2017 has been another year of extraordinary audio performances, and for our best listens of the year, our editors considered over a thousand titles that received high ratings and reviews from you, our listeners. We then did some collective soul searching to see which titles had resonated with us the most powerfully. Which spoke to the current culture, and which did we simply really love? Here are our picks for the best listens of 2017—we hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do.
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Audiobook of the Year
"Every now and then a book comes along that speaks to your soul. Angie Thomas’ debut novel is one such book." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Narrator of the Year
"To no one’s surprise, Ari Fliakos continued to delight both our editors and listeners alike well into 2017." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Editors' Picks
"I found myself quickly drawn into the lives of thoughtfully developed characters." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Fiction
"You'll feel history rise up to meet the present, the echoes of the Civil War in conversation with today." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Young Adult
"The piercing, staccato verse has a powerful impact, literally giving voice to those teens who are too seldom heard." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Kids
"This is truly a book for all ages, with plant, animal, and human characters who are warm, funny, and full of heart." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Mysteries & Thrillers
"The perfectly pitched multi-cast at once totally creeped us out and kept us glued to our app until we finished." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Sci-Fi
"Filled with techy detail and sardonic humor, you'll feel the claustrophobia of a cramped city on the moon." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Fantasy
"The best fantasy allows us to explore new worlds, and this offered one of the most captivating journeys of the year." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Romance
"The trademark quirky humor keeps listeners coming back for more of this wacky paranormal world." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Memoir
"He reminds us that the ties that bind us all are made up of the people we call family, either by blood or by choice." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
True Crime
"Meticulously researched and beautifully constructed, it exemplifies how truth can be much stranger than fiction." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Nonfiction
"The further you get, the more deeply you realize that our story and the wolf’s are one and the same." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
History
"This is one of those rare gems that will hook diehard fiction listeners and history buffs alike." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Business
"She beautifully demolishes stigmas about money and provides real, actionable advice for financial success." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Self Development
"Connection and dialogue feel like antidotes to 2017’s societal polarization, and it opened up new conversations." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Glorious Reboots
"This is a book to revisit often–with age and time and an ever-changing world, its relevance remains disturbingly strong." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Audible Originals
"Equal parts corporate comedy, silly superhero puns, and adventure involving a giant glowing egg." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Audioshows
"Her empathy and truthfulness is refreshing in a time of uncertainty, making this the best show of 2017." >
BEST OF THE YEAR: 2017
Listener Favorites
"This masterpiece brought out many emotions while listening: joy, sorrow, anger, and love." >
