Even if I hadn't read the book prior to listening to the audiobook, I'd still highly recommend 'Just for Fun' because it's the 'whole package' as far as audiobooks go. Bocking takes it to the next level with her narration. Unlike a lot of other narrators, she doesn't over-emote or have weird or awkward pauses in her reading. Her accent, portrayal of different characters and the amount of emotion so reads with is spot on. What does Claire Bocking bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book? I also like how this is a very real story that people can relate to but it's not heavy or depressing. I love how Emma and Nic's relationship grows, including those pesky bumps along the way. At the same time, he is sensitive and not overly manly. Even though Nic could have been an arrogant jerk about the whole situation, he 'mans up' and steps in. It centers around a potentially heavy topic-a fling that results in an unplanned pregnancy and for various reasons the mother is left to raise the child on her own. The story is good but just not a huge favorite of mine BUT I know I will listen to it again and again. I'd give the story a 4.5 if I could + the 5 on the narration.

Having listened to probably 50+ audiobooks, I'd say top 10. Where does Just for Fun rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far? The author has the gift to make you care what happens to these new friends (what, they're not real? say it isn't so!) and never stop wanting more. I highly recommend this book both in print and audio and I can't wait to take another trip to New Zealand to catch up with the rest of the All Blacks. This only makes the eventual reunion even more satisfying as a listener. My reaction to an already highly emotional book was, as I said in the beginning, heart wrenching and visceral. She puts you so far into the story, it's hard to stop listening. I've only recently started listening to audiobooks, and this narrator is the best I've heard. There is something about lost love, all those years that went by when the couple wasn't together, and the 'lost baby' story (I only like it if there's a really good reason) that just breaks my heart. I love this series and have read all of the books, and this is the most heart wrenching in the series. Getting all that legal stuff out of the way, I will say that I gladly would've bought this audiobook. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just for Fun by Rosalind James