When I looked
at the list of YA titles releasing in May I really, truly did not know where to begin. The next book from The Poet X author, Elizabeth Acevedo? Yes, please!Cinderellafrom her stepsister’s POV? Add it to the TBLT list! A companion to When Dimple Met Rishi? I’m swooning! And then there are plots involving '80s hip-hop, a meet-cute set in Qatar, a fantasy about a face-shifter, and about a dozen other unmissable new releases.
So where will you find me listening this month? Hanging out in the park with my dog. Trying out new recipes with greenmarket veggies. Sitting on my couch with a new crochet project. Starting my overdue spring cleaning. Strolling the Coney Island Boardwalk. Wandering museum galleries. But if you want to say hi, tap me on the shoulder so I can hit pause—no matter where I am in real life, my imagination could be transporting me absolutely anywhere.
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We Hunt the Flame
- Sands of Arawiya, Book 1
- By: Hafsah Faizal
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham, Steve West
- Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall638
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Performance567
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Story565
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the sultan. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways. Both Zafira and Nasir are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya - but neither wants to be.
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Every Arabic word is mangled.
- By Faiza Ambah on 05-15-19
A huntress, a lost artifact, and an assassin
I believe that the skill it takes to craft a memorable opening sentence is grossly underappreciated. But for an author to write memorable opening sentences for chapter 1 and chapter 2 that stand alone and work together? That is a feat I didn’t even know I wanted someone to conquer, but debut author Hafsah Faizal has done it. If this opening duet doesn’t grab you, I don’t know what will:
People lived because she killed. People died because he lived.
Meet the Huntress
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Beautiful
- By: Juliet Marillier
- Narrated by: Gemma Dawson
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall1,658
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Performance1,468
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Story1,469
Hulde is a queen’s daughter and lives in a palace. But her life is lonely. Growing up atop the glass mountain, she knows only her violent and autocratic mother and a household of terrified servants. Then a white bear named Rune comes to visit, and Hulde learns what kindness is. But the queen has a plan for Hulde. When she turns 16, she will wed the most beautiful man in all the world. Hulde has never met her intended husband, and her mother refuses to explain the arrangement.
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If you like Marillier, you'll like this book.
- By Julie Allen on 06-03-19
Is Happily Ever After
still a thing?
The fairy tale collections I grew up with were decidedly not the same ones my friends had. Forget soft and fluffy retellings, I grew up with translations that were often bloody, gory, and unsettling. But those unsanitized collections gave me a chance to cross paths with some lesser-known stories of tough girls. And now, some of my favorite listens are reintroducing me to details that range from troll princesses to blood-filled glass slippers.
Make a Wish
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With the Fire on High
- By: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Acevedo
- Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3,037
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Performance2,725
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Story2,714
2020 Audie Awards WINNER - Narration by Author 2020 Audie Awards Finalist - Young Adult From the New York Times bestselling author of the National Book Award-winning title The Poet X comes a dazzling novel in prose about a girl with talent, pride, and a drive to feed the soul that keeps her...
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Whole life is slayed...
- By AudioBookHoe on 05-16-19
A second helping from Elizabeth Acevedo
Cooking is often much more than a way to provide sustenance. Depending on the day, it can be stress relief, a creative outlet, aromatherapy, meditation, or a way to honor your heritage, relationships, and loved ones. Emoni understands the power of cooking better than anyone, but her responsibilities as a teen mom might make her dreams of becoming a chef challenging—if not impossible. Authorator (author-narrator) Elizabeth Acevedo tells Emoni’s story with such honesty that I was ready to travel to Philly and help this talented high schooler achieve her dreams.
Feed Your Soul
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There's Something About Sweetie
- By: Sandhya Menon
- Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Soneela Nankani
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall173
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Performance159
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Story158
One of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2019! “Adorable, joyous.” —BuzzFeed “I’m head-over-heels for this charming, funny, romantic, life-affirming book.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Leah on the Offbeat The...
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Cure covid blues with cuteness
- By Jackson on 08-07-20
Round up: everyday magic
When I think about realistic fiction, I always seem to think of tragedies first—and there’s no reason for that! Yes, realistic fiction can mean stocking up on Kleenex (I’m looking at you TFIOS) but it can also mean flirting and dancing and discovering your talents. Embrace the happy with these realistic—but not tragic—new listens.
Get Real
More in May
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Stepsister
- By: Jennifer Donnelly
- Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall670
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Performance610
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Story607
Isabelle should be blissfully happy - she's about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn't the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince's heart. She's the ugly stepsister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella's shoe...which is now filling with blood. Isabelle cut away pieces of herself in order to become pretty. Sweet. More like Cinderella. But that only made her mean, jealous, and hollow. Now she has a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
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What a precious story.
- By Bookworm on 06-25-19
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Let Me Hear a Rhyme
- By: Tiffany D. Jackson
- Narrated by: Korey Jackson, Nile Bullock, Adenrele Ojo, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall295
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Performance266
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Story265
In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right...
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A Wonderful Experience.
- By Agnes Ohene on 10-02-19
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The Things She's Seen
- By: Ambelin Kwaymullina, Ezekiel Kwaymullina
- Narrated by: Miranda Tapsell
- Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall29
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Performance27
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Story27
This brilliantly written thriller explores the lives--and deaths--of two girls, and what they will do to win justice. Sure to be one of the most talked-about books of the year! A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Century Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since the day she died...
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Kinda crazy
- By Amy Kay on 02-10-24
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Aurora Rising
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Candice Moll, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall2,277
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Performance2,021
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Story2,010
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Files comes a new science fiction epic . . . The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams...
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Excellent story, but a little overly emotive
- By Zach on 05-15-19
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Stepsister
- By: Jennifer Donnelly
- Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall670
-
Performance610
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Story607
Isabelle should be blissfully happy - she's about to win the handsome prince. Except Isabelle isn't the beautiful girl who lost the glass slipper and captured the prince's heart. She's the ugly stepsister who cut off her toes to fit into Cinderella's shoe...which is now filling with blood. Isabelle cut away pieces of herself in order to become pretty. Sweet. More like Cinderella. But that only made her mean, jealous, and hollow. Now she has a chance to alter her destiny and prove what ugly stepsisters have always known: it takes more than heartache to break a girl.
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What a precious story.
- By Bookworm on 06-25-19
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Let Me Hear a Rhyme
- By: Tiffany D. Jackson
- Narrated by: Korey Jackson, Nile Bullock, Adenrele Ojo, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall295
-
Performance266
-
Story265
In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right...
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A Wonderful Experience.
- By Agnes Ohene on 10-02-19
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The Things She's Seen
- By: Ambelin Kwaymullina, Ezekiel Kwaymullina
- Narrated by: Miranda Tapsell
- Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall29
-
Performance27
-
Story27
This brilliantly written thriller explores the lives--and deaths--of two girls, and what they will do to win justice. Sure to be one of the most talked-about books of the year! A Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of the Century Nothing's been the same for Beth Teller since the day she died...
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Kinda crazy
- By Amy Kay on 02-10-24
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Aurora Rising
- By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Candice Moll, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall2,277
-
Performance2,021
-
Story2,010
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Files comes a new science fiction epic . . . The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams...
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Excellent story, but a little overly emotive
- By Zach on 05-15-19