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  • Tell Me It's Real

  • By: TJ Klune
  • Narrated by: Michael Lesley
  • Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (201 ratings)
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Tell Me It's Real cover art

Tell Me It's Real

By: TJ Klune
Narrated by: Michael Lesley
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Summary

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Paul Auster doesn't. Paul doesn't believe in much at all. He's thirty, slightly overweight, and his best features are his acerbic wit and the color commentary he provides as life passes him by. His closest friends are a two-legged dog named Wheels and a quasibipolar drag queen named Helena Handbasket. He works a dead-end job in a soul-sucking cubicle, and if his grandmother's homophobic parrot insults him one more time, Paul is going to wring its stupid neck.

Enter Vince Taylor.

Vince is everything Paul isn't: Sexy, confident, and dumber than the proverbial box of rocks. And for some reason, Vince pursues Paul relentlessly. Vince must be messing with him, because there is no way Vince could want someone like Paul.

But when Paul hits Vince with his car - in a completely unintentional if-he-died-it'd-only-be-manslaughter kind of way - he's forced to see Vince in a whole new light. The only thing stopping Paul from believing in Vince is himself - and that is one obstacle Paul can't quite seem to overcome. But when tragedy strikes Vince's family, Paul must put aside any notions he has about himself and stand next to the man who thinks he's perfect the way he is.

©2013 TJ Klune (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

What listeners say about Tell Me It's Real

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Laugh-out-loud funny, frustrating, heart-warming

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If it's the right sort of friend!! This book is not for everyone - some reviewers elsewhere have been slightly offended by some of the topics, and the language is not for the faint-hearted, or people who cannot easily comprehend high-speed speech, but listen to the preview and you will have a pretty good idea of what type of book you've selected. I really enjoyed it. It is very amusing in places - dangerous when you are listening in the car! The characters are well-defined, possibly a bit over-the-top, but real enough that you can feel what they are feeling themselves and with each other - especially when you really want to slap them and tell them what they are doing wrong! There are some really touching moments, and it left me with a nice warm feeling inside.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tell Me It's Real?

There are too many to mention really. Paul and Vince's first real meeting (rather than encounter), and the funeral are particular high-points for me, but there are very few dull moments in this story.

Which character – as performed by Michael Lesley – was your favourite?

Difficult to pick one. I especially liked Paul's father, who shouts "Language!" whenever somebody crosses his profanity threshold. The way in which Michael Lesley makes the two alter egos of Sandy and Helena different and yet the same is very impressive. Paul is a bit of a whiner but the incredibly fast rate at which he speaks was very well performed. I have even found myself reading things on my PC with the Paul style of delivery in my head!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Love at first sight can happen - it is real.

Any additional comments?

T.J. Klune has a marvellous way with words, and with completely conveying the characters just by what they say. The narrator in this book definitely helped that become even more apparent, and both of them are to be congratulated.

There are one or two mis-speakings in the narration, but that is more than acceptable considering the rapid rate of delivery - you might even need to use the "play slower" function for this book! One phrase is repeated - presumably a re-take that didn't get edited out of the recording - but these are minor complaints. Overall I loved this book and will miss it now it has finished.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very funny

Would you consider the audio edition of Tell Me It's Real to be better than the print version?

Yes really a great listening, Much better than the book, I got into this book very easily, one of the most enjoyable books I've listened too.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tell Me It's Real?

The Parents remembering the past. They don't understand discretion, also thinking that Paul Played the pony in his and Vince's relationship. Some many to tell.

What does Michael Lesley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Michael Lesley, really bought out the humor, his characters voices was outstanding. He done a brilliant job.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughter almost all the way, there was some intense scenes, but mostly funny. Without being over the top.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book, as I read a lot I did get use to different words that we use in the UK, but easy to understand. This is the first book I have listen to by TJ Klune, it will not be my last. Highly recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing - Highly recommended

Michael Lesley is simply amazing as a narrator. The story dragged in parts as the main character's train of thought got derailed quite easily, but it added charm to the book itself.
It had moments that made me laugh out loud, choke and squirt coffee out of my nose, and parts that made it really difficult to read this in public due to the unladylike guphaws. But there were also moments that broke my heart and it was in these final parts of the book where the narrator really shone with his voice drenched in motion.
Will definitely listen to this again!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic characters and not the usual mainstream

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It is so nice and refreshing to read about characters that are different, Paul is slightly overweight and selfconscious about his size. He can't believe that someone like Vince would want him for a boyfriend. Sandy/Helena is a great supporting character and a great friend/brother to Paul. Vince on the otherhand has also being used in his past for how he looks and for not the person who he is. The supporting characters were great my favourite was Sandy/Helena. Paul's family were fantastic if not a little crazy. I would definitely recommend this book and also the second one The Queen & The Homo Jock King. You will laugh out loud, the narrator did a fantastic job with all the characters.

What other book might you compare Tell Me It's Real to, and why?

The Queen & The Homo Jock King, the sequel to tell me it's real

What about Michael Lesley’s performance did you like?

Absolutely fantastic the different voices he used for the characters was a great performance.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

If you could sum up Tell Me It's Real in three words, what would they be?

Hilarious, touching, frantic.

What did you like best about this story?

The none stop energy. The humour. The frenetic use of words. The secondary characters are equally full of life. Johnny Depp. Paul and Vince.

What about Michael Lesley’s performance did you like?

Michael Lesley's Paul is inspired, but his portrayal of all the characters are acted so very well, it's addictive listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have definitely listened to this in one sitting, had I had that amount of time to myself.

Any additional comments?

I'm eagerly awaiting Sandy's tale, and getting back to chaotic world of Paul and Vince.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well impressed with the book

Really good book. Was not expecting much from it as I bought it in a whim but had me laughing out loud all the way through. Got me some weird looks as a walked around cackling to myself like a mad man. Hilarious sad witty. Very good book not the usual gay romance book which don't float my boat. Loved it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Well worth a listen

If you could sum up Tell Me It's Real in three words, what would they be?

Funny, lively, engaging

If you’ve listened to books by TJ Klune before, how does this one compare?

This is my first listen.

Have you listened to any of Michael Lesley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

This is my first listen.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion and I found myself structuring my work day so that I could work on stuff that also enabled me to listen to more of the book as I worked.

Any additional comments?

The production isn't as perfect as some books I've bought - there's a couple of instances of repeated lines that were missed in the editing process and the dead time between scene or chapter changes were way too long - but this is definitely one of the most talented narrators I've ever listened too. Even though his Vince voice drops a little too low in register at times to be easily understandable as he switches between characters the narrator reads with ease and confidence that makes the whole book a delight from beginning to end. It was my first time with this author as well and, like the recording, the story itself could have done with an intense edit before final release, but on the whole it was well told, funny and I would consider buying something else from the author again. I am hopeful that a sequel featuring Sandy/Helena and Darren is in the works as I would love to read/hear their story and if the same narrator is used then I would definitely buy it as, for me, he was what made the whole story take off. I think that I might have given up on the book if I'd read it in the written format but in audio I really enjoyed it and will probably listen to it again more than once.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ordinary Joes are extraordinary too

What did you like most about Tell Me It's Real?

Paul's inner monologue.The characters were very natural and likeable including your embarrassing family members and trusty best friend.
Although there are emotional scenes the book is not overly full of angst there are the humorous comments which help us to deal with life's vagaries.
Look out for 'Wheels'

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tell Me It's Real?

Too many but from when Paul first catches Vince horizon at the nightclub to when Vince first meets Paul's family.

What does Michael Lesley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The characters are individually realized with excellent timing.
He knows not to read it as a comedy but as matter of fact.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed, I had the sick feeling you get when you feel overly emotional.

Any additional comments?

I loved the book but I think the audio edition is even better.
Like putting on your favourite slippers.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

it is brilliant

I absolutely I love this book stop there are so many lol moments along with a bit of cringe but it was totally worth it

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Super funny

This book is so funny, I laughed out loud! The narration is absolutely amazing, Michael Lesley outdone himself. The story and writing are great and got my attention from the get go. Highly recommend!

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