Discover more listening recommendations from the Audible Editors.
An unprecedented mystery in an unprecedented world
The latest installment in the Dispatcher series puts a timely spin on its dead-is-never-dead premise by taking us to a post-pandemic world where, much like us, dispatcher (a.k.a. benevolent killer-for-hire) Tony Valdez finds his working conditions have changed. Zachary Quinto, who has been at the helm of this series since the beginning, brings a noir swagger to John Scalzi’s words. Hell, it’s worth a relisten to the whole series while you’re at it: At under four hours a piece, these are some of my favorite bite-size sci-fi mysteries to enjoy again and again. —Sam D.
Spells for Forgetting triggered a dark flame of obsession in me. At first, I wasn't surprised at my obsession, considering that it's a story about witches, star-crossed lovers, and a small town of people living on a lush island—my catnip. What was different about this one was my reaction to the mystery at the center of the story. I needed to know who had committed Lily's murder. I think it was because author Adrienne Young tied every character so intricately into the mystery that no matter what the answer was, it was going to make waves. And living inside the heads of these characters, with a full cast performing them, made it a visceral experience. By the end, I had to rewind to that big-reveal moment just so I could live in that release after all the buildup one more time. —Melissa B.
This podcast is on an undercover mission
With a string of groundbreaking nonfiction podcast series out there, this innovative media format has proved that it is here to stay. And Koz brings a unique flavor to it, chronicling the true story of Special Agent Darrin “Koz” Kozlowski, an undercover agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. I am no stranger to the undercover cop archetype, but I’ve never heard it done like this before. With all-star performances by Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) and Kate Mara (House of Cards, A Teacher), this story is brought to life in a rich soundscape. The immersive podcast experience places you firmly in the gritty biker gangs that Special Agent Koz so famously infiltrated. —Seth H.
It's rare for me to choose the third book in a series as my monthly pick, but this one is special! It's the finale to Fredrik Backman's Beartown series and is everything I wanted to close out the story. If you've listened to the first two books, or watched Beartown on TV, you won't want to miss The Winners. If you haven't listened yet, I cannot recommend this series enough. Backman is a genius at creating characters you fall in love with, settings you want to travel to, and stories that pull you in completely. Narrator Marin Ireland will have a welcome place in my heart (and ears) forever. Listen now and thank me later. —Tricia F.
Six months before Abbott Elementary burst onto our TV screens, creator and star Quinta Brunson released She Memes Well, a memoir chronicling her journey from viral internet sensation to Hollywood star. Now available in audio for the first time, Brunson’s infectious energy shines bright as she talks about everything from growing up in West Philly to Black hair care, self-acceptance, and mental health. She Memes Well ends with Brunson selling an unnamed pilot to ABC. That pilot became Abbott, and in an exclusive epilogue recorded for Audible listeners, Brunson reflects on the success of her breakout show and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how she built her diverse writers’ room and enlisted an endearing ensemble cast. She’s now nominated for three Emmys, and I hope she gets them all, but she’s already won with this hilarious and heartfelt listen. —Margaret H.
Wisdom from social media’s favorite parenting expert
As a millennial parent of three, it feels very “on brand” to say that most of my parenting tips and tricks come from Instagram. And while some may raise their eyebrows, my favorite follow—Dr. Becky Kennedy and her Good Inside movement—is the real deal. I’ve been a Dr. Becky stan for a few years now, and I’m beyond grateful to finally have a comprehensive guide to her tips and tricks in her debut book. And for those of you who enjoy her videos, hearing Dr. Becky distill her advice in audio will be your perfect medium. As a clinical psychologist and a mom to three herself, Dr. Becky leans on her years of experience to guide parents through tantrums, sibling rivalry, anxiety, and more. Parents and children alike have bad days, but as Dr. Becky explains, “behavior isn’t identity.” We are all Good Inside. —Katie O.
The Stephen King multiverse just got bigger and better!
Longtime King fans are well aware of the many universes in which his stories take place. If you’re unfamiliar with a multiverse in literature, it’s simply when an author creates multiple locations that exist within the same world between different stories. This story follows Charlie Reade, a high school student with a troubled life, whose good deed toward a mysterious man opens up a whole new world. Not only does Charlie earn himself a new companion in a loyal dog named Radar, he’s also willed a key to a locked shed that is his portal into this world. Secrets are revealed and Charlie finds himself in the middle of a brewing battle he never could have imagined. Narrated stunningly by actor Seth Numrich, Fairy Tale is an amazing addition to the fantastical world-building that King excels at. —Nicole R.
If you’ve ever felt like your emotions are controlling you instead of the other way around, comedian Kevin Hart’s latest Audible Original is for you. In this laugh-out-loud funny (but helpful!) guide to taming your inner “monsters,” Hart draws on his personal experience to offer down-to-earth advice for becoming your best self. In each chapter, you’ll tackle a different subject, like the “Comparison Monster” that’s responsible for feelings of jealousy and inadequacy, or the “Approval Monster” that says you aren’t good enough until you win the favor of everyone around you. As someone who leans a little toward being type A, I personally can’t wait to confront my “Do-It-All” and “Control” monsters. —Rachael X.
For more new listens like Monsters and How to Tame Them, check out your complete guide to well-being.
A fresh, back-to-school perspective
In addition to writing for The New Yorker, Hua Hsu was one professor in my English department whom my peers could not recommend enough. I’ve long wished I had taken a class with him while I had the chance, so this September I am exceptionally grateful to finally understand why his wisdom resonates on such a personal level. Stay True collects the moments, memories, and even music that carried him through the pain of an unforgettable loss, and paints a moving portrait of the complexities of coming of age as an Asian American, as well as the universal urge to self-define. No matter where or with whom you spent your early twenties, I promise you will locate a piece of yourself within this narrative. —Haley H.
In the long and storied history of Austen spin-offs and adaptations, I now have a new favorite. Sarah Page's new Audible Original Theater production imagines the years directly following Lydia Bennet's disastrous marriage to Mr. Wickham (zero apologies if you haven't picked up Pride and Prejudice yet—you've had time), and follows the pair up to his new posting in Newcastle, where Lydia finds herself to be a social pariah. Austen never showed us this end of the story; in her narrative arc the judgment against the Wickhams was swift and decisive. But this marvelous listen teaches us that villains, too, go on to seek their happily-ever-afters, and that they are perhaps equally deserving. The production is as unexpected as the story, enriched with a London nightclub beat underpinning the modern dialogue delivered by UK darlings Jessie Buckley and Johnny Flynn. The Wickhams are undoubtedly the most conventionally flawed of all Austen characters, but they certainly have the most fun—and so will you, if you pick this one up. —Emily C.
A modern take on an Audrey Hepburn classic
I am a huge fan of both Audrey Hepburn movies and Sarah Adams novels. When I learned Adams had written a novel where an overworked, burned-out, Roman Holiday–inspired pop star drives off in the middle of the night seeking a break in the nearest Rome to her—my interest was piqued. When I heard that she ends up meeting a grumpy pie baker in Rome, Kentucky, who makes it clear he doesn't have the time or patience for celebrity problems—I grabbed my headphones and dropped everything else. When in Rome is a sweet, dual POV, opposites-attract-in-forced-proximity rom-com full of lovable protagonists, small-town busybodies, and siblings that reminded me of my own. Listeners who love an uplifting novel sprinkled with entertaining banter will likely devour this in one sitting, and add it to their list of favorites this year—I know I have! —Patty C.
An extraordinary story of survival almost lost to history
As someone who never tires of New York City and its eight million stories, or of World War II and its tens of millions of stories, I knew this audiobook was for me. In 2015, writer Michael Frank stumbled into an encounter with Stella Levi, who, he’d find out, was the keeper of a lost world. She was a “Judeo-Spanish speaking Sephardic Italian Jew from the Island of Rhodes”—the last living link to a community destroyed when its 1,650 inhabitants were shipped to Auschwitz in 1944. Levi’s story—masterfully captured and narrated by Frank—is a captivating and soulful reckoning with unthinkable loss. Bit by bit, Levi, now nearing 100 years old, entrusted Frank with her memories as they met weekly in her Greenwich Village apartment. It is a profound reminder of all that one individual can carry within them, and the cathartic power of storytelling. —Phoebe N.
Two legends—in their own words
When I attended the production of WarholCapote at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, five years ago, I couldn't stop telling friends about Rob Roth's play created from the words of Andy Warhol and Truman Capote. The play is cobbled together from transcripts of over 80 hours’ worth of the creative luminaries' taped conversations, which have been sliced and diced and rearranged to stunning effect. It begins when the two reconnect in 1978 at Studio 54, but the pastiche of gossipy banter (they discuss everything from Liza Minnelli's promiscuity to Humphrey Bogart’s member) sprawls, as they chatter and bicker and whine about sex and love, art and politics, addiction and rehab—even Mick Jagger’s dancing style. Now that it's available in audio (along with additional bonus scenes) for repeat listening, I hope it not only adds to our current Warholaissance but introduces a new generation to the power of Capote's creative mind. —Jerry P.
