The Present Audiobook By Jay Martel cover art

The Present

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The Present

By: Jay Martel
Narrated by: Fred Berman
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Adam Diehl is an 11-year-old in crisis. He knows his parents are going to split up - today - and he'd do anything in his power to stop them. If only he could turn back time....

As it turns out, he can.

What his parents don't know - what his sister and brother would never suspect - is that Adam is a genius, and the computer he stares at all day has opened a gateway to knowledge beyond our comprehension.

But not Adam's.

Now, he has a plan. He's going to repeat this day over and over until he finds the version of it that ends with his parents staying together. But he can't keep resetting the day forever.

Because the laws of time are strict, and they're starting to push back.

©2021 Jay Martel (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC. Neurodiversity Science Fiction Time Travel Funny Heartfelt Witty

About the Creator

Jay Martel is a novelist, essayist, screenwriter, director, and actor. For his work in TV, he's received Emmy, Peabody, and WGA awards. He recently adapted his previous novel, The Present (also available on Audible), into a movie, which will be released in 2023 starring Greg Kinnear and Isla Fisher. His first novel, Channel Blue, is also available on Audible and is being developed as a feature by Paramount Pictures.
Martel served as a showrunner, executive producer and writer for Key & Peele. He’s fulfilled the same functions on many comedies including Alternatino, Teachers, Halfway Home, and Strangers With Candy. He also cowrote the comedy Get Hard. Martel is a contributor to The New Yorker, where his humor appears regularly.

About the Performer

Fred Berman is an award-winning narrator of more than 200 books. A New York native, Berman brings energy and enthusiasm to every project, whether it’s mystery or fantasy, biography or YA. He is an accomplished actor of both the stage and screen as well, performing on Broadway as Timon in The Lion King and Off-Broadway in The Normal Heart, Room Service, and Bury The Dead, among others. On television, he has had roles in HBO’s High Maintenance as well as the NBC series Smash and Law & Order and Forever on ABC. His film credits include: Putzel, The Judge, Twelve Thirty, A Very Special Episode, and Directing Eddie. Fred is also a drummer and played for many years with the NYC rock legends, Lisa Jackson & Girl Friday. He lives in New York with his wife and two kids, banging out Rush songs on the drums in his basement in his spare time.

Excellent Character Development • Imaginative Time-loop Concept • Moving Family Story • Humorous Writing
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While listening to this book, I decided that it was written for older kids or young adults EXCEPT for the swearing and the sex. Those were totally not necessary for the story. So while I might encourage my teen to know the story, I couldn't, in good conscience, have them listen to it. Disappointing for a Audible production.

too much swearing & sex

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What a fantastic story. The characters are so relatable. This week I got rid of all of my TVs; this book made the transition so easy.

favorite chicken, favorite chicken

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A family of 5 go through Groundhog Day on steroids.
It’s funny, sad, and will melt your heart.
The narrator is one I know well from other books he has performed and again did not let me down.

Anything to keep them together

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I almost gave up after 2 chapters, but eventually decided to finish this book. it's really clever and interesting. well narrated, too.

surprisingly good!

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I fully enjoyed this story, it was a lot of fun and I'd recommend it to anyone who loves time travel stories. One of the most unique approaches I've seen, and I love time loop stories a great deal.

Excellent time loop story

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This was a fantastic story. I enjoyed it from beginning to the end. It was a twist on wanting a remake of a horrible day in your life. Well done!

Enjoyable

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I don’t leave very many reviews but this book was REALLY good. Not sure when or how I purchased this one but when I randomly chose it from my library I had no idea I would love it this much. Jay Martel (which google tells me is the pen name of married writing team Andy Bennett and Katy Helbacka) does such an impressive job with character development and overall storytelling. This one will stick with me forever. I’ve already started lovingly using “favorite chicken” with my cat. The authors make it so easy to relate to Max and Adam in very real ways. The sci-fi theme was really just the cherry on top. I highly recommend this book.

Unexpectedly Really Good!

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if you are into sci-fi I highly recommend this book. it was very clever and interesting especially from the point of a 11 year old autistic boy

loved it

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I loved this book! I was hopelessly hooked after the first couple of chapters. The story is imaginative and it draws you in...hoping for the same outcome as Adam, the main character. Well done!

A clever, well written adventure

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you do feel the frustration and sadness that the main character feels. it deals with many personalities and different types of people and their strengths and weaknesses, but this kind of depressing in the process. spoiler: things do work out in the end.

interesting but a bit depressing

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