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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, book cover

Just Listen

by Sarah Dessen

Spice 1 out of 5, Sweet1/5 · Sweet: Kisses only

Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything" — at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.

This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch. Until she meets Owen Armstrong.

Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. With Owen's help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends.

Spice
1/5
Burn
Slow
Pages
~371
Ending
HFN
Get it on AmazonKindle edition

KU Is it on Kindle Unlimited? Check on Amazon

How spicy is Just Listen?

Just Listen is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

  • Steam: Glimpses and kisses
  • Burn: Slow burn
  • Pairing: One man, one woman
  • POV: First person, heroine's POV only
  • Ending: Happy for now

Content warnings

Some readers like to go in blind, so these stay hidden until you tap.

Show 3 content warnings
  • Sexual assault
  • Eating disorder
  • Mental illness / anxiety / depression

Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.

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    Just Listen: quick answers

    How spicy is Just Listen?

    Just Listen is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.

    Is Just Listen a standalone?

    Yes, Just Listen is a standalone. You can read it on its own.

    What tropes are in Just Listen?

    Just Listen features hurt / comfort. It is a slow burn M/F romance that ends with a happy for now.

    Does Just Listen have content warnings?

    Our notes for Just Listen include: sexual assault, eating disorder, mental illness / anxiety / depression. This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.

    What should I read after Just Listen?

    If you loved Just Listen, try Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen, More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer. They share its hurt / comfort energy at a similar spice level.