Best of the Best

BEST OF THE BEST

From classic favorites to modern masterpieces, we’ve gathered the best audiobooks of
all time in every genre. Explore the best of the best and find a new listen to love.

Best of the Best Featured Articles

Best of the Best Genres

The Best New Listens of October Selected by Our Editors

  • The Lincoln Highway Audiobook By Amor Towles cover art

    • The Lincoln Highway

    • A Novel
    • By: Amor Towles
    • Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, Dion Graham
    • Length: 16 hrs and 39 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 598 ratings
    • Fiction | You'll want to take this one on the road
    • I'm a huge fan of Amor Towles, so a new release from him is always an unexpected pleasure. I say ''unexpected'' not because I'm surprised it's good, but because everything he writes is entirely unique. His debut followed a year in the life of a young woman in New York City, and his second novel explored the entire adult life of a Russian count on house arrest. With his third, Towles branches out into multi-perspective with an Americana-soaked work of historical fiction that is both an ode to the Homeric epics and a buddy-road-trip narrative that's been flipped on its head. The shifting vantage points and propulsive motion of the story make for a rich listening experience, with a world beating multi-cast. Clever, moving, at times tragic, and always, always insightful, The Lincoln Highway is a joy of a listen.
      —Emily C., Audible Editor
  • Death by Unknown Event Podcast with Pamela Adlon cover art

    • Death by Unknown Event

    • 13 episodes
    • 5 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
    • Audible Original Podcast | An engrossing and expertly narrated mystery
    • I’d been itching for my next great true crime listen, so this fascinating podcast could not have arrived at a better time. Narrated by Pamela Adlon (of King of the Hill, Louie), Death by Unknown Event follows the baffling death of Cindy James—a Canadian nurse who had reported more than 100 incidents of harassment from an unknown assailant in the seven years prior to her death, and whose case was officially classified as an ''undetermined death as a result of an unknown event.'' Featuring interviews with those who knew her, this case goes deep, and the theories span the spectrum from murder to an elaborate hoax leading up to death by suicide. Adlon guides us through the story like a pro: sensitively handling the accounts of the victim and her loved ones while pulling us deeper into this compelling case.
      —Sam D., Audible Editor
  • A Carnival of Snackery Audiobook By David Sedaris cover art

    • A Carnival of Snackery

    • Diaries (2003-2020)
    • By: David Sedaris
    • Narrated by: David Sedaris, Tracey Ullman
    • Length: 17 hrs and 8 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 255 ratings
    • Humor Memoir | Up close and personal
    • Something about David Sedaris makes me want to wrap myself up in a warm blanket. As a lifelong fan of short stories and intimate subject matter, any entry from the king of self-aware comedy is bound to work for me. This time around, Sedaris shares his personal diary entries from 2003–2020. While his work often has a very conversational feel, A Carnival of Snackery brings the listener right to the source with some of the least-filtered ideas he has ever dished out. This will without a doubt be a repeat listen for me.
      —Seth H., Audible Editor
  • State of Terror Audiobook By Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton cover art

    • State of Terror

    • A Novel
    • By: Louise Penny, Hillary Rodham Clinton
    • Narrated by: Joan Allen
    • Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins
    • Release date: 10-12-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 631 ratings
    • Mystery & Thriller | Protagonists belong in the house—and State Department!
    • I thought I knew what to expect from a story co-written by a former Secretary of State and a best-selling, multi-award-winning mystery author. (Confession: I expected a lot of decorous handshakes and bloodless conflict.) Instead, State of Terror grabbed me from the opening scene and threw me into a detailed, fast-moving, emotionally rich milieu where bombs actually go off, and powerful people (often women) rely on soft skills to fight danger. The main characters unflinchingly confront the effects of violence—whether professional, personal, or international—in a series of locales with a strong sense of place. After a while I noticed how deliciously novel it felt to have women at the center of a (not psychological) thriller. The cool energy of Joan Allen’s performance brings out every nuance of humor, suspense, and heartfelt connection between the characters, about whom I cared a lot. It’s a dangerous world, but a really fun thriller.
      —Christina H., Audible Editor
  • Growing Up P.O.C. Podcast with Soledad O'Brien cover art

    • Growing Up P.O.C.

    • 6 episodes
    • 3.5 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
    • Audible Original Podcast | My POV on P.O.C.
    • As a Black woman, after listening to Soledad O’Brien’s podcast, Growing Up P.O.C., it’s confirmed: being a person of color can be as exhausting as it is exhilarating. O’Brien’s Australian father encouraged his children to be proud of being Black. Interestingly, if he were Black he’d most likely say the same thing, but he knew that his children were going to be treated differently because their mother was Black Cuban. As intellectually and professionally prepared as she is, O’Brien was once referred to as the ''affirmative action'' hire. Her pointed questions and dash of humor as she engages with her guests inform the listener that she knows her way around the topic. She’s been there, and still is there, but chooses to not let it weigh her down; neither do guests such as chef Marcus Samuelsson; co-founder of Black Lives Matter Alicia Garza; and writer, director, and actor Chad Sanders. I am not fully there, yet. More P.O.C. will help.
      —[Yvonne D.], Audible Editor
  • Payback's a Witch Audiobook By Lana Harper cover art

    • Payback's a Witch

    • By: Lana Harper
    • Narrated by: Jeremy Carlisle Parker
    • Series: The Witches of Thistle Grove, Book 1
    • Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
    • Romance | Mix together cinnamon, nutmeg, and some lighthearted revenge
    • Looking to get into the pumpkin spice latte vibe? Payback’s a Witch is your ticket there. Set in Thistle Grove, a Halloween-festive town, you can practically see autumn leaves and smell apple cider doughnuts throughout this listen. Emmy Harlow is returning to her hometown after years away, thinking herself the city slicker to the other witches that live in Thistle Grove and never leave. What she doesn’t expect? How much she’s missed Thistle Grove, her friends and family, and her magic, which dissipated as soon as she left the enchanted town. It’s lovely to see her reconnect with her best friend, Linden, and spark a new flame with the seriously sexy Talia (made even sexier by narrator Jeremy Carlisle Parker’s husky voice) as they hatch their plan to take down the man who wronged them all. Also, you do love to hate the popular boy Gareth Blackmoore. Witchy teamwork is the best!
      —Melissa B., Audible Editor
  • You’ve Already Changed Your Life Audiobook By Jade Chang cover art

    • You’ve Already Changed Your Life

    • A Recipe for a Revelation
    • By: Jade Chang
    • Narrated by: Jade Chang
    • Length: 1 hr and 44 mins
    • Release date: 10-07-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 42 ratings
    • Self Development | It’s the little things
    • As we enter cozy sweater season, I’m looking forward to a gentler approach to self-improvement—one that reminds me of how far I’ve come and that it’s okay to take things one small step at a time. While most wellness listens focus on what we still need to achieve (after all, you can never be too fit, too mentally strong, too organized, or too successful), Jade Chang’s You’ve Already Changed Your Life promises that we build strength through the small decisions we make each day—and that we don’t need to rely on tools like personality tests to help us become our best selves.
      —Rachael X., Audible Editor
  • We Are Not Like Them Audiobook By Christine Pride, Jo Piazza cover art

    • We Are Not Like Them

    • A Novel
    • By: Christine Pride, Jo Piazza
    • Narrated by: Marin Ireland, Shayna Small, Kevin R. Free, Chanté McCormick
    • Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
    • Fiction | Not every story is black and white
    • Well before I learned the incredible story of how writers (and friends) Christine Pride and Jo Piazza teamed up to write We Are Not Like Them, I knew it would be a must listen. Narrators Shayna Small and Marin Ireland are two of my favorites, and they proved to be the perfect pair to perform this compelling novel about the lifelong friendship between two women that is tested by the killing of an unarmed Black teenager by a White police officer. This unflinching story of race, friendship, and police violence goes behind the headlines of the all-too-familiar tragedy to explore its devastating impact on ordinary lives. The novel’s epilogue, performed by Chanté McCormick from the perspective of the grieving mother, will linger with you for a long time.
      —Margaret H., Audible Editor
  • Girly Drinks Audiobook By Mallory O'Meara cover art

    • Girly Drinks

    • A World History of Women and Alcohol
    • By: Mallory O'Meara
    • Narrated by: Mallory O'Meara
    • Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
    • Release date: 10-19-21
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 1 rating
    • History | Mai Tai-pe of feminist histor
    • I'd like to thank my college experience for piquing my interest in Girly Drinks. Of course, it’s not unique for me to say that I began drinking during my undergraduate years. But this audiobook has led me to question, for the first time, my school’s unique relationship to the history of drinking culture. I attended a historically women’s college founded by a prominent American brewer. Our mascot was a metal keg (I’m not joking). However, I have Mallory O’Meara to thank for opening my eyes to the overlooked history of female distillers and drinkers. I’m grateful that her work has shifted my focus from one male brewer’s impact on feminist history and to the influence of the many women who have helped shape our drinking culture since the dawn of time. After this listen, my fruity drinks will forever taste sweeter.
      —Haley H., Audible Editor
  • The Christmas Pig Audiobook By J.K. Rowling cover art
  • The Storyteller Audiobook By Dave Grohl cover art

    • The Storyteller

    • Tales of Life and Music
    • By: Dave Grohl
    • Narrated by: Dave Grohl
    • Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 1,732 ratings
    • Memoir | He’s got another confession to make…
    • Dave Grohl might just be one of the most likable rock stars to ever grace this Earth. The drummer for illustrious grunge trio Nirvana and the founder and frontman of 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee The Foo Fighters has managed to remain soulful, humble, warm, and good-natured despite his status as a bona fide musical icon. And that humor and heart are what make his new memoir, The Storyteller, a standout in the genre. Whether Grohl is recounting months on the road or noise-jams in the studio, the shattering loss of bandmate and dear friend Kurt Cobain, his brushes with rock stars ranging from Joan Jett to Sir Paul McCartney, or smaller, more intimate moments like time spent bonding with his daughters or memories of his mother’s encouragement and support, he voices every recollection with bright enthusiasm, raw honesty, and a driving sense of hope.
      —Alanna M., Audible Editor
  • The Murder of Robert Wone Podcast with H. Alan Scott cover art

    • The Murder of Robert Wone

    • 9 episodes
    • 4.5 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
    • Audible Original Podcast | A notorious DC murder with a slice of queer history
    • If you were in the DC area in 2008, you probably heard about the murder of Robert Wone, a 32-year-old attorney killed at the million-dollar Dupont Circle home of his friends, three men in a reported polyamorous relationship. If you weren’t, though, you might have missed the lurid headlines about this once-urgent case, whose central questions remain unsolved: If an intruder had stabbed Wone, as the housemates claimed, why was there so little blood, and why were no valuables stolen? Why was Wone, a married straight man who lived a short train ride away, staying there? Why were the housemates in bathrobes, as if fresh from the shower, when paramedics arrived—and why, if untrue, did their version of events line up so neatly, never wavering more than a decade on? Hosted by writer and self-described true crime junkie H. Alan Scott, this twisty eight-part series blends original interviews, audio, and chillingly subtle reenactments with key context about the political and LBGTQ+ issues at play to bring renewed attention to this fascinating case—and hopefully, justice for the family of Robert Wone.
      —Kat J., Audible Editor
  • Taste Audiobook By Stanley Tucci cover art

    • Taste

    • My Life Through Food
    • By: Stanley Tucci
    • Narrated by: Stanley Tucci
    • Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
    • Release date: 10-05-21
    • Language: English
    • 5 out of 5 stars 216 ratings
    • Memoir | Delizioso!
    • Warning: Taste by Stanley Tucci is not to be listened to on an empty stomach. Like Tucci, my family hails from Southern Italy, and we watched his CNN series, Searching for Italy, with rapt attention. My husband even went so far as to make the zucchini alla nerano featured on the show, and our family text threads included debates about Bolognese, serious bouts of wanderlust, and a deep admiration for Tucci’s white pants. Taste explores how his love of food has touched all areas of his life. The dulcet tone of his voice makes you feel like you’re listening to a friend as he recounts stories from his childhood and career, makes food puns, and shares plenty of recipes. Make yourself a drink (and a snack), grab your headphones, and get ready to devour this listen (see what I did there?).
      —Katie O., Audible Editor

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