June is Audiobook Appreciation Month, which is a good excuse to gather up a collection of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to so far this year, Quick Lit-style.
When I’m choosing my next audiobook listen, I’m not looking for a substitute for the print book; to my mind, the best audiobooks enhance the reading experience, adding layers that the print version can’t replicate.
I know many of you deeply value a wonderful summer audiobook, which is why for many years now, each year’s MMD Summer Reading Guide has included an “Awesome on Audio” feature. This is my place to highlight forthcoming audiobooks for the season I’ve already previewed and found to be fantastic listening, as well as draw your attention to amazing backlist audiobooks that feel just right for summer.
Quick Lit is coming up on Monday, June 15, and it just so happens that I’ve been listening up a storm recently; our mild spring has made for excellent walking—and thus audiobook—weather. That means more audiobooks I read (and mostly loved) are coming your way very soon.
I hope you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR on this list (and in the comments!), and I look forward to browsing your recent audiobook winners below.
8 best audiobooks of the year so far
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The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love
I started this collection because of a mistake, but then I didn't want to stop listening! And at only four hours, I didn't exactly have to talk myself into it. In this collection, narrated by Karen Gundersen and Max Meyers, a WIDE array of authors weigh in on their beloved canine companions, sharing the joys, the laughs, the bafflements, the heartbreaks of dog ownership: Isabel Allende, Emily Henry, Roxane Gay, Amy Tan, Bonnie Garmus, Paul Yoon, and plenty more. Above all, as promised, these are essays on love. If you're a dog person in need of a feel-good comfort listen, maybe consider this one? 4 hrs and 46 mins. More info →
London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth
Journalist Keefe’s narrative nonfiction delves into London’s criminal underworld. When Matthew and Rachelle Brettler learned their nineteen-year-old son Zac died by suicide, they were devastated—but the details of the story didn’t add up for them. He hadn’t seemed suicidal, and the circumstances surrounding his death didn't make sense. They soon learned he had a secret life, one in which he posed as the son of a Russian oligarch and became entangled with a crook and gangster who wanted to get at his supposed parents' money. But Scotland Yard didn’t appear to be pursuing justice for their son and so they continue to seek the truth about what happened to Zac. The ensuing investigation is riveting (tax laws never were so fascinating, or so seedy), as is the exploration of the parent-child relationship. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. More info →
Happy Land
I've loved Dolen Perkins-Valdez's work in the past, especially her 2022 novel Take My Hand which was one of my favorite books that year. I decided to listen to her 2025 release on audio, largely because Bahni Turpin narrates, along with Ashley J. Hobbs. Once again, here she takes inspiration from lesser-explored history that deserves to be better known. Happy Land is about the “kingdom” established in 1873 in North Carolina by a group of freedpeople looking to escape white terrorist violence in nearby Spartanburg County SC, where they lived. This kingdom named a king and queen, formed a communal treasury, and eventually purchased land spread across the NC/SC state line. The story unfolds in two timelines: the first follows Luella, Happy Land’s first queen, and the second contemporary timeline follows her descendant Nikki. The stories are linked by the ancestral line and also by the fuller story of African American land loss in the 20th century. Perkins-Valdez excels at making history come alive through her rich historical details. 10 hrs 19 mins. More info →
In Your Dreams (When in Rome #4)
This is the fourth and final installment in Adams's Rome, Kentucky series, which begins with When in Rome (though I think they all stand alone just fine). Each series installment centers one of the four Walker siblings; this last story belongs to wild child Madison, who's moving back to Rome after graduating from culinary school in New York City. Unbeknownst to her family and friends, she was miserable in the city, and didn't do great in school, either—despite what she led them to believe. Now she's back in Rome to work for her brother's best friend, as head chef at the new restaurant he's opening on the family farm. But, unbeknownst to pretty much everyone, his only reason for opening the restaurant is to bring Maddie back to town, because he's been pining for her for years. Oh, and the farm might go under if the restaurant isn't a success from opening night. I have some quibbles with this story, particularly the lack of detail and texture surrounding the restaurant plot, and one truly terrible "Kentucky" accent on the audiobook. But I have zero regrets about spending my time here: all in all it was an easy-reading delight to go back to Rome one more time. Narrated by Chase Brown and Christine Lakin. 11 hrs 12 mins. More info →
Finding Grace
I picked this up on Ginger's recommendation and enjoyed it so much! What she specifically said was something like, I have so much to do but all I WANT to do is keep reading this book! Once I picked it up I could understand why. This was such a juicy, plotty pageturner and I don't want to give anything away. In the first chapter we meet Honor, who feels she ought to be enjoying her Christmas holiday with her husband and young child at the Ritz in Paris, but is instead consumed with her longing for another child. But then everything changes for her family in an instant: plans are derailed, secrets are kept, friendships are strained, relationships are dissolved and reformed ... it's not the story I expected but I enjoyed it so much, especially on audio as narrated by Fiona Button. (Psst—if you want to avoid spoilers, do NOT read the reviews!) 11 hrs 24 mins. More info →
Loved One
I picked up this audiobook on a whim this spring and DEVOURED it; I couldn't stop listening. Emotionally, the reading experience felt a lot like that of Finding Grace, but absent the shared theme of grief, the stories aren't readalikes. I went in knowing next to nothing and didn't mind that a bit: when the story opens, thirty-year-old Julia is speaking at the Los Angeles memorial service for her twenty-nine-year-old best friend and first love Gabe, who's just died in an accident. The novel revolves around Julia processing her complicated grief. Going back and forth in time, we experience Julia and Gabe's relationship from the beginning, when they met in Barcelona when his mother was her study abroad professor, up through the last time they saw each other weeks before his death. In the present timeline, we see Julia navigating her private grief over the loss of her celebrity friend, and traveling to London to befriend his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth under not quite honest pretenses. I enjoyed the exploration of complex relationships, but the textural details really made the book for me: the Barcelona and London specifics, the intricacies of Julia's jewelry designs and business, the numerous references to art and artists, the food and decor at Elizabeth's Shoreditch restaurant, Gabe's songwriting process and touring practices—I ate it all up. This introspective first person tale was great on audio, as narrated by Emma Ladji. (When I read last week about Phoebe Bridgers's recent pop-up concerts, my mind went immediately to this book, as fictional musician Gabe was beloved for doing something similar.) 9 hrs 17 mins. More info →
Memorial Days: A Memoir
This grief memoir was a word-of-mouth pick for me: I've noticed our MMD Book Clubbers saying good things about it in our forums since it was published last winter. Brooks had been married to fellow writer and journalist Tony Horwitz for thirty-five years when he collapsed and died in 2019 while on book tour far from home. He was just sixty years old. She was stunned—and then quickly swept into a barrage of pressing to-dos, everything from finding new health insurance for herself and her sons to finishing her manuscript-in-progress (that would be the 2022 novel Horse) so she had money to pay the bills. Three years after his death, she traveled to tiny Flinders Island, off the coast of her native Australia, to finally give herself time and space to grieve. This book is the result of that experience. I listened to Brooks narrate her own audio and that format served the story well; it doesn't feel quite right to say I "enjoyed" a grief memoir but this was gentle, lovely, and moving. I'm so glad I read it. 4 hrs 56 mins. More info →
Only the Beautiful
I love Susan Meissner and her work. This story unfolds in two threads: in 1938 California, a 16-year-old named Rosie is orphaned and subsequently taken in by the owners of the vineyard where her father worked. The circumstances by which she ends up pregnant are ugly, but she loves the idea of having a child and doesn't protest when she's sent to the home for unwed mothers. But that's not where she's sent: because of her misunderstood synesthesia, she's sent against her will to a hospital for the mentally infirm; she will not be allowed to keep her baby, nor will she be able to have children in the future. Meanwhile in 1940s Austria, Helen, the sister of the vineyard owner, who knew Rosie when she was young, has been working for years as a nanny and witnesses firsthand the brutal impacts of the Nazi regime. When Helen finally returns home in 1947, she is shocked to learn what's become of Rosie, and why. I raced through the story so I could learn how Helen and Rosie's threads would finally converge and it was so satisfying when they did. This dual POV tale was beautifully narrated by Xe Sands and Jorjeana Marie. 12 hrs 28 mins. More info →
What are your favorite audiobooks you’ve listened to this year? Please share in the comments.
P.S.15 Backlist Summer Reading Guide favorites that are even better on audio, 12 adventure filled audiobooks for your next family road trip, and 15 standout summer novels perfect for seasonal listening. Want even more? Browse our complete audiobook archives here.
39 comments
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett. All the voices are good, but especially the young girl,Meg. Just the right amount of Mississippi .
Yes!!! So so very good! So glad I listened to this one! I came here to recommend this one!
I also wanted to be sure “The Calamity Club” was mentioned. So good!
Yes! I finished The Calamity Club yesterday!! I read it on Kindle while listening to audio. I loved it so much! Meg’s voice was great, as was Frances’s (made me chuckle every time), and I loved Flossy’s voice too. They were ALL great – and to think that all these voices were done by two people?! These audiobook narrators are pure genius!!
The narration that has blown me away in 2026 was The Calamity Club. Both narrators out you right in an already atmospheric story set in the sweltering south during the 1930s. It is LONG, but I loved every minute and am still thinking about it.
I just finished it today, and can’t quit recommending it. I spent my days looking forward to my walk with the dog and my audiobook, and stayed up too late several night, having to rewind and find my place over again Those are the best kind of books!
Loving the calamity club on audio. The voices are perfection.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman, narrated by Jeff Hays. Post apocalyptic series about a man and his cat who end up fighting for their lives on an intergalactic reality show when aliens take over earth. It’s hilarious, gritty, and surprisingly emotional. The vibe is Dungeons and Dragons meets Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
Jeff Hays is an amazing narrator. For the first 3 books I thought it was full cast. He has a different voice for each character, and there are many.
Came here to say this. Honestly the best Audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. Also yay fellow Carl fan! <3
Leave Your Mess at Home by
Tolani Akinola narrated by A’rese Emokpae! It’s a debut novel (which completely astonishes me) exploring the lives and relationships of 4 young adult siblings. Ignore the word “hilarious” all over the marketing (there is definitely humor here but that word sets you up for the wrong expectations) and be sure to find a friend to read as well because you will be dying to talk about it at the end–better yet, all the way through chapter by chapter!
I should have added that I have read it both with my eyes (when I only had an advanced reader copy) and with my ears and the audio narrator adds so much particularly because the story is about a family of immigrants from Nigeria so her use of accents and ability to speak their language of origin adds even more depth to this messy family story ❤️
Right now I am loving The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. I don’t know what took me so long to pick it up but it’s making my commute not awful for a bit. I also really enjoyed Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller, Phoenix by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and This Story Might Save Your Life By Tiffany Crum this year.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion— love the books but the narration really REALLY brings it to life. I have already listened through all 8 books 4 times this year!
I just finished book 5 and am REALLY enjoying these as well… my favorites on Audio so far this year!
YES, this! Also that narrator (Genevieve Gaunt) also narrates the Çauis Beauchamp series (from book 2 on) and she’s excellent. Love that series as well.
The 2026 books that have audio that stands out to me are Vigil by George Saunders (I always love the full cast for his books!), and This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum.
Was coming to recommend this, the books are so good, but the narration is excellent! I just finished book 6, the audiobooks have all had long holds at my library, which is both disappointing, but probably a good thing so I have a chance to savor them (and get things done the rest of the week).
YES! I’m on the seventh book and am completely captivated!
Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett is the best audiobook I’ve ever heard! It was over 28 hours long and I still didn’t want it to end! So so good!!
Recently, I listened to “Rebecca” and “My Cousin, Rachel” and they were both done so well. I quite enjoyed the voice actors. Another I enjoyed was “The Other Bennet Sister.” I watched the mini series and loved it so much and wanted to continue the adventure. So glad I did—as with any book to screen adaptation, the book had much more details. It was so good I was sad when it ended. I would say, it’s my favorite Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
All the Audiobooks by Iain Reid. They are all under 6 hours and full of twists.
My absolute favorite this year was Project Hail Mary with The Count of Monte Cristo a close second.
Which version of The Count of Monte Cristo, may I ask?
I really like listening to Strangers by Belle Burden. The author reads the book herself and felt like I was sitting in a room listening to her tell her story.
Theo of Golden (I would give this book 6 stars out of 5!) and The Calamity Club both had excellent narration, totally enhanced the story line of both books. Highly Recommend!
I’m curious – it sounds like The Best Dog in the World would be great for a family road trip, but are there any content warnings? I’ve tried searching online for any age-appropriate ratings but haven’t found any.
I also listened to The Best Dog in the World. I don’t know how I found it, but I’m so glad I did. It was such an enjoyable listen. It also inspired me to write my own essays about my dogs. I’ve already written my notes for it, and I’ve set a goal to finish this month.
Listened to The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjane Kamali on audio and thought it was excellent.
Because of all the people raving about The Calamity Club I just put a hold on it.
My dog requires 3 walks a day so I get in lots of listening time! James by Percival Everett is excellent on audio, as is Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Wreck by Catherine Newman and Joyful, Anyway by Kate Bowler both made me cackle out loud!
I really enjoyed the audiobook version of The Correspondent. There’s a wonderful cast who read the letters written by the main character’s various family members and friends.
Second Project Hail Mary. The other book I thought was excellent on audio this year was We Solve Murders. For fellow UK drama fans, it’s ready by Nicola Walker. She does a fantastic job.
In Your Dreams missed the mark for me. I enjoyed the other When in Rome series books but this one was lame. What’s the point of having a book centered around opening a restaurant and only include the vaguest details of what that entails?
I LOVED Horse and had no idea about what happened to the author! I will pick up Memorial Days.
I’m sure it’s mere coincidence, but Vanessa Miller wrote a similar book to Happy Land that was published in 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/180871112-the-american-queen?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=tB9cZVdKGH&rank=2
That one was really good, too. It was also good on audio.
As many, I loved Project hail Mary, Remarkably bright creatures and The unselected journals of Emma Lion, but I would like to recommend other two of my favourite audiobooks: The covenant of water by Abraham Verghese and This tender land by William Kent Krueger
Lady Tremaine, The Boleyn Traitor, and the memoir Strangers are all ten stars!
I am about halfway through Whistler by Ann Patchett, who is reading the book herself on audio. I am loving it and can’t stop listening!
I heartily agree with everyone’s assessment of The Calamity Club! I bought the book and was about 1/3 of the way through it when I read the accolades about the audio version. I bought it on Libro FM and have been loving it even more. Sure hope this one is made into a movie!
It’s definitely not a 2026 publication, but listening to Barbara Kingsolver reading ‘The Lacuna’ was one of the absolute highlights of last year for me.
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