Grace can’t take it anymore

From the moment I heard the elevator pitch for Amazing Grace Adams—a story about an invisible everywoman who is pushed to the brink, and who finally pushes back in spectacular form—I was all-in. The novel came out in the UK before its September release in the US, so I was able to learn about this buzzed-about book and its debut author, Fran Littlewood, ahead of listening—I could not wait to experience it all myself in full audio. There’s a lot going on here as Grace’s past and present collide and erupt with themes of love, loss, female rage, family dysfunction, motherhood, and grief. Thank you, Fran Littlewood and narrator Claire Skinner, for an unforgettable ride and for making Grace truly seen! —Tricia F.

I, for one, welcome our feline overlords

It may be uncouth to admit, but I think we’ve all dreamed at one point or another about inheriting a large sum of money from some enigmatic distant relative. In John Scalzi’s latest SFF romp, down-and-out journalist-turned-substitute teacher Charlie gets, well, something like that when his late estranged uncle bequeaths him his massive supervillain empire. The writing of John Scalzi combined with the narration of Wil Wheaton is always a sure bet—I’m pretty certain at this point the two are involved in some kind of nerdy mind meld. But Wil’s energetic delivery and knack for deadpan humor shines extra bright in this wildly fun, outlandish tale. Did I mention there are sentient cats? Scalzi is clearly a friend among us self-identified cat people—and you might just look at your own pet slightly differently after hearing this one. —Sam D.

A humorous and painful path to self-love

Comedian and actress Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite, Teenage Euthanasia) has tried everything—12-step programs, How to Win Friends and Influence People, even Richard Simmons—to heal from trauma, manage her mental illnesses, and find a place in the world. In this candid memoir, Bamford invites listeners into her inner life battling the intrusive thoughts brought on by her OCD, making peace with past versions of herself, and navigating a tumultuous journey to self-acceptance. As emotionally challenging as her story is to listen to at times, make no mistake—this listen is masterfully designed for audio enjoyment with a unique soundscape and Bamford’s talented voice acting. —Rachael X.

Mom versus nanny

As a proud uncle, I'm grateful I don't have to worry about the existential (im)possibilities of parenting firsthand. But the idea of trusting your life (or the ones you created) in someone else's hands can cause anyone dread, and I certainly felt that with Erica Schmidt's suspenseful Lucy. Ashling (Lynn Collins) is a career nanny who swoops in to rescue Mary (Brooke Bloom), a single mother to six-year-old Lucy and a newborn son, with the promise of support. Packed with plenty of unexpected humor and slow-simmering tension, the stakes are high in this unusual, destabilizing story that's something of an at-home workplace comedy-thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. —Jerry P.

A timely history of the space race

With so many eyes and ears focused on the cosmos after last month’s historic moon landing, it feels like we’re on the precipice of another space race. And while there are countless stories of the men who led those early missions, have you ever stopped to ask, “Where were the women?” In the same vein as Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures, which shined a light on the brilliant Black women mathematicians behind the space race, Loren Grush’s The Six highlights the first class of women inducted into NASA’s astronaut program in 1978—Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon. Performer Inés del Castillo breathes life into these women’s stories, offering at once a celebration of their accomplishments and an exposé on the sexism they faced every step of the way. It’s the perfect listen as we once again gear up for a new future of space exploration. —Michael C.

Revenge plot, spice, and everything nice

While exploring at SteamyLitCon last month, a beautifully decorated pink table caught my attention. Little did I know that walking over would result in meeting new-to-me author Morgan Elizabeth, and that her latest standalone, Tis the Season for Revenge, would creep its way into my TBLT and be my first holiday rom-com listen of this year. After a nasty Halloween breakup, Abbie and her friends plot to get back at her ex by having her sleep with his boss—someone he despises. What ensues is the most deliciously petty (which, being named Patty, is right up my alley) and beautifully romantic story I’ve heard. The perfectly paired Samantha Summers and Julio Maxwell give us the spice in this happily ever after, age gap romance that has me ready for both the holiday season and Elizabeth’s next novel. —Patty R.

She must discover the truth before it disappears like smoke

International bestselling author Dervla McTiernan is back with a new fiery Audible Original you don’t want to miss out on! Set in Australia, The Fireground follows two orphaned sisters, Flynn and Kaiya, who are dedicated to championing for climate change. When Kaiya, the younger sister, goes on an excursion to West Australia right as it’s ravaged by bushfire, older sister Flynn must comb through the mysteries surrounding her disappearance. With the helping hand of Noah, Flynn gets a bit closer to knowing the truth about her sister. Amplified by a dual performance from Ben Chapple and Harriet Gordon-Anderson, listeners are guaranteed to become immersed in the character perspectives and story as you follow along. —Nicole R.

A spiritual journey with America’s most soulful voice

Longtime Melissa Etheridge fans will recognize the title of her latest memoir from its namesake song on her wildly successful, Grammy Award-winning album, Yes I Am. Much like the album that skyrocketed the singer-songwriter into global rock-star status, her memoir is composed of strength and hard-won wisdom. This, though, is not the Etheridge that rose to fame in the ‘90s. This Etheridge has loved and lost repeatedly, battled cancer, and experienced the unimaginable grief of losing a child. In her sixties, Etheridge reflects on her exceptional journey with an overwhelming sense of calm, while fluidly weaving her music into the chapters of her life that inspired the songs themselves. As a listener, you are struck with the feeling that Etheridge is speaking to you exactly the way she would speak to a dear friend; in this deeply spiritual and arrestingly personal memoir, it is clear that she is beyond putting on airs. Through the darkness, she has found her light—and now she has come to hold her lantern out and show the rest of us the way. —Madeline A.

You only get one dream house!

Margaret and Hal move into their “forever” home, and there’s no limit to the lengths Margaret is willing to go to keep the dream alive. The house is perfect—Victorian style, just as she wanted (also my personal favorite era in décor). It’s all she could ask for—with the exception of one nightmare month. Each September, things get strange. The blood-spewing walls, screaming ghosts running through the halls, and eerie creepy ambiance—Margaret and Hal will just have to get used to it. But four years in, Hal can’t take it anymore, even as Margaret continues to follow the unwritten rules of the home. Would you put up a fight to stay in your dream house? Kimberly Farr’s aptitude in narration embodies every character’s tone and mood so well, you may think there are multiple narrators! —Disha M.

Listening (and laughing) through grief

One of the most surprising things I discovered about grief after my dad died last summer is how much I wanted to talk about it. And it wasn't just the sadness I needed to get off my chest—it was also the absurdity of it, the total feeling of disbelief. And yes, there were some funny things that happened during the month that he was dying, too, and those moments were as real as the tears were true. As Michael Cruz Kayne says several times in this production, "Things can be one way, and they can also be another way, too." His hilarious and heartbreaking one-man "comedy show about grief," filmed in front of a live audience at the Minetta Lane Theatre, is all about those contradictions that come with love and loss. He spins you through myriad topics, from Audrey Hepburn to Disney ride disappointments, from nonsensical math to funeral home receipts, demonstrating how loss is inescapably woven through everything, and it has to be if we want to experience the good stuff. And this production is the good stuff. In fact, it's one of the best things I've seen—and listened to—all year. —Emily C.

An unflinching exploration of Black motherhood

Bahni Turpin, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, and Queen Sugar’s Tina Lifford beautifully embody the three women at the heart of Denene Millner’s epic novel, One Blood. From Jim Crow-era rural Virginia to early 21st-century New York City, this memorable story unfolds in three parts. There’s Grace, a birth mother who has her newborn taken away; Lolo, the adoptive mother; and Rae, that child, now an adult with a daughter of her own. Millner’s prose is effortless and honest. She leans into the voices of her characters—brought to life by an amazing cast of narrators—to tell this tender tale of Black motherhood, identity, and love. —Margaret H.

A hilarious caper through Jewish mythology

In the many years since I finished attending Hebrew school, perhaps nothing has reconnected me more to my heritage than my love for Larry David, as well as the Jewish comic books class I took in college where I first learned about golem mythology. (Fun fact: Did you know that Superman may just be America’s own golem, consistently shielding us from the forces of evil with relative ease?) So, I simply couldn’t resist listening to a novel about an accidentally resurrected clay creature who first learns English by binge-watching Curb Your Enthusiasm before resuming his post as the ultimate enemy against anti-Semites everywhere. Illuminating the history of state-sanctioned persecutions against Jewish people, Adam Mansbach offers a hilarious caper which, in true Talmudic form, certainly starts a conversation. —Haley H.

The forecast ain’t so sunny

Why can’t perfect couples stay perfect, especially when they genuinely love each other? In this thriller, totally at home on ritzy Rodeo Drive, matters of love and death become a whodunit on top of a whodunit. Everyone seems nice enough, and even kind of innocent. Bree comes from humble beginnings and finds herself living the dream, thanks to her hardworking, good-looking husband, Luke, who runs what appears to be a successful contracting business. So, how did she end up in the pool house instead of the big house? The four narrators own each of their characters—you’ll never wonder who’s who. And of course, the pool delivers. Dive in, the water’s fine. —Yvonne D.

A serial killer retelling defined by smart narrative choices

The true crime boom—which began roughly after Serial released in 2014 and ended with the social and cultural upheavals of 2020—left behind a feeling of collective queasiness about our former fixation. This year, fiction writers are helping us process with novels that interrogate the genre, including Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions for You, Eliza Clark’s Penance (also out this month), and now, this new release from Luckiest Girl Alive author Jessica Knoll. Bright Young Women redefines one of America’s most infamous serial killer stories—trust me, you know which one—with a multi-perspective, multi-timeline narrative that explores the case through its central women, from a sorority president called to lead in the face of tragedy to a fearless victim’s advocate pursuing justice amid incompetence and indifference. This a gripping and provocative novel defined by the myriad smart decisions, from the choice to not name the perpetrator to the full-cast audio performance, that ensure the voices of these bright young women shine through. —Kat J.

A totally fresh take on celebrity memoir

Acclaimed for his work spanning slapstick comedy to thoughtful historical dramas, Jeff Daniels proved long ago that he’s a creative as versatile as he is talented. Now, the multifaceted performer demonstrates yet another range of abilities with Alive and Well Enough, a 12-part audio-only memoir that blends personal recollection with original music to craft a nonlinear history spanning Daniels’s journey so far. It’s a vibrant showcase of boundless audio storytelling, alight with Midwestern heart, a rich, familiar voice practically made for narrative work, and the twang of an acoustic guitar. As genre-bending as its creator’s filmography and career, this Audible Original is a standout you won’t soon forget. —Alanna M.