Mara Jacob is the bibliophile behind the blog Book Marauder. If you like her recommendations as much as we did, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
I became an audiobook addict when I started studying English literature at university. While I’d been an avid reader all my life, the amount of assigned class reading meant that I seemed to have no time to read just for me. As exciting as my courses were, a lot of the books I desperately wanted to read had to fall by the wayside. Discovering audiobooks meant that I could squeeze in any amount of reading while I was doing laundry, cleaning my flat, running at the gym, or just simply by falling into bed at night by letting the words of the narrators float all around me.
Some of the audiobooks I picked here made me fall hopelessly in love with classics and new releases alike; all of them made me laugh and cry and just feel damn emotional thanks to expert narrations. No matter how busy I still get with real life, what I’ve learned over the years is that audiobooks are the perfect medium to enjoy books anywhere, anytime, anyplace, when life at university or your job is too busy to let you read as much as you’d like. -Mara Jacob
The minute this audiobook was announced, my heart beat a little faster. Felicia Day is not just one of my favorite people on the internet ever, but her quirky and charming narration of her memoirs is a must-have for everyone’s Audible library. You will laugh and nod your heart out with this one.
Becky Albertalli’s debut novel is one of those books that leaves you with the biggest, brightest grin on your face upon finishing it. It is both light-hearted and introspective, and with Michael Crouch’s spot-on narration on top, one of my all-time favorite audiobooks to listen to.
I binge-listened to the entire Jane Jameson audiobook series one hot summer and had the best of times. Amanda Ronconi does a fabulous job bringing these characters and storylines to life with her wonderful performance. Sure, the books can be a little silly at times, but the narration makes them an absolute joy to spend time with on a lazy summer afternoon.
I stumbled upon Cat Winters’ book about a suffragette teen while browsing Audible for a new listen, and it screamed my name. It’s a story of a strong-headed, inspiring girl demanding a voice where she is not given one, and Jennifer Ikeda manages to incorporate the supernatural elements of the story hauntingly well, while also capturing the protagonist’s voice superbly.
Sarah J. Maas’ Celaena Sardothien saga needs no introduction, but this audiobook of prequel short stories tore. my. heart. out. I equate Elizabeth Evans’ narration to these stories so much, that even if I opt to read and not listen to the book, her voice is in my head constantly. Celaena and her friends and enemies just come to life so vividly, with Evans’ narration fierce one moment and vulnerable the next. Brilliant.
You by Caroline Kepnes scared the pants off me -- not just because it’s a thrilling horror novel, but because it uses the second-person storytelling technique to describe the action. Effectively, you, the listener, are Joe’s desire, obsession, and prey. Santino Fontana’s unctuous narration had me glancing over my shoulder and questioning every stranger’s glance as I rode the subway in New York, where You’s action takes place. I don’t want to give away too much about where this story goes, but the ending makes you question the nature of love and if opposites really do attract. –Hannah, Senior Manager, ACX Marketing & Communication
Who doesn’t need a little angsty romance once in a while? Set in Edinburgh, this book combines the swoony with the reality of the grieving process so well, and spoke to me on so many levels. It can be sexy, funny, but also serious. Narrator Paula Costello’s take on everyone’s Scottish accents, heard through the ears of American protagonist Jocelyn is one of the many highlights of her performance.
Rainbow Rowell’s words make my heart overfill with feelings every time. Carry On is no exception. Based on a fictional book series from her previous work, Fangirl, Carry On is heart-warming, adventurous, and above all, magical. Simon and Baz’s story really makes you swoon your heart out.
![Dracula [Audible Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81iTqQPxj7L._SL800_.jpg?w=3840&q=70)
I used to be super intimidated by the classics, but eventually I realized that you don’t have to read or like all of them, you just have to find the ones that do it for you. Dracula is one of those classics I’ve devoured time and time again. Even with all the film adaptations out there, Stoker is still the best source to go to for a dark vampire tale.
Such a classic we often forget who wrote the original words we quote, Animal Farm tells the tale of a gang of farm animals who rebel against their farmer in hopes of creating a society where animals and humans live as equals: que thought provoking, existential parallels in our everyday society and a bold commentary on human behaviour.
