"Lincoln in the Bardo was my favorite listen of 2017 and it remains so to this day. This is certainly going to go down as a classic listen and make no mistake, this one is meant to be heard. One hundred and sixty-six individual narrators (led by Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and the author George Saunders) came together to voice this wildly surreal audiobook. And while that might sound like a production stunt, the breadth of voices was necessary to create the immersive cacophony effect (almost a Greek chorus of Americana) that Saunders imagined as the after-dark setting of the Georgetown Cemetery where young Willie Lincoln has been laid to rest by his stricken and shocked father. And that's the crux of this tale: this hugely ambitious novel (Saunders's first), so intricately produced and set against a devastating historical backdrop, ultimately delivers the most humbling and accurate portrait of grief I've ever encountered." - Emily, Audible editor

"I’m a sucker for great story structure, and Gone Girl uses every inch of its narrative to subvert expectations in ways that shock and amuse. The perfectly utilized diary entries fold into a legendary mid-book reveal. The face-turn-heel of a seemingly perfect victim who revels in the way they’ve expertly managed your expectations. The unreliable narrators who reveal so much about themselves by what they don’t say—or how they shape emotional states into origami. And it all feels fair; while most twist-filled stories tend to seem rather flimsy under a microscope, the closer you look at Gillian Flynn’s masterpiece, the more you notice the sheer togetherness of it all, each part working in concert with another, coalescing to form a story that has one finger firmly on the pulse of popular culture, and one on the carotid of a serial killer." - Sean, Audible editor

"No listen has had a greater impact on me in the last decade than The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. In a word, it’s transformative. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this searing debut will floor you with its elegant and deliberate prose. Our heroine Starr Carter is driving home from a party with her best friend Khalil when they are pulled over by a cop, who ends up fatally shooting Khalil. Khalil was unarmed. Thomas fearlessly handles the narrative that follows with a grace and poignancy that will have you marveling at her talent. Narrator Bahni Turpin manages to give voice to such a broad and rich cast of characters, each with their own authentic perspective, demonstrating the power of performance to bring new depth to a complex social issue. This is the very definition of required listening—and my favorite from the decade." - Katie, Audible editor

"I still remember the first time I listened to Bossypants in 2011. I was a recent college grad and my tastes were embarrassingly snobby, but I liked Tina Fey and thought it would just be soooo subversive to listen to a best seller. Imagine my shock when Bossypants showed me how much pure, uncomplicated joy I could get from a book. I never looked back. Before Tina Fey we had Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, and Joan Rivers, but Bossypants came at just the right moment when the floodgates were opening for women in comedy. Its best seller status made Tina Fey a household name and paved the way for excellent (hilarious) memoirs that would follow by Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, and so many more. Bossypants launched a cultural phenomenon. What I love best about Tina Fey’s book is her voice, both figuratively and literally. It's a joy to spend five and a half straight hours in her brain, hearing her perspective on comedy, career, and crushes gone awry. The audiobook's use of clips from Saturday Night Live was also revolutionary and elevated this memoir to a whole new level. No matter which comedy memoir I end up falling in love with next, Bossypants will always hold a special place in my heart as the first—and the decade’s best." - Rachel, Audible editor

"Following the lives of two best friends during the 1980s, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets to the Universe is so much more than a coming of age story. While it tackles growing up with harmful ideas about masculinity, sexuality, and identity, it’s also a heartwarming tale of finding your person. Ari and Dante are faced with some of life’s most difficult problems while they’re adjusting to the already confusing landscape of being teenage boys. Theirs is a story about the complexities of love, friendship, and family—in addition to a story about learning to love yourself and grow past the cruelties and injustices that the world sometimes throws your way. And to top it all off, when paired with Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s poetic prose, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance makes this one impossible to stop." - Michael C., Audible editor

"Stephen King’s 11.22.63 is a technicolor romp to the past where the root beer tastes better, cars have more class, and listeners are warned to beware the yellow card man. I was not alive in 1963, but after spending 30+ hours listening to narrator Craig Wasson bring these fictional (and real) characters brilliantly to life, I feel like while I didn’t live there, I’ve at least visited for a long weekend. Blending time travel, history, a little romance, and political intrigue, this is an oddly feel-good tale—odd because it's about assassination and comes from the king of horror. The thing is that King also just happens to be a masterful storyteller whose best work of the decade will warm your heart more than scare the hell out of you." - Tricia, Audible editor

"The 2010s were kind of a…murdery decade, weren’t they? True crime slaked our seemingly insatiable bloodlust in every format but audio was where it soared, becoming much more than a guilty pleasure. These 10 years brought us Say Nothing, The New Jim Crow, West Cork, American Kingpin, and several others I might call “best.” But my favorite was the one that got under my skin even as it transcended the genre, and its author’s own life, to become part of something bigger. Unfinished but utterly haunting, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark preceded the capture of its subject, the Golden State Killer, by mere months, and became a touchstone of the conversation around the case and the DNA technique that cracked it. In the end, it is Michelle McNamara’s exquisite voice (with Gabra Zackman as a thoughtful conduit) that endures—along with one of the most heartbreaking afterwords, by her husband Patton Oswalt, of all time." - Kat, Audible editor

"Self-development trends seem to come and go every year, but one that has so far stood the test of time (the decade, at least) is the power of vulnerability—thanks in large part to Brené Brown’s magnum opus of the same name. In this eye-opening, witty, and relatable listen (recorded in front of a live audience, which only enhances its accessibility), Brown cogently lays out the case for how and why our issues of confidence, growth, and connection can be traced to a lack of vulnerability and an overabundance of shame. The lessons contained herein sharply illuminate the virtues of letting our guards down: at home, at work, and in love." - Courtney, Audible editor

"Nothing I say can do A Little Life justice. A Little Life is so painfully beautiful, that I still think about it after coming across the manuscript four years ago. In a word, this literary feat is a masterpiece. The story follows the friendship and love between four boys over the course of 50 years, and whether you want it to or not, it will take over your life entirely. It will shake you to your core. To this day, when I reflect on Hanya Yanagihara’s words, my heart aches–truly aches. I want nothing more than to re-listen to this work, but I don’t think my psyche could take it." - Laura, Audible editor

"I can't think of another novel from this decade that affected me as much as The Sellout did. For me, the The Sellout revolutionized what the contemporary American novel could be—satirical, lyrical, truly laugh-out-loud funny—all while attacking the ugliness that lives within our world without ever flinching. The unrelenting rhythm of Beatty's writing, which is brought to life by Prentice Onayemi's narration, will have you hooked within minutes of the prologue. If there's one novel of this decade that you should not sleep on, this is it." - Aaron, Audible editor

"My journey as a Brandon Sanderson fan began more than a decade ago. My brother and I discovered one of his very first published books, Mistborn, at a gas station rest stop in high school and both of us have been hooked ever since. But Brandon Sanderson, who started out as our little secret, has grown to be one of the biggest and most respected names in fantasy today. It’s been such a joy and delight to be his fan as he’s only gotten better and better at creating compelling, creative, and human stories over the years. Is it weird to say that I feel proud? There is no doubt in my mind that his epic series, the Stormlight Archive, deserves a spot as the best of the decade." - Melissa, Audible editor

"Everyone knew Trevor Noah was insightful and funny by the time his 2016 memoir came out, but no one was prepared for the funny man’s brilliant performance of his unique and nuanced look at the intersection of his life as a coloured child in South Africa and the horrors of the system of apartheid. The polyglot makes the Xhosa and Zulu languages of his homeland sing in a way that just wouldn’t have happened on the page. And his comedic and loving take on his formidable mother has made her a character who lives in our minds long after Audible thanks us for listening." - Abby, Audible editor

"As an anthropologist studying and teaching in Mongolia for decades, Jack Weatherford collected stories: the facts of Genghis Khan’s life (few, but significant), his legacy (huge), and the intimacy and specialness of Mongolian culture that changed and spread across the world under his aegis. Jonathan Davis’s stellar narration of every novelistic detail holds up year after year." - Christina, Audible editor

"I have been proselytizing Circe since the day it came out, and I am sure my colleagues are sick of hearing me talk about it at this point. I have listened to tons of other great stuff, but I keep coming back to Circe as my perfect audio experience. Everything lines up—the characters, the plot, the symbolism, the beautiful writing, the immaculate imagery, and Perdita Weeks’ on point performance—to create a soundscape that makes you totally forget you are listening to an audiobook, much less commuting to work. For 12 hours Circe feels as real as someone standing next to you, and her godly voice is as honest and pure as one that comes from your own mind." - Michael D., Audible editor

"When I define best of the decade, I like to think it is for those that had one of the largest popularity surges I have ever seen. Brilliant author Caroline Kepnes came out swinging with her first ever novel, You. When I first discovered You, it was not because I was looking for it. Actually it was an accidental click, however it must've been fate because after reading the summary, I was intrigued instantly. Now a hit television show on Netflix, You was made for greatness plot-wise and narration-wise. Performed by the talented and dulcet tones of Santino Fontana, You couldn’t have set a higher bar for itself! If you’re not hip to the thriller greatness sprinkled onto this decade by Kepnes with her seemingly innocuous Joe Goldberg, I highly recommend You to anyone. As we come to the end of a decade of such technological advancements and surges in the topics of privacy and internet vulnerability, You is the eye-opener, Twitter-conversation-starter of the decade." - Nicole, Audible editor