Kimberly Farr delivers a pitch-perfect performance in this cozy mystery featuring widowed Mrs. Muriel Blossom. Just when she needs a fresh start, Muriel finds a winning lottery ticket and sets off for a Seine River cruise. On her way to Paris she meets the gentlemanly Allan. With his help, she is upgraded to business class and receives a sleep aid, which causes her to miss her... Read More

Join spirited narrator Caitlin Kinnunen for a coming-of-age story filled with quirky adventures. Amelia is panicking after asking her celebrity crush, famous YouTuber Walter Holland, to her prom online. Then she takes her dream a step further and plans a road trip with friends to see him in person. Surely, he'll then notice her, and her romantic fantasies will come true!... Read More

Carol Schneider performs the many voices in this comic novel with a sure sense of its humor and pathos. She does accents well, shifts smoothly among the many characters, and gives a distinct tone and tempo to the three leads: children's author Frances Partridge, whose "snap" occurs at a middle school; auto mechanic Geraint Blevins, who reacts creatively to his unctuous boss... Read More

Octogenarian Eliza Pickney is the matriarch of her vast homestead in the lush South Carolina Low Country, and her plan to preserve the family land in a conservancy disrupts her descendants' expectation of inheritance. The story unfolds in two timelines: Jenna Lamia charmingly narrates Eliza's stories from her early life, while Cassandra Campbell superbly portrays Eliza in her... Read More

Eric Yang's spirited performance and ease in creating multiple characters make this audiobook a joy to listen to. Californian Rick Kotani, who loves baseball, expected to spend the summer pitching for his team. Instead, he winds up in Oregon, with his mom, who's looking after his Japanese grandfather, who still has spunk but isn't safe living independently. As Rick's Grandpa... Read More

Katharine Chin skillfully narrates this middle-grade adventure, capturing all the characters' voices. Natalie "Cincinnati" Lee has stolen her 135-year-old grandfather's diary, which contains details of all the treasures he has taken. In an effort to break the family curse, Cincinnati is determined to repatriate the relics mentioned in the diary. As she grapples with the first... Read More

Anthony Rey Perez's adaptability as a narrator is showcased in this crime story/police procedural, the first unabridged audio version of Elmore Leonard's 1985 breakout novel, GLITZ. Perez masters the snappy dialogue--including accents native to Puerto Rico, Miami, Atlantic City, and Detroit--and his hushed delivery aligns with one of Leonard's darkest crime stories. When... Read More

Lisa Flanagan narrates this historical novel with compassion. In 1942, almost 300 works of art from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence were hidden in a Tuscan villa to protect them from Nazi looting. Stella is sent to stay with her uncle in that villa, which he is overseeing for its absentee owners. There, Stella tries to find her place with relatives she's never known and to... Read More

Barrie Kreinik gently guides listeners through this dark fantasy audiobook. Residents trapped inside the besieged Aymar Castle have nearly run out of food when they're rescued by the divine Constant Lady and her Saints. Kreinik, speaking with a British accent, narrates the desperate, starving people's descent into madness and ecstasy when they refuse to see the horrifying truth... Read More

Caroline Hewitt's superb narration takes listeners on a powerfully emotional journey in this dual-timeline audiobook. In 1942, as German officers arrive at their French countryside home, 7-year-old Martine is hidden in a cabinet by her Jewish father with a valuable bottle of wine. Alone on the streets, Martine is brought to an abbey by Sister Ada, who is hiding her own secret.... Read More

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini portrays Rhys Kinnick, a heartbroken retired environmental journalist and grandfather who tries to save his family. Ballerini delivers scenes playing out all over the country in which family members on opposite sides of the political fence argue and end up estranged due to disinformation and political manipulation. Kinnick cuts himself off from the... Read More

Vanessa Johansson adds charm and texture to this light mystery with a twist. Her warm, approachable tone fits Mia Crawford's book-loving, anxious personality, which contributes to her transformation into an accidental detective. Johansson navigates the changing moods of the story with ease--balancing beachside flirtation, quiet introspection, and rising suspense without losing... Read More

Talented actors Lesley Manville and Tim McMullan bring drama and rich characterizations to their narration, just as they do in the Masterpiece television adaptations of Horowitz's series. Their dynamic performances create an audiobook experience that's fun, immersive, and expertly voiced. Though this may be the final installment, ample backstory allows new listeners to jump... Read More

Psychologist William von Hippel tackles the human dilemma of wanting to feel free and accepted simultaneously. Josh Bloomberg's narration helps listeners understand that balancing these two desires, instead of choosing one over the other, is the key to happiness. Using a strong and reassuring approach, Bloomberg smoothly explains the friction humans feel between connection and... Read More

Narrator Timothy Andrés Pabon brings numerous essential skills to this richly detailed history of El Paso, Texas. Most important are his command of languages and accents, and a degree of conviction that supports the author's distinctly Southwestern and multicultural perspective. Parker, a respected journalist who, sadly, died the week this book was published, argues that El... Read More

In her latest audiobook, Perkins celebrates diversity and the fun and adventure of making new friends and learning a new language in an unfamiliar place. Stacy Gonzalez's narration fills young Lissie's voice with nervous excitement as she travels far from home with her father and grandmother, worrying about how she'll communicate when everyone else speaks Spanish. Gonzalez... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo and Victoria Villareal throw themselves into the portrayal of two dozen kids and a couple of dogs, who are spending the day at a New Jersey beach. First, we hear the voices of siblings Jackie and Simon as they run on the empty beach. Later, the beach becomes crowded with people of varied classes and ethnicities. De Ocampo portrays a Cuban teen idol who is trying... Read More

Gary Tiedemann gives voice to "Rhino" Rhinehart, the featured character in Lipsyte's timely, troubling coming-of-age novel. Because of an impulsive punch, the junior captain of the football team finds himself keeping a journal as part of a school therapy group. Tiedemann delivers Rhino's words in the voice of a teen who is attempting honesty and beginning to question who he... Read More

Narrator Josh Bloomberg takes listeners through a novel that explores the grief and mysteries of our childhood that plague our adulthood. Culture writer Jacob Goldberg must create a successful podcast for his company, or he'll lose his cherished spot at the magazine he's worked at for decades. After speaking with a former high school crush about his need for a topic worth... Read More

Ariana Delawari reflects the uncomfortable mix of feelings of Cassie Perera, which began with her betrayal of her best friend, Ben, in sixth grade, when the two were caught swapping outfits. She denies her friendship to avoid revealing her same-sex attractions, hiding behind being perfect at school, church, and home. Delawari carries listeners forward into Cassie's junior... Read More

Annie B. Jones shines as she narrates her first book, an essay collection about all the ways an ordinary life can feel extraordinary. An independent bookstore owner and host of the popular podcast "From the Front Porch," Jones narrates with confidence, a lively intonation, and expert pacing. The Florida native has a sweet voice with an audible smile that welcomes listeners into... Read More

British accents such as the one Zeinab Badawi employs in her narration have told a lot of Africa's stories over the years. Here, Badawi puts her British accent toward recounting African history from the African point of view as she shares tales of long-ago kingdoms and struggles against colonial control. Her narration is punctuated by wonder at visits to places such as the... Read More

Timothy Andrés Pabon narrates the story of Danilo with heartfelt emotions. In 1989, in the wake of the US military invasion of Panama, Danilo's neighborhood, El Chorillo, is destroyed. Recently abandoned by his father, Danilo tries to be strong for his mother and sister. When a baseball recruiter offers him a scholarship to play in California, Danilo is torn between his bright... Read More

Rebecca Stern cheerfully narrates this illustrated biography of scientist Barbara McClintock (1902-1992), whose pioneering work on maize genetics helped form our understanding of DNA. Stern's playful narration of McClintock's early life portrays her as a tree-climbing, baseball-playing child who grew into a determined young woman who was willing to ignore norms so she could... Read More

Aasiya Shah and Kishore Walker bring the ancient Mauryan Empire, 321-185 BCE, in what is now India, into our current moment in the first installment of the Obsidian Throne trilogy. Shakti, a pacifist witch, seeks to avenge her aunt's murder, while Prince Ashoka advocates for his tyrannical family to stop ruthlessly killing the witches. Voicing Shakti as she infiltrates the... Read More

Myths come to life through Bahni Turpin and Robin Miles's stellar narration of this young adult fantasy. Marisol and her mother left their home in the Caribbean to live in Brooklyn. Marisol hopes to leave their island traditions and her family's magic behind. Genevieve grew up listening to her white father's mythical stories from her unknown mother's homeland. When the teens'... Read More

Laurie Woolever narrates her memoir about her life in the food industry and her addiction struggles. She gives insights into working with two of the biggest names in the industry, Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain, receiving abuse at the hands of one and compassion at the hands of the other. All the while, she admits to her less than stellar personal choices, especially when it... Read More

A Victorian adventure-romance proves entertaining, thanks to the vocal stylings of narrator Karen Cass. When antique store owner Alexandra Prince believes she's uncovered a plot to steal the Crown Jewels, she heads to Scotland Yard, where Detective Inspector Benedict Drake serves. As clues to the impending theft are gathered, romance develops. Cass supplies a measured,... Read More

Joe Mantegna's calm, resonant voice conveys authority with minimal effort. It's the ideal voice for Chili Palmer, a loan shark who eschews violence when recovering debts. Palmer has fallen in with several morally ambiguous Hollywood types, including Harry Zim, the producer of B-movie exploitation flicks; the Bear, a former stuntman; and Bo Catlett, a drug-dealing movie... Read More

Dara Rosenberg excels at narrating this emotional audiobook, which begins as seventh-grader Becky is dressing for her older sister Sara's funeral. Rosenberg leads listeners from the sad "Now" chapter to the lighter "Before" chapters, when Becky secretly "borrows" her mother's credit card to get her beloved older brother a gift. The theme of secrets is introduced against the... Read More

This audiobook delivers an epic story about the conflict between art and commerce. Micky Shiloah's youthful voice embodies Tobey, who is fleeing the 2024 California fires with a plan to steal three paintings by Di Stiegl from his father for quick sale. In alternating chapters, Nancy Peterson captures the ingenue spirit of Di, whose photorealistic art brings her fame until she... Read More

Listeners join Alex Carter, wildlife biologist and conservationist, as she accepts an assignment to research the endangered jaguar on a protected reserve in New Mexico, where she discovers that a white supremacist group is threatening locals. When the group learns of the potential impact of Alex's studies, her life is soon in danger. Eva Kaminsky's stylish narration is... Read More

Angel Pean narrates Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles's memoir with the right emotional tone and clear enunciation while getting across the frustration endured by the young, Black gymnast. Pean's tone captures the challenges faced by Chiles: systemic racism, a dysfunctional and overbearing coach, and the incredible incident of the Bronze medal being stripped from her. Pean's voice... Read More

In a fast-paced world in which everyone wants quick answers, Elizabeth Weingarten's goal is to help listeners turn their struggles with uncertainty into pivotal moments for growth. Sadly, narrator Lauren Ezzo's pleasant but monotonous delivery undercuts this audiobook's dynamic energy. As listeners are advised to embrace uncertainty as a conduit for creativity and personal... Read More

Steven Weber superbly delivers Peter Swanson's intriguing mystery. The audiobook's structure goes backwards from 2023 to 1982--telling a story that's like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Ultimately, the puzzle's picture is dark and mind-boggling, but all the pieces fit. Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for 25 years. Wendy is a published poet, Thom, a university English... Read More

Erin Bennett narrates the story of Rose Valland, a curator at the Jeu de Paume museum in Paris during WWII. Valland kept track of documents stating provenance and locations of artworks that were looted by the Nazis. She remained in her job by convincing Nazi higher-ups that she was merely a lowly clerk and not a threat to the Germans' pillaging. Her dedication and precise... Read More

Katie Anvil Rich brings her joyful narration to this children's book about two girls from different backgrounds who form a close bond. Each summer, 7-year-old Native American Piper goes to visit her cousins on their tribal land. Once back home, she forms a friendship with her new Indian neighbor, Sumi, who is 4. The two grow close over the next year, so when Piper learns her... Read More

Deepti Gupti infuses a lyrical cadence into the dialogue of this touching cozy mystery. Kausar has always had strong intuition, along with the ability to read people. Over time, she's hidden these skills for fear of others finding them intrusive. Now, her strengths are vital as she seeks to clear her daughter's name after she's been accused of murder. Having spent much of her... Read More

Atkins's historical audiobook novel-in-verse shines a light on an important chapter of American history, beginning with the 1913 Women's March and ending with the 1920 ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Chanté McCormick gives the historical, mostly forgotten, Matilda Young a compelling voice. Matilda's voice gains confidence and strength as she grows from a shy... Read More

Writer Brad Meltzer is one of those rare people whose voice exudes sincerity, honesty, and a love of humanity. This brief work is largely based on the commencement speech he gave at his son's graduation from the University of Michigan. As anyone who's ever attended a speech by Meltzer knows, his words are always inspiring and real. Here, he talks about his own career and life,... Read More

Marin Ireland's narration of this family dramedy maximizes the humor behind finding a half-sibling--only to find out there may be dozens more. Ireland's performance captures Madeline's mix of reluctance and curiosity as she joins her newfound half-brother, Reuben, on an unexpected road trip. Ireland's subtle vocal shifts distinguish each sibling, reflecting their varied... Read More

Jane Oppenheimer provides a tone of truthfulness to this historical novel highlighting the friction between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr as they seek to defend a murder suspect in 1800s America. Levi Weeks is accused of murdering Emma Sands, a lively young woman who disappeared from her boardinghouse. Lawyers Hamilton and Burr have political aspirations as each tries to... Read More

Ava, Ray, Sasha, and Sky arrive at a controversial treatment center that promises relief through extended sleep. They're all being treated for loss and heartache, and their diverse stories create an engaging tableau. The outstanding group of narrators juggle this journey of loss, hope, and uncertainty. Ava, a book illustrator, struggles with guilt, while Ray, a firefighter,... Read More

Jolene Kim narrates this sci-fi heist audiobook steeped in Hawaiian culture and language. Edie spent eight years in prison after their partner, Angel, sold them out. But Angel has one more job, and Edie's family back home on Kepler space station needs their support. Kim's voice is pleasantly low and unhurried, steeping listeners in the rich setting and slow-paced writing style.... Read More

Narrating with a steady, measured rhythm, NEW YORK TIMES columnist Maureen Dowd introduces the listener to the best of her long-form, in-depth interviews with some of the most recognizable personalities in popular culture. Dowd is most at ease and sounds practically playful when discussing her favorites, such Kate Winslet, Paul Newman, and Candice Bergen. She's a bit more... Read More

Ell Potter delivers a smashing performance of Galland's engrossing novel. The title character is Sander Cooke, an androgynous actor with the Chamberlain's Men in Elizabethan London whose brilliant performances in female roles have made him a celebrity. His best friend, Joan, longs to study, but scholarship is forbidden because she's a woman. So Joan employs cross-dressing to... Read More

Sarah Perry performs her collection of micro essays, which revolve around her love of candy. Each essay highlights a different confectionery sweet, which she uses to contemplate her relationships, ideas around humanity's pursuit of pleasure, or memory's connection to taste and smell. Perry perfectly describes the experience of eating each candy--every delightful texture and... Read More

Passion fills this story narrated by Malik Rashad about 12-year-old baseball fanatic Timothy "Pumpsie" Strickland. Pumpsie and his soft- spoken mom, Donya, share a love for their local team, the Nashville Wildcats. One of five kids, Pumpsie feels overlooked and is sometimes defensive, muttering during uncomfortable conversations. After his confident sister, Tiana, films a... Read More

Sophie Jo Wasson transports listeners to Ireland in 1847 with her poignant performance. Like many throughout the country, Nell's family's potato crop is infected with a black rot that makes the potatoes inedible. Farmers are forced to choose between paying their rent from the sale of their oat crops, or feeding their families and facing eviction. Amid those tragedies, Nell and... Read More

Narrators January LaVoy and Shayna Small deliver vivid, highly animated, and thoughtfully developed performances in this audiobook. The saga begins in 1865 with a couple separated by slavery and war and makes its way to the present day and a new couple. Thanks to the skilled narrators, the wide array of characters come to life whether they're speaking in 1865, the 21st century,... Read More

This audiobook is set in a dystopian future in which a powerful megacorporation enforces debt repayment through a brutal death match known as the Lamb's Gauntlet. The story revolves around Inesa, who is unwillingly offered as a sacrifice by her mother, and Melinoë, a cybernetically altered assassin who is sent to kill Inesa. As the two journey across a wasteland, something... Read More

Part memoir, part manifesto--the heroic chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés's brief audiobook would have greatly benefited from a professional narrator. This is truly unfortunate as the story of Andrés's rise to celebrity chef and food philanthropist is fascinating. He trained at great places and learned his innovative style at the world-famous Spanish... Read More

A new contribution to the exciting stories of women who fought against the Third Reich, this audiobook is narrated by Gilli Messer with excellence. Providing various accents and voices, Messer brings honesty and insight to the story's characters. Elena Bruskina is a young Jewish woman who becomes a sniper for the Soviet Union after seeing her family murdered in the Minsk... Read More

Nigerian author Funmi Fetto's narration anchors this wide-ranging collection of short stories with a steady, immersive presence. She modulates her voice to reflect the unique emotional terrain of each character. Fetto makes it easy to distinguish between Ifeoma's escalating tension as she tries to leave her abusive husband, Nkechi's cautious resilience, and Riliwa's evolving... Read More

Narrator Jo Yuan gives an animated performance in this witty literary translation about South Korean corporate office life. Kim Jihye is a 30-year-old intern at Diamant Academy, an adult education company. Originally hoping to be hired as a permanent employee, she comes to realize that this is likely never going to happen. Instead, another intern, Lee Gyuok, is brought on.... Read More

Elyse Durham's debut novel takes listeners from the 1941 Siege of Leningrad through the Cold War via the lives of Maya and Natasha, twin orphaned sisters. Illegitimate daughters of a prima ballerina who died shortly after their birth, they are raised and trained by the state to live their mother's destiny in the Kirov School of Ballet. Yelena Shmulenson's narration captures... Read More

Narrators Kristen Sieh and Daru Oda serve up a darkly humorous, twisty ride in this debut. Evie Gordon is an SAT tutor for wealthy kids in L.A. When she discovers the murdered family of one of her students, along with an unknown woman named Jae who is still alive, she and Jae become the prime murder suspects and go on the run. Sieh, who voices Evie, handles most of the... Read More

Henrietta Meire shows remarkable vocal range in this audiobook featuring multiple human and dragon languages and accents. Vivian aims for an internship studying dragon languages, but when her parents are arrested as rebels, she sets free a dragon that starts a civil war. Desperate, she accepts a job as a code breaker to help the war effort and is tasked with deciphering the one... Read More

Emma Rydal's intense performance as Margot, a child living with her cannibalistic mother ("Mama"), will remain with listeners long after the devastating climax of this audiobook. Throughout her childhood, lost and wayward travelers of all ages, people deemed "strays," are lured inside their home, where they're murdered and eaten. All of this Rydal recounts to listeners with the... Read More

Piper Goodeve's energetic narration is a perfect match for this funny and charming story, making this a perfectly paced listen. Emma takes over her parents' estate-sale business and lands their biggest client to date. The grand house and its furnishings are overshadowed by its reputation: a previous bed-and-breakfast that also offered services of ill repute. Emma, unaware of... Read More

Robert Hass is an excellent poet who understands how poetry works, and this knowledge informs his narration of the poems Czeslaw Milosz wrote in the period between the end of WWII and his defection from Soviet Poland in 1951. The poems are, of course, wonderful, tracing (in part) the author's process of healing in the aftermath of the war and his growing displeasure with the... Read More

Michael Crouch leads an enthusiastic crew of narrators as he portrays Dexter Foreman, the only preteen resident of The Pines retirement village. When a visit from the truancy officer lands Dexter at the local middle school, his old-fashioned clothes and habits make him a target of curiosity and ridicule. After one of his “handyman fixes” leads to an unexpected suspension, Dex... Read More

The vanishing point in a work of art is the point where receding parallel lines seem to meet. In this audiobook, author Paul Theroux uses this concept in his collection of 18 short stories, each involving a critical moment when life patterns come together. The stories are about men in different countries and in different stages of life. Narrator Joe Knezevich's deep, resonant... Read More

Mark Bramhall brings enthusiasm and gravitas to the latest Joseph Finder espionage adventure novel. The improbable but gripping tale leaps into action when our protagonist Paul Brightman, a former Wall Street star who's in hiding, must outrun apparent gangsters. Years ago, he fell in love with a Russian oligarch's daughter and is now paying the price. The story alternates... Read More

When Nancy's life implodes after a psychotic break, trouble seems to follow her: A neighbor in her new apartment building commits suicide. Sophie Roberts's gripping narration brings every layer of this psychological thriller to life. As Nancy begins to hear strange voices in her new flat, Roberts keeps listeners questioning what's going on. She captures Nancy's initial fragile... Read More

Narrator Emily Mount mesmerizes listeners in this captivating fantasy-romance. England is ruled by an immortal fae queen who graciously grants each citizen one bargain. This year, the high-society girls are encouraged to bargain for qualities that will land them suitors. When Ivy Benton's debut season arrives, she plans to win the heart of the fae queen's son. Mount's ethereal... Read More

Sura Siu's narration soars--it's as light and airy as the high-flying Arctic terns on which this nonfiction audiobook focuses. She takes listeners into the sunny summer world of one such bird, who snatches fish to feed his chicks, fiercely drives off predators, and finally leads them to fly for a month over the ocean at summer's end. Siu's gentle narration stresses the lyricism... Read More

This audiobook adaptation of the graphic novel features a stellar cast and vibrant soundtrack. Sébastien, portrayed by Ramón de Ocampo with a French accent, is freshly moved into a new apartment and ready to finally learn magic. Elia, depicted suavely by Fajer Al-Kaisi in an Italian accent, is the hot supermodel vampire next door. Alexander Cendese voices Sébastien's adorable... Read More

Author and social influencer Mallory O'Meara's audiobook is so much more and, in many ways, and so much less than the misleading and lengthy subtitle implies. As she narrates her audiobook with enthusiasm and precise enunciation, the listener hears a thorough, well-researched history of the founding of the Hollywood community, the development of the studio system, and, most... Read More

Imran Sheikh's narration captures the interiority of 13-year-old Mohammad (Mo) Mirza, who works hard to stay cheerful despite his father's rages. Sheikh delivers the humor, intelligence, gift for storytelling, and sarcasm that buoy Mo as he deals with his father's paranoid schizophrenia; the absence of his mother, who has chosen to work in a distant refugee camp; and being... Read More

Tony Keith, Jr.--poet, rapper, and hip-hop educator--uses his cultural observations, edgy politics, and sharp ear for concise wordplay and fast rhymes to get the attention of the audience that needs him most: disenfranchised Black school kids he affectionately calls "knuckleheads." With brash and evocative poem titles like "If You Fail to Plan, Then Plan to Fail," "Because When... Read More

This wonderful middle-grade audiobook is about a youth basketball team led by a coach who understands the value of leadership and living a good life off the court. Tony is trying to make the team, and he does--but not in the way he expects. As the players work hard on the court, they deal with the senseless death of a pal whom the whole community mourns. Marc Anthony Samuel's... Read More

Narrator Emilia Fox does a fantastic job showcasing the range of emotions in this addictive thriller. It's Camilla's first day back at work after her maternity leave, and she's on edge from not being able to reach her husband, Luke. Police arrive to tell her that Luke has been identified as being involved in a hostage situation. She goes from scared to disbelieving as it's... Read More

Bob Souer is a strong, energetic narrator who brings character and clarity to this excellent history of America's most colorful and dynamic state. Equally important, Souer maintains the author's reportorial balance and unmistakable enthusiasm for his subject. Arranged chronologically with each chapter devoted to a different era or feature of California's history, this is the... Read More

Period music provides an apt background for a note in the initial credits informing listeners that the pronunciation in this production will be performed in the Early Modern English of Shakespeare's time. That sets up an immersive transition to the world of 61-year-old Judith, apothecary, midwife, and the last of the Bard's progeny, who must leave town after being accused of... Read More

Jeremy Arthur's engaging narration befits the life story of Dr. Albert C. Barnes (1872-1951), an early collector of modern art and champion of minority art. Raised in a working-class environment, Barnes made his fortune in pharmaceuticals. He proceeded to use his wealth to study art, eventually building an extensive collection that became the Barnes Foundation. His friendship... Read More

With deft interpretations and stunning vocal control, Emily Rankin and Caroline Hewitt bring this fascinating historical mystery to life. The casting is on point, bringing enough variation to the main characters to allow easy differentiation. The story spans a century of time and three generations of women. Rankin brings the listener along as Tildy Barrows, head curator of an... Read More

Katie Koster will charm a wide audience with this fun romantic performance. Wordle enthusiast Emily daydreams at her dead-end job as a receptionist at a car shop. When her car's alternator dies, her co-worker, John, comes to her rescue, and the bland mechanic suddenly becomes interesting when he shares his own enjoyment of Wordle. Koster offers an authentic narration of this... Read More

Authors Ethan Bernstein and Michael B. Horn narrate this audiobook's introduction and acknowledgements, while voice pro Adam Barr performs the chapters. In a clear, steely voice, Barr performs the thoughtful guide to job hunting with a vocal tone and phrasing that convey friendliness and respect for the authors' empowering message. Through their research and consulting... Read More

Tanya Talaga, a Canadian journalist of Anishinaabe descent, weaves her own family's history into this heartrending account of her country's shameful treatment of Indigenous peoples. Given the personal nature of this work, it's natural for the author to take on the role of narrator, but it's largely unsuccessful. The writing is frequently passionate and powerful, but its impact... Read More

This outstanding audio collection begins with a thought-provoking introduction by editor Wesley Morris in which he discusses the struggle over what individuals and societies can think. The narrators take turns delivering the 22 works originally featured in publications such as HARPER'S MAGAZINE, THE ATLANTIC, and THE NEW YORKER. One standout is "Jenisha from Kentucky." Jeanette... Read More

Narrating in his gravelly timbre and Scottish accent, Callum Robinson invites listeners into his workshop as he recalls the highs and lows of his bespoke woodworking business. The son of a master woodworker, Robinson found his way into the profession as an apprentice and then learned more through his travels. Reflecting on childhood lessons, he marvels at how far his father's... Read More

In French author Giebel's homage to John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN, narrator Max Meyers portrays the loving brothers Léonard and Jorge with deep empathy and the increasing tension of inevitable tragedy. Léo, who was a foundling, is continually victimized because of his size and reduced intellect. In addition to extraordinary abuse, he suffers from the delusion that his... Read More

Jonas Oloffson's exploration of the sense of smell starts with herring: Narrator Adam Verner's light tone suggests Oloffson's awareness that his love of the fish dish is not widely shared. As a smell researcher, Oloffson undertakes such activities as smelling lampposts to understand what dogs smell and trying pungent durian ice cream in Singapore. Verner captures the author's... Read More

Leadership expert Adam Galinsky, who is also a social psychologist, offers tips, research, and stories in support of his belief that effective leadership is created through leaders inspiring others, rather than infuriating them. Narrator Will Damron's clear performance is perfectly matched to the material. Damron's narration exudes the author's gravitas and sense of urgency.... Read More

Set in Canada and Europe during WWII, this moving debut novel tells the story of Josiah Chang, a Canadian logger/riveter of Chinese ancestry. With precision and a clear tone, Feodor Chin recounts Chang's challenges, in particular his love for Poppy, his co-worker at a Vancouver shipyard. Chin is an accomplished narrator who convincingly voices Englishmen and Southern Americans.... Read More

Liz Femi is the primary narrator of this meta-narrative about a paraplegic Nigerian American woman and her unexpected rise to fame. Suddenly unemployed, Zelu risks writing a novel unlike any she's ever written before, a futuristic sci-fi epic about androids who exist after humanity becomes extinct. Femi carefully adjusts the strength of her Nigerian accent while voicing Zelu's... Read More

Rankings in sports always evoke debate--in a bar, between pals, or at work. This audiobook is a comprehensive compilation of the greatest basketball players of all time. Jaime Lincoln Smith narrates in a deep, steady voice, altering pitch ever so slightly when quoting someone but not trying to imitate anyone's voice. He gradually takes the listener through the audiobook, which... Read More

Narrators Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke enchant listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance. Millie loves her job as an entomology curator at a museum; now she has the opportunity to interview for the position of department director. Finn is learning how to handle his job at the museum while raising his nieces after the death of his sister. These two may need each... Read More

Sally Huband takes up beachcombing as a distraction to the debilitating arthritic pain brought on by her pregnancy. Huband is a slow, deliberate narrator, a style that is fitting for a meditative memoir on the environment and chronic illness. Based in the Shetland Islands, where her husband is a helicopter pilot, Huband searches for the sea bean, a seed from a vine in the... Read More

Magic-loving young listeners have a new world to explore. With a crisp English accent and a spirited performance, Ell Potter invites listeners into this middle-grade adventure. Eleven-year-old Meticulous (Metty) has been afraid of her own fate ever since her magical tattoo predicted she'd become a murderer. When her father disappears, Metty is desperate to find him. As she... Read More

Narrator Rama Krishna Vallury charms in this heartfelt audio about when to fit in and when to stand out. Ajay always follows his Sri Lankan parents' strict rules for him: no bad grades, no scary movies, and NO friendships with girls. When a taunt from a popular kid goads Ajay into stealing a chocolate bar with a valuable prize inside, he has to figure out how to get his life... Read More

Shaan Dasani's engaging performance captures all the tumultuous emotions Darby experiences upon returning to his Illinois hometown for the first time since he transitioned and came out. Adrift and unmoored, he discovers a portal in the bookstore he used to work at that allows him to talk to his teenage self. Dasani's voice moves between exasperation, confusion, pent-up anger,... Read More

Hanako Footman's authentic accent and nuanced delivery provide an immersive portrayal of Rika Machida, a Japanese journalist. Rika is investigating the case of Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook who is imprisoned for seducing older men with her culinary skills before allegedly killing them. Footman's measured pace and light intonation add intrigue as Rika becomes increasingly... Read More

Come aboard an unexpected journey through the Scottish countryside with narrator Angela Dawe as she delivers a lively, comedic performance. Alice is finally taking her long-awaited trip to Scotland in an effort to repair her broken heart. She embarks on a bus tour with a cast of kooky fellow tourists--quirky older women in search of adventure who are led by a charming, devilish... Read More

Golden Voice January LaVoy clearly differentiates the many characters in this story and smoothly transitions among them. She gives the deepest portrayals of the two main characters and their developing relationship: sullen, angry 14-year-old Ruby, who is accused of murder and is facing being moved to an adult women's prison, and compassionate Cadence Ware, the calm social... Read More

When J.P. Beaumont (Beau) and his wife welcome their grandson to move into their home near Seattle because of intolerable volatility at home with his dad and new stepmother, Beau has no idea that his previous homicide detective skills will emerge when a fentanyl overdose strikes. Narrator Mike Ortega is a shoo-in for Beau's private investigator persona; he portrays Ortega's... Read More

Author Lucy Hughes-Hallett narrates her sweeping history, subtitled "The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham." George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham, was the court favorite and lover of both King James VI of Scotland/James I of England and his son, Charles I. Hughes-Hallett provides a lengthy examination of Scottish and English court culture and the roles of... Read More

Narrator Blair Underwood uses his deep voice to solid advantage in this audiobook. The novel--narrowly saved from destruction after Hurston's death and released on what would have been her 134th birthday-- examines Herod, who reigned as Judean king during the first century BCE. Underwood's confident delivery and theatrical skill are at the forefront of this intense story, and... Read More

Jesse Lipscombe shares personal details of his life as an athlete, actor, and public speaker to help listeners overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. He is simple yet effective in delivering his well-organized tools and advice on how to address passions, pursue them, and conquer dreams. Lipscombe motivates through his stories and heartfelt tone, and he explains how the... Read More

The author of the international bestseller THE BOOK THIEF, Markus Zusak, intertwines his memoir with the entertaining story of how his family adopted three rescue dogs and how they brought both chaos and joy to his life. Zusak introduces listeners to Reuben, Archer, and Frosty in his well-known beautiful narrative style, establishing them as memorable characters. Charming and... Read More

It would be an understatement to call actor Josh Brolin's candid and honest memoir bizarre and epically confusing. He narrates the content artfully and understandably, with solid enunciation. However, the content takes the form of what sounds like brief diary entries that discuss his films, his parents--actor James Brolin and former casting director Jane Cameron Agee--and his... Read More

Narrator Amanda Lee Cobb begins her portrayal of Zo Grey's many troubles in a depressed tone. Zo can't hold a job because she's taking care of her dying mother, a situation that adds to her financial struggles. But when a fire kills her mother, Zo's given a life-changing inheritance with some otherworldly strings. Cobb's performance matches Zo's anxiety and cautiousness as she... Read More

Adam Verner narrates the story of the 1924 attempt to fly around the world, which brought together American, British, French, Italian, and South American pilots. The Americans started in California and headed west--the others, east. Their goal: to circumnavigate the earth by air, hopscotching from landing fields over lakes and rivers, icy glaciers and deserts while battling... Read More

In this first part of a duology, Nneka Okoye narrates a story that begins when 9-year old Princess Viella loses her mother in a violent coup. When she flees, along with Luka, her young bodyguard, they barely keep ahead of sinister forces. In their flight, they meet a wide range of characters who give Okoye an opportunity to show her skill at differentiating characters. A pdf... Read More

This strange yet relatable story of identity and desire is narrated by Eunice Wong. Taiwanese American Vi is struggling with dropping out of college, a breakup, and working as a hotel receptionist when she finds a mysterious slime blob. Wong captures Vi's apathy and loneliness in her low voice. Smoothly switching between characters, Wong adds a tone of humor to her narration.... Read More

Narrator André Santana captures the angst and emotional turmoil plaguing gay teen Joaquin Zoido. His father and sister want to celebrate him by having a coming-out party. But his mother's constant backhanded remarks hurt him. When his childhood crush, Felix, reappears after a long absence, Joaquin finds his small amorous gestures confusing but exciting. Santana has a voice that... Read More

Golden Voice Narrator John Lee takes on this mystery set in 1950s rural Ireland. Loner Wymes happens upon an abandoned car with its motor running and doors wide open in the Ruddocks' field. He's approached by a frantic Armitage, who's searching for his missing wife. Enter DI Strafford, who takes over the twisty investigation, which revolves around secrets. Lee utilizes a... Read More

Narrators David Lee Huynh and Andrew Grace create a romantic melody in this story from Chinese folklore. Prince Xian must locate a spirit pearl to cure his mother's illness, caused by being bitten by a white snake. On the way, he meets Zhen, a stable boy who can transform between being a white snake and a human. As the young men journey together and become closer, Zhen is torn... Read More

Listening to artist Maira Kalman narrate her work is akin to sitting next to a beloved friend. The artist recounts stories of her parents and grandparents going from Belarus to Israel to the U.S. Kalman recounts episodes in her and her family's lives that resulted in remorse. She also reflects on remorseful instances in the lives of painters, musicians, and philosophers. Kalman... Read More

Sarah LaBrie, a successful television writer based in Los Angeles, narrates her gripping memoir of family trauma in a calm, sweet voice that keeps listeners engaged. Throughout LaBrie's childhood her mother ricocheted from one psychiatric episode to another, terrifying and caring ineptly for the girl. With hard work and luck, LaBrie made it to an Ivy League college. There, a... Read More

Ell Potter makes 1st century CE come alive as she narrates this tale about the warrior queen who tried to drive the Romans from Britain. The Roman tax collector--having no respect for any woman, let alone a queen--attacks Boudicca's stronghold and flogs her when she refuses to bend the knee to Rome and orders soldiers to rape her young daughters. Barely surviving and believing... Read More

Maria McCann's Spanish-accented narration sets the tone for this sweeping novel about an outbreak of a plague causing amnesia in an unnamed Latin American country. McCann employs a dramatic tone to tell the story of Angustias and her husband, who lose their infant sons while fleeing for a better life. As they search for a place to bury them, they meet larger-than-life... Read More

This history of mathematics, a surprisingly accessible listen, is made even more so by Daphne Kouma's upbeat narration. The authors, a math historian and a science journalist, pop the bubble on Eurocentric math history by highlighting overlooked non-Western and female mathematical geniuses. The audiobook moves briskly, thanks to Kouma's friendly tone when delivering... Read More

Emilia Ward, bestselling author of the Miranda Moody series, is a mum and wife, living outside of London. Ayesha Antoine as Emilia reveals that after so many "Miranda" books, it's time to leave her heroine behind--to the disappointment of her loyal fans and publisher. Antoine reflects Emilia's escalating fear as disturbing incidents mimicking plotlines from her novels begin... Read More

Narrator Will Damron brings humor and wit to a time-traveling story featuring a hockey player who lands in 1812 England and the Regency- era miss who finds him. When Lizzy Wooddash gets over her shock at finding a huge man floundering in an icy pond who claims he's from the future, she finds herself with the perfect opportunity: Marry the hulking Tucker Taylor to protect her... Read More

Jennifer Jill Araya thoughtfully introduces this 1980s semi-autobiographical story. Listeners meet 12-year-old Cayenne, who's delighted when her nomadic hippie parents rent a house that permits her to finally go to an actual school and make friends. After her mother has twins, she must help out at home while her pot-smoking dad, a Vietnam vet, and her mom scrape money together.... Read More

This audiobook captures multiple sides of Nikola Jokic, one of the NBA's greatest stars. His story ranges from his upbringing as an unfocused, aloof teen to his focus on the court. Narrator Roger Wayne offers the right amount of emotion for the many folks quoted in this well-researched biography written by a former news reporter who covered Jokic's team, the Denver Nuggets.... Read More

What fun! Listeners will revel in this novel set on a scenic Scottish island, which is brought to life by four exceptional narrators. The story jumps between the distinct voices of Kat, a fantasy and erotica writer, expertly portrayed by Saskia Maarleveld; Cassie, a cozy author and mother of six, who shines with charm and guilelessness through Brittany Pressley; and Emma, a... Read More

Bernhard Schlink's new novel is an exceptional audiobook. The nuanced portrayals of the characters come through remarkably well for listeners. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit's escape from East Germany 40 years... Read More

Janina Edwards's warm voice and calm delivery welcome listeners into this history of the rivalry and struggle that brought about legal birth control in America. Beginning in the 1910s, Margaret Sanger and Mary Ware Dennett waged individual battles for women's reproductive autonomy. Over the years, Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, and Dennett, author of the educational... Read More

Narrator Amelia Leith convincingly presents this coming-of-age story set in 1990s Scotland. Listeners meet 14-year-old Cora, whose wheelchair-bound mother invites a one-eyed petty criminal named Gunner to live with them. Leith's endearing, independent Cora struggles in school and is protective of her mother. Varying descriptions of the changeable Scottish weather and the... Read More

This captivating audiobook with dual narrators blends romance, magic, and danger in a richly imagined world. Suraya Saab, a talented bladesmith, is invited to participate in a royal contest to win the crown prince's hand. Anais Inara Chase delivers a stunning performance, portraying Suraya's fiery determination and vulnerability with depth and nuance. Teaming up with Roshan,... Read More

It's already happening--fewer people own homes, we lease our cars, and we pay subscription fees for the software on our devices. These trends sound innocuous, but the author says they are part of an orchestrated plan by government, financial elites, and Big Tech to make ordinary citizens less able to challenge power centers. Chris Henry Coffey narrates this cautionary tale with... Read More

Bahni Turpin gives voice to an appealing heroine in this compelling fantasy mystery set in the U.S. during the early 1930s, when Prohibition outlaws both alcohol and some magic. Stunt pilot and former bootlegger Velma Frye also works for a magical rights group. A murder investigation leads her to the existence of magical objects that cause harm, and tracking them down takes... Read More

The ensemble cast of Kim Durham, Clare Corbett, and Natalie Nightingale captures the heart of this poignant story. Ninety-year-old Eddie is looking to have his first kiss with the matchmaking assistance of his 20-something co-worker. Durham gives Eddie a warm voice that embodies his romantic optimism. Corbett and Nightingale convey matchmaker Bella's emotional depth with... Read More

Andi Arndt narrates this romance featuring two friends who are thrust back together after years apart. Olive and Noah were close--until Olive ran over Noah, ending his potential baseball career. The accident ultimately caused Olive to leave Lake Tahoe. Noah also left town. Later, both return to help Noah's sister and Olive's best friend, Katie, deal with her husband's accident.... Read More

A duet narration by Mary Jane Wells and Patrick Zeller as tennis doubles partners Scottie Sinclair and Nico Kotas is double the fun for listeners. Wells digs into Scottie's fall from grace after a Wimbledon win and her personal struggles over her worldwide notoriety. Wells manages to craft Scottie's persona as spunky yet traumatized; she reveals a deep sense of fairness... Read More

Imani Perry contemplates the connection between the color blue and African and African American history and culture. From the traditional practice of dying indigo cloth in West Africa to the blues musical tradition in America, Perry posits Black life has always been entangled with the color blue. She performs her stunning narration in a soft, rhythmic voice, drawing listeners... Read More

Three versatile narrators portray nine characters who are involved with the story of 17-year-old Amber, who discovers that she's been dead for seven years and that all the relationships she once knew have fractured. Gail Shalan depicts Amber's emotions--horror at her mother's response to her death, shock at her parents' failed marriage, surprise that her sister is now her age,... Read More

Oscar-winning actor, respected singer, and self-declared icon whose comebacks and reinventions have had their own comebacks and reinventions, Cher offers the first volume of her memoir. She alternates narrating with actor and friend Stephanie J. Block--who portrayed Cher in a short-lived Broadway musical biography. Both narrators are charming, effective, and pleasing to the... Read More

Narrators Eileen Stevens, Stephen Graybill, Lee Osorio, and Gina Daniels use their considerable talents for this broad array of essays and articles on science, nature, and the relationship between the two. In his introduction, narrated by Graybill, editor Bill McKibben lays out his theme for this volume: climate change and its growing impact on the natural world and humanity.... Read More

Suh! This talented cast of narrators cops an attitude, takes a "so what" tone, and gives "holy cow" deliveries of this satirical take on modern love. Big yikes. In "Pics," narrator Allyson Ryan depicts a delulu young woman whose one-night stand becomes an obsession amped up by social media. Oh, my. The seven interconnected stories depict besties with rizz who pop up in... Read More

Ekua Ekumah and Sara Novak's narration brings layered voices to this story of rediscovery and healing. Whitney Appiah is a masseuse with a special skill--she can sense where her clients are hurting and heal them. The twist comes when she realizes she has roots in a traumatic past. Ekumah's and Novak's deliveries highlight the shifts between Kumasi, Ghana, in the 1990s and... Read More

Singer-songwriter Randy Preston gives voice to and plays music for the third book in this "how to" series. Opening with guitar music, Preston then provides a nuanced, emotional performance of the text. Speaking with energy and varied volume, pacing, and pitch, he encourages kids to listen to sounds all around them, feel the music inside them, and let it take control as it goes... Read More

Julienne Irons returns to narrate this entry in Kevin Henkes's Miller family stories. New first-grader Sal finds herself with a major case of teacher envy when her best friend is assigned to a different classroom with a charismatic, young teacher, while she's condemned to spend the year with a grandmotherly woman who calls her Sally. Henkes writes in short, declarative... Read More

In a silvery tone, narrator Mela Lee recounts the story of a bittersweet holiday house swap. Struggling Malibu artist Chelsea and Chicagoan Ramona agree to swap houses during Christmas week. Chelsea needs to make some money, and Ramona wants to avoid her family over the holiday. When Ramona's West Coast experience begins with an incident of racism, Lee conveys how its menacing... Read More

This anthology presents widely varied mystery and suspense tales. They are quite well read and will hold the attention of mystery lovers and other listeners. Several narrators stand out among the many talented performers: Jane Oppenheimer's intimate and expressive narration of Abby Geni's "The Body Farm," a story of justifiable homicide, and her striking presentation of Lisa... Read More

Weruche Opia and Florence Howard's narration offers a vivid portrayal of Funke's journey between Nigeria and England. Opia brings authenticity to Funke's voice, capturing her initial contentment, her eventual grief, and her resilience as she navigates cultural dislocation and family estrangement. Howard complements this with a nuanced portrayal of Liv, whose warmth and... Read More

Maggi-Meg Reed shines in this psychological thriller pitting an octogenarian against an 8-year-old boy. Listeners are in for dark humor, plot twists, and increasing suspense. Set during Covid at the Royal Karnak Hotel on the banks of the Nile, the story features 81-year-old Maggie Burkhardt, a meddler who gets involved in fixing people's lives--even when she shouldn't. After... Read More

January LaVoy performs this genre-bending audiobook with expert skill. Stephenson's new audiobook, while shorter than his usual work, is the first part of a promised series. The action centers around Dawn, who as a young adult is deployed as a Russian spy, gathering intel for a large Communist movement. The story hops around the globe from Russia to Chicago to Washington, DC,... Read More

Seven talented voice actors will delight listeners who dive into this creative collection of 19 loosely connected short stories and compact mysteries revolving around archaeology, ghosts, and other supernatural entities. Many stories feature author Elly Griffiths's beloved characters: archaeologist Ruth Galloway; DCI Harry Nelson; their daughter, Kate; and the ever-mysterious... Read More

In this contemporary detective story, lesbian PI Jo Bailen is working on a missing persons case that turns into a murder. The twist is that the victim is her estranged best friend, Rose. Narrator Stacy Gonzalez deftly handles the accents and linguistic quirks of a wide assortment of characters whom Bailen reluctantly interacts with as she untangles Rose's messy life. Gonzalez... Read More

This cozy, romantic audiobook shines with personality and heartfelt emotion. Four champions saved the realm of Mythria from evil 10 years ago, but only three survived. January LaVoy voices Beatrice's grief and regret as she dwells on the past. Her ex, Sir Clare, is voiced by Alexander Cendese with optimism that hides the feelings he still holds for Beatrice. Elowen, voiced by... Read More

Narrators Ewan Chung and VyVy Nguyen deliver sweet performances in this contemporary romance. Evie is fired by her secret boyfriend and feels hopelessly stuck until she receives a letter from her beloved late aunt. She is sent on a matchmaking tour of Vietnam, where meets the skeptical Adam. This romance has a strong foundation built on Evie’s enthusiastic search for adventure... Read More

Narrator Gemma Whelan masterfully brings to life this dark, atmospheric mystery. Her performance captures Hawkins's beautifully written descriptions of settings, artworks, and characters. The isolated Scottish island of Eris, accessible only when the tide recedes, emerges as a compelling character alongside its recently deceased inhabitant, the reclusive artist Vanessa Chapman.... Read More

Shaun Taylor-Corbett's upbeat narration perfectly suits this heartwarming adventure full of drama, Indigenous folklore, and interspecies friendships. When injured Great Grandfather Bat must get from Chicago to Georgia for a legendary animal ball game, he asks Grandpa Halfmoon for assistance. Grandpa agrees, and soon Great Grandfather Bat and adolescent Grey Squirrel are off on... Read More

Listeners must sort out where the truth lies in this intricately plotted psychological novel revolving around the death of a wealthy Florida real estate developer. Accomplished narrator Tavia Gilbert tells this story about love, resentment, confessions, dark suspicions, climate change, and other crises. While Gilbert skillfully portrays multiple characters, her rendering of the... Read More

An admittedly limited survey reveals that practically nobody knows who Charlemagne was, or even what millennium he belonged to. If nothing else, this audiobook will correct that. It will also clear up any misunderstandings concerning the purpose and whereabouts of the Holy Roman Empire--the two being, not coincidentally, closely bound. Narrator Paul Bellantoni, whose past... Read More

Narrators Elisa Meléndez and JaQwan Kelly perform this audiobook about two teens in juvenile detention. Adriana, voiced by Meléndez, keeps her head down and writes in her journal to get through her short sentence. After accidentally leaving her journal in the library, Adriana retrieves it and finds that a boy has responded to her thoughts and written back. Jon, voiced by Kelly,... Read More

Narrator Barton Welch returns with his perfect pacing and engaging Australian accent to deliver the third installment of the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Fans will recognize the clever clue reveals, sarcastic humor, and moments when the narrator breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the listener. Author Stevenson crafts a plot that nods to the Golden Age of mysteries... Read More

Aaron Goodson presents moving personal essays that vividly depict the joys, sorrows, and frustrations of an American Black man. Listeners meet Jerald Walker, a former cult member who is now a successful academic. Goodson energetically shares Walker's years as a member of the Worldwide Church of God, whose founder he hilariously compares to Donald Trump. Listeners will be... Read More

Food and travel writing mingle in this fine collection. Padma Lakshmi's introduction, narrated by Soneela Nankani, is much more than a standard intro. Nankani shines in her sensitive and captivating performance of Lakshmi's very personal story of meeting with her estranged father in India. The excellent Eunice Wong reads Marion Bull's "Orange Is the New Yolk" with wit and a... Read More

Mary Jane Wells delivers another excellent performance of a contemporary romance. The third of the Graves Glen series once again features reclusive Welsh witch Bowen Penhallow, who does business with an American magical artifact collector named Tamsyn. Neither she nor Bowen expect to see the other at a Yuletide wedding--or to be whisked into the past. Romance blossoms, and they... Read More

A supremely talented cast narrates 12 short works that could only have originated from master storyteller/director Pedro Almodóvar. This first collection ranges from personal essays--there's one about the death of his mother--to a fascinating retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" that revolves around the Spanish Queen Juana la Loca. Fans of Almodóvar's work will recognize the story... Read More

Narrator Amy Landon invites listeners behind the curtain of the ballet world in this vivid and intimate novel. Celebrated ballerina Natalia Leonova returns to the St. Petersburg stage after two years in recovery from an accident. Landon's crisp voice breathes life into Natalia's inner monologues. Landon smoothly pronounces the Russian and French vocabulary of Natalia's jet-set... Read More

The older half of the tennis-playing Williams duo breaks down her personal growth audiobook into eight principles. They provide a well-organized but approachable path to becoming a better you. While some authors are not adept at narrating their own work, Williams is outstanding. Her diction is perfect, and she obviously knows when to inflect emotion while laying out her... Read More

Medical buffs will be fascinated by Will Watt's delivery of this audiobook about six mysterious outbreaks of disease. In a clinical manner, he details the hantavirus outbreak of 1993, John Snow's work on cholera transmission, the research methodology of the 1918 flu pandemic by two doctors, the eradication of smallpox, Dr. Anthony Fauci's novel approach to finding a cure for... Read More

Anna Johnston's prose is rich and vivid, and is wonderfully paired with the narration of Tim Carroll. Listeners follow the story of Frederick Fife, a man rich in kindness for others but poor in every other way. At 82, he has no one to give his kindness to until, after an odd case of mistaken identity, he ends up in the shoes of grumpy Bernard Greer at a nursing home. Denise... Read More

Lucy Scott masterfully delivers this intense account based on a true story. In Croydon, England, in 1964, while answering a domestic disturbance call, police discover an elderly woman in distress and her 37-year-old nephew, unkempt, nearly naked, fearful, and mute. William Tapping hasn't been out of the house in decades. Helen Hansford, an art therapist at Westbury Park... Read More

Vikas Adam and Sharmila Devar provide an intoxicating alternating narration of this first entry in a new romance series set in the worlds of biotechnology and finance. Devar's vibrant intonation and confident tone capture independent, thoughtful Sloan, an attorney who is bypassed as heir to her family's international business empire in favor of her older brother, Henry. With... Read More

Narrators are expected to distinguish between men and women--and Shayna Small does it exceptionally well. Historical fiction comes alive with this account of the life of Effa Manley, who became a Negro League team owner with her husband Abe from 1935 to 1948. Effa faced racial stereotypes, as well misogyny from entering a male domain. The audiobook is entertaining from start to... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo's narration quickly reveals the close relationship between 8-year-old Felix Powell and his dog, Mary Puppins. Instead of barks, Felix hears clearly the British accents of his canine best friend. De Ocampo builds Felix's quirky, questioning manner so that listeners are not surprised when he buys an old thrift store blanket that he's sure has magic, hides beneath... Read More

Nearly all of these 20 stories are better heard than read. Guest editor Lauren Groff vied for "rawer, meaner, spikier" stories that have their own "weird logic." Her choices are striking and unpredictable but tend to ramble over stretches of time without much suspense or dramatic resolution. This diverse ensemble brings variety, contrast, and narrative vigor that is mostly... Read More

Angel Pean narrates the chapters of San Francisco-based tech writer Bee Tyler, and Karen Malina White portrays Ohio farmer Clover Mills. Together, the narrators present a Christmastime romance that revolves around a house swap. In a story reminiscent of the movie THE HOLIDAY, two Black women are burned out and need a break. Clover finds queer friends and romance with Bee's... Read More

Narrator Zoë Chao takes listeners on a darkly humorous, violent fantasy ride. This fast-paced contemporary reimagining of Chinese mythology follows immortal sisters Su and Emerald, who were originally born as snakes. After a thousand years, they have drifted apart, with Su living a reserved married life in Singapore and Emerald living a wild life in New York City. Chao keeps... Read More

Creators Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris return to narrate the third volume in their First Cat in Space graphic novel series. Its heroes face a villain who is likely to appeal to older listeners. That villain is Checkmate, a software program designed to correct grammar that decides to end all life on earth instead. Upon discovering the futility of its task, it turns everyone into... Read More

Like a subset of other actors who are so comfortable in front of the camera or a professional microphone, Tom Selleck presents an entirely relaxed, conversational, and professional memoir that may also serve as a primer on what the ascent of a performer's career resembles--brick by brick. Selleck has a somewhat halting delivery, which may be a function of age or style.... Read More

Rob Sheffield, a rock journalist for ROLLING STONE, is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and doesn't mind who knows it. Sheffield is middle-aged and so tall that he has to scrunch down at Swift's concerts so as not to block the view of the girls behind him. As author and narrator, Sheffield comes off as both nerdy and cool, which is a charming and infectious combination. He sounds... Read More

Narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Patrick Zeller delight listeners in this sweet and steamy holiday romance. Lena returns home after losing her job to spend a peaceful Christmas with her family. However, she didn't plan for Gavin, her older brother's best friend, to be visiting, too. Gavin pushes Lena's buttons, yet she's drawn to his charm and good looks. Brentmoor's sensual... Read More

This richly imaginative audiobook blends history, magical realism, and family drama. Narrated by Altagracia Nova, it follows Alma Cruz's journey as a writer who buries her unfinished manuscripts in a Dominican cemetery, only to later find that her characters have come alive. Nova's steady pacing and clear articulation align with the reflective nature of the narrative and allow... Read More

This thrilling performance by Katherine Littrell will captivate a wide audience. Junior high schooler Gigi is engrossed in her friend group and her crush on classmate Mari until she finds one of her teachers, Mr. Ford, murdered in a classroom. When Gigi and her friends team up to identify the murderer, she uncovers odd mysteries surrounding Mr. Ford. In addition, the romance... Read More

Listeners will empathize with closeted trans teen Asher Sullivan's dismay at finding himself moved to a Catholic high school for his senior year. His only escape from the school's Women in Christ club is a circus he escapes into in his dreams, in which he feels at home for the first time. The Midnight Circus brings him new challenges when his nighttime rival, Apollo, appears in... Read More

Anna Caputo brings both joy and melancholy into her narration of Jenny Green's failure at life as she has watched her friends succeed. At her college reunion, she is given a chance to make amends by a secret consortium of women who give out memos for success. Now Jenny travels back to key moments in her life, guided by her memo, which dictates what choices to make to succeed... Read More

With his recognizable gravelly voice, the Hootie and the Blowfish singer delivers his heartfelt memoir with genuine gusto. He narrates clearly and naturally, always sounding engaged with the considerable pathos of his personal life and career in music: his substance abuse, early career playing at frat parties and dive bars, and eventual status as a solo country music star. What... Read More

B.R. Myers's story, set in 1816 in Halifax and on an isolated island off its coast, is brought to life by Imogen Church. She has a unique ability to inject accents and personality into the diverse characters. The heroine, Emeline, narrates her own story. Her guardian, the imperious Mrs. Stackhouse, arranges Emeline's future with Captain Graves, whose first two wives died in... Read More

Narrator Kristin Atherton brings us to the tiny South Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro, known for being the most remote British colony in the world. London vet Charlotte Walker accepts a fellowship to study the endangered gold coin tortoises there, and perhaps find out more about herself. The caliber of acting Atherton displays is truly laudable. She goes beyond assigning... Read More

Narrator Stephen Graybill maintains a clearheaded instructive style in this entertaining economic history lesson. The audiobook provides a fresh approach that mixes microeconomics, which explains how individuals make decisions, and macroeconomics, the study of the economy as a whole. The presentation is packed with plenty of anecdotes and FREAKONOMICS-style examples. Graybill... Read More

Joy Osmanski's uplifting narration conveys a teen's affection for her family and passion for ocean life in this heartwarming story about environmental awareness. Osmanski is delightful as Grace, a curious, enthusiastic girl with a love of snorkeling. Grace is thrilled when she convinces her parents to go to Honduras for their annual family trip, so she can sample a new reef.... Read More

Narrator Saskia Maarleveld maintains a deliberate pace in this packed history of America's newborn spy network during WWII. The unexpected heroes are librarians, professors, and other bookish types who were experts in gathering--and fabricating--information. And what a story Maarleveld tells. Even familiar episodes like the planning of D-Day take on new fire and urgency in this... Read More

Most very good novels, like this one, cover a broad range of subjects, but they also often focus on some specific questions about human existence--in this case, what we do for love and how we recover from that. Narrator Marin Ireland manages to keep everything in this novel tied together without creating voices for all the numerous characters. She trusts the text to tell us who... Read More

Raffi and Britt are queer and extremely intelligent. Both are portrayed well by Natalie Naudus and Xe Sands. As a cosmologist, Raffi is searching for dark matter and longs to spend every free moment with Britt, a queer sculptor. Naudus and Sands provide strong performances in this speculative fiction, which explores parallel worlds; complex women who fracture into hordes of... Read More

Soneela Nankani captures the drama of this mystery set against a backdrop of luxury, a resort wedding that will bring together two Indian American families. She brings depth as her voice transitions smoothly between the different characters, adding a sense of distinctiveness to each one. Nankani maintains a steady pace throughout the audiobook, enhancing the suspense as Shay... Read More

Shayna Small enhances the atmospheric tension in this Southern noir with a strong style and flair. Her voice brings depth to the complex characters, particularly Clementine Baldwin, ex-cop turned private investigator. Small's steady, clear delivery allows listeners to easily follow the intricate plot. Her thoughtful pacing gives listeners time to absorb the evolving mystery... Read More

Atta Otigba maintains a steady and engaging narration of Able God's journey from hotel worker to fugitive migrant. Otigba draws listeners into Able's thoughts, giving us a clear sense of his fear when he is on the run and then falls into the hands of human traffickers. Otigba's pacing aligns well with the novel's tense moments, especially during Able's dangerous encounters.... Read More

With her vibrant and expressive delivery, Weruche Opia's narration elevates this family comedy about Temi, a young Nigerian woman who plans to have glute-enhancing surgery. Her ability to capture the distinct voices of Temi, her family, and the extended family of female characters adds depth to each personality, making the listener feel fully immersed in their world. Opia's... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky gives this audiobook the respect it deserves as the author recounts the saga of the U.S. women's soccer team, whose players fought for an equal playing field through pay equity. Kaminsky clearly narrates with an interested tone, emotionally invested but never over the top. Every time she uses an accent in quoting someone, she does so with just the right... Read More

Edoardo Ballerini's spellbinding performance of this intergenerational tale of love and survival lingers in the mind long after one is done listening. Based on memories of the author's Dutch grandmother, the novel incorporates two stories--the child Mieke, who is trying to survive Holland's "Hunger Winter" of 1944, and Mieke's adult grandson, Will, who visits his now elderly... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld and Zachary Webber narrate this suspenseful romantic suspense. Maggie Chase writes cozy mysteries, and Ethan Wyatt writes popular thrillers. Maggie hates Ethan. Both have been invited to attend a Christmas party at an English estate. Upon arrival, Maggie and Ethan are stunned to find out that world-famous mystery writer Eleanor Ashley is hosting the party;... Read More

With a crisp delivery, Samuel West narrates this compelling story of Prime Minister H.H. Asquith and his all-consuming love affair with a woman half his age just before WWI. For this novel based on recently discovered letters, West uses his British accent to paint 1914 London with a colorful and detailed palette. Asquith's focus should be on the preparation for war, but, as... Read More

Rebecca Nagle gives a clear and compelling narration of her look into how a small-town murder in the Muscogee Nation led to a significant 2020 Supreme Court case--and the largest restoration of Native tribal land in American history. She shares her extensive research into the history behind this case while also contextualizing its impact on her own nation, the Cherokee, other... Read More

Mara Wilson gives an elegant performance of this novel about the residents of a women's hotel in mid-twentieth-century New York City. Her clear enunciation and careful pacing keep listeners oriented as the narrative sometimes abruptly shifts between the women's backstories and present-day lives. The plot begins with Mrs. Mossler, the hotel's long-term manager, who secured her... Read More

While there's no doubt that effective parenting is priceless, this audiobook takes that idea to a new, disturbing, and often hilarious level. Eva Kaminsky is a vocal magician in this performance, spinning from a lifelike child's tone to a sharp satirical one in a flash. Annie is struggling to keep up with the upper echelons of New York City's parent scene. Her latest goal is to... Read More

The pervasive emotion of this audiobook is grievance, largely in the form of "Mom didn't love me enough." Three generations of Cohen women complain their way through four decades, finding different levels and varieties of success, largely without men. Stacey Glemboski brings the text to life with a vividly emotional reading, but the women tend to sound very much alike. They ARE... Read More

Narrators Gilli Messer and Josh Bloomberg team up for a compelling performance of this young adult paranormal adventure. Molly is a vampire, and Boaz is a young man who can see the undead. When Molly's girlfriend, Anat, goes missing within the dark depths of New York City, Molly suspects Boaz is behind her disappearance. To ensure Anat's safe return, Molly must work with Boaz,... Read More

Narrator Jennifer Jill Araya helps listeners differentiate the characters in this story. When 12-year-old Cleo enters an apartment down the hall while looking for her cat, Muffin, she doesn't expect to discover that cats can talk or that they're running a secret society called PURR. Things only get stranger when she's persuaded to help the group fight against the evil plans of... Read More

Jennifer Bobiwash and Darrell Dennis deliver powerful performances as Ariel and Tomah, Native American teenagers who are living in an urban intertribal housing project. A musical introduction sets an inspiring and reflective tone for this moving dual narrative. Bobiwash captures Ariel's love of ballet, which diminished after the disappearance of her Auntie Bineshiinh. Bobiwash... Read More

In this debut novel, Jessica Regan becomes the voice of every woman who has ever struggled for personal freedom amid limited choices. Set in the mid-nineties in Ireland, the story focuses on three women who are in troubled marriages. With divorce illegal at the time, they labor to make their own choices--despite the men who control them and, ultimately, the outcomes of their... Read More

Narrating this cutting-edge guide to personal growth and initiative, Sean Pratt captures every bit of the author’s enthusiasm for the lessons he learned while leading an innovation team at Google. Pratt’s pitch patterns and phrasing are beautiful to hear. He uses strategic pauses that highlight important words, along with tone and intensity changes that sync perfectly with the... Read More

In narrating the three radio plays that open this audiobook, Simon Vance does not attempt to create voices for the many characters. Instead, he reads the tags that identify the speakers and provides each one with an emotional life. Postwar Polish writer Zbigniew Herbert's plays are mostly about philosophy anyway, so deep characterization is not so relevant. The poems here--like... Read More