The best poets get that way because they have given a great deal of thought to questions such as: "What is poetry?" "How does it get that way?" Mary Oliver was one of those best poets, and in this audio version of her classic work about how to write and read poetry she offers some answers, both detailed and expansive, to John Ciardi's classic question: "How does a poem mean?"... Read More

Miranda Raison performs this magical adventure set on an alternative Earth, where a collection of mysterious books gives special powers to those who possess one of its volumes. When a customer dies in the bookstore where she works, Cassie discovers that he's left her an old, leather-bound work called THE BOOK OF DOORS, which can open almost any door across the world. In... Read More

Unlike washed-up golf pro Wells Whitaker's swing, narrator Callie Dalton shoots par on her performance of this audiobook. When Wells's career hits a low, he asks superfan Josephine Doyle to caddy for him. Dalton's delivery of Wells's and Josephine's steamy chemistry is electric, as is their snarky repartee. Listeners will sink deep into their swoony romance. Josephine's voice... Read More

Daniel Philpott's vibrant character portrayals create palpable tension in this murder mystery set in Brighton, England. Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens's Christmas is off to a sinister start: Two children have gone missing. Philpott conveys the town's growing anxiety as time passes and they are not found. His diverse voices bring out the personalities of the town's... Read More

The privileged world of the spirited Isabella Stewart Gardner is aptly captured by the patrician voice of narrator Maggie-Meg Reed. Born in 1840 to a wealthy family in New York City, Isabella married Boston Brahmin Jack Gardner and proceeded to both dazzle and confuse proper Boston elites. Reed softens her tone when "Mrs. Jack" suffers the death of her only child, to recover,... Read More

Narrator Rainy Fields portrays Rain Berghoff in this audiobook for young listeners. Fourteen-year-old Rain is facing the challenges that typically come at that age, as well as significant additional struggles related to her family, her Native American identity, and a devastating personal loss. Fields is convincing as young Rain. Her tone is earnest, and her timbre is distinctly... Read More

In this audiobook, we delve into the tale of Balthazar and his band of thieves, embarking on what first appears to be a straightforward heist. Sunil Malhotra's exceptional narration is the highlight; he provides each character with a unique voice that vividly paints the story's universe. The drama quickly escalates as the characters are entangled in a grandiose plot involving... Read More

In a crisp British accent, Jane Collingwood fills this mystery with tension as police investigate the 1990 disappearance of Charlotte Salter, who never arrived at her husband's fiftieth birthday party. Collingwood portrays Charlotte's 15-year-old daughter, Etty, as frantic, while her four brothers, who are mostly stoned or drunk, are voiced with all the nonchalance of... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo offers a charming performance of this middle-grade fiction with a touch of science fiction. Michael and his crush, Gibby, run into Ridge, a strange boy who soon reveals he's visiting from the future. The year is 1999, and with the threat of Y2K brewing, the kids come together and bond through their doomsday planning. De Ocampo's flexible narration moves between... Read More

In apprehensive tones, André Santana artfully conveys the concerns of tween Eli as he mourns the sudden loss of his mother, a professional chef, due to the pandemic. At the same time, he is adjusting to life in New York City after a move from Minnesota. When Eli stumbles upon an archive of cooking videos made by his mother, Santana taps into Eli's grief with a falling... Read More

Narrator Aoife McMahon transports listeners to 1960s Dublin, where a young journalist, Nicoletta Sarto, strives to be successful in a profession dominated by men. When Nicoletta covers a story about bones being found in a garden, she finds herself investigating a 25-year-old mystery with connections to her. McMahon is the perfect narrator for this story, especially as she... Read More

Featuring an ensemble cast, this audiobook introduces teenaged female soldiers known as "kindlings." Trained to kill from the age of five by using magic that drains their lifespan, they are now prohibited from using their skills. But violence lingers, and seven kindlings join together for one last fight to save a country village. Despite the use of an individual narrator to... Read More

In the final book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy, a masterpiece of crime writing, Ari Fliakos delivers an astounding, empathetic performance. Rhode Island Irish mobster Danny Ryan's journey began decades ago when he evolved from a longshoreman to a small-time mobster and then to a multimillionaire Las Vegas hotelier. Winslow based Ryan's journey on the Greek tragedies THE ILIAD, THE... Read More

Hip-hop artist Tony Keith, Jr., narrates his free-verse coming-of-age memoir. His pacing and tone allow listeners to feel the power of his words and imagine his world. His skill as a narrator is evident as he delivers lyrical imagery mixed with dialect. Sound effects illuminate the poems' themes: Drums aid listeners in picturing the richness of African imagery in one poem; in... Read More

Anishinaabe performer Jennifer Bobiwash returns as Jo Jo Makoons, an ebullient Ojibwe first grader. Jo Jo's class is studying healthy foods, but when a snowstorm closes school, Jo Jo and her reservation friends get to celebrate their first snow day. Jo Jo tells her tale in the first person, and Bobiwash infuses her performance with just the right combination of childish... Read More

Alexandra Hunter narrates this complex exploration of grief with tender sincerity. Atlas James is utterly shattered by the death of her father, the only person she feels ever understood her. After a series of poor decisions, Atlas (newly rechristened "Maps") ends up alongside a group of total strangers in a community service project devoted to rehabilitating the wilderness... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett movingly narrates this sequel to HEALER OF THE WATER MONSTER. Brian Young's use of his own family history and Navajo spiritual figures brings added dimension to this story. First, listeners meet Nathan, the new guardian of Dew, a young water monster who is learning traditional songs to create water for parched Phoenix. Taylor-Corbett perfectly contrasts the... Read More

Listeners will just have to imagine the piano music in this atmospheric novel, set in 1890s France. Léon Delafosse is a piano prodigy whose talents take him from the French countryside to Paris. But in order to advance his career and his standing in fickle Paris high society, he must secure a patron. While narrator Mark Sanderlin's pronunciation of French words is flawless, the... Read More

History consists of events conducted mostly by men and recorded by men. In her clear, uncompromising voice, Philippa Gregory turns the tables, taking listeners through 900 years of abuse and betrayals, yearnings and near-miraculous accomplishments of women. Frequent interjections by Clare Corbett, Tania Rodrigues, Nneka Okoye, James Goode, and Joe Jameson provide voices for the... Read More

Tania De Rozario performs her essay collection, which revolves around her experience growing up as a fat mixed-race queer girl in Singapore. When she was a child, school administrators required her to eat smaller meals and exercise more. After her mother learned of De Rozario's sexuality, she called church leaders to exorcise her. De Rozario narrates each of her essays with... Read More

Music piracy meets murder in this fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable audiobook. The story features criminal defense attorney Jack Swyteck and focuses on Imani Nichols, a pop superstar who is at odds with her estranged husband. Jonathan Davis delivers a superb performance, giving every character a distinct personality that reveals the depth of author James Grippando's story.... Read More

Two accomplished narrators, Saskia Maarleveld and Katharine Chin, set forth this story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the people caught up in its devastation. Both narrators are skilled at portraying emotions, revving up suspense, and mastering many varieties of accents and dialects. Maarleveld 's urbane and sonorous voice brings to life the ambitious opera... Read More

There's a strange fable-like quality to this novel about grief and the stories children tell to make sense of it. Sophie Amoss brings all that into her performance by varying her tone and pacing, and shifting her voice as the story moves between time periods. As a girl, Margaret loses her best friend in a tragic accident. Her role in the death is murky, and as she grows older,... Read More

David Tennant is at his best with his narration of this whimsical fantasy for children and adults alike. The audiobook was Pratchett's first published novel in 1971 and was rewritten 30 years later. Whether viewed as a parable of war, apropos of current events, or as a mere humorous tale of little creatures living in your carpet, it's a story that begs to be listened to.... Read More

Angel Pean and Greg Campbell narrate this YA anthology of Black poetry with passion, humor, reverence, and a whole lot of vibrant rhythm. The anthology collects poems by twentieth-century giants such as Langston Hughes and Audre Lorde, alongside offerings from contemporary poets, including Danez Smith and Ibi Zoboi. Each poem is followed by commentary explaining its historical... Read More

Janina Edwards is impressive in her ability to create believable women, each with her own attitude and personality. Two very different Black women heed the call to serve when the U.S. enters WWII. Leila, a single mother, and Dorothy, a college librarian, leave their ordinary lives behind and enlist in the Women's Army Corps. Despite their differences, the women's friendship... Read More

Hala Alyan's velvety tones add a paradoxical dimension to her collection of poems exploring themes of displacement and identity. Alyan, a Palestinian American poet, novelist, and clinical psychologist, illuminates the diasporic experience in these poems but also addresses general discord in life, especially the trials she experienced after an ectopic pregnancy. Her use of... Read More

Nneka Okoye masterfully portrays estranged cousins Kitan and Iyanu. The pair are trying to get to the bottom of who leaked the secrets of Wodebury Hall's most popular students. It's a tough nut to crack because the cousins' Nigerian heritage makes them outsiders at their elite British school. Okoye provides a soft, delicate voice for Kitan, whose wealth and silence in the face... Read More

The much-anticipated sequel to IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK, this audiobook is a compelling listen that begins where the previous book ended. The story is told from the perspectives of Brittany-Rae von Lundin, voiced by Mela Lee, and Kemi Adeyemi, voiced by Dele Ogundiran. The two Black women live in Sweden, having moved there from the U.S. Palmira Koukkari Mbenga voices... Read More

Narrator Mike Lenz adeptly guides listeners through the extensive research supporting the concept of emotional intelligence (EI). More than a quarter of a century since the publication of his groundbreaking book, EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, Goleman and fellow psychologist Cary Cherniss bring together years of academic research and the results of organizational initiatives to... Read More

Cree actor Billy Merasty's authentic inflection evokes the rhythm of Indigenous storytellers in this heart-stopping sequel to MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW (2018). The story begins 12 years after a catastrophic power grid failure forces a small group of First Nations people in northern Ontario to live off the land, following their Anishinaabe customs. As resources diminish, four... Read More

Sam Dewhurst-Phillips's sonorous narration sets the right tone for this true story of Frederick Rutland, a double-dealing British war hero who spied for Japan in the run-up to Pearl Harbor. Like his Hollywood friend Boris Karloff, Rutland was a man who wore many masks. He earned the nickname "Rutland of Jutland" for his heroics during the 1916 Battle of Jutland. His engineering... Read More

Jeanne Syquia's narration of this audiobook skillfully portrays the enthralling story of Talasyn, a young woman who possesses hidden light magic, and Prince Alaric, the Night Empire's heir, who possesses shadow magic. Their intertwined destinies on the battlefield set the stage for a compelling narrative. Syquia's nuanced portrayal of each character's emotions enriches the... Read More

Thérèse Plummer offers a rich narration of this audiobook, a modernized LITTLE WOMEN meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. The Benedettos were a once beloved family on a popular reality show. Now they've blown through all their TV money and are close to bankruptcy. With her eldest sister courting a new neighbor, Lilly is stuck with Darcy--who proves to be a lot more than meets the eye.... Read More

At a moment when stories across genres are interrogating how AI and humanity will coexist, Jennifer Jill Araya's performance in this robot-led tale is a standout. Annie is a Cuddle Bunny, a sentient AI in a near-perfect human body designed to meet her owner Doug's every need. But as she reads, learns, and experiences new things, she becomes increasingly aware of her potential... Read More

Ali Nasser and Rasha Zamamiri take turns narrating this novel-in-stories centered on the lives of Palestinian Americans in Baltimore. Nasser takes on the stories from the men's perspectives and Zamamiri from the women's. Both narrators voice characters of various ages, from teenagers to elders, with grace and ease. Zamamiri is especially good at her portrayal of teenage girls.... Read More

Hope Newhouse magically presents this fantasy replete with Greek mythology. Listeners meet brave, endearing Ava, whose encounter with a classmate prompts her parents to send her to a Venetian school founded by mythological gods to teach their descendants how to control their emotions. Newhouse colorfully introduces the prodigious cast, including some faculty bearing... Read More

Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, and Christine Rendel, led by the incomparable Dan Stevens, skillfully deliver this extraordinary twisty novel. One night Anna Ogilvy, a young wannabe writer, inexplicably stabs two people to death while sleepwalking. She hasn't woken up since the crime. Stevens's portrayal of Anna's psychiatrist, Ben, a specialist in sleep-related homicides, carries... Read More

Kevin R. Free and Michael Crouch delight listeners in this charming and heartfelt romance, a combination of MY FAIR LADY and the teen movie classic SHE'S ALL THAT. Wade Westmore has always been the star of the show. But when his ex lands the lead role in the new school musical, his ego is put in check. Elijah Brady, on the other hand, is used to being in the background and... Read More

An ensemble of wildly talented narrators elevates this fictional true- crime case told through first-person interviews. The narrators infuse a generous amount of personality and empathy into their portrayals of the community, media, and family involved in the tragic case of missing teenager Sara Parcell. Robert Fass's weary voice portrays Dave, Sara's downtrodden father, as he... Read More

Beth Eyre and Chris Harper share the narration of Frear's precarious story. Ellen leads a seemingly perfect life with her husband, three children, and luxurious house in Britain. When she receives a letter threatening retribution for past deeds, she must identify the culprit while keeping her secrets and maintaining her social status. Eyre narrates the chapters involving female... Read More

Dana Wing Lau creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Lily, who must help her parents save their Chinese school while also competing in a local film competition. Lily has a lot to balance with her friend groups and school obligations. She also struggles with coming in second to her archnemesis, Max, who always seems to be one step ahead of her. Lau adds drama and passion to... Read More

Narrator Jacob McNatt has to get a bit cranky for this picture book featuring a crane named Cranky who builds a bridge with his friends, Zippy, Wheezy, and Dump Chuck. Automotive wordplay adds a sense of fun to this story of Cranky's sour mood. McNatt captures Cranky's disposition at once as he testily snaps at the merry morning greetings of his friends. During lunch break,... Read More

Frankie Corzo narrates this contemporary YA audiobook with sensitivity and verve. Ever since her father left the family, Belén feels like she's been sleepwalking through life. She cuts classes, fails tests, and can't seem to make herself care about anything other than finding a boyfriend and helping her best friend, Leti, deal with an unexpected pregnancy. Corzo skillfully... Read More

Narrator Carlotta Brentan transports listeners to a private island in coastal Maine, where a group of friends united by hidden secrets meet to celebrate an engagement. Brentan's talented performance builds the tension in this Christie-esque locked-room mystery as the deeply unpleasant characters find that the consequences of previous actions are fast catching up with them.... Read More

Siho Ellsmore transports listeners to Japan in the near future for the story of Susie Sakamoto, who is navigating life after the loss of her husband and son. Susie's only companion is Sunny, a home-help robot designed by her husband. Ellsmore is the perfect narrator for this harrowing story. She reflects Susie's Irish background in her characterization and keeps the story... Read More

Twins Calla and Briar arrive at the wolves' court, with narrator Vico Ortiz providing Calla's first-person narration. In a slower, expressive voice, Ortiz describes Calla's responses to the dreadful challenges there. Calla discovers childhood friend Prince Grae is their fated wolf mate and watches Briar be cursed by a sorceress and kidnapped. Calla emerges as an underdog whose... Read More

Narrators Christine Lakin and Nicole Lewis offer a humbling story on racism in small-town America. De'Andrea, a Black entrepreneur, is heartbroken to leave Atlanta behind when she moves to Rolling Hills, Virginia. Once there, she reluctantly joins the Parent Diversity Committee, run by her enthusiastic white neighbor, Rebecca, at their daughters' school. While the women have... Read More

Thanks to Stig Abell's remarkable debut novel, Oliver Hembrough has the material needed to provide hours of engrossing listening. When former police officer Jake Jackson inherits his uncle's remote farm, he decides to disconnect from his London life and move in. Leaving behind all modern conveniences, Jake finds contentment he never dreamed possible, but when human bones are... Read More

Shayna Small delivers a variety of accents as a group of New Yorkers gather on the rooftop of their dilapidated building during the COVID-19 pandemic, telling stories to pass the time. The audiobook features a "pots-and-pans symphony" that applauds the healthcare workers who risk their lives to treat the sick. Small shines in this reboot of another plague novel, Boccaccio's... Read More

Narrator Cheryl Smith engages listeners with this audiobook, part memoir, part nature and social activism. O'Kane, who spent most of her career as a human rights journalist and social activist, became an "accidental birder" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Her life and worldview changed when she began noticing and observing birds outside of her destroyed home in New Orleans.... Read More

Pop culture drag star RuPaul's soft narration opens with sensory details that evoke the power of memory. His gentle voice allows listeners to enter early scenes of his life in San Diego that are not always easy--waiting for his father who never shows up, arriving home for lunch to find a locked door. Within those scenes are wise reflections about the world around him and his... Read More

Narrator Nicole Poole delights listeners in this quirky and heartfelt strangers-to-lovers romance set in Chicago. Pro sports agent Brett Rivers should never have had a drunken one-night stand with his most important client's sister. Rory Garrett is in quite a mess herself as she tries to keep her dreams of being a chocolatier afloat. Now the two must work together to find... Read More

Happily, Paul Theroux's latest masterpiece is available as an audiobook, narrated authoritatively by Charlie Anson. Eric Blair, a callow policeman in colonial Burma, will eventually become known as writer George Orwell. In a clear baritone, Anson describes the lush landscapes of Burma, its trees, foliage, dusty roads, and muddy rivers, along with its natives, who are subjugated... Read More

Arthur Morey's pleasing baritone is a wonderful match for this account of the mass migration of Eastern European Jews to the New World. The whole journey involved many people and eventually became big business for bankers, shipping companies (including the White Star Line of TITANIC fame,) railroads, and charities/NGOs, such as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). I myself,... Read More

Narrators Karen Chilton and Caroline Hewitt combine their considerable vocal talent to portray two legendary entertainers in this audiobook set primarily in the 1950s. There are no words to express how compelling Chilton's performance is as Ella Fitzgerald, "the Queen of Jazz." Chilton mesmerizes listeners as she imbues Fitzgerald with subtle emotion, poise, and practicality.... Read More

As a half-Chinese teenager in Shanghai, Alva shared a close bond with her American expat mother but longed for the idealized California life depicted in movies. Jennifer Lim's portrayal of Alva's youthful resentment is colored with both confusion and defiance. Who is her father, and why must they live this half-in/half-out life in China? When Alva's mom marries a much older... Read More

It's no exaggeration to call narrator Dorothy Dillingham Blue's performance of this audiobook a Southern charmer. Putting her Vanderbilt PhD on hold, PJ Spoon becomes Pennywhistle, Tennessee's, Chickie Shak chef. She competes with her co-workers--the button-cute Boof and the frighteningly efficient Linda--in a no-holds-barred chicken pageant. Blue's voice weaves and dips... Read More

Grover Gardner brings the Old West to life in this slow-burn tale of vengeance set against a backdrop of post-Civil War lawlessness. John Chenneville is a Union soldier who is struggling to regain his memories while recovering from a head wound on his family homestead in St. Louis. Gardner gives Chenneville a light drawl and a steady, even tone that belies his fierce... Read More

This delightful fantasy novel about a teenage witch in a poor English village is wonderfully told by Indira Varma in her charming British accent. The 38th installment in Pratchett's Discworld series features 15-year-old Tiffany Aching, who is trying to live up to her duties as a young witch. When an old witch retires, she tries her best to comfort the poor when she can, and... Read More

In her latest book of essays, Haynes gives a new, more feminist, perspective on many of the goddesses of Greek mythology--including major figures like Athene, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, and Aphrodite. She discusses their roles and how society has viewed them throughout history. Haynes asks listeners to examine our more traditional assumptions about these goddesses and how... Read More

Because Kenan Thompson has been featured in movies and TV shows for the past 30 years, including a long stint on "Saturday Night Live," many people feel they know him--but this audiobook, written and narrated by the actor, shows a personal side. Thompson compares his childhood to how he's raising his two young daughters. He shares his experiences as a Black actor and notes that... Read More

As he narrates Willie Nelson's thoughts on 160 or so of his songs, listeners could forget they're listening to actor Ethan Hawke. With a gruff voice and a touch of a Texas twang, Hawke recounts the story of the poker game that inspired "Good Hearted Woman" and the sudden debut of "Wake Me When It's Over." Nelson's lyrics are narrated by Hawke, rather than sung, but listeners... Read More

A duo of narrators present a series of events that threaten to upend an English-Irish couple's wedding. Listeners learn about the happy couple, Celine and Luke, in part through the perspectives of their close friends, former lovers, and family. Ayoola Smart's understated performance of the droll humor and nimble shifts in tone presents listeners with multiple angles of the... Read More

Xe Sands pulls listeners into this thought-provoking story about family, grief, aging, and connection. Rachel Calloway, a divorced, childless, 50-something environmental journalist from Washington, DC, returns home to Maine following her mother's death. With vivid descriptions and well-developed characters, listeners find themselves witnesses to Rachel's journey as she revisits... Read More

Desean Terry gives a compelling--if sometimes flat--performance of a twisted tale of a powerful queer, Black "Chosen One." After being unexpectedly enrolled at Regent Academy, Douglas learns he's the only one capable of breaking a centuries-long curse that stems from a nearby forest. But with the deceitful school headmaster on one side of the curse and a terrifying apparition... Read More

Narrators Eric B. Anthony's and Landon Woodson's tense, emotional performances will draw listeners into a Savannah neighborhood where a dangerous plot threatens to tear apart two young men who are discovering love for the first time. Woodson takes on a youthful, unassuming voice for Jay, a romantic who is used to being overlooked until he literally collides with Leroy, an... Read More

If you're looking to get more out of the simple things in life, this audiobook is for you. A transplanted Londoner, Niki Brantmark has thoroughly embraced the Swedish custom of njuta, finding satisfaction in the smallest pleasures: a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a sweet treat, a walk in the woods. Karen Cass keeps to a brisk pace and an appropriately upbeat tone as she itemizes... Read More

Aileen Huynh delivers a compelling performance as Ky Tran, a relentless journalist in pursuit of answers surrounding her brother's brutal murder. Huynh's nuanced portrayal adds depth to the narrative. As Ky unravels layers of intrigue, Huynh expertly conveys the emotional toll of her investigation. Listeners are drawn into an unfiltered view of the period after the War in... Read More

Astronomer and physicist Marcelo Gleiser's manifesto calls for more awareness, gratitude, and kindness toward our planet. Focusing on biocentrism, he reminds listeners of the sacred relationship between humanity and our world, and argues that a call to action is crucial for their continued existence. Timothy Andrés Pabon's soft-spoken and lyrical narration supports the author's... Read More

Gisela Chípe and Liliana Montenegro provide nuanced alternating narrations in this contemporary audiobook about a strained mother-daughter relationship. Chípe portrays 30-something Monica Yolanda Flores, who shares a Brooklyn apartment with her recently widowed Peruvian-born mother, Paula. Chípe adeptly conveys Flores's sorrow and longing for deeper connections beyond her... Read More

Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles's evocative performance of Cristina Henríquez's novel about the building of the Panama Canal takes its time, which feels right for a book with many threads. Set midway through the canal's multi year construction, the plot follows several central characters as they navigate personal dramas and canal-related crises. Miles's lovely, warm voice... Read More

This audiobook focuses on one of the most contentious and misunderstood periods in American history, the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. Rick Adamson keeps to a steady, impartial tone, carefully pacing a narrative that unties many historical knots while unfolding a sadly paradoxical series of events. The subtitle tells the tale: "How the South Won the War After... Read More

In this middle-grade story, undoubtedly inspired by the early feminist story titled "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892), Eva Kaminsky depicts Violet, an easygoing preteen who's only slightly uncomfortable about moving into the strange attic bedroom of her family's new home. Change is everywhere for Violet--in her family, her new school, and her friends. Kaminsky reflects the... Read More

Two debutantes scheme to bring their parents together, only to stumble into love themselves in a romp of an audiobook. It's 1857, and London's season is about to begin. Mary Jane Wells portrays Beth, who must find a suitable match so that she and her widowed mother have a place to live. Wells's voice is unsteady as Beth tries to make her way in society but warms when she meets... Read More

Lincoln Hoppe demonstrates his skills with a stellar narration of this audiobook. His ability to subtly shift his tone and tempo from character to character, giving each a specific voice, makes this immersive novel stand out. Chip, an elderly river guide, has a gruffer, deeper voice than those of the other main characters, Sam and Swami Brecht. In a work with some... Read More

Andi Arndt provides the narration for the romance between Luna Wright and Jameson Hayes. Luna manages Apple Ridge Farm. When the farm's owner dies, Hayes arrives to help bring the struggling operation back into the black. Making it easy to follow the story, Arndt provides unique voices for the large cast of characters ranging from Luna's grandmother to a baby goat named "Damn... Read More

If you are a fly fisherman or have a fly fisherman in your life, this early Hemingway short story is a must-listen. Kyle Soller transports the listener to an out-of-the-way river in Michigan where one can practically hear the water flowing, the insects buzzing, and the wind whispering through the trees. Soller never tries to do too much with his narration of this brief story of... Read More

This collection brings together the stories of the godlet hunter Sir Hereward and the papier-mâché sorcerer puppet Mister Fitz, plus one new story. Narrator David Linski's deft performance draws out the dry humor and undeniable bond between the pair during their skirmishes with bloodthirsty godlets and their disciples, a cannibalistic captain and her pirate crew, and a... Read More

Former First Lady Michelle Obama narrates this fresh production of Maurice Sendak's classic story. Young Max, having been exiled to his room for behaving like a wild thing, sails away to become the king of all wild things. After leading his subjects in a Wild Rumpus, he decides to return home to his supper and someone who loves him best of all. Mrs. Obama's performance is... Read More

One lonely Christmas night, Emma reads the diary of a fellow student she invited to her family's English manor house for the holidays 30 years before. Narrator Esther Wane uses a vague American accent for Ashley's diary and captures her wide-eyed pleasure at the gothic setting she feels she's been transported to. Ashley falls for Adam, Emma's troubled brother, who is suspected... Read More

Oliver Wyman affects a sly, off-kilter tone to deliver O'Brien's funny/sad take on Trumpland as COVID-19 infects America. Wyman's portrayal of Boyd Halverson, a former journalist and retail worker, is characterized by a sense of forlornness as the standard crime-caper plot unfolds. Boyd walks into a bank and demands $300,000. He gets $81,000 and the teller, Angie Bing, in the... Read More

The rich voices and intelligent deliveries of seven talented narrators make it possible to keep this novel's many characters straight. After a huge lottery win, Nicole and Tom build their dream house on an estate in Gloucestershire. The state-of-the-art glass barn has everything, including glitches. When Tom is found dead in their swimming pool, Nicole is devastated. Was Tom's... Read More

Barton Welch brings the perfect narrative touches to this mystery set on a train ride through Australia. The Aussie-accented performance adds a comedic touch to the presentation without overdoing it, keeping a fine balance throughout. Ernest Cunningham is on the train to participate in a crime-writing festival. There are backbiting and jealousies among the attendees, and then... Read More

As one of the most distinctive vocalists in rock, Geddy Lee simply had to be the voice of his own memoir. The singer and bassist of the Canadian power trio Rush is known for his vocal range, but his delivery is surprisingly consistent here. Between stories of the band's forty-year career on the road and in the studio, Lee also shares the story of his parents, who survived the... Read More

To cite a few of the many fine narrators of these essays and blogs about food, Nikki Massoud gives an inspired performance with perfect pitch of "Border Lines," Anya von Bremzen's nuanced debunking of national dishes. Johnny Rey Diaz, with clear Italian enunciation, does a fine turn on John Last's clever "There is No Such Thing as Italian Food." Dylan Moore brings empathy and... Read More

Neil Hellegers and Rebecca Stern bring this comic send-up of a caper story cleverly to life. The humor works. They deliver their lines with restraint, keep the protagonists' wildest ideas plausible through tone and tempo, and propel the comic proceedings, set in Tel Aviv, with the right cadence. They straightforwardly deliver the hijinks, crisp dialogue, and wild thinking. Both... Read More

With consistent pacing and passion, Joy Osmanski delivers this fascinating audiobook about Aimee's desperation to find answers about her missing mother. Aimee has a rare condition that causes her to travel through time to revisit her memories when she is triggered by nostalgic smells. Her father's sparse explanation about her mother doesn't match what she experiences while... Read More

Anderson Cooper's familiar voice and delivery style are ever present in this historical account of the Vanderbilt dynasty. The history is comprehensive, but Cooper provides color and enthusiasm with every intriguing story. He breathes life into the story of how his great-great-great grandfather, "the Commodore," built enormous wealth through railroad and shipping enterprises.... Read More

In this well-informed collection of research and practical advice, an expert on organizational life explains how to navigate the informal systems in any workplace. In a lower-register voice, actor and filmmaker Siho Ellsmore narrates with authority that fits the depth and credibility of this writing. When notes of passion are heard in her delivery, they sound authentic and... Read More

Narrator Miles Harvey establishes an energetic voice for skateboard enthusiast Zane, who sets off for Manhattan with two of his friends and his dog. They're in search of treasure, using a map and clues left behind by a boarder and friend after her passing. Zane hopes the money will ensure that he and his mom can remain in their family home. Harvey smoothly navigates between... Read More

Debra Wise narrates the final installment of the Another Day series, the story of Rainary Ko. Rain, granddaughter of Elphaba, continues her journey back to Oz as her memories slowly return. While her progress seems haphazard, Wise's narration grounds the choices she makes and ties the many disparate plot threads together. Wise sneaks unexpectedly wry humor into the long and... Read More

Stephanie Racine narrates the authors' thorough examination of how the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn changed the world. Racine's British accent and tone pair perfectly with this meticulously researched book, which seeks to understand Anne Boleyn's rise to power and tragic demise. Racine meets the challenge of narrating passages in French, as Boleyn was raised in France... Read More

Derek Perkins combines the simplicity of narrating a fable with the complexity of delivering a modern novel's detail and character. The result is this reimagining of the Old Testament's Prophet Elijah. It's 900 BCE, and Phoenicia's Queen Jezebel vows to put all Israelite prophets to death and force the Hebrew people to worship the pagan deity Baal. Young Elijah is warned by his... Read More

It's impossible to hear this posthumously released collection of essays and fiction without heartbreak, knowing it will be So's last. Keong Sim narrates it expertly, infusing it with the electric energy, wry humor, and curiosity that defined So's first story collection, AFTERPARTIES. The fiction pieces, from his unfinished novel STRAIGHT THRU CAMBOTOWN, are full of that same... Read More

Full of humor and heart, Deanna Anthony animates the people in these essays. Many center on Savage's grandmother. Anthony astutely describes the author's comfort with her while growing up, her fear at her grandmother's descent into Alzheimer's, and her ongoing grief at her death. The audio takes listeners into the African-American tradition of funeral services called... Read More

Narrator Eilidh Beaton wraps listeners in a warm Christmas blanket while introducing the delights of an Edinburgh holiday. Beaton chronicles Carmen's difficult year--her breakup with her Brazilian boyfriend, Oke, and her struggle to keep Mr. McCredie's ancient bookshop solvent. Every character becomes a person listeners will want to meet. From the tacky businessman Jackson... Read More

In his latest audiobook, bestselling author and mental health coach Brad Stulberg shares the attitudes and actions that lead people to success in making changes. Narrator Will Damron is efficient and straightforward as he delivers Stulberg's advice on how to handle societal and personal transitions. Damron keeps his tone clear and consistent while explaining the author's... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld's brisk narration sweeps listeners into an atmospheric setting that blends fantasy and reality. Maarleveld portrays the dissatisfaction and resentment of literature-loving Effy Sayre, whose gender is holding her back at architecture school. Maarleveld shows Effy's pride and passion when she's selected to design a manor home honoring her favorite writer, who... Read More

Arinze Kene and Sheila Atim excel at narrating this cautionary tale--disguised as a #MeToo novel. Michael, portrayed by Kene, and Ola, portrayed by Atim, are a young, Black power couple who live in London. While they are planning their wedding, Michael's name appears on a list of abusers and rapists that quickly spreads all over social media. Kene and Atim's dramatic styles... Read More

Escape with narrators Joy Nash and Chris Brinkley to the snowy town of Christmas Notch, where a holiday movie is being filmed. As one of the lesser-known former boy-band members of INK, Kallum Lieberman enjoyed his short run of fame and then moved home to open a pizza business. Now ready to step back into the spotlight, he signs on to star in a new, sexy Santa movie alongside... Read More

Michael Lomonaco narrates this high-energy audiobook with the right tempo, cadence, and tone. A famed chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, he understands the intensity and focus of a creative kitchen. He captures the gamut of emotions associated with the pursuit of the perfect dish--the underlying subject of this audiobook. The author is especially adept at profiles--of... Read More

In the 1970s and early 1980s, journeyman reporter Terry Pratchett, not yet knighted, was slowly and slyly discovering his renowned satirical style, fantastic fantasy worlds, and love of wordplay under the pseudonym Patrick Kearns. In this collection of 20 humorous newspaper columns, celebrated voice talents, friends, and collaborators bring Pratchett's early work to life.... Read More

Timothy Andrés Pabon speaks softly as he narrates Morillo's first-person account of his childhood. Morillo, who immigrated to New York from Ecuador with his mother, is now a systems engineer for Blue Origin. Previously, he worked on the Mars 2020 team. Pabon puts determination into Morillo's words as the space engineer recalls his drive to learn. At one point, Pabon delivers a... Read More

Backed by snazzy, scratchy electronica, author-illustrator C.G. Esperanza raps an energetic ode to sneakers suspended from telephone wires. "Red kicks, green kicks, yellow kicks, blue./How'd they get up there? Only birds knew." Esperanza's execution of this refrain is so catchy that listeners will be chanting it with him by the end of this four-minute track. The sonic... Read More

Simon Schama's historical authority--demonstrated by his confident vocal performance--foregrounds his account of humanity's ongoing fight to protect itself against deadly disease. Schama takes listeners on a journey from inoculation to vaccination, starting with the battle against smallpox, moving through cholera and tuberculosis research, and ultimately landing on recent... Read More

Daniel Henning narrates this unconventional novel with light humor and a hefty dose of bemusement that is fitting for the main character, Eli, who wakes up one day in his wife Elizabeth's body. Elizabeth, who is now inhabiting his body, has vanished without a trace. As he adjusts to life in his new body with both curiosity and unease, Eli sets off across Europe to find her--and... Read More

Everyone thinks they know the story of Hercules, but this retelling changes everything. A talented ensemble brings to life those who surround the famed hero. Previously untold or ignored stories of family, lovers, enemies, and more are included. Each narrator represents a different person connected to Herc; the story unearths secret lovers, violent interactions, buried crimes,... Read More

Jesse Nobess establishes a determined voice for high school sophomore Tre Brun. After losing his older brother, a basketball star, he finds his own passion for the game. Nobess captures Tre's emotions as he pushes himself to reach his maximum potential on the court, first at tryouts and eventually at the Minnesota State Championship. Tre feels pressure to succeed not only for... Read More

Millie Bobby Brown masterfully presents a story inspired by her grandmother's experiences in England during WWII. Listeners meet Nellie Morris as the war rages around her. Brown skillfully changes her delivery as the story demands. She's at her best introducing precious 7-year-old Flora and neighbor Billy, whose love for Nellie is heartbreaking and life-affirming. Evocative... Read More

Narrators Sura Siu and Caroline Hewitt deliver gripping performances of this suspenseful family drama. In the first-person, Siu voices Jasmine Yang, a young woman who flees to New York City from China to track down the daughter her husband gave up for adoption. Siu captures Jasmine's desperation and determination. In contrast, Hewitt's third-person narration portrays Rebecca, a... Read More

This surely rates as one of the more challenging audiobooks to perform. (The novel was published in 1999.) The story's narrator, Lionel Essrog, has Tourette syndrome. Geoffrey Cantor delivers his eruptions of words effectively, seamlessly moving from Lionel's verbal tics to his straightforward storytelling. He does convincing New York accents and delivers the gangster patter... Read More

Nneka Okoye delivers a lively performance as African Princess Aina, who is kidnapped and taken to Victorian England. Aina, showing intelligence beyond her years, is saved from slavery, renamed Sarah, and given to Queen Victoria as a "gift." Okoye presents a charming, spirited child who grows into an appealing woman. Sarah spends her formative years as the Queen's goddaughter,... Read More

In this captivating audiobook, listeners are transported to the enchanting town of Henry Adams and the Christmas wedding of Bernadine and Mal. Kim Staunton's exceptional delivery imbues each character with depth and emotion as she skillfully portrays the intricacies of their relationships. From Preston's heartbreak to Reverend Paula's entanglement with a chef and former mayor... Read More

Molly Secour's portrayal of a self-absorbed actress infuses a bit of noir into this cozy mystery. When there's a homicide on the set of an amateur theater production, a has-been actress resurrects the skills she gained from her television role as a sleuthing pastor. Secour's languid voice as Miranda Abbott brings out the former celebrity's entertaining narcissism. Despite a few... Read More

Hilarie Burton Morgan shares new stories from Mischief Farm, expanding upon the relationship she began with listeners with her first memoir. Traditionally, a grimoire is a book of magic spells. Morgan's unique twist begins with her definition of a grimoire: a personal collection of practices, beliefs, and knowledge to be handed down to her children. Morgan describes how... Read More

Almarie Guerra does a particularly good job of capturing the characters' feelings in this emotional story. She depicts Wendy's passion for science, as well as her reactions to her family's fear of friends disappearing because of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Guerra projects the nasty tones of cruel teasing and racially based bullying at Wendy's school for gifted... Read More

Alaska Jackson differentiates the many characters, past and present, in this audiobook, especially the heroines who take center stage. Jackson clearly defines the courage of Blossom, the progenitor of a Black acting dynasty. In the Golden Age of Hollywood, Blossom is a trailblazing role model for female actors of color and generations later for her great-granddaughters, Hollis... Read More

Carlotta Brentan infuses this audio with all the emotional intensity it deserves. It recounts the childhood experiences of the author's grandmother, Rieke, in Holocaust-era Romania. Brentan's narration does full justice to the heroine's reactions to the complex personal and political upheavals she encountered. Brentan anchors us firmly in Rieke's feelings toward her family--her... Read More

Mac Barnett and illustrator Shawn Harris narrate their audiobook with abandon, further embellishing their quirky writing. Listeners meet the Moon Queen, who is poisoned by soup, giving her protector, the First Cat, the challenge of finding an antidote in 24 hours. Barnett and Harris excel at creating their own sound effects, adding fitting music that will evoke nostalgic... Read More

This audiobook features parallel stories of several people from different walks of life in Athens, Georgia. A local pharmacy is the connection among them, but before we get there, we hear the characters' interesting backstories. Anna Caputo and Jane Oppenheimer do a masterful job of crafting individual voices that fit the personalities of each person. Each chapter focuses on a... Read More

Louise Brealey powerfully performs this sci-fi novel, inspired by the novel 1984. In George Orwell's work, Julia serves as a secondary character to Winston, the beleaguered staffer at the Ministry of Truth who is struggling to live under the specter of Big Brother. Newman's audiobook expands the story, capturing the unique struggles of its women, a theme clearly missing in the... Read More

Ell Potter offers an outstanding narration of author Eekhout's speculative fiction. What might have inspired Mary Shelley's now classic horror story? Mary; her soon-to-be husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelly; and her stepsister, Claire, spend the summer of 1816 in Switzerland with Lord Byron and his personal physician, Dr. John Polidori. One cold, rainy night, Byron proposes a... Read More

With precision and clarity, Traci Kato-Kiriyama narrates Lin's poignant memoir on mental illness, motherhood, and the loss of her father to cancer. The memoir is divided into four sections, in accordance with the traditional Japanese four-part narrative. Japanese mythology and language are interwoven throughout, and Kato-Kiriyama's ease with them creates a sense of... Read More

Listeners will become immersed in Mammay's space odyssey, thanks to expert narration by Natalie Naudus. Her vocal acuity gives each character a unique sound, and her acting brings the story to life. This stand-alone space opera with contemporary political sensibilities and intriguing scientific ideas features a diverse space crew. Having traveled 250 years and 27 light years... Read More

Amy McFadden returns listeners to Coyote Canyon, Montana. Ellen Truesdale and her father, Stewart, are estranged; their well-drilling companies are rivals. Despite her initial hostility, Ellen develops a relationship with Hendrix Durrant, the nephew of Stewart's second wife, as well as his business partner. When it comes to her father, Ellen tries to be tough--though McFadden... Read More

Mary Jane Wells's performance sizzles in this explosive 1840s mystery- romance. Wells acts out the scenes with her lyrical voice, adding panache to the double entendres and sexy repartee. A string of explosions is occurring in East London. Sultry Lady Imogen Loveless, who is passionate about explosives, uses her considerable wit and steamy charms as she alternately butts heads... Read More

Jonathan Swift's story of Gulliver, who visits lands of people much smaller and larger than he, pops up in Smil's arguments as the author explains possible scientific realities of size. Stephen Perring narrates in an academic tone laced with humor much like listeners would expect from THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY as Smil takes on topics like the Golden Ratio, a... Read More

This twisty police procedural has fantastic narrators--Joanne Froggatt, Justin Avoth, and Kerry Wotton. It does a spectacular job of building on the ticking clock of a missing-person investigation and the ethical dilemma of the detective heading it. Julia's career as a detective is immaculate except for one accident, which she's kept a secret. A man with a hidden identity knows... Read More

Graham Halstead narrates a poignant fight for survival as a man who is trapped in an overturned boat at the bottom of the sea faces a ticking clock. Writer Lukas attempts to turn his life around with a series of stories about a rare shrimp boat. He connects with the crew, only to find himself entombed on the sea floor with little chance of rescue. Halstead narrates in a tone... Read More

Vaneh Assadourian and Gail Shalan perform this intimate story of a woman in her thirties. Yara, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, has it all--a husband, two daughters, a job at a local university--but she still feels burned out. Through every disappointment, Yara tells herself to be grateful. Her marriage might have been arranged, but at least her husband isn't violent... Read More

A dual narration by Piper Goodeve and Tim Paige introduces a cozy Connecticut town that is about to experience a magical apocalypse. Local business owner Jessica Gold and new-to-town Derrick Winters believe that a high school witch can help avert disaster. While Jessica's friends' voices are not always distinct in conversation, Goodeve clearly evokes Piper's guilt about her... Read More

Narrator Shiromi Arserio captivates listeners in this moving coming-of-age story. Ai, the daughter of Cambodian refugees, recalls growing up in Australia in the late 1990s and trying to figure out how to navigate dating and friendships. Seventeen-year-old Ai and her group of friends regularly encounter bigotry and anti-immigrant sentiment. After their close-knit group suffers... Read More

Nneka Okoye's talent for differentiating accents and timbres shines in this Nigerian-inspired fantasy audiobook. The magic-wielding Oluso are ruthlessly ruled by the Aje, who are without magic. Years after her mother's brutal murder, Dèmi, an Oluso, jumps at the opportunity for vengeance. Along with her best friend, Colin, she kidnaps the Eingardian prince, Jonas, an Aje, in... Read More

American naturalist Sy Montgomery is obviously fascinated by turtles. Her voice is suffused with warmth and awe and compassion that just sweep the listener right along. Montgomery volunteers with the Turtle Rescue League in Massachusetts and gets to know Alexxia and Natasha, the founders of the TRL, as well as many turtles with excellent and hilarious names like Pizza Man,... Read More

Mike Ortego gets Talese. Ortego artfully performs Talese's polished sentences and captures the flavor of his urbane worldview with a writerly tone. For this is an audiobook of enhanced remembrances. Talese returns to the sights and sounds of his most famous and influential piece of creative nonfiction, the New Journalism classic "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," and entertains the... Read More

Actor and talk-show host Jada Pinkett Smith foreshadows the range of emotions she projects in her memoir by beginning with quiet despair and transitioning to a fierce tone. Smith shares intimate details of growing up in Baltimore; with a mother who was addicted to heroin and an absent father, she was raised mainly by her grandmother. Smith shouts as she recounts being held at... Read More

Author Roxane Gay performs a collection of her nonfiction pieces from the last decade. The essays range from cultural criticism to celebrity profiles. For example, she interviews Janelle Monáe about how Afrofuturism influenced their album DIRTY COMPUTER and examines the future of the Black Panther franchise after the death of Chadwick Boseman. She also writes about big cultural... Read More

Narrating this chatty and informative audiobook, Simon Jones delivers a flawless performance full of lively interpretations and emotional resonance. The acclaimed British actor is enormously entertaining to hear, but he never steals the spotlight from the author's conversational writing and fascinating insights. The social scientist says conspiracy believers fall into an... Read More

Isabella Star LaBlanc tells the story of three generations of Dakota women in a reverse timeline as they recount their pivotal girlhood years. Sissy, born in 1961; Lillian, born in 1925; and Cora, born in 1888, deal with hardships like generational trauma and brutal Indian boarding schools by clinging to the comfort of their dolls. LaBlanc uses bright voices for the various... Read More

Lovers of Renaissance art will enjoy this lengthy, detailed, and thoroughly researched audiobook about Florentine and other masterworks hidden during WWII. Two experienced narrators, Stina Nielsen and Christa Lewis, portray the two women who tell the story, namely a German photographer and an American stenographer. Both women become passionate about preserving the art, which is... Read More

Hillary Huber, longtime narrator of the Sheriff Joanna Brady series, is wisely tapped to voice this exciting new Brady and Walker mystery. Huber energetically embodies both familiar and new characters, transporting listeners to the story's Southwestern locale. She's especially fun to listen to when youthfully voicing Joanna's daughter, Jenny, a criminology student who grabs the... Read More

Brooke Bloomingdale and James Gloucester delight listeners as they narrate this hilarious, heartfelt holiday rom-com. Melody Gallard and Beat Dawkins are the adult children of the legendary rock band Steel Birds--now defunct. Thanks to a lucrative reality TV offer, Beat and Melody are attempting to reunite their estranged mothers, both veterans of the band, for a reunion... Read More

Four talented narrators voice a compelling story of teenagers who find community over a tumultuous week in their Canadian town. Jessie is excited to start a new job at Pink Mountain Pizza; narrator Aaliya Warbus's husky voice captures her seemingly flippant but truly thoughtful nature. Shaun Taylor-Corbett voices her co-worker Cam's dialogue with lighthearted humor but also... Read More

NPR podcast cohost Aisha Harris passionately dissects pop culture, delivering an honest portrayal of her life. Her musings are funny, tender, and sometimes searing rebuttals of others' critiques. Harris examines the "Black friend" trope by referencing the TV shows "New Girl," "Scrubs," and "Happy Endings." She compares the development of serialization, reboots, remakes,... Read More

Jane Ferguson narrates her memoir in a melodic Northern Irish brogue that has been softened by time and intention. With 15 years of reporting experience, she has a confident tone. The violence that spilled into Ferguson's childhood came from her verbally abusive mother, her manipulative father, and the actions of the Irish Republican Army. Her familiarity with fear and her... Read More

Hillary Huber performs Evelyn McDonnell's fan notes on the life and times of Joan Didion with the warm excited tones of a girlfriend sharing an enthusiasm with someone she met outside the star's stage door. It's a smart choice, well-paired with McDonnell's text, and Huber's voice is lovely. The problem lies not with the performance of this audiobook but with the text itself.... Read More

Author Alicia Roth Weigel takes listeners through her life as an intersex person and her activism in a world that fears differences in sexuality. Born with both male and female reproductive organs, Weigel experienced life-changing surgery and procedures performed long before having the ability to consent. As an adult, she found a passion for politics and became an activist to... Read More

Hannah Choi generally does a fine job with this collection of short stories, but she has some minor trouble with several of the male voices. Most of the major characters are Chinese or of Chinese ancestry, and Chinese immigrant culture is an important factor--but listeners won't need to have that background to understand and sympathize with the problems the characters face.... Read More

In this powerful presentation of Castillo's latest story collection, narrator Stacy Gonzalez brings out the complex emotions of families who are contending with change and straining under the weight of societal expectations. Gonzalez depicts the multilayered experiences of Latin people from Chicago to Mexico City, taking listeners into the varied lives of individuals facing... Read More

Nathalie Buscombe and Ayesha Antoine narrate this debut thriller. Revelle, who speaks 10 languages, is a meticulous courtroom translator. But when she fears an alleged killer will go free, she deliberately mistranslates his alibi and gets him convicted. Someone finds out, and now Revelle's job and the pending adoption of a child she wants very much are endangered--along with... Read More

Ruth Wilson is mesmerizing as she delivers Miller's reimagining of Ovid's well-known tale of Pygmalion and Galatea, this time from Galatea's point of view. From Shaw's PYGMALION to the musical MY FAIR LADY to the popular film PRETTY WOMAN, a man's wish for the perfect woman has resulted in the transformation of an imperfect lump of womanhood into a compliant, adoring partner... Read More

A cast of nine takes turns narrating the short stories in this anthology about witches. Characters range from the traditional broom-riding and cauldron-stirring witch of European tradition to magical women of other cultures, techno witches, and modern depictions of a maiden, a mother, and a crone. Bahni Turpin's and Anniwaa Buachie's rich and powerful voices make for stand-out... Read More

Josephine Huang's and David Lee Huynh's earnest performances delight in this winning YA rom-com. Huang's spirited narration embodies the optimistic 18-year-old Clementine Chan, who writes as Hibiscus in her blog, which provides news and reviews on Chinatown. Huynh's deep tones and pacing clearly portray the cranky Danny Mok, a.k.a. BobaBoy888. Mok thinks Hibiscus's... Read More

This funny, touching character-driven mystery is superbly narrated by Jane Oppenheimer. The story is anchored by three strong female characters: Los Angeles real estate mogul Lana Rubicon; her adult daughter, Beth, with whom Lana has a prickly relationship; and Beth's teenage daughter, Jack. Lana is diagnosed with cancer and moves in with Beth and Jack in their small-town home.... Read More

Lynnette R. Freeman offers a driven narration of Lockhart’s latest, the story of Lottie Rebecca Lee, a Black daughter-spirit born to heal her family’s generational trauma. Lottie’s story grows out of the violence that haunted her ancestors—from her enslaved great-great-great- grandmother to her viciously abusive great-grandfather and her grandfather. In an expressive sorrowful... Read More

Since the 2008 election of our first African American president, incidents of hate crimes and profiles of white supremacist groups have increased dramatically. In this audiobook, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Wesley Lowery asks how, after 400 years, can white supremacism and extreme racism continue to be driving forces in America? With a mostly neutral delivery underscored by... Read More

Catherine Ho brings out the immense charm in Chau's nod to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, set in New York's Chinatown in the 2000s. After her pushy mother, a realtor, sells a dilapidated community center to Hong Kong investors, Elizabeth Chen finds herself butting heads with one of them--the aloof Darcy Wong. Ho peppers Elizabeth and Darcy's diverting exchanges with increasing tension.... Read More

Mix a wild teen comedy with an English country-house murder mystery and add a dash of true-crime podcast grit, and you'll come close to this gleeful YA story. When a popular girl enlists Annie and Kerry to catch a stalker, they think they're finally done with being outcasts. But when Kerry's meet-cute moment with the new-kid hottie is interrupted by a dead body,... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett performs this immersive audiobook in a restrained style. He modulates his voice depending on the scene, shifting his tone to reflect the various characters and authentically delivering the Diné language that is sprinkled through the text. Taylor-Corbett inhabits the soul of Damien, who has just lost his younger brother. He seeks refuge from his wounds by... Read More

Barrie Kreinik performs an enchanting story that injects hope, love, and possibility into a science-fiction thriller. The Louvre is burning at the hands of a terrorist group that is eager to eliminate anything that brings happiness to humanity. As a disease called The Grey afflicts the population, an engineer named Lily discovers a potential means to slow the spread. Kreinik's... Read More

Therapist Chelsea Harvey Garner is straightforward, hilarious, and heartfelt in her message to embrace life's disappointments and offer kindness to those who are also facing their own challenging times. Narrator Ann Marie Gideon has an informal tone that is relaxed, pleasantly light and playful, yet genuine. She channels the "pity party" thoughts in listeners everywhere and... Read More

Jordan Cobb narrates the approaching-end-of-the world records of 11-year-old Kemi, a Nigerian American whose color puts her at odds in her white neighborhood. Cobb re-creates the warm tenderness of Kemi's family, especially their playful interactions with an exploring toddler and their anticipation of a baby due in five months. Cobb voices Kemi's strength with respect to the... Read More

Narrator Melissa Redmond's appealing voice tells the story of a place long since lost to urban renewal. From 1956 to 1967, the dead-end street Coenties Slip in lower Manhattan was home to a group of extremely talented artists in their formative years, including Robert Indiana, Ellsworth Kelly, and Agnes Martin. Although they varied greatly in their approaches to art, they were... Read More

André Santana flawlessly re-creates gentle Will's school and home life in Oakwood, Georgia--where everyone knows everyone whether they're students, jocks, or gamers. Will begins to feel exhausted and nauseous after playing soccer; soon he's diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The story's superbly rendered first-person viewpoint draws in listeners as it reveals Will's relationships... Read More

Katie Anvil Rich gives an engaging narration of a heartwarming middle-grade audiobook set over the course of one day in Wesley's life. Rich captures Wesley's nervous excitement for the upcoming celebration of Indigenous People's Day. She's publishing a poem on the holiday in her school paper, and she's going to ask her cute gaming club crush to the school dance. When nothing... Read More

Chicago private eye Ashe Cayne does a lot of verbal sparring with cops and his client, news anchor Morgan Shaw. Amir Abdullah's narration puts a lot of heated tension--and a little sarcasm--into those exchanges. When Cayne is hired for bodyguard duty, he winds up investigating a shooting by police officers. Abdullah takes listeners through a couple of quick mental switches... Read More

The first installment of the Marleigh Sisters, a new historical romance series, narrated by Aysha Kala, features the eldest Marleigh sister. Lila is the illegitimate daughter of an earl, and her place on the outside of English society was cemented by her Indian mother. When Ivor Tristam comes to her gaming club with accusations at the same time that someone from her past asks... Read More

Narrator DeLanna Studi jumps into the pulse-pounding eighth adventure of Navajo Tribal Police Officers Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito, set in the desert land of Four Corners. While on vacation, Chee and Manuelito jump feet first into a complex murder investigation involving an abandoned archaeological dig, defaced pictographs sacred to the Navajo at Utah's Bears Ears... Read More

Narrator Elisabeth Rodgers voices a range of characters in this locked- room mystery. Twenty-five years ago, a student and a writing professor disappeared in the caves near Briarwood College. Alumni and faculty gather now on a December evening to honor the victims, and a snowstorm prevents them from leaving campus. The dean, once a work-study student at Briarwood who felt she... Read More

Stacy Gonzalez deftly crafts the characters in this novel, set in the 1970s. The story is told through the eyes of Lou, a young woman whose brother was killed in Vietnam. She takes on the task of restoring the old home of Miss Kate, a mother figure to her when she was growing up. Her work on the house parallels a backdrop of serious issues: the mores of the day, her... Read More

Nick Martineau's high-energy narration intensifies this action-packed story told from the perspective of 11-year-old Luke's dog, Haru. Rabid animals, environmental disaster, media suppression, racial injustice, and--yes--zombies will all affect Luke's Korean American family and their friends. Sinclair, an environmentally negligent local company, experiences a suspicious fire,... Read More

Narrator Kit Swann depicts all the emotions in the story of Summer Sutherland, who has always been told her father didn't want her. Now a DNA test has matched her to a family she has never known. In truth, her father didn't know she existed because her mother never told him about her. When they do find each other, Summer visits him in California. Summer is from Texas, and Swann... Read More

Narrator Shayna Small's performance captures the various emotions in this realistic teen story. Small is perfect as petulant teen Ebony, who loses her home in the city and moves to the lake cottage that used to belong to her grandmother. As she struggles with finding her identity and where she fits in with her new peers, the vulnerable tone of Small's voice is heartbreaking.... Read More

Emily Rankin narrates a novel about the meaning of home and family. Esme Cahill returns to her childhood home after failing spectacularly at her adult life. Trying to save her family's business from financial ruin offers a temporary respite, but what if she fails at that, too? Rankin's narration strikes the right tones of warmth and humor. Esme has faced hardships in her life... Read More

Narrator Ferdelle Capistrano sounds full of determination as tween Mila. The future of her family's food truck is threatened when Mila's celebrity idols, the Fab Foodie Brothers, open a new restaurant in town--one with a suspiciously similar menu. Shenanigans ensue as she tries to prove that they stole The Banana Leaf's delicious Filipino-Indian fusion recipes. Capistrano... Read More

Frankie Corzo's skilled narration is a captivating enhancement to this steamy sci-fi story. Lexi's unique gifts as an intergalactic thief drag her into unexpected situations. This time she's brought back to Valovia, where she crosses paths with the charming teleporter who was responsible for her losing her last job. The two are forced to work together, making for a delicious... Read More

An ensemble of 10 narrators deftly captures the unsettling, creepy, or horror-filled nature of 15 thought-provoking works in several genres by Tremblay. A gravelly-voiced Graham Halstead remembers touring his first crush's haunted house, Jorjeana Marie becomes a mean girl who erases the chalk marks that lead an old man home, and Ewan Chung channels the intense pain of grief... Read More

Veteran duo Emily Ellet and Andrew Eiden expertly deliver this steamy romance with elements of THE BOURNE IDENTITY. A woman wakes up without memories yet instinctively knows how to fight. She runs into a brooding yet attractive spy who tries to convince her that she isn't actually a fellow spy but the identical twin of one. This audiobook has a simplistic plot peppered with... Read More

Janina Edwards calmly and clearly presents this data-driven study of U.S. poverty. She does a fine job shifting tone and tempo when the text changes from the authors' words to the words of the subjects they interviewed. Her thoughtful delivery gives this work meaning as she delivers the community profiles, personal stories, and interpretations of data. Her engaging style... Read More

Meryl’s Streep’s captivating performance of Ann Patchett’s new novel transforms the fine book into a must-listen. As the Nelson family— Lara, Joe, and three adult daughters—isolate together on their Michigan cherry farm in the first year of the Covid pandemic, Lara entertains the girls with memories of working in summer stock theater at nearby Tom Lake and dating an actor who... Read More

Chieko Hidaka narrates this contemporary retelling of the Japanese folktale "The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku." Twelve-year-old Melony wishes her Japanese-born parents would allow her more freedom, like the American families in her Oregon hometown. But she soon learns to be careful what she wishes for when an innocent- seeming demon woos her and then disrupts her life.... Read More

Anne-Marie Piazza offers a charming, flexible narration of this hearty romance. Petunia has been enjoying her quaint life as an assistant to a royal named Johnny, but her clumsiness finally lands her in hot water. After she stumbles into an awkward situation with the tabloids, she's given the choice to fake a relationship with Johnny's brooding bodyguard, Matthias, in order to... Read More

Whether she's expressing the quandaries of Alice, a unique 10-year-old; her quirky parents; or the troubled ghosts who live next door, Suzanne Toren is remarkable at animating the vivid characters in this story. Toren excels also at pacing, beginning breezily as Alice uses the skills she learned from her father to remake the house next door and builds relationships with four... Read More

This fantasy with captivating world-building and characters requires an expert emotional performance--and Kit Griffiths delivers. After Kissen's family is murdered by followers of a reckless fire deity, she dedicates her life to hunting gods. But her path changes when she meets Inara, a young heiress who is mysteriously connected to a small god of white lies. Traveling together... Read More

This richly described and deeply researched historical fiction is made more authentic by the narration of Sara Vickers, especially her delicious Scottish accent. Her contralto pitch and easy handling of the text bring this new vision of Lady Macbeth to life. Vickers does not use different voices, but it is usually easy to distinguish who is speaking during the dialogue. Winding... Read More

Thérèse Plummer leads a full cast with her captivating performance as true-crime podcast host Ryanna Raines. When the bodies of a husband and wife are found brutally stabbed, their son, Jordan, and his girlfriend are suspects. The suspects, both theater students at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), offer exclusive interviews to Raines. What follows is a twisty... Read More

Tommy Hawthorne's English accent and energetic delivery imbue this romantic audiobook with enthusiasm and humor. Noah, the most promising tailor in Victorian-era London, is given a higher tone and a bold voice that embody his eccentricities. His best friend, David, voiced deeply and gently, runs The Curious Fox, a secret queer club where Noah enjoys dressing in drag. When a... Read More

Morag Sims's deft narration skills shine in this inclusive YA fantasy, which includes LGBTQ+ characters. Fifteen-year-old Clara's unruly magic and wild emotions have accidentally caused flowers to bloom from her father's chest. Sims puts forth a leisurely but polished and formal tone as she switches between Clara and Xavier, Clara's handsome ex-best friend whom she is now... Read More

Hannah Curtis narrates this retrospective on lessons to be learned and inspiration to be gleaned from a group of women writers, including Mary Wollstonecraft, Simone de Beauvoir, Sylvia Plath, Toni Morrison, and Elena Ferrante. In each chapter the author weaves the experiences of one writer, examining her marriage, her work as a writer and an editor, and the difficult life... Read More

Maggi-Meg Reed brings Stewart's Southern Gothic to life with style. Nicola, an unreliable narrator with a nondescript accent, returns to her Appalachian hometown, hoping to resolve the 16-year-old mystery of Lauren's disappearance. Even the secondary characters in this novel have realistic Appalachian accents as the story moves between past and present. In the present, Nicola... Read More

A tiny New England town agrees to a bold corporate experiment--trading in their everyday gas-guzzling cars for self-driving sedans. What could go wrong? Ako Mitchell narrates with ease and warmth that belie the fender-bending bloodcurdling horrors to come as a single mom, her two teenage kids, and a mysterious neighbor battle a herd of homicidal autonomous vehicles that have... Read More

Stacey Glemboski's forthright yet intimate performance gives this quiet novel the immediacy of a memoir. The narrator, a novelist, wrestles with her feelings about pregnancy, birth, motherhood, and womanhood as she attempts to write a novel about Mary Shelley. Frustrated with her progress on it, she decides instead to write about an old friend's surreal experience of pregnancy.... Read More

Gabra Zackman brings her convincing style, resonant timbre, and precise timing to this nonfiction audiobook. Whether the author is talking about record-setting deep dives or the detailed work of ocean mapping, Zackman gives contours to the global research and high-seas adventures. The stakes for the planet are far more significant than the goals of billionaire adventurers who... Read More

In Victorian England spiritualism was as popular as bustles among the fashionable set. Narrator Tracy-Ann Oberman presents London's most celebrated medium, the incomparable Mrs. Wood, who connects her wealthy clientele to loved ones on the other side and entertains them with the antics of naughty spirits. Oberman gives Mrs. Wood a regal, well-articulated voice. When Mrs. Wood... Read More

Narrator Andi Arndt's understated performance of this slow-burn suspense belies the unexpected turns of the narrative. Since she gave birth on the floor of a hotel bathroom as a teenager, Amber Glass has struggled to escape being "Prom Mom." When chance brings her back to Baltimore and into the orbit of Joe, her baby's father, and his high-strung wife, Meredith, the life Amber... Read More

Emma Wilder's sensitive narration clarifies Vanessa's complex feelings for her taciturn boss, football player Aiden Graves. Vanessa's disdain and hurt at Aiden's brusque manner are evident as she quits and is wooed back by an unusual proposal. Stephen Dexter voices Aiden and other males in this duet narration. Dexter has a deep voice, and he delivers clipped responses that... Read More

A beautiful narration by Rebecca Mozo brings this new sci-fi offering to life. Kel Garda and her mates seek to find and destroy the long dormant war machine that is suddenly devastating the peaceful planet of Loth, where Kel has found refuge in her anonymity. Mozo delivers individual tones and pitches for the various characters; voices range from Kel's no-nonsense contralto to... Read More

Narrator Eunice Wong's consistent pace and vocal variety are perfect for this audiobook, which dissects feminism, race, and wealth in an organic way. Ellie is devastated when her husband, Ian, dies suddenly. At 29, Ellie thought she had decades more with him. At the funeral she discovers that Ian had a mistress, and, enraged by this, she uses Ian's life insurance to book a... Read More

Hold onto your earphones as narrator Geoffrey Cantor skillfully zooms into and out of the lives of Brooklynites from the 1970s to the 1990s. Some crime novels are character driven; others are plot driven. Lethem's latest work seems sociologically driven. Characters are designated by labels like "white boys" rather than names, unveiling clashing cultures, all struggling to... Read More