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The Infinite Noise

The Bright Sessions, Book 1

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The Infinite Noise

By: Lauren Shippen
Narrated by: Briggon Snow, James Fouhey
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About this listen

"Narrators James Fouhey and Briggon Snow give stellar performances in this quiet YA romance.... Both narrators authentically capture the ups and downs of teen romance and keep listeners engaged." (AudioFile Magazine)

Lauren Shippen's The Infinite Noise is a stunning, original debut based on her wildly popular and award-winning podcast The Bright Sessions.

Caleb Michaels is a 16-year-old champion running back. Other than that his life is pretty normal. But when Caleb starts experiencing mood swings that are out of the ordinary for even a teenager, his life moves beyond "typical".

Caleb is an Atypical, an individual with enhanced abilities. Which sounds pretty cool except Caleb's ability is extreme empathy - he feels the emotions of everyone around him. Being an empath in high school would be hard enough, but Caleb's life becomes even more complicated when he keeps getting pulled into the emotional orbit of one of his classmates, Adam. Adam's feelings are big and all-consuming, but they fit together with Caleb's feelings in a way that he can't quite understand.

Caleb's therapist, Dr. Bright, encourages Caleb to explore this connection by befriending Adam. As he and Adam grow closer, Caleb learns more about his ability, himself, his therapist - who seems to know a lot more than she lets on - and just how dangerous being an Atypical can be.

"What if the X-Men, instead of becoming superheroes, decided to spend some time in therapy?" (Vox on The Bright Sessions)

©2019 Lauren Shippen (P)2019 Macmillan Audio Fantasy Fiction LGBTQ+ Literature & Fiction Mental Health Awareness Science Fiction & Fantasy Superhero Emotions
All stars
Most relevant
I haven’t been able to stop listening to this. Easily one of the best books I’ve read (listened to).

The way Adams depression is portrayed, I’ve never heard a more accurate description of what it feels like, and it honestly brought tears to my eyes (not the only time I cried whilst listening to this!)


I have been recommending this left right and centre, and am now going on to listen to all of the ‘Bright Sessions’ podcasts, as I just need MORE.

I wish I could rate it higher!

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Wow. Just wow, I loved this so much, I was going to listen to it at work a couple of hours at a time but once I started I couldn't press pause. Its so different to other books in this genre, there is an intensity as you are put firmly inside the heads of these two characters and there mile a minute angst filled, doubt-ridden monologues as they battle with their demons and their developing feelings towards one another. Its this aspect that makes this such a good read/listen.

I came to this book having already gotten to know and love the characters and the much of the story in the Bright Sessions podcast. There are a number of moments of recognition from the Caleb episodes, the book filling in the gaps and developing our understanding of the characters, Adam in particular.
I'm not big on sci-fi but the podcast was more about the characters, their personality and how they learn to live possessing these super powers/special abilities and its the same here. You may scoff at empathy being labelled as such but the way its written, how we experience it through Caleb you could believe it to be real, like a personality disorder or something on the autism spectrum.

The voice actors are brilliant, Briggon Snow plays Caleb in the podcast and it was absolutely the right choice for him to narrate him here -I know he loves this character and embodies him. Adam is voiced by a different actor in the podcast but my tinge of disappointment was misplaced as James Foughey does a super job as Adam.

I highly recommend this book, it isn't the usual coming of age m/m story, its not about sex and even the romance is pretty light but what it does so brilliantly is transport you into the mind of these teenagers. If you are undecided give the podcast a go, I feel having listened to that first made this a much richer experience.

I couldn't stop listening

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But the real question is ARE YOU OKAY?
(i have to leave extra words here so I can send this)

Um

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Didn't except the pov of them talking all the voices, was a bit taken aback but got used to it quickly!
I like the way we got more details on Adam and Celeb's appearances as well as more perspective on what was going on behind the point of view if John. love it!

Bright sessions after affect

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I thought it was a really interesting plot, narration was great and characters are just lovely!

I absolutely loved it!

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