Editors Select | May 2020

Isn't it nice to know that there continue to be new listens each month?

Here are a few we're especially excited about for May—and we hope you will be too.

~The Audible Editors

YA

Elizabeth Acevedo does it again!

As a Dominican-American, I am loving that so many recent works are exploring the cultural DNA of the island and its people ( Dominicana by Angie Cruz and Julia Alvarez’s Afterlife come to mind). Elizabeth Acevedo’s latest novel, Clap When You Land, takes it to another level.

The lives of two sisters are shattered when their father is killed in a plane crash. Yahaira lives in New York, and Camino in the Dominican Republic—and neither know the other exists. This tragic accident will bring them together—but how? Camino’s life is turned upside-down as she is left without a financial lifeline. Meanwhile, Yahaira’s frustrations with her father are so trivial compared to everything Camino has to deal with.

Acevedo’s verse is beautiful and draws the listener immediately, skillfully switching between Camino's and Yahaira's voices. The sisters are unique, juxtaposed through their upbringing, but joined in their grief. They are trying to come to terms with not only their father's death, but with each other. Clap When You Land is an incredibly powerful and emotional work, and a must listen!

Edwin D.

Editor Audible

Comedy

Comedy with a lot of heart

Mike Birbiglia is one of the best storytellers out there today. I think we’re living in a really great era of comedy right now, with a lot of comedians putting out great work, but what Mike Birbiglia does is something special. I don’t think either of the terms ''stand-up comedy'' or ''one-man show'' fully encapsulate what it is he does. I’ve talked to both my coworkers and friends a lot about how much I love My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, and I was lucky enough to see The New One live on Broadway, and I’ll just say this: he’s the only comedian that’s ever made me both laugh and cry. There’s a real vulnerability in his work that takes a level of bravery you just don’t get to see that often. I’m really excited about The New One: Painfully True Stories From a Reluctant Dad because at the heart of it is the Broadway show that I loved, but now 4-hours longer with new stories and poetry from his wife, J. Hope Stein, detailing their shared experience about the chaos and beauty of parenthood and change.

Aaron S.

Editor Audible

Sci-Fi

I’ve never related to a robot so hard

I’m somewhat of a latecomer to this series, which was introduced in 2017 with the novella All Systems Red. But recently, while looking for a fun, escapist listen, I finally hit play—and I’m an instant convert. This installment in the series is particularly exciting, because it’s the first full-length novel and stands on its own. So even if you, too, haven’t listened to this series yet, you can dive right in. But really, you owe it to yourself to catch up on the other listens—they’re short, fun, smart, and perfectly performed. Murderbot, brilliantly voiced by Kevin R. Free, is a big #mood right now. They just want to be left alone to watch their stories without humans bothering them—and what’s more relatable than that?

Sam D.

Editor Audible

Fiction

A society I would love to join

A quaint British town in the 1940s, Jane Austen’s legacy, and a narration by Richard Armitage… I mean, how could this not be great? Natalie Jenner’s debut novel tells the story of an unlikely group of people who come together to preserve the legacy of their favorite author, all the while helping each other through the hardships of post-war life. While I must admit I have not yet had the chance to listen to Armitage narrate this particular historical fiction, based on his incredible repertoire of 5-star narrations, I have no doubt that it will anything but sensational. I don’t know about you, but for whatever reason historical fictions that remind me of the power of kindness and our shared humanity have recently emerged as my personal cure for quarantine-induced cabin fever, and I can’t wait to escape into this one.

Mariana P.

Editor Audible

YA

A new series to escape into

Since quarantine began, YA romance has become my ultimate comfort. I’m re-listening to old favorites, and basking in the hope (and drama) of new love stories. Kiera Cass’ The Selection series has always been a fun one to dive back into, and now that I’ve finished re-listening to it for the umpteenth time, I’m so grateful Cass is back with a brand-new series for me to get lost in. The Betrothed follows Lady Hollis Brite, girlfriend to King Jameson, and likely future Queen of Coroan. But the future she can see so clearly is called into question when a young man from a neighboring country shows up at court and (literally) catches Hollis’ eye. Narrator Jasika Nicole is a new voice for me, and I’m eager to listen to how she handles the drama and glamour of court alongside the angst of young love. And, of course, if I’ll wind up on Team Jameson or Team Silas.

Katie O.

Editor Audible

Nonfiction

''On my honor, I will try…''

I have nothing but fond memories of the decade I spent as a Girl Scout. Over the years, I learned valuable skills in first aid, art, economics, health, survival, and service. But beyond collecting those coveted embroidered badges, I found myself changed in ways that were perhaps more intangible. I grew more confident and independent and I found a community of girls who were among my first support systems, whether we were huddled together in a cabin or competitively comparing cookie sales each winter. To us, those weekly meetings felt an awful lot like home.

And that sentiment of feeling ''at home'' is at the heart of Nikita Stewart’s Troop 6000, a stunning work of nonfiction about economic injustice and perseverance that humanizes the homelessness crisis. As Stewart details her year spent with the trailblazing title troop, which was founded in a Queens shelter in 2017, she crafts a loving, compelling portrait of a courageous group of young girls who went on to become national figures of inspiration.

No stranger to social justice-centric nonfiction, Robin Miles lends a gentle, crisp narration to this tale of hardship and hope. The result is a triumph that defies stigma, underscoring the importance of carving out spaces of safety, consistency, and belonging, especially for our most vulnerable populations.

Alanna M.

Editor Audible

YA

What makes the perfect (book) boyfriend?

These past few weeks, I’ve been struggling to listen to more than 20 to 30 minutes of any story at a time. But that all changed with this debut from Kevin van Whye. I started listening to Date Me, Bryson Keller with the intention of going to bed after just a few chapters. But before I knew it, hours had passed, I was up way past my bedtime, and the audiobook was just about to end. Though this is a story about coming out, it’s also a cute fake dating story that felt like the perfect balance of escapism and addressing some of the problems still faced by LGBTQIA+ teens. Add in a stellar performance from Vikas Adams, and you’ve got yourself a winner on all fronts. That’s an #ownvoices writer AND performer, folks. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to miss out on this fun, hopeful, and oh-so happy distraction that I already want to listen to again and again.

Michael C.

Editor Audible

Fiction

An immersive, unsettling debut

As we enter another month of sheltering in place, I find it strangely soothing to hear about other people in close quarters: astronauts, maritime explorers, and, of course, boarding school students. So I’m grateful that Elisabeth Thomas’s much-anticipated debut novel was not among the new releases delayed by the pandemic. Named for an elite school where students are completely sequestered from the outside world, Catherine House is centered on Ines, who’s escaping a mysterious past—but soon finds her plush environs pose an even greater danger. With its Gothic setting, bewitching narration by Inés del Castillo, diverse characters, and LGBTQIA+ representation, Catherine House should get early acceptance into the canon of great prep school lit.

Kat J.

Editor Audible

Science & Technology

The fungus among us

Did you know that the earth used to be dotted with fungi more than two stories tall? That they were the largest living structures on dry land for millions of years? Fungi are the founders of new ecosystems and the equalizers of old ones, including the ecosystems inside us. They may regulate our brain function as closely as they regulate the life cycles of extreme radioactive environments. These are a few of the astounding facts that lace Merlin Sheldrake’s fascinating narrative in Entangled Life. His narration is so contemplative and rhythmic that it is hard to resist, making this quirky story of fungus surprisingly compelling and delightfully calming.

Michael D.

Editor Audible

Romance

Why yes I would like some beach time, thanks

I can’t tell you how fast I jumped on this listen when I saw that it was about two competing authors who fall in love, and that it was performed by can-do-no-wrong narrator Julia Whelan. This story is what the cover and title promises: a light, fun ''beach read'' that leaves you feeling warm and satisfied. But since this is also a story about writers writing books, it is also a meta adventure wherein we explore what makes characters (people) tick, and plot (life) fall into place. I was impressed with Emily Henry’s ability to put her finger on the small truths around what makes a great story, and why we love the stories that we do. Anyone who loves to play a little in the land of the meta, and/or would like to live a little in the beach read frame of mind right now, will find that this one hits the spot.

Melissa B.

Editor Audible

Suspense

It’s never too late for a new beginning

I could listen to January LaVoy read a legal brief and still be captivated by her ability to breathe life into it—but she unequivocally brings her all to Nora Roberts’ latest thriller, Hideaway. She nails the distinct vocal styles of each character in this unpausable story of family, heartache, survival, and strength. Caitlyn Sullivan is a precocious and kindhearted child star from a dynasty of Hollywood actors, but her world turns upside down the day she’s kidnapped on the family’s property in Big Sur. Still, she doesn’t let the experience break her, and the listener follows along as Caitlyn matures into a successful voice actor (love that nod to audiophiles!), holding tight to those trusted connections she made long ago, despite a revenge plot boiling up around her. Badass females, a will-they-or-won’t-they romance, and Roberts’ signature edge-of-your-seat intensity round out this enthralling listen.

Valerie B.

Editor Audible

Fiction

Does Curtis Sittenfeld have a crystal ball?!

I loved Curtis Sittenfeld's juicy fictional take on Laura and George Bush in 2008's American Wife, and the fact that she's given the same treatment to a new novel about a young Hillary Rodham Clinton is keeping me going right now.

In American Wife, she wrote about a school librarian from Texas who is swept off her feet by a devilishly charming suitor with ties to the Republican Party (never mind that she's a Democrat). Did Curtis Sittenfeld have a crystal ball when she wrote this? Could she see into a future where questions like ''Can a Republican and a Democrat fall in love?'' would feel more urgent than ever??

Indeed, her writing feels almost psychic, and I've been relishing the thought of peering into the mind of a young Hillary through Sittenfeld's lens. No one else captures the good, the bad, and the ugly of a character's internal life better than she does—her stories look at the truth of what it means to be a human in this world, even when that truth feels dark and prickly. In other words, she writes exactly the kinds of stories I want to listen to.

Rachel S.

Editor Audible

YA

Feel free to fall in love

This YA debut from Tobly McSmith stole my heart, and broke it, too. We follow the story of Pony, a transgender boy going stealth while navigating new kid status at a small Texas high school. He quickly falls for one of the most popular students, a cisgender girl named Georgia who also starts crushing on him, all while wrestling with whether he will share his past with his new peers. Growing up in a small Texas town myself, where I was a racial minority, frequently othered, and at times bullied, this story struck a chord with me. I was team Pony from the very start, hoping that he would settle into his new life easily, but he faces very real challenges from his family, friends, and fellow students, who can’t see the person for all the gender norms. The emotional toll of not being his fully realized self, compounded with the constant threat of physical danger associated with being himself, felt so visceral. You get a window into the reality for many transgender people as they simply try to live their lives, and the bravery that act takes. I hope you’ll give this profoundly moving, uplifting, and hopeful story a listen.

Kelley S.

Editor Audible

YA

Clap When You Land

Narration

Comedy

The New One

5 whining hours from formerly-uproarious comedian

Sci-Fi

Network Effect

Pretty Good, but Downhill from the earlier stories

Fiction

The Jane Austen Society

Why so much bad language? Ruined a good book

YA

The Betrothed

Sadly Disappointing

Nonfiction

Troop 6000

An Inspiring and Essential Read for Leaders

YA

Date Me, Bryson Keller

dear potential reader

Fiction

Catherine House

Not worth a credit - don’t bother

Science & Technology

Entangled Life

Mycology for Everyone

Romance

Beach Read

Phenomenal Storytelling... with a caveat

Suspense

Hideaway

Gratuitous swearing and foul language

Fiction

Rodham

I felt insulted by this novel

YA

Stay Gold

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