If you're looking for a modern twist on a William Shakespeare adaptation, Audible has just what you need. The platform is releasing a new Audible Original audiobook titled "The Summer Oath," written by Claire Friedman and based on Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost." We're excited to share the news that Maya Hawke and KJ Apa star in this production. "The Summer Oath" stands out as a wonderful romantic comedy to read at the start of summer, offering a unique experience. The full cast includes Ego Nwodim, Milly Alcock, Alexandra Shipp, Gavin Casalegno, and Peri Gilpin in the narration.

The plot of "The Summer Oath" is simple yet effective, much like Shakespeare's original play: A group of friends vows to stay away from love and flirting, but their oath is broken when they encounter interesting individuals. In this adaptation, Livia Gaines (Hawke) is the one who swears off relationships. After her breakup, her publisher sends her to stay at a house in the Hamptons to focus on her writing. However, her friends Zara (Nwodim) and Eloise (Alcock) come along with her. The former home of a married couple brings two different groups together, especially with Livia's college crush Ezra Keats (Apa) showing up, making this summer a challenging time for Livia in many ways.

In the special presentation, you can hear the moment Ezra and Livia meet for the first time in seven years. As you experience Livia's thoughts conveyed through Hawke's narration, you'll learn how she ignored Ezra's offers to study together because she only thought of him as competition during college, and just how much she fantasized about him.

Adaptations of Shakespeare's works have been popular since the 1990s. Films like "10 Things I Hate About You," "Get Over It," and "She's the Man" introduced Shakespeare's comedies to new audiences in modern ways. There are also examples like "The Lion King" adapting "Romeo + Juliet" and "Hamlet." In 2023, we saw "Anyone But You" adapt "Much Ado About Nothing" for a new era. In this context, it's quite exciting that Friedman continues this tradition by transforming "Love's Labour's Lost" into a Summer House-style adaptation.