From thought-provoking fables to intimate family dramas, this year’s batch of the best fiction listens is full of heart, humor, struggle, and redemption. The hours and hours of listening it took to get here has been both a challenge and a joy. You’ll find historical epics brilliantly read by the author, hear the best voice actors in the business, and be wowed by stirring multicast productions. Every pick on this list is an example of writer and performer combining to create a captivating, entertaining, and mind-expanding listening experience.
Save this list to your Library Collections now.
More than a decade in the making, The Covenant of Water is epic in every way. Originating in Kerala, South India, the story follows three generations that share a strange medical secret. It’s a journey through time and around the globe, with deep dives into history and medicine—all patiently and beautifully brought to life by author/narrator/physician Abraham Verghese. It’s the kind of story that left me fully satisfied—like a six-course meal kind of satisfied! —Tricia F.
Nathan Hill’s debut novel, The Nix, topped our Best of 2016 list, so I had high expectations for Wellness—expectations that were absolutely surpassed in this smart, funny, and poignant exploration of modern marriage, our tech-obsessed health culture, and the bonds that keep us together. Hearing narrator Ari Fliakos perform a second Nathan Hill novel was an added treat—these two have great chemistry, and Fliakos gets Hill’s humor. From Jack and Elizabeth, the couple at the center, to the often-hysterical side characters and the vividly drawn descriptions of the arts scene in 1990s Chicago and modern-day suburbia, I was enthralled from beginning to end. —T.F.
Sadeqa Johnson’s talent for crafting thought-provoking historical fiction is on full display in this exploration of young Black womanhood in 1950s America. Narrators Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis deliver powerful performances of the two women—a teen whose dreams are derailed by an unplanned pregnancy and a hard-working college student desperate to fit in—at the center of this haunting novel. What happens to these women, and the events that create a bond between them, will stay with me for a long time. —Margaret H.
Yellowface is a meta, anxiety-ridden, satirical thriller that had me rooting for the morally gray June—while also hoping that her mountain of crimes, lies, racism, and betrayals would be discovered. I blame narrator Helen Laser—how could I hate someone with a voice that good? Speaking as a listener, lover, and reviewer of books, Yellowface truly left me speechless (which is unusual for me). I have not been able to stop thinking about this brilliant novel since the moment the story ended. —Patty R.
I knew I would love The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store because, well, James McBride (enough said). But it also grabbed me because my mother is Jewish and my father is not, meaning I almost always feel out of place in homogenous religious spaces. Initially, I expected to be transported to Crown Heights and its vibrant yet infamously tense history between its Jewish and Caribbean populations. Instead, McBride brought me to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where a neighborly bond thrives between similar ethnic enclaves who care for one another (because the KKK members running their local government surely will not). Enhanced by Dominic Hoffman’s mastery of regional inflections, this fully stocked story immerses listeners in the magic of American melting pots. —Haley H.
Since you can read all about the plot in the description, let me just gush for a moment. For me, a new Ann Patchett novel narrated by Meryl Streep required little to no internal deliberation on whether to give it a try. It’s a must-listen in my book, and it does not disappoint. In fact, I love it more than I thought I would, and it’s the kind of listen that just gets better and better as the story moves along. Neither Patchett nor Streep rests on their laurels here. So, if you’re looking for a truly great American novel read by a national treasure, this one’s for you! —T.F.
Pulitzer finalist Rebecca Makkai’s sly crime novel, a multifaceted look at an unsolved murder that becomes an obsession for web sleuths decades later, had our team buzzing. Was it the boarding school setting, juicy enough for the pickiest dark academia fans? The clever dual timeline, shining a sharp light on both vintage ’90s misogyny and today’s problematic true crime culture? Or the voices of Julia Whelan and—in a brief but scene-stealing performance—JD Jackson, two iconic narrators at the top of their games? I have absolutely no notes for I Have Some Questions for You—only applause. —Kat J.
I must admit, this one took me by surprise—I went in with almost no expectations other than a mild assumption that it may be too much of a romance for me (not my thing, really). But, wow! I was immediately charmed by narrator Noah Galvin’s performance, and I am now an unabashed cheerleader for author Byron Lane. The whole experience of listening to this story about a son and his mother and a big gay wedding in a small Southern town was a welcome reminder that sometimes a love story—with a wonderful couple and fiercely comical family ties at its center—is exactly what I need to hear. —T.F.
Jojo Moyes is responsible for my first audio ugly cry (thanks, Me Before You) but despite the tumultuous start to our relationship, Moyes has been an auto-download for me ever since. Her latest novel, Someone Else’s Shoes, induces more belly laughs than tears, but there are both. It’s a second-chance tale centered on female friendship wrapped in a whacky caper. Disha and Sam lead very different lives, but a mix-up leads to a chance at reinvention that made me root for both women. The word that best describes this story to me is warmth—it emanates from Moyes’s seamless, signature storytelling and a brilliant performance from British actress Daisy Ridley. —Katie O.
Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and Queen Sugar’s Tina Lifford beautifully embody the three women at the heart of Denene Millner’s epic novel, One Blood. From Jim Crow-era rural Virginia to early 21st century New York City, this memorable story unfolds in three parts. There’s Grace, a birth mother who has her newborn taken away; Lolo, the adoptive mother; and Rae, that child, now an adult with a daughter of her own. Millner’s prose is effortless and honest. She leans into the voices of her characters—brought to life by an amazing cast of narrators—to tell this tender tale of Black motherhood, identity, and love. —M.H.
I first attempted to read The Illiad in college. I got through it, for the most part, but can’t say the experience served as much more than checking a box for this literature major. Don’t tell my professor, but I kind of forgot what it was even about. In comes Emily Wilson’s amazing new translation and an inspired performance by Audra McDonald, and now I get it! This is truly something that is meant to be heard—epic, ancient poetry has never sounded so good. —T.F.
Blending magical realism, historical narrative, and literary inspiration from Dante’s “Inferno,” this instant classic tells the story of an enslaved girl’s harsh journey of survival and triumph over darkness. On top of creating an absolutely riveting novel, author Jesmyn Ward—the two-time National Book Award winner, youngest winner of the Library of Congress Prize for Fiction, and MacArthur Fellow—takes on narration duties, and she left me in utter awe. Ward clearly put every fiber of her being into this story—you can feel it in her performance. There’s a vulnerability in her voice that drew me in, tied me up, and blew me away. —T.F.
Continuing her streak of historical epics, Isabel Allende takes on the timely topic of immigration. The Wind Knows My Name starts in 1938 Vienna during Kristallnacht, a November night marked by horrific attacks on Jews, and moves to the recent past of the brutal family separations on the US-Mexico border. This powerful listen resonated with me because, as a former immigrant child, I can relate to the fears about being accepted, rejected, and having hopes for a better life. Kudos to Edoardo Ballerini and Maria Liatis for narrating the multiple adult and child characters, and, of course, I tip my hat to Allende for yet another sweeping epic that will stay with me for a long time. —Edwin D.
Sometimes, it’s the level of customer enthusiasm that sways us to include a title on our best-of list, and Don’t Forget to Write is one of these stories. The level of connection felt between listeners and the characters Sara Goodman Confino has created is hard to overstate—there’s real love here! Narrator Helen Laser shows up on our list yet again, having struck the perfect tone and inflection in her portrayals of 20-year-old Marilyn and her great-aunt Ada. From 1960s Philly to classic Jersey shore escapes, spend some time with these women, and you’ll discover two new friends for life. —T.F.
Six Sermons is like nothing else I’ve ever listened to. A story about a church community processing the suicide of its head pastor is not something I’d immediately think would make a terrific audio drama, but wow, it sure does. In just three and a half short hours, it combines deeply personal storytelling, rigorous journalistic research, authentic sound design, and moving performances—creating an impactful and, dare I say, entertaining exploration of the far-reaching and long-lasting effects of suicide. —T.F.
An all-star cast brings James Ellroy’s masterwork to life in this gripping new audio adaptation. American Tabloid is Ellroy’s gritty reimagining of the events leading up to the assassination of JFK. Hollywood luminaries including Brian Cox (Succession), Elliott Gould (Ocean’s Eleven), Maya Hawke (Stranger Things), Bobby Cannavale (The Irishman), Shea Whigham (Boardwalk Empire), Giovanni Ribisi (Lucky Pete), and Matt Dillon (There’s Something About Mary) lend their talents to the salacious thriller. Weaving true events into his sordid story, Ellroy has created a portrait of mid-20th century America that’s shocking, especially to my 21st century sensibilities, but I could not stop listening. —T.F.
I started listening to Tremor while on a trip to Boston and happened to be crossing Harvard Yard right as Tunde, the novel's protagonist, detailed the university's ties to slavery, which gave me a chill—one of many as I followed along with his travels. The lyrical language of this nonlinear, moody story requires close listening, which was a pleasure—thanks to the voice artistry of Atta Otigba and Yetide Badaki, who are both Nigerian. They bring an incredible range to the various threads but truly shine in the thrilling section set in Lagos with its multitude of surprising vignettes. —Jerry P.
With a house and the plot of land it was built on at the center, this sweeping, epic, strange, and beautiful novel takes place over the course of centuries—from colonial times to the present. With 12 chapters that allude to the months of year and the change of seasons—and draw from the literary style of each era represented—these stories reveal the oddities of human civilization and the enduring power of nature. The audio rendition is simply remarkable, with performances by many of the best voice actors working today. Bravo to Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter, and Simon Vance! —T.F.
