Presenting our obsessively curated selection of editor and listener favorites—each one boasting a standout,
not-to-be-missed performance—to help you find your next great listen.
not-to-be-missed performance—to help you find your next great listen.
Our Top 20
Our Top 20
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
With its multicast narration and adrenaline-inducing duels, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's edgy debut immerses listeners in a disturbing yet undeniably recognizable dystopian setting, and ultimately triumphs as a bold and brilliant satire of the profitability of incarceration, contact sports, and similar spectacles of violence.
With its multicast narration and adrenaline-inducing duels, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah's edgy debut immerses listeners in a disturbing yet undeniably recognizable dystopian setting, and ultimately triumphs as a bold and brilliant satire of the profitability of incarceration, contact sports, and similar spectacles of violence.
Cara Bastone
Performed by a full cast (led by Santino Fontana), we devoured the laugh-out-loud banter of this endearing romance. And the immersive soundscape of busy café sounds and even a shopping mall visit came to life thanks to spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, making it feel as if you're actually there.
Performed by a full cast (led by Santino Fontana), we devoured the laugh-out-loud banter of this endearing romance. And the immersive soundscape of busy café sounds and even a shopping mall visit came to life thanks to spatial audio with Dolby Atmos, making it feel as if you're actually there.
BBC Studios
This propulsive Audible Original podcast, a true labor of love for actor Rosamund Pike, explores Rick and Cindy Murphy, the real-life Russian spies that inspired the award-winning show The Americans. Their improbable journey from Soviet-era children to Montclair, New Jersey-based suburban parents was, literally, the role of a lifetime.
This propulsive Audible Original podcast, a true labor of love for actor Rosamund Pike, explores Rick and Cindy Murphy, the real-life Russian spies that inspired the award-winning show The Americans. Their improbable journey from Soviet-era children to Montclair, New Jersey-based suburban parents was, literally, the role of a lifetime.
S. A. Cosby
In Charon County the crimes are ugly and brutal, so the residents of this fictional southeast Virginia location are lucky to have Titus Crown as their first Black sheriff on the case. S.A. Cosby’s spot-on descriptive words slay, and narrator Adam Lazarre-White delivers all voices impeccably.
In Charon County the crimes are ugly and brutal, so the residents of this fictional southeast Virginia location are lucky to have Titus Crown as their first Black sheriff on the case. S.A. Cosby’s spot-on descriptive words slay, and narrator Adam Lazarre-White delivers all voices impeccably.
Michael Cruz Kayne
This hilarious and heartbreaking one-man "comedy show about grief," recorded in front of a live audience, is all about the contradictions that come with love and loss. Michael Cruz Kayne spins through unexpected topics to demonstrate how loss is woven through everything—and has to be if we want to experience the good stuff.
This hilarious and heartbreaking one-man "comedy show about grief," recorded in front of a live audience, is all about the contradictions that come with love and loss. Michael Cruz Kayne spins through unexpected topics to demonstrate how loss is woven through everything—and has to be if we want to experience the good stuff.
Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels demonstrates yet another range of abilities with his 12-part audio-only memoir. As genre-bending as its creator’s career, it’s a vibrant showcase of boundless storytelling, alight with Midwestern heart, a rich, familiar voice practically made for narrative work, and the twang of an acoustic guitar.
Jeff Daniels demonstrates yet another range of abilities with his 12-part audio-only memoir. As genre-bending as its creator’s career, it’s a vibrant showcase of boundless storytelling, alight with Midwestern heart, a rich, familiar voice practically made for narrative work, and the twang of an acoustic guitar.
Jonathan Eig
This landmark biography deserves its instant status as essential listening. If the culture has crystallized MLK into monuments and soundbites, Eig’s intimate portrait reveals his full humanity, a thrilling feat that only enhances the civil rights leader’s legacy. Decorated narrator Dion Graham channels King to perfection in an unforgettable performance.
This landmark biography deserves its instant status as essential listening. If the culture has crystallized MLK into monuments and soundbites, Eig’s intimate portrait reveals his full humanity, a thrilling feat that only enhances the civil rights leader’s legacy. Decorated narrator Dion Graham channels King to perfection in an unforgettable performance.
Nathan Hill
Hearing narrator Ari Fliakos perform Nathan Hill's second novel was a treat, since these two have great chemistry and Fliakos gets Hill’s humor! This smart, funny, and poignant exploration of modern marriage, our tech-obsessed health culture, and the bonds that keep us together kept us enthralled from beginning to end.
Hearing narrator Ari Fliakos perform Nathan Hill's second novel was a treat, since these two have great chemistry and Fliakos gets Hill’s humor! This smart, funny, and poignant exploration of modern marriage, our tech-obsessed health culture, and the bonds that keep us together kept us enthralled from beginning to end.
Lisa Jewell
The audiobook's stunning production—beginning with its eerie music and prologue—hooked us from the jump. Along with an impressive cast of performers, it also features actual podcast episodes, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity.
The audiobook's stunning production—beginning with its eerie music and prologue—hooked us from the jump. Along with an impressive cast of performers, it also features actual podcast episodes, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity.
Abby Jimenez
Briana is going through it: Her brother is chronically ill, her divorce is almost final, and her colleague Jacob is blocking her promotion. Wonderfully narrated by Zachary Webber and Kyla Garcia, this enemies-to-fake-dating-to-lovers rom-com is Abby Jimenez's most personal yet, and her author's note left us sobbing for longer than we're willing to admit.
Briana is going through it: Her brother is chronically ill, her divorce is almost final, and her colleague Jacob is blocking her promotion. Wonderfully narrated by Zachary Webber and Kyla Garcia, this enemies-to-fake-dating-to-lovers rom-com is Abby Jimenez's most personal yet, and her author's note left us sobbing for longer than we're willing to admit.
Sadeqa Johnson
Author Sadeqa Johnson’s talent for crafting thought-provoking historical fiction is on full display in this exploration of young Black womanhood in 1950s America. Voiced by Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis, Ruby and Eleanor are two unforgettable women at the center of this hauntingly beautiful novel.
Author Sadeqa Johnson’s talent for crafting thought-provoking historical fiction is on full display in this exploration of young Black womanhood in 1950s America. Voiced by Ariel Blake and Nicole Lewis, Ruby and Eleanor are two unforgettable women at the center of this hauntingly beautiful novel.
Leslie Jones
This memoir is roaringly funny, but the former SNL cast member’s life is no joke. She ditches the script and tells each story in her life exactly how it went. Not to be missed: when she tried out a Nadia Comaneci routine in the bathroom. Her father’s reaction is priceless.
This memoir is roaringly funny, but the former SNL cast member’s life is no joke. She ditches the script and tells each story in her life exactly how it went. Not to be missed: when she tried out a Nadia Comaneci routine in the bathroom. Her father’s reaction is priceless.
R. F. Kuang
June Hayward is a character whose mountain of crimes, lies, racism, and betrayals left us shocked, stunned, and obsessed. We blame narrator Helen Laser—she’s so good that we couldn’t help but love it all, and we hate ourselves for it.
June Hayward is a character whose mountain of crimes, lies, racism, and betrayals left us shocked, stunned, and obsessed. We blame narrator Helen Laser—she’s so good that we couldn’t help but love it all, and we hate ourselves for it.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Boasting a remarkable cast, including Sandra Oh and Catherine O’Hara, this fresh and inspired dramatization of the classic cannot help but delight. Michela Luci shines as Anne Shirley, with her wide-eyed enthusiasm, providing the hopeful, happy listening experience we all need right now.
Boasting a remarkable cast, including Sandra Oh and Catherine O’Hara, this fresh and inspired dramatization of the classic cannot help but delight. Michela Luci shines as Anne Shirley, with her wide-eyed enthusiasm, providing the hopeful, happy listening experience we all need right now.
Greg O'Connor, Josh Fagin
One of the most exciting releases of the year sounds like a must-see movie: Jessica Chastain stars as a psychiatrist tasked with helping multiple patients who've all had the same bizarre, unexplained experience. This superbly performed, compulsive, and thought-provoking eight-episode podcast series had us repeat-listening to catch all the finer details.
One of the most exciting releases of the year sounds like a must-see movie: Jessica Chastain stars as a psychiatrist tasked with helping multiple patients who've all had the same bizarre, unexplained experience. This superbly performed, compulsive, and thought-provoking eight-episode podcast series had us repeat-listening to catch all the finer details.
Elliot Page
In this exquisitely written, delicately performed memoir, Elliot Page explores the pursuit of authenticity and the fight for survival. Whether unearthing the trauma of a stalker who stole his sense of safety or exploring queer desire and joy in all its multifaceted glory, he doesn't flinch or equivocate.
In this exquisitely written, delicately performed memoir, Elliot Page explores the pursuit of authenticity and the fight for survival. Whether unearthing the trauma of a stalker who stole his sense of safety or exploring queer desire and joy in all its multifaceted glory, he doesn't flinch or equivocate.
Abraham Verghese
Beautifully brought to life by author/narrator/physician Abraham Verghese, this novel takes listeners on a journey from Kerala, South India, to Scotland and around the globe. With deep dives into history and medicine, it tells the story of three generations that share a strange medical secret.
Beautifully brought to life by author/narrator/physician Abraham Verghese, this novel takes listeners on a journey from Kerala, South India, to Scotland and around the globe. With deep dives into history and medicine, it tells the story of three generations that share a strange medical secret.
Hadley Vlahos R.N.
Hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos seeks to demystify death and dying, meditating on moments from her work in palliative care. This profound, compassionate listen is a testament to the power of empathy and a comfort through the grieving process. Vlahos’s storytelling is warmed further by her Southern inflection that soothes with each syllable.
Hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos seeks to demystify death and dying, meditating on moments from her work in palliative care. This profound, compassionate listen is a testament to the power of empathy and a comfort through the grieving process. Vlahos’s storytelling is warmed further by her Southern inflection that soothes with each syllable.
Browse all of our top picks in your favorite genres
Browse all of our top picks in your favorite genres
Explore more of the best of the year
Our favorite interviews and podcasts, plus author and staff picks.
Explore more of the best of the year
Meet the editors
Meet the editors
Discover our favorite genres and most-loved stories of 2023.
