Our editors weigh in on March’s most anticipated new releases.
A propulsive (and immersive!) debut
This Story Might Save Your Life saved me from my listening rut. Tiffany Crum’s propulsive debut has notes of Gone Girl and Listen for the Lie while maintaining impressive originality. Benny Abbott and Joy Moore are best friends, and host one of the most beloved podcasts in the world, with the management support of Joy’s husband, Xander. One morning, Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s house only to find they’re missing. Their phones are off, a car is gone, and there’s shattered glass on the floor. Benny feels like he can’t trust anyone and his search turns desperate, particularly as he becomes the prime suspect in their disappearance. This listen was so immersive and elevated—there’s duet podcast segments, light sound design, a call-in tip line with recordings from guest narrators (including the author!), and even a bonus podcast episode. I will be recommending This Story Might Save Your Life all year long!
Can they Just Kiss Already?
Lily Chu is an auto-buy author for me, and this story is exactly why. Dr. Ben Song prefers research labs and anonymity. Lauren Wei has spent her life in the spotlight and is determined to control her own life for once. When Ben’s unimpressed reaction to Lauren’s film adaptation of his book turns him into the internet’s newest grumpy meme, the studio forces them onto a joint press tour to capitalize on the moment. What follows is sharp banter and the kind of tension that fits the title of this story perfectly. Phillipa Soo, Chu’s longtime narrator, is joined by former One True Loves’ co-star Simu Liu for a duet performance that is HOT!
Christina Applegate isn’t who you think she is
One thing American society does not do well is listen to women. The limited positive attention women do receive seems to evaporate when they do such egregious things as age, defy the male gaze, or become disabled. (This is why I so deeply cherish Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s podcast Wiser Than Me, which highlights the wisdom of older women, but I digress.) In her new memoir, You with the Sad Eyes, acclaimed actor and podcaster Christina Applegate commands attention. No sugar-coating here. As she tells her story in her own voice, opening up about each facet of her complex and dynamic life with the wisdom and courage that can only come with age, Christina Applegate truly reveals herself to the listener, which is to say, they are let in on the fact that Christina Applegate does not exist. In her own words, “Christina Applegate is a character.” Instead, the actor introduces us to Kiki—a woman who is fierce, free, and, “who I could have been, and who I really am.”
One in a trillion
I haven’t stopped thinking about The Space Within since I first listened in 2023, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel. This continuation picks up right where season 1 left off, delving deeper into the core mysteries of the series—including whether an intelligent life beyond Earth has anything to do with a child’s mysterious disappearance and Maddie Wyle’s murky past. I was reminded at times of the spiritual mysteries of Battlestar Galactica, which is high praise in my book. The sound design is as immersive as ever, and the cast—led by Jessica Chastain—ups the emotional ante along with the stakes of this story.
A legend reclaimed
Bestselling author Saara El-Arifi is widely celebrated for her world-building in epic fantasy and romantasy series. The daughter of a Ghanaian/British mother and a Sudanese/Arab father, she now draws further on her background and expertise in African studies to reclaim Cleopatra, oft-maligned as a seductress and exotic witch, and infamous for a romance with Mark Antony that shook Rome and ended in her suicide. Told as a memoir in the first person, the last acting Egyptian pharaoh’s legend is voiced by award-winning narrator Adjoa Andoh (known to many as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton), who brings a regal authority to this sensuous historic retelling. A powerful, multifaceted story, it’s what our era demands—and I'll never think of Cleopatra the same way again.
Zen for everyone
Isn’t it funny how one of the best methods for relieving stress often gets pushed to the bottom of everyone’s to-do list (if it makes the list at all)? With typical excuses ranging from not having enough time to not knowing where to start to simply having too many distractions, meditation, for all its benefits, has a perplexing reputation for being too much work for busy bees. In comes motivational author Dan Harris and meditation expert Sebene Selassie. Through their soothing exercises, myth-busting insights, and clear instructions, you’ll find there’s a meditation routine out there to fit every lifestyle—yes, even yours.
Witty and wise, with satisfyingly messy characters
Patricia Finn has written a wonderfully engaging debut novel about second chances and redemption. Former TV executive Stafford Hopkins is enjoying a luxurious retirement with his sharp-tongued wife, Agnes, in their gorgeous Maui home, but the arrival of a mysterious letter forces him to confront the lifelong guilt he’s carried over an incident with his childhood best friend. This character-driven story unfolds over 10 tense days in March 2003, featuring marital sparring and subtly cutting humor that made me laugh out loud. Jason Culp's measured narration only enhances Agnes and Stafford's snippy exchanges and brilliantly captures Finn's balance of comedy and heart.
The verdict is in: This legal thriller delivers
Viola Davis steps into adult fiction alongside James Patterson with legal thriller Judge Stone. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. Davis's narration pulls you in, with her voice carrying both authority and vulnerability as Judge Mary Stone's world begins to tighten around her. Set in a small Alabama town, the novel follows Mary, a respected Black circuit judge facing a career-defining case: a doctor charged under the state's strict abortion laws. What unfolds in the courtroom is gripping, as is the emotional weight behind every decision. Judge Stone is a timely thriller and conversation starter about justice, community, and what courage really costs. The ending left me shocked with happy tears.
Paul Holes and the case that wouldn’t let go
It was a simple list that haunted him: handwritten entries on notebook paper, numbered from 1 to 10. The page had been found at the home of Joseph Naso, a seemingly small-time criminal who eventually went to prison for six of the list’s homicides, because that’s what it turned out they were—but who were the other four? The question wouldn’t leave Paul Holes alone. The legendary cold-case investigator, who helped crack the 40-year mystery of the Golden State Killer, was retired, but Holes knew better than to let that stop him. In this gripping new Audible Original, he mixes his deeply personal perspective with original interviews and audio to deliver a shocking story of the most prolific predator you haven’t heard of—and the heart and determination it took to bring him to justice.
I'm so down with all of Brandy's phases!
Ever since I was young, I've been completely obsessed with the show Moesha and the gorgeous, iconic singer/actress who played her, Brandy. From her music to her screen roles and now to her memoir, I'm here for her journey! Over the years, Brandy has only cemented her status as a legend, as the first Black Cinderella (a movie notably produced by and starring Whitney Houston), as one of the few Black horror movie survivors, and as "The Vocal Bible." Brandy will always be an unforgettable force, which is why her entrance into the audiobook space with her memoir, Phases, is so welcomed and appreciated. Delivered in her own voice, Phases showcases a vulnerability and honesty that fans will love to hear. I was not disappointed!
Find a little bit of yourself along the way
After 14 years, the author of The Light Between Oceans returns to give us another beautiful, heartbreaking story, this time set in the Australian outback. We follow the MacBride family—sheep tenders and custodians of a huge swath of land that’s remote and unforgiving—as they navigate growing up, making mistakes, and feeling the consequences of those mistakes. I cried more than once, but I also had my breath taken away over and over again by M.L. Stedman’s poeticism and astute observations about being human. It’s a novel that’s quintessentially Australian, and as such, narrator Lewis Fitz-Gerald is an important addition to the impact upon the listener. Much like the sprawling setting, A Far-Flung Life is not for the faint of heart, but it rewards you greatly by the end.
Sprawling new worlds from an ever-rising star
With 2025’s stunning solo debut The River Has Roots, Amal El-Mohtar played with language and sound to craft a listening experience that was nothing short of magical. Her latest, Seasons of Glass and Iron, casts an enchantment all its own. Through a collection of lyrical folk and fairy tales, El-Mohtar flitters through fantasy, poetry, contemporary fiction, and speculative sci-fi, masterfully wielding each narrative voice to meditate on womanhood, survival, desire, identity, forgiveness, love, and belonging. A few personal favorites from this stunning volume include “Madeleine,” an ode to grief, memory, and companionship; “And Their Lips Rang With the Sun,” a legend of star-crossed love that practically glitters; “The Green Book,” an eerie story that plays with the macabre; and the mystical dream-crafting of “To Follow the Waves.” Narrator Rachel Elizabeth Smith meets each legend and poem with a delivery so gentle and a cadence so melodious, El-Mohtar’s work truly sings.
Practical philosophy for those striving for meaning
I've recommended Arthur C. Brooks's From Strength to Strength to a dozen friends who I think could benefit from it as a handy roadmap to navigating the myriad decisions in the second half of life—especially since it directly addresses the satisfaction problem too many of us try to avoid. So I was thrilled to know that he'd returned with a new handbook focused on the meaning of life, a topic I've obsessed over since I was a teen (even when people rolled their eyes at my earnestness). While I don't align with some of his conservative views on marriage and family, I think there's value in exploring these “big questions” with Brooks as a trustworthy guide in the search for happiness. And I'm sure I'll listen (and recommend it) many more times.
A welcome new voice
Every once in a while, an audiobook comes along that significantly deepens my appreciation for this storytelling medium. For example, this full-cast recording not only elevates a non-speaking author’s first novel, it also shines a light on the rarely examined lives of folks with disabilities who reside in adult day care centers. Upward Bound paints an intimate portrait of what it feels like to not be seen because of disability. And with such voicey prose, this debut is not to be missed.
Rebecca Serle wows us again
Rebecca Serle first captivated me with In Five Years—a book with a twist I still think about—and now she's done it again. The Novak women share an impossible gift: the power to turn back time, just once. When Lauren returns to her childhood home, old loves resurface and family fractures deepen, forcing her to wonder if one choice should be undone. I couldn't stop asking myself the same question: If I had this gift, what would I choose to undo? That's the kind of storytelling Serle is known for, the kind that makes you look at your own life and find the magic in it. Julia Whelan's narration is, as always, stellar, grounding a fantastical premise in raw emotion, making these women feel like real people.
Sex, drugs, and grief
When 200 Monas was presented to us in a meeting last fall, the whole room started buzzing. If Uncut Gems met Fleabag in the form of a debut novel? What a pitch! We were all in. With this year being full of majorly anticipated debuts, Jan Saenz’s first at-bat offers something that really shines in audio. Vanessa Moyen’s performance fully embodies the propulsion and verve in the writing, which makes listening to this story of grief and orgasm pills feel cinematic.
