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Love Lines #3
Seatmate
I have exactly 5 hours and 10 minutes to get from Boston to New York City or the professional opportunity of a lifetime disappears. My only travel option? The second to last seat on a discount bus. Across from the bathroom. Wearing last night's clothes (don't ask). All worth it if I can make it in time.
My nerves almost get the best of me, but then there he is, sitting down in the seat next to me. Tall. Friendly smile. Bright indigo streak in his brown hair. The perfect distraction. Turns out he's on his way to reconnect with an old flame. The one that got away. We can both make it on time - just barely - if the traffic keeps flowing.
Playing road-trip games, avoiding calls from his mother, and effortless conversation keeps us from clockwatching . . . until the bus breaks down. And my seatmate turns into my copilot as we wrangle a ride in a car three decades old. And hit all the traffic. And oh, Lord, the detours. And somehow I end up careening cross-town on the handlebars of a Citi Bike carrying a box of kittens. (Yeah, don't ask.)
He's my hero every step of the way . . . and I might be falling for him. But what happens when we reach our final destination? Could my seatmate really be my soulmate?
My nerves almost get the best of me, but then there he is, sitting down in the seat next to me. Tall. Friendly smile. Bright indigo streak in his brown hair. The perfect distraction. Turns out he's on his way to reconnect with an old flame. The one that got away. We can both make it on time - just barely - if the traffic keeps flowing.
Playing road-trip games, avoiding calls from his mother, and effortless conversation keeps us from clockwatching . . . until the bus breaks down. And my seatmate turns into my copilot as we wrangle a ride in a car three decades old. And hit all the traffic. And oh, Lord, the detours. And somehow I end up careening cross-town on the handlebars of a Citi Bike carrying a box of kittens. (Yeah, don't ask.)
He's my hero every step of the way . . . and I might be falling for him. But what happens when we reach our final destination? Could my seatmate really be my soulmate?
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2022
417 people are currently reading
5788 people want to read
About the author
Cara Bastone
13 books5,389 followersHi, I’m Cara!
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
I’m a full time writer living and writing in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and an almost-goldendoodle. My goal with my work is to find the swoon in ordinary love stories.
I’ve been a fan of the romance genre since I found a grocery bag filled with my grandmother’s old Harlequin Romances when I was in high school. I’m a fangirl for pretzel sticks, long walks through Prospect Park, and love stories featuring men who aren’t crippled by their own masculinity.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,038 reviews
February 28, 2025
Omg this was so FREAKING CUTE!! I loved every second of it! Haha I was over here laughing out loud so many times omg. So good.
Idk. The first and the third a my favorites in this series I think. Perfect way to end the day!
Each book in this series is the cutest improbable meet cutes. If you liked the premise behind The Improbable Meet Cute series but only thought the first couple of books of those were actually good like me lol - give this series a try.
Cara Bastone is quickly making her way to my favorite author's list!
My other Love Lines ratings:
Call Me Maybe - 4 Stars
Sweet Talk - 4 Stars
➽─────────❥
I didn't realize this one was in the Love Lines series too! LOL. Alright, I need something short for the rest of my workday so I'm jumping into this one. 😍
Also, my bestie Utkarsh said it was a must listen... so obviously... 🤸🏻♀️🕳️
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Idk. The first and the third a my favorites in this series I think. Perfect way to end the day!
Each book in this series is the cutest improbable meet cutes. If you liked the premise behind The Improbable Meet Cute series but only thought the first couple of books of those were actually good like me lol - give this series a try.
Cara Bastone is quickly making her way to my favorite author's list!
My other Love Lines ratings:
Call Me Maybe - 4 Stars
Sweet Talk - 4 Stars
➽─────────❥
I didn't realize this one was in the Love Lines series too! LOL. Alright, I need something short for the rest of my workday so I'm jumping into this one. 😍
Also, my bestie Utkarsh said it was a must listen... so obviously... 🤸🏻♀️🕳️
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
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September 20, 2025pre-read:
starting the last book of this series! i’m so excited because i really enjoyed the first two, and i can’t wait to know if i’ll enjoy this one too! i hope it turns out to be something really good!! 🤭🤞🏼
starting the last book of this series! i’m so excited because i really enjoyed the first two, and i can’t wait to know if i’ll enjoy this one too! i hope it turns out to be something really good!! 🤭🤞🏼
August 4, 2024
Just absolutely lovely! I’ve had the best time listening to this Audible Original series by Cara Bastone. I cannot pick a favourite.
Great storylines with even greater narrators that brought it to life.
Great storylines with even greater narrators that brought it to life.
April 6, 2022
Freebie through Audible/ 5 hours 10 minutes/ lots of narrators
Gwen and Sam meet while travelling by bus from Boston to New York City. They get to know each other over the trip and end up taking a bit of a detour along the way. It was all in good fun. My favorite character though was an older lady they met on the bus. The sound effects were lots of fun too.
Light, easy, predictable, and Hallmark style fun! All around enjoyable.
Gwen and Sam meet while travelling by bus from Boston to New York City. They get to know each other over the trip and end up taking a bit of a detour along the way. It was all in good fun. My favorite character though was an older lady they met on the bus. The sound effects were lots of fun too.
Light, easy, predictable, and Hallmark style fun! All around enjoyable.
August 22, 2022
2022 Spring Bingo (#SpringIntoLoveBingo🌷): Jewelry
Content Notes:
These Cara Bastone Audible Originals are so wonderfully edited, narrated, and written… But also produce intense second-hand embarrassment because these characters make choices I could NEVER imagine myself doing. 😅 For example, I would rather die than voluntarily converse (read: flirt) with my IT support guy (CALL ME MAYBE), someone who accidentally texted me (SWEET TALK), or a neighboring stranger on a bus (SEATMATE). However, the beauty of romance novels is that I read about all sorts of frightening scenarios featuring brave souls, so I enjoyed this series (while occasionally cringing in disbelief 😂).
LOVED the (kinda full-cast but not really) narration. Audible upped their game in comparison to the previous books by hiring narrators for minor speaking roles. At first, Amanda Ranconi as the heroine (Gwen) was a difficult adjustment because I’m accustomed to her partnership with Molly Harper; it’s weird to hear Amanda narrate outside that context! But I quickly forgot that association and fully focused on Gwen and Sam’s love story.
I’m so impressed by how this series is written *for audio* — I know Love Lines’ ebooks exist, but they’re not the same experience. Bastone structured the dialogue/inner monologue in a way that shines in an audiobook format. I’m not sure this (extremely wild and endearing!) premise would work as well without the narrator’s emotions. I mean, they fall in love in SIX HOURS while frantically taking desperate risks to reach NYC in time for Gwen’s interview. It’s a hard ask to buy that level of chemistry on paper: the voice-acting was so convincing that I was tearing up by the declaration of love. As someone with increasingly tired eyes and lowered ebook reading capacity, I appreciate audiobook innovation to deliver a satisfying romance novel to my ears. I read SEATMATE in one sitting while cooking and cleaning my apartment in an excuse to keep listening. 😅
There’s not much to say about the plot besides the blurb — the book is dialogue-heavy and the characters are just talking and developing mutual crushes. I’m a Cara Bastone fangirl for life: I’ve read all of her books and will one-click any future works, blurbs unseen. Her ability to craft backstory and character development without restoring to hollow shortcuts…. Masterful. Her worlds always feel lived in, like the characters have so many secrets and stories that the reader never learns about, but are hovering in the background.
More importantly, Bastone’s characters are fundamentally GOOD people who are cognizant of their imperfections and strive not to harm others. There’s a brief conversation about how the term “blind date” is potentially ableist; Gwen and Sam agree that it is and then brainstorm for alternative labels. It’s the little things that make all the difference. Gwen and Sam may not be perfect, but it’s just nice to read about kind people falling in love.
Read via audio (narrated by Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, Josh Hurley, Carol Monda, Corey Allen, Allyson Johnson, Eric Yves Garcia, Tanya Eby, and Dina Pearlman).
Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook from the publisher (Audible) in exchange for an honest review.
Content Notes:
These Cara Bastone Audible Originals are so wonderfully edited, narrated, and written… But also produce intense second-hand embarrassment because these characters make choices I could NEVER imagine myself doing. 😅 For example, I would rather die than voluntarily converse (read: flirt) with my IT support guy (CALL ME MAYBE), someone who accidentally texted me (SWEET TALK), or a neighboring stranger on a bus (SEATMATE). However, the beauty of romance novels is that I read about all sorts of frightening scenarios featuring brave souls, so I enjoyed this series (while occasionally cringing in disbelief 😂).
LOVED the (kinda full-cast but not really) narration. Audible upped their game in comparison to the previous books by hiring narrators for minor speaking roles. At first, Amanda Ranconi as the heroine (Gwen) was a difficult adjustment because I’m accustomed to her partnership with Molly Harper; it’s weird to hear Amanda narrate outside that context! But I quickly forgot that association and fully focused on Gwen and Sam’s love story.
I’m so impressed by how this series is written *for audio* — I know Love Lines’ ebooks exist, but they’re not the same experience. Bastone structured the dialogue/inner monologue in a way that shines in an audiobook format. I’m not sure this (extremely wild and endearing!) premise would work as well without the narrator’s emotions. I mean, they fall in love in SIX HOURS while frantically taking desperate risks to reach NYC in time for Gwen’s interview. It’s a hard ask to buy that level of chemistry on paper: the voice-acting was so convincing that I was tearing up by the declaration of love. As someone with increasingly tired eyes and lowered ebook reading capacity, I appreciate audiobook innovation to deliver a satisfying romance novel to my ears. I read SEATMATE in one sitting while cooking and cleaning my apartment in an excuse to keep listening. 😅
There’s not much to say about the plot besides the blurb — the book is dialogue-heavy and the characters are just talking and developing mutual crushes. I’m a Cara Bastone fangirl for life: I’ve read all of her books and will one-click any future works, blurbs unseen. Her ability to craft backstory and character development without restoring to hollow shortcuts…. Masterful. Her worlds always feel lived in, like the characters have so many secrets and stories that the reader never learns about, but are hovering in the background.
More importantly, Bastone’s characters are fundamentally GOOD people who are cognizant of their imperfections and strive not to harm others. There’s a brief conversation about how the term “blind date” is potentially ableist; Gwen and Sam agree that it is and then brainstorm for alternative labels. It’s the little things that make all the difference. Gwen and Sam may not be perfect, but it’s just nice to read about kind people falling in love.
Read via audio (narrated by Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, Josh Hurley, Carol Monda, Corey Allen, Allyson Johnson, Eric Yves Garcia, Tanya Eby, and Dina Pearlman).
Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook from the publisher (Audible) in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2022
I really had fun listening to this one. It's a sweet story about Sam and Gwen who meet on the bus and spend the whole day talking and getting to know each other, while their bus ride turns into a little adventure.
What makes this story special is that it was scripted for the audiobook format, so there are a lot of dialogues and sound effects. All the narrators gave a fantastic performance, but my favourite was Zachary Webber who gave voice to Sam's character. His voice reminded me a lot of Zachary Quinto's - it has the same "nasal" quality to it, only a bit softer. I need to find more audiobooks narrated by him.
What makes this story special is that it was scripted for the audiobook format, so there are a lot of dialogues and sound effects. All the narrators gave a fantastic performance, but my favourite was Zachary Webber who gave voice to Sam's character. His voice reminded me a lot of Zachary Quinto's - it has the same "nasal" quality to it, only a bit softer. I need to find more audiobooks narrated by him.
September 5, 2024
Cute but highly unbelievable
This book could be classified as fantasy with how unrealistic and prefect the hero Sam is. 😆
The audiobook version of this is a great experience and really well done. It’s cinematic style and very fast paced. The story is mostly dialogue based and it works really well in audio format (it was written specifically for audible but I think there is a eBook format as well).
So it was a super cute short novella covering a meet cute and day spent between this couple. Kind of like the movie One Fine Day combined with The Amazing Race. But some of this story was extremely far fetched and came off unnaturally. I love Cara Bastone’s green flag heroes but I think she pushed it too far with Sam. Lemme just list all of Sam Champion’s (yes that’s his name) achievements and then we can all nominate him for saint hood 🙄
1. Rescues a box a stray kittens left in traffic, risking his life
2. Donates bone marrow to his friend’s sister
3. Dyes his hair blue to distract his mother after she has a bad break up
4. Rescues the FMC multiple times and helps her out of several jams after knowing her maybe an hour.
5. Says his biggest accomplishment is helping an older client run a half marathon and has the photo of that moment as his Lock Screen.
6. Doesn’t manspread because it’s a feature of toxic masculinity
7. He fixes her camera care and embroiders a star on it using his own sewing kit that he keeps just in case someone has a wardrobe malfunction.
I could go on…
I mean yes, we all love a good book boyfriend and we all know men written by women are amazing and ideal, but this was serious overkill!
Anyway it’s a good, short audiobook but not the best in the series. It was kind of shoe horned in because this series is actually a duet and this book seems like an afterthought.
So four star for the audiobook but three star for the story itself.
This book could be classified as fantasy with how unrealistic and prefect the hero Sam is. 😆
The audiobook version of this is a great experience and really well done. It’s cinematic style and very fast paced. The story is mostly dialogue based and it works really well in audio format (it was written specifically for audible but I think there is a eBook format as well).
So it was a super cute short novella covering a meet cute and day spent between this couple. Kind of like the movie One Fine Day combined with The Amazing Race. But some of this story was extremely far fetched and came off unnaturally. I love Cara Bastone’s green flag heroes but I think she pushed it too far with Sam. Lemme just list all of Sam Champion’s (yes that’s his name) achievements and then we can all nominate him for saint hood 🙄
1. Rescues a box a stray kittens left in traffic, risking his life
2. Donates bone marrow to his friend’s sister
3. Dyes his hair blue to distract his mother after she has a bad break up
4. Rescues the FMC multiple times and helps her out of several jams after knowing her maybe an hour.
5. Says his biggest accomplishment is helping an older client run a half marathon and has the photo of that moment as his Lock Screen.
6. Doesn’t manspread because it’s a feature of toxic masculinity
7. He fixes her camera care and embroiders a star on it using his own sewing kit that he keeps just in case someone has a wardrobe malfunction.
I could go on…
I mean yes, we all love a good book boyfriend and we all know men written by women are amazing and ideal, but this was serious overkill!
Anyway it’s a good, short audiobook but not the best in the series. It was kind of shoe horned in because this series is actually a duet and this book seems like an afterthought.
So four star for the audiobook but three star for the story itself.
March 27, 2022
4 stars
I’ve absolutely adored each book in this ‘Love Lines’ series by Cara Bastone and this book was no exception! Once again we had the best and sweetest hero and a heroine I absolutely loved! I loved the bus ride/road trip aspect of this story. Once again, I only wish the book was longer. The narration was superb and the book was so much fun to listen to!
I’ve absolutely adored each book in this ‘Love Lines’ series by Cara Bastone and this book was no exception! Once again we had the best and sweetest hero and a heroine I absolutely loved! I loved the bus ride/road trip aspect of this story. Once again, I only wish the book was longer. The narration was superb and the book was so much fun to listen to!
Audio book source: Audible Plus
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber & full cast
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 5h 10m
January 5, 2023
Strangers on a bus!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💚🖤💙💜
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟😒😚😉🥰
The heroine: Gwen - She is a world traveler, photographer and blogger and she needs to get to New York and she has to travel by bus. The only seat available is across from the bathroom. Gwen is a talkative person who starts up a conversation with the guy next to her right away.
The Hero: Sam - He works as a physical therapist in New York and his mother lives in Boston. He travels to Boston one weekend a month to help out his mother. His mother always fixes him up on blind dates, which never go well.
The Story: Sam and Gwen talk about everything from the streak of blue in his hair, to her job, his mother, old dates, old crushes and much more. An older lady on the bus named Shirley gives Gwen the down low on Sam (since she makes the same monthly trip as he does) after he goes to check on what happened when the bus swerved and made an unexpected stop.
Apparently Sam is quite a guy. Though he rarely talks to others like he is talking to Gwen. Shirley says that he is always helping out others on the bus, and has great respect for his mother, who isn’t as bad as she seems since she is texting him non-stop.
I also thought that Sam was a big Mama’s boy at first, but he later explains that the weekend was one of the worst in his mother’s life, so she is more needy than usual. Mom sets up a blind date for him with an old high school crush of his for when which is set to begin right after he gets off the bus in New York, so she keeps texting him about it. The story was good, it was two strangers really getting to know each other.
Like the first two books this was a full cast audiobook, with a bunch of supporting characters, background noise and all the extra’s. I love these kinds of audiobooks and this was done very well. The main characters were voiced by Amanda Ronconi and Zachary Webber. I love Zachary Webber’s voice, he has a great cadence and tone and he just sounds like a guy you like. Amanda Ronconi is not one of my favorites though, her voice is somewhat shrill and grates on my ears some. Though she does have a good tempo and does voice acting very well, she puts her emotions in her inflections.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💚🖤💙💜
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😟😒😚😉🥰
The heroine: Gwen - She is a world traveler, photographer and blogger and she needs to get to New York and she has to travel by bus. The only seat available is across from the bathroom. Gwen is a talkative person who starts up a conversation with the guy next to her right away.
The Hero: Sam - He works as a physical therapist in New York and his mother lives in Boston. He travels to Boston one weekend a month to help out his mother. His mother always fixes him up on blind dates, which never go well.
The Story: Sam and Gwen talk about everything from the streak of blue in his hair, to her job, his mother, old dates, old crushes and much more. An older lady on the bus named Shirley gives Gwen the down low on Sam (since she makes the same monthly trip as he does) after he goes to check on what happened when the bus swerved and made an unexpected stop.
Apparently Sam is quite a guy. Though he rarely talks to others like he is talking to Gwen. Shirley says that he is always helping out others on the bus, and has great respect for his mother, who isn’t as bad as she seems since she is texting him non-stop.
I also thought that Sam was a big Mama’s boy at first, but he later explains that the weekend was one of the worst in his mother’s life, so she is more needy than usual. Mom sets up a blind date for him with an old high school crush of his for when which is set to begin right after he gets off the bus in New York, so she keeps texting him about it. The story was good, it was two strangers really getting to know each other.
Like the first two books this was a full cast audiobook, with a bunch of supporting characters, background noise and all the extra’s. I love these kinds of audiobooks and this was done very well. The main characters were voiced by Amanda Ronconi and Zachary Webber. I love Zachary Webber’s voice, he has a great cadence and tone and he just sounds like a guy you like. Amanda Ronconi is not one of my favorites though, her voice is somewhat shrill and grates on my ears some. Though she does have a good tempo and does voice acting very well, she puts her emotions in her inflections.
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October 9, 2024
I wanted to love it more than I did :(
"Parallel parking is 90% believe you can do it"
"Parallel parking is 90% believe you can do it"
April 16, 2022
Seatmate is cute. Sam is just that perfect guy. Kind, loyal and just so perfect. What is missing is the sexual chemistry.
I am kind have high hope for Miss Bastone. After all, she is good at making sizzling hot chemistry. When I listen to Seatmate, I feel like dissapointment with the lack of sexual chemistry.
But the banter is good. And with all the background noises accompany this book, I am quite entertained.
3 stars
I am kind have high hope for Miss Bastone. After all, she is good at making sizzling hot chemistry. When I listen to Seatmate, I feel like dissapointment with the lack of sexual chemistry.
But the banter is good. And with all the background noises accompany this book, I am quite entertained.
3 stars
December 30, 2024
Another meet cute story 👍🥰
March 24, 2022
Okay, Cara Bastone is a word wizard, nay, a romance writing genius. How this story had me in it's grip with the banter, the tension, and then there wasn't even any ?! Who am I even?
Well, absolutely a Cara Bastone fan, that is for sure!
Gwen and Sam meet in the absolute worst bus seats on a Mega Bus ride from Boston to NYC. The bathroom aisle seats. But, despite their 'shitty' seats, their seat choices turn into an epically lucky and happily-ever-after fairy tale ride.
I don't want to spend much more time on the plot, because this is a story meant to be listened. The author wrote specifically for the audiobook format, and utilized it to charming perfection. Gwen and Sam felt like they were actually sitting in those seats talking to each other, and I hope the narrators were able to narrate together, and if they didn't heck I don't know how they pulled this off.
This is a full-cast and full production, so do know there are sound effects and additional voices from some of the other characters Gwen and Sam interact with. That said for a fairly short (just over five hours) experience, Bastone knows that we want to spend the majority of our time with these two as they fall for each other.
This is the type of romance I'm here for. Tightly focused on the love interests. Everything else supports and brings meaning to their romance arc. Secondary characters are there, are fully formed, but are not distracting from the romance. Perfect.
My one slight recommendation/quibble is that the sound effects of traffic noises and startling traffic dangers might not make the best experience if you usually listen while you drive (like me). I chose to continue listening to this one at home.
Thank you to Audible for the early listening copy!
Well, absolutely a Cara Bastone fan, that is for sure!
Gwen and Sam meet in the absolute worst bus seats on a Mega Bus ride from Boston to NYC. The bathroom aisle seats. But, despite their 'shitty' seats, their seat choices turn into an epically lucky and happily-ever-after fairy tale ride.
I don't want to spend much more time on the plot, because this is a story meant to be listened. The author wrote specifically for the audiobook format, and utilized it to charming perfection. Gwen and Sam felt like they were actually sitting in those seats talking to each other, and I hope the narrators were able to narrate together, and if they didn't heck I don't know how they pulled this off.
This is a full-cast and full production, so do know there are sound effects and additional voices from some of the other characters Gwen and Sam interact with. That said for a fairly short (just over five hours) experience, Bastone knows that we want to spend the majority of our time with these two as they fall for each other.
This is the type of romance I'm here for. Tightly focused on the love interests. Everything else supports and brings meaning to their romance arc. Secondary characters are there, are fully formed, but are not distracting from the romance. Perfect.
My one slight recommendation/quibble is that the sound effects of traffic noises and startling traffic dangers might not make the best experience if you usually listen while you drive (like me). I chose to continue listening to this one at home.
Thank you to Audible for the early listening copy!
September 4, 2024
This would’ve been cute if it wasn’t for his omnipresent mother.
The first two books in this series were adorable and there was an element of mystery because all communication was over the phone. This one didn’t have that, the MCs were together all the time, the over the phone communication was with his mom, which was icky and unnecessary.
It wasn’t all bad, I enjoyed the writing and Sam was a real sweetheart. Actually both MCs were likable and I wish them all the best. I hope they move to Portugal and will visit his mom once a year tops.
The mom was even present in the epilogue 😭😭😭 I can’t…
The first two books in this series were adorable and there was an element of mystery because all communication was over the phone. This one didn’t have that, the MCs were together all the time, the over the phone communication was with his mom, which was icky and unnecessary.
It wasn’t all bad, I enjoyed the writing and Sam was a real sweetheart. Actually both MCs were likable and I wish them all the best. I hope they move to Portugal and will visit his mom once a year tops.
The mom was even present in the epilogue 😭😭😭 I can’t…
April 12, 2023
4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this one. The story itself was cute. Sam and Gwen meet on a bus from Boston to New York. There is a connection right away, and they end up going on an adventure to try to get Gwen to an appointment of a lifetime. Not only was it a cute story, but the audiobook is scripted, complete with sound effects. I felt like I was sitting next to them eavesdropping.
My only complaint is I wished it was a little longer and maybe some steam.
I absolutely loved this one. The story itself was cute. Sam and Gwen meet on a bus from Boston to New York. There is a connection right away, and they end up going on an adventure to try to get Gwen to an appointment of a lifetime. Not only was it a cute story, but the audiobook is scripted, complete with sound effects. I felt like I was sitting next to them eavesdropping.
My only complaint is I wished it was a little longer and maybe some steam.
September 8, 2022
4.5***** stars
audio: 5++ stars
story: 4 stars
Wow! This was so good and so much fun! My heart is still pounding from the end. The story was scripted exclusively for audio (as were the other two) and it’s more like a play than just a plane audiobook. Because of the lack of narration of inner thoughts and plot for the most part it sometimes felt weirdly like listening to a podcast *lollll But a real good one! And the performance of all narrators involved, esp the two main ones, was fantastic.
The story itself is simple. Take a five hours bus ride, sit next to a cute woman/man and kinda fall in love. A five hours road-trip adventure where like everything happens, from a broke down bus to rescuing a box of kittens off the street, all while Gwen and Sam get to know a lot about each other and their lives. The way both of them lead their lives is so very different but I loved how they were so incredibly supportive of one another. And I can’t stress this enough - how Amanda and Zachary brought these characters and the story to life with their acting skills was incredibly good. So entertaining, so sweet and in the end so romantic. Really *chefs kiss!
I WAS SWOONING THE HELL OUT OF THIS!!! Especially because of Sam. Shit that guy was perfect. And not just because of the voice he was given by Zachary Webber (my all-time favorite one). *wink
I’m looking forward to the other two audios in the series. They all sound pretty good.
************
note: I bought this one on audible (I used a credit) and got the other two audios in the series for free. An ebook version is also available.
Love Lines Series:
Book #1 - Call Me Maybe - 4.25 stars
Book #2 - Sweet Talk - 4.25 stars
Book #3 - Seatmate - 4.5 stars
audio: 5++ stars
story: 4 stars
Wow! This was so good and so much fun! My heart is still pounding from the end. The story was scripted exclusively for audio (as were the other two) and it’s more like a play than just a plane audiobook. Because of the lack of narration of inner thoughts and plot for the most part it sometimes felt weirdly like listening to a podcast *lollll But a real good one! And the performance of all narrators involved, esp the two main ones, was fantastic.
The story itself is simple. Take a five hours bus ride, sit next to a cute woman/man and kinda fall in love. A five hours road-trip adventure where like everything happens, from a broke down bus to rescuing a box of kittens off the street, all while Gwen and Sam get to know a lot about each other and their lives. The way both of them lead their lives is so very different but I loved how they were so incredibly supportive of one another. And I can’t stress this enough - how Amanda and Zachary brought these characters and the story to life with their acting skills was incredibly good. So entertaining, so sweet and in the end so romantic. Really *chefs kiss!
I WAS SWOONING THE HELL OUT OF THIS!!! Especially because of Sam. Shit that guy was perfect. And not just because of the voice he was given by Zachary Webber (my all-time favorite one). *wink
I’m looking forward to the other two audios in the series. They all sound pretty good.
************
note: I bought this one on audible (I used a credit) and got the other two audios in the series for free. An ebook version is also available.
Love Lines Series:
Book #1 - Call Me Maybe - 4.25 stars
Book #2 - Sweet Talk - 4.25 stars
Book #3 - Seatmate - 4.5 stars
May 14, 2024
3,5 ⭐
Okay, I think this was my second favorite of the three. He seemed too adorable to me. Sam is THE man. And Gwen is a sweetheart, I adore her. Super fast and fun reading. I really liked the plot twist on this one.
Okay, I think this was my second favorite of the three. He seemed too adorable to me. Sam is THE man. And Gwen is a sweetheart, I adore her. Super fast and fun reading. I really liked the plot twist on this one.
April 13, 2022
MORE...I want more!
I seriously cannot get enough of the Love Lines series and Seatmate was a fantastic addition. The characters are unique, sweet and completely lovable. The narrators bring the characters to life and have the ability to make me feel like I can 'see' what is going on.
I have been known to chuckle as I'm listening which is making for some very funny looks while I'm out walking. It's just so hard to keep a straight face. My only slight problem is that the background noises in the story (making it more real-time/lifelike) is making me even more of an apparent weirdo. I'm jerking around, jolting and bracing for the cars honking and zooming past me like they are RIGHT BEHIND ME! It's OK...I survived. 😉
If you like audiobooks or are thinking of trying one out, don't mind a wee bit of corny humour, and are fond of stories that make you laugh out loud, I definitely recommend trying this series out.
Please, Cara Bastone...GIVE ME MORE!!!
I seriously cannot get enough of the Love Lines series and Seatmate was a fantastic addition. The characters are unique, sweet and completely lovable. The narrators bring the characters to life and have the ability to make me feel like I can 'see' what is going on.
I have been known to chuckle as I'm listening which is making for some very funny looks while I'm out walking. It's just so hard to keep a straight face. My only slight problem is that the background noises in the story (making it more real-time/lifelike) is making me even more of an apparent weirdo. I'm jerking around, jolting and bracing for the cars honking and zooming past me like they are RIGHT BEHIND ME! It's OK...I survived. 😉
If you like audiobooks or are thinking of trying one out, don't mind a wee bit of corny humour, and are fond of stories that make you laugh out loud, I definitely recommend trying this series out.
Please, Cara Bastone...GIVE ME MORE!!!
May 1, 2022
It's okay. But, I thought I'll like it more. It wasn't as funny as I expected. The romance was okay but not amazing. 2.5 stars
I liked that carnaval scene a lot though! And, the Audible Performances were nice as always. It's just that the second half feels streched and not that interesting in comparison.
I liked that carnaval scene a lot though! And, the Audible Performances were nice as always. It's just that the second half feels streched and not that interesting in comparison.
March 28, 2022
Take a seat....for a real treat.
Author Cara Bastone has brilliantly transformed a B-O-R-I-N-G bus ride from Boston to New York City into a delightful and extraordinary rom-com journey.
Per Cara Bastone's bio, her goal in being a writer is to "find the swoon in ordinary love stories" and the author exceeded her overly ambitious goal with "Seatmate".
This was an Audible Plus freebie and I would have gladly used one of my coveted Audible credits for this outstanding read.
Kudos to the publisher for doing an amazing job with the audiobook's production. The full-cast narration was over-the-top and the added sound effects made me feel like I was actually riding the bus.
This book was Book #3 in Cara Bastone's "Love Lines" series and even though it is part of a series, it was a standalone read.
This was my first book by Cara Bastone and I look forward to listening to her future titles.
Thank you to Audible for the freebie.
Special thanks to Cara Bastone, too, for restoring this vegan's faith in rom-coms that are compelling and not cheesy.
Author Cara Bastone has brilliantly transformed a B-O-R-I-N-G bus ride from Boston to New York City into a delightful and extraordinary rom-com journey.
Per Cara Bastone's bio, her goal in being a writer is to "find the swoon in ordinary love stories" and the author exceeded her overly ambitious goal with "Seatmate".
This was an Audible Plus freebie and I would have gladly used one of my coveted Audible credits for this outstanding read.
Kudos to the publisher for doing an amazing job with the audiobook's production. The full-cast narration was over-the-top and the added sound effects made me feel like I was actually riding the bus.
This book was Book #3 in Cara Bastone's "Love Lines" series and even though it is part of a series, it was a standalone read.
This was my first book by Cara Bastone and I look forward to listening to her future titles.
Thank you to Audible for the freebie.
Special thanks to Cara Bastone, too, for restoring this vegan's faith in rom-coms that are compelling and not cheesy.
March 29, 2022
Cara Bastone's Audible Originals are the best audiobooks I have had the pleasure of experiencing. Because these books are specifically written for the audiobook format, they are wildly entertaining. I couldn't wait to listen to SeatMate after loving both Call Me Maybe and Sweet Talk and Cara and the Audible team did not disappoint one bit with SeatMate.
To tell you how invested I was in this book: 1) I normally listen to audiobooks at greater than 3.0x speed but I listened to this one at 1.5x because I didn't want to miss out on anything! 2) I was so into the audiobook and all the background car sounds that at one point I felt I was in a moving vehicle to the point that I got nauseous with motion sickness. 🤣 My reaction really is a testament to how riveting this whole experience was!
The premise of SeatMate is super cute! It begins with the two characters, Gwen and Sam, seated next to each other on a Megabus from Boston to NYC in the back of the bus by the gross bathroom. *gags* They hit it off over this and don't stop chatting and bantering. When the bus breaks down in the middle of the trip, Sam agrees to take Gwen to NYC through whichever means he could because she needs to be there for a life-changing interview with someone she admires. What ensues is lots of hijinks to get to NYC on time, a box of abandoned kittens, phone calls from meddlesome mothers, road trip games, and ALL THE BANTER.
That banter, friends? Exquisite! I couldn't stop smiling the entire time because the back-and-forth dialogue was grin-worthy. It gave me all the butterflies in the stomach! Gwen and Sam get to know each other very well throughout this road trip and as they grow feelings for each other, the listener too falls for them. How can you not fall for these charming characters?
Gwen is a travel blogger/photographer who has always had time fitting in with her family. She's feeling a little antsy now and is looking for a new adventure. This opportunity awaiting her in NYC could just be what changes life for the better. Sam, who is a physical therapist, on the other hand, fits a bit too well with his mother. He's mistaken for an overly attached mama's boy, but really he's just a good son, who cares for his mother's happiness. Sam is just an angel, who is always helping people, which we get to see firsthand in SeatMate. I gotta tell you though, it's becoming a real problem reading these Cara Bastone romances because how and where am I to find a romantic partner who is just like these characters she writes? HMPH!! 😤
I love Sam and I love Gwen and I love their budding romance. SeatMate takes place over a couple of hours, so what we get to see is a budding romance as opposed to a fully bloomed one. That shouldn't deter you though because you'll find everything that's good about romance in the book! Because they are in close proximity during this trip, it gives them ample opportunity to get to know each other. It's so cute how they were able to easily open up to each other, something that they both acknowledge isn't normal behavior for them. You can just feel how comfortable they are around each other through all the dialogue. The chemistry between them absolutely shines through. By the end, you're just rooting for the two to get their destination and for their happily-ever-after. Let me tell you, it's not disappointing. There's even a fun little plot-twist to their relationship that I didn't even see coming. It was ALL great!
The Audible team went all out with this production! We had a full-cast with additional narrators besides the fabulous Zachary Webber and Amanda Ronconi for some of the side characters that Sam and Gwen encounter. And then there was all the fun background sound effects of moving vehicles, brakes, car horns, and meowing kitties! What a riveting performance it all was. The books in this series do eventually release as e-books, but trust me, you want the audiobook version.
If you're looking for a really good time, please check out SeatMate and the rest of the Love Lines series. I'm a Cara Bastone fangirl for life and I can't wait to see what else her magical brain concocts next. I just know that I want MORE.
To tell you how invested I was in this book: 1) I normally listen to audiobooks at greater than 3.0x speed but I listened to this one at 1.5x because I didn't want to miss out on anything! 2) I was so into the audiobook and all the background car sounds that at one point I felt I was in a moving vehicle to the point that I got nauseous with motion sickness. 🤣 My reaction really is a testament to how riveting this whole experience was!
The premise of SeatMate is super cute! It begins with the two characters, Gwen and Sam, seated next to each other on a Megabus from Boston to NYC in the back of the bus by the gross bathroom. *gags* They hit it off over this and don't stop chatting and bantering. When the bus breaks down in the middle of the trip, Sam agrees to take Gwen to NYC through whichever means he could because she needs to be there for a life-changing interview with someone she admires. What ensues is lots of hijinks to get to NYC on time, a box of abandoned kittens, phone calls from meddlesome mothers, road trip games, and ALL THE BANTER.
That banter, friends? Exquisite! I couldn't stop smiling the entire time because the back-and-forth dialogue was grin-worthy. It gave me all the butterflies in the stomach! Gwen and Sam get to know each other very well throughout this road trip and as they grow feelings for each other, the listener too falls for them. How can you not fall for these charming characters?
Gwen is a travel blogger/photographer who has always had time fitting in with her family. She's feeling a little antsy now and is looking for a new adventure. This opportunity awaiting her in NYC could just be what changes life for the better. Sam, who is a physical therapist, on the other hand, fits a bit too well with his mother. He's mistaken for an overly attached mama's boy, but really he's just a good son, who cares for his mother's happiness. Sam is just an angel, who is always helping people, which we get to see firsthand in SeatMate. I gotta tell you though, it's becoming a real problem reading these Cara Bastone romances because how and where am I to find a romantic partner who is just like these characters she writes? HMPH!! 😤
I love Sam and I love Gwen and I love their budding romance. SeatMate takes place over a couple of hours, so what we get to see is a budding romance as opposed to a fully bloomed one. That shouldn't deter you though because you'll find everything that's good about romance in the book! Because they are in close proximity during this trip, it gives them ample opportunity to get to know each other. It's so cute how they were able to easily open up to each other, something that they both acknowledge isn't normal behavior for them. You can just feel how comfortable they are around each other through all the dialogue. The chemistry between them absolutely shines through. By the end, you're just rooting for the two to get their destination and for their happily-ever-after. Let me tell you, it's not disappointing. There's even a fun little plot-twist to their relationship that I didn't even see coming. It was ALL great!
The Audible team went all out with this production! We had a full-cast with additional narrators besides the fabulous Zachary Webber and Amanda Ronconi for some of the side characters that Sam and Gwen encounter. And then there was all the fun background sound effects of moving vehicles, brakes, car horns, and meowing kitties! What a riveting performance it all was. The books in this series do eventually release as e-books, but trust me, you want the audiobook version.
If you're looking for a really good time, please check out SeatMate and the rest of the Love Lines series. I'm a Cara Bastone fangirl for life and I can't wait to see what else her magical brain concocts next. I just know that I want MORE.
February 28, 2025
*makes endless incoherent noises*
i thought seatmate was wonderful, and a masterclass in how to write a novella-length story without compromising on feels, back story, and a satisfying happy ending. adored, adored, ADORED.
i thought seatmate was wonderful, and a masterclass in how to write a novella-length story without compromising on feels, back story, and a satisfying happy ending. adored, adored, ADORED.
March 27, 2023
I am officially back to a 5-star rating with Seatmate by Cara Bastone and I am so sad that there isn't another book in this series out right now! I never wanted this one to end and it was the most adorable story yet, as well as being the least focused on the prior characters in the other 2 books. While there is a mention of a couple of them (namely Vera), the main focus is on our MCs Gwen and Sam, and what better way to tell their story than mostly on a bus in a seat by the bathroom? This bus ride brings up all sorts of things for the two characters and I was completely wrapped up in them and the hilarity that ensues.
The audiobook for this has the most narrators yet in the series and there ended up being a total of 9! I loved every single one of them and I think I actually enjoyed this audio the most of the 3 so far as well. There were even more sound effects, and it was all just so perfectly crafted that I was ecstatic. There is even a super cute box of kittens and the audio for them was delightful. I loved the blooming romance between Sam and Gwen and watching them tackle the things in their lives that needed to be addressed, and this definitely had a very Hallmark movie feel to it which is something I love. Really easy listen and I found my eyes full of tears at the end because I was so happy. I just cannot tell you how much of a fan I am of these characters, writer, and series, and listening to these 3 books the past couple of days has made my heart swell with love.
The audiobook for this has the most narrators yet in the series and there ended up being a total of 9! I loved every single one of them and I think I actually enjoyed this audio the most of the 3 so far as well. There were even more sound effects, and it was all just so perfectly crafted that I was ecstatic. There is even a super cute box of kittens and the audio for them was delightful. I loved the blooming romance between Sam and Gwen and watching them tackle the things in their lives that needed to be addressed, and this definitely had a very Hallmark movie feel to it which is something I love. Really easy listen and I found my eyes full of tears at the end because I was so happy. I just cannot tell you how much of a fan I am of these characters, writer, and series, and listening to these 3 books the past couple of days has made my heart swell with love.
May 26, 2025
4.5 stars
Miss Cara Bastone, please take all my money and every precious thing I own, but I beg you: write my love story. The cheesiest, most romantic, hilarious, sweetest, and most wholesome story, with lots of chemistry, banter, all the tension, and gentle love, because there’s no other way I ever want to fall in love.
I am so in love with this series! One of the best ones I’ve read in a while, and every novella is unique and incredibly romantic in its own way. I love the concept it’s following—the love-lines, aka some sort of tangible form of communication that sets up a setting for every love story. I love Cara Bastone’s writing so much. It always fills me with love, happiness, and hope. It’s like eating up joy straight from a cup.
Sam is so perfect! I need this man to be my husband. I need him badly in my life, and if he were a real person—if he became my seatmate—I would definitely be ready to travel 48 hours on a bus. He is sweet, thoughtful, and so kind that he always helps anyone without any questions asked. He’s an introvert and shy, but with the right person, he is the funniest man. The things he did for Gwen—how he did everything in his power to help her make her trip for the interview, how he literally rode a bicycle for miles with her sitting in front of him, how he made her talk about things, made her feel validated in her choices, personality, and career. He is the man!
Gwen is also such an interesting character. I loved being in her mind, listening to her thoughts, how she views life and humans. She’s also funny and so easy to talk to. The romance was everything! The chemistry between Gwen and Sam was undeniable and perfect in every way.
The audiobook was so good! This one has multiple voice actors, and the sound and the delivery of dialogues—everything was so perfectly done!
“I mean... that I want the kind of life where I can have two cats and... a boyfriend. Yes, I want the cat with the pink nose. And... I want the boy with the blue hair. I really want you.”
Miss Cara Bastone, please take all my money and every precious thing I own, but I beg you: write my love story. The cheesiest, most romantic, hilarious, sweetest, and most wholesome story, with lots of chemistry, banter, all the tension, and gentle love, because there’s no other way I ever want to fall in love.
“Come on Cupid, forget the arrows and just use the machete and chop my head off already. I’m done. D. O. N. E.”
I am so in love with this series! One of the best ones I’ve read in a while, and every novella is unique and incredibly romantic in its own way. I love the concept it’s following—the love-lines, aka some sort of tangible form of communication that sets up a setting for every love story. I love Cara Bastone’s writing so much. It always fills me with love, happiness, and hope. It’s like eating up joy straight from a cup.
Sam is so perfect! I need this man to be my husband. I need him badly in my life, and if he were a real person—if he became my seatmate—I would definitely be ready to travel 48 hours on a bus. He is sweet, thoughtful, and so kind that he always helps anyone without any questions asked. He’s an introvert and shy, but with the right person, he is the funniest man. The things he did for Gwen—how he did everything in his power to help her make her trip for the interview, how he literally rode a bicycle for miles with her sitting in front of him, how he made her talk about things, made her feel validated in her choices, personality, and career. He is the man!
Gwen is also such an interesting character. I loved being in her mind, listening to her thoughts, how she views life and humans. She’s also funny and so easy to talk to. The romance was everything! The chemistry between Gwen and Sam was undeniable and perfect in every way.
The audiobook was so good! This one has multiple voice actors, and the sound and the delivery of dialogues—everything was so perfectly done!
July 6, 2022
And the last book on the series Love Lines, and my favourite of the three.
There all very sweet, easy to engage with and light summer reads or listens
This one is the only one in the series that is “face to face” and I found it funny and deeper than the others but also lighthearted.
It follows the misfortunes of 2 people Gwen and Sam, going from Boston to New York in a bus, she needs to make it at a specific time and he’ll be her lucky charm.
There’s no need to say more, just great!
There all very sweet, easy to engage with and light summer reads or listens
This one is the only one in the series that is “face to face” and I found it funny and deeper than the others but also lighthearted.
It follows the misfortunes of 2 people Gwen and Sam, going from Boston to New York in a bus, she needs to make it at a specific time and he’ll be her lucky charm.
There’s no need to say more, just great!
November 22, 2022
The difference between something written as a traditional novel versus that written for audiobook consumption is quite magical, as illustrated here.
The story is a lot fluffier than I normally go for, but given it is novella-length and free with an Audible subscription, I can't really complain.
The characters are sweet, the voice actors are top-notch, and the narrative will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
The story is a lot fluffier than I normally go for, but given it is novella-length and free with an Audible subscription, I can't really complain.
The characters are sweet, the voice actors are top-notch, and the narrative will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
April 1, 2022
Finishing this book was actual torture. It was not fun, not cute, just annoying. The dialogue was too cheesy, the pacing was somehow so slow but the book isn’t even long, and I just didn’t have a good time. And the first two books in the series were SO GOOD. I am so disappointed.
March 24, 2022
Cara Bastone really said your soulmate could be on your next Megabus ride.
Let me go book a ticket for one of these dollar deals so I can find my future hubby. 🤣
Jokes aside, this book was an absolute production and I enjoyed every minute of it! I literally felt like I was on the bus and in the car with Gwen and Sam with all the sound effects and the cast of narrators were so entertaining. I was also caught off guard by the plot twist! I had to pause, scream, rewind, replay and scream again when I got to the twist because it totally came out of left field!
Cara Bastone has once again delivered a quick, entertaining read and if you haven't jumped on the Love Lines series yet, then you need to rectify that ASAP! Trust me, your ears will thank me! 😌✨
Let me go book a ticket for one of these dollar deals so I can find my future hubby. 🤣
Jokes aside, this book was an absolute production and I enjoyed every minute of it! I literally felt like I was on the bus and in the car with Gwen and Sam with all the sound effects and the cast of narrators were so entertaining. I was also caught off guard by the plot twist! I had to pause, scream, rewind, replay and scream again when I got to the twist because it totally came out of left field!
Cara Bastone has once again delivered a quick, entertaining read and if you haven't jumped on the Love Lines series yet, then you need to rectify that ASAP! Trust me, your ears will thank me! 😌✨
April 9, 2022
3 stars. Just ok, imo. I enjoyed some parts of it, but I wasn’t ever overcome with feelings or emotions. It was just very mediocre throughout. The hero & heroine end up sitting next to each other on a bus ride that takes several hours. There’s a lot that happens that ends up being unexpected and they have quite an adventure during their day together. I thought the hero and heroine were fine overall, but their connection felt a little random. I also had a hard time with the short timeline… it never really works for me. There’s a HFN ending with a cute epilogue.
Safe & Clean
Safe & Clean
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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