Fixers, fencers, tramps, and thieves...

As a longtime Harlem resident, I'm forever fascinated with learning more about my beloved neighborhood. Most often, the history of upper Manhattan's famed cultural epicenter—especially the “heartbeat” at the corner of 125th Street and Lenox Avenue—is told from the perspective of the Harlem Renaissance and becoming the capital of Black America in the 20th century. But in Colson Whitehead's second novel in the Ray Carney trilogy, which kicked off with Harlem Shuffle, we're focused on the weird and wild 1970s and all the shifty narratives that era entails. Plus, it's funny! A new novel from the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner is always an unmissable event—and having Dion Graham narrate only makes it more essential. —Jerry P.

Nailed it!

As someone who once spent an entire summer giving myself a manicure every other day to sharpen my skills, I am very much a lover of all things nails. That said, I do like to occasionally book an appointment to let an expert create perfectly gleaming talons. Hence, my immediate interest in this debut from Mai Nguyen that pits a mom-and-pop nail shop run by a Vietnamese Canadian family against a gentrifying franchise behemoth coming to steal customers and endanger their livelihood. Woven into this tale of family and work is a view of the varied immigrant experience, showing how it can shape fortunes, identities, our closest relationships, and the decisions we are forced to make. I’m loving this full cast recording and plan to take it with me along for the ride on an upcoming summer road trip! —Kelley S.

Get ready to LOL

Alli Frank and Asha Youmans’ new title opens with a question from actor Mindy Kaling: “When was the last time you laughed out loud when reading a novel?” I laughed so many times while listening to The Better Half, the latest release from Mindy’s Book Studio imprint. Like the authors’ two previous novels together, this one also takes place against the backdrop of a school, this time a fictional private school in Pasadena, California, where newly appointed head of school Nina Morgan Clarke is juggling drama at work, drama at home, and a surprise romance. Bahni Turpin’s upbeat narration is a perfect fit for Nina’s hilarious voice, adding moments of levity to a narrative unafraid of tackling weighty issues, including racism, interracial dating, and unplanned pregnancy. I walked away from this listen with a big smile on my face. —Margaret H.

My favorite romance of the year so far

I may have just spent a little too much treating myself (and my somewhat reluctant husband) to tickets to see Giselle at the Metropolitan Opera next week, but you don't have to be a ballet fangirl to love this fresh and whip-smart romance from Chloe Angyal. As a former ballet journalist, Angyal knows the ins and outs of the world she immerses the listener in, and it's not all tutus and pointe shoes. She takes us inside the lives of professional dancers, delivering well-rounded characters with rich backstories, while tackling difficult topics with incredible sensitivity, such as emotional abuse. And most important—as with all the best romances—the pair at the center of the story is so super swoony, and I dare you not to fall for the Australian accents courtesy of narrator (and Aussie native) Nikki Thomas. —Emily C.

The night everyone unfortunately remembers…

Buckle up, mystery fans, because this one is a wild ride! When I first saw the description for Prom Mom, I could already tell that I was going to be blessed with my favorite type of mystery: one told from the POV of an unreliable narrator. Amber Glass, a woman from a small town with a notorious reputation from her prom night, is returning home. Now you would think that would be the only issue for Amber until she begins to take on an illicit affair with her former prom date—the very-much married success story, Joe. Once the affair begins, it quickly goes downhill from there. Bestselling author Laura Lippman really brings to life an amazingly unique COVID pandemic mystery, especially combined with the Audie Award-winning talents of narrator Andi Arndt. —Nicole R.

Bundle up

Impact Winter season 1 was one of my favorite listens of 2022 (it was, in fact, our top fantasy of the year), and I’ve been not-so-patiently awaiting the continuation of the story. This season picks up six months after the events of the first and deepens the lore and stakes of this post-apocalyptic world. The full cast returns, and the soundscape is even more immersive with Dolby Atmos spatial audio. Listen with headphones for an extra chilling experience. —Sam D.

A climate change narrative you won’t soon forget

I learned so much listening to this book from veteran climate journalist Jeff Goodell, who I had the pleasure of working with in my prior life as an editor at Rolling Stone. Jeff has been on the climate beat for nearly 20 years and seems to have had a beer with just about every eminent climate scientist in the world. His latest goes right to the heart of the climate crisis—how rising heat is a threat to most every living thing on the planet—with reporting that takes listeners from Antarctica to the Great Barrier Reef to the parched Western US, all delivered in a pro performance from Audie Award–winning narrator L.J. Ganser. Jeff did not sugarcoat how dire things could get, and yet his writing is so good—a narrative rich with fascinating characters, personal anecdotes, and science exquisitely explained in layman’s terms—that it goes down easy, and before I knew it, I was armed with a whole new awareness about the greatest challenge of our time. —Phoebe N.

It’s not safe to go in the water

River Run, a community pool in suburban Virginia and home to the Manta Rays swim team, is the center of the action in Michelle Brafman’s latest novel, Swimming with Ghosts. My favorite part of this story is how it’s told from the point of view of four separate characters—each performed by a different narrator (this cast is so good!). Gillian Cloud is the pool’s Queen Bee; Charlie is Gillian’s recently laid-off realtor husband; Kristy is Gillian’s best friend and a recovering love addict; and Justin is Gillian and Charlie’s “perfect” son. Full of domestic drama born of complicated histories and deep-seated secrets, things come to a head on the night of a swim team party when a once-in-a-lifetime storm hits River Run and its dedicated patrons. Their lives will never be the same again. —Tricia F.

The dirty details behind clean, classic athleisure

The fashion industry never fails to fascinate me with its constant recycling and revamping of retro trends. These days, there is no denying that looks popularized in the ’90s and early ’00s are experiencing a resurgence, with cargo pants, claw clips, low-rise jeans, and even Crocs coming back in style. Now, right on trend, Kate Flannery’s juicy memoir is reopening the books on the scandalous legacy of American Apparel, laying bare all the dirty details and grandiose talk of revolution (which Amanda Montell might call “cultish”) behind the brand’s clean, classic athleisure wear. Every bit as witty as its title suggests, Strip Tees delivers a salacious story as well as deep insights about coming of age as an ambitious feminist. —Haley H.

Samantha Downing has wowed me again

The bestselling author of My Lovely Wife (and several other amazingly twisty domestic thrillers) can always be trusted to take you on a rollercoaster ride with each of her mind-bending stories. In her newest work—narrated by Karissa Vacker, whose vocal snark is on point—we meet Wes and Ivy, a pair who has been on-and-off for the 10 years since they met. Their friends may call them toxic, but they know what they have is real and (probably) made to last—as long as they can keep their dark history from coming back to bite them. The story unfolds through a series of overlapping flashbacks, perspectives, and subplots, but as complex as the story gets, Downing never lets the thread drop, making for an exceptionally satisfying conclusion. Don't miss this one! —Katie O.

A must-listen for any hip-hop fan

It's been nearly three decades since DJ Drama released his groundbreaking first mixtape, and in the years since, the Grammy winner has established himself as a certified multihyphenate, racking up credits as a producer, promoter, and record exec and working with the likes of Black Thought and Snoop Dogg. Now, the King of the Mixtape can add “podcast host” to his ever-growing resume. In this Audible Original, created in collaboration with Kenya Barris’s Khalabo Ink Society, DJ Drama dives deep with past collaborators, including Tyler, the Creator; Wiz Khalifa; Pharrell; and 2 Chainz. In each episode, a different rap icon reminisces on the origins of their entry into the Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, musing on each track’s cultural impact. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the genre, if you're even a little bit curious about the sound that changed hip-hop forever, you're going to want to add this podcast to your queue. —Alanna M.

Talk about blindly falling in love

My favorite part of being an Audible Editor is having early access to my most anticipated listens. From the moment I saw the cover art for Katherine Center’s latest novel, Hello Stranger, I just knew I wouldn’t make it to release day without listening. Struggling artist Sadie Montgomery has finally gotten a lucky break—she’s landed a coveted spot in the same portrait contest that her mother was participating in before her untimely passing. But when Sadie has an accident that leads to a minor brain surgery, she wakes up with “acquired apperceptive prosopagnosia,” or face blindness. Not exactly what she needed while preparing for a portrait contest. With the help of her 14-year-old dog Peanut, his veterinarian, Dr. Addison, and her grungy neighbor, Joe, Sadie tries to put her life back together one jigsaw piece at a time, learning some really important lessons, and maybe even falling in love, along the way. Patti Murin has yet again graced us with her excellent narration, giving me another reason to adore this wonderful author/narrator pairing. —Patty R.

Investigating a resonant slice of New York lore

If you’re ever in a podcast rut, Leon Neyfakh has the quickest way out. The award-winning journalist investigates formative American scandals and their fascinating echoes today. Fiasco: Vigilante elucidates the 1984 media sensation of New York’s “subway vigilante,” when a meek-looking white man ruthlessly gunned down four Black teenagers on a downtown train. The dramatic story comes to life in the brash accents of the era’s intrepid tabloid reporters and heartbreaking interviews with the victims’ families, who bring the four men to life more fully than ever before. For various reasons, we don’t hear directly from the victims or the gunman. Two have passed away, one by overdose 27 years to the day after the shooting. One remains paralyzed and in an assisted living facility; another had legal troubles and left the city. Another lives a quiet life feeding squirrels in New York—guess which is which. —Kat J.