The Sound of Violet

Read Time: 2 Minutes

A gentle romance with a slightly different angle than usual.

Shawn is not exactly having a great time with dating. First dates tend to fall apart quickly, largely because he struggles to read people and takes things very literally. He is on the spectrum, avoids eye contact, dislikes being touched, but at the same time holds down a steady job as a developer working on a dating app, which adds a bit of irony to it all.

He also lives with his grandmother, which gives things a slightly grounded, everyday feel rather than the usual polished rom-com setup.

Things take a turn when he meets Violet at a “Pimps and Hoes” themed party. She is a sex worker, he is looking for something real, and the initial misunderstanding between a “date” and a “girlfriend experience” sets up the core of their relationship.

Shawn very much takes on a knight-in-shining-armour role, wanting to help Violet out of the life she has been forced into. It could have tipped into heavy-handed territory but mostly stays sincere.

I did like how Shawn was portrayed. He has some more pronounced traits, but he is also capable and not defined solely by them. The synaesthesia element, where he hears colours, is a nice touch and ties back to the title.

The tone stays mostly sweet and gentle, though there is a clear thread of Christian themes throughout. These become more prominent toward the end and did feel a little on the preachy side for me, or at least a noticeable shift. There is tension and some mild violence as you may expect. Violet wasn’t in the life by choice, and her pimp has some strong opinions on the matter of her trying to leave that life.

On the audio side, Ryan Duncan does a solid enough job. Nothing especially standout, but easy to listen to and generally consistent. I did catch one small flub in a line that slipped through, but otherwise no real issues.

There are also some brief music stings between chapters. Not something I am generally a fan of. It is not badly done, but it did have that effect of pulling me out of the story a bit, like a reminder that I was listening to something rather than keeping me immersed in it.

Overall, this is a sincere, character-driven romance with a slightly different perspective. It is not trying to be flashy or dramatic, more focused on connection, trust, and giving two people a chance at something better.

Check it out if you’re in the mood for something softer and more earnest.

---

Note: These are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to sign up. It doesn't cost you anything extra, and it helps support our site! ♥