Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
The art of medicine and storytelling
The inspiration for this story came from a book that author Lisa See had in her library, written by a woman physician, Tan Yunxian, who lived during the Ming Dynasty in 15th century China. See’s extensive research combined with her signature storytelling skills results in a captivating and immersive fictional retelling—beautifully performed by Jennifer Lim and Justin Chien. With strong parallels to women’s struggles in 2023, this story celebrates the unconditional support found in the “circle of women” and is a fascinating study of Chinese medicine and culture. —Tricia F.
I finished listening to this S.A. Cosby thriller while in Houston, where it was about 92 degrees. Not born yesterday, I wasn’t running out to take in the sights. In the cool of my hotel room, I savored the last couple of hours. He sure can weave a story. His storytelling has so many layers, he makes a Napoleon, that multilayered pastry, look like a thin slice of pound cake. The main character is Titus Crown, the first Black sheriff of Charon County. I can’t imagine a more fitting name for him. You can see it in the way he speaks, walks, and looks. I’ve pointed out Cosby’s spot-on descriptive words before. Here’s another one for you, where Titus observes of Officer Pip: “The bottom three buttons on his shirt were performing a labor of Hercules as they kept his belly from spilling out.” Narrator Adam Lazarre-White delivers all voices impeccably. Charon County is lucky to have Titus—the crimes are ugly and brutal, and he is on the case. Big time. —Yvonne D.
Heartfelt, humorous, and full of birdcalls
What I remember most about 2020 is how a sensational news story managed to shake our nation day after day. I also remember that birdwatching was trendy that summer, made all the more relevant by Christian Cooper’s viral, racially charged encounter with a dog walker in Central Park. If, like me, you are still working to unpack that tumultuous time in our lives, you must listen to this heartfelt, healing, yet strikingly humorous audiobook now. A beautiful reminder that no story ever begins or ends in a single moment, Cooper’s memoir—brought to life by his charming narration and lots of chirping birds—covers everything from nerd culture to sexuality to environmentalism, and is exactly the narrative I needed to hear today. —Haley H.
Nosey aunties last year, hilarious grandmas this year!
Last June, I fell in love with fellow Bostonian Namrata Patel’s debut novel, The Candid Life of Meena Dave. Just as my TBLT list was starting to feel a little empty, Scent of a Garden, Patel’s second novel, landed in my Library, and I couldn’t be any more delighted! Daughter of hoteliers, Asha Patel is an Indian American woman living in Paris who works with a handful of perfumers to create exquisite perfumes. After falling ill and losing her sense of smell, Asha returns home to Napa, where her grandmother (along with the rest of the family) swears to do everything in her power to help Asha recover her sense of smell. Listener-favorite narrator Soneela Nankani kept me hooked to this immersive and beautiful novel about finding the courage to pave one's own path in a world full of obligations and expectations. —Patty R.
The blockbuster sci-fi thriller of the summer
The most exciting release of the season may sound like a must-see movie: Jessica Chastain stars as a psychiatrist tasked with helping multiple patients who have all had the same bizarre, unexplained experience. Instead—and much to our luck—The Space Within is a superbly performed (I mean, Jessica Chastain, Bobby Cannavale, Ellen Burstyn—dream cast right there), absolutely compulsive, and thought-provoking eight-episode podcast series. I found it incredibly difficult to hit pause on this one or stop after just one episode—and I actually listened twice: once to unravel the mystery as quickly as possible, and once to catch all the finer details and hints throughout. The sound effects were immersive and the theme music was haunting. I’m totally hooked. —Sam D.
A masterclass in celebrity memoir
As transgender folks in the US have faced an ongoing wave of legislation attacking their existence, the narrative surrounding their very personhood has been seized and presented absent of any lived experiences. It feels especially timely, then, that in his debut memoir, Pageboy, actor Elliot Page proves that his story, his reality, and his identity belong only to himself and are his alone to share. In this exquisitely written and delicately performed listen, Page explores the pursuit of authenticity and the fight for survival, two oft-conflicting undertakings that would define much of his young life. Whether unearthing the trauma of a stalker who stole his sense of safety in his youth or exploring queer desire, sex, and joy in all its multifaceted glory, Page does not once flinch or equivocate. Instead, he stands fully in his truth, recognizing the darkest moments of his path while inviting others burdened by repression into the light. —Alanna M.
We Are Not Like Them, Christine Pride and Jo Piazza’s thought-provoking novel about the shooting of an unarmed Black teen, was one of my favorite listens of 2021. They’re back with another relevant conversation-starter that again examines race, but also tackles the complicated topic of motherhood—who gets to be a mother, what it means to be a quote-unquote good one, and can a Black woman mother a white child. Narrators Jenni Barber and Alexis Floyd deliver as Daisy, a teen who abandons her infant, and Cinnamon, the woman who finds Daisy’s baby. Told through heartbreaking letters Daisy writes to her nameless daughter alternating with chapters chronicling Cinnamon’s struggles with instant motherhood, the beautiful writing and deeply vulnerable performances had me sobbing through the emotional epilogue. —Margaret H.
Once again, Tom Papa is here to remind us that it’s all okay. Narrated by the comedian himself, these essays cover ground familiar to any of his stand-up fans: fatherhood, pet ownership, and the absurdity of just about everything around us. We’re all guilty of getting too caught up in the minutia of our day-to-day concerns, which, really, when you get down to the bones of it all, are just kind of silly. In the vein of You’re Doing Great!, we can all rely on Papa to help loosen us up. —Aaron S.
Isabel Allende continues her streak of historical epics after A Long Petal of the Sea and last year’s stunning Violeta. This time, Allende takes on a timely topic, immigration, and with it grabs the listener and doesn’t let go. Narrated in her always elegant prose, The Wind Knows My Name starts in 1938 Vienna during the horrific attacks on Jews during Kristallnacht, taking us up to the recent past and the brutal family-separation policy on the US-Mexico border. Allende draws parallels to immigration policies that, while decades apart, lead to the same results: terror and violence against minority groups, leaving women and children as helpless victims in the aftermath. This powerful listen resonated with me because having been an immigrant child myself, I can relate to the fears of being accepted, rejected, and having hopes for a better life. Credit is due to Edoardo Ballerini and Maria Liatis for narrating the multiple adult and child characters, and of course I tip my hat to Isabel Allende for yet another sweeping epic that will stay with me for a long time. —Edwin D.
The summer series I can’t wait for
One of the most fun parts of being an Audible Editor is early access to some amazing listens. With Breakthrough, however, I have been holding off on listening to even a moment of this innovative podcast as I want to experience it alongside my fellow listeners. This is a first-of-its-kind, truly blind singing competition—with major musical chops behind it. Produced by The Chainsmokers and AT WILL MEDIA, hosted by Tony and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs, and judged by the incomparable Sara Bareilles and Kelly Rowland, five artists will pursue their dream to be the next singing sensation just using the power of their voice. It’s an audiophile’s dream, and I can’t wait to cheer on the contestants this month. —Katie O.
A hilarious, irreverent, and empowering memoir
First off, I laughed out loud from start to finish through this delightfully TMI listen. Laura Belgray’s debut is like if David Sedaris took it up a notch—and shared a lot more stories about oral sex. But it’s also strangely uplifting. I love stories about women self-actualizing—unapologetically being their whole selves and reaching for their full potential. This memoir is up that alley, with detours down some darker and more hilarious alleys. Belgray, a copywriter born and bred in Manhattan, is a proud late bloomer who churned through a lot of bad jobs and bad boyfriends to finally find the life she’d been feeling around in the dark for the whole time. And she has blessed us with this brutally honest, irreverent account of how she got there. It’s a reminder that life is about figuring out who you are on your own terms and your own timetable—and that a woman who doesn’t make apologies for herself is an empowering thing to behold. But please note that this listen is worth your time for the “chin wobble” story alone. —Phoebe N.
Diving back into the drama of Donor 9623
I was ready to dive into Donor 9623: Part Two after listening to the explosive first part, the story of a sperm donor who perpetrated one of the biggest reproductive hoaxes in history. I had questions—how did the parents react to the podcast? How did the donor react?—and I was eager to find out what happened next. In Part Two, you're introduced to new families who open up about their lives and attempts to connect with the donor, and you hear more from donor Chris Aggeles and his bid for redemption. As the podcast progresses, you become aware of the complexity of the relationships between the donor, the families, and their individual struggles, and you gain insight into the consequences of the donor's actions. You even learn what it takes for a family to forgive the unforgivable. It's an emotional journey that will leave you with a greater understanding of the power of forgiveness and the importance of understanding the perspectives of others. —Kistal G.
Multihyphenate Hayley Kiyoko’s trajectory and creative prowess fascinates me: She’s a pop star, actress, social media sensation, director, and now we can add author to the list. Her debut YA novel, based on the hit song she penned of the same name, covers grief, longing, and belonging in a multifaceted yet approachable way. Coley, who is voiced by Kiyoko, is facing devastating loss and seismic shifts in her world when she meets and falls for Sonya, a confident, popular girl in the new town she never wanted to move to. Set in the early aughts, the AIM messages and Live Journal entries add a fun nostalgic touch. This coming-of-age story about losing and finding yourself in formative relationships delivers. Get lost in this listen this summer. —Kelley S.
When life on Earth feels impossible, ascend
I’ve had more on my plate than usual lately—juggling family obligations, managing house renovations, and even handling mishaps like my cat spilling an entire gallon of olive oil. On my toughest days, I can’t help but wonder what it’s all for—why am I here? It’s no secret, then, why I was drawn to In Light-Years There’s No Hurry, a relatable yet ethereal exploration of humanity’s place in the vastness of the universe. Poet and journalist Marjolijn van Heemstra applies the “overview effect”—a permanent shift in perspective experienced by astronauts viewing the planet Earth while in space—to remedy everyday anxiety and existential ennui. I’m looking forward to Heemstra’s lyrical philosophy taking me miles away. Beam me up. —Rachael X.
Gabriel Byrne takes you on an immersive ride through dream-filled memory in Walking with Ghosts, which is adapted from his recent memoir of the same name. As the critically acclaimed septuagenarian Irish actor reflects on painful and playful moments of his past, Byrne imitates some of the oddballs of his Dublin boyhood, with lots of quirky lingo to enjoy. At times, the mood gets a little eerie, but is more spellbinding than scary. Fans of his roles in The Usual Suspects or In Treatment may want more Hollywood anecdotes, but his stories hinge on the vernacular of his childhood with traumatic stories about a friend’s death and a predatory priest. Byrne’s expressiveness, storytelling, and Irish accent kept me captivated and listening to this stage performance sparked my own trip down memory lane. —Disha M.
Follow the lives and loves of lesbians
Ever wonder what TikTok lesbians would have done in the 1980s? Well, they likely would have been reading Dykes to Watch Out For, an iconic comic strip created by cartoonist Alison Bechdel (originator of the Bechdel test!) that plunged lesbians into popular culture in a big way for the first time. The sketches followed a group of Doc Marten-wearing dykes centering on Mo, a shy but passionate sapphic who couldn’t seem to find love (or sex) to save her life. Now, Mo and the gang are back—in audio—and this TikTok lesbian can’t get enough. Led by Jane Lynch of Glee fame, and narrated by a full cast of celesbians (including the likes of Roxanne Gay and Roberta Colindrez), this listen creates an immersive experience that feels as satisfying as eavesdropping on your favorite hot baristas at your local coffee shop—perfect for folks who miss the live-vicariously-through-a-group-of-cool-lesbians energy that oozes from the original L Word. —Madeline A.
As we have all heard countless times, a picture is worth a thousand words. In many cases, there is just no better way to capture the subtlety of a moment than with a visual. On September 29, 1998, XXL magazine gathered 177 artists, producers, and influential figures within New York City’s hip-hop culture for one legendary photo. This picture, taken at 17 East 126th St. in Harlem, was in reference to a photo taken by Art Kane with 57 jazz artists at the exact same spot in 1958. Narrated by former XXL Editor-in-Chief Sheena Lester, The Greatest Day: The Epic Story Behind Hip-Hop's Most Iconic Photograph tells the gripping story of XXL's attempt to re-create Kane's iconic photograph for a new era. As a longtime fan of hip-hop, this is the story I never knew I needed to hear. —Seth H.
