Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
If I had to describe what listening to this story was like as a place, this is how I’d put it: Picture a friendly pub with a roaring fire and enough bustle to make it feel lively, but not so much noise that you couldn’t have a conversation. And there are big, comfy chairs because it’s all about sinking in and letting Tom tell his stories without skipping a single detail. By the time the story gets into all the action, you're hooked, mesmerized, and eager to keep listening to every character that joins in on the storytelling—each anchored by the dynamic and affable voice of Tom Hanks. It’s comforting, invigorating, and time will go by way too quickly as you listen. —Tricia F.
Frenemies, death, and a manuscript theft—sign me up!
Confession: I sometimes judge a book by its cover. Thankfully for me, Yellowface delivers a bold and impressive social commentary on the publishing world and its intersection with social media. The novel starts with June Hayward, a struggling white author who had an underwhelming debut experience. After witnessing her Asian American friend’s death, June makes a choice to steal, edit, and submit the late author’s latest unpublished manuscript as her own. What ensues is a meta, anxiety ridden, satirical thriller that had me rooting for the morally grey June—while also hoping that her mountain of crimes, lies, racism, and betrayals would be discovered. As a listener, lover, and reviewer of books, Yellowface has truly left me speechless (which is unusual for me). And to be completely honest, I have not been able to stop thinking about this brilliant novel since the moment the story ended. —Patty R.
The perfect romance to kick off summer
It’s no secret around here that I’m a longtime CLo fan. They hooked me with their addicting series (plural), but for the past several years they’ve pivoted to delightful stand-alone rom-coms. The True Love Experiment is the first time that one of those rom-coms has gotten the spin-off treatment, and listeners: This might be my favorite Christina Lauren book. Ever. It stars Fizzy Chen, who we first met in The Soulmate Equation. Romance author extraordinaire, Fizzy has been in a bit of a rut … until she’s cast on a new dating show. Her chemistry, however, is strongest not with a contestant but with her seemingly surly producer. This listen is truly a love letter to romance fans, and once the story ends, you’ll hit play to hear Jonathan Cole and Cindy Kay perform it for you all over again. —Katie O.
Much like Clover, the antisocial yet endearing death doula at the center of this heartfelt debut, my undying desire to console and comfort others, often at my own expense, absolutely stems from my personal fixation on mortality. Much unlike Clover, on the other hand, watching others pass away has always been my greatest fear. Nonetheless, in a world where loss remains an inevitability, I believe that confronting our relationships with what we can and cannot control can provide each of us with a deeper appreciation for being alive. In recent months, I have been thrilled to witness the incredible traction that the Death Positive movement has gained, supported along in its journey by such beautiful narratives as Mikki Brammer’s ultimately life-affirming novel. —Haley H.
Life advice from a centenarian
Recently, I've been discovering quite a bit about life expectancy in the news, and let's just say, it's causing me to reflect on my own mortality. That's why this month, I'm listening to The Well-Lived Life by Dr. Gladys McGarey, a 102-year-old physician with more than six decades of experience, who also cofounded the American Holistic Medical Association. Her recipe for being your best self in every moment includes six time-tested secrets such as finding your purpose and embracing love. While Dr. McGarey stresses that she doesn’t have the answers for guaranteeing a long life, her advice does address how to live better, more joyfully, and without regrets. As someone who ultimately just wants to live a more fulfilling life, I'm eager to learn from her wisdom. —Rachael X.
A demonically enjoyable fantasy
What do a demon, a witch, a street urchin, an immortal, and a prince-heir have in common? They’ve all won me over as new favorite characters. Murderbot Diaries author Martha Wells has published her first fantasy novel in a decade with Witch King—and what a triumphant return it is. Though this is a much different story, Murderbot fans will delight in the glimpses of Wells’ wry wit and uncanny ability to balance white-knuckle tension with moments of snort-out-loud humor and surprising heart. Eric Mok makes his narration debut in this novel, and his performance is a perfect match to Wells’ clever writing. I sincerely hope we hear more from him soon. —Sam D.
Vanessa Walters’ debut novel is more than a story about the missing wife of a Nigerian businessman. Nicole Oruwari’s disappearance sends shock waves through her close-knit community of “Nigerwives”—foreign women married to Nigerian men—and when her aunt Claudine travels from London to Lagos to find her, uncomfortable truths and long-buried secrets are revealed. Narrators Dami Olukoya and Debra Michaels collaborate beautifully on the alternating chapters between the two women. From Olukoya we learn about the months prior to Nicole’s fateful boat trip, while Michaels embodies Claudine with a fierce determination to find her niece. Based on her own experience as a Nigerwife, Walters’ keen insights into the loss of identity and cultural isolation Nicole endures layers this story with indelible grit. —Margaret H.
An unforgettable wartime journey
Luis Alberto Urrea has written nearly 20 books—but this is the first time he’s taken listeners to wartime Europe, and it was enchanting to experience his rich, cinematic storytelling style in my favorite of historical fiction eras. Inspired by his mother’s service for the Red Cross in World War II, Urrea tells the story of two unforgettable women, Irene and Dorothy, who operate a donut and coffee truck on the front lines in the final year of the war. Even more than the immersive layers of sensory detail and the unflinching depiction of the war’s heavy toll on all who touched it—delivered in a moving performance from Audie Award-winning narrator Barrie Kreinik—it’s the way Urrea depicts the ironclad bonds of female friendship that moved me the most. —Phoebe N.
As the days get thankfully longer and the temperatures rise I wanted my next listen to be something that set off the summer with a shimmer. Enter The Enchanted Hacienda by J.C. Cervantes, my listening dreams realized. Glittering with magical realism, this novel about the timeless bonds of family, love, and lore delivers. Opening in New York City with the all too familiar hustle of trying to find your way in a competitive career, we meet Harlow Estrada, a thoughtful, self-possessed young woman who longs to make her dreams a reality. After a turn of genuinely lame events including a breakup and a layoff, Harlow heads to her ancestral home, Hacienda Estrada in Mexico, where she uncovers her heart’s desires alongside the legacy of magic and flora interwoven in her lineage. Although she was not given powers, unlike the other women in her family, she might still get her chance to shine. Come for the story and stay for Frankie Corzo’s captivating narration. —Kelley S.
Launching a heist to outsmart a government loophole
After a powerful debut, Angeline Boulley has done it again with Warrior Girl Unearthed. Not only does she craft detailed characters and stories that keep you guessing, but she also educates seamlessly. From Perry and her friends’ adventures, I learned a lot about modern Ojibwe traditions and complications, as well as the laws and loopholes that exist in our government around who owns Native American artifacts and remains. Isabella Star LaBlanc returns as the narrator from Firekeeper’s Daughter, and she once again does an amazing job portraying our teen protagonist and the various Ojibwe words and phrases that populate her life. It’s so much better getting a story like this in audio because hearing the language out loud adds an extra layer of authenticity and immersion that makes the world come alive. —Melissa B.
The perfect mix of fantasy and diplomacy
I don’t know about you, but when a story combines epic world-building, political intrigue, and teenagers, I’m immediately hooked. And The Will of the Many provides ample opportunity to be absorbed by a masterfully crafted universe—the production is more than 28 hours long! I completely lost myself in this dark, profound, and winding tale that left me both completely satisfied and starving for more. Themes of rank, fate, power, revenge, and societal conformity will keep you on your toes, but it’s the rich character development and gradual emergence of a terrifying and magical world dictated by rules and restrictions that propel this exhilarating plot. I will be coming back to this one over and over again as I eagerly await the next installment in the series. —Esther B.
