On October 5, 2000, the first episode of Gilmore Girls aired, forever changing the television landscape and pop culture as a whole. On that night, fans were introduced to the bookish Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), her young, impulsive mom Lorelai (Lauren Graham), and the cozy, warm atmosphere of Stars Hollow, the fictional town (based on real small towns in Connecticut) where the series is set.
Though so many early fans watched every episode week-to-week, thousands more would come to the show later, marathoning it with joy, tears, and very strong opinions about the women's love lives. (At the end of Season 7, I was Team Logan with the full knowledge that Team Jess was end-game once they both grew up a little. And yes, I refuse to believe that the A Year in the Life "sequel" miniseries is canon.) I know people who dive into the series every autumn, sinking into the show's comforting vibes with a mug of coffee. As Lauren Graham quipped onstage at the 2025 Emmy Awards: “25 years ago, a show called Gilmore Girls premiered, and apparently took the season of fall hostage.”
It's wild to think we've had this show and its characters for a quarter of a century, and that it continues to influence cultural discourse. The portrayal of two strong, compelling, and yes, sometimes deeply flawed women—set in an always-autumn collage of dreamy small-town surroundings—has now enchanted us for more than two decades. And I predict that it's bound to accompany us for decades longer.
I leave you with these words from Rory Gilmore's very literary graduation speech: “I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina and strolled down Swann's Way. It's a rewarding world, but my second one is, by far, superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric, but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything.”
So, as you start your anniversary rewatches, be sure to check out these audiobooks to pair with your marathon. After all, it's what Rory would have wanted.
Audiobooks performed by the stars of Gilmore Girls
A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.
Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.
Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey. From her early transition from dance to drama, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to the losses and achievements she experienced—among them marching for women’s rights and losing her second husband to cancer—Bishop offers a rich, genuine celebration of her life.
Full of witty insights and featuring a special collection of personal and professional photographs, The Third Gilmore Girl is a warm, unapologetic, and spirited memoir from a woman who has left indelible impressions on her audiences for decades and has no plans on slowing down.
With an introduction written and read by New York Times–bestselling author Gabrielle Zevin comes this special 50th Anniversary Edition of the beloved children’s classic with more than more than 10 million copies sold.
This program is read by renowned actor Alexis Bledel, celebrated for her starring roles in Gilmore Girls and The Handmaid’s Tale.
From Newbery Honoree and E. B. White Award–winning author Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is a spellbinding modern-day masterpiece about immortality, friendship, and growing up that’s sure to be an all-time favorite for every generation.
What if you could live forever? In this timeless story young Winnie Foster learns of a hidden spring in a nearby wood and meets the Tuck family, whose members reveal their astonishing discovery of the spring’s life-changing power. Now Winnie must decide what to do with her newfound knowledge—and the Tucks must decide what to do with her. But it’s not just the curious girl who is interested in their remarkable tale. A suspicious stranger is also searching for the Tucks, and he will stop at nothing until he finds them and uncovers their secret.
A staple on home bookshelves and in classrooms and libraries for half a century, Tuck Everlasting is brought to life for new listeners and long-time fans in this dazzling deluxe edition, which includes a foreword from the New York Times–bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin; an afterword from Natalie Babbitt’s daughter; and more never-before-heard bonus material.
Praise for Tuck Everlasting:
“Narrator Alexis Bledel superbly imparts the magical realism in this classic, which contains an insightful new introduction.”—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)
“Probably the best work of our best children's novelist.” ―Harper's
“Exciting and excellently written.” ―The New York Times Book Review
“A fearsome and beautifully written book that can't be put down or forgotten.” ―The New Yorker
A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen listeners a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.
The contributing authors are award winners, best sellers, and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Wyllys, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis—and their characters reflect this diversity.
Peruse Rory Gilmore's library
A relatable character for all my fellow bibliophiles, Rory Gilmore loves little more than curling up with a good book. Throughout the series, she's seen with her nose buried in one volume or another, ranging from classics to acclaimed contemporary novels, and is so infrequently seen without a paperback that she once mused, "I just take a book with me everywhere. It's just a habit." Want to listen like Rory? Read on for a peek at some of the books she's read over the show's seven seasons.
Read by the critically acclaimed actress Maggie Gyllenhaal.
When Esther Greenwood wins an internship at a New York fashion magazine in 1953, she is elated, believing she will finally realise her dream to become a writer. But in between the cocktail parties and piles of manuscripts, Esther's life begins to slide out of control. She finds herself spiralling into depression and eventually a suicide attempt as she grapples with difficult relationships and a society which refuses to take women's aspirations seriously.
Sylvia Plath's groundbreaking semiautobiographical novel offers an intimate, honest and often wrenching glimpse into mental illness. The Bell Jar broke the boundaries between fiction and reality and helped cement Sylvia Plath's place as an enduring feminist icon. Celebrated for its darkly humorous, razor-sharp portrait of 1950s society, it continues to resonate with readers today as a testament to the universal human struggle to claim one's rightful place in the world.
Winner: Audible's Best of 2016 - Classic
"Anna Karenina is one of my favorite books. But when I agreed to read it for Audible, I had no idea how much work it would be, how intense it would be, and how deeply I would fall in love with it. There were places where I thought 'if I don't give Alexey Alexandrovitch the respect that he deserves in my reading of this scene, a critical part of the book will be ruined. If I don't give EVERYONE the utmost respect and understanding, I'm not doing justice to this brilliantly compassionate book.' But at the same time, I also wanted to have a light touch in the way I played the different characters, so that the magnificence of the novel could shine through. I feel like performing this novel is one of the major accomplishments of my work life - it was so challenging and so deep, a real pleasure." (Narrator Maggie Gyllenhaal)
Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky. Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight, The Honourable Woman) cites Tolstoy's epic as one of her favorite books of all time, and her love for the literature permeates her performance. Anna Karenina is a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its core and the stark drama of her fate but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life.
A nonsense classic of its time.
A compelling narrative to sweep you away, from a legendary Victorian children’s author. Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland in order to entertain a friend’s daughter on a boat trip - and so generations of children have flown away on his wild imaginations.
On a sunny afternoon, Alice discovers a bottle that says DRINK ME. Unable to resist, she follows the label’s instructions...and immediately shrinks to tumble down a rabbit hole into an adventure where nothing is as it seems. From The Mad Hatter to the White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts, Alice meets a cast of characters who are both eccentric and memorable.
But will Alice survive her nonsensical adventure...and can she get back home? She must face the challenges of eccentric puzzles, verses and riddles, with the help of intriguing new friends, in order to find the way back home. The first of four books, this is a children’s classic that promises to both entertain and charm.
For fans of The Chronicles Of Narnia and Peter Rabbit, a children’s fantasy like no other.
More listens from Rory's library
