Speak Now
Ash Perez
Mar 2026 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Jena Malone, Arienne Mandi, Benjamin Norris, Inés del Castillo, Charles Linshaw, Ali Andre Ali, J.S. Arquin, Jason Culp, Kevin R. Free, Kelly Krauter, Jane Oppenheimer, Bahni Turpin, and Jesse Vilinsky
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3 reviews
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Audiobook
4 hr 59 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
The wunderkind chef of an acclaimed restaurant is reunited with “the one that got away” when she’s hired to cater her wedding in this charming, full-cast queer rom-com, perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Casey McQuiston, by TV writer and former BuzzFeed personality Ash Perez.
What would you do for a second chance at your first love?
Alex Perez is a culinary genius: she’s on the verge of becoming the youngest ever head chef at the famed Sempervirens restaurant, a fine dining treasure tucked away in a boutique hotel in the majestic Big Sur mountains. Her demanding schedule and perfectionist tendencies leave little room to think about romance. That is, until her ex-best friend Genevieve shows up at her restaurant—and gets engaged.
Twelve years ago, Alex was just a quiet transfer student with no friends until she met Genevieve Jones, an effervescent extrovert who took Alex under her wing. They remained inseparable through the rest of high school, until a fateful road trip changed everything, and they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since.
Now Genevieve’s longtime boyfriend Derek, a real estate mogul in the making, has brought her here not only to propose, but to offer sizable investment in the hotel…if they can host and cater the perfect fairytale wedding. Leaving Alex in an impossible situation: cater the wedding for the only woman she’s ever loved, or give up her dream job as a head chef.
Speak Now is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny story of self-discovery and second chances from an exciting new voice in queer fiction, performed by a full cast led by Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Pride & Prejudice) and Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q, Chicago PD).
What would you do for a second chance at your first love?
Alex Perez is a culinary genius: she’s on the verge of becoming the youngest ever head chef at the famed Sempervirens restaurant, a fine dining treasure tucked away in a boutique hotel in the majestic Big Sur mountains. Her demanding schedule and perfectionist tendencies leave little room to think about romance. That is, until her ex-best friend Genevieve shows up at her restaurant—and gets engaged.
Twelve years ago, Alex was just a quiet transfer student with no friends until she met Genevieve Jones, an effervescent extrovert who took Alex under her wing. They remained inseparable through the rest of high school, until a fateful road trip changed everything, and they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since.
Now Genevieve’s longtime boyfriend Derek, a real estate mogul in the making, has brought her here not only to propose, but to offer sizable investment in the hotel…if they can host and cater the perfect fairytale wedding. Leaving Alex in an impossible situation: cater the wedding for the only woman she’s ever loved, or give up her dream job as a head chef.
Speak Now is a charming and laugh-out-loud funny story of self-discovery and second chances from an exciting new voice in queer fiction, performed by a full cast led by Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Pride & Prejudice) and Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q, Chicago PD).
The wunderkind chef of an acclaimed restaurant is reunited with “the one that got away” when she’s hired to cater her wedding in this charming, full-cast queer rom-com, perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Casey McQuiston, by TV writer and former BuzzFeed personality Ash Perez.
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3 reviews
Robin Hillsinger
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April 17, 2026
I started it and listened til the end. Loved every minute ❤️
About the author
Ash Perez (he/they) is a writer, director, author, and producer. A queer first-generation Cuban, Korean, and Filipino American himself, Ash is focused on telling underrepresented stories in every genre. He has written for ABC’s Home Economics and Freeform’s Good Trouble. In 2020, he served as a senior producer on the Biden/Harris campaign, where he codirected and coproduced “Michelle Obama’s Closing Argument.” Most recently he created New Guy Tries for 2nd Try TV, which follows his exploration of manhood as a newly-transitioned man. He is the author of Read This For Inspiration, published in 2020 with Clarkson Potter. Speak Now is his fiction debut.
Ash Perez (he/they) is a writer, director, author, and producer. A queer first-generation Cuban, Korean, and Filipino American himself, Ash is focused on telling underrepresented stories in every genre. He has written for ABC’s Home Economics and Freeform’s Good Trouble. In 2020, he served as a s...
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