Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
If you know me, then you know I mark the start and end of my summer with the French Open and the US Open respectively—with a nice midsummer Wimbledon Pimm’s Cup to tide me over, of course. So it should come as no surprise that Taylor Jenkins Reid’s latest novel, Carrie Soto Is Back, about a former tennis champion, was an automatic pre-order for me. Carrie Soto is pushing 40 and retired when she watches her Grand Slam record get broken by a young phenom. She decides to come out of retirement and reunite with her coach—who is also her father—in an attempt to reclaim her title. Set in the 90s, Carrie’s journey echoes the path of a certain other G.O.A.T. (who I hope to see claim her own Slam record in September). And it’s performed by a stellar full cast that includes cameos from legendary tennis announcers (and former players) Mary Carillo and Patrick McEnroe. I can’t wait to press play and start rooting for Carrie. —Katie O.
I can’t think of anyone I’d rather get a history lesson in comedy from other than J.B. Smoove. In Funny My Way, Smoove—who you very well may know from playing one of the funniest characters on TV as Leon Black in Curb Your Enthusiasm—takes listeners into the personal, professional, and political lives of six legendary Black comedians: Paul Mooney, Flip Wilson, Moms Mabley, Dick Gregory, Rudy Ray Moore, and Red Foxx, who, in their own ways, changed comedy and the culture as a whole. Told through a combination of Smoove’s narration, archival recordings, and commentary from other comedy greats—Cedric the Entertainer, Margaret Cho, and Norman Lear, to name a few—Funny My Way is the ultimate listen for any and all true comedy fans. —Aaron S.
I’ve spent many a summer day listening to the extraordinary Julia Whelan, who’s narrated some of my all-time favorite stories, but this one is extra special. Written and performed by Whelan, Thank You for Listening is a witty, fun rom-com that embraces fans and skeptics of the romance genre alike. It’s super smart without taking itself too seriously, telling the story of Sewanee Chester, a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel. It’ll leave you blushing with a perma-smile on your face. —Tricia F.
The true story is even creepier than you think
If you’ve heard of the Slenderman stabbing, you know the headline: Two 12-year-old girls brutally stabbed their classmate in a Wisconsin park, claiming they were under the influence of a meme—a tall, faceless fictional character known as Slenderman. The crime set off a panic about the effects of the internet on kids, a fear that reliably found fresh evidence (remember the Tide Pods and Momo challenges?) to bolster its case. Lost in the coverage was the fact that one of the perpetrators suffered from severe early-onset schizophrenia, a condition that worsened after the girls were swallowed up by a criminal justice system that allowed them to be tried as adults. With Slenderman, journalist and Wisconsin native Kathleen Hale gives the first full account of what really happened. —Kat J.
I was a little nervous to pick this one up. I completely loved Ali Hazelwood's debut novel, The Love Hypothesis, but I've been around this block enough times to know how second novels sometimes go, so I approached with a little caution. Let me be clear: Do not approach with caution. Hazelwood has absolutely killed it again with Love on the Brain, bringing us a whip-smart heroine fighting the good fight in the male-dominated STEM world. This is in part a classic enemies-to-lovers story but, as with every Hazelwood hero, there is way more than meets the eye. I enjoyed every minute of this fun and slightly suspenseful tale, and can't wait for what Hazelwood has up her sleeve next. With zero hesitations. —Emily C.
Jillian Medoff delivers a fascinating look into the world of Upper East Side wealth and privilege in her audio page-turner, When We Were Bright and Beautiful. Narrator Marin Ireland captivates listeners as Cassie, the adopted daughter of the Quinn family, grappling with her younger brother’s trial for sexual assault. Emotional and deeply layered, Cassie is the definition of an unreliable narrator as her relationship with her adoptive family is not at all like it seems. Her shocking secret is revealed about three-quarters through the book, and I immediately wanted to stop, go back to the beginning, and re-listen to see how I could have missed the clues. Addictive from the start, Medoff’s engrossing twists and turns will keep you guessing until the satisfying yet heartbreaking end. —Margaret H.
A tale of first contact—literally
Being one of Audible’s leading Dennis Taylor fans, here’s what I love about his stories. He hooks you in, almost from the first word. He puts ordinary people into extraordinary situations, adds a bit of mayhem, and lets it rip. And he always gets to the heart of what makes us human. So, I just gobbled up Roadkill. If you haven’t listened to Dennis before, it’s a great entry point. If you have, you’re in for a treat, especially with narrator Ray Porter at the helm. And I bet the next time you’re behind the wheel on a lonely country road, you’ll drive very, very carefully! —Steve F.
This was certainly a trip, literally. Rebecca, party animal and ex-wife of star football player Zach Bridger, parties a little too hard one night and ends up in a coma—thanks to the cold heart and violent temper of Eban, scion of a prominent family. He serves some jail time but not enough for anyone’s satisfaction. Enter a star prosecutor who explains to Zach that there’s only one way to put this loser back behind bars—Rebecca, who’s still on life support, has to die. Through a series of turns (and trysts), confrontations, a suicide, and a cold-blooded murder, I wallowed in this thriller—I was in no rush to finish as I savored the last roller-coaster half-hour. Alas! It ends, as all good things must do. Sandra Brown sure can spin a yarn. Brava! —Yvonne D.
Shakespeare, Austen, and Joyce, oh my!
Are you a fan of Shakespeare? Or steamy love stories? Or maybe just a huge book nerd? I happen to be all of the above, and this debut romance checks all those boxes. Ben and Beatriz, by Katalina Gamarra, is a Latinx retelling of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in which the white, wealthy, and arrogant son of Trump voters falls for a queer, biracial first-generation immigrant. It’s absolutely brimming with literary references and an incredible enemies-to-lovers story line that feels so real. And while it has tons of laughs and love, it also addresses complex issues like colorism, passing, trauma, and privilege pulled from the author’s own life. Not only will you not be able to hit pause, but it’ll have you feeling all the feels in the best possible way. —Michael C.
Romance—with a side of True Crime
Imagine arriving at your childhood home, only to encounter a shaggy haired strange man who insists on helping you carry your desk inside the house. If your reaction was, “I’d run away because he sounds like he’s a serial killer,” you may just have something in common with Phoebe—the true crime obsessed protagonist in Alicia Thompson’s debut, Love in the Time of Serial Killers. This novel is unlike anything I have encountered, combining two very popular genres into one amazing listen. With a hilarious premise; Phoebe and Sam are quirky and unconventional in their approach to modern dating. The novel left me in absolute awe as I bonded and rooted for the flawed yet real characters. —Patty C.
Origin story of a teen superhero? Yes, please.
This is one of those listens that appeared on my radar screen because of casting—Abigail Breslin (of Little Miss Sunshine movie fame) and Michael Cimino (the lead in the Love, Victor TV series.) But don’t take my word for it; you can hear them here in the extended sample. Daniel X: Genesis, written by James Patterson (who teams up with Aaron Tracy here), brings to life the origin story of a teen who will use his alien superpowers to avenge his parents’ death and to save the world. But for now, he needs to learn the truth about himself, which might be an easier feat than surviving a week of high school. —Christina H.
An eternally invigorating listen
From Mary Roach’s Stiff (one of my first ever downloads) to Caitlin Doughty’s Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, my interest in mortality comes to life in my Audible library. In practice, however, I respond to death particularly poorly, which often makes me wonder—Do fellow fans of macabre listens feel as ironically squeamish about corpses as I do? Featuring interviews with executioners, embalmers, grave diggers, and more, Hayley Campbell’s latest release takes a hands-on approach to dissecting the colliding traditions that make death both a cultural obsession and taboo. All the Living and the Dead raises electrifying questions that will surely plague my mind for months to come. —Hailey H.
An intimate look at a silver screen legend
The image of Marilyn Monroe has become so entwined with the Golden Age of Hollywood, so foundational to Americana pop culture, and so symbolic of sex, glamour, and fame that, at times, the late icon’s humanity is lost to legend. In her tragically unfinished memoir, Monroe tells her own story, shattering misconceptions and offering a glimpse into a side of the star previously unseen or otherwise glossed over. In a voice as frank as it is warm, clever, and wise, Monroe explores surviving the traumas of a difficult childhood, navigating the exploitative side of fame and the wolves that lurked in the shadows, and the unshakable sense of loneliness that plagued her over the years. Releasing for the first time in audio 60 years after Monroe’s death, My Story is a self-aware, vulnerable look beyond the veneer of celebrity. —Alanna M
Start here to build better boundaries
The 1986 classic Codependent No More by Melody Beattie has a special place in my library. To me, it’s a quintessential well-being title for anyone who struggles with putting themselves first. My first copy was passed down to me nearly half a decade ago by a close friend who raved about how it had helped her establish healthy boundaries with her loved ones—just what I needed at the time. While conversations about the validity of the term “codependent” have emerged since the Reagan administration, I still include myself among the countless readers and listeners who have successfully used Beattie’s techniques for prioritizing self-care to jumpstart healing. I’m most looking forward to a brand new chapter on trauma recovery in this modern recording of a legendary self-help book. —Rachael X.
A good deed goes the wrong way…
Imagine you’re helping an old woman with her last dying wish and, as a result, you become entrenched in a world of mayhem and murder. You Only Die Twice follows Alice Thornton, a high school English teacher who tries to be a good Samaritan by assisting her neighbor in finishing the spy thriller she always wanted to write. What she doesn’t tell Alice before passing away is that the book is not so much fiction as a memoir. Now Alice is on the run, escorted by a sexy ex-secret agent (not the part Alice has a problem with), and being tracked down by a vicious murderer who thinks she knows entirely too much. From the dual narration performance by Alan Carlson and Stacia Newcomb to the amazing writing by author Brynn Kelly, You Only Die Twice is ranked solidly as one of my favorite listens of the summer. —Nicole R
The greatest band on earth tells all
My crush on Jack Black may have begun with the movie High Fidelity, but it’s been sustained by his buoyant enthusiasm in whatever role he plays, including front man of an iconic joke band that produces epic bangers. The saga of Tenacious D—the way a “fake” band became a real one—is nearly as remarkable as many of their ridiculous lyrics (the ability to kill a yak from 200 yards away with “mind bullets”?) and claims to greatness. Jack Black and Kyle Gass started as a LA rock-comedy duo nearly 30 years ago, released their first studio album in 2002, and their outsized ambitions eventually resulted in having Dave Grohl and Weezer performing with them. Now, listening to the friends share their origins as underdog schlubs who became legit rock stars for posterity (complete with archival audio!) is a treat for all D fans and those just tasting their genius for the first time. —Jerry P.
