The Impossible Fortune

Richard Osman; Fiona Shaw (narrator)

The Thursday Murder Club is back! When the gang gathers for a wedding, a guest approaches Elizabeth for her expert help, plunging all of them into a new adventure.

Songs for Other People’s Weddings

David Levithan & Jens Lekman; Jefferson Mays (narrator)

David Levithan’s adult debut is a beautiful exploration of love in all its phases, with songs from Jens Lekman woven into its narrative DNA. The audio version features performances of these songs, bringing the story to life even further.

The Authenticity Project

Clare Pooley; Anna Cordell (narrator)

A quirky cast of characters meet and become found family thanks to a notebook that invites each of them to spill their secrets in this charming audiobook.

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans; Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler & Various (narrators)

A woman looks back on her life by the letters she has written and received. One was a famous Nashville author. This epistolary novel is captivating listening with the different narrators.

The Everlasting

Alix E. Harrow; Moira Quirk & Sid Sagar (narrators)

I love a dual-narrated book where both narrators knock it out of the park. This was the best one I’ve listened to in a long time! The book itself is just breathtaking. Full of magical time travel, a nerdy academic forced to be a hero, a lady knight forced to continue fighting for increasingly complicated reasons, empire building, myth making, yearning. You won’t be able to stop listening!

House of Day, House of Night

Olga Tokarczuk; Priyanga Burford (narrator)

Listening to this audiobook is like having your Polish grandmother whisper fables in your ear at night, and you’ll never know what was truth and what was fiction.

Seascraper

Benjamin Wood

This novella is a gem, perfect for an audio book, as Thomas, a shrimp fisherman in northern England, also sings folk songs. His quiet existence is turned upside down when a mysterious American comes to town and enlists the help of Thomas to locate the perfect spot to film a movie. Atmospheric with great attention to careful descriptions.

A Particularly Nasty Case

Adam Kay; Andy Serkis (narrator)

A frenetic, twisty, snarky murder mystery/medical drama/love story (?) with the droll wit of Douglas Adams and read to you by Andy Serkis?!? I could listen to it all over again and love it just as much!

The Proposition

Judith Ivory; Steven Crossley (narrator)

To know me is to know that this book has my whole heart. The leg scene alone (IYKYK) changed me on a cellular level. When I die I want to be buried with a copy of this book.

Blind Date with a Werewolf

Patricia Briggs; Holter Graham (narrator)

The werewolf Asil is gifted 5 blind dates by his concerned friends who don’t want him to be alone for the Holidays. What follows is a delightful series of misadventures spread across five interconnected short stories. It is the perfect mix of winter Holiday magic and Halloween monster mayhem. You will laugh, cry, and absolutely fall in love with these adorable characters.

Big Swiss

Jen Beagin; Rebecca Lowman, Carlotta Brentan, Stephen Graybill, Joy Osmanski & Matt Pittenger (narrators)

When a transcriber for an eccentric sex therapist becomes infatuated with a new client from the recorded sessions, a chance encounter brings the two women together and they spiral into an intense and obsessive affair built on lies. This story is bizarre, hilarious, and scratches that “weird girl story” itch. The stellar ensemble cast and the dialogue-centered transcription scenes make for an unforgettable audiobook experience.

Red Rising

Pierce Brown; Tim Gerard Reynolds (narrator)

This book made me realize how underrated an EPIC plot is. So many books these days are “no plot just vibes” and I love many of them, but Pierce Brown fills each page with action. Every single sentence pushes you deeper into the catastrophes of Darrow’s universe.

A Chance at Love

Beverly Jenkins; Kim Staunton (narrator)

I think there is no better way to kick of the new year than with a delicious backlist romance from a queen of the genre. Most folks will tell you to read Ms Bev’s classic, Indigo but I am a sucker for her western romances. Give me a mail order bride (who shoots her intended when she meets him for the first time) and I am GONE. Yippee Ki Yay! This is perhaps my favorite of her work and I think you’ll like it too.

Dayspring

Anthony Oliveira; Davin Babulal, Landon Doak, Kai Cheng Thom, David Demchuk, Anthony Oliveira, Rowan Jette Knox, Alicia Elliott, Nadia Shammas, Iain Stewart, Amanda Cordner & Carole Pope (narrators)

In the beginning there was Dayspring. Fans of Anne Carson will enjoy this baroque and genre-bending work by fellow Canadian Anthony Oliveira. A singular, stunning reimagining of Christ and the disciple that He loved. I can only describe it as forbidden fruit, a beautiful blasphemy. The physical book is thrilling (with rubricated text!), but paired with the audio… prepare to transcend.

The Storm

Rachel Hawkins; Alex Knox, Cathi Colas, Dan Bittner, Jane Oppenheimer, Patti Murin, Petrea Burchard & Stephanie Németh-Parker (narrators)

Hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, old money, and an old inn. Friends and foes. Lovers and lies. This is a delicious Southern listen!

Lord of Scoundrels

Loretta Chase; Kate Reading (narrator)

My absolute catnip is an uggo hero who falls first. Make him fall for a bluestocking who knows her worth and I will shout my love from the rooftops. Lord of Scoundrels is one of THE classics of the genre and a must listen for those who love romance and want to explore the expansive backlists of classic authors like Loretta Chase.

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Rufi Thorpe; Elle Fanning (narrator)

Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a deeply human and often hilarious story about a struggling young women navigating single motherhood and starting an OnlyFans account. The audiobook is narrated by Elle Fanning, who does a wonderful job bringing Margo’s voice to life.

Pink Flamingos

John Waters

The master of American filth, John Waters, and his Baltimore slum goddess muse, Divine, are BACK in this one-of-a-kind ode to the freaks and the forgotten. Grimy, gruesome, weird, & queer, I love Pink Flamingos more than my own filthiness––more than my own hair color!––and I hope you do too. Read by the author, as God intended, but proceed with caution. IYKYK.

The Girls Who Grew Big

Leila Mottley; AhDream Smith, Erin Spencer & Khaya Fraites (narrators)

This story of three teen girls who find themselves mothers in a small Florida town is expertly told in audio by three different actresses who make the words come alive in a beautiful, surprising, and haunting way.

The Luckiest Lady in London

Sherry Thomas; Corrie James (narrator)

A two time RITA winner with more than 25 books under her belt, Sherry Thomas’s books are filled to the brim with suspicion, seduction, and at least one really good grovel scene. Luckiest Lady in London is a gorgeous romance between Felix Rivendale, the “ideal gentleman” and Louisa Cantwell a relative nobody. Both have their secrets but if the two can learn to trust one another they might just find their HEA.

Atmosphere

Taylor Jenkins Reid; Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan & Taylor Jenkins Reid (narrators)

Women in the space program in the early 80’s. Joan and Vanessa and the others in their training class navigate living their lives and discovering new love as they race to be among those who go to space. An emotional journey, this book will leave you wrecked at the end (in the best way possible.) This one ranks among the best audiobooks of all time.

First-Time Caller

B.K. Borison; E.J. Bingham & Hathaway Lee (narrators)

Love is in the airwaves! Aiden Valen(tine) is a jaded romance radio host, and Lucie Stone is a mechanic who’s resigned to being alone forever… until her daughter calls into Aiden’s show, Heartstrings, and all of Baltimore becomes set on dating her. This audio is dual POV and includes radio segments, making it super engaging. The first in an upcoming series that our Parnassus crew is eagerly awaiting!

The Summer War

Naomi Novik; Ella Lynch (narrator)

The Summer War is a quick listen that packs a fantastic punch. A classic fairytale of twisted fae bargains, political marriages, and never-ending wars, The Summer War had me enthralled from beginning to end.

We Did OK, Kid

Anthony Hopkins; Kenneth Branagh & Anthony Hopkins (narrators)

Anthony Hopkins shares stories from his personal and professional life in this engrossing memoir, read by the incredible Kenneth Branagh. Hopkins’ words combined with Branagh’s performance is a winning combination. Bonus: an appendix of Hopkins reciting some of his favorite poems and Shakespearean passages is delightful.

Hologram Boyfriends

Mike Albo

Mike Albo is unlucky in love in the digital age––I’m sure many can relate. The apps feel weird, borderline dystopian. But making the first move IRL? Forget about it! Recorded in-studio and sprinkled with sections of live standup, Hologram Boyfriends gives listeners a taste of the evolving future of audiobooks, the disappointing reality of missed connections, and the Tinder dates that haunt us.

Such Great Heights

Chris DeVille

My fellow indie rock heads, rejoice! This sweeping and engaging cultural history of the music genre that raised us is a must-listen. Every chapter starts with a playlist featuring the discussed artists, a personal touch from author Chris DeVille that makes this audiobook feel like a mixtape made especially for you.

Memorial Days

Geraldine Brooks

I’m always excited when an author reads their own memoir. Something about it just gets me in my soul and Memorial Days does that better than just about any book. This is the story of Geraldine losing her husband, author Tony Horwitz, and the process of grief and loss that she experienced.

Writing Creativity and Soul

Sue Monk Kidd; Jane Oppenheimer & Ann Kidd Taylor (narrators)

This book was like sitting down for a warm cup of tea and listening to Sue Monk Kidd tell stories about writing, family, love, and how to live a beautiful life. My heart needed this book, especially now. I know I will revisit it again and again.

There’s Always This Year

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib talks about basketball like it is essential to understanding the human experience and There’s Always This Year solidified Abdurraqib as one of my “must-read” authors. I don’t even like basketball but I found this book so utterly profound that I have been recommending it to everyone I know. (I can only imagine what sports fans might glean that flew right over my head!) I’ll read anything from this modern cultural prophet: Instagram posts, poems, even a book on basketball.

The Rembrandt Heist

Anthony Amore; Paul Heitsch (narrator)

Fascinating tale of serial art thief Myles Connor and his theft of Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in 1975. The author, head of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, details the easy heist, Connor’s backstory and previous thefts, and the convoluted tale of how the return of this Rembrandt will save Connor and his best friend.

The Boys in the Light

Nina Willner; Mark Bramhall & Nina Willner (narrators)

Powerful true story that follows the young men of company D as they grapple with their part in the war until they come across 2 young Jewish boys, who have survived and escaped after years in concentration camps. At times challenging to hear, the parallel stories of men on both sides are truly tales of survival, a recognition of the humanity of others in the worst of situations, and a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit.

Insomnia

Robbie Robertson; MacLeod Andrews (narrator)

A rock ‘n’ roll and Hollywood memoir combined into one, Robbie Robertson’s Insomnia is a fascinating reminiscence on the period in which he separated from his wife and moved in with Martin Scorsese. What follows is a delightful period of debauchery, overflowing with fascinating insight into each of their careers. And the audiobook is worth listening to for the narrator’s pitch perfect Scorsese impression alone.

Dark Rise

C.S. Pacat; Christian Coulson (narrator)

This is young adult fantasy at its most epic. My jaw was on the floor for the last 20% and I still can’t get over it.

The Sunbearer Trials

Aiden Thomas; André Santana (narrator)

Do you want a high-stakes YA fantasy about a high stakes competition among the children of Gods, where the loser must be sacrificed to save the world? Do you want to follow a scrappy underdog and a supporting cast of charming and colorful friends and rivals? Do you want a unique setting, a strong romance, and an already-released sequel to sink your teeth into? Of course you do. Listen to this.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

Lex Croucher; Alex Singh & Sarah Ovens (narrators)

As you can tell, Gwen and Art are NOT in love, at least, with each other. Gwen and the buff lady knight Bridget? A whole other story… Art and the redheaded prince Gabe? Something must be going on there…

Icarus

K. Ancrum; Kirt Graves (narrator)

This stunningly unique YA romance features art heists, high stakes, and deep emotions. The book is structured around many quick scenes/vignettes, which lends well to audio, whether you’re listening in short bursts throughout the day or falling into the rhythm of a long road trip.

The 5th Wave

Rick Yancey; Brandon Espinoza & Phoebe Strole (narrators)

Aliens invade earth, and the biggest surprise? They blend in. They look just like us, but they are hunting humans down one by one until every last one is dead. I was on the edge of my seat! Great action! Crazy twists!

The Scarlet Alchemist

Kylie Lee Baker; Natalie Naudus (narrator)

The Scarlet Alchemist is one of those books where the last page leaves you screaming, and you have to drop everything to listen to the sequel immediately. A dark fantasy set against the backdrop of an alternate history China, this book is full of twists, romance, and political intrigue. Tell everyone you know.

Tuck Everlasting

Natalie Babbitt; Alexis Bledel & Gabrielle Zevin (narrators)

Fifty years after its publication, this heartfelt story of friendship and immortality is just as timeless as the Tuck family itself. Read by Alexis Bledel (who played Winnie in the 2002 film adaptation), this is a story that will stay with you forever.

The Eyes & the Impossible

Dave Eggers; Ethan Hawke (narrator)

The Eyes & the Impossible follows a wild dog, Johannes, living in a park, where he and his animal friends keep tabs on all the visiting humans and their mysterious pastimes. While accessible to a young audience, the story is truly fit for all ages. Ethan Hawke’s narration is perfect for Johannes, tapping into the jokes with excellent comedic timing and sinking deep into the story’s emotional moments.

The Unwanteds

Lisa McMann; Simon Jones (narrator)

My most favorite middle grade fantasy series. In a world where creativity is punished and blind obedience is praised, The Unwanteds follows the artistic outcasts in their whimsical world of magic. So much heart and hope in this series!

Abby in Between (Face Forward #2)

Megan E. Bryant; Emily Eiden (narrator)

Abby McAdams is back in book 2 of the Face Forward series, & the life of a preteen is moving as fast as ever! Follow Abby as she navigates privacy, puberty, friendship, & the end of elementary school. Parents, if you loved Judy Blume’s Margaret Simon, your daughter will love Abby McAdams!

Once for Yes

Allie Millington; Sophie Amoss & Johnny Heller (narrators)

Not only is the Odenburgh the oldest and wisest apartment building on the block—with feelings, thoughts, and opinions of his own—but he’s also home to tenants like 12-year-old Prue, who is navigating life after the loss of her sister. When the Odenburgh is slated for demolition, Prue notices strange things happening in the building. Could the flickering lights and jammed elevators be a message from her sister, or could this be someone else trying to talk to Prue? I loved this warm story of community, friendship, and healing.

Lost Evangeline

Kate DiCamillo; Allan Corduner (narrator)

Lost Evangeline is the 3rd book in Kate DiCamillo’s Norendy Tales trilogy, and all three are wonderful listens. They are all completely standalone, so they can be read/listened to in any order. Lost Evangeline is a marvelously crafted fairytale following a tiny girl lost in a big world, a perfect capstone to a magical trilogy.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Norton Juster; Rainn Wilson & Norton Juster (narrators)

Perhaps you, like me, fondly remember the first time you journeyed with Milo through his magical tollbooth. His silly, punny adventure remains one of my favorites to revisit, and now Rainn Wilson provides its theatrical narration. Nostalgic and whimsical, this audiobook is perfect for road trips and rainy days alike.

Dead Ends! Flukes, Flops & Failures That Sparked Medical Marvels

Lindsey Fitzharris & Adrian Teal; Hunter Johns (narrator)

A quick, info-packed journey into fascinating medical miracles and misadventures that’s engrossing for all ages. Perfect for any budding doctor, scientist, historian, or trivia buff!

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