Clara’s Verdict
At under two and a half hours, Doink is a novella in the truest sense — compact, focused, and designed to deliver a complete emotional arc without overstaying its welcome. Crea Reitan writes the kind of queer romance that trusts its characters and its readers: no unnecessary drama, no manufactured misunderstandings dragged out beyond their natural lifespan, just two people slowly recognising something they should probably have noticed earlier. The misplaced crush on the wrong person, the gentle pivot towards someone who was there all along, the forced-proximity twist that feels earned rather than contrived — these are the familiar beats of the genre, played with real affection and skill.
Alexander Cendese gives the narration warmth and pace, and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable listen for an afternoon or a long commute. I find novellas in audio form particularly satisfying when they are done well — the short runtime means every scene has to carry weight, and Reitan does not waste a moment. This is one of several instalments in the Rainbow Dorset University world, each of which stands independently while rewarding readers who return for more.
About the Audiobook
Unrequited love can make you blind. Peyton has been pining after the wrong person for years — his coach — only to find that the coach has never been interested and never will be. That is a hard pill to swallow. But the person who is actually interested turns out to be someone Peyton talks to almost every day: Dana, a shy student and café worker who has been quietly nursing a crush of his own. When the sports departments hold a charity auction for dates, Dana seizes the moment and bids on an afternoon with Peyton.
Peyton plans an adventurous kayaking picnic on a large, remote mountain lake — not checking the weather forecast first, which is the kind of oversight that changes an afternoon into a story. A lightning storm strands them on a small island in the middle of the lake, in a tiny cabin with only one bed. The situation is objectively awkward. It is also, as it turns out, the beginning of something neither of them entirely anticipated. The audiobook runs to 2 hours and 25 minutes. This is an LGBTQIA+ story with content warnings available on the author’s website for those who wish to check before listening.
The Narration
Alexander Cendese narrates Doink, and his performance is one of the reasons the novella works as well as it does in audio form. He handles both Peyton’s gradual reorientation — the process of letting go of one fixation and opening up to something real — and Dana’s quieter, more contained longing with distinctly different vocal registers. The comedic beats land, the romantic tension builds at the right pace, and at no point does the narration push for effect that the writing has not established. For a novella that depends heavily on character interiority, that kind of measured, characterful narration is essential, and Cendese delivers it consistently across the short runtime.
What Readers Say
Listener response has been enthusiastic across the forty-six reviews the audiobook has accumulated on Audible. One reviewer described it as « more plot than I expected from such a short spicy read — watching these two find their way to each other was really cute, » noting that Peyton’s growth across the novella feels genuine. Another called it « such a cute novella — the weather turns and they end up marooned overnight — forced proximity at its best. » A third summarised simply: « friendships, emotions, secrets, adventure, forced proximity, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry — an entertaining page-turner. » The consensus is that Reitan handles the short form with real confidence, delivering a complete romantic arc that does not feel truncated or rushed. The audiobook holds a rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Audible.
The Rainbow Dorset University series, of which this is a part, has developed a genuine following for exactly this kind of low-stakes, high-warmth storytelling. Reitan understands that the novella form requires ruthless economy — every scene must earn its place — and she applies that discipline consistently. There is no unnecessary subplot, no secondary character whose drama competes with the main story, no third-act crisis invented purely to delay the ending. The result is a model of the short-form romance: complete, satisfying, and exactly as long as it needs to be.
Who Should Listen?
Readers who love short, feel-good LGBTQIA+ romance with forced proximity, light humour, and characters you can root for without complication. If you have enjoyed other instalments in the Rainbow Dorset University series, this is comfortably up to standard — though new readers can come in cold, as each novella stands independently. The short runtime makes this ideal for those who want a satisfying emotional journey without the multi-hour commitment of a full novel. Note that the author flags content warnings on her website for those who wish to review them before listening. Available on Audible UK.
