The Best Audiobooks of 2018 (So Far)

This year has already seen some pretty major works – an instantly famous memoir (from arguably the most famous FBI director since J. Edgar Hoover), a true crime tome that may have helped nab the Golden State Killer, and a novel so beautiful it seemed to be delivered directly from the gods. And we’re only just getting started. Our team of editors have passionately debated which of their favorites just had to make the cut, and a few even got in front of the mic to talk about why their picks are the best of the year (so far). This being Audible, we’ve also teased out some of the most standout audio moments of 2018. Pop in your headphones and take a listen. We hope you love what you hear. —Courtney, Audible Editor

A Story of Survival That Will Heal You

While listening to this intimate and powerfully written memoir on the bus, a curious coworker asked me if it was enjoyable. Given the heavy themes of abuse and mental illness, I hesitated before landing on my answer: Yes, but only in the way getting your breath back after crying is.

Following Tara, emotionally wrought by the voice of Julia Whelan, as she navigates a tumultuous upbringing in her isolated, overtly religious, and apocalypse-obsessed home, you’re rooting for her. You are there for her as she contends with obstacles that would have the rest of us on our heels: serious injury as young teen working in a junkyard, earning a degree from a prestigious university without any prior access to education, and repeated instances of harsh verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her own family members.

Hearing this rich narrative taps into your empathy and faith; you have to believe that Tara will succeed past the very last second of audio. If I could choose only one book to add to my library this year (so far), this would be it.

Rachael X.

Editor Audible

A Flawless Work of Fiction (And The Best This Editor Has Ever Heard)

Circe is more than mythology, allegory, or a strong female POV. It's a story that delivers literature’s greatest gift: To see, to live inside the mind of another human being. Madeline Miller’s sense of voice and character is so refined and diligently crafted that it feels neither fabricated nor refined—just organic. And there is no overacting from narrator Perdita Weeks, either. She is Circe. Circe the woman, Circe the god, Circe the story. All of it is so intimate and real in style and delivery that it feels like a direct transcription of human experience. The mythological underpinnings serve their purpose beautifully; keeping the contemplative, somewhat literary style aloft—safe from drowning in the murky depths of introspection, with healthy doses of action, tragedy, and unadulterated joy.

Michael D.

Editor Audible

A True Crime Thriller That Became Front-Page News

The best true crime books pass on an obsession: they haunt you the way the case haunted the writer. Before Michelle McNamara came along, few besides the most dogged web sleuths and law enforcement knew about the Golden State Killer, a serial predator who stalked, raped, and murdered victims in their own homes in California in the 1970s and ’80s—and then vanished, letting the trail grow cold. Much has been made about whether McNamara’s gorgeously written, obsessively researched book helped catch the suspect who was arrested just two months after its publication. But McNamara herself predicted DNA technology would eventually beat him, though she didn’t live to see it happen. Don’t listen to this book to figure out whether McNamara “solved” the case. Listen to be in the company of her sharp, compassionate, and haunted mind, for which Gabra Zackman’s skillful, subtle narration is the ideal conduit. Listen because this audiobook is, quite simply, on the very short list of masterpieces in the literature of true crime.

Kat J.

Editor Audible

A Uniquely Audible Self Development Program

I really didn’t understand that Kick Ass was a special event in audio until Mel came to the Audible headquarters in Newark to talk about how the success of her debut, The Five Second Rule, made her want to bring her big ideas to life in our format. But as a listener, I realized “special” doesn’t even begin to cover the breakthrough appeal of this title! As I heard Mel Robbins coach other people – in real time – I felt my own barriers fall. Mel’s guests were likeable and relatable, and somehow, their problems started to feel a lot like mine. Which is to say: we’re all holding ourselves back, and Mel Robbins – fortunately – is all about kicking that nonsense to the curb! So, yeah, I get it now, and so should you. You’ll come away with some actual, applicable rules to live by.

Christina H.

Editor Audible

A Message for The Ages

There is simply nothing like the power of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message, and hearing his words read in this dramatic interpretation underscores how incredibly relevant it is today. Dr. Cornel West, a renowned political activist in his own right, has curated 23 of Dr. King’s speeches and essays in The Radical King. We also hear never-before recorded messages performed by renowned actors such as LeVar Burton, Mike Colter, Danny Glover, Gabourey Sidibe, and Wanda Sykes. This collection illustrates an inspiring commitment to bringing a great leader’s words to life – at a time they are needed more than ever.

Abby W.

Editor Audible

The distinctly Irish seaside soundscape sets the tone for this unforgettable listening experience.

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Frank explains why Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is “punk.”

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Creative Quest
De:Questlove
Narrado por:Questlove, Fred Armisen, Tariq Trotter, y otros

In a dynamic moment emblematic of Creative Quest, Questlove goes off-script for a moment to make a quick phone call.

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The sense of profound loss is palpable in Bahni Turpin’s depiction of the two distinct voices as they discuss what’s to come.

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The titular character shows his virtuosity in taking on different voices – and different identities.

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West Cork
The distinctly Irish seaside soundscape sets the tone for this unforgettable listening experience.

The Music Shop
Frank explains why Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is “punk.”

Creative Quest
In a dynamic moment emblematic of Creative Quest, Questlove goes off-script for a moment to make a quick phone call.

Children of Blood and Bone
The sense of profound loss is palpable in Bahni Turpin’s depiction of the two distinct voices as they discuss what’s to come.

Harry Clarke
The titular character shows his virtuosity in taking on different voices – and different identities.

Editors Emily and Katie get on the phone to talk up Obsidio.

A Trilogy-Ender Like No Other

Obsidio is the third and final book in Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's groundbreaking YA sci-fi series, The Illuminae Files. Presented as a dossier of evidence submitted during a trial, the series takes the jury (and the listener) through the story of a planetary invasion gone wrong, ultimately making a case against a greedy corporate entity. As such, the print versions of these books are highly graphic: complete with redactions, transcripts, maps, charts, and drawings. In translating this to audio, the producers faced a huge challenge in communicating not just the story but also the drama and emotion inherent on the pages. Through a vast multi-cast of more than 40 actors, rich sound design, commissioned music, as well as original content devised by the authors specifically for the audiobook, the series becomes a completely transporting, immersive, and not-to-be-missed experience.

Emily C.

Editor Audible

A Different Kind Of Political Memoir

If I'm being honest, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy James Comey’s memoir at all, let alone call it one of the best books of the year (so far), but for the second time in as many years he’s managed to surprise us. Comey chronicles his 30-plus years in public service in a way that’s deeply personal and engaging, taking us behind the scenes of the most high-profile investigations of our time—from the mafia to Martha Stewart. Moreover, Comey himself comes off as endearing and empathetic. Hearing him read his own story proves he's a far cry from the cold and calculating image of FBI agents imprinted in our minds from the 2-D caricatures we’ve seen onscreen.

Lavina K.

Editor Audible

A Fantasy World That Feels All Too Close to Home

Tomi Adeyemi’s incredible debut YA novel is a product of this moment in time, building on a uniquely West African mythology to make statements about race, gender, and social justice. It conjures up a vibrant, amazing fantasy world, in which magic once thrived, a segment of the population is grievously oppressed, and a young woman becomes the leader she was meant to be. Bahni Turpin’s mastery of the accents expertly brings the wide array of characters to life, carrying you with Zélie and her crew across the physical and emotional landscapes that make this book so special.

Abby W.

Editor Audible

A Book That Will Make You Want to Change the World

In Mississippi, where the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow still looms large, two men, armed with phony forensics, manipulated the judicial system for decades. As a result, scores of individuals were wrongfully convicted – and only a small number of them have been exonerated to this day. Listening to this book, riveted, I learned how much of our collective understanding of the “science” behind blood splatter and bite-mark analysis is just plain wrong. Balko and Tucker truly opened my eyes to how broken our criminal justice system is, at a most basic level, all across the nation. This is a master class in nonfiction writing that weaves narrative elements with wide-lens historical details, leading you down a path to real-life action on the learnings. We predict a donation to the Innocence Project the second you finish listening.

Kyle S.

Editor Audible

A Legendary Stephen King Novel with the Audio Performance it Deserves

There is a reason Pet Sematary endures as one of Stephen King’s best and most frightening works: even during the more banal scenes, there’s a disquiet, a prickling in the back of your neck that tells you something is not right in the air itself, something sinister, and it will make itself known soon enough. Though a classic, Pet Sematary has never before been produced unabridged in audio but, boy, was it worth the wait. Michael C. Hall doesn’t just read, he completely embodies every character, be they young, old, living, or overwise. All I can say is: whether or not you’re already a King fan, prepare to be very unsettled, and to enjoy every minute of it.

Catherine H.

Editor Audible

A Recently Historic Novel That Brings 1980s NYC to Life

I listened to The House of Impossible Beauties when I was 8.5 months pregnant. Huger than huge, I would grab a pastry from my corner coffee shop and head down to the river, getting lost in the story and sending rapid-fire texts to my BFF at every delicious new detail about the ’80s era drag queens, banjee boys, and club kids. There’s so much tragedy in this story inspired by the real members of the legendary House of Xtravaganza (famously featured in the movie Paris is Burning), but there’s also so much love and joy as the family bands together to rise above their circumstances and forge lives of freedom and beauty. I laughed as much as I sobbed (and I’m afraid I can’t blame that on being pregnant).

Rachel S.

Editor Audible

Educated

The Other Side of Idaho's Mountains

A Story of Survival That Will Heal You

Circe

Refined writing with an intimate performance

A Flawless Work of Fiction (And The Best This Editor Has Ever Heard)

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

A haunting masterpiece

A True Crime Thriller That Became Front-Page News

Kick Ass with Mel Robbins

A $26 Podcast

A Uniquely Audible Self Development Program

The Radical King

Not the best MLK audiobook

A Message for The Ages

The Best Audio Moments of 2018 (So Far)

Obsidio

Live a life worth dying for

A Trilogy-Ender Like No Other

A Higher Loyalty

A must read account about integrity

A Different Kind Of Political Memoir

Children of Blood and Bone

Beautifully Written

A Fantasy World That Feels All Too Close to Home

The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist

Gothic Horror-Show, With A Few Digressions

A Book That Will Make You Want to Change the World

Pet Sematary

THIS is what Audible was made for!

A Legendary Stephen King Novel with the Audio Performance it Deserves

The House of Impossible Beauties

As real as it gets

A Recently Historic Novel That Brings 1980s NYC to Life