Readers, I enjoy audiobooks whenever I can, in any season—but summer offers some special opportunities for listening. I can listen for hours and hours while pulling weeds and tackling projects around the yard, or enjoy audiobooks with my family on our annual road trip.
Our past Summer Reading Guides hold some of my favorite audiobook listening experiences, and I’m excited to share a whole list with you today. These books are great in any format, but the exceptional narration on these titles elevates the reading experience into something truly memorable.
When choosing my next audiobook, I’m always on the lookout for a favorite narrator or multiple narrators, a compelling story to keep me hooked, or a fabulous rereading experience. You’ll see that reflected on today’s list of my favorite backlist audiobooks from past Summer Reading Guides.
If you can’t download your next great listen fast enough, check out the Summer Reading Guide for a section of “Awesome on Audio” selections, with short descriptions to help you decide which book is right for your listening style.
15 of my favorite audiobooks from past Summer Reading Guides
The Jane Austen Society
A Walk in the Woods
Clap When You Land
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person
Beach Read
The Lost Book of the Grail
The Happy Ever After Playlist
The Hate U Give
Daisy Jones & The Six
The Mother-in-Law
This Tender Land
Nothing to See Here
Code Name Hélène
The Likeness
The Almost Sisters
Have you listened to any great audiobooks lately? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
P.S. Topple your TBR with 20 backlist favorites from ten years of the Summer Reading Guide or 20 novels that will transport you to the shore.
70 comments
The entire DC Smith series by Peter Grainger is narrated by Gildart Jackson. He captures perfectly the droll sense of humour that is trademark DC. There is so much intelligence and brilliant writing in this series and Mr Jackson more than does it justice.
This is a great list, and I’ve listened to several myself! However, I disagree that the Dublin Murder Squad series can be read in any order! Particularly with Frank Mackie’s character, which crosses over several books, you really need to see the build up in the proper order.
Listening to People We Meet on Vacation right now – listened to Beach Read last year – and enjoying it! Just finished Last Garden in England on audiobook and while maybe it isn’t a traditional “summer” read, it was so very good and the narration was fabulous.
I am listening to The Huntress by Kate Quinn and it is amazing! I think I would love this book in any format but it is amazing on audio.
I loved the Huntress! I love the style and the narration is so good! If you haven’t listened to it yet, I highly recommend The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and narrated by Polly Stone. It was incredible.
I love the audiobook versions of Craig Johnson’s Longmire series. The books are way better than the Netflix series (although that’s pretty good too). Narrator George Guidall embodies the dry wit and wisdom of the title character. A I really enjoyed the whole series.
Another favorite for mystery fans is the Armande Gamache series by Louise Penny. The first books in the series are narrated by Ralph Cosham. After Cosham’s death, Richard Bathurst took over narration. Both men do a fabulous job of bringing the small Quebec village of Three Pines, and the French Canadian accents of the characters, to life.
I agree re both narrators of Louis Penny’s novels.
I agree about George Guidall in the Longmire series! I’m actually currently listening to book #16, the most recent release. I don’t believe I would have stuck with the series if not for the narrator’s perfection as Sheriff Longmire.
I agree about Three Pines, although I nearly cried when I heard about Cosham’s death (I came to these books about a year ago and am not caught up).
Yes, that just happened to me 😢 We listened to several books back when we could take road trips 😉 and during the pandemic I decided to start at the beginning of the series.
I recently finished Beach Read- so fun! I just got Henry’s latest on audio, “The People We Meet on Vacation”. I’ll be sure to check out some of the others!
I recently went back and listened to The Poet X after having listened to all of Elizabeth Acevedo’s other books, and now I tell everyone to listen to her books! Fabulous author, must be listened to get the full impact of her poetry and prose.
Thank you for this list! So excited to add more books to my TBL! I definitely listen more than read these days. I really enjoyed listening to The Bromance Book Club series, the Wayward Children series, and American Dirt.
I couldn’t agree more! With the Fire on High is my current audiobook and it is wonderful!
I would add two historical fictions of very different genres. One, Dear Mrs, Bird takes on London during the Blitz. The other, Call Your Daughter Home, covers South Carolina in the mid 1920s.
I’m currently listening to Everyone Brave is Forgiven, by Chris Cleave. Set in WWII London, it’s a beautifully told story of four friends. Luke Thompson’s narration is brilliant.
EBIF is one of my all-time favorite books! I love how the author builds up beautiful words but isn’t afraid to gut you the next moment.
I’m in the middle of Eternal by Lisa Scottoline. It’s SO good! One of the narrators is Eduardo Ballerini, and he’s fantastic at anything he reads.
I recently listened to and loved Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo! And I’m currently listening to The Night Circus – both highly recommended on audio.
I recently finished Watership Down on audio and it was FANTASTIC!! Peter Capaldi was an amazing narrator. I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much if I had read it with my eyes. It was a great way to finally read this classic!
I love Watership Down read in my own head (I must be near to reading it a dozen times). Peter Capaldi’s British accent set the target just right!
Saskia Maarleveld, the narrator for Kate Quinn’s books, is FANTASTIC. And I blew threw Ruth Ware’s One by One in just a few days…of course I was throwing mulch during those days 🙂 But a fast-paced thriller was exactly what I needed to keep me going.
I’m just finishing The Big Burn by Timothy Egan. Chilling and fantastic! It’s a great true story of Teddy Roosevelt and the establishment of the national parks as well as the bravery of the first forest rangers. Helps me know my country better as well as the people who worked so hard to save it.
What a nice list of books, thank you. Some I have read, some I own and TBR, and I just downloaded the audio of This Tender Land two days ago. I am currently finishing the audio of This Promised Land by Barack Obama. He narrates it himself and his voice is so nice to listen to.
I’m listening to American Dirt and the narrator is excellent. However, I really want to know if that is your bag in the photo and if so where did you get it? It is awesome!
I LOVED American Dirt, I don’t care about the controversy, it was a GOOD story and, yes, the reading was so well done.
I agree with audio version of American Dirt! I couldn’t stop listening. A buddy of mine tried reading it and struggled with the names and places. It was really easy to follow on audio. I also don’t care about the controversy. It’s one of those stories that I still think about on a regular basis.
I am currently listening to American Dirt, and I am loving it!
I just finished listening to American Dirt – it was so good!
I just listened to Michael Leviton’s memoir, “To Be Honest”, about growing up in a family that encouraged utter and total honesty. Always. About everything. It’s read by the author himself and I loved hearing him trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situations he was describing! A short listen, less than 6 hours, and I truly loved every minute. My library had it on Hoopla. ☺️
I’m currently listening to Flygirl by Sherri L Smith. It’s narrated by Bahni Turpin who also narrated Abilene in The Hell (also a great audio!). I would listen to just about anything she narrates. Also, Greenlights narrated by Matthew McConaughey himself.
American Dirt is an amazing listen! The narrator does such a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V E Schwab and narrated by Julia Whelan was a great listen. It is long at 17 hours but it is so worth the time. A lot of housework and puzzle time was spent listening as I couldn’t wait to get back to it.
I’ve been taking a lot of pleasure from listening to Rosamunde Pilcher while I’m gardening. Two weeks ago it was Coming Home, followed by a re-listen of the Shell Seekers. A few weeks back I listened to The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, which describes the events of Pride and Prejudice (and then well beyond) through the eyes of Mary Bennet. I’m not always a fan of books that re-enter the exact world that Jane Austen built, but man, did this one turn that old familiar story–usually as comforting to me as breathing–on its head. It gave me a whole new (and somewhat less sympathetic) perspective on many of the characters in the original. And it just told a good story. In all honesty, I’m more of a Mary than a Lizzie, and it was refreshing to see the world through her eyes. I recommend it!
I agree with everything you said! I loved The Other Bennet Sister!
I’m in the middle of listening to 99% Invisible by Roman Mars. It’s much like his podcast, only better bc he ties his objects/ themes together in the same chapter. I’m really enjoying it.
I just finished Once in a House on Fire, a memoir read by the author, Andrea Ashworth, and what a good writer she turned out to be after a terrible childhood (with a sweet accent!)
Now I am really, really enjoying The Arsonist by Sue Miller, also read by the author. It’s slow and calming and I’m relating to all the characters.
Where to start – so many on those list were amazing as audiobooks! I love when I’ve listened to many of the suggestions. Right now, I am listening to a lot because I head out for a long walk every night!
Laurie Frankel’s This Is How It Always Is, narrated by Gabra Zackman is phenomenal.
Agreed!!!
Loved Tom Hanks reading Ann Patchett’s, The Dutch House.
Yes, I agree! Would love to listen to him narrate more books.
Two audiobooks I thought were fabulous are Beartown by Frederic Bachman and Heft by Liz Moore. Liz Moore is getting more attention recently but I listened to this backlist years ago and was blown away by the feelings it brought. I’m sure it would also be good in print, but I highly recommend the audio with the two amazing narrators.
The Beartown narrator, Marin Ireland, is my absolute favorite narrator! Have you listened to Anxious People? Her narration is spot on. It’s the only audio book I’ve listened to twice.
Mine too! I’ve selected books she has narrated just to listen to her read to me.
The Amelia Peabody series (historical, cozy mysteries set in Egypt in the late 1800s–early 1900s) are narrated by Barbara Rosenblat in the audiobooks, and she does such a great job! Even the voice of Emerson
I love her narration, too. Fun, historical mysteries.
I listened to The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller. It was great! Zeller did a fabulous job with the Southern and Chinese accents, male and female.
I recently checked out Charlotte’s Web (on audio) read by author EB White based on a recommendation from Gina Sheridan’s book “Check These Out: One Librarian’s Catalog of the 200 Coolest, Best & Most Important Books You’ll Ever Read” and my kids (boy age 10, girl age 15) and I all loved listening to it during carpool to school. It was so good! There was just something about the author’s voice reading the book, even though it one we all had read before, and of course, watched the movie too, that just made it so we all wanted to keep listening and pick back up as soon as we were in the car again. As we prepare for an upcoming summer road trip, I am curious, do you have any suggestions for a not so new (so I can check it out from the library) audio book the kids and I (and the hubby) would enjoy listening to together?
Just finished Daisy Jones & the Six. Excellent on audio. I also really enjoyed The Mother-In-Law. The Jane Austen Society is a comfort listen for me.
I’m currently listening to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It’s a free listen on the Audiobook Break podcast. So many great characters and Nicholas Boulton (narrator) really brings out the humor in the book.
I recently listened to The House on the Cerulean Sea. Everything in the write up raised red flags that this book wouldn’t be for me, but I was mistaken! Once I bought into the magical realism, this audio book was a joy. I smiled every time Chauncey spoke and would not have gotten that on the page. A fable for the ages.
Shantaram
Novel by Gregory David Roberts
This book is a wonderful epic story of the exile experience. I relate to the story because I was a American living in the Middle East for several years. The narrator of the audiobook is incredible. He is able to incorporate an Australiancome Indian, American and Arab accents. I feel like through the audiobook you really connect to the characters.
Per Anne’s suggestion, I just finished listening to Nothing to See Here, and loved the narration! The story is funny and had me chuckling out loud more than a few times. I wonder if it would have been the same just reading the book.
The Midnight Library narrated by Carey Mulligan is just gorgeous! Hi from Melbourne, Australia everyone! 🇦🇺
Hello Melbourne Aus from Sydney Aus – sorry to hear you’re in lockdown again, but thank goodness for audio books.
I want to endorse a couple mentioned above (The Dutch House, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – both excellent on audio).
I’ve just finished one which really blew me away, especially since I can find some ‘twisty psychological thrillers’ a bit tedious. This one surpassed all expectations in narration ( Tamaryn Payne, Bea Holland, Dominic Thorburn, all brilliant) and plot (engrossing, solid pace, and not dumbed down – all developments plausible) … it was ‘The Family Upstairs’ by Lisa Jewell.
I recently listened to two non-fiction books (not a genre I pick for enjoyment to read but audio books seem effortless), H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, read by her with her delightful British accent and The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer read by Matthew Lloyd Davies. Again a British narrator. Both enthralling stories that made me want to keep listening and walking!
Audio books are not my go to but I want to add more listening to my reading life…. I recently started The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery. It’s a delight!
I’ve just finished listening to The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali, narrated by Mohzan Marnò. A 5-star book for me & the narration was wonderful!
100% agree! Loved the audio and learned so much from this book and all the research it led me to after I finished. I’m ashamed at how much history I am clueless about but thankful for books that make me want to take “deep dives.”
The Astonishing Life of August March by Aaron Jackson is such a great summer read and Joel Froomkin does a hilarious, colorful interpretation on the audiobook!
I am listening to The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Borland. I love British stories about bookstores and this one doesn’t disappoint.
My husband and I recently enjoyed listening to “A Time for Mercy” by John Grisham as read by Michael Beck. He does all the voices, from small children to aristocratic sounding Mississippi lawyers. He’s amazing! Also, the story and characters were complex and interesting. Recommend for your next road trip!
I love having an audiobook to distract myself from the tedium of housework and yard work. Just finished “Home Front” by Kirstin Hannah. The narrator did an excellent job drawing me into this emotional story.
I have really enjoyed listening to Hollywood Park! The memoir is read by the author, who is a musician! This makes the audiobook so interesting!!
Since I’m doing the ReadChristie2021 Challenge, I’ve been listening to an Agatha Christie on audio every month. I love the ones narrated by Emilia Fox- she’s got such a pleasant voice.
I absolutely loved listening to This is Happiness by Niall Williams, narrated by Dermot Crowley. Such a great listen that I bought the book.
You will want to underline something on every page…truly beautiful writing!
Also loved the hilarious Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse, narrated by the amazing Jonathan Cecil with his numerous British voices. So good!
We first read books read by Rodger Clark with The Searcher by Tana French. He is so great. We’ve been listening to him read the Evan Evans series by Rhys Bowen. Love listening to him!
I am currently listening to Mrs. March by Virginia Feito. It is narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, who is wonderful. I’m not sure how the book ends or if I’m even going to like it but so far, I’m enjoying it.