In his first novel, Hank Green proves his writing gift is equal to his vlogger fame. Kristen Sieh's breezy narration fits the fast pacing of the story and the quick wit of self-absorbed, acerbic April May. Life changes (and so does Sieh's adept portrayal) when April May discovers that a ten-foot-tall statue has suddenly appeared on a Manhattan sidewalk. A YouTube video of the... Read More

Narrator Janet Song explores the complex emotions of adopted children in this memoir about family. Song recounts the confusing upbringing of author Nicole Chung, a Korean who was adopted by Americans and raised in a small, mostly Caucasian town in Oregon. Song's narration is sensitive as she delivers details of subtle discrimination against Chung and her nagging questions about... Read More

Eric Idle telling his own life story? Can it get any better than this? I think not. In one of the funniest audiobooks of the year, Idle uses funny voices, Monty-Pythonesque routines, and his own god-given distinctive British accent to talk about his life--the good times and the hardships (but mostly good times) before, during, and after his time with Monty Python. Idle's... Read More

Narrator Ron Butler puts forth a bronze-star-worthy effort in the face of this relentless barrage of facts and anecdotes describing the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. Fountain's disturbing yet salient distillation of that time, in the form of essays written more or less contemporary with the events, deserves an audience--but in print it could be a depressing read and... Read More

If current events have got you down, Phoebe Robinson will ease the doldrums with her second collection of laugh-out-loud sardonic essays. Robinson narrates her insights with the sharp wit that had listeners tuning in to her cohosted podcast. Listeners can escape from the bleak daily news feed by choosing to hear Robinson giggle in their ears at her own outlandishness. Her style... Read More

Television personality RuPaul Andre Charles, known simply as RuPaul, gives us this serene take on being your best self. As the narrator of his own title, he sheds the flamboyant personality that made him famous. He speaks quietly, confidently, like the very guru mentioned in the title, touting meditation and prayer in a steady, sincere voice. This is a surprising listen because... Read More

The eleventh in the Virgil Flowers series finds the investigator summoned to small-town Minnesota once again. A sniper is picking off folks who are flocking to Wheatfield to witness the recent miracle appearance of the Virgin Mary. Narrator Eric Conger confidently voices Virgil and a myriad of characters, male and female, old and young. The author's snappy dialogue requires... Read More

A talented narrator combined with fascinating material makes for enjoyable listening. While Scott Brick probably could make a dictionary sound interesting, his voice exactly suits this work about the key role the French navy played in the American Revolution. He narrates with an even tone but varies his pace and adds touches of excitement in key passages, especially battle... Read More

Moira Quirk gives crisp, purposeful voice to Felicity Montague, a young Englishwoman in the 1700s with the single-minded ambition to become a doctor--a path that seems hopelessly closed to her. When she tracks down her idol, Dr. Platt, and reconnects with childhood friend Johanna, it's the beginning of an action-packed, fantastical adventure. Quirk makes the most of her... Read More

For those who revel in broad-canvas, socially conscious, plot-driven delicious reads recalling the pleasures of Dickens or Thackeray but with utterly contemporary themes, language, and sensibility, break out the banners. J.K. Rowling's good friend Robert Galbraith has delivered a Cormoran Strike novel you hope goes on forever, except that you really, really want to know how it... Read More

Susan Orlean is a wonderful narrator for her terrific new book--part memoir, part paean to libraries and librarians, with a focus on the Los Angeles Public Library and the unusual man who may or may not have caused the library's catastrophic 1986 fire. As she has proven in such books as THE ORCHID THIEF, and in her work for THE NEW YORKER, Orlean is an amazing writer. At... Read More

Narrator Dion Graham's portrayal of Courtney "Coop" Cooper pulls listeners into this portrayal of three teens and their complicated relationship dynamics. Coop, who is straight and cisgender, longs for something more with his best friend, Jupe, but Jupe, a lesbian, is oblivious. Their relationship changes when Rae Chin appears and seems to like both of them. Graham excels at... Read More

Narrator Elizabeth Acevedo's bold vocals and lyrical style take this contemporary retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE to amazing heights. For years Zuri Benitez and her four sisters have been watching their tight-knit Bushwick neighborhood succumb to gentrification. When Darius Darcy and his wealthy family move in across the street, Zuri and Darius make snap judgments about each... Read More

Narrator Bahni Turpin infuses sensitivity and compassion into Picoult's thought-provoking story set against the contentious backdrop of abortion rights. After gunman George Goddard fires shots and takes hostages at a Mississippi women's clinic, police negotiator Hugh McElroy bargains for the hostages' lives, one of whom is his 15-year-old daughter, Wren. The story unfolds in... Read More

With a poet's passion, Kwame Alexander narrates his novel-in-verse about high school friends Noah and Walt. Alexander's strong connection to his characters shines in his enthusiastic delivery and clear distinctions between the boys' personalities. Noah, cautious and reserved, pines for a girl who sees him only as a pal; Walt, vibrant with jazz running through his veins, wants... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld's warm tones invite listeners to dive back into a magical world in which vampires, witches, and daemons live among humans. Set after the All Souls Trilogy, this audiobook explores the meaning of becoming a vampire, and a family. The tale rotates through three storylines: Phoebe's vampiric transformation, witch Diana and vampire Matthew's struggle with... Read More

Collaboration works in the writing and narration of the alternating viewpoints of this story. Noah Galvin portrays Arthur, a bright Jewish teen who has recently come out but has never had a relationship. For him, a chance and momentary encounter with Ben at the post office seems fated--as if the universe has thrown them together--but neither of them knows the identity of the... Read More

Narrator Paul Nugent's conversational delivery turns Tana French's stand-alone mystery into a painstaking confession over pints at a pub. Nugent's earnest tone makes the privileged and oblivious Toby seem charming as the story dives into the ripple effect of becoming a crime victim. After suffering a severe head injury from a brutal burglary, Toby stays with his ailing uncle in... Read More