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Charming as a Verb audiobook

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Charming as a Verb Audiobook Summary

From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han.

Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.

There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri’s less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.

Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. . . .

This is a sharply funny and insightful novel about the countless hustles we have to keep from doing the hardest thing: being ourselves.

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Charming as a Verb Audiobook Narrator

James Fouhey is the narrator of Charming as a Verb audiobook that was written by Ben Philippe

Ben Philippe is a New York-based writer and screenwriter, born in Haiti and raised in Montreal, Canada. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and an MFA in fiction and screenwriting from the Michener Center for Writers in Austin, Texas. He also teaches film studies and screenwriting at Barnard College. He is the author of the William C. Morris Award-winning novel The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. Find him online at www.benphilippe.com.

About the Author(s) of Charming as a Verb

Ben Philippe is the author of Charming as a Verb

Charming as a Verb Full Details

Narrator James Fouhey
Length 8 hours 6 minutes
Author Ben Philippe
Category
Publisher Balzer + Bray
Release date October 13, 2020
ISBN 9780063025622

Subjects

The publisher of the Charming as a Verb is Balzer + Bray. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Coming of Age, YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Additional info

The publisher of the Charming as a Verb is Balzer + Bray. The imprint is Balzer + Bray. It is supplied by Balzer + Bray. The ISBN-13 is 9780063025622.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Ben

April 15, 2020

Ignore me. Only here to mathematically make up for a future one-star review that will genuinely hurt my feelings. :)

mwana

November 18, 2022

All children are charming as an adjective, but you're charming as a verb. I LOVED this book. Can you tell? Can you tell that I absofuckinglutely LOVED this book? Because I LOVED this book. Set in my favourite thing ever, New York City, the story follows the young adult life of Henri Haltiwanger. A Haitian-American going to FATE Academy. He is a talented wunderkind, a future Tobie Hatfield. Henri also moonlights as a dogwalker for the wealthy, uptight and without a lot of free time. His operation is not on the up-and-up and one of his neighbours, who is also a student at FATE, Corinne, decides to use this information to her advantage. And so begins a friendship that will give Henri one of the wildest years of his life. Henri is a kid under a lot of pressure. He's aware of the arbitrary social totem pole. When you're poor and Black, you have A LOT working against you. (Sadly this is true everywhere). This makes Henri put on an act. Like a snake oil salesman. He has a facade for every audience. A Smile, a smile™️ and a genuine smile. Despite the shortcomings, Henri leads a charmed life. His mum is pursuing her dream to become a firefighter, his father is the super at a Manhattan high rise, he has a thriving social life, his best friend, Ming a shoe-obsessed cinnamon roll and a dream to end up at Columbia. Henri was only two shades away from what Rita Mae Brown says we need to be happy Happiness is pretty simple: someone to love, something to do, something to look forward to.For something to do, Henri had school. For something to anticipate, Henri had his shoe designer dream, college. For someone to love, Henri had just met Corinne. She was amazing to Henri. And you could tell. Being Corinne Troy is not a performance to Corinne Troy....it is, hands down, the best kiss of my life. I look at Corinne afterward, and everything about the moment feels like a postcard: the lint caught in her pink hat, the flush of her cheeks, the way she's scanning my face and biting the inside of her cheek as if there are a million things in her head that she's trying to hold back right now. Or is that me?It's pretty clear here who is the sun and who is the hapless, rotating planet with vague signs of intelligent life. The people around Henri's life are also stark and vibrant. Henri's Manhattan is one rich with life and possibility. You can even feel it move with him when he goes to visit Montreal when he has a college interview Montreal feels like a city that's gotten a good night's rest and woken up in time for a bike ride alongside the Saint Lawrence River. Henri is a very observant protagonist. It makes his story palpable, as though it's jumping off the pages. It's also easy to get a grasp of his family's dynamic, especially with his enigmatic Uncle Lionel whose advice to Henri when he fucked up was If you're going to risk everything, don't get caught. This was a book about love, friendship and dreams. It was deceptive in its simplicity. Henri's mistake hit close to home and even had me crying when he thought he'd hit rock bottom. I was rooting for him to earn his happiness. This book turned me from a human being to a human grinning. What? The book can do it but I can't? Never mind that, drop what you're doing and get to reading this book.

Claude's

November 07, 2020

Well that was thoroughly enjoyable! It isn't all light and fluffy though, as a decision made by one of our main protagonists turns the story on it's head. This book explores the pressures teens experience during the college application process, and how the expectations of their parents can add a layer of stress to an already tense situation. The book also addresses inequality in the system and how wealthier teens have access to certain advantages whilst applying for colleges. This novel, however, is at its heart an adorable romance. I wasn't 100% sold on the ending but overall I had a wonderful time reading this and loved the diverse characters.

AsToldByKenya

February 28, 2022

may be one of my favorite young adults ever

Vicky Again

November 28, 2020

this was so cute and adorable and fantastic!!! i absolutely adored the characters and their voices (charming, sociable Henri and introverted, intense Corinne!) and this book was just. so fun and enjoyable. would highly, highly recommend for people looking for a fun, contemporary romance ft. some college stress.

Ms. Woc Reader

March 07, 2022

The meet-cute is blackmail in the cute and witty YA contemporary where our protagonist Henri is just trying to balance life as a college-bound senior in NYC attending one of the cities most elite private schools.Henry runs his own dog walking business and he's discovered people are more likely to trust you with their fur baby when you have a professional company behind you. Unfortunately for him his neighbor Corrine has already figured out why he's seemingly the only one employed by this alleged company. So Corinne threatens to expose him unless he helps her become more sociable. Henri agrees and finds himself growing to like Corrine but he can't help but think about how her mother may be the key to his acceptance to the ivy league university of his dreams.This book is a cute contemporary perfectly relatable for teens heading into their last year of highschool where college admission decisions and uncertainty about the future loom.Full reviewhttps://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

CW ✨

September 30, 2021

I henceforth pledge myself to read whatever book Ben Philippe writes because Charming as a Verb was just so good and, true to its title, so charming.- Follows Henry, a charming Haitian teen whose easygoing personality masks his burning desire to go to his dream university. When he meets his 'intense' classmate, Corrine, she instantly catches him in his not-entirely-honest dog walking scheme and blackmails him: help her change her image in school or she'll spill his secret.- Okay, so the premise of this book makes it sound like it's twisty, but it isn't! This is actually such a clever and charming book about how image matters, how we have to sometimes fight for what we want (and how people can get hurt along the way), and the weight of our parents' expectations and dreams (and how we can mistake them as our own).- The romance in this was so lovely. I adored Henry, even if he's far from perfect and makes plenty of mistakes, and I also loved Corinne. - The humour in this is truly god-tier. I laughed so much while listening to this (and the audiobook is brilliantly narrated by James Fouhey; his narration was AMAZING). - The story also explores college stress and the whole college application race; how some teens are lucky and get in because of legacy, how some teens have to really 'standout', and how Black kids also face the pressure of being excellent following Obama's presidency. - Honestly? I just loved this so much. I loved how the characters make mistakes, suffer for those consequences, and make amends. Content warning: discussion about racism, mentions of sex

kaz.brekkers.future.wife

February 18, 2022

FOUR STARSCan I just say that this book warmed my heart in several waves. Like on a heating scale of one to ten, this was cancer-causing. This book called out how single I am in so many ways, and I mean so many. I love cute romantic books because not only do they make me feel all warm and gooey inside, they also make me regret being a single gay bitch with no friends.I loved Henri. I love black men in general. I kind of have a thing for men of color, no offense to white boys. But men are so much hotter when they've got that ethnic, or "exotic" as white people like to call it, glow to them. he was so fucking charming, and RESPECTFUL, AND HOT. Like what. Also, I loved that concept of his Smiles. That was so cute, and made me love him ten fold. And Corinne. Sassy, smart, self-loving, black girls just do something to me man. She was so cute and rough and tough in the beginning, but like a cookie in the microwave, she warmed up to him.The writing was okay. it wasn't that great, but I don't mind. Like, these are contemporary romance books, I'm not going to go off on a six-page rant because somebody doesn't write like Madeline Miller. And not writing like her can be a good thing, since I'm still mad at her for giving me a book hangovwer after the song of achilles. Can I just say, that I will definitely reread this book to feel the utter warm joy I felt the first time I read this.The Books Of Black History Month:1) Ace Of Spades ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️2) Raybearer Beyond ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3) Children Of Virtue and Vengeance⭐️4) Instructions For Dancing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5) Dread Nation ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️6) The City We Became Beyond ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️7) Charming As A Verb ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️8) Skin Of The Sea ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️9) Witches Steeped In Gold⭐️10) Harlem Shuffle⭐️⭐️⭐️11) This Poison Heart⭐️⭐️12) The Fifth Season Beyond ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Samantha (WLABB)

September 07, 2020

Henri had many talents, and his charm was one of his secret weapons. A chameleon, who could easily fit into all school cliques. A persuasive orator, who dominated at debate. An entrepreneur, who created a successful dog walking business. He was also a first generation American, who was under a LOT of pressure from his parents to achieve their dream of him attending Columbia, and for once, his charm might not be enough to help him attain this goal. I fell in love with Philippe's writing via the greatness that is The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. That story had incredible characters, spectacular humor, and lots of emotional depth, and I saw all those elements on display in Charming as a Verb as well. FIVE REASONS TO READ CHARMING AS A VERB1. Henri was a first-class narrator. I loved his voice! He was witty and snarky and authentic. He elicited a multitude of laughter from me with his many observations, while also appealing to my heart with some of his hopes and fears. 2. The romance was fantastic. Who knew blackmail could turn into more? Henri and Corrine were polar opposites, personality-wise. She was "intense" and wanted to learn his charming ways, but she also brought a lot to the table. Wow! Just, wow! Henri really met his match with Corrine. She was one of the few, who could resist his charm, and it forced him to be more real with her. I also loved how they challenged each other and the way they grew together. 3. The bromance won my heart. Henri and his best friend, Ming, had a great friendship. Every time they were on page together was a special treat. I have to say, I am such a fan of seeing more male friendships, where they openly share their emotions. We need these depictions. 4. Anyone who is going through or has ever experienced the college admissions process will be able to relate to Henri's struggle. There is the stress with getting all the applications in, keeping your grades up, and padding your "resume" so that the colleges notice you. There is also the pressure to achieve, which may be intrinsic or extrinsic. Getting into college is a major process and a B I G decision. That was all explored and captured so well in this book.5. OMG, the dogs! My first reason for picking up this book was because Ben Philippe wrote it, but when I saw that cover! I knew I HAD to read it. And friends, that cover was not a tease. Henri walked some fabulous furry friends, and I loved getting to know them all. Another book by Philippe for my favorites shelf! He combined standout characters with the perfect amount of humor, romance, and emotion. I was delighted to be part of Henri's world and grateful to accompany him on this journey. Overall: This book really lived up to its name. I was utterly charmed by this story and absolutely loved it from beginning to end!*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

Sleepless

June 17, 2021

After a horrible exam season and before another exam season, I'm just here like "Henri, university is only good for making you feel bad with yourself, don't go". Anyways, Charming as a Verb is about Henri, an ambitious child of Haitian immigrants and owner of fraudulent dog walking company. When he gets caught by his quirky neighbor and classmate, Corrinne, she blackmails him to helping her make more friends. From here, things quickly pick up. There's a lot this book gets right. Henri's narrative voice is compelling, detailed and humorous. It's fun to read. The plot is fast-paced. I read it in one sitting and the pages just flew by. It feels good to sink into NYC and teen issues. Thematically, this book touches on many topics, from the unfair stress teenagers face about college, to racism, to being different. I especially enjoyed the way Henri's ambition was described as well and contrasted to Corrinne and her mother. I'm so here for book about smart kids that aren't scientifically inclined. Henri's talents are design and public speaking and he is seen as no less smart. Generally, I appreciated the description of the school and Henri's frustration at the way rich people are still able to wield their advantages, even when the playing ground is seemingly fair. The argument that even scholarships do not fully fix both inequality and feelings of inadequacy is a powerful one. I found that I could relate to this book because I've started to list out universities for my potential Masters/ PhD (pls, someone let me do a PhD as an MBA graduate). Philippe perfectly describes the self-doubts, the fear that you might not be good enough, questioning what you're willing to do to make your goals come true. It's a question that shows up time and time again in the book. This book also does a great job exploring whether a specific path is chosen for prestige or for genuine reasons. As I'm questioning whether I even want a Phd or generally, to continue my education, it also felt like it hit close to home. Ahhhhh, how does one even make life choices, I need a binder like CorrinneI do have a bone to pick. Near the end of the book, there's a scene where Henri and his girlfriend are about to have sex for the first time but Henri (for reasons I won't spoil) isn't in the mood. Despite her prominent feminist leanings, his girlfriend acts entitled and offended. While this might be a realistic portrayal, it seems to me that if the gender roles were switched, this would bug more people. For me, it was uncomfortable to read, even if it wasn't very long or important. It's important for teenagers to recognize that no one owes you sex, regardless of gender. However, all in all, this is a good book. If you're looking for some YA, this is a great addition to the genre. And I'm lowkey cheating by counting this as my Haiti book for my challenge but this does represent an Haitian experience so I don't feel fully guilty. What I'm Taking With Me- Henri's best friend is Chinese and adopted by a Jewish family and this dynamic hardly gets screen time, I want to know more- It's been a while since I read this but I remember this book fondly.- Yep, I still haven't given up on writing reviews for all the books I read this year, even when I'm ridiculously behind, ahh. ------------------First week of the semester like: I'm ridiculously burnt out and need at least three months of vacation. Review to come!

Mads

June 15, 2021

i thoroughly enjoyed this book, my only criticism is that i wish we had more of an expansion on how we got from points A to B in the epilogue, but everything was 👌

Lisa

July 06, 2020

Henri Haltiwanger is one of those characters who leaps off the page. You’re immediately immersed into his side dog-walking hustle, high performance high school and high expectation of his immigrant parents. He’s relatable and a real teen, complete with a dumb decisions and earnestness and misguided ideas. This story was a sort of personality deconstruction and I loved Henri’s journey. Recommended.

Oyinda

November 06, 2020

OH THIS WAS SO CUTE! TOO CUTE!!! I listened to the audiobook while at work and I kept screaming commentary to myself so many times, my coworkers kept looking at me funny. It was an amazing book that drew me in and I didn't pause the audiobook for ANYTHING! How cute is Henry??? And Corrinne??? OMG! Henry and Corrinne are high school seniors who cross paths after Henry starts dogwalking Corrine's new pup. What starts out as light blackmail soon leads to something super cute and beautiful. This book talks about a lot of hard hitting topics, such as parental pressure, being a first gen immigrant (Henry is a first gen Haitian American), college admissions and the unevenness of it all. I loved the characters of Henry and Corrinne's parents, their friends, and even the teachers at school.I have all this praise for this book, but the only reason this isn't a 5-star for me is the main conflict. You know that conflict in YA novels where there's a huge blow out and then a resolution? I just felt like the author's choice was too serious and came with too little consequences. That aside, this was an amazing read that left my heart feeling fuzzy. The ending was just so beautiful.With amazing black leads, a stunning love story, and wonderful characters that tug at your heartstrings, I wholeheartedly recommend this book!

wanji

February 15, 2021

this book was so wholesome, i loved reading about henri and corinne. can anything be more adorable? but romance and friendships put aside, this story had a lot of elements that would hit home for pretty much anyone coming of age right now. it was those moments that really made me love this story. all except for one where i was seriously stressing because of the mc's bad decision making but it all worked out in the end and that's all that matters.

kelly

October 16, 2020

very cute story! Fast paced, authentic feels, and enjoyed the MC & LI a lot! There is one morally object-able thing that suffers barely any consequences but I wasn't sad about it? IDK maybe because I am an adult and I wanted the MC to succeed. lol

Chidimma

May 19, 2021

I’M BACK ON MY YA CONTEMPORARY BULLSHIT

The Candid Cover

September 14, 2020

Full Review on The Candid CoverCharming as a Verb by Ben Philippe is a book I wish had been released when I was in my senior year of high school. Filled with both entertaining mishaps and vulnerability, this is a realistic depiction of the end of high school. Henri is a relatable main character who makes mistakes, and the descriptions of the New York/Montreal backdrop makes the book even more special. I would definitely recommend this one.This book follows Henri, a popular high school student navigating the struggles of senior year and running a dog walking business on the side that isn’t exactly what it seems. When a classmate learns the truth about his business, she blackmails him and promises to keep his secret in exchange for tips on how to fit in at school. I loved the dog walking aspects of the book and the very real depictions of what it’s like applying to universities. Henri actually considers going to university up here in Canada, which I have never seen before in a book and found really interesting.❀ HENRI IS REALISTIC AND RELATABLEHenri himself is a fantastic main character who is both realistic and relatable. He is faced with many difficult decisions, and he feels a lot of pressure from his dad who wants him to go to Columbia. Henri must decide what his dream is and what he wants for himself. He definitely has his flaws, and he makes some pretty serious mistakes throughout the book, but it is easy to forgive him since he truly learns from them, and these mistakes only make him more believable as a character.❀ THE SETTING IS FANTASTICOne of my favourite aspects of the book is the setting. Much of the book takes place in New York, but there is also a portion that is set in Montreal. I live in Montreal, so this was a really nice surprise since I rarely see my city as the backdrop for a book. I appreciated all the little details about the city that are included, like the Farine Five Roses sign near the train station, and I found that Philippe’s descriptions of both New York and Montreal definitely do them justice. He does a fantastic job capturing the atmosphere of city life, and this perfectly complements the narrative.❀ FUN AND HEARTFELT STORYCharming as a Verb by Ben Philippe is a relatable story that is both fun and heartfelt. The main character is well-developed and has his flaws, and the story has two stunning settings that are written with attention to detail. Those in their final year of high school, and anyone looking for a strong coming of age novel, will enjoy this one.

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