The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation Audiobook By Karen Grey cover art

The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

Welcome to Climax, Book 1

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The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation

By: Karen Grey
Narrated by: Grayson Owens, Carly Robins
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About this listen

He’s the big-city corporate VP slashing costs. She’s the sunny, small-town toddler-whisperer in his crosshairs. It should be easier for them to keep their hands off each other.

The new guy in town may be a hot single dad–we’re talking total, mouthwatering eye candy here–but that isn’t stopping him from shuttering my favorite program here at Climax Parks & Rec.

Nor does it stop me from being blinded by lust and tripping over my own feet every time I see him, even though we’re completely wrong for each other.

He’s all business; my job is to play.
He’s moved upstate from Manhattan; I’ve returned to my small town roots.
He’s overwhelmed by his two adorable kids; doctors told me I’ll never be a mother.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s his job to “re-org” (aka ruin) everything I love about my job?

Despite all this, he’s got me dreaming of something I told myself I’d given up on: a family of my own.

Warning! Do not listen to this audiobook unless you love:

  • Uptight heroes who are silly with their kids
  • Sunshiny, Cinderelly heroines
  • Nosy, interfering, small-town bureaucrats
  • Possibly magical clock towers
  • Parks and Recreation and Schitt’s Creek vibes

To the listener: my romance novels are all lighthearted and humorous, and the main two characters are guaranteed to find a happy ending. However, they may run into a few obstacles along the way, as well as need healing from incidents in their former lives.

If you’d like content guidance regarding sex/nudity, death, mental health and/or reproductive health challenges, you can find them in detail at karengrey com/contentguidance

©2025 Karen Grey (P)2025 Home Cooked Books
Contemporary Romantic Comedy Small Town Witty
All stars
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Listener received this title free

Updated for audio: I was beyond thrilled when The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation was released as an audiobook. Author Karen Grey’s stories are wonderful, amazing, terrific, etc., etc., etc. and as audiobooks – no words. They are just so much fun to listen to. Especially when you have two fantastic narrators. Pace, tone, emotion – all perfect. Carly Robbins’ performance always makes you forget it’s a performance and instead feel like you are just listening to the character live this life. You laugh and cry and just feel like you are right there. Grayson Owens? When you listen to a lot of audiobooks you develop favorite narrators, but then realize while listening to a performance by a different narrator that you cannot imagine anyone else telling you this story, being this character? I’ve only listened to a few audiobooks narrated by Owen (so far) but he is one of those authors. There is just something about his voice that makes you want to listen to the audiobook over and over. He is now on my “search” and “favorites” lists. An enjoyable, satisfying read made more enjoyable and more satisfying by these talented narrators. I both purchased and received a copy of this audiobook. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation is so . . . so . . . so Karen Grey. If you are a long-time fan like I am, you’ll see it right away. It’s not that all her stories sound alike, they most certainly do not, but it’s an almost indescribable feeling you get. The story just seems to blossom and unfold before your eyes: the setting becomes alive and vibrant, the characters are developed dimension by dimension and the plot just rolls along, gathering emotion, humor, will-they, won’t-they to its very satisfying conclusion.

We come to Climax, New York via author Grey’s contribution to the Bedd Fellows Farm four-book series. Familiar characters and animals and we had just a little peek at Josh Harmon.

Josh’s life blew up about a year and a half ago when his wife Lisa died. He’s still overwhelmed and he’s come to Climax so his parents can help with his two small children. Avery Mills was born and raised in Climax but left to work in the big city. After a brutal betrayal she came back to heal, and when she realized the state of her parents’ health she stayed to care for them. When they meet, it’s typical Grey: touching, sweet, funny. Josh has been stumbling and slumbering through his life, more asleep than awake until the first time he sets eyes on Avery, or more accurately when she literally falls into his arms. It’s like a bucket of ice water to the face – he’s awake now. And Avery? It’s as if she looked up and Prince Charming was standing there, except instead of curtsying like a princess would she tripped and fell into him. One look, and one feel of those arms around her, and her life is suddenly Before Josh Times and After Josh Times. She sees a ring and thinks he’s married, then that he’s still wearing the ring because he’s still grieving, but her pesky subconscious won’t let that attraction go. What is wrong with her? And Josh wonders what is wrong with him. He can’t decide whether to take that ring off or not, but there was a lot of turmoil and sadness in his marriage and these emotions he’s feeling around Avery are new to him. Maybe he has Before Avery Times and After Avery Times?

Josh needs his job. Avery needs her job. And Josh’s job is to get rid of Avery’s job. This isn’t going to be conflict-free, is it?

His job is the only thing Josh feels certain of, capable at, and he needs it to support his family. Avery’s “big city” dreams went away when she decided to stay in Climax and her job at Climax Parks & Rec, her friends, her family are everything to her. And especially important to her is the parent-toddler class called Playgroup, created and run by her mother before she became too ill to continue.

Josh works for Trede Corporation, founded by Elijah Ransom (maybe a little hook there for the next book?) who spent time as a young man in Climax and decided to establish headquarters there and invest in the community, but part of the deal is to upgrade facilities and programs and make improvements to serve the entire community. Playgroup is very valuable and very popular – but serves only a tiny portion of the community, and logically it should be first on the list of cuts. This makes Josh and Avery enemies – but they’re not. Not when those clock tower bells ring whenever they are close together. In fact, they are very, very compatible except for the Playgroup thing.

Grey expertly populates the story with colorful family and friends, relationships that have gone awry, tough decisions that have to be made and with humor and tenderness and a whole lot of spice running through it all. Imagine those bells, Avery’s hilarious word substitutions to avoid using naughty words around the toddlers, an exciting, sexy work trip (yes, you heard me) and scene after scene of pure reading enjoyment. If you can only take one trip this year, take it to Climax. You will love your time there as much as I did. I received an advance copy of The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation from the author. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Absolutely fantastic narrators & a great story

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Listener received this title free

This was such a fun and sweet listen. And the narrators were absolute perfection. They did such a great job at bringing all the characters and emotions to life, especially with so many different characters, including small children, being involved.

Avery works at the town's recreation center, and she literally bumps into Josh when he and the rest of his team come to the center to meet with the director about their company basically taking over. The attraction between the MCs is instant, but Avery is now avoiding Josh because, one, he's wearing a wedding ring, and two, he's basically now the enemy since he's in charge of gathering information to see which departments can or should be closed. What Avery doesn't know yet is that Josh is not married, and after spending time with his son in Avery's class, he doesn’t want to close that department.

I absolutely loved Avery's personality and her quirks and fake cuss words. I also loved how comfortable Josh's kids felt with Avery, and how she took the time to get to know and understand them. And the town's legend around the clock was so freaking cool, ngl I was geeking out a bit with that.

The story also has some deeper topics that broke my heart a little, like Josh's guilt and struggles with wanting to always be there for his kids, and Avery's past relationship and misdiagnosis which I will not get into to avoid spoilers.

Quote: “You are precious to me. You've brought hope to my life when I never thought I'd feel that again. You make me a better dad, a better man. I don't want to live my life without you in it.”

“If the bell tolls, someone found their one true love.”

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Listener received this title free

Funny, cute with small town drama. Enemies to lovers with likable characters that banter keeps you hooked. Totally recommend but be sure to read the trigger warnings.
I first read the book, then went back and listened to the audiobook. I loved the audiobook even more. Hearing the characters banter pulls you in so much more.

small town drama

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Listener received this title free

This may be my favorite book from Karen..definitely her funniest! Her creative curse words will have you laughing out loud. So many amazing tropes- small town, single dad, enemies to lovers, and grumpy sunshine. The side characters are fabulous and the town of climax is filled with nosy and meddling neighbors! Josh and Avery bring all the emotions, laughs and feels to this story. They both have some baggage they are working through - although they are advisories they develop a beautiful romance. These two have amazing chemistry, banter and are great confidants for one another. There are laughs but also serious topics that Karen writes so beautifully. A fantastic read! Hoping there are more books that take place is Climax! Grayson Owens and Carly Robins delivered a fantastic performance! They gave perfect voice, personality and emotion to all the characters. I previously read and loved this book…but I love how narrators take authors words and create a whole new experience. Their voices are full of joy, seriousness and love. A fantastic listen!

Funny and fantastic with amazing narration

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Listener received this title free

The narrators Carly Robins and Greyson Owens did a truly fantastic performance, 5 stars all the way. I could really feel all the emotions of Josh and Avery. I originally read and reviewed this book and when given the chance to listen to it, I couldn't pass it up. I devoured this audiobook in one sitting. Below is my original review.

This is a wonderfully written single dad rom-com based in the city of Climax. Josh and Avery meet and have this intense, instant attraction when they meet at Climax Parks and Rec. They both have lots of baggage which leads to lots of misunderstandings but it all is very realistic and makes you root for them even more. It is a slow burn but all the characters have depth and the story is pretty emotional at times. I definitely shed a few tears and laughed a lot. Avery has a very creative vocabulary that made this even more enjoyable. Definitely a 4.5 star must read and I can't wait for the next book.

I was sent an advanced copy from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Finding Balance

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Listener received this title free

The Single Dad's Guide to Recreation is a small town, widower, steamy romance. Avery & Josh are cute together or they would be if they could get together. This book is an easy listen and very enjoyable. I really like Karen Grey's writing, I've read all her books maybe I'm bias. I'm surprised this book isn't based in the 1990's. I like the getaway, It turns out all funny. Grayson Owens and Carly Robins did an amazing job bringing this world to life. I like they're voices, hope I hear them together again.

Great Together

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Listener received this title free

Happy sigh…The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation by Karen Grey was a feel-good small-town romance that had me grinning from start to finish. I adored everything about Avery and Josh’s single-dad romance and their stumbling meet-cute that was simply meant to be. Karen always creates heartfelt characters in memorable places, and I’m already intrigued with the town of Climax.

Carly Robins and Grayson Owens perform this audiobook in dual narration. Both narrators fully embodied Avery and Josh, creating an undeniable pull and meant-to-be chemistry between them. Carly’s bright, expressive voice captured Avery’s sunshiny and passionate personality, emphasizing her wants and desires perfectly. Grayson’s warm, soothing tone encompassed Josh’s vulnerabilities, doubts, and swoon-worthy demeanor, brilliantly making you feel every single emotion from Josh. Both narrators made this an entertaining and immersive listen.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of a small town romance with a hot broody single dad, a devoted employee of CPR, Schitts Creek, and Parks and Rec vibes, a clumsy meet cute, a trip to Bedfellows farm, dad jokes, weekend romantic getaways, saving important programs, kid scares, motherly advice, healing from the past, intimate conversations, love declarations, grand house gestures, and a HEA that will guide its way into your heart, then you will love Avery and Josh’s story. I always look forward to more from Karen Grey.

Heartfelt, Hilarious Single Dad Romance

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Listener received this title free

Grayson Owens and Carly Robins both do great jobs of lending their voices to the audiobook. I read the book but listening to it was like "reading" it for the first time again. Grayson and Carly made the story come to life.

I found myself listening to many chapters at a time. I had such an enjoyable time listening to the audiobook. If you are an audiobook fan, you will want to pick up this one and turn up the volume.

I felt for Avery. She was trying so hard to be there for everyone that she did not truly have a moment to live her own life. I can understand and really appreciate her staying in the small town for her parents as I am very close to my parents and would drop everything for them.

Josh is a good dad. He like Avery put himself on hold for his children. Thus, the reason that the romantic vibes between these two was slow and steady. Which I liked as it made things more believable.

What I really enjoy about reading a Karen Grey book is that I always know she will bring the humor. That is what she did, but this book is more than just a romantic comedy. The characters are relatable and engaging. I like that all of the characters added something to the story and were not just sidekicks. This book is a sweet, charming, humorous read with hints of spice. I will be reading the next book in this series.

This book is a sweet, charming, humorous read

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Listener received this title free

Prepare to be utterly charmed by "The Single Dad’s Guide to Recreation," a delightful small-town romance with the quirky, heartwarming vibes of Schitt’s Creek and Parks and Rec. Karen Grey delivers an engaging, funny, and entertaining story that balances heavy themes with laugh-out-loud moments and sizzling chemistry.

Avery is the quintessential "Cinderelly" heroine—a sunshiny facilitator of a parent-toddler playgroup, a live-in caregiver for her aging parents, and an underappreciated pillar of her community. Her life in the small town of Climax takes a chaotic turn when a giant tech corporation sets up its headquarters, putting her mother's legacy program on the chopping block.

Enter Josh, a handsome, buttoned-up widower who is the very definition of a stoic hero—at least until you see him get silly with his two adorable kids. As the team leader for the new corporate partnership, it's his job to assess Avery's program. Their first meeting is a rom-com classic, involving dropped glue sticks, an electric touch, and Avery trying not to fall on her patootie. Despite the sparks, they seem fundamentally wrong for each other. He's a grieving single dad from Manhattan; she's a small-town girl nursing a broken heart and the belief that she’ll never be a mother.

Yet, amidst meddling family, nosy bureaucrats, and a possibly magical HEA-predicting clock tower, Avery and Josh find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another. Their baggage threatens to create a chasm, but forced proximity on a romantic weekend getaway leads to some seriously steamy moments. Grey writes frankly about challenging topics like spousal loss, parental caregiving, and betrayal without ever dipping into maudlin territory. She masterfully shows how this perfect-for-each-other pair navigates their imperfections to find a future together.

The audiobook experience is simply off the charts. Narrators Carly Robins and Grayson Owens do a fabulous job bringing these characters to life. Their performances capture every nuance of Avery's sunny disposition and Josh's quiet depth, elevating an already wonderful story into a must-listen experience. If you love a heartfelt, open-door romance filled with humor and heat, you must welcome yourself to Climax.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Charming and wonderful

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Listener received this title free

This was really cute book. I enjoy Karen’s writing style. I found this to be easy to read. It was a fun quick read. I read it in just a few hours.

The story follows Avery and Josh.
The are the embodiment of opposite attraction. Enemies to lovers. Josh works for the mayor and is helping to cancel the very program that Avery is struggling to keep going.

Very enjoyable. Lighthearted and funny.

Cute listen

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