Editors Select | August 2020

Audio Drama

A story for everyone starved for human connection

I fell into this audio because I’m a Jesse Eisenberg fan. I wanted to hear his voice up close, and as a writer-narrator. (Also, in this era of Zoom psychotherapy, I loved the premise that Nathan’s shrink requires him to do a recording exercise to develop fluency in ''feelings.'') Eisenberg’s performance pulled me in completely; I genuinely cared about Nathan, and then, in the next two acts, I cared just as much about Rachel (his wife) and Ziggy (his son) at different points in their lives. When You Finish Saving the World somehow mapped out and slaked—for a few hours—the lack of connection that can dull modern life. Even though there are dark moments in the play, the struggle of these characters to find connection with each other and their lives was triumphant and uplifting overall. In other words, Art saves. Again.

Christina H.

Editor Audible

Fiction

Studying the past to define the future

With a U.S. presidential election only a few months away, I was eager to escape into some political fiction that was, ahem, less anxiety-inducing than our current state of affairs. Thanks to Allison Winn Scotch’s latest novel, Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing, voiced by Julia Whelan—one of my all-time favorite performers—I got my wish. Senator McDougal is an unabashedly ambitious single mom and a potential presidential candidate. She is defined by a fierce independent streak and picks up her father’s habit of cataloging acts of contrition without dwelling too much on these actions. It’s only after her high school rival writes an unflattering op-ed about her that Cleo is finally forced to face—and forgive—her past transgressions. In this story, Scotch also effectively addresses ugly truths about gender-based power dynamics, but offers a much-needed glimmer of hope that things can change for the next generation.

Valerie B.

Editor Audible

Science

Contemplating our doom (the far-off distant kind) is weirdly refreshing

I love to get my mind boggled by big science, but I really struggle to make my way through dense nonfiction (Bill Nye the Science Guy is more my speed). But I've been following Katie Mack on Twitter (@AstroKatie) ever since we started hearing about Betelgeuse dimming and potentially going supernova (the coolness of which I appreciate even more after listening to this book). Starting with the Big Bang for background, she proceeds to take us through the five scientifically most likely ways the world will one day meet its end—and make no mistake about it, it will end. Charming and humorous, and peppered with enough pop culture and sci-fi references to keep listeners like me grounded in our reality, Mack approaches the inevitability of our doom with the kind of levity I just really, really needed right now.

Emily C.

Editor Audible

Scripted Podcast

#relatable

Like many kids, I’ve got my fair share of camp stories, including remorseful letters to my amused parents about the terrors of canoes, mosquitoes, and the horrors of preteen socialization. So when I say that Letters From Camp is relatable, I mean it—I felt transported back to the joys and horrors of hot dogs in Malt-o-Meal (ugh) to yard games like Squirrels (yay) to making friends I never saw again (sigh). There’s a palpable authenticity to the voices and characterization, especially from the Jamie Lee Curtis and the Jake Gyllenhaal, that lends gravity to the story beats. Add in some nostalgia-inducing music, and you’ve got yourself a great family listen. Part I is already available—part II releases 8/18. Don’t miss it!

Sean T.

Editor Audible

Fiction

Believe the hype

Raven Leilani’s buzzy literary fiction debut simply must be heard to be fully experienced. The challenges Edie faces in navigating a nascent career as a young woman in New York City while defying stereotypes resonated with me deeply. With her multifaceted protagonist, Leilani chips away at the reductive monolithic idea of Black women so pervasive in media. The true nature and nuances of Edie are uncovered like a painting taking shape stroke by stroke, pulling you ever deeper into her history and pathologies. She’s a complicated human navigating a web of relationships—some life-giving, some poisonous—while trying to survive and create. This beautiful complexity is further realized through Ariel Blake’s narration. Rarely have I heard a character captured so thoroughly that it infuses new meaning into the work itself. Bottom line: Leilani is most definitely one to watch, and this captivating debut is one you can’t afford to miss.

Kelley S.

Editor Audible

Podcast

Come for the star power, leave with killer insights

If you came to this listen as a Blake Griffin fan, you’re in for a treat. If you came to this listen as a Blake-curious self-improvement dabbler, you, too, are in for a treat. No matter what attracted you to this Audible Original podcast (heck, it could even be the cool cover art), I’m confident there’s something here for you. First, you’ll discover that, in addition to being a world-class dunker in the NBA, Griffin is a phenomenal audio host (that voice!) who brings out the most intriguing of tales from his guests (some of which may or may not refer to sex and drugs, fair warning). At its core, each episode has key takeaways that will be beneficial to you as a human being—even if you’re not a mega-successful entrepreneur (like Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey), a prestigious award-winning actor (like Michael B. Jordan), or an enlightened meditator and Oprah bestie (Deepak Chopra).

Courtney R.

Editor Audible

Sci-Fi

A gripping journey through the multiverse

I love a good existential crisis, and no concept guarantees one quite like the concept of multiverses—so naturally I seek out sci-fi that scratches that itch. Micaiah Johnson has imagined a really unique spin on the sub-genre—in this world, extra-dimensional travel is possible, but only to universes where you (or, that universe’s version of you) are already dead. I just started listening to this exciting debut, narrated by the amazing Nicole Lewis (of Such a Fun Age fame), and I’m hooked.

Sam D.

Editor Audible

History

A lucid reframing of race in America

The arrival of a new work by Isabel Wilkerson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns, would be noteworthy in any year. In 2020, it’s a revelation. With stunning clarity, Caste takes a topic causing deep national grief—America’s enduring racist structure—and reframes it in the language and context of caste. It exposes how our racial hierarchy was established and invisibly ingrained over centuries—and how it holds its own against India’s more ''classical'' caste system and the rigid order constructed by Nazi Germany. Compellingly researched, with fascinating historical detail—witness Dr. King’s visceral reaction, then dawning recognition, after being called an American ''untouchable'' during a visit to India in 1959—as well as forthright reflections from the author’s own life as a Black journalist and scholar. Wilkerson compares confronting America’s caste system to checking out the basement in an old house—a dreaded but necessary chore—and in this superb account voiced by Hall of Fame narrator Robin Miles, it’s a journey many more of us will take.

Kat J.

Editor Audible

Fiction

A rom-com with sabor Latino!

Okay, I’m not really a romance kind of guy, but when I hear the word telenovela my ears automatically perk up! That’s because I was reared on them and like them. A lot! Spanish-language soaps, or telenovelas, have evolved from cheesy, low-budget productions to lavish multimillion-dollar franchises that often go on to be remade as successful American TV shows such as Ugly Betty and Jane the Virgin. Alexis Daria’s, You Had Me at Hola, is exactly what I was expecting—a laugh-out-loud, rom-com set amid the production of a newly greenlit novela. A spilled cup of coffee leads to a romantic chance meeting between the two main stars. And yes, sparks immediately fly. Seraphine Valentine’s narration is spot-on with the Borinquen-inspired lingo delivered with perfect comic timing. If you liked the Americanized versions of the telenovelas I mentioned, you’ll surely enjoy the Latin flavor of You Had Me at Hola.

Edwin D.

Editor Audible

YA

Debut YA novel packs a powerful, timely punch

It’s 1992 and Ashley Bennett lives a charmed life with her wealthy friends in Los Angeles. Nearing the end of their senior year, the teens split their time between prom prep and ditching school to lounge by the pool. Yet everything changes when Rodney King is beaten, the white LAPD officers involved are acquitted, and violent riots cause sections of the city to burn. This novel is scarily relevant to our times. Coming mere months after the impassioned protests following the death of George Floyd, there’s an eerie prescience to The Black Kids, which makes this story so important, not just for teens but for adults too. Actress Kiersey Clemons’s raw performance beautifully captures the essence of our main character and makes her easy to relate to. We’re all a little unsure of ourselves, of how to make the right choices, and whom we consider an ally. Following Ashley Bennett’s journey as she tries to figure that out is heartening and enlightening, and makes me feel there really is hope for change.

Margaret H.

Editor Audible

Fiction

Love, adventure, climate change & self-discovery

While I’ve always been able to appreciate the great outdoors and love animals and travel, I’m more inclined to take a long walk on a paved path through a scenic park and cuddle with my tabby, Tallulah, on the couch than to venture into the harsh wilderness. Migrations has broadened my worldview in the most welcome way, and in a way I didn’t realize I needed. First off, narrator Barrie Kreinik’s Irish accent and subtly powerful performance put me immediately at ease. While listening, I quickly came to consider Franny Stone, the woman at the center of this expansive and meditative listen, a friend—I feel like her confidante. Franny goes to the ends of the earth to track the migration of Arctic terns on one level, and as a journey of self-realization on another. From Antarctica to a prison in Ireland, Australia to Galway, Franny traverses the globe, and as the story progresses you learn more about why she’s always on the move. I highly recommend taking this journey with her.

Tricia F.

Editor Audible

YA

Step aside, Robert Pattinson...
we have our new Edward

As any Twihard would know, Midnight Sun has been a long time coming. I remember how devastating it was to learn that Stephenie Meyer had shelved the manuscript after the partially written draft leaked to the internet. Now, finally, we can hear Twilight from Edward's perspective, and, man, does it deliver. I couldn't have asked for a better voice for Edward Cullen than Jake Abel. His timbre and his emotional—but also strangely levelheaded—delivery captures exactly how I always imagined Edward would sound. And with 25 hours to get comfortable in the story, pretty much any detail that was glossed over in Twilight is covered here. Basically, this means my teen self can now die happy.

Melissa B.

Editor Audible

Audio Drama

When You Finish Saving the World

Five hours eavesdropping on therapy tapes - blech!

Fiction

Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing

Encouraging 'Cancel Culture'?

Science

The End of Everything

My New Favorite!

Scripted Podcast

Letters from Camp

Had to turn it off

Fiction

Luster

Spellbinding

Podcast

The Pursuit of Healthiness with Blake Griffin

Some episodes better than others

Sci-Fi

The Space Between Worlds

Refreshing

History

Caste

Brilliant, articulate, highly listenable.

Fiction

You Had Me at Hola

Fun read

YA

The Black Kids

The Black Kids

Fiction

Migrations

Fascinating

YA

Midnight Sun

Very Impressed