Yesteryear Audiobook Review — Caro Claire Burke

Story: &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088; — Ingenious structure, profound emotional payoff
Narration: &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088; — Stephanie Cannon at her best
Production: &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088; — Immaculate audio quality
Relistenability: &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088; — Essential to relisten knowing the full story
Overall: &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088; — One of the finest literary fiction audiobooks in years

There are books that are clever, and there are books that are moving. Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke manages to be both at once — and in audio, narrated by Stephanie Cannon, it becomes something close to extraordinary. A GMA Book Club Pick and one of the most talked-about literary fiction audiobooks of 2025, Yesteryear is the kind of story that stays with you long after the final chapter.

What Is Yesteryear About?

Yesteryear tells the story of one woman's life — but in reverse. We begin with her in old age and move backwards through her decades, watching her choices, loves, losses, and regrets unfold in the wrong order. It sounds like a gimmick. It is not. Burke uses the reverse structure to reveal how the meaning of every moment changes depending on what you know about what comes before it — or in this case, what comes after.

The result is a novel that is maddening, mesmerising, and ultimately devastating in the best possible way. By the time you reach the beginning — which is also the end — you will want to start again immediately.

Why Audio Is the Perfect Format for Yesteryear

The reverse chronology is easier to follow in audio than you might expect, largely because Stephanie Cannon's narration provides such a consistent emotional anchor. Her voice ages backwards with the character — subtly, almost imperceptibly — in a performance that is technically impressive and deeply affecting.

"Stephanie Cannon's narration of Yesteryear is a masterclass in restraint. She lets the structure do the work and trusts the listener — which is exactly right."

Narration Quality

Cannon is exceptional. Her performance is understated where lesser narrators would over-emote, and the result is a listening experience that feels intimate and real. The production is clean and unhurried, matching the contemplative pace of Burke's prose.