landline works, or what it's like to talk on a phone with a chord. (Maybe if they've tried talking on their cell phones while they're plugged in??) It's definitely something a specific generation will resonate with, but still contains a story that will apply to everyone. Sometimes we have to remember why we love someone. Having problems doesn't mean your relationship is doomed, but that maybe it's not getting the attention it deserves.

I really liked seeing Georgie talk to a younger version of her husband, and recall specific events that were important milestones in their relationship. Obviously, they were different people in their 20's, before getting married and having kids, but they're still the people they fell in love with.

I also enjoyed seeing Georgie's interactions with her family, and how complex those relationships were. I particularly enjoyed Heather's appearances, since they felt the most significant. Heather had a lot of Life Questions for her sister (she's 18), and Georgie was struggling to find answers amidst her own personal crisis.

I wished there had been more resolution between Georgie and Neal, but the story left me feeling hopeful and optimistic. Georgie's grand gesture seems to have put them back on the right track (something that was sadly a little obvious from the start), but they're going to have to actually talk about their problems before they can get better. Neal just wants to "start over" and not fight, and that's not going to fix what's broken. I wanted them to talk about their feelings in the present.

Overall, Landline was an enjoyable audiobook with a relatable main character. Georgie's phone calls to the past were interesting, and a very unique concept that I haven't seen before! It was like time travel, but not... voice travel? Mind travel? I'm not sure how the phone worked, but it allowed Georgie to sort through her feelings, and remember all of the reasons she fell in love with her husband. I really liked her focus on his facial features, and how easy it was for her to read him. (★★★⋆☆)