Audiobook Review: Vanilla Clouds by Roe Horvat

“I could spend days listening to you talk about chocolate.” 

Sex and chocolate are the two pleasures Michał enjoys most in life.

His sex life has been nonexistent for some time, though. After a particularly bad hookup, he keeps mostly to himself. That leaves chocolate. Luckily, he works surrounded by the most delicious, extravagant produce in Gothenburg. Beside his job at the chocolaterie, his main source of excitement is his online friend, Magnus, whom he stubbornly refuses to meet in person.

A customer turns up at the chocolaterie one day—tall, shy, and charming. He could be just the right man. If Michał can step out of his overly safe shell, there might be not only chocolate, but sex, too. Maybe chocolate-flavored sex. And if he’s lucky, maybe even love.

Warning: This book contains explicit scenes, adult language, and obscene amounts of chocolate.

Listening Length: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Narrated by Vance Bastian

After I finished listening to the audio for Vanilla Clouds, I listened to it again and then bought a copy for a friend, and then I bought the book so I could pretend like it was all new again.

That’s a lot of things for a 3 hour, 45 minute audiobook/132 page book.

But. But. Oh. My. God. You guys. This is such a little nugget of a treat and I didn’t want it to end.

I loved the approach the author took to tell the story. Michal and Magnus are online buds who have never met in person, but have a real connection virtually. They want to meet, don’t want to meet, push, pull, push, pull. From the inside, they are both a little clueless in a sweet, vulnerable way, on the outside, from the readers view, it’s obvious from the beginning that these two are meant to be. Which makes for a wonderful setup, because I got to enjoy the ride while still sailing on the optimistic high of their relationship evolution.

The story moves along via messaging and then when Michal meets a tall, shy, mysterious stranger in his chocolaterie, path forks a little, but it’s the most adorable deception ever. It’s actually a necessary little bit of tension that allows the rest of the story to be its sweet self without apologies.

I loved the setting, the uniqueness in comparison to so many other things out there added a layer of interest that made me accidentally learn things (which is my favorite kind of learning) and the city of Gothenburg was a character itself. I even Googled stuff and the story made me want to travel.

If you haven’t ever listened to Vance Bastian narrate a book, you are missing out. I love his tone, his character voices and the emotional nuance he brings to every interaction. Everything is just enough without ever being too much. He’s both relatable and swoonworthy which makes him the perfect person to read this book to me. And you.

Vanilla Clouds is a low drama romance that is perfect when you need the fluff, but want thoughtfulness and authenticity. This book is forever and always on my reread, all-time-favorites shelf.

**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**