each one boasting a standout, not-to-be-missed performance—to help you find your next great listen.
Audiobook of the Year
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James
- A Novel
- By: Percival Everett
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 14,392
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 13,598
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Story5 out of 5 stars 13,598
When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers/listeners of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
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5 out of 5 stars
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This is the real story of Huck…
- By Poor Fisherman on 04-07-24
James by Percival Everett
James by Percival Everett
Percival Everett brilliantly subverts racist stereotypes in this instant-classic reimagining of Huckleberry Finn told from Jim’s perspective. This sharply funny, harrowing, first-person narrative is exquisitely performed by narrator Dominic Hoffman, who adds layers of depth and grace to the voice of Jim. Audible Editors and listeners agree: James is as close to perfect as an audiobook can be.
Our Top 20
This star-studded adaptation manages to be faithful to Orwell’s original novel and yet entirely reinvigorating. With lead roles by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, and Tom Hardy, and music composition by Matt Bellamy of Muse (all mixed in Dolby Atmos spatial audio), listeners were double-plus thrilled.
The interesting premise in this uber-twisty thriller is that you can tell many lies, but people will remember the first lie. This lie will follow the liar, in this case the main character, Evie Porter. What a life—even though it’s a lie. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld is amazing and very versatile.
Duhigg rocked our world eight years ago with The Power of Habit. In Supercommunicators, the Pulitzer winner does it again, this time with insights on the art of good conversation and how it’s so crucial to the task of connecting with others. Bonus: He narrates this one himself.
The perfect blend of history, biography, and memoir, An Unfinished Love Story is Doris Kearns Goodwin’s most personal work yet. Read by Goodwin herself, with passages from actor Bryan Cranston and archival audio excerpts, it’s an intimate story about her and her late husband's roles in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.
The podcast "Listen for the Lie" is the star of this comedy/thriller. Listener alert! Once you start listening, you won’t stop. It’s not every day that a woman wanders the streets covered with her best friend’s blood. January LaVoy and Will Damron work their narrator magic to the hilt.
Read by an outstanding full cast including Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Alma Cuervo, Tommy Orange’s epic follow-up to There There challenges listeners while rewarding them again and again with lyrical prose and heartbreaking truths about the ongoing repercussions of America’s brutal treatment of its Native people.
Henry’s knack for writing relatable characters who are balancing romantic love with relationships between friends and siblings adds even more joy to this beautiful story. Julia Whelan delivers another flawless performance, bringing the unforgettable cast of Funny Story to life. This one might be Henry’s best yet.
Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya did her homework for this performance: Her subtle shifts in cadence between types of bots adds such dimension to Sierra Greer’s fresh, unexpected take on AI and all the hopes and fears we ascribe to it, resulting in a provocative listen about free will and personhood.
Chu blends the sharp edges of rivalry with the soft sweetness of romance for a uniquely entertaining romp about two Toronto journalists reluctantly teaming up to investigate a scandal. Chu’s longtime narrator Phillipa Soo is joined by actor John Cho for this dual-narrated novel full of intrigue and humor.
Dr. Uché Blackstock gives voice to her pioneering physician mother and the pervasive health woes of Black Americans. Part family history, part call to action, it’s a searing diagnosis of racial disparities in the US health care system, and the concrete action steps needed to fix them.
Caroline Lee and Geraldine Hakewill deliver riveting performances in the story of a woman who stands up and predicts the age and cause of death for the passengers aboard her flight, which unfolds into an intricately layered narrative following the passengers as they each deal with the prediction in their own way.
Narrating Revenge of the Tipping Point himself, Gladwell revisits and reframes his groundbreaking concepts from 25 years ago. With all of the technological, political, and social developments since then, his unique insights into what he calls "contagious phenomena" couldn’t have come at a more critical cultural moment.
When Riley Keough agreed to help her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, write her memoir, she had no idea her mother would be gone a month later. This memoir is the deeply moving result of that shared project, beautifully narrated by Keough and Julia Roberts, with voice recordings from Lisa Marie herself.
Touted as a magical, gay murder mystery cruise, Frances White’s debut is a genre-bending triumph. The heirs of Concordia set sail together to celebrate their long-held peace, but one-by-one they start to get murdered. Debut narrator Nathan Foad delivers an unforgettable, nuanced performance, giving each heir a regionally specific accent.
Beware of your beautiful neighbors. They look like they have everything, but they want more, and not just the usual acquisitions. They play a much bigger game. Narrators Billie Piper and Dan Stevens headline a stunning cast that includes Shane Zaza, Avita Jay, Felicity Duncan, David Holt, and Sarah Whitehouse.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson showcases her gift for oration (she even sings on the audiobook!) in her surprisingly moving and vulnerable memoir. While her history-making path is enough reason to listen, it’s her raw account of the struggles of working parenthood and raising a neurodivergent child that set this listen apart.
True crime podcaster and author Jim Clemente takes a historical left turn with this multicast dramatization of a real life "bluebeard" who murdered countless women in the early 1900s. Joseph Fiennes, delivering all the same creepy vibes we love him for in The Handmaid's Tale, plays serial killer James Watson.
Luis Elizondo, the former Pentagon official who ran a secret program investigating UFOs, is knocking listeners’ socks off with his self-narrated memoir, an undeniably ripping account. From Area 51 to the notorious "Tic Tac" objects spotted in the USS Nimitz encounter, it’s all here.
Poet Kaveh Akbar’s debut novel teems with inventive language that mixes the humorous and profound. Succession star Arian Moayed’s versatile narration is a perfect match for protagonist Cyrus Shams, a recovering addict trying to shake his demons, find his voice, and make sense of his parents’ deaths.
Browse all of our top picks in your favorite genres
Explore more of the best of the year
Listener favorites from around the world
Australia
-
Here One Moment
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,920
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,384
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8,384
Flight attendant Allegra Patel loves her job, but today is her twenty-eighth birthday and she’d rather not be placating a plane full of passengers unhappy about a long delay. There’s the well-dressed man in seat 4C desperate not to miss his daughter’s musical. A harried mother frantically tries to keep her toddler and baby quiet. Honeymooners still in their wedding finery dream of their new lives, while a chatty emergency room nurse dreams of retirement.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Very interesting premise
- By RondaR on 09-16-24
By: Liane Moriarty
-
What Happened to Nina?
- A Novel
- By: Dervla McTiernan
- Narrated by: Kristen Sieh, Stacey Glemboski, Lisa Flanagan, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,647
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,550
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,550
Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Careful someone put spoilers in reviews!
- By Kelly on 05-07-24
By: Dervla McTiernan
-
The Habit Revolution
- Simple Steps to Rewire Your Brain for Powerful Habit Change
- By: Dr Gina Cleo
- Narrated by: Dr Gina Cleo
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
It’s never too late to reprogram your habits. But how long does it really take and how can you make the changes stick? Leading habit researcher Dr Gina Cleo reveals revolutionary breakthroughs in behavioural science that will help you uncover how your brain works, and how to rewire it to make instant and lasting change in your life. Discover evidence-based techniques to break free from unwanted habits, master your motivation and navigate setbacks to achieve the lifestyle you’ve always wanted, no matter what stage of life you’re in.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
lots of practical tips
- By Kindle Customer on 01-16-24
By: Dr Gina Cleo
-
Rebel Rising
- A Memoir
- By: Rebel Wilson
- Narrated by: Rebel Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,054
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,011
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,011
This “beautiful, brave book,” (Jenna Bush Hager, the Today show) is the story of Rebel Wilson’s remarkable personal transformation, from a painfully shy child in Australia who literally had to be dragged to drama classes and achieved break-out success in the US through iconic roles in Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids, and Isn’t It Romantic.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It's Okay
- By john burke on 04-21-24
By: Rebel Wilson
-
A Song to Drown Rivers
- A Novel
- By: Ann Liang
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 168
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 168
Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Impactful story
- By Survivor T on 10-26-24
By: Ann Liang
-
Unfinished Business
- By: Shankari Chandran
- Narrated by: Nicholas Brown, Pallavi Sharda
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 124
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 114
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 114
Sri Lanka, 2009. Decades of civil war and bloodshed are being brought to an end at last – by any means necessary. In the capital, Colombo, tenacious journalist Ameena Fernando is murdered, execution-style, on a busy street near her home, with no witnesses. With pressure growing to find Ameena’s killers, CIA agent Ellie Harper is sent to seek justice for the journalist’s death with strict instructions: Find something, but not too much. It’s her first time returning to the island after her last mission went tragically awry four years prior, and Ellie has more than one ghost to lay to rest.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic
- By Bella on 03-25-24
-
Here One Moment
- By: Liane Moriarty
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,920
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 8,384
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8,384
Flight attendant Allegra Patel loves her job, but today is her twenty-eighth birthday and she’d rather not be placating a plane full of passengers unhappy about a long delay. There’s the well-dressed man in seat 4C desperate not to miss his daughter’s musical. A harried mother frantically tries to keep her toddler and baby quiet. Honeymooners still in their wedding finery dream of their new lives, while a chatty emergency room nurse dreams of retirement.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Very interesting premise
- By RondaR on 09-16-24
By: Liane Moriarty
-
What Happened to Nina?
- A Novel
- By: Dervla McTiernan
- Narrated by: Kristen Sieh, Stacey Glemboski, Lisa Flanagan, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,647
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,550
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,550
Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Careful someone put spoilers in reviews!
- By Kelly on 05-07-24
By: Dervla McTiernan
-
The Habit Revolution
- Simple Steps to Rewire Your Brain for Powerful Habit Change
- By: Dr Gina Cleo
- Narrated by: Dr Gina Cleo
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 5
It’s never too late to reprogram your habits. But how long does it really take and how can you make the changes stick? Leading habit researcher Dr Gina Cleo reveals revolutionary breakthroughs in behavioural science that will help you uncover how your brain works, and how to rewire it to make instant and lasting change in your life. Discover evidence-based techniques to break free from unwanted habits, master your motivation and navigate setbacks to achieve the lifestyle you’ve always wanted, no matter what stage of life you’re in.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
lots of practical tips
- By Kindle Customer on 01-16-24
By: Dr Gina Cleo
-
Rebel Rising
- A Memoir
- By: Rebel Wilson
- Narrated by: Rebel Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,054
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,011
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,011
This “beautiful, brave book,” (Jenna Bush Hager, the Today show) is the story of Rebel Wilson’s remarkable personal transformation, from a painfully shy child in Australia who literally had to be dragged to drama classes and achieved break-out success in the US through iconic roles in Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids, and Isn’t It Romantic.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It's Okay
- By john burke on 04-21-24
By: Rebel Wilson
-
A Song to Drown Rivers
- A Novel
- By: Ann Liang
- Narrated by: Natalie Naudus
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 168
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 168
Xishi’s beauty is seen as a blessing to the villagers of Yue—convinced that the best fate for a girl is to marry well and support her family. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor, Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighboring kingdom of Wu, improve the lives of her people, and avenge her sister’s murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy, seduce their immoral king, and weaken them from within.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Impactful story
- By Survivor T on 10-26-24
By: Ann Liang
-
Unfinished Business
- By: Shankari Chandran
- Narrated by: Nicholas Brown, Pallavi Sharda
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 124
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 114
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 114
Sri Lanka, 2009. Decades of civil war and bloodshed are being brought to an end at last – by any means necessary. In the capital, Colombo, tenacious journalist Ameena Fernando is murdered, execution-style, on a busy street near her home, with no witnesses. With pressure growing to find Ameena’s killers, CIA agent Ellie Harper is sent to seek justice for the journalist’s death with strict instructions: Find something, but not too much. It’s her first time returning to the island after her last mission went tragically awry four years prior, and Ellie has more than one ghost to lay to rest.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic
- By Bella on 03-25-24
Meet the editors
