Book description
Named a 'Best Book of the Summer' by LA Times, People, USA Today, Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, Amazon, Apple, Cup of Jo, Kirkus, Parade, & Today A riveting, nuanced memoir of unforgettable characters thrown together by chance and DNA, this is a story of nature, nurture, and coming to terms with one's true inheritance. What is a "normal family," and how do you go about making one? Chrysta Bilton's magnetic, larger-than-life mother, Debra, yearned to have a child, but as a single gay woman in 1980s California, she had few options. Until one day, while getting her hair done in a Beverly Hills salon, she met a man and instantly knew he was the one she'd been looking for. Beautiful, athletic, artistic, and from a well-to-do family, Jeffrey Harrison appeared to be Debra's ideal sperm donor. A verbal agreement, a couple of thousand in cash, and a few squirts of a turkey baster later, and Chrysta was conceived. Over the years, Jeffrey would make regular appearances at the family home, which grew to include Chrysta's baby sister. But how much did Debra really know about the man she'd chosen to father her daughters? And as a single mother torn between ferocious independence and abject dependence--on other women, alcohol, drugs, and the adrenaline of get-rich-quick schemes--what secrets of her own was she keeping? It wasn't until Chrysta was a young adult that she discovered just how much her parents had hidden from their daughters--and each other--including a shocking revelation with far-reaching consequences not only for Debra, Chrysta, and her sister, but for dozens and possibly hundreds of unsuspecting families across the country. After a lifetime of longing for a "normal family," can Chrysta face the reality of her own, in all its complexity? Bringing us into the fold of a deeply dysfunctional yet fiercely loving clan that is anything but "normal," this emotional roller coaster of a memoir will make you cry, laugh, and rethink the meaning of family.
Sw33per
With this app, I've found a way to turn every moment into an opportunity for learning and enrichment. Unlimited audiobook length with ListenBook Pro is a game-changer.
Kamikaze Grandma
Efficiency and ease combined – this app is a must-have for book lovers. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Winter Underdog
Who needs traditional books when you have this app? It's a game-changer. I'm addicted to this app's seamless performance and impressive library. ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks a seamless and delightful experience. With this app, I can dive into captivating narratives while cooking, cleaning, or commuting – pure magic! The ability to adjust the tone of the narrator's voice is a creative touch that adds depth to my listening.
Kawaii Red
With ListenBook, my daily commutes have become a cherished time for learning and enjoyment. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. As an audiobook enthusiast, I'm in awe of ListenBook's advanced features. The ability to adjust the reader's voice tone is a unique and fun addition. ListenBook's integration with CarPlay and Apple Watch is a seamless addition to my daily routine. A functional audiobook. It kept me entertained, but I wasn’t blown away. The narrator’s performance was competent, though some emotional scenes fell a bit flat.
Despair
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. This app has introduced me to authors I'd never heard of – now they're my favorites! ListenBook has transformed my listening habits, making them more engaging and enjoyable. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It enhances the audio quality and makes listening comfortable. Playback speed and volume controls are top-notch. Highly recommend.
Wild Kitten
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personal touch to my experience. ⏰ Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks – energizing! 🌅🎧 Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that allows for a personalized listening experience.
Ship Whip
ListenBook's versatile controls and playback options have made my study sessions more productive and enjoyable. Book groups are a thoughtful addition. It's like having virtual bookshelves! Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a creative way to share the love of literature. The app is perfect for people with visual impairments. It’s so easy to navigate.
Iron Butterfly
I'm thrilled to finally have a way to enjoy books while keeping up with my busy schedule. Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 – it shows their dedication to excellence. ListenBook’s audio quality is excellent. The app enhances my listening experience.
Sloth
Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like the app knows what I need. Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality. ListenBook’s interface is clean and intuitive. It’s a joy to use.
CuriousCoder
I've been recommending this app to all my friends – it's a true game-changer. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook is a fun feature that adds a unique touch to my audiobook experience. 📚 Who needs TV when you have this app? Every moment is a storytelling session! 📺🎧 The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playback—it's all up to me!
InsightInkwell
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. The 'Explore' feature has introduced me to authors I might never have discovered otherwise. This app has made long flights and road trips so much more enjoyable.
Mr. Thanksgiving
ListenBook's features make it the ultimate audio companion for any audiobook enthusiast. ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
Vagabond Warrior
Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off – no more searching for my spot! An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Lady Peach
I've found solace in listening to audiobooks before bed – it's my form of meditation. Kudos to the app for making literature accessible to those with busy schedules. User-friendly brilliance! This app's functionality enhances my audiobook experience. The app's versatility in audio downloading is impressive. It's a one-stop solution for all my content. Adjusting the tone of the voice is an innovative feature that allows for a personalized listening experience.
Lady Peach
💼 Making work hours enjoyable – audiobooks turn my tasks into learning opportunities and moments of joy. 💻📖 One of the best audiobooks I’ve heard! The story was compelling, and the narrator’s delivery added depth to every scene. I found myself looking for excuses to listen just a little longer. Will definitely revisit this one!
Lord Nikon
ListenBook's support for a wide range of formats means I can listen to all my favorite content without worries. With ListenBook, my audio content is organized, accessible, and ready to inspire me. 🏃♀️📚 Combining exercise and exploration – audiobooks make my runs more exciting! 🏃♀️🎧 Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats! Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a fantastic feature. It adds a personal touch.
ThoughtTracer
With ListenBook, I can listen to my favorite audiobooks and speeches with the utmost comfort and convenience. 💡 Balancing learning and living effortlessly – audiobooks on demand, thanks to this app! 🎧💫 ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is like a magic wand that transforms even the noisiest environments into cozy listening spaces. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Fire Sass
🎧 Fueling my audiobook addiction with this fantastic app – pure listening pleasure! 📚🔥 The app's interface is so sleek and modern. It's a joy to use. The download options are versatile, making it a breeze to get my favorite audiobooks on the go. Easy sharing with friends via AirDrop. Very convenient. The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
Wolf Tribune
ListenBook is a game-changer – it plays a wide variety of formats without any conversion needed. This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. is a time-saver. It's convenient for accessing my content. Great for multitasking! I listened while cooking, driving, and even working out, and it kept me entertained the whole time. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, and the story flowed smoothly. Very enjoyable! This audiobook kept me company during a long road trip and made the miles disappear! The narrator's engaging performance and the crisp production quality made for an immersive experience. I appreciated how well they balanced drama with clarity - never sacrificing understanding for effect.
Acid Gosling
This app's efficient downloading process ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks whenever and wherever. Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a triumph. I'm so glad I chose the audiobook version! The narrator added layers of meaning I might have missed reading silently. Their interpretation of the material felt thoughtful and authentic. The recording was technically perfect - no reverb, no peaking, just clean, pleasant audio. Listened to this on a road trip and it made the hours fly by. Even my passengers who weren't following along commented on how nice the narrator's voice was.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience