I’ve been a committed audiobook listener for about five years now, and am always on the hunt for audiobooks that deliver a truly excellent reading experience.
Thanks to some solo road trips and a few household projects, I’ve been listening to audiobooks at a faster-than-usual clip this spring and summer. Today I’m sharing six of my recent favorites. As you see, they vary widely in genre and content, but hold one important thing in common: they were terrific on audio. (As always, please read the details before adding them to your queue!)
Have you listened to anything great lately? I only have two hours to go on my current listen, so please share in comments!
Limelight
Educated: A Memoir
Less
On Turpentine Lane
My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South
Echo
Have you listened to any great audiobooks lately? Please tell us all about it in comments!
P.S. 15 terrific audiobooks you can listen to in 6(ish) hours or (much) less, 40 favorite audiobooks for kids, and 10 audiobooks so good you’ll want to fold another load of laundry, finish washing the dishes, or just sit in the driveway for 5 more minutes. And a fun fact: I’m recording my own audiobook for I’d Rather Be Reading next week!
96 comments
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman. I’m a sucker for a British narrator. This book, read by its author, delivers a perfect beach listen. Suspenseful look at a relationship and the choices made as individuals and a couple are at the core. I switched from music to this book on my morning runs because I needed to know how it ended!
Yes! This was a superb audio performance! The author Catherine Steadman is also an actress (Mabel Lane Fox on Downtown Abbey), and she does a brilliant job with this narration. The suspense was so good, I could not stop listening!
I didn’t know about that connection!
Hi Anne,
Thanks for another wonderful recommendation of audiobooks! I listened to “The Great Alone” and “What I Saw and How I lied” on audiobook – as per your recommendation – and I immensely enjoyed them. Great choice! I have also enjoyed listening to “A Man of Some Repute”, which is very British, and other favourite audiobooks of mine are the Agent Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (read by René Auberjonois) and the Linda Castello books featuring Kate Burkholder (read by Kathleen McInerney). Looking Forward to reading “The Widows …” once my vacation starts.
Thanks for doing such a great Job – MMD is Wonderful!
The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and Alias Grace are both amazing on audio.
Thanks for the great suggestions.Although I miss “reading “actual books-audiobooks are so practical when the luxury of sitting down with a book is not possible . I have just discovered Lisa Jewell , maybe a bit of a guilty pleasure -but I really liked “Then She Was Gone”, excellent narration , dark but interesting story .Now listening to “The House We Grew Up In”- also good so far.
I’m always looking for some new audio suggestions , thank you !
I really loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society on audio, and I’m not sure I would have loved it quite so much to read in a traditional manner. Years ago, the first audiobook I fell for was Darling, by a well-known author whose name totally escapes me. The narrator was just fantastic, and the setting (Liberia) was new and utterly fascinating to me. And of course, anything written and narrated by Joshilyn Jackson, or even just narrated by her, jumps to the front of my “to listen” list. Thanks for great recommendations!
I’m reading Guernsey now and I just can’t get into it. I will give the audiobook a shot! Thanks for the recommendation!
I agree—the audio helps with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society—it helps keep all the characters more straight! It is one of my favorites. ♥️
I had several false starts reading Guernsey. It was perfect for me by all accounts so I just didn’t understand why it wasn’t clicking. I fell into the audio version and it was a complete bibliofiles lovefest! The audio version made all the difference for me. I’ve since read the book version and loved it as well, but don’t know I ever would have gotten there without the audiobook. Great story meets great narrator equals lucky me!!
Always read first but the movie on Prime is a gem too.
I started Less, per your recommendation (and on audio!) and I’m enjoying it!
From the Summer Reading Guide, I have enjoyed the following on audio: The Ensemble (narrated by Rebecca Lowman, my favorite narrator), The Female Persuasion (also Rebecca Lowman!), The Great Alone (Julia Whelan), Us Against You (Marin Ireland – same narrator as Beartown) and Convenience Store Woman (Sayaka Murata). I started A Place for Us (Deepti Gupta) and the narration is very nice, but the prose was so beautiful that I switched to the book, because I wanted to savor it. ?
Also, Brené Brown re-released Daring Greatly yesterday, which she narrated herself. It was previously narrated by someone else. It’s SO much better narrated by her. I purchased immediately!
I have been listening to Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman and it is wonderful. The story is great, of course, but the narrator definitely brings Britt-Marie’s character to life. I am sure Backman’s characters are fun narrators to read, since there is so much personality written in for them. I had read A Man
Called Ove before hearing the audio is excellent, so I think I’ll go back and listen to that audio after listening to Britt-Marie.
I loved Britt-Marie was Here! And Ove is absolutely delightful on audio. Enjoy!
I feel exactly the same way. Audio books can be much more enjoyable than reading the book.z The only drawback is after I’ve finished a book like Beartown, I really miss the voice of the narrator and the characters who have become so real. If I love the book, I’ll listen to it again & get more out of the
book In the process. Favorites of mine are Cutting For Stone, by Abraham Verghese, Sing, Unburied , Sing and many more
You should read All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg next! One of my all-time favorites. It’s so well written!
Yes! I got to hear Rick speak a few years back. He was quite sick, but you wouldn’t have known it. Such a talent.
I can second that choice…at least in book form. Rick Bragg is one of my favorites but I’ve yet to listen to him read. I’ll look forward to that! I alsi really loved Ava’s Man. Off to buy the audios!
I’m partial to memoirs, essays, and other nonfiction read by the author, and recently I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these author-voiced audiobooks: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, by Ann Patchett (so, so good!); Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert (I just couldn’t get into the print version, but her audio is captivating); Tiny Beautiful Things, by “Sugar” (Cheryl Strayed); Girl, Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis; Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris (I have Calypso on hold and got this to tide me over). Also, I took some time on Independence Day to listen to On Tyranny, written and read by Timothy Snyder — at just under two hours long, it provided much food for thought.
One more that I just finished: Kelly Corrigan’s Tell Me More. So good I want to listen all over again.
More audio favorites:
On Writing by Stephen King, narrated the author. Let’s face it, the man tells a great story, although this one is more funny than scary!
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you love Chip and Jo, you will enjoy this one, narrated back and forth by the authors. It’s adorable and it feels very lighthearted and 4th of Julyish!
Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan – excellent and Corrigan delivers it best in her own words.
Hannah Coulter narrated by Susan Denaker. Denaker gets Hannah just right and has the perfect pacing for this beautiful, quiet novel.
Hunger by Roxanne Gay, narrated by the author. Riveting and important.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Sissy Spacek paired with Go Set a Watchman by Reese Witherspoon.
I’m currently listening to (and LOVING) Hillbilly Elegy. It’s awesome. I highly suggest it. It’s got some serious LOL moments, and it’s really informative and just a great book. The author reads it.
Yes! I listened to this on a road trip with my son last summer. As a liberal, I appreciated J.D. Vance’s conservative perspective – and it was EXTREMELY important in these times for my very liberal son to see that we agree on so much and have so much in common. I cannot recommend this book enough.
On another note, it was my first audiobook so I struggled with if I count it towards my reading goal. What does everyone else do?
I certainly count audiobooks!!
The question of how to “count” it is up to you, of course—but I say yes!
I loved this book.
I loved Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe by Mike Massimino. He was an astronaut who was on the last crew to work on the Hubble Telescope. He tells about his love for space and his journey to become an astronaut. He is funny and his love for his career and space itself just flows out of him! Definitely an entertaining listen!
He’s also the astronaut that appears with Howard on The Big Bang Theory!
An American Marriage by Tayori Jones was an amazing listen!
I just recently finished The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It was an awesome audiobook. In fact I’m not sure I would have stuck with it if I had read the book because of the amount of scientific material included. It has really stuck with me.
I also loved A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons. This has two narrators – one male and one female and they talk just like some of my older relatives speak. This one is short too so you can tackle it in a week or less.
I loved the cast of the audiobook book ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’. I had a difficult time getting into it in print but David Sedaris and Nick Offerman made it so fun!
Count me as another who loved listening to The Great Alone. I want to listen to Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential read by the author. I love his voice and pacing; he will be missed. I loved Angle of Repose in audio, as well as Christopher Scotton’s The Secret Wisdom of the Earth
Small great things by Jodi Picoult. Three narrators take their respective chapters. It’s phenomenal.
I didn’t know that about the audiobook—thanks!
I’m listening to The Secret Life of Bees — an old title that I never got around to reading, but I’m so glad to have discovered this one on audio. The narrator is a sassy southern girl and the story is set in rural South Carolina which has made it a fun summer read.
Oh! I heard Rick Bragg speak at a conference in 2012 and was mesmerized. I loved his All Over But the Shoutin’. Must find!
Also, just read Turpentine Lane on your recommendation. Thanks!
So jealous! I’d love to hear him speak in person.
What I Know For Sure by and read by Oprah. I just love Oprah ❤️ She really makes this book come alive.
I listened to I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart with my son on our road trip out west. To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of Kevin Hart and, shortly after we listened to this book, all hell broke loose as his affair came to light on Instagram. (We all make mistakes?) That being said, the book is not only hilarious but also has good life lessons – something I never would have expected and certainly did not anticipate. (Yes, my son picked this one out.) We had a lot to discuss after nearly every chapter.
On the same road trip, we also listened to J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy (as I mentioned in a comment above). As a liberal democrat, I appreciated Vance’s conservative viewpoints and also thought it important for my very liberal son to witness how alike we are and how much we agree on. In this age of angry politics, it was a refreshing experience.
I know you read the print version of “Before We Were Yours” (didn’t you?), but the audio version was AMAZING! The narrator did a wonderful job of placing you there with the characters. And it just so happens, while I was listening to it, we were traveling through Memphis and crossing the Mississippi. Brought it “home” for me!
You’re right, I read the hardcover. I’m glad to hear the audiobook was amazing!
I listened to Rick Bragg’s book over and over – library book that I may have to purchase. He is the best.
I LOVE his accent! I’m from Alabama, too, but my accent is not nearly so wonderful. I just loved this book!
I just listened to There, There, by Tommy Orange. It is from multiple points of view, and read by multiple voice actors, which was a wonderful enhancement to the story.
This book, self-describes as being about urban American Indians, was outstanding. It’s the best book I’ve read this year, and maybe among my top of several years. I’ve been telling everyone I see that they should read this, from the librarian to a stranger at a party.
Both of Madeline Miller’s mythology retellings, Circe (narrated by Perdita Weeks), and The Song of Achilles (narrated by Frazer Douglas), were wonderful dream-like listens that you could really escape into. Similar in feel is Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (narrated by Steve West), which although classified YA, is a wonderful story of old with kingdoms & deserts & a lost city called Weep. Mystery, adventure, and romance, with princes, warriors, gods, ghosts, alchemists, angels and dreamers!
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is delightful on Audio!!!
Retta and Tiffany Haddish both have GREAT audiobooks! Happy listening!
As a Southern girl who grew up right near where Rick Bragg did “All Over But the Shoutin” was a trip back into rural Alabama, my daddy’s adventures as a deputy sheriff hunting moonshine stills, and Southern cooking. Love to listen to this story teller at the Southern Book Festival.
I LOVED The Great Alone and Educated on audio. Julia Whelan is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. She also narrates Far from the Tree which is a recent favorite! The Hate U Give, Born a Crime, Small Great Things, Ghost, The War That Saved My Life and its sequel The War I Finally Won, Of Mess & Moxie, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Wizard of Oz narrated by Anne Hathaway, and Just Mercy are all audiobooks I’ve listened to since January that were particularly great on audio!
I am currently listening to The Weight of Ink, by Rachel Kadish. It’s quite long but makes my morning walk a joy. Although I rarely own both print and audio versions of anything, this is likely one I will read in print as well, just so I can hold the words a little longer.
Just finished Small Great Things and I did not love it. I suspect I am a rare voice of dissent though.
My book club read Small Great Things last year, and only one of us really liked it as a “good summer morning coffee on the deck” read. The rest had various complaints — too mainstream (whatever that means), no new insights, hard to believe ending, etc. So you are not alone!
I agree about the unbelievable ending and don’t think it’s as impressive of a read as some. But we are a transracial family, and it has been difficult to get some of our family to realize racism did not end with the Civil Rights movement. It’s been a good book to share with family who are open to listening and learning with us. I had a great discussion with my mom after she read it.
Yes, I found it a very accessible book and definitely enough plot to keep you reading. I was the one that suggested we read the book, and in the end, I had to agree with most of the rest of the group that it lacked depth. Keep in mind that we are a highly critical group, however! Academics, with many doctoral degrees amongst us. We’re trained to pick apart a piece of written work, and make strong judgements about it, for better or worse. It’s good to be reminded that there are powerful social merits for such a work of fiction that need to be considered, too!
So thankful you posted this–I’ve had Educated on my TBR but wasn’t sure if I wanted audio or ebook. I think I’ll go with audible. And other books have been on my radar but now I’ll pick them up, too! You never steer me wrong.
I’m slowly becoming an audiobook convert. Listening while I do housework or exercise really makes it feel a lot less like work! Currently, I’m listening to the first Harry Potter book, as my hold at the public library *finally* became available. Next, I’m planning on listening to The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I purchased that one at a reduced rate with the Kindle book. At 15+ hours, that will take me awhile!
As a different type of recommendation, however … I recently listened to Cabin Pressure Series 1, which I borrowed digitally from the public library. It’s not an audiobook, but more like a podcast set of radio plays. That is, it consists of six short BBC radio episodes about a small charter plane company. Funny, and Benedict Cumberbatch and Roger Allam play two of the characters. Clocks in at just under 3 hours. I plan on listening to all the series (four series plus a couple of specials) while I do chores around the house. Available in audiobook format (e.g., Audible).
Audible has made my house much tidier! 🙂
I started listening to Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology on a recent road trip. He reads it himself and the format makes it easy to dip in and out. Very enjoyable.
The audio version of “The Sleeper and the Spindle” by Neil Gaiman was delightful to listen to. It’s a short story, only about an hour long, and done with a full production cast.
Anything narrated by Gaiman is top notch. I loved The View from the Cheap Seats!
I listed to “The Good House” by Ann Leary based on your recommendation, Anne. It was so good, one of my favorite audiobooks this year!
Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is an awesome audio book – I can’t remember if you’ve already covered it in your blog or podcast but I’m recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!
From this summers reading list I listened to The Queen of Hearts on audiobook. I know some MMD fans had mixed emotions about some elements in this book, specifically some reveals. Listening to the audiobook left my brain free to process and go, talk back to what was happening in real time, even the characters. When I’m reading I have to stop, think, go back, reread. It can become haulting and disjointed when I’m trying to make sense of something. It didn’t happen with the audiobook. Also, for those that lived the character of Delaney the narrator takes her to an entirely different level. I loved her, the comic relief. The audiobook made all the difference for me.
Another new release I loved on audiobook this summer was Love and Other Words. Dual timelines can throw me (and they are so prevalent!) the audiobook really helped with this.
I loved listening to “The Dry” by Jane Harper this week. I have already reserved her next book “Force of Nature” to listen to on my Overdrive app linked to my library.
Once I found myself short on time to finish a title before book discussion. By chance I had reserved both the hard copy and the audio copy from my public library. Being frequently in the car I started the audio book there and switched over to the book itself when home. Back in the car I skipped forward to where I’d left off in the book. The book to audio hopscotch wasn’t always smooth, but I made quick progress and finished in time for book discussion. I’m currently listening to “The Last Painting of Sara De Vos,” by Dominic Smith.
I loved Hidden In Paris by Corine Gantz. It’s a lovely story set in romantic France.
I have ‘Less’ up next. Right now I’m listening to ‘The Female Persuasion.’ I enjoyed the narration of ‘Educated’ but didn’t love the story/book itself. I blogged about why and was a tiny bit harsh. I think anyone attempting a memoir should read Karr’s book on the art before heading down that road. I’m excited about ‘Less.’
Rick Bragg’s All Over But the Shoutin’ is one of my Top 5 favorite books of all time.
Dee Henderson’s books, especially, “Full Disclosure” any of Robin Jones Gunn’s Sisterchicks books! 🙂
Thank you for these audiobook recommendations! Narrators can make or break a book for me. I love Ralph Cosham (Louise Penny books) and so I listened to him read The Scarlet Pimpernel and it was an excellent book if you’re looking for a classic. Also enjoyed “These Is My Words” this spring. Another favorite narrator (search by their name) Adam Verner who reads Charles Martin books and others. Luke Thompson was excellent reading Everyone Brave Is Forgiven. I hope you enjoy these books or something by the narrators mentioned. Happy “Reading”!
I loved listening to the Chilbury Ladies Choir on audio. The different characters, the brief music interludes, and the letter format of the book. It reminded me of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.
I’ve really never been much of an audiobook listener but it has been crossing my mind lately that I would be able to get through so many more books on my TBR list if I downloaded them this way and listened to them while getting ready for the day, etc. Great post, definitely going to try a couple of them out to get me started and see what kind of thing I like listening to.
That’s definitely what hooked me—more reading time. 🙂
I’m currently enjoying Elinor Oliphant is completely fine and it is fantastic. The voice actor does the accents expertly and I want to listen all the time!
I was reading a library copy of Rick Bragg’s latest book, The Best Cook in the World, and fairly early into it I was loving it so much that I bought the hardcover! I’m sure it would be wonderful in audio as well.
Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman. Loved the British reader.
The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin. It’s Mary’s reflections after the crucifixion of her son. Meryl Streep is inspired as the narrator. It’s very short at 3 hours.
Love Educated! Hadn’t heard of the E. Lipman novel, BUT found it interesting that main character is named Faith Frank. Not a common name, yet the recently published ‘The Female Persuasion’ also has a character named Faith Frank.
I didn’t put that together when I was reading, even though I read both books this year! Thanks for pointing that out.
I LOVE Rick Bragg, but have never listened to him on audio! I’ll do that for his next one!
Def listen to All Over But the Shoutin’ if you haven’t already.
And I’m currently listening to Sound of Gravel and am liking it, but am having the reverse experience you did. Read Educated earlier this year and now feel like this one seems a bit warmed over. Too similar.
That’s so interesting that you had the reverse experience with Educated/Gravel. It’s oddly comforting to hear that.
A Man Called Ove is excellent on audio. I just loved it.
My family just listened to the Hobbit—read by Rob Inglis—while we were on a road trip, and it was absolutely one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to (which is saying something)!
I’m listening to the book The Disaster Artist, about the making of “the worst movie ever made.” (It’s the book the recent James Franco movie is based on) And I’m surprised how much I’m enjoying it. The narrator is the author and one of the other actors in the movie and he does an amazing job getting all the accent and story just right.
I’ve heard good things about this one! Thanks for the rec.
I’m excited by this list and everyone’s comments. I’ve spent the better part of the last year (with a break for “A Legacy of Spies”) listening to Sue Grafton’s Alphabet mystery series. I’m up to “R is for Richochet”. I’ll be finished sometime late summer / early fall so I’ll be looking for new audio book options!
3mph
It’s a memoir about a woman who walks around the world, narrated by the author. It’s especially fun to listen to while walking.
The Art of Gearing Heartbeats is a beautiful read, very lyrical and romantic.
Also The Paying Guests was great on Audible because of the British narrator. I’m
It’s funny you should mention the similarity between The Great Alone and Educated. I’m unintentionally reading them back to back (due to library hold serendipity!) and had the same thought!
I’m listening to Sweet Potatoes Queen’s Book of Love by Jill connor Browne. Fun (chapter 2 a little naughty) and Fast.
I love audiobooks in theory and I preach them to every single person that says they “don’t have time” to read… and yet, I rarely listen to them myself in practice. I have too many podcasts that I’m desperate to keep up with, and I can’t resist the romance of holding a paper-and-ink book in my hands. I’ve heard that Stephen Fry is a fantastic narrator though, so I’d love to get around to listening one narrated by him sometime, and I’m constantly on the hunt for a really good Moby Dick narration. 🙂 This list has given me a good boot in the behind, I need to get on it!
I ditto The War That Saved My Life -I just finished it a day ago and the audio version is extrordinary. Thanks for that recommendation. I’m now listening to My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier and narrated by actor Jonathan Pryce. Loving it! In fact it is making me reconsider which du Maurier book I like better; this or Rebecca.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith is practically saving my life this summer. I listen in the car, and I’m almost finished with the second, Tears of the Giraffe. There are nineteen books altogether! Lisette Lecat, the narrator, has a lovely South African accent, and varies the voices and accents of all the characters. I want to go to Botswana!
The Kitchen House and it’s sequel Glory Over Everything by
Kathleen Grissom …loved these! The narrator was great.
Watership Down is great on audio. Ralph Cosham is the narrator. My kids associate him with Watership Down, so whenever they hear me listening to a Louise Penny book, they say, “not the rabbit book again!”
I’m listening to “Echo” now (just started Part 3 in California) and it is an amazing listening experience. The music adds so much to the story and I wouldn’t be able to recall all of the songs into my head without looking them up. I will be recommending this book on audio to everyone.
I’ve been hooked on the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny (read by Ralph Cosham). The books are excellent, but he seem to bring something to them that I didn’t get reading the book. Also, The Little House on the Prairie series read by Cherry Jones and the Percy Jackson series read by Jesse Bernstein. I drive 1 1/2 hours to work everyday and audio books are perfect for my drive. Especially the Children’s and YA books. They keep me awake on my drive!