Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
My favorite listen so far this year
This book. THIS BOOK. This book is a love letter to people who love stories—the people who write them, who sell them, who edit them, who read them, who listen to them, who escape into them. But Book Lovers by Emily Henry is also a story about sisterhood and grief and belonging and, yes, true love. Julia Whelan is flawless in her performance as Nora Stephens, an uptight New York literary agent who is on vacation with her sister in Sunshine Falls, North Carolina—a city that, on its surface, seems to be her very antithesis. While there she runs into her nemesis Charlie Lastra—a book editor who is in town for his own hidden reasons. This audiobook felt like it was tailor-made for me—I loved every moment of it, and I think so many listeners will feel that same sense of warmth and joy. —Katie O.
In Fishpriest, a blisteringly immersive new scripted podcast, Ethan Hawke’s character earned his titular nickname from his weapon of choice, a kind of bat traditionally used to kill fish. But Tommy “Fishpriest” Barth finds it works just fine on people, and it comes in handy in his job at Concourse Bail Bonds in the Bronx. The year is 1993—the height of the crack epidemic. A dark, gritty crime saga for fans of Richard Price and David Simon, this thriller utilizes its eight-episode arc and audio-first storytelling, penned by The Affair screenwriter Mike Batistick, to ultimate effect while the talented full cast, including Nicole Lewis and Adriana Ducassi, brings the fast-paced story to life. Of course, all ears will be on Hawke, who dazzles. —Kat J.
Free tips to become a con artist
We know and love Holly Black from her fantasy stories for kids and teens, but Black has upped it a notch with her adult debut in Book of Night. She’s given us an imaginative urban fantasy with a take on shadow magic that feels so familiar as to be not far from our own reality. Our heroine, Charlie, is trying to be a retired thief and con artist, but it’s so hard to stop doing something you’re good at, even when you know it’s not right, isn’t it? Charlie is working as a bartender when her seedy past comes slinking back in the form of a murderous glomist (a shadow-magic wielder). Sara Amini, a fresh voice to audiobooks, thrives as the narrator here, breathing life into Charlie with a slightly smoky voice and sardonic tone. I loved journeying into the middle of this world, and I didn’t want to leave. Holly: a sequel, please! —Melissa B.
While listening to Two Nights in Lisbon, I struggled a bit with what exactly was happening and why, but once the threads started unraveling, I was on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the premise of the novel: a wife and her husband travel internationally for a business trip, and then one morning he’s missing from the hotel. Ariel, the wife, is understandably hysterical, especially when no one takes her seriously. To be fair, he was missing only a few hours. Her fear, however, is valid, considering that she didn’t really know his occupation or what business he was in Lisbon for. As she tries to figure out who and where her husband is, listeners get glimpses into Ariel’s past, which may give insight into how she ended up in this situation. In the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this slow-burn thriller. —Nicole R.
Michael Urie for octopus teacher of the year
Instead of adopting a pandemic puppy, I set up a quarantine fish tank. So, believe me when I say: hearing Michael Urie voice a cephalopod (for at least his second time!) makes scraping algae off glass way more fun. From distant mothers and anonymous fathers to deceased husbands and lost sons, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel revolves around absence, as its humans (all brilliantly voiced by Marin Ireland) take solace in the routines that keep the Sowell Bay aquarium afloat. But it’s Marcellus, with his eight tentacled arms and advanced intelligence, who connects the dots in their stories. As he observes, the sea keeps secrets, “but humans struggle to use their words to tell each other what they truly desire.” Caring for my tank always leaves me refreshed, so I’m certain my fish have wisdom to share with me too. —Haley H.
I’ll admit it: I was skeptical about this one. I have mixed feelings about using the “b-word” as a symbol of female empowerment (Quinn, on the other hand, has no such qualms), and having seen the bingeable reality series Selling Sunset, I knew Christine as the troublemaking, drama-starting, power-selling real estate agent who bragged about hazing new employees at her firm—not exactly someone I’d typically turn to for life advice. But I’ve gained a new understanding of how Quinn sees herself: a self-described weird kid with ADD who had strict parents and never graduated high school but has a “PhD in life.” In spite of—or perhaps because of—the layers of glitz and glam, Christine Quinn the adult makes zero compromises when it comes to being herself. Sure, her philosophy is a bit unorthodox at times, but her commitment to authenticity is enough to make Brené Brown proud—and that’s something to aspire to. —Rachael X.
It has been years since I’ve been on a historical fiction binge, and 2022 has beautifully given me an excuse to jump back in. I recently finished Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and was looking for more female-led, STEM-inspired historical fiction when I found The Surgeon’s Daughter by Audrey Blake (the pseudonym of writing duo Regina Sirois and Jaima Fixsen). Set in the 19th century, the story opens with Nora, who dreams of becoming a licensed surgeon in a time when medicine is for men only. Nora travels from London to Bologna, Italy, where women are allowed to study. She soon discovers that being “allowed” to study has a price. With any mistake (perceived or real) held against her, can Nora prove them all wrong and develop new techniques to improve the groundbreaking cesarean section? I’ve been immersed from the first chapter, savoring each word and rooting for Nora’s success. —Patty C.
This captivating campus gothic follows a group of smart, alluring, and socially influential queer students through their senior year at Bromley, a liberal arts school in rural Vermont. They are all contending with their own challenges involving relationships, academics, and identity. And, of course, there’s that ever-present question most college students obsess over: What am I going to do with my life? A different narrator portrays each of the main characters, and I loved this cast! I was propelled through the story and became more and more entangled in everyone’s drama. It all leads up to their paths converging when they make an unusual discovery on campus. Will they uncover a mystery to reveal a dark chapter of Bromley’s history? —Tricia F.
The enigma behind the bob and sunglasses
I used to scoff at the shallowness of the fashion industry, so why should I care about Anna Wintour? I credit Meryl Streep portraying Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada as the tipping point: that cerulean sweater monologue made it easier to understand fashion's legitimacy. After the documentaries that burnished Wintour's bona fides as a cultural phenomenon, I was eager to know how Amy Odell would crack that legendary ice-queen façade in her new biography. Since we can't expect a memoir anytime soon (as one of Wintour's friends explains, she "doesn't want to stop working to reflect"), narrator Imogen Church's delicious way of inhabiting Anna quotations with a low purr may be the closest we get to the queen of couture. —Jerry P.
The summer when things will never be the same
Now is the time to re-experience (or discover!) the fan-favorite YA novel The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. This brand-new recording is performed by Lola Tung, who stars as Belly in the upcoming series based on the book, coming to Prime Video in June 2022. Belly spends her summers in a rambling house on Cousins Beach with her brother and mother, Laurel, Laurel’s best friend, Susannah, and her two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. As I listened, taking the lead from Belly and her friends, I enjoyed sinking into lumpy couches, worshiping the sun, and remembering what it was like as a teen to wallow in summer crushes and unrequited puppy love. —Yvonne D.
Just when you think you know someone
The pandemic reminded me how medical professionals are often put in challenging situations, forced to make life-changing decisions with little time on the clock. Cut to the scene in Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s mini-memoir, Paging Dr. Gupta, where he is literally navigating gunfire in the Iraqi desert to save the life of one of the medics he’s embedded with as a journalist for CNN. While taking in the listen’s life lessons, I was wrapped up in Gupta’s reflections on his unusual path—narrowly avoiding a series of near misses while running toward tough situations. —Vanessa H.
Hear from the Peloton powerhouse
I thought I knew a lot about Tunde Oyeneyin. I mean, we work out together five days a week. I knew she suffered the loss of a younger brother and both parents. I knew that she struggled with her weight as a child and that she used to be a celebrity makeup artist in LA. But listening to Speak has given me a new appreciation for my favorite Peloton instructor. Despite the grief, setbacks, and disappointments she endures, Oyeneyin’s infectious, joyful spirit never skips a beat as she talks through every step of her SPEAK acronym—surrender, power, empathy, authenticity, and knowledge. Whether you’re a Peloton rider or not, Speak will motivate and inspire you to want better and do better for yourself. In fact, I’m going to jump on my Peloton bike right now. —Margaret H.
