| FICTION |
| Recommended by Cheryl
Verghese’s voice adds an extra layer of richness to his novel. He switches dialects so seamlessly that it is easy to separate the characters and their personalities. It forms a movie in your mind as you are listening. |
| Recommended by Rachel
An absolutely genius gem of a novel. Yellowface on audiobook is like a front row seat to witness one woman’s horrific inner spiral to madness. Such an interesting critique of the publishing industry and readers too. |
| Recommended by Chelsea
Moreno-Garcia proves that she is a true master of writing as she uses multiple viewpoints to tell the story of three women: the biblical princess Salome, the new actress on the lot in 1950s Hollywood Vera Larios, and her jealous rival Nancy Hartley. This is both a nod and indictment of the Golden Age of Hollywood wrapped inside a suspenseful plot. I loved the audiobook production of this! |
| Recommended by Rae Ann
Solving murders is a family business for Amy Wheeler and her father-in-law Steve. When Amy’s assignment to protect a romance novelist goes wrong, an around-the-world chase is on. This audiobook is a a fun fast-paced mystery and funny, too! |
| Recommended by Sarah
I wasn’t sure if I should listen to this one or read it in print — would it be too confusing to follow a complex storyline with multiple POVs, jumps in time, and just one audio narrator? I gave the audio a shot, and I’m so glad I did. The story completely drew me in and didn’t let go, and I promptly forgot my concerns about being able to follow along, which speaks to the quality of the writing and the narration. If you’re looking for a literary mystery, this should be at the top of your list. |
| Recommended by Natalie
Two children move across the country to stay with their gay uncle Patrick, A.K.A GUP, after the death of their mother. Through quick wit and humor this trio leads a heartwarming tale of life after loss that can teach us all a thing or two about living. The author doubles as the narrator and excels at bringing these vibrant characters to life. |
| Recommended by Cat
Lombardo is a master of the complicated relationship: those we have with our parents, spouses, kids, and ourselves. Told over the course of decades, I was gripped by the story of Julia Ames as she navigates her mid-life and must reckon with her life choices and past selves in all the inner turmoil that comes with daily life. |
| Recommended by Chelsea
I love books about books, and add a twisty mystery in there, and I couldn’t stop listening. Beautifully narrated, full of twists and turns, and compulsively readable. Once I finished this, I immediately got The Sequel into my ears. |
| Recommended by Rachel
My favorite fantasy novel of the year. This audiobook is a glimpse into a lost age. Yearning, ambition, hunger, greed, love, and loss. I could listen to this one again and again. |
| Recommended by Natalie
This dark reimagining of The Little Mermaid concludes Emily McIntire’s Never After series that has given fairytale villains their happy ending. Fans of this series will be delighted with the intense chemistry and maddeningly drawn out slow burn between the two characters. Both narrators do a great job infusing passion into their reading of this spicy romance. |
| Recommended by Katie
Segura is always a delight with perfectly crafted spicy adventure romances. Dr. Miri Jacobs is desperate to prove herself just as good as her mentor by finding a lost South American city. Rafa Monfils is just as committed to ensuring it stays hidden. Sparks fly when the two find themselves on the same side trying to outsmart a common enemy. So much fun! |
| Recommended by Raegyn
Have you heard about the assassin hired to kill herself? Nasty business. There are three vows among the Dead Cat Tails: accept the contract, kill the contracted, and always finish the contract. Narrator Lynnette Freeman breathes life into the undead as Eveen tries to break an unbreakable vow and escape a fate worse than a second death. |
| Recommended by Michelle
Ally Carter does it again! This book has it all. Adventure, grumpy/sunshine trope, spies on the run, and a case of mistaken identity. You won’t be able to stop listening (or giggling). |
| Recommended by Jenness
Our octogenarian, misanthropic narrator is not likeable. Her hobbies include inserting herself into people’s lives and making them worse. When she encounters a fiesty 8 y.o. boy at an Egyptian hotel, things start to fall apart. Havoc is a dark, twisty thriller expertly narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed. You have to listen to the very end! |
| Recommended by Katie
Winter is the best time to hunker down with a cozy mystery and Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series is a backlist win for me. Full of sharp humor and delicious food (with recipes in the back), Arsenic and Adobo will have you solving mysteries from the comfort of your coziest chair. |
| NONFICTION & POETRY |
| Recommended by Jenness
Vanishing Treasures – beautifully narrated by author Rundell and the brilliant Sir Lenny Henry – gives 23 accounts of underappreciated, endangered animals in our world. Filled with surprising/creepy/fascinating facts, the book reinforces the need to help protect these species and their (our) habitats. [Also, a portion of author royalties go towards this conservation effort!] |
| Recommended by Jordan
John Green, known for his young adult fiction, and educational content on YouTube will fill you with delight with this collection of random fascinating deep dives. This is the perfect introduction into audiobooks! |
| Recommended by Rachel
Nonfiction audio that reads like an epic adventure tragedy. The Wager is a serious of unfortunate events (and mistakes) that led to the most insane shipwreck story of all time. |
| Recommended by Jake
A sweeping saga of aggression and utterly unnecessary conflict, The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine reflects on the doomed fate that has repeatedly befallen Palestine, told entirely from the perspective of Palestinians. Forgoing myths of righteous reclamation, Khalidi insists on telling the bitter truth of one of the most brutal conflicts in history and creates a fascinating history book in the process. |
| Recommended by Jordan
This memoir by Tia Levings, who was featured in the documentary Shiny Happy People, tells the story of a brave woman’s escape from an abusive fundamentalist marriage and lifestyle. This is the perfect audiobook to listen to while we unpack our religious trauma and fight for our rights |
| Recommended by Cat
Read by the one and only Kelly Bishop AKA Emily Gilmore, this is the story of one fascinating woman’s life in show business. I loved the way Bishop looked back on a life full of amazing opportunities, luck, and hard work. She has a worldview full of gratitude, which I found refreshing. And the parts about her time on Gilmore Girls are just as delightful as you’d hope! |
| Recommended by Katie
I am an absolute glutton for a food memoir, and 32 Yolks, the memoir of renowned French Chef Eric Rippart, is absolutely delicious and beautifully narrated |
| Recommended by A.J.
Already an incredibly powerful memoir in print format, hearing Rushdie recall and reflect upon the brutal and shocking attempt on his life back in 2022 puts it in another echelon entirely. I’m not always a fan of when the author reads the audiobook themselves, but here, it was the perfect choice–I couldn’t imagine it narrated by anyone else. |
| Recommended by Jordan
This is a fantastic memoir to listen to for all young millennials who grew up watching child stars on networks like Nickelodeon and thinking they were living the dream. McCurdy will open your eyes and break your heart as she does not hold back on sharing the ugly truths of childhood fame and the mountains she was forced to climb to please her abusive mother. |
| Recommended by Cheryl
Read by the author it not only frames their relationship with political happenings in the 60’s, but also includes recordings of the speeches given. Brilliant and touching. |
| Recommended by Paige
Read by the Barefoot Contessa herself. If you think you know all there is to know about Ina based on her cookbooks and shows, you’ll be in for a few surprises. I loved learning more about this smart, hardworking legend, and hearing her story in her voice was delightful. |
| Recommended by Patsy
Listening to Stanley Tucci read his journal of both simple and elaborate meals in 2023 is pure delight! He says, “It’s about the passage of time through the prism of food.” I loved hearing about his family dinners, meals on set, restaurant visits, and parties. Yummy and comforting all the way around! |
| INDEPENDENT READERS |
| Recommended by Rachel
Kate DiCamillo’s books have the BEST audio production! Listening to this is like watching a play with your eyes closed. A perfect, winding story of family, heartbreak, and talking parrots. |
| YOUNG ADULT |
| Recommended by Jordan
Some of my favorite audiobooks are the ones where the story lends itself to a unique listening experience. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is about the development of a true crime podcast, and the audiobook is a treat full of podcast-like elements. |
| Recommended by Rachel
A horror novel grounded in historical accuracy. Ellis is an indentured servant in the colonies, a little in love with her beautiful friend Jane. Her employer is not sympathetic to her desires, and the winter that approaches holds evils no one could ever imagine. Inspired by what history remembers as The Starving Time. |
| Recommended by Tara
This story follows our protagonist Mia as she learns that she is actually a princess of a small European country called Genovia. SHUT UP. Whether this book is new to you or a re-read, the audiobook is a must listen since it is voiced by Anne Hathaway herself. |
| Recommended by Raegyn
What if your voice could kill—and it’s the only thing that could save the people you love? In a world where sirens are deadly and secrets run deep as the sea, Saoirse must keep her secret hidden while facing blackmail, betrayal, and forbidden love. |
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By Jewell Parker Rhodes
The January 2025 Spark Book Club selection is Will’s Race for Home. Will and his sharecropper father set out from Texas to claim their own land during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush. Will longs for adventure, but the Wild West has more than he expected. They encounter a new friend and a few enemies on their journey in this fast-paced adventure story.
Early Sparks for the novel:
“An empowering read that never loses sight of Will’s profound exploration of adolescence.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
Spark Book Club is the first editions club for middle grade readers. Every month members will receive a first edition middle grade novel — plus a letter written by the author especially for club members. Makes a great gift for the independent reader! Sign ups are available for 3, 6, or 12 months.
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By Gayle Forman
The January 2025 ParnassusNext selection is After Life by Gayle Forman. Amber’s family is shocked to see her when she arrives home from school. She died seven years before. Why was she given this second chance and what happened to her family and friends in the last seven years?
Early praise for the novel:
“Forman’s ability to capture the voices of teens shines in this heart-wrenching story of Amber Crane’s life, death, and (sort of) undeath.” – Kirkus
ParnassusNext is the book subscription box for YA lovers. Every member of ParnassusNext receives a first edition hardcover of each month’s selected book, signed by the author. There is no membership fee to join — and no line to stand in for the autograph. Not only will you have one of the best YA books of the month when it comes out, you’ll have it straight from the author’s hands, with an original, authentic signature! Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite YA reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.
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By Kat Mackenzie
A warm, sexy, laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman who, desperate for a fresh start, books a literary bus tour across the UK that consists of a lively group of elderly ladies plus one infuriatingly handsome Scottish driver.
Alice loves a good list. But careful planning didn’t stop her from losing her job and her fiance in one fell swoop. With her dreaded 30th birthday looming on the horizon, Alice makes the first impulsive decision of her life – booking a flight to the UK for a three-week, all-female, literary bus tour. What could possibly go wrong?
Turns out – everything.
Alice arrives to discover that this tour isn’t what she expected. At all. Instead of cool, globe-trotting thirtysomethings with meaningful tattoos, she finds a rickety, antique bus full of fluffy-haired octogenarians. And to make matters infinitely worse, the tour guide makes her blood boil! And that devilish grin of his tells her he’s dead set on making her trip a misery.
But as they travel from castle ruins to cozy pubs, Alice may just find that she’s got it all wrong. The ladies are vivacious. The book club chat is on fire. And damn if that mischievous smile doesn’t threaten to turn her world upside down – and her beloved list right along with it!
The Love, Parnassus box is a monthly subscription box for romance readers curated by the experts at Parnassus Books. Each month you will receive a first edition book (which is sometimes signed), a letter from the author, a custom sticker, and a bookmark to track your reading. The Love, Parnassus selection will focus on debut and new-to-you romance authors. Set up a subscription for yourself or buy a gift membership for your favorite romance reader for 3, 6, or 12 months.
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By Adam Haslett
I started reading Adam Haslett in 2002 when he published his first collection of stories, You Are Not A Stranger Here. That sentence makes it sound like I was way ahead of the curve, finding this brilliant author writing short stories at the beginning of his career, when the truth is lots of people started reading Haslett the same time I did. It isn’t often that a collection of stories explodes, but this one did. Written while he was a law student at Yale, the book became a New York Times bestseller and went on to be a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, a feat he replicated with his last novel, Imagine Me Gone. Twenty-two years later, I’m still thinking about the title story in You Are Not a Stranger Here. I’m still buying copies to give to friends.
All of which is to say, Adam Haslett was strong out of the gate and has been strong ever since. His new novel, Mothers and Sons, is a deep meditation on how we can be isolated by the past. Peter is an asylum lawyer in New York. His mother Ann runs a women’s retreat center. I won’t say more than that because you have the book in your hands and it’s beautiful, complicated, and should unfold at its own pace. There are few writers as subtle and deep as Haslett. I wait for his novels, and I love this one. I’m so happy it’s the title to kick off our 2025 First Editions Club selections.
Ann Patchett
More about our First Editions Club: Every member receives a first edition of the selected book of the month, signed by the author. Books are carefully chosen by our staff of readers, and our picks have gone on to earn major recognition including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the PEN/Faulkner Award. Plus, there’s no membership fee or premium charge for these books. Build a treasured library of signed first editions and always have something great to read! Makes a FABULOUS gift, too.
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Musing 