Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
Lily’s back and better than ever
Following the success of Lily Chu’s debut romance, The Stand-In, I couldn’t wait to listen to her sophomore effort, The Comeback. I absolutely adored this charming story about an ambitious lawyer named Ariadne who falls in love with her roommate’s incredibly hot cousin Jihoon, a member of a popular K-pop band. Phillipa Soo of Hamilton fame once again narrates as Chu’s endearing heroine, who must decide what she’s willing to risk for her happiness once her relationship with Jihoon goes viral and she experiences the darker side of his fan base. Chu delivers a beautifully written story that weaves together complex issues of mental health, fame, cultural expectations, and anti-Asian racism while also making you swoon and laugh. Grounded in very real, nuanced characters, but with an escapist plot, The Comeback is funny, insightful, and deliciously romantic. —Margaret H.
Professor Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes’ fiercest rival, may have more to his backstory than we thought. This romp into the Sherlock Holmes universe, as imagined by Charles Kindinger, follows Moriarty on a mission to prove his innocence. I really enjoyed the performances from the star-studded cast, including Dominic Monaghan (of Lord of the Rings movie fame), who does a bang-up job as the intense Moriarty. This fast-paced, serialized story is filled with amazing sound design that will leave you on the edge of your seat. With this new addition to the Sherlock story, you’ll only want more and more! —Nicole R.
A taut sci-fi stunner with something to say
As evidenced by the brilliantly paced and exceptionally plotted Dark Matter and Recursion, Blake Crouch is quite adept when it comes to blending the best of suspense and sci-fi. He crafts smart works of speculative fiction that turn complex, futuristic concepts into storylines that feel just out of our reality’s reach, all the while getting to the core of what makes us human: feeling, memory, the relationships we have with ourselves and with one another. Now, he turns his focus to the nature of identity—down to a cellular level. Upgrade follows Logan Ramsey, a government agent tasked with enforcing a ban on genetic modification who finds himself the victim of a targeted genome hack. What unravels is a tale of legacy and choice, discovery and ethics, that’s as thought-provoking as it is electric. —Alanna M.
Acts of Violet is a novel that’s meant to be heard! The cast and the audio production add a fun and playful element to this heartfelt, twisty tale about magician Violet Volk, whose 2008 onstage disappearance has been an unsolved mystery for almost 10 years. Much of the narrative is told from the perspective of Violet’s sister, Sasha (brilliantly portrayed by narrator Brittany Pressley), but then there’s podcast episodes, newspaper headlines, and interviews interspersed within the story—each element revealing new information from different perspectives, and performed by different voices. It’ll keep you guessing and put a smile on your face. You’ll even get a bit of a history lesson about famous female magicians of the past. This is summer listening at its best! —Tricia F.
Come for the retelling, stay for the cast!
I love when authors reimagine archetypal stories with a relatable and modern spin. So I could not wait to dive into Randy McKinnon’s The Prophecy—as a fan of his work as a writer, producer, and director, and also as the daughter of a single mother. (The Prophecy is a love letter to the strength and resilience of single moms in general, and one in particular.) I’m rooting for Kerry Washington as Virginia. And the rest of the cast (Laurence Fishburne, Daniel Dae Kim, and David Oyelowo, just to name a few) make this listen unpauseable. —Christina H.
To fans of Brandon Stanton's photo project and bestselling book Humans of New York, Tanqueray is nothing short of a superstar. So, to finally hear the septuagenarian Stephanie Johnson (her real name) share more unfiltered, incredible stories about being a burlesque dancer in 1970s New York City—and many other necessary reinventions to survive life's ups and downs—in her own feisty, raunchy, badass way is a milestone storytelling event that is at times hilarious as well as heartbreaking. Millions fell in love with her indomitable spirit by reading about her life on social media, but listening to this legendary lady is unforgettable. As she says: “Make room for Tanqueray, because here I come.” —Jerry P.
Return to Camp Cartwright one last time
The final season of Letters from Camp is here—and the timing couldn’t be better as I know lots of my friends’ kids are heading off to summer camp this week. Jamie Lee Curtis and Sunny Sandler shine as their respective characters, and the great sound design makes this series a dream family listen for long car rides or as an after-dinner activity. Parents will enjoy the nostalgia from their own camp experiences, and your kids will be fully immersed in Mookie’s hijinks and clever detective work. And like all great series, this final season ends on an unforgettable high note. —Sean T.
No frills, just thrills—and a Billy Joel quote
It's not often that a thriller starts with a Billy Joel quote, so when I heard the opening of Things We Do in the Dark, I knew it was going to be one of my favorites this year! Paris Peralta is arrested in her bathroom, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon next to her dead husband. As bad as the situation looks, Paris's main concern is her hidden past resurfacing. As her shocking past is unraveled, the story becomes more addicting. The complex characters, different POVs, and stunning twists had me opting to sit by the pool all day long listening, while I thanked author Jennifer Hillier for releasing this just in time for my birthday. —Patty C.
An unexpected personal voyage in Taiwan
In the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, most households were focused on locking down and weathering the storm. Author and chef Eddie Huang took the opposite approach, booking a last-minute flight to the bustling capital city of Taipei on impulse. What followed is nothing short of a journey of awakening. Huang became an impromptu ex-pat, and slowly began to acclimate to the fast-paced, boba tea–drenched lifestyle of Taiwan. As someone who travels mainly for food tourism, I can certainly relate to Huang’s priorities. With his unmistakable voice narrating crazy adventures and mouth-watering meals, this is truly a multisensory experience. For those looking for a healthy dose of travel, food porn, and a well-portioned slab of life philosophy on the side, this title is sure to deliver. —Seth H.
Become a master decision maker
When I first came across Overcoming Anticipatory Anxiety, I immediately sent it to my best friend and said, “They made this book for me.” As the world champion of overthinking everything, from what’s for dinner to how to sign off my emails, I think know this audiobook is exactly what I need at this stage of my life. Using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, Dr. Sally Winston and Dr. Martin Seif have developed a five-step action plan, called DANCE, to stop worrying and start living. This listen is just the motivation I need to finally commit to making travel plans this summer. —Rachael X.
How stories sustain the living dead
I’ve been asking: Do I love the gothic because I love audiobooks, or do I love audiobooks because I love gothic literature? This genre demands to be heard, as its booming claps of thunder and haunting organs creep from its pages to prey upon the darkest corners of our imaginations. So, when I learned that T. Kingfisher, author of such atmospheric works as The Hollow Places and The Twisted Ones, had plans to resurrect The Fall of the House of Usher in all its chilling glory, I knew I had to listen. This title adds unsettling depth to the ruins of Edgar Allan Poe’s original manor, reminding us in the process that so long as we keep their stories alive, the dead never have to die. —Haley H.
