Narrators Zara Hampton-Brown and Alex Moorcock return for the sixth audiobook in the Dark Olympus series. Hampton-Brown voices Eurydice in a high, youthful voice that reflects her reputation as the most naïve person in her family. Frustrated and more than ready to move on from her ex-boyfriend, Orpheus, she begins a steamy romance with Charon. Moorcock's deep, commanding voice... Read More

The British science and health journalist puts together a wonderfully organized and helpful guide to understanding and managing our energy. Surveying the research on how our physical, emotional, and mental energy work together, she explains how all kinds of exertion are impacted by rest, diet, sleep, and the thinking or mood we adopt when working. The personal tone of her... Read More

Katherine Littrell portrays Theodosia, who gives up her law studies in Australia and goes to stay with her brother, Gus, in Kansas to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. When she finds the body of a famous writer who had befriended her in a coffee shop, she and Gus find their world turned upside down. They're drawn into a world of preppers, conspiracy theorists, and book... Read More

Sasha LaPointe, a poet and performer, delivers her edgy essays with a pleasing voice and a sure sense of the significance of her message. She reads in a word-loving style with the tempo of one who appreciates the meanings her words convey. A Coast Salish woman, she was raised on a reservation in the Pacific Northwest, knows the stresses of growing up a Native girl, and... Read More

Narrator Hillary Huber fully immerses listeners in this suspenseful second-chance romance. Hailey and Jesse grew up together as kids and fell in love when they were teenagers. When Jesse had the opportunity to go to college and start fresh, Hailey ended their relationship. Now all grown up, Hailey runs a new branch of a security company. She and Jesse reconnect when one of... Read More

Workplace enemies fall in love in this stand-alone contemporary romance, the third in the Paper Cuts series, narrated by Fiona Aarington and Nick Mondelli, who also narrated the series' previous two audiobooks. Tenley and Brooks are competing to become their law firm's next partner. Forced to work together on a case, each realizes that the other is the stranger they've been... Read More

This complex audiobook revolves around Marianne, a textile historian, who is called to the Fondazione Museo Menegatti in post-WWII Verona, Italy, to certify the age of three perfectly preserved Victorian dresses that once belonged to poet Christina Rosetti. In alternating chapters, Marianne's attempts to discover more about the dresses are met with threats and violence, while... Read More

Set in 1959, this beautifully written coming-of-age story about 10-year-old Lucas Ross, who lives in Montana, is affectionately narrated by Pete Cross. Cross's plain delivery and sincere tone allow listeners to step into Lucas's shoes as he discovers the joys and revelations of adolescence. When a car crash causes the death of a teenager, Cross voices Lucas's uncertainty about... Read More

Mhairi Morrison narrates a charming and passionate historical romance. Ten years ago, Winnifred Wallace invented a husband named Spencer Halifax and forged a document in order to secure a safe future. Now it turns out her imaginary man is not only real, he is intent on legally disentangling himself from her. Morrison imbues Winnie with courage and determination, showing just... Read More

Mhairi Morrison narrates a heartfelt historical romance dealing with consent and agency. Matilda Halifax is tired of being half of the notorious Halifax Hellions. She's well aware of how society judges her. When she accidentally embarrasses the Marquess of Ashford by selling the woman's erotic illustrations, Matilda is determined to make amends. Morrison's portrayal of Matilda... Read More

Narrators Renee Thorn and Ryan Stone take listeners into the secret society of the Oakmont Elite in this dark collegiate romance. Maybell Jacobs is a quiet and awkward wallflower until she has a chance encounter with the intimidating, rich Drew Marshall. For an opportunity to win some much-needed money, Maybell agrees to take part in a wicked tradition, The Hunt, in which she... Read More

In this delightful romantic comedy, Katelyn Levering and Nick Mondelli team up to narrate the story of Gillian and Noah. Gillian, the town pharmacist, finds solace in gardening, much to the chagrin of her nosy elderly neighbors, who believe she should focus on dating. Noah is a recent transplant who moves across the country after a tough breakup and buys the home next to... Read More

Xe Sands narrates this meditative collection of essays on life and preserving our threatened planet. Provocative yet tender, each free- flowing essay provides a glimpse of Millet's interconnected world. Personal anecdotes are juxtaposed with deep pondering about humanity's role in climate change. Expertly pairing animal facts with thoughtful observations of the human world,... Read More

Pete Cross provides a suitably lighthearted narration for this quirky, twisty, high-flying murder mystery set in a circus called Mysterium. This second installment in the Hayden and Friends mystery series follows a pint-sized gay middle-school teacher, Hayden, and his best friend, Hollister, as they seek the culprit in the murder of one of the circus performers. Although... Read More

Jon Fosse, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2023, has not reached a large audience in English, perhaps because of his Scandinavian tendency toward dark introspection. The relatively short opening section of this audiobook covers the birth of Johannes, a moment of hope and pride for his father, but the rest involves his death many years later. Listeners get hints of what... Read More

Imagine being on a blind date at a basketball game--and the "kiss cam" comes around. Narrator Justis Bolding captures Nora's discomfort when she realizes she's being put on the spot. This is a story with more depth than the title would suggest. Nora and romantic lead Duke meet at the basketball game, then go their separate ways for a few years when Nora moves to a new state.... Read More

Bert Seymour and Clare Corbett narrate this delightful historical fantasy, set in the mid-eighteenth century. Abel, a London watchmaker who creates fabulous automata, has disappeared. His son, Zachary, endowed with second sight, is being raised by his eccentric Aunt Franny. Many years later, Zachary sets off to rescue him from a sultan in Constantinople. Seymour, the primary... Read More

An ensemble of narrators delivers this collection of 16 classic stories, poems, fairy tales, and myths reimagined with a Latinx spin and frequent genre bending, mostly into sci-fi and fantasy. Each short story utilizes one or more narrators who mostly fit the gender identity of the main character. Each narrator fully commits to their story, emotionally connecting with teens who... Read More

André Santana artfully re-creates Brazil in the 1920s as he introduces capoeira, a blend of martial arts, dance, acrobatics, music, and spirituality. Listeners meet Salvador Bimba, who advocated for capoeira. Santana enthusiastically delivers lyrical descriptions accompanied by spirited background music, with Indigenous and Portuguese words adding atmosphere. Heartbreaking... Read More

The author, Maressa Brown, narrates this astrology guide to infants and toddlers using gender-neutral terms, inclusive words for alternative families, and a focus on early childhood development. Quick yet thorough sections cover how astrology works; traits and parenting tips for babies, based on their charts; and parent-child relationship info based on astrological signs.... Read More

Mollie Stark and Sebastian Grove narrate the first in a new fantasy romance series. With only three years until she meets her fated death at age 27, Althea knows time is running out to make her dream of becoming a warrior true--especially when women in her world aren't allowed to hold weapons. Then, an encounter with warrior Wilder Hawthorne provides the opportunity she's... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Sun Bell deftly portrays a believable grieving family through the voice of seventh grader Freya June Sun. Bell's brisk pacing matches the short, active chapters recounting the events that take place after the recent death of Freya's father. Freya, a talented violist, adheres strictly to her father's Chinese superstitions and is constantly seeking signs or... Read More

Inspired by a true event--the 1911 murder of muckraking writer David Graham Phillips--this well-researched mystery casts author Edith Wharton as a reluctant detective probing the death and life of a man she abhorred. Kitty Hendrix performs in a low-register breathy voice that emphasizes Wharton's mix of high-society manners and fierce determination. Her moderate pace allows... Read More

While narrator Jennifer Pickens wrings all the passion she can out of this novelized life of Henry David Thoreau, the audiobook keeps its focus firmly on Thoreau's inner world, especially his relationship with nature. Although that relationship is active, it is not dramatic. Thoreau may have been thrilled to discover a climbing fern, but few listeners will share his excitement.... Read More

Andi Arndt narrates a peculiar and poignant coming-of-age story. Born the same day VOYAGER 1 was launched in 1977, Adina Giorno has always felt different from those around her. Could she be an alien sent to observe life on earth? Arndt's detached tone deftly manages the balancing act required of an omniscient narrator who is sympathetic to Adina's plight while merely an... Read More

Mara Wilson does a wonderful job narrating the complex and sweeping story of Shiva Margolin, a young queer woman who finds herself mired in generations of family secrets and pain. Full of Jewish folklore, with flashes back to eighteenth-century Ropshitz, Poland, then known as the City of Laughter, this story could potentially be confusing for the listener. Using tone,... Read More

Narrator Amy McFadden enlivens the romance that develops between dancer Lily Montgomery and Noah Wylder, a financier who works for her family's firm. Lily has returned home to recover from an injury only to find that most of her family is on vacation, leaving her to stay with her grandfather. Noah and Lily shared a kiss in the past, and sparks fly again. Because Lily is... Read More

Will Watt expertly performs the second in the Spires series. A re-release of a previously published book, this audiobook includes additional stories and background materials featuring Edwin; his ex, Marius; and their new loves. As a flood hits his Oxford neighborhood, Edwin meets Adam, the ginger civil engineer who is trying to lessen the impending damage on the community.... Read More

Published in 2006, this audiobook is performed with verve and nuance by Piper Goodeve. Her light intonation and high pitch are perfect for her portrayal of sharp-witted 16-year-old Frederica. She lives with her professor parents--Aviva and David--in a small New England college dormitory in the 1970s. Her parents are the resident houseparents. The arrival of flamboyant Laura... Read More

British performance artist and writer Travis Alabanza narrates their own expansive exploration of race, gender, and trans identity. Throughout this engaging production, they reject the expectation of a tidy response to the "When did you know . . . " question and the demands to perform according to narrowly defined gender parameters. Alabanza shares their experiences growing up... Read More

Mhairi Morrison narrates a sweet yet decidedly spicy historical romance. Delighted at being half of the notorious Halifax Hellions, Margo Halifax is unwilling to see how her shocking reputation could limit her. Buttoned-up Henry Mortimer has loved Margo for years, precisely because of her impetuosity but has never spoken of his feelings. Morrison's narration captures both... Read More

Narrator Eunice Wong captures the beauty and pain of this magical coming-of-age story set on a Canadian island. Listeners meet 11-year-old Ava, who has been sent to her grandparents while her mother experiences a difficult pregnancy. Wong's sweet, sensitive Ava is worried despite her loving grandparents and the gorgeous setting of the island, replete with deer, birds, and water... Read More

As the voice of Mona, Ellie Moon performs appropriately. A young playwright, Mona should be an engaging character, but we don't hear much about her creative process. Rather, she struggles with family, friends, and herself throughout the novel. The simple structure of the story and the journalistic style of the prose are distracting in the audiobook format. Multiple narrators... Read More

Pete Cross uses an arch tone and deliberate pacing to deliver this dark satire of contemporary life. Office drone Melvin Levin's existence is flat as a pancake until he receives an anonymous and seemingly unmotivated death threat in the mail. The threat breaks the spell of his drone life and pushes him into a frenzy of paranoia and frustration, but for the first time in a long... Read More

Vaneh Assadourian delivers this novel about a dysfunctional Armenian American family in a knowing style and understanding tone. She adroitly captures the clipped angry tone of the indomitable harridan Takouhi, matriarch and mother of three daughters. Author Zilelian presents the three daughters' struggles. Kohar, the eldest, had trouble with fertility; Lucine's husband takes... Read More

George Newbern narrates Elinor Lipman's entertaining comedy with zest and an appreciation of its mix of improbability and realism. The blend of screwball and social humor focuses on Henry, a sympathetic retired lawyer who came out as gay late in life. His comfortable life on New York's Upper West Side is upended by a needy ex-wife, a handsome home design expert who lives with a... Read More

Dalia Ramahi narrates this companion to Aya Khalil's picture book THE ARABIC QUILT. Egyptian American Kanzi walks proudly past her quilt as she leads her classmates to the library. But the display of diverse books there is now empty: They've been banned. Ramahi captures the dismay of both children and educators, with plaintive music underscoring their shock. Back in the... Read More

Scintillating poetry from Sappho and examinations of Pythagoras's and Homer's lives and ideas are just some of the material that makes up this fascinating audiobook. Narrator Leighton Pugh introduces the literature, art, and thinking of these and other early Greeks. He connects their lives and theories with those of some of our Western thinkers whose own philosophies are rooted... Read More

Janina Edwards returns to narrate the third installment in the Spice Isle Bakery mysteries, voicing bakery co-owner Lyndsay and a variety of other characters. Deftly delivering various accents, inflections, and pitches, Edwards leads listeners through a cozy story of murder at Brooklyn's Caribbean American Heritage Festival. Her entertaining narration provides ample emotional... Read More

Pete Cross presents this deeply reported and thoroughly researched audiobook with the seriousness it merits. His well-paced narration captures the author's passion for migrants and thorough critique of the governments, corporations, and media that demonize them. He maintains a journalistic tone as the text traverses the globe, sharing the stories of those who have experienced... Read More

The chemistry between narrators Tyla Collier and Benjamin Charles is unmistakable in their compelling performance. Kayla is finally living her dream of becoming a rock star, but amid the glow of fame comes an unexpectedly public lifestyle. This and her budding romance with her tour bus driver, Ty, are making her life complicated but exciting. The unique romantic setup and the... Read More

Piper Goodeve is excellent as Natalie Marx, the young Jewish girl who narrates this upbeat, humorous audiobook. Hoping to book a stay at the Inn at Lake Devine, the Marxes are rebuffed by proprietor Ingrid Berry, who tells them that all their guests are Gentiles. Natalie snags an invitation from a non-Jewish friend, Robin Fife, and spends the summer of 1960 at the inn with the... Read More

Eve Schaub chronicles her family's ambitious undertaking to eliminate household waste for a year, which was made even more difficult by the Covid pandemic. Hillary Huber's tone of bemused humor matches the author's witty rendition of the many sacrifices her family made on their improbable journey to zero waste. The family sought out alternatives to many common products and... Read More

The author struck up a friendship with champion bowler Dot Wilkinson, and the resulting conversations turned into this biography of one of our nation's greatest female athletes. Wilkinson excelled at softball, playing for decades while also becoming an accomplished bowler. There's a down-to-earth quality about Wilkinson that comes across in Stephanie Németh-Parker's narration.... Read More

Emma Love beautifully delivers the essence of this story. In 1922, Ruby, an heiress, is sent to Lothel Green to deliver a trunk of magical books to Ruan, who has a gift for healing. While there, Ruby visits her old friend, Tamsyn, who has married Sir Chenowyth of Penryth Hall. Overnight, Chenowyth is found dead in the orchard, and locals believe the cause was a curse. Tamsyn is... Read More

Sarah Lohman is a surprisingly effective narrator of her thoughtful audiobook. She narrates with a pointed reportorial style and measured cadence that suit this text on vanishing foods. She does Native accents impressively in sections on the Navajo (Diné) and Choctaw people. And she's an active participant in the journey to test and taste foods identified by the Ark of Taste,... Read More

When a nice Midwestern mom loses pound after pound, devours carrot sticks, shuns Fritos, and quits baking cookies for her four sons, it could be a sign of impending disaster. Narrator Emily Ellet introduces listeners to Jackie, who revels in her new thin, seductive body. Ellet's Jackie has an earthy, insouciant personality. The story is about two next-door families who are... Read More

This fantasy romance narrated by Gomez Pugh and Lola James features Valente Correa, a Magi who delivers toys for the House of Correa. When he's assigned to escort his brother's intended bride, Kessina Macias, through the Andes, their journey takes an unforeseen and passionate turn. Pugh's narration captures Val's complexity, deftly conveying his brooding nature and intense... Read More

This performance by Abigail Reno will charm fans of small-town romances. Her narration offers two stories and is a great fit for this slower-paced novella. In one story, Mercy spends her summer serving a church in West Texas, where she meets a rugged cantina owner named Hunter. In the other story, Jasmine finds solace in a mysterious drifter named Flint. While the dynamics in... Read More

Gail Shalan's expert narration vividly brings to life a group of affluent suburban couples whose dinner party is abruptly derailed by a shelter-in-place order caused by a lethal airborne pathogen. Shalan shines as she crafts authentic male and female characters, each with a distinct, nuanced personality. Her portrayal of the notably unlikable Britta is both engaging and... Read More

Christopher Lee narrates this short picture book filled with Lunar New Year traditions. Gege has secretly made a present for his little sister, but there are so many activities to celebrate that he can't find the right time to surprise her. Lee performs the story with the exaggerated emotions appropriate to children's storytelling. He leaves pauses at the end of sentences,... Read More

Cloud Quinn gives a beguiling performance of this queer and atmospheric ode to Jane Austen. Bron is queer, gender fluid, lonely, and obsessed with Austen, Brontë, and other nineteenth-century British authors. After he's rejected from Oxford, he takes a job as a governess for Ada, a spirited girl who lives in a massive manor house. Soon he's knee deep in the family's secrets and... Read More

Emana Rachelle narrates this child's-eye view of a walk (to the polls) with Granny. While acoustic guitar music plays, Rachelle cheerfully delivers a young Black girl's patter and questions as she tries to guess their destination. Granny's responses sound kind and playful. She cryptically tells the girl that they're gathering "treasured souls." Neighborhood noises add context... Read More

This diverse collection of stories explores Lebanese American life in the community of Dearborn, Michigan. Sarab Kamoo and Qarie Marshall trade off delivering narratives that offer insights into the lives of a variety of characters of different ages and genders. From Yousef, a fun-loving boy who loves acting, to women who help each other through domestic violence, the... Read More

Young listeners enchanted by the holiday magic of DASHER will be delighted with this audiobook sequel, narrated once again by Laural Merlington. Impatient for the arrival of the night before Christmas, reindeer Dasher secretly flies off to experience the sounds and lights of holiday celebrations. But when a snowstorm delays her return, she must rely on a child’s unique gift to... Read More

Katherine Littrell skillfully narrates a love-triangle romance set in New York City. Littrell ably navigates the multiple storylines and jumps in time periods. Thirty-something Maggie, portrayed by Littrell in a subtly determined tone, is an aspiring singer-songwriter. She finds herself in a unique predicament when two former loves come back into her life for her 35th birthday.... Read More

Kim Bretton and Emma Fenney team up in this "fake dating" holiday-romance-turned-sapphic love story. The narrators alternate chapters told from the points of view of Bretton's warm, sensitive Margot and Fenney's passionate, impulsive Ellie. Freshly separated from her emotionally abusive girlfriend, Margot agrees to pose as the fake girlfriend of one of her big marketing clients... Read More

Hillary Huber delivers a delightfully creepy rendition of this graphic, fast-paced horror story about pregnancy and infertility. Anna Alcott is a famous actress who's been going through IVF treatments and finally becomes pregnant. Unexplained odd things start happening: Anna's appointments get switched, her medicines go missing, and she receives strange messages. Things get... Read More

This memoir by the distinguished historian and past president of Harvard is ably narrated by the author, though at times her voice lacks the variation that a professional might bring. The result is a somber review of an unhappy youth spent rebelling against staid conventions of womanhood and whiteness. Covering the period from her childhood in the 1950s to her college... Read More

Clara Harte is perfect as she narrates this beautifully written timely novel about connections, transitions, and authenticity. Phoebe Ford is starting a new life as a trans woman in Copenhagen. Originally from Ireland, she is reinventing herself but leads a relatively solitary life. Harte infuses Phoebe with wit, humor, and compassion in this story told over a long weekend.... Read More

Narrator Pippa Jayne delights listeners in this festive friends-to-lovers romantic comedy. Stella Bloom desperately wants to save her family's Christmas tree farm, which she has loved since childhood. To win a cash prize from a contest, she asks her best friend, Luka Peters, to fake date her to make Lovelight Farms seem like the ultimate romantic destination for the holidays.... Read More

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Pete Cross narrate a festive gay update of a holiday classic. Bailey George wants to change her life and leave her hometown but feels stuck. With the unexpected assistance of fabulous drag queens from the House of Angel, Bailey just might get her wish granted. Bailey's ambivalence and frustration are captured by Hutchinson-Shaw: Everyone she loves lives... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins brings life to the romance between bookstore owner Jade Mackenzie and advertising expert Levi Donovan in the small town of Sweetbriar Ridge. Levi has been forced to return home after being fired from his job in Alexandria just as Jade is opening her new bookstore/coffee shop. Levi's sister is working for Jade as a baker. Obstacles keep getting in Jade's... Read More

With a mixture of spunk and quirkiness, narrator Cara Swingline brings Fran and Ken Stein to life in this lighthearted mystery series. Working as private investigators who help clients find their birth parents, the siblings search for a missing ukulele that could lead to a client's father. The deep, throaty voice Swingline gives to Ken unintentionally makes him sound obtuse.... Read More

Three talented narrators transport listeners from the 14th to the 21st century as Jones's novel reveals the struggles of women to be seen and heard throughout history. Elisabeth Lagelée, the voice of Beatrice, speaks with intelligence and determination as Beatrice struggles to achieve her artistic dreams in the face of society's limited expectations. Mia Barron brings the... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller's fierce narration perfectly suits this sweeping fantasy retelling of the Chinese classic "Water Margin." Lin Chong is a highly respected arms instructor for the Emperor's soldiers despite her gender. She's unwilling to challenge the sexism and corruption around her, but when her entire life and career are suddenly ripped away, she is recruited by the Bandits... Read More

Marisa Blake tells the story of Vlad, a vampire who covers up his rosy cheeks for fear of not being accepted by the other vampires, who revel in their pallor. With even pacing and great enthusiasm, Blake captures Vlad's tumultuous feelings as he uses his fashion skills to mask his secret. Ultimately, with the support of a friend, he finds self-acceptance. Dramatic music tying... Read More

Will Watt's delightful performance amplifies the holiday magic in this contemporary workplace romance. Splashes and Snuggles store manager Sam Becker sustains a concussion and fakes amnesia after his frosty boss, Jonathan Forest, fires him and his entire underperforming staff. What ensues is a heartwarming journey for both men, full of snarky banter and free-flowing humor, as... Read More

This audiobook is an exciting, well-crafted fictional autobiography of Matthew Scudder, one of Lawrence Block's most memorable characters. Detective Scudder has thrived through 20 novels, and this novel provides more satisfying stories. With the team of Peter Berkrot, Romy Nordlinger, and Block at the microphone, the audiobook does not disappoint. The focus is on Detective... Read More

Devon Sorvari narrates a fantasy with romantic elements. Aya is the Queen's Eyes, her spymaster and third in command. Will, Aya's rival, is the Queen's Enforcer and second in command. When the kingdom is threatened, Aya and Will must set aside their differences and work together to save it. At times, Sorvari's sometimes flat and unemotional delivery coupled with a very... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya lifts this debut thriller to a higher level with her excellent performance. Her pacing is great, her ability to differentiate characters is top-notch, and she can hit some pretty deep notes when portraying men. The story is told from the point of view of New York City EMT Tina Evans, who gets a panicked middle-of-the-night call from her junkie... Read More

Martyn Swain narrates a delightfully gothic-tinged romance between an earl and his secretary. Rufus d'Aumesty has unexpectedly become Earl of Oxney, much to the dismay of his relatives. Luke Doomsday joins the household as Rufus's secretary but has his own motives for being there. While Rufus appears to be a straightforward former military man, Swain expertly teases out his... Read More

If listeners are initially disoriented by this audio, it's because the title is deceptive: It's as much a memoir as it is maritime history. This split personality is emphasized by the narration of Lynch Travis, who is much more comfortable with the personal elements of the story. Author Sullivan and a friend embark in a kayak on a perilous journey over the Columbia River Bar,... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins delivers on the cozy charm of Aguirre's roommate romance. When Iris inherits a purple Victorian house in St. Claire, Illinois, it's a fresh start, far away from her judgmental, magical family. Robins chronicles Iris's search for roommates, creating unique voices for crotchety Henry Dale, garrulous Sally, youthful Rowan, and considerate Eli, who knew Iris... Read More

Narrator Ingrid Greene plunges listeners into a Southern world of wealth, horse racing, and power. Maddy is taken in by a woman claiming to be her late mother's best friend after her father and brother mysteriously die in a car crash. Through her relationship with her mother's friend, Maddy meets Blaise Hughes, whose family owns the largest racehorse establishment in the South.... Read More

With his deep, gentle voice and careful pacing, Nick Mondelli delivers this coming-of-age horror story. A boy leads a pleasant life with his parents and dog until the day his estranged grandfather arrives. Listeners can hear the boy's parents' anxiety, but they're unwilling to say why. The grandfather's intense clipped voice and sinister smile create palpable tension. As the... Read More

Like his writing, Caleb Azumah Nelson's narration employs a musical cadence. This story is about a young first-generation Black Englishman whose parents are from Ghana. He navigates coming into his own through a variety of experiences. Nelson's voice is steady and consistent. He employs a poetic structure in each line. The descriptions of his relationships, whether it is the... Read More

Mark Sanderlin narrates this quirky time-travel romance in a charming voice. Nolan jumps at the opportunity to do a last minute gig at a famous comedy venue, abandoning his crush and best friend, Drew, and missing his sister's wedding. After disappointing everyone, he wishes on magic crystals to skip to the good parts of his life. The next morning, it's seven years later, and... Read More

Narrators Michelle Price and Paul Bellantoni take listeners to the quaint mountain town of Galway, North Carolina. There Rose Barnes is hoping to start fresh and build the house of her dreams--that is, until she hires a burly, grumpy contractor named Angus Drummond. Little does Rose know that Angus's scowling demeanor is due to his attraction to her kindhearted soul. As the two... Read More

Stephanie Willing ably performs this locked-room mystery set on a Hudson River estate in 1950s New York. Private investigator Viviana Valentine and her boss/partner Tommy Fortuna investigate strange nocturnal noises in the mansion of blue-blood scientist Buster Beacon. Willing imbues Viviana with a stereotypical working-class New York accent and puts bravado in Italian-American... Read More

This high-fantasy audiobook combines paranormal and romance elements with intense action and a unique system of magic. Gaige, portrayed by Nick Mondelli, is a former Charmer turned immortal assassin. He grapples with haunting memories and a longing for his lost powers while facing a looming threat. Mondelli's captivating performance captures Gaige's depth and emotional journey,... Read More

Narrator Marni Penning shows off her acting skills in this convoluted murder mystery set at Astwell Palace in 1784. When clever, curious 40-year-old Miss Tiffany Woodall discovers her half-brother Uriah's dead body, she dons his clothes, and identity as castle librarian to forestall the loss of her cottage. With a second, then a third poisoning, Tiffany and Constable Samir... Read More

Listeners will know from the start of Hillary Huber's performance that Petal Woznewski is a smarty-pants. Huber brings a slightly sardonic tone to her narration that reflects the tough, closed-off Petal well. Petal's had a tough life. Now an anonymous writer has made the death of Petal's old friend the basis for the plot of her latest thriller. The book--which is too close to... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins returns the listener to the boisterous Donovan clan. Marissa Barrett finds herself in a dangerous situation with her brother. So her boss, Patrick Donovan, proposes a marriage of convenience to protect her and to get his matchmaking mother off his back. Robins brings out the frustrations of both characters with their respective situations. Patrick comes... Read More

As whispers about the dead abound in a 1920s speakeasy at the start of this audiobook, Sara Young's narration adds to listeners' curiosity. Vivian Kelly, a dancer at the illegal club, begins looking into the death of her friend's uncle, a former customer, with the help of Leo, a shady guy who is also associated with the club. The uncle's death was reported to be a suicide--but... Read More

Priya Ayyar's youthful voice delivers this punny romance, in which Ireland's best young chefs compete in the first-ever Junior Irish Baking Show. Ayyar's talent for accents conveys Shireen's parents' Bangladeshi lilt, as well as the Irish accents of judges and competitors. Shireen hopes to win the prize money and gain attention for her parents' donut shop, but she'll have to... Read More

Fairuza Balk expertly differentiates the characters in this retelling of a mysterious Tyrolean folktale. From the beginning, Balk captures Otilla’s youth and curiosity. Her courage becomes clear when she meets the other character in this story, a skull. Balk’s noble tone and accent fit him, and the way she expresses his approachability transforms a typically scary icon into a... Read More

Katherine Littrell gives an operatic and beautifully detailed performance of this gorgeous debut. Told in four distinct sections, it follows four generations of one family from 1910 through 2015. Through complicated specific characters, Wolfgang-Smith explores themes of inheritance, silence, trauma, and queerness, tracking what gets passed down between parents and children and... Read More

Jeff Harding narrates an unusual contemplation on the nature of time and memory as a clinic lets Alzheimer's patients relive their memories by decorating each floor in the style of a different decade. An unnamed assistant is tasked with time-traveling to collect the minutiae for each floor, but when the clinic becomes too real, the general public begins visiting as... Read More

Narrator Caitlin Thorburn captures the angst, poignancy, and humor in this contemporary rom-com set in Minneapolis's Modern Jewish Orthodox community. Penina, a 29-year-old jewelry saleswoman, believes she may never marry because she's infertile. While volunteering, she meets Sam, who's Jewish but doesn't practice his religion. He turns out to be her new boss. Ignoring her... Read More

British poet Amy Key narrates her memoir about love and living alone. Examining her life through Joni Mitchell's influential 1971 album, BLUE, Key relates each track from the album to a chapter in her life, finding frequent parallels between her experiences and Mitchell's. The subjects Key covers range from deeply affecting to fairly lighthearted, and while her composed... Read More

Kelli Tager and Nick Mondelli narrate a contemporary romance debut. Gracie is stuck with a bad case of writer's block and a recently quashed belief in romance. On a whim she emails her high school crush, Colin. Recently divorced, he is intrigued by Gracie's sense of humor, so the two continue writing. The stronger of the two narrators, Tager captures the hot mess that is... Read More

Tuppence Middleton transports listeners to Victorian England with her sublime narration of this story of four women and the man who may destroy them all. An unidentified woman's body, with wings attached, is pulled from the Thames. Soon after, two other winged women are found. A young scientist, desperate to make a name for himself, will capture and exploit these women, risking... Read More

Cindy Kay's expressive delivery welcomes the listener to the first installment of the Mythwoven fantasy series, in which fairy-tale and supernatural folk coexist. Hoping to save the next possible victim of the Red Shoes, which cause the wearer to dance themselves to death, vampire Bennet arrives too late. But Peeraphan is able to resist the shoes' deadly magic because she isn't... Read More

Lyndsay Murray, owner of the Spice Isle Bakery, finds herself in the middle of another murder case. This time her mother is a person of interest in the poisoning of Emily Smith, her old boss. Narrator Janina Edwards gives appealing performances of the entire Murray family as they help Lyndsay prove her mother's innocence. Edwards's silvery voice gives listeners a taste of the... Read More

Listeners will be immediately engaged by the River Run Swim Club of Virginia. The team is Gillian Cloud's family legacy, and in June 2012 she's involved in nearly all of its operations. But when her husband, Charlie, takes over as head coach, the power dynamic shifts. Hillary Huber voices Gillian with perfect pacing as she tries to maintain control. Scott Brick's portrayal of... Read More

Carrington MacDuffie impressively presents this lackluster story, reminiscent of an English manor house mystery--except this is set in North Carolina. Listeners meet troubled 30-something Cameron Clewe and retired librarian Jane Hunter. Jane is hired to catalog Clewe's massive book collection, which is heavy on mysteries. Colorful descriptions of eccentric characters and... Read More

Narrator Erin Dion gives life to crime writer and newly certified private investigator Augusta Hawke as she finds herself drawn into the machinations of Callie, the wife of a Washington lobbyist who is desperate to become an ambassador. When a well-known philanthropist dies of an apparent heart attack during a party hosted by Callie, Augusta is suspicious and sets out to... Read More

A feminist reimagining of the plight of Phaedra in this audiobook highlights the power dynamics that characterize many Greek myths. Through a series of misfortunes, Phaedra is married to Theseus. It's a loveless marriage, and she faces a bleak future. Rather than be branded a seductress, Phaedra accuses her stepson, Hippolytus, of raping her. He is convicted, but, ultimately,... Read More

For nonstop adventure, this romantic suspense fits the bill. Zena and her sister, Brooke, investigate pollution in their sleepy Australian town and end up in big trouble. After falling down a mineshaft, they call Brooke's ex-boyfriend, a veteran, for a rescue that involves gun battles, toxic waste, and underground waterfalls. Narrators Justine Eyre and Antony Davis alternate... Read More

Alison Larkin narrates this intriguing mystery set amid WWII bombings. Youthful Ellie McDonnell, a safecracking thief from a family of safecrackers and pickpockets, is best known for her skillful fingers and charming wit. For the third time, crisp-voiced, no-nonsense Major Ramsey, of British Intelligence, utilizes Ellie and her unusual skills for a mysterious mission involving... Read More

Matthew Lloyd Davies narrates this dark police procedural. DCI Adam Bishop connects the multiple murders at a crime scene to a serial killer who was active 15 years earlier but is now behind bars. As the body count rises, so does the pressure on Adam and his team. Davies's narration is perfectly matched to this twisty plot, and he creates a gruff but likable character in Adam.... Read More

This fantasy audiobook, narrated by Evelyn Rose, tells the story of Gemma Ashbourne, a young woman from a magical family who grapples with loneliness due to her lack of magical abilities. When she forms a pact with Talan d'Astier, a survivor of a cursed lineage, their attraction grows amid increasing danger. Then, Gemma discovers an untapped power within herself. Rose's... Read More

For listeners who hunger for presidential trivia or who love food or history, this book on presidents and their food will be a treat. Narrator Pat Grimes serves up heaping helpings of fun facts and delectable details about presidential favorites ranging from George Washington's squirrel stew to Donald Trump's fast food. Grimes offers a solid narration. His voice is generally... Read More

Traci Odom introduces L.A. bridal wear designer Rayne McGrath and her fiancé, Landon Short. The novel opens after a birthday celebration as a hungover Rayne learns her beloved Irish uncle has died. At the same time, Short has disappeared. Rayne must travel to Ireland for the reading of the will while her mother stays behind to find Short. Odom excels at Irish accents. Her best... Read More

This Taiwanese novella is like a musical rhapsody celebrating the wonders of the piano. Fernando Chien, an actor born in Taiwan and well known for his action roles, narrates. The story is told by a former musical prodigy who rejected the concert stage to restore ailing pianos to musical health. Chien's voice is energetic, and his presentation is straightforward and upbeat. The... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins helps listeners navigate the romance between Jamie Donovan and Fallon Murphy as they move from enemies to lovers. When Jamie is left in charge of his family's pub when his parents go on vacation, one of his past girlfriends leaves a baby on his doorstep. Even though Fallon and Jamie have always butted heads, he calls upon her to help him. Robins deftly... Read More

Nick Mondelli captures the angst of three teenagers in the 1980s who share a love of heavy metal. Kip, Leslie, and Kira--all estranged from their families or their communities--build an unbreakable bond over music and move from their small town in Florida to California. Mondelli builds tension as the group is tested and begins to falter and fracture. Desperate to save his... Read More

Narrator Pete Cross works some serious magic with his narration of this beautiful and unusual novella. It's told from the point of view of a lonely mountain lion that is living alone in the Hollywood Hills, observing humans, searching for food, and reminiscing about its childhood. Cross conveys the narrator's non-humanness with surprising pacing and unexpected pronunciations... Read More

Lesa Cline-Ransome's biography for beginning readers about Joseph-Antoine Adolphe Sax and his most famous musical invention, the saxophone, cooks with rhythm and swing as narrated with aplomb by Cary Hite. Hite's baritone is smooth, warm, and well suited to this text as he shares the origin and bumpy path to acceptance of the saxophone by musicians worldwide. The story picks up... Read More

Iranian author Dina Nayeri's perspective on truth is shaped by her refugee status in a Midwestern town and her appetite for gripping social issues. Ayesha Antoine has the sensibilities needed to narrate the author's stories and intelligent observations on how people communicate. Antoine's interpretations of these riveting anecdotes and keen insights make the author's gift for... Read More

Narrator Anthony Perez does a fine job narrating this juvenile mystery with a lot of heart. Cuban American Rafa Alvarez thought it was funny when he and his friends stole the slushy machine at school. As punishment, Rafa's dad sent him to New Mexico to work at Ranch Espanto (Ghost Ranch) with his father's old friend for a month. In Rafa's defense, home has been tense--his... Read More

Malena and Klepetan, two white storks, are used to staying together when their flock migrates between Croatia and South Africa for the summer and winter seasons. However, when Malena gets hurt, the pair must spend the winter apart, which is a new challenge for them to face. Narrator Hallie Ricardo's feminine voice is expressive, clear, and comfortably paced. Her vocalizations... Read More

Almost a century ago this groundbreaking work of science fiction introduced the world to futuristic writing concepts still in use. Through narrator Rupert Degas we hear this seminal work about the subjugation of the laborer class in order to keep monstrous machines operating to serve the upper class. Degas has a plaintive tone that underscores the horrors of this dystopian... Read More

Pete Cross brings a serious delivery to this collection of essays. He voices the intellectual curiosity, self-awareness, and irony of the author--a literary novelist and professor--with a measured and smart delivery. This very brief audiobook is by turns a recollection of high school, a memoir of time abroad, and a travel narrative of a pilgrimage to Willa Cather's home. It's... Read More

Narrator Pete Cross makes magic of his own in Anderson’s newest fantasy for middle-grade listeners. Cross imbues a teen named Clay with youthful sincerity and awe as he adopts a stray elf-hound who shows him how to cross over into a magical world of dukes and ladies, owl men, and wyrms. Cross gives each character a unique voice and energy level. Intensity ranges from the... Read More

Angie Kane's heartfelt performance eloquently captures the essence of each character in this novel about loneliness, friendship, and family. In Washington State, four lonely people from varying backgrounds unexpectedly come together through a book club. Once trust is established, they discover that friendship can take place on a deeper level than they ever anticipated. Each... Read More

Jennifer Jill Araya narrates an intricate family drama brimming with secrets and the price paid to keep them. Sisters Liz and Meredith have found that the only thing they can rely on is each other--until Liz learns Meredith has been murdered. As she grapples with the ramifications of losing her sister, she discovers a series of mysteries that not only provide a motive, but also... Read More

It's 1885 London, and the mysterious Dear Miss Hermione is on holiday. She has temporarily assigned her niece, Violet, to cover requests for help and passed along the latest letter, which is from Ivy, a newly married young woman who is in fear for her life. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw reveals Violet's lack of confidence in matching her aunt's talents. When she reaches Ivy's village,... Read More

Hillary Huber creates a delightfully snarky heroine in Nessa, a telemarketer who is fired with no warning because her boss, Xavier, doesn't like her face. Nessa can't understand how her "resting bitch face" could matter since her work is 100% on the phone. Xavier, always shoeless, has fired many more workers with equally lame reasons, yet Nessa discovers the fired workers'... Read More

Pete Cross narrates Willa Cather's atmospheric classic, first published in 1927, with quiet assurance. In 1851, Father Jean Marie Latour begins his priesthood by serving as the apostolic vicar of New Mexico. As the priest from the East navigates the desert Southwest--its stunning landscape, its intensely divided peoples, and its surprising caprices--Cross brings Cather's... Read More

The late Judith Heumann, who used a wheelchair all her life, narrates her own note to listeners in this brief account of her youth and early disability-rights activism. Ali Stroker delivers the story itself, which begins with Heumann's education, a time that is marked by humiliation and opposition at nearly every turn. This fuels the anger and determination that leads to... Read More

In the second installment in the Pies Before Guys mysteries, Tanya Eby deftly portrays Daisy Ellery, a baker with a magical touch at making pies. As Daisy participates in a two-week cooking competition, her sleuthing talents are challenged, as well as her baking skills. In the first audiobook she inadvertently caused someone else's demise; this time she sniffs out a killer.... Read More

In 2034 Washington, Detective Jen Lu returns with her bio-implanted assistant, Chandler, to solve a murder involving a political smoking gun, a 1968 research paper on climate change that has the energy industry up in arms. Joe Sanfelippo portrays Chandler and his humorous robotic interpretation of Jen's every thought and emotion. He also provides an emotionless interpretation... Read More

In this audiobook Jennifer Michael Hecht proposes that poetry can become a personal ritual for many of life's important moments, particularly for those who find no solace in organized religion. For each moment for which religion or community offers consolation or commemoration, Hecht suggests a poem and a way of choosing and using a poem of the listener's selection. Gail... Read More

Senn Annis portrays Ottawa coroner Dr. Cate Spencer as she tries to solve a possible murder. When Dr. Spencer is called to the scene of an apparent suicide at a nitrate film storage facility, something other than the highly flammable materials in the facility seems explosive. Surrounded by protesters who are trying to prevent a blatant land grab, she starts to realize that a... Read More

Carlotta Brentan narrates a historical romance set in the opulent city of Vienna. Maria Wallner must find a way to restore her family's hotel to its former glory, while Eli Whittaker must find out who has been selling top-secret American information across Europe. Their paths collide on New Year's Eve. Brentan captures Maria's bold determination, which is appropriate for a... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins embodies the boisterous Donovan clan. After serving 10 years in the Marines, Liam Donovan moves home to his small town in North Carolina, where his family owns a pub. He finds himself living next door to music teacher Tessa Sullivan. Tessa and Liam are complete opposites. With a constrained delivery, Robins channels Liam's uptight nature, while she... Read More

Mark Meadows is just the right narrator to bring the charming, witty, debonair thief Arsène Lupin fully to life. Meadows captures the lighthearted sarcasm, subtle humor and brilliance of Lupin, who immodestly touts his own cleverness. In this collection of nine engrossing short stories, listeners meet the gentlemanly burglar whose powers of deduction rival those of Sherlock... Read More

In this story of finding love in unexpected places, narrators Pippa Jayne and Julio Maxwell portray Layla and Caleb as the two navigate the new territory of dating each other. Layla is fed up with online dates that keep falling short. Then she finds herself in a fake relationship with Caleb, an acquaintance who quickly becomes more. Layla's skepticism and Caleb's hopefulness,... Read More

Maya Soroya becomes young Gopi, a girl who loses her mother all too early and gains a passion for sport through her father. This is an exploration of the clash between traditional and contemporary values among the members of a Gujarati community living in England. Soroya does an excellent job of differentiating Aunt Ranjan, Gopi, and her sisters, as well the male characters,... Read More

During a train trip to Georgia, WWI veterans, deftly portrayed by narrator Adam Barr, experience continued grief and trauma. Soldier Mahon suffers the most hideous and heinous wounds. As a small circle of supporters surrounds him, escorting him home, Barr portrays the most notable characters, especially Joe and Mrs. Powers, with exceptional skill. Mahon holds onto the... Read More

Prolific narrators Amy McFadden and Will Damron narrate the first title of the Getting Shipped series. Best friends since childhood, Trevor and Lexi are secretly in love with each other, something that everyone else in their small town knows. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, neither one pushes to leave the friend zone. But when Lexi's sister persuades her to try a dating... Read More

This first in a new series set in Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, is expertly performed by Janina Edwards. The day Lyndsay Murray fulfills her lifelong dream of opening a bakery in partnership with her Grenadian family, friends and neighbors line up to buy the shop's spiced, sweet, and savory treats. The joy sours when a rival bakery owner is murdered, and Lyndsay becomes the prime... Read More

It's difficult to think of a better combination for a fantastic listen than Wilder's 1927 literary classic and the performing talent of Edoardo Ballerini. Wilder's short novel is widely acclaimed but not so widely read anymore. Ballerini brings his exceptional skill for capturing the voices and circumstances of characters from all walks of life. This tale of life and death and... Read More

Sean Rohani narrates this story of two men, grandfather Ali Hassan and his grandson, Alex. Young and politically passionate, Alex abandons his goal of attending an Ivy League school and travels to the Middle East to join a holy war. Ali, having veered from the same path 60 years earlier, has traveled along with Alex, hoping to change his trajectory by sharing his own similar... Read More

Narrator Carly Robins immerses listeners in Ryleigh Donovan's frustration with her mother's constant matchmaking. Feeling desperate, she turns to Ryker Masella to act as her fake boyfriend. Ryker, who has been trying without success to date Ryleigh, eagerly agrees to her plan. Robins adds warmth to her portrayal of Ryker, embodying all of his feelings for Ryleigh. Bringing life... Read More

Martyn Swain narrates a romance between a gentleman and a smuggler. After his father's sudden death, Gareth Inglis inherits a house in Romney Marsh, Kent, and unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a former lover whom he parted from on bad terms. Swain's portrayal of Gareth, who suffered emotional abuse most of his life and is now healing, is deeply affecting. Joss Doomsday, who... Read More

One of the joys of listening to audiobooks is the opportunity to revisit classic works that the listener may not have thought about since high school. Such may be the case with London's novel THE SEA-WOLF. Narrator Noah Michael Levine does an outstanding job capturing the various dialects, intense emotions, and harrowing scenes in this classic novel about a literary critic,... Read More

Geraldine Hakewill charms in Kovacic's "Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries" novel, based on a hit Australian television series of the same name. The story introduces Peregrine Fisher, long-lost niece of Phryne Fisher, the investigative heroine of Kerry Greenwood's bestselling mystery series. It's Melbourne in 1960. Phryne has disappeared in New Guinea. Her heiress, Peregrine,... Read More

Marni Penning narrates this thoughtful combination of memoir and history. Erika Bolstad grew up hearing stories about her great-grandmother Anna's life as a North Dakota homesteader. The only two solid facts passed down refer to Anna's confinement in a mental institution and the existence of mineral rights to a small parcel of land on the edge of the Bakken oil fields.... Read More

Narrator Natalie Naudus captures the deep sorrow at the heart of this hauntingly beautiful novella. She fully embodies Sean, a scientist who has discovered a way to link her brain with those of animals to better understand their emotional realities. When Sean links up with one of the few remaining wild wolves, her understanding of herself and the natural world begins to shift.... Read More

Narrator Danielle Cohen captures the determination and grace of a woman who is battling breast cancer. To cope with her diagnosis, Keira wants to continue her busy schedule of work and family responsibilities. She slowly accepts reality when she joins a running club with three other cancer patients. The foursome both uplift and mourn with each other. Many emotions in the... Read More

A superb ensemble of narrators brings this story of familial love and racial oppression in 1930s Mississippi to life. Tyla Collier aptly voices Lamb’s hesitancy to befriend the daughter of the town’s racist optometrist. Ultimately, Lamb's kindness has disastrous consequences. Each narrator is paired perfectly with a specific character. Collier sweetly voices Lamb, successfully... Read More

The strong, manly voice of Pete Cross breathes life into one of America's earliest bestselling novels (1821). This audiobook takes listeners to Westchester County, New York, in 1780 during the Revolutionary War, when this area was ravaged by both combatants. This historical novel is very much a literary product of its time, with racist and sexist passages, convoluted syntax,... Read More

Carrington MacDuffie narrates this biography of the award-winning poet and ecologist W.S. Merwin. She speaks clearly and simply, complementing the poet's love of nature and suiting the book's target audience of young children. In addition to being a renowned poet (he was a two-time U.S. poet laureate), Merwin was concerned with preserving the natural world. The story skims... Read More

Cryptocurrency and murder come to the fore in this engaging audiobook featuring elderly Ethel Fiona Crestwater as a feisty landlord and supersleuth. At its core, the novel focuses on the murder of a Secret Service agent, who is one of Crestwater's boarders. The story shines because of Crestwater's personality, which Patrick Lawlor brings to life with a superb performance.... Read More

There's warmth and enthusiasm as Robert Blackson explains that the Symphony for a Broken Orchestra--Philadelphia's public initiative to repair broken instruments and bring music back to the schools--came about when he discovered an abandoned school gym filled with damaged pianos. Tyla Collier's voice brings the music of this enchanting story to listeners. Her melodic tones... Read More

Carly Robins brings enthusiasm to her narration of the romance between Arianna Donovan and Will Jameson. After spending a perfect day together, Arianne and Will allow a full year to pass before they reconnect. Finally, Will turns up as a friend of Arianna's brother at her family's pub. Will and Arianna have to secretly date because they worry about her family's disapproval.... Read More

Narrator Ava Lucas returns to this third Fix-It Witches romance. Now that the witch-hunting crisis is over, the coven can return to their normal lives in which they are hidden in plain sight in their midwestern town. For Leanne, that should mean casual romantic flings and being overworked in the mayor's office. However, after meeting Trevor, she begins to see potential in the... Read More

Brenda Scott Wlazlo captures a pivotal time in Fallon Monroe's life. As she turns 40, she hits early menopause, undergoes a shift in her friend group, and aspires to shift from suburban housewife to boutique chocolatier. Suddenly, her best friend, Beatrice, along with other housewives she knows, stop inviting Fallon and her 7-year-old daughter to social gatherings, and Fallon... Read More

Tavia Gilbert expertly narrates this revealing memoir by Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022. Gilbert masterfully inhabits Ernaux's inner life by revealing the angst and sensuality of the affair she had four decades ago, as revealed in her journal entries. Gilbert's conversational tone is ideal for the interior monologues in this work. Ernaux is a... Read More

Carolina Hoyos expertly and lovingly narrates this astounding audiobook. A Mexihcah girl tells her little brother about the history of book making in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Europeans. Book-making techniques are explored in depth--from the plants used to make the pages to the animals, insects, and rocks used to complete and decorate the books. How these books were... Read More

The artistic, accomplished voice of Eunice Wong introduces listeners to the glamorous world of the stately Savoy Hotel in London, its famous guests, and backstairs shenanigans. In 1968, Priscilla Tempest, a mini- skirt-clad young Canadian, is employed as head of the press office for the Savoy Hotel. Wong gives her a clear, pleasant voice that is distinct from the voices of her... Read More

In a tone of romantic adventure, Alex Bescoby narrates his account of the 2019 road expedition he led from Singapore to London--16,000 miles. Retracing a famed 1950s expedition, which took place in an Oxford model Land Rover, Bescoby travels roughly the same course under the guidance of Tim Slessor, who was also part of the earlier journey. As they prepare for the current trip,... Read More

Narrator Amara Jasper inhabits the role of agoraphobic, rich, spoiled, and very clever Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy, daughter of The Pinnacle Hotel's owner in 1958 New York City. Jasper captures Evelyn's perkiness as she describes her fancy clothes, teetering stilettos, and attachment to her purse-sized dog, Presley. When artist Billie Bell's masterpiece is stolen and then... Read More

Neom is an actual planned smart city to be built by the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. This audiobook imagines it in the far future, when it has become a global gathering place. Using an array of regional accents, Rasha Zamamiri capably brings those in Neom, human or otherwise, to life. Characters range from a native flower seller to a desert-dwelling boy who is seeking the stars,... Read More

In this inspiring biography for children, author and narrator Katie Yamasaki honors the legacy of her grandfather, the Japanese-American architect Minoru "Yama" Yamasaki. Best known as the man who designed the original World Trade Center in New York, Yama had to overcome racial hatred and discrimination--personally and professionally--throughout his life. But he believed in... Read More

Narrator Megan Tusing performs a touching romance that transcends time. Isla initially hesitates to believe the man who texts her that he is her husband from the future. As they build their relationship, he admits that her future self is no longer in his life and that he wants to protect her from her ultimate fate. Tusing's voice for Isla captures emotions that range from... Read More

Narrator Angela Rose Masi takes on the story of a young private investigator and a case that becomes far too personal. Four years earlier, heiress Melia van Aust's family was murdered in cold blood, leaving her and her brother the sole survivors. After leaving rehab, Melia hires Rainey Hall to find out who is threatening her life. Masi's narration is slow paced and thoughtful.... Read More

Narrator Suzie Althens brings an upbeat sense of wonder to the story of unlikely scientist Jeanne Villepreux-Power. Born in a remote French village during the French Revolution, Villepreux-Power went to Paris with her dressmaking skills and natural curiosity, and eventually to Sicily, where she would become a groundbreaking marine biologist and pioneer of aquariums. Althens... Read More

Vaneh Assadourian is a strong guide for this novel about a young woman in Yazd, Iran. Helen's life is impacted when the increasing extremism taking place in the nation reaches her remote village. Assadourian's narration is assured and purposeful, much like Helen's personality. Listeners will sympathize with the ups and downs of the young woman's life, which eventually pits her... Read More

Dominique Franceschi shines with her enthusiastic narration of this fun and creepy mystery. All the characters have distinct and realistic voices. Omega Morales feels that she doesn't fit into her hometown, Noche Buena. The human townspeople are wary of her because she is half-human, half-empath. She straddles both worlds without fully feeling part of either one. Omega's best... Read More

Want to live in Palm Springs, California? First, listen to Melanie Carey and Paul Bellantoni narrate this debut cozy mystery, set in the present day. Listeners are introduced to the charms of the city, as well as lots of Old Hollywood trivia, while being simultaneously entertained by a murder mystery. Carey and Bellantoni deftly alternate the voices of the two main characters,... Read More

Author/father/narrator Bao Phi zestfully delivers poems he wrote for his child when anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. escalated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Listeners will revel in his sparkling examples of Asian American culture and the creative people behind it. Gentle background music and vibrant sound effects, such as ebbing ocean waves and the cries of seagulls, excited... Read More

Just as Tola is small but mighty, these short stories are bursting with heart. Narrator Mutiyat Ade-Salu's bright tone conveys the joy and strength of Tola as she gets into mischief while home alone with her siblings, goes to work when her grandmother gets malaria, and learns how she can be fine like the wealthier girls she sees. Ade-Salu uses an American accent for the... Read More

In this fictional account of a historic event, the story of the Lindbergh baby's 1932 kidnapping is told from the nanny's point of view. Narrator Penelope Rawlins employs a lovely Scottish accent for nanny Betty Gow, who has been careful to hide her checkered past from her celebrity employers. Rawlins portrays Betty's terrible guilt after the kidnapping--but is her remorse for... Read More

Listeners will become engrossed in this warm performance by Mark Sanderlin. Matthew Prince comes from all kinds of money, but his parents cut him off after he purchases an island. To his dismay, he's sent to live with his grandparents in a quaint town, and, even worse, has a roommate, a sarcastic yet attractive young man named Hector. While the reluctant romance that develops... Read More

Narrator Elise Randall Modica brings heart to this story, set in Michigan in 1914. Fourteen-year-old Norvia Nelson's early memories of life on Lake Michigan's Beaver Island sustain her in Boyne City as she struggles to accept her parents' divorce and her mother's remarriage. Because her now-estranged Pa had scorned their Ojibwe heritage, Ma says not to reveal it to her... Read More

Waceke Wambaa flawlessly delivers this harrowing but essential look at the slave trade in the 1780s from the perspectives of both the brutal staff of the enslavers and the human cargo. Listeners will be appalled to hear the captain proclaim: "To guarantee a ship's success, no humanity must exist on board!" The voices of both young and elderly Africans and European colonizers,... Read More

It's an appealing premise: a story from the point of view of a man who walked from New York to Arizona. And this audiobook is indeed appealing, but not for that obvious reason. In the wake of a breakup, Gil's journey west has already taken place, and now he is settling into his new life alone. Paul Heitsch is an excellent narrator: clear with enunciation and sensitive to mood.... Read More

This light, fun teen rom-com with an interesting setting, narrated by Jay Lai and Jennifer Sun Bell, will warm hearts during the holiday season. Chloe and Peter are sworn enemies whose families own competing Asian restaurants at Riverwood Mall. But once the mall is sold and the new owners decide it will be renovated into condos, Chloe and Peter need to meet in the middle and... Read More

Rupert Degas narrates this collection of stories published in 1901. Degas's aristocratic English accent suits the audiobook's tone of moralistic ethnocentricity. In fact, the authors use the preface and final chapters to frame this work as a quasi-Christian Bible prequel. Most stories, however, seem without bias, and Degas portrays the celestial host of characters with... Read More

Rich-voiced narrator JD Jackson is an essential strength of this fictional account of wrongful conviction, corruption, and racism. Langston Brown is on death row after being convicted of a deadly bank robbery dubbed the "Mother's Day Massacre." His daughter, Liza, is desperately trying to clear his name. She meets Eli Stone, owner of a jazz club in Denver's Five Points... Read More

Sneha Mathan's crisp, smooth narration is the perfect match for the story of a mother who is introducing her son, Tamen, to a dark-sky preserve. The story's sound effects help to emphasize the duo's departure from the city, and Mathan provides realistic voices for both characters. She also excels at communicating how much seeing the stars means to Tamen. The audiobook is... Read More

Deepti Gupta's warm, expressive voice lends authenticity to this third volume of lively trickster stories inspired by traditional Indian folktales. As in MANGOES, MISCHIEF, AND TALES OF FRIENDSHIP, these new adventures feature the two young protagonists Prince Veera and his best friend, Suku. This time, while on a visit to the Prince's great-uncle during the summer festival,... Read More

Singer-songwriter Margo Price writes lyrics with the soul of a poet, and this gift carries over to her prose. Sentences like "It's not that the house was large inside, but the love in it was" and "Sometimes the wind would bring stories from distant places" appear frequently. Price's clear voice makes her narration easy on the ears, and her pacing is good. Since this is an... Read More

Muggsy Bogues captivated NBA fans as his 5'3"-frame darted around basketball courts. With a tone of personal enthusiasm, Cary Hite narrates this memoir, which describes Bogues's youth in the projects of East Baltimore, challenges at Wake Forest University, and successful professional career. Using clear enunciation and putting the right emotional accents in the proper places,... Read More

In TAINNA, which means "the unseen ones," Inuk-Canadian author Norma Dunning brings together six short stories centered on Inuit characters living in southern Canada. Appropriately, the narrators themselves are Indigenous Canadian actors, with the feminine narration provided by emotive Tanis Parenteau and the masculine narration by baritone-voiced Eric Schweig. The stories... Read More

Narrator Jess Nahikian's tender delivery suits this audiobook about a girl who lives in a funeral home. Georgia, voiced delicately in a youthful tone, has tremendous anxiety about death. To cope, she uses her ability to awaken the ghosts of the dead to fulfill their final wishes and hold onto their memories. Then her classmate Milo dies in an accident, and her town's... Read More

Narrator Zura Johnson is a perfect fit for the snark that infuses this lighthearted paranormal romance. Through her intonation, Johnson ensures that listeners won't miss a single inside joke. Violet "The Dud" Maxwell came to accept that she was a magic-less witch a long time ago, so it comes as a shock that something inside her sparks to life when she crosses paths with the one... Read More

Cindy Kay charms listeners with her narration of this story of unrequited love between two childhood friends. Lizzy has always been an overachiever, but she strikes out in L.A. when her legal career takes a dive. She returns to her small hometown to lick her wounds and runs into her childhood friend, Jack, who has secretly carried a torch for her as long as he can remember.... Read More

Bahni Turpin's narration of this children's book on plants is informative and fun. This audiobook is part of the Questioneers series, a nonfiction early-reader series based on the "Ada Twist, Scientist" show on Netflix. Turpin's voice is upbeat and positive. She invites the listener into the world of the audiobook by explaining a few different plant types, as well as the parts... Read More

Baseball great Shohei Ohtani has captured the attention of fans from Japan to the U.S. with his rare ability to play on both sides of the ball. He is a gifted pitcher and hitter. The author traces Ohtani's path from his homeland to his sought-after signing by the majors, especially his time with the Los Angeles Angels. Kyle Tait delivers a clear performance, never imitating... Read More

Although there are WWI battle scenes in Willa Cather's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the most important action is all in the mind of its main character. Claude Wheeler seeks a place in the world that is independent of the expectations of his family and the world of rural Nebraska. Narrator Joel Richards focuses on the interiority of the story without minimizing Claude's complex... Read More

An interesting array of characters expertly voiced by Janina Edwards and a mysterious list of murder victims combine for a cozy adventure in the second installment of the Peach Coast Library mysteries. Marvella, who works for the local library, involves other library staff in the murder investigations, along with her friend, Spence. They all seek to find a connection among the... Read More

Laura Jennings's narration brings out the lush landscapes and the sumptuousness of old-time Florida in this cozy mystery set in Key West. When food critic Hayley Snow finds a corpse, she teams up with her husband, a police detective, to identify the murderer. Jennings's smooth tones add a sultry quality to the sharp-minded sleuth's first-person narration. Her diverse voices... Read More

With undisguised delight, Gildart Jackson narrates one of the seminal masterpieces of horror, the tale of Dracula. Jackson does it without the pretentious posturing and clichéd accents found in some readings, performing with skill and obvious love for the genre. He does a sentence in true Bela Lugosi style at the start--but in jest. Otherwise, he speaks perfectly in an odd,... Read More

Natalie Duke and Pete Cross narrate this joyful queer rom-com about two people who find love in unexpected places. Greta, tired of being the only lesbian around, is desperate to get out of her Maine hometown. After a bad breakup, Truman is equally desperate to get out of New Orleans. So their mutual friend, Ramona--whose playful texts to both characters Hillary Huber delivers... Read More

Mike Cooper's clear British English, deliberate delivery, and overall thoughtful rendition well serve this serious audiobook. He delivers its straightforward yet bleak findings authoritatively. The environmental studies are presented unflinchingly, and the conclusions--we are very late in the climate-change fight--are disturbing. McGuire, a climatologist and geologist, has been... Read More

Frankie Corzo, who has narrated all the Merci Suárez audiobooks, delivers the series finale in which the courageous heroine takes on eighth grade, her troublesome younger cousins, and her beloved grandfather Lolo's Alzheimer's. Corzo shifts easily between the English and Spanish words that are gracefully integrated into the text. She captures the many moods of Merci in her... Read More

Narrator Zac Aleman sounds knowledgeable and accessible to a wide range of listeners in this audiobook on business leadership. He's helped by the casual writing of the author, a popular Stanford business professor. But Aleman's relaxed confidence is all his own, making this audiobook an appealing presentation to hear and absorb. Among the many fascinating ideas the author... Read More

Buchanan's debut novel unfolds like a symphony as it examines the impact of trauma on five generations of women. Five talented narrators breathe life into these complicated survivors. Elizabeth Wiley, as Lise, the matriarch, has an immigrant's accent as she reveals her traumatic truth to her adult daughter, Anna, through a letter that weaves through the stories of her... Read More

Anne-Marie Piazza's accomplished narration transports listeners to Victorian London to follow the adventures of accomplished cook Kat Holloway as she investigates the death of her husband, Joe. The story is complicated by the fact that her help was requested by Joe's other wife, a situation that continually reminds Kat of her bigamous marriage. Piazza's use of accents and... Read More

Pete Cross narrates a romantic story that is both funny and touching. PK Harrington has been in love with his best friend, Art, ever since they shared one somewhat drunk kiss in college. But he's never told Art how he feels. So when Art shows up at PK's apartment after a breakup, there is absolutely no way PK can mess this up. Cross makes PK deeply sympathetic and relatable... Read More

This haunting novel is beautifully written and artfully narrated by Annabel Baldwin and Robyn Holdaway. Leah, a marine biologist, returns from a submarine research mission that trapped her at the bottom of the ocean for six months. When she returns, her wife, Miri, is frustrated by inexplicable changes in Leah. In alternating chapters, Holdaway captures Leah's pre-mission... Read More

Narrator Christina Moore transports listeners to the Cotswolds in south-central England. American expat Lori and her friends and neighbors seek to uncover the story behind a resident who has recently moved to their village. Moore's talent for accents and characterizations shines in this cozy as she seamlessly moves between Lori's American accent and a variety of English... Read More

Rebecca Lee gives a spirited performance of this fun, low-angst love story about two Black women who meet on a reality TV show during which they have to plan a wedding and convince both their families it's real. Butch influencer Kris is hoping to find true love on the show, while D'Vaughn plans to use it as an excuse to finally come out to her family. While Lee's voices for... Read More

Erin Dion narrates a mystery featuring crime writer Augusta Hawke, who sets out to investigate what happened to two of her neighbors in Washington, DC, who disappeared, leaving their baby behind. To solve the mystery, Augusta calls on her friends, as well as her knowledge of detection, which she has gleaned through writing her novels. Dion is the perfect narrator for this... Read More

A spirited performance by Alison Larkin enlivens the second Electra McDonnell mystery. It's 1940 in London--before the Blitz. Locksmiths and jewel thieves Ellie and her Uncle Mick are coerced into working for Major Ramsey rather than going to prison. The body of a woman found in the Thames is wearing a cuff bracelet requiring unlocking. The Major calls upon Ellie and her... Read More