Fuzz

If I were a science writer, I’d want to be Mary Roach. Her brilliance is multifaceted, and she gets people to tell the best tales, always teaching me something new, and making me cringe and laugh out loud at the same time. In Fuzz, she travels the world investigating the animals and plants in nature that cause problems for humans. She looks at difficulties presented by bears, elephants, leopards, monkeys, cougars, birds, rats, mice, and even poisonous plants and tall trees. After listening to her narrate, I feel even more of a kinship with the quirky, smart, and always edifying Mary Roach. —Tricia F.

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My Sister, the Serial Killer

A twisted sister dynamic has rarely been so enjoyable as this one. In Oyinkan Braithwaite's edgy debut, the younger Ayoola is the pretty, spoiled one in the Nigerian family, while Korede has taken her role as the forgettable, responsible one to a new level as she expertly covers up her sister’s nasty little habit of killing her suitors. But how far she will Korede go when the next one in her sister’s path of destruction is a man Korede wants for herself? Listening to Adepero Oduye narrate this surprisingly funny yet suspenseful treat gives you a real sense of the internal turmoil Korede endures as she struggles with her family's problematic dynamics and her stunted sense of self. —Abby W.

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Rosewater

Author Tade Thompson—who won the inaugural Nommo Award (Africa’s first speculative fiction award) for this novel—describes Rosewater as “a Frankenstein of influences,” but in reality, the pieces fit together in near-perfect synchronicity. A completely original alien invasion story with neocolonialist themes and top-notch world-building make this series as unpredictable as it is unputdownable. Enhancing the experience is narrator Bayo Gbadamosi, who was personally chosen by the author, and whose effortless performance of various characters and accents immerse the listener in this twisty, enthralling audiobook. —Sam D.

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Black, White, and The Grey

Part memoir, part business profile, and part cookbook, Black, White, and The Grey defies everything we have come to expect from traditional audio storytelling—and I love it! Mashama Bailey and John Morisano—founders of The Grey, a formerly segregated bus terminal turned restaurant—detail their differing experiences, trials, and triumphs both as restaurateurs and in life. Their relationship (and story) show that every little bit counts when it comes to challenging racism and the internal and external biases that help perpetuate it. Performed by the authors themselves, this listen is perfectly suited for audio. —Emily C.

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Such a Fun Age

Kiley Reid's voice is so fresh and fast-paced that listening to her debut novel feels just like watching an edgy new dramedy. The story centers on a young Black babysitter in Philly and her well-intentioned white employer, and serves up a fresh take on race and class with its spot-on insights. I relished the moments I saw myself in the story; elsewhere, I felt like a voyeur lapping up delicious gossip. And thanks to narrator Nicole Lewis, who absolutely exhilarates audiences with her code switching and other vocal stunts, I've been obsessed with this listen from the instant I clicked play. —Rachel S.

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The Space Between Worlds

I love a good existential crisis, and no concept guarantees one quite like the concept of multiverses—so, naturally, I seek out sci-fi that scratches that itch. Micaiah Johnson has imagined a really unique spin on the sub-genre—in this world, extra-dimensional travel is possible, but only to universes where you (or, that universe’s version of you) are already dead. I just started listening to this exciting debut, narrated by the amazing Nicole Lewis (of Such a Fun Age fame), and I’m hooked. —Sam D.

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My Year of Rest and Relaxation

Strong, world-conquering heroines are everywhere these days. I admire them, which might be why I’m also a bit bored of them. Luckily, Ottessa Moshfegh has a knack for making miserable characters seductive. At the center of this novel is another disdain-able type: a beautiful, privileged 20-something who—aided by enough pharmaceuticals to make Hunter S. Thompson bat an eye—tries to escape her angst by sleeping all day. It’s a simple, ingenious plot made all the juicier by Moshfegh’s razor-sharp insights, a send-up of the New York art scene, odes to Whoopi Goldberg, and world-weary narration by the amazing Julia Whelan. —Kat J.

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The Prophet

Talk about setting a high bar for debut novels. Robert Jones, Jr. has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. This epic historical fiction tells the story of two enslaved men in love on a Deep South plantation. They have always been known as an inseparable pair, but as their romantic love is revealed to others, they find themselves in increasing danger. In prose that is lyrical, challenging, beautiful, and horrifying all at once, told from the perspective of an array of characters, the novel is brought to life by narrator Karen Chilton’s performance. I listened, and relistened, and will surely go back again to reexperience the profound beauty of this masterpiece. —Tricia F.

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Clap When You Land

As a Dominican American, I am loving that so many recent works are exploring the cultural DNA of the island and its people. Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land takes it to another level. This story is about two girls, Yahaira, a New York teenager and chess prodigy, and Camino, an aspiring doctor living in the Dominican Republic. After their father tragically dies in a plane crash, their worlds collide when they realize he had been keeping them a secret from each other. Juxtaposed through their upbringing, but joined in their grief, the girls’ voices draw listeners in immediately, leading to an incredibly powerful and emotional work.—Edwin D.

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Dapper Dan: Made in Harlem

Back in the '80s, Dapper Dan’s influential Harlem boutique was a magnet for rappers, athletes, and gangsters eager to “outfly” each other in his custom designer-logo remixes. Now 75, he reflects on a life of relentless resilience and historical significance, from being jailed with one of Malcolm X’s assassins to outfitting hip-hop legends and having his shop raided by a young lawyer named Sonia Sotomayor. But what I also appreciate is his infectious love of the transformational power of clothes, his deep understanding of their symbolism, and his self-taught method of “sciencing out” the design process. —Kat J.

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Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes

Phoebe Robinson gained acclaim as the host of the podcast 2 Dope Queens, which was later adapted into an HBO series. In this collection of essays, the comedian shares her real, honest opinions about sexism, racism, interracial dating, performative allyship, mental health, and as the title suggests, why you shouldn't sit on her bed in your outside clothes. Robinson's essays are both truthful and hilarious, creating a listening experience that’s nothing short of engrossing. —Emily M.

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Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

No one takes children on adventures that heal quite like Kaela Rivera, author of one of my favorite kidlit series, Cece Rios. The unique world of her brilliant middle-grade series is filled with unforgettable characters inspired by Aztec mythology and Hispanic folklore. In this memorable tale performed by Almarie Guerra, mystery and folklore combine as young Cece faces criaturas (creatures) and brujas (witches) throughout her journey to save her kidnapped sister, bringing listeners on an adventure rich with powerful emotions. —Sean T.

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My Broken Language

Lyricist, essayist, and award-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes, who worked with Lin-Manuel Miranda to co-write his breakout play, In the Heights, never fails to capture the hearts of her audiences with her storytelling talents. As with all of her works, My Broken Language is not to be missed. This deeply personal memoir takes listeners on a journey filled with laughter, noise, and family, painting an unforgettable portrait of how Hudes learned to find her words and her passion for art by picking up on the unspoken secrets of her bustling childhood home in North Philly. —Haley H.

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