Narrators Prentice Onayemi and Imani Parks swap chapters in this chronicle of Detroit in the years 1938-1968, when Black workers streamed into the city looking for work in the car plants. Onayemi creates the voice of Joseph "Ziggy" Johnson, nightclub emcee at The Flame and The Driftwood Lodge and gossip columnist covering the celebrated Detroit neighborhood of Black Bottom.... Read More

Narrator Julia Whelan delivers the mounting tension of Katz's timely audiobook, engaging listeners with its complicated protagonist. Alex is a Harvard Law School graduate who lands a dream position at Klasko & Fitch, a high-powered firm that specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Alex promises her partner she won't be swept up in the demands of her job, but soon the nonstop... Read More

Narrator Josh Hurley establishes a youthful voice for Dan, who will do anything to help his best friend, Nate, recover from a tragic accident that lands him in the hospital in a medically induced coma. Hurley navigates Dan's tumultuous emotions as he goes from feeling helpless to optimistic. To keep busy and do what he can, Dan and his friends work to create a fan-fiction story... Read More

Author/narrator Casper ter Kuile brings a British accent and examples from his own life to his discussion of turning everyday practices into ritual. He introduces himself through his experience as a gay teen at boarding school. More currently, his interest in CrossFit comes through as he talks about the exercise program's opposition to Big Soda. Ter Kuile emits jubilant yells... Read More

Atmospheric and engaging, this audio mystery features compelling family histories, small-town secrets, and a wide cast of interconnected characters. Narrator Caroline Lee's pacing adds to the multilayered story, set in Vanishing Falls, a small town in Tasmania. Lee particularly shines as Joelle Smithton, a young mother who is dismissed by many as simpleminded. But she is... Read More

Melissa Kingsley narrates a steamy--and surprisingly emotional--historical romance. Jessica McGale needs investors to save her family business and concocts a simple but risky plan. Adopting the persona of the elite Lady Whitfield, she enters the orbit of the charming and wealthy Duke of Rotherby, who falls under her spell. Kingsley captures each character with vivid voices and... Read More

Writers are readers first. So whom do they read? What did they read as children? Which writers influence them today? What do they read for entertainment? These are some of the questions that librarian Nancy Pearl and playwright Jeff Schwager pose to 22 current writers, including T.C. Boyle, Louise Erdrich, Laurie Frankel, and Richard Ford. The questions elicit a mix of... Read More

Young People's Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye is a warm and comforting guide though this collection of her poems. Just because these are poems for young listeners doesn't mean that they're not sophisticated. Nye reflects on everything from a lost, and found, Christmas present in "Yellow Glove" to travelers overcoming barriers of language and culture with kindness and sweets in... Read More

Jesse Vilinsky captures listeners immediately with her unique narration style. Her soft and eerie tone enhances this scary YA novel featuring LBGTQ characters. Vilinsky's vocal energy depicts the main character, Shady Grove, perfectly. Shady has a special talent: She can call ghosts from the grave with the use of her fiddle. When Shady's brother is accused of murder, she aims... Read More

Wright, perhaps best known for the classic NATIVE SON, does not disappoint with this title, and JD Jackson's narration transforms the audiobook into a nearly theatrical experience. Cross Damon is a Black man who is struggling to make his way in an unwelcoming world. Only when his life takes a dramatic turn does Damon see an opportunity to break free from society's oppression.... Read More

Narrators Kyla Garcia and Almarie Guerra have dynamic expressive voices, making them the perfect duo to portray estranged best friends. Lita and Chicky find their way back to each other when Chicky decides to help Lita enter their small-town beauty pageant. Garcia brings a lot of gumption and perseverance to Chicky as she begins to open up about her identity and rebuild... Read More

Katherine Littrell's performance saves this from being just another chick-lit novel. Littrell's ease with voices and most accents combined with her upbeat manner gives this fairy-tale romance some needed gravitas. Can a country girl (with secrets) from a sheep farm in Australia find happiness as Christian Dior's #1 mannequin? The predictable plot is easily swallowed with... Read More

In alternating chapters, four talented narrators provide dramatically different performances as they recount the story of a portrait painted in 1492 and its subsequent theft and recovery during WWII. Reba Buhr captures the youthful innocence and naïveté of Cecilia, mistress of the Duke of Milan, and also brings many other supporting characters from that period to life. Christa... Read More

Robin Miles offers an exceptional rendition of Margaret Wise Brown's iconic tale of a little bunny and his reassuring mother. By plucking every emotional chord ever so deftly, Miles's narration reflects the loving bond expressed in the story's call-and-response structure. Her melodic cadence reflects Brown's poetic writing. Miles's little bunny is inquisitive, playful, and... Read More

With a natural ease and a British accent, award-winning author Neil Gaiman reads 52 handpicked selections from this darkly comic career-spanning collection. Whether the topic is discovering the Holy Grail in an antique shop; retelling a much creepier, bloodier version of Snow White; or choosing a half-man/half-god to battle a demon on the Scottish Highlands, Gaiman is at his... Read More

Kaleo Griffith, Gabra Zackman, and Cat Gould narrate this timely collection of climate-change nonfiction from THE NEW YORKER magazine with engagement, clarity, and an admirable mix of insistence and calm. Written by many of the magazine's most well-known authors, including Elizabeth Kolbert, Bill McKibben, Burkhard Bilger, Kathryn Schulz, and Ian Frazer, the pieces focus on... Read More

Gemma Lawrence narrates this love letter to elephants with self-deprecating charm and wit. The first surprising revelation is that the author sees herself as an elephant of sorts. Mumby also sees parallels between elephants and all humans. Lawrence conveys the awe that Mumby felt in her first close encounter with elephants. Since that internship in Kenya, she has spent a lot of... Read More

Narrator Morag Sims delivers a performance nuanced with subtle adjustments to accents and volume that listeners will love in this historical romance. Lucy Muchelney leaps at the opportunity to translate an astronomy text into French, but her attention is divided between the project and the alluring Catherine St Day, countess of Moth. As she and Catherine grow closer, Lucy will... Read More

Greta Jung's arresting narration elevates this suspenseful debut novel about an undocumented Korean immigrant who is hoping to fulfill the American dream. Margot and her mother, Mina, who doesn't speak English, have always had a strained relationship. When Margot finds that her mother has died under suspicious circumstances, she launches an investigation in hopes of finding out... Read More

Susan Dalian's and Jay Aaseng's skilled vocal ranges complement witty prose and a plot that cleverly dramatizes racial injustices. Sydney creates a walking tour to retain her Brooklyn neighborhood's history during an unsettlingly fast gentrification. When new neighbor Theo joins the effort, and the pair uncover horrors that are more than historical, they're catapulted into a... Read More

Barbara Kingsolver delivers her poetry of the everyday with sweet-voiced accessibility and a hint of Appalachia tang. The subjects range from losing weight (or not), peonies, sheep shearing, and knitting--"By involving fiber in my invocation of divinity/I feel assured of a fairly positive outcome"--to marriage, her mother's death, and visiting a "burying ground"--"This cemetery... Read More

With deliberate pacing and a clear-toned Castilian accent, narrator Carlotta Brentan transports listeners to fifteenth-century Spain during the Inquisition. Seven-year-old Paloma is the granddaughter of a powerful Jewish leader. But even for wealthy Jews, life is as precarious as a "ceiling made of eggshells." As she gets older, Loma longs to get married and have her own family... Read More

Narrator Michael Crouch takes on the drama of an amateur magic club facing off against a power-hungry cult. Set in a world in which everyone has magical abilities but only some people choose to use them, this YA novel follows twelfth-grader Sam and his best friends, Delia and James, who are the lone magickers at their small-town Georgia school. Their preparations for one last... Read More

In this audiobook, Paul Offit chronicles 15 common practices that are routinely prescribed by physicians that offer no benefit or can even be harmful to patients. Narrator Tim Dixon describes these procedures in a strong, vibrant voice, but as he confirms that there is either no effect or possible harm, a tone of disbelief seeps in. Mind you, these are credentialed physicians... Read More

A young adult fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters will appeal equally to adults. Each sister tells her tale in interwoven chapters with narrator Caitlin Kelly speaking for the younger sister, Evadne, and Katherine Littrell, for the older, Halcyon. Kelly depicts the evolution of Evadne from a sheltered, sweet (but underestimated) girl to a scribe for a mage who... Read More

Piper Goodeve lends a clear and bright narration to this rom-com with an air of mystery. Who left a baby in the library bathroom and why? Single librarian and new-to-town Molly loves suspenseful literature and is eager to find the answer to the question. Sheriff John Hartwell's by- the-book nature causes him to butt heads with Molly during his investigation, but he's also drawn... Read More

Serial retail entrepreneur Christiane Lemieux is a highly intelligent writer, so she needed someone equally intelligent to narrate this exceptional guide to how high-tech consumer brands and retailers interact with customers today. Jean Ann Douglass deftly manages the delicate balance between sounding totally in command of her content and friendly enough to soften the... Read More

Written and narrated by the niece of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, this uplifting audiobook was inspired by a true story from Kamala's childhood involving her sister Maya. With a fast pace and a bold, confident tone, Harris describes the young sisters' idea to turn the unused courtyard of their apartment building into a playground. Harris brings a dramatic flair to... Read More

It's hard to imagine a better narrator for Stefano Massini's novel in verse than Edoardo Ballerini. Ballerini delivers this massive fictional history with accurate accents, subtlety, and nuance. The German-Jewish immigrant experience is magnified through the lens of the Lehman brothers--Henry, Emanuel, and Mayer--and their descendants, whose rise from grocers to cotton traders... Read More

James Fouhey engagingly portrays Henri Haltiwanger, a particularly charming high school student. Raised by Haitian immigrants, the affable Henri is chasing a lifelong dream of attending Columbia University. Corinne Troy, the daughter of a Columbia dean, who is his neighbor, on the other hand, is intense, driven, not so personable, and unaffected by Henri's magnetism. Despite... Read More

Sensitive listeners should heed the content warning about child abuse, rape, and other issues contained in this audio. Joniece Abbott-Pratt's narration is so authentic that those who listen should be prepared to fully enter the uncomfortable world of 17-year-old Enchanted. Abbott-Pratt portrays a teen who's not undone by microaggressions at her nearly all-white school and... Read More

This audiobook production of Margot Livesey's arresting new novel has its shortcomings but is still well worth one's time. Three siblings walking home from school discover a boy lying unconscious in a field beside the road. In alternating chapters, and in vivid and precise detail, we follow the impact of Matthew, Zoe, and Duncan's discovery upon them. Narrator Imogen Church... Read More

LeBron James's mother, Gloria James, gives authenticity to this audiobook by the NBA champion and cultural icon. In a rich, clear voice, she narrates his upbeat, motivational "I Promise" pledge, which encourages kids to be resilient, respectful, imaginative, hardworking, persistent, and true to themselves. James uses Black vernacular pronunciations throughout (for example, "ax"... Read More

Narrator Chandra Skyye's decadent voice brings flair and sensuality to what starts as a fake relationship between two high-achieving roommates--with years of unresolved tension--as they embark on a Martha's Vineyard getaway. Skyye's performance transitions smoothly from businesslike to playful when Nic, a surgeon, agrees to be her roommate Ben's fake girlfriend after he helps... Read More

Narrator Greta Jung delivers an eccentric performance of this romantic comedy. Melody, a video game producer, feels she has no voice among her staff. On top of her work woes, she's resisting her parents' wishes for her to marry. But when a new intern named Nolan who is assigned to her turns out to be a witty and attractive young man, she begins to question her own intentions.... Read More

Award-winning NBC news correspondent Jacob Soboroff narrates his firsthand account of family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border-- which have led to one of the greatest humanitarian crises of modern times. Soboroff's work at NBC ensures that his presentation as a narrator is near perfect, even as he negotiates the emotionally difficult stories of human beings caged in what... Read More

Marin Ireland narrates a stunning audiobook that explores race, class, family, and global catastrophe. A married couple and their teenage children are on summer vacation at a rented secluded home in the Hamptons. However, the house's owners arrive unexpectedly after fleeing New York City during a mysterious blackout. While the situation is uncomfortable, the two families--one... Read More

Narrators A.J. Beckles and Preston Butler III portray Jamal and Q, two best friends in this sci-fi coming-of-age story. After a series of tragic events upends both the teens' lives, their friendship seems fated to dissolve entirely--until Q dies and is miraculously (albeit temporarily) reanimated by a shadowy medical benefactor. Incredibly, this whole scenario is merely a... Read More

Sneha Mathan returns to narrate the second book in the Tiger at Midnight series, a heady South Asian fantasy that blends romance, intrigue, and action. Esha, leader of the Crescent Blades, has aligned her forces with soldier Kunal and her childhood friend, the deposed prince Harun. Together, they plan to rescue the lost Princess Reha, who can help them retake the throne. New... Read More

Businessman, politician, and journalist Matt Ridley narrates this entertaining audiobook with the clarity and flair of a seasoned British voice pro. His vocal enthusiasm is perfectly matched to his lively writing, which is animated by his libertarian perspectives but never weighed down with polemic or partisan fervor. His point of view, deftly expressed with colorful examples... Read More

In this sequel to THE BEHOLDER, narrator Emily Rankin picks right up with the main character, Selah, being forced by circumstances to leave her true love and embark on a dangerous mission. Along with two friends, she is arrested by the evil tsarytsya, a tyrant seeking to conquer the world. Rankin creates a nice rapport between the three young heroines. In contrast, she fashions... Read More

Political analyst Tiffany Cross aims to disabuse listeners of the notion that Black voters are a homogenous voting block, and she offers historical perspectives on the reasons this is so. It's hard to imagine any other narrator for this audiobook, as Cross is well positioned to tell her own story and advocate her ideas. She offers her own experiences, first as an intern for CNN... Read More

Think of a mash-up of GONE GIRL and MISERY. Listeners may suspect this mystery has an unreliable narrator due to the mismatch between the voice introducing the story and their assumptions about who is speaking. Revealing more would spoil the experience. Hang in there for this wild ride of a psychological thriller with expertly crafted twists and turns. Narrators Val Toomey,... Read More

David Colacci narrates in an authoritative tone that gives gravitas to the compelling personal stories of the characters in this mystery. His narration is a perfect match for its engrossing and timely plot. Senator Wendy Upton, a well-respected centrist, has been approached by both parties about joining their ticket as the candidate for vice president. Shortly after, she... Read More

Narrator Hope Newhouse offers a gentle performance of this serious audiobook about surviving the loss of a friend. When Reid discovers that Hattie likely died by suicide weeks before starting their senior year, she is forced to redefine her life without her best friend by her side. Telling her story through glimpses of the past and present, Reid has a soft-spoken and careful... Read More

Kyla Garcia's narration moves quickly through this history of immigration in the United States, starting with the arrival of the continent's first Indigenous inhabitants and ending with events following the 2016 election. Tracing the country's complicated political, cultural, and social relationships with immigration, the audiobook depicts continuous waves of immigrants, such... Read More

Akemi Tanaka, a Japanese business owner, teacher, and lecturer, has crafted an inspiring and accessible guide to chowa, the Japanese practice that cultivates peace, balance, and harmony in everyday life. June Angela narrates softly at an appropriate pace. Her tone sounds optimistic. Tanaka expertly describes the influence of chowa in Japan, making the audiobook a delightful way... Read More

Narrator Allyson Ryan's lighthearted approach provides a believable element to this story of a young woman leading a double life. Becky is the smart and seemingly honest accountant for the small town of Pierson, Illinois. But a passion for high-stakes dealing in the art worlds of New York and Chicago, where she is known as Reba, leads her to divert funds into her own accounts... Read More

The second installment of Waite's Regency and Victorian-era series, called Feminine Pursuits, features Morag Sims's narration talents. Agatha Griffin, the resilient widowed owner of a London print shop, and Penelope Ford, an affable amateur beekeeper, meet after a hive takes up residence in Griffin's warehouse. Sims's textured characterizations enliven the women's chemistry as... Read More

Seraphine Valentine narrates a charming romance that takes place on the set of a TV rom-com. Jasmine Lin and Ashton Suárez have joined the cast of "Carmen in Charge" for different reasons: Jasmine because it has the potential to make her career and Ashton because he sees it as a stepping-stone out of telenovelas and into Hollywood. When off-set drama threatens to overshadow the... Read More

Narrator Justine Eyre is back with the final audiobook in MacLean's Bareknuckle Bastards trilogy. Ever since he betrayed her 20 years ago, Grace, the Queen of Covent Garden, has successfully avoided Ewan, Duke of Marwick. Now that he's found her, Ewan is determined to do whatever it takes to make her his duchess. Eyre's prolific catalogue of audiobook narrations is heavy with... Read More

Narrator Susan Ericksen teams up again with author Sara Paretsky to provide listeners with a special treat: 14 short stories themed on love in a variety of machinations. Seven of the stories feature Paretsky's famous private detective, V.I. Warshawski. Ericksen succeeds in capturing the mini-worlds of the stories, which are populated by both familiar and new characters of... Read More

Deepti Gupta and Zehra Jane Naqvi team up to narrate this short audiobook about three generations of Bengali women. Gupta performs the sections told from the perspective of Somlata, a poor girl who marries into the once-rich Mitra family. Soon after she joins the household, her husband's widowed aunt dies, only to return in ghost form to pester Somlata. While the elderly woman... Read More

Canadian actress Michelle St. John narrates this exhilarating novel with a sure sense of pace and a strong grip on its intense emotions. Her characterization of the protagonist, Joan, gives her nuance yet reveals her toughness. The rendering of the Indigenous descendants of Ontario's Métis people is done expertly. The plot focuses on Joan's quest to bring back her wayward... Read More

Brittany Pressley's skillful narration of this contemplative novel about adolescent yearning invites listeners to consider the limits of their own understanding. Seeking her absent father, Olivia turns up at his last known address: a Buddhist retreat center. Though she finds no trace of him there, she does find apparent friendship in the form of three magnetic girls who are... Read More

Poet Natasha Trethewey's emotional delivery adds to the impact of this harrowing memoir. Trethewey was 19 when her stepfather murdered her mother. In this deeply moving story, she recounts her mother's childhood in the segregated South and her own childhood in Mississippi, where she grew up the child of an interracial marriage. Her strong emotions are palpable as she offers... Read More

When a New York millennial marries an Indian-born financial analyst and moves to Mumbai, she faces not only culture shock, but also the harsh expectations of her new mother-in-law. Narrator Amy McFadden imbues Rachel with a touch of condescension as she struggles to adjust to India, followed by angry rebellion as Dhruv's mother, Swati, imposes her traditional ways on the... Read More

If you're a superfan of Douglas Adams and THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, you've likely already encountered this book, first written in 1987 (and revised several times since) by young journalist Neil Gaiman. However, with the narration of Simon Jones--who starred in the original HITCHHIKER'S radio drama--this audio version offers something new. Jones shares the history of... Read More

A new audio version of this classic novel is good news; no matter at what age you read or reread it, it has something new to offer you. Wilder sets his iconic story in the eighteenth century in colonial Peru at the moment one of the astounding rope bridges that crisscrossed the Andean gorges of the Inca Empire collapses. The novel examines the lives of the five people who die... Read More

Listeners are transported to Moquoia's divided society by narrators Chelsea Stephens, Lauren Ezzo, and Matthew Frow. Despite being separated by miles, a diplomat, an outlaw, and a prisoner pursue their unique yet aligned destinies to right the injustices of the world. All three narrators embody the characters they portray, utilizing a variety of voices and accents to showcase a... Read More

Daniel Henning's audio performance of this concept book is warm, lively, and trying its loyal best to entertain. The book is prone to the cheap laugh (bathroom humor is a favorite), and it isn't exactly about 40 real or wild animals; myths and urban legends pad out the number. Listeners serious about the natural world may be disappointed or irritated, but young readers and... Read More

Narrator Joy Nash guides listeners through the intense origin story of Faith Herbert, aka Zephyr, from the graphic novels published by Valiant Comics. Seventeen-year-old Faith volunteers at the animal shelter and runs a fan blog for her favorite teen drama, "The Grove." But when the TV show relocates filming to her hometown and actress Dakota Ash's interest in her seems more... Read More

Narrator Nicol Zanzarella's voice is urgent, at times even pleading for listeners to vote. It's clear author Kim Wehle is concerned about the 2020 presidential election. She'd like to see major changes in our election system--she talks about the "bizarre electoral college process," for example. At the same time, she's well versed in our current system; she guides listeners... Read More

Narrator Natalie Britton is so good the listeners will swear they're hearing a full-cast audio. Part 1 of Nicci French's latest chiller focuses on Astrid, a bicycle messenger who shares a house with six roommates. They know each other well--or so they think. Astrid is thrown from her bike when a neighbor opens her car door as Astrid is passing, causing a spectacular accident.... Read More

Lisa Cordileone uses an appropriate pace and cadence in narrating this accessible and highly informed audiobook. She does a fine job navigating the thickets of politics and partisanship, and nicely captures the author's engaged reportorial voice. She also takes the right tone--explanatory yet interrogative--for a text that spans the centuries, with excellent sections on the... Read More

Narrator Ethan Herisse's voice is soft, slow, and sombre as he narrates the poignant free-verse poems of the fictional character Amal Shahid. Herisse's tone is so tender that one can imagine the sensitive shapes and perfect rhythms drawn and written by this 16-year-old artist-poet before he was incarcerated. Amal and his friends have been arrested for assault after a run-in... Read More

Jane Oppenheimer narrates this deep dive into our complicated relationship with one of our most primal emotions. For 12 years Kristen Ulmer proudly held the title of "World's Best Extreme Skier." She fearlessly flew down any mountain she could find--but eventually grew to understand that she'd have to face her fears about fear. Oppenheimer reflects the author's intelligence,... Read More

Three remarkable young women from diverse backgrounds beat all the odds to compete as the first female track athletes in the 1928 Olympics. In this fictional account, Karissa Vacker voices the experience of Chicagoan Betty Robinson, who is savvy and determined despite her beauty and family wealth. In stark contrast is Louise Stokes, a Black teenager from Boston; Kristyl Dawn... Read More

Narrator Gary Tiedemann delivers this expressly visionary audiobook with authority. His control of the material solves the issue of its three slightly different voices. The first, reportorial, explains the earth's overheated state. The next voice is visionary as the author imagines a future in which environmental concerns prevail. The last voice, suggestive of a "climate... Read More

The prolific historian, biographer, novelist, and critic A.N. Wilson amply fits the traditional role of man of letters, and versatile narrator Mark Meadows gives voice to that persona with energy and grace. Wilson surveys Charles Dickens's life and career from the perspective of several "mysteries," starting with the circumstances of the great novelist's death, then looking... Read More

Rebecca Taussig's humor and passion shine as she delivers this illuminating collection of essays about disability. Taussig captures the ups and downs of ordinary life in a disabled body; she discusses dating, navigating her first year of teaching, and searching for an accessible apartment, in particular. As she celebrates disabled lives, culture, and activism, she examines the... Read More

Narrator Richard Poe guides listeners into the heart of high society in 1920s Newport, Rhode Island, in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thornton Wilder's last novel. This imagined memoir of Theophilus "Teddy" North--inspired by Wilder's real-life twin brother, who died at birth--will enchant listeners who are seeking a compelling audio treat. In a forthright tone, Poe depicts the... Read More

Author Sue Miller's familiarity with the text is evident in her precise and thoughtful delivery of this audiobook. The story centers on Annie, a photographer who has been married to Graham, a bookshop owner, for many years. After Graham's unexpected death, cracks in their seemingly content marriage appear. Annie's resentment and grief over her loss, as well as a flood of... Read More

Narrator Carrington McDuffie communicates the revolutionary spirit and intellectual depth behind spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson's most recent audiobook. With McDuffie's mature voice and thoughtful pacing, her sound has the stature needed to deliver this work, which blends the author's lyrical writing with ideas and sensibilities that seem to have come from the ancients.... Read More

Did you know eels can live for an impressive amount of time out of water or that, despite thousands of years of observation, we still don't fully understand the eel's life cycle? Narrator Alex Wyndam skillfully uses pitch and thoughtful pacing to underscore author Svensson's passion for these singular fish, which have been studied by a diverse range of researchers and have had... Read More

Narrator Tristan Morris brings a youthful confidence to this wonderfully gentle, erudite, and satirical tour of a fanciful early-twentieth-century Rome. An American student of the classics spends a year abroad and happens upon a secretive mystical society of aristocratic misfits called "The Cabala." Morris is at his best providing broad comic Italian accents to a menagerie of... Read More

Narrator Michael Crouch gently delivers the story of Kyle Baker, a teenager who has just discovered that his mother is having an affair--and that his father knows about it. Asked to keep the secret from everyone else until after their last family reunion, Kyle begins to slowly unravel under the pressure. Crouch delivers a somber depiction of Kyle's anxious thoughts, connecting... Read More

Will Damron performs Quirk's latest political thriller in a smoky voice and no-nonsense tone. Former Secret Service agent turned security consultant Nick Averose is framed for the murder of former CIA director Malcolm Widener. Rather than run and hide, Averose heads toward danger, searching for the real murderer while unraveling political reasons for the assassination. Damron's... Read More

Historian Robert Dallek, no Donald Trump fan, looks back at twentieth-century chief executives to see if he can make sense of how we ended up with Donald Trump's presidency. Narrator Rick Adamson captures the author's conversational tone as he paints vivid portraits of everyone from Teddy Roosevelt, with his "insatiable need for attention," to Ronald Reagan, who was... Read More

Narrator Caitlin Kelly fills each character's voice with personality in this audiobook. The story moves from 1997, when a terrible tragedy changes the life of free-spirited Zinny, to a period 20 years later. Now known as Ginny, she is once again facing a life-changing disaster, even as old secrets demand an honest reckoning. Kelly gives Zinny a perky voice, while Ginny speaks... Read More

Narrator Lisa Cordileone creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Abby, who lives in northern Wisconsin, where she helps run a campground with her family. Sometimes business can be sparse, but with an eclipse taking place in the coming summer, all the sites are booked up. Abby looks forward to spending her time studying the stars and exploring books at the local library. Life... Read More

Shayla Lawson's agile narration adds another layer of depth to this collection of essays about Black girlhood and womanhood. Whether she's writing about microaggressions at work or the idiosyncrasies of Twitter, her blend of humor and critique is always engaging. What's especially remarkable is how Lawson alters her voice to fit her material. In an essay about performing FOR... Read More

This listen couldn't be more timely. In the midst of the Black Live Matters movement, Sellers shares his story of growing up Black in the South and making his way to national prominence as a politician and then a CNN analyst. He's the son of activist parents, so the path he took is not surprising. Nor it is surprising to learn he has a smooth, confident delivery. Sellers... Read More

Fred Sanders's excellent narration has the serious tone you'd expect in an audio about the high-stakes political wars surrounding recent Supreme Court nominations. As the author describes legislative battles over nominees from Merrick Garland to Brett Kavanaugh, Sanders's seriousness wavers little but is always easy to hear and entirely appropriate for the level of gravitas and... Read More

Sarah Zimmerman, Karissa Vacker, and George Newbern combine forces to narrate a thriller that asks what makes a good marriage. The trio delivers the story's three timelines seamlessly, making it more accessible for listeners. Zach is in Rikers for assaulting a police officer after finding his wife, Amanda, dead at the bottom of their stairs. He persuades his friend Lizzie, a... Read More

Micky Shiloah's emotional and introspective narration is just as powerful as playwright David Adjmi's prose in this lyrical memoir about family and identity. Adjmi writes about his Brooklyn childhood in an insular religious community of Syrian Jews, his struggles with depression, his continual sense of not fitting in--whether due to his being gay or his doubts about God--and... Read More

Zeus, the lovable hero of this humorous audiobook, is a service dog assigned to safeguard Madden, a boy with diabetes who just wants to play the tuba in his school band and be a regular kid. Telling the story from the dog's perspective, narrator Todd Haberkorn is spot-on voicing Zeus's thoughts--from hilarious interpretations of human words to astute observations of the... Read More

Narrator Will Damron was paired with author Scott Spencer for Spencer's best-known novel, ENDLESS LOVE. Damron is a prolific and versatile performer who is also reliably steady and consistent. He demonstrates the balance of qualities necessary for this particular novelist and this particular novel, both of which would be easy to overplay. Spencer is an eloquent prose stylist,... Read More

Narrator George Guidall brings back the key characters in Silva's Gabriel Allon series. Through a mystery reminiscent of THE DA VINCI CODE, listeners are taken into the world of Catholicism and its historic relation to Jews. Through tone and accent, Guidall differentiates the many characters--some regulars, some new, some good, some quite devious--all of whom move the story... Read More

Soneela Nankani returns to narrate the second installment in the Raje family series, loosely based on Jane Austen's popular novels. This retelling of PERSUASION focuses on Ashna Raje, who is struggling to keep her late father's Indian restaurant afloat. When her cousin offers her a spot on a new cooking show, Ashna agrees, hoping the prize money will save her. What she doesn't... Read More

Narrator Julia Whelan gives voice to a young adult audiobook about a teen's burgeoning feminism and the importance of standing up for oneself. After an inappropriate encounter with a teacher, high school senior Marin becomes fed up with the unwritten rules for girls, especially after her friends and the school administration question her version of the event. Whelan's skill is... Read More

Narrator Soneela Nankani brings lightness to this meditation on what we can learn about creating a more balanced life from creatures in the world around us. Sounding amused and engaged, Nankani highlights the audiobook's interesting facts: Did you know jellyfish cannot move forward unless they relax and that some shrimp can sound off in oversized ways? Happily, she avoids... Read More

Winch, a member of the Wiradjuri people of Australia, shares an epic story of the impact of colonialism on one Aboriginal family. Tony Briggs, himself Aboriginal, demands listeners' attention with an understated yet compelling narration. He smoothly weaves the indigenous language, defined in an accompanying PDF, into the story as he moves through time to trace the culture from... Read More

Oates taps into the current zeitgeist with a timely story about police brutality and its implications on a family. Cheryl Smith's poignant depiction of the characters as they deal with the consequences of that senseless act conjures listeners' empathy. It's the dominant parent who is killed, and the death sets in motion a series of reactions from his children and, most... Read More

Michael David Axtell narrates this inspiring audio in an earnest, believable tone that is never too dramatic. He has an appealing way of varying his pacing--some phrases quick, others measured--that works well with this intense account by a thoughtful neurologist who responded to his calling by working in socially and economically impoverished Haiti. The contrasts are riveting... Read More

Euan Morton, the one-man all-star cast of this hilarious, raunchy, twee, utterly sui generis audiobook, is really dazzling. Moore starts with the Fool from King Lear, sends him off with a giant apprentice named Drool, and shipwrecks them in a mythical Greece. There's an Athens inhabited by Oberon, Titania, a Queen of Amazons, and a Theseus several thousand years old, also rude... Read More

Narrator Rueben Uy brings life to a Filipino mother-and-son duo who are "hiding and hiding." The story is told through the point of view of prodigal son, Excel, who returns to his mother's cramped California apartment after a brief stint in a desert town, where he'd hoped to reinvent his life after spending so much of it trying to hide his undocumented status. Uy attends to the... Read More

Sophie Amoss's superb narration enhances the raw and electric prose of author Sarah Gerard's second novel. The blunt force of 20-something Nina's reckless behavior comes through in Amoss's almost careless tone and unforced pacing. Amoss engages the listener's sympathy for the impetuous, erratic Nina even while conveying the explicit details of her involvement with several... Read More

Narrators Liza Seneca and Reba Buhr deliver the dual narratives of one girl's struggle to understand her family's history and another girl's battle to undermine the Nazi occupation of Paris. Buhr voices Alice with a light, youthful tone, connecting emotionally through the ups of a budding romance and the heartache of seeing her mother suffer from debilitating depression. After... Read More

Narrators Theo Germaine and Phoebe Strole deliver a poignant coming-of-age romance. Pony, warmly voiced by Germaine, finally passes as a guy after starting at a new high school where no one knows he's transgender. Germaine's enthusiastic narration adds authenticity and humor as Pony explores new friendships and develops a huge crush on cheerleader Georgia, voiced by Strole.... Read More

Coauthor Eric Alperin narrates as he shares his path to, and the intricacies of, opening a bar in Los Angeles. Alperin's voice is dry and smooth, like one of the high-quality spirits served in his cocktail bar, The Varnish. While uneven sound quality may distract some listeners, even pacing keeps one interested as Alperin, who originally aspired to be an actor, shares tales... Read More

Soneela Nankani skillfully narrates the final volume of an epic fantasy saga inspired equally by politics and mythology. As Nahri, Ali, and Dara face the aftermath of the brutal fall of Daevabad, they must each come to terms with their part in that fall. Nankani continues to impress with her distinctive portrayals of the immense secondary cast of characters, but it is her... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller's clear and dramatic narration transports listeners to a world of interstellar politics and romance. Lady Catarina von Hasenberg is the youngest sibling at High House, and others overlook her--but she hides superhuman strengths. Zeller portrays Catarina's public persona as bright and bubbly, while her inner monologue reflects her intelligence and anxiety over... Read More

Zakiya Young skillfully provides an entertaining performance of this audiobook, capturing the personalities of each of its characters. Three women realize that they have more in common than their yoga class. All have been putting off dealing with their deceased mothers' effects. Vowing to assist each other with this unwanted task, the trio begin to lean on one another as deep... Read More

James Conner is the star running back at the University of Pittsburgh and is on top of the college sports world. By his junior year, he tears a tendon and from routine blood work performed, he is diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Narrator David Sadzin's performance makes it clear that cancer is not in the driver's seat. His voice and delivery reflect the strength Conner uses... Read More

Narrator Andrew Eiden captures the personality of Cyrus as he navigates his way through the sixth grade, where changes are around every corner. He feels pressure to succeed at football like his all-star dad, a firefighter who adopted him when he was left at the firehouse as an infant. Now he starts to feel drawn toward other activities like band and volunteering at the local... Read More

Ron Butler's narration of this meditation on the meaning of driving takes listeners by the lapels and gently shakes their preconceived notions. His smoothly instructive and carefully paced rendition of this audiobook gives life to this examination of the assumption that a problem's technological solution--whether it's cameras on street lights, autonomous autos, or smart... Read More

Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson creates a realistic and relatable cast of characters in this audiobook about friendship, family, and moving out of your comfort zone. Introverted Jenae prefers to be alone and out of the spotlight. When she bonds with outgoing Aubrey over their love of a favorite YouTube show, she is not sure she wants to be friends with him. Johnson gives Jenae a... Read More

Caroline Lee offers an outstanding narration of Kline's well-researched novel, which depicts a shameful moment in Australia's colonial history. Seduced, pregnant, accused of stealing, and convicted on slight evidence, Evangeline is marked for transport from Newgate Prison to Australia. Onboard the ship, fellow prisoners Hazel and Olive help her cope with various hardships and... Read More

Emily Woo Zeller's melodious voice, clear diction, and thoughtful pacing shape these dispatches from the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. She emulates Fang Fang's tone whether she discusses daily life, takes officials to task for an insufficient response to the pandemic, or vigorously defends herself from the Internet trolls and ultra-leftists who attack her. Novelist Fang... Read More

Journalist and comedian Sopan Deb tells his story of turning his estrangement from his parents into a deep and meaningful relationship while redefining his own South Asian identity. His fast-paced narration and straightforward candor lend themselves to a rapidly unfolding and exciting listen filled with a mix of raw authenticity and laugh-out-loud humor. Deb offers distinct... Read More

Kyle Tait's calm, almost soothing, performance is welcome, given the difficult topic of this audiobook--antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Zaman's work is concise; each chapter provides listeners with insight into the history of bacteria and the battle to address infections scientifically. Each section provides a case history of how researchers fought to develop and deploy... Read More

Narrator Glenn Davis's voice is gentle and steady whether he's setting scenes or introducing the Black cowboys who are often seen on the streets of Compton, California. He conveys the joy, love, and inner calm that come with their devotion to horses. Walter Thompson-Hernandez of THE NEW YORK TIMES embedded himself with the Compton Cowboys, a group of 10 riders, to show their... Read More

In this audiobook, listeners join finance journalist Ally Linden as she arrives at her Manhattan office, surprising herself and her former boss because she has not worked there for five years. It quickly becomes apparent that something is very wrong and that Ally has lost part of her memory and is experiencing a dissociative fugue state. Narrator Cynthia Farrell helps build the... Read More

Ines del Castillo's hip conversational tone enlivens this compendium of 50 boundary-breaking LGBTQ+ figures from across history and around the globe. Many names, like Ellen DeGeneres, will be familiar to listeners, but many will be less well known, like the ancient Chinese emperor Wen of Han. Del Castillo's enthusiasm and pride are evident in the short biographies representing... Read More

In the latest story collection by Richard Ford, men wander--often confused and uncertain--through a maze of unrealized hopes and unfulfilled ambitions. Stephen Mendel narrates with a gravelly monotone and deliberate cadence that draw the listener in--though they also cause individual stories to run together without many distinctions between the narrating characters. Where the... Read More

In this contemporary novel about family and self-discovery narrated by Brittany Pressley, the three Sweeney sisters always knew their aloof father had secrets. However, upon the famous author's death, they are shocked to uncover his deepest secret--there is a fourth sister. Clearly embodying each of the sisters' unique personalities, Pressley deftly performs the four... Read More

Danny DeVito voices the part of Bob in the upcoming movie THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, and here he enhances the self-centered canine in this audiobook. DeVito's rough-and-tough humorous performance is a perfect fit for Bob. His narration of the free-form verses reveals Bob's sardonic nature. He's "never been accused of being a good dog." He eats cat litter, hogs the couch, and "may... Read More

Narrators Kaleo Griffith and Ray Porter perfectly match the noir tone and rhythms of low-life characters who come into the world the same but leave broken. They're hardened men and women who navigate various criminal worlds--usually unsuccessfully. In these six novellas, jewel thieves tell themselves all they need is one more score. Relentless cops chase high-end thieves who... Read More

Jordan Cobb is the perfect guide through this story based on West African folklore. With the addition of narrator A.J. Beckles, the dual narration enhances the listening experience as Karina and Malik try to resist their growing attraction while attempting to destroy each other. Cobb's strong voice captures the ferocity in Crown Princess Karina's actions as she attempts to... Read More

The second-person point of view can be distancing, but January LaVoy creates such a visceral world for 16-year-old Bisou that the space between listeners and characters fades. In one dramatic evening Bisou experiences the pleasures of sex, her first menstruation, memories of the blood that ended her mother's life, and the terror of a stalking classmate who has taken the form of... Read More

Narrators Cassandra Campbell and Jenna Lamia portray protagonists recovering from a horrific crime perpetrated upon the women of a Texas oil town in the 1970s. Wetmore's story of racial inequity, class prejudice, and violence illuminates this time and place. Campbell and Lamia deftly trade points of view as the brutal details unfold. The repercussions of an attack on a Hispanic... Read More

On one level this is an exciting story about Chinese university students under attack by the Japanese in 1937. On another level it is about folklore, magic, and spirits that are ever present. Both genres are ably presented by narrator Emily Woo Zeller, whose soft yet confident voice persuades us that the magic is real and the plight of the student refugees, difficult and... Read More

Sienna Frances narrates the first of a new audiobook series set in late-eighteenth-century Britain. As both a fallen woman and a women's rights advocate, Seraphina Arden is viewed as an outcast by proper society. When Scottish architect Adam Anderson crosses paths with the passionate Seraphina, he must choose between his growing love for her and his rising career. Narrator... Read More

Narrators Almarie Guerra and Jayme Mattler create a heartbreaking portrait of a mother's detention and forced separation from her sons under this country's recent zero tolerance immigration policy. This compelling memoir alternates between the perspectives of the two authors. Guatemalan Rosayra Pablo Cruz is portrayed by Guerra. Her voice is clear and strong, but breaks in... Read More

Joniece Abbott-Pratt narrates a young adult adventure in which high fantasy is mixed with a modern setting for a bizarre and creative tale. Listeners are transported to a unique world in which Sarah's father hires a dragon to work their farm, which leads to her discovery of a prophecy. Abbott-Pratt navigates diversity as she portrays a dragon-worshipping cult and a group of... Read More

Listeners will be swept into this gritty literary thriller about a group of women who are victims of violence. Narrator Bahni Turpin kicks off the story in 1999 with her first-person portrayal of Feelia, a survivor of a serial killer who is attacking prostitutes in Southern Los Angeles. Turpin's performance makes Feelia come alive with attitude and frustration at not being... Read More

Ione Butler narrates the story of a charming romance between a driven doctoral student and a grumpy but secretly romantic security guard. Butler perfectly delivers both the snark and the swoons, making for a truly delightful experience. Dani Brown is deeply unhappy when she unwittingly ends up part of a viral hashtag. But Zafir Ansari--the other half of the hashtag--thinks he... Read More

This short and sweet novella on audio will satisfy fans of SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA and LEAH ON THE OFFBEAT. Michael Crouch, who narrated SIMON to excellent effect, is joined by three actors who are new to the series. Told entirely through emails, the story follows high school friends Simon, Blue, Leah, and Abby in their first year of college. Leah and Abby are... Read More

In his first audiobook, poet Dean Atta draws on his skill as a spoken- word performer to deliver his novel in verse, which features an intimate, empowering portrayal of a Black gay teen's coming-of-age. "I never wanted to take my difference too far," says Michael, who lives in London. He has an understanding family and best friend, but claiming his identity is challenging in a... Read More

If you're a fan of twists and turns, whodunits, and why'd-they-do-its, this is a must-listen. Narrator Megan Tusing does a great job capturing this engaging mystery. The story centers on a veterinarian who's a loving mom, devoted wife, and doer of good deeds. That last part is what gets her into trouble. Has her past finally caught up with her? Is it true that no good deed goes... Read More

Patriotic fife and drum music introduces young listeners to this account of how suffragettes Alice Paul and Lucy Burns joined forces to help women win the vote. Sandy Rustin conveys their bitter, sometimes violent story in a mild-mannered voice that belies the women's radical rebelliousness. Beginning with their first meeting in England in 1909, and moving to the 1913 parade in... Read More

Stephen Haff's passionate narration adds power to his remarkable audiobook. Haff oversees Still Waters in a Storm, an after-school program in Brooklyn for undocumented students. The program is a place of calm for students whose lives are anything but; many face the threat of deportation and the toxic climate fomented by the current president. Haff's one-room learning space is a... Read More

Narrator Erin Mallon draws listeners into the lives of childhood frenemies Brynn Turner and Kinsey Davis as they meet up again as adults. Brynn's life is in shambles. She comes home and ends up being Kinsey's roommate. Brynn's voice reflects a frantic energy, while Kinsey's saucy tone conveys her tough, no-nonsense outlook. Each chapter starts with the girls' youthful journals,... Read More

In this historical fantasy account of the life and times of Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, narrator Sophie Amoss keeps the bizarre world of talking dogs and werewolves firmly rooted. The narrative goes over the top when the writers pop in to talk directly to listeners, yet the thread is never lost. Amoss deserves the credit for that. She narrates with calm assuredness in the... Read More

Humorist Mia Mercado's debut collection of self-deprecating, insightful essays drawn from her personal experiences is a must-listen for anyone wondering if their perceived idiosyncrasies are "normal." Suitable pauses between essays transition listeners through sections dedicated to various modes of being that millennials will find relatable. Mercado's essays combine humor and... Read More

Two narrators voice strong-willed women facing off in this zippy thriller. Meghan Wolf sounds earnest and youthful as Piper Reynard, a woman running from her past by opening a wellness spa in Connecticut. She quickly finds love with Leo Drakos, much to the dismay of his wife, Joanna, who finds their family life suddenly ripped apart. Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan gives... Read More

An all-star cast of poets reads poet and critic Vijay Seshadri's selection of T.S. Eliot's most important and interesting works. Seshadri delivers his own fine introduction, which looks at why Eliot, in particular, is so important to the poets who came after him. The narrators--who include Joy Harjo, Eileen Myles, Natalie Diaz, and Jorie Graham--are acknowledging personal debts... Read More

Seema Yasmin is proud of the unique Muslim women she knows personally as well as the increasing number of Muslim women role models in the public sphere. As narrator, her enthusiasm spills over to listeners in this series of short essays about Muslim congresswomen, athletes, and musicians who defy media stereotypes. Those interested in feminist identity will enjoy this... Read More

Dual narrators perform this debut contemporary romance. After her restaurant venture fails, chef Lumi Santana finds work in a traditional French eatery owned by the arrogant Julien Dax. They're attracted to each other right away but keep their relationship strictly professional until Lumi tastes one of Julien's culinary creations. Ines del Castillo and Jonathan Todd Ross... Read More

Narrator Aoife McMahon is terrific delivering Naoise Dolan's impressive debut novel. Twenty-two-year-old Ava moves from Dublin to Hong Kong to teach English. There she meets Julian, an odd, self-involved banker. They start an unconventional relationship. She moves in. Julian picks up the tab. Eventually, they sleep together. They have great discussions. There are no emotional... Read More

This audiobook begins in a small town high in the Tennessee mountains. Midwife Tess Hartsong is running away from the pain of losing her husband. Narrator Nicole Poole brings her suffering to life. Also escaping from their former lives are street artist Ian North and his pregnant companion, Bianca. Poole provides a Southern twang to the locals, helping listeners get lost in the... Read More

This endearing love story demonstrates narrator Sarah Novak's flexibility with emotions. Laurie is in her prime, with everything going as planned until her partner of 18 years, Dan, abruptly leaves her. Novak helps listeners feel Laurie's shock and pain, as well as Dan's cowardice, by deftly adjusting her intensity. After Laurie gets stuck in an elevator with her law firm's... Read More

Narrator Susan Ericksen is pitch-perfect as private investigator V.I Warshawski, who is intelligent, driven, and compassionate. Paretsky's latest addresses a wide range of compelling themes--the consequences of gun violence, corruption, environmental protection, mental health, and more. When Vic finds herself in the middle of a corrupt land deal, she also becomes part of... Read More

Ramon de Ocampo infuses his narration of this emotionally powerful story with direct and subtle emotions that define the three Nelson-Thomas siblings and their middle school experience. The story begins in January 1986 with the excitement of the CHALLENGER mission and ends with its tragedy. As the siblings' parents' domestic tragedies dominate the children, 12-year-old twins... Read More

Combining memoir and history, author and narrator Morgan Jerkins takes listeners on an unforgettable journey across America. Jerkins, whose grandparents came north during the Great Migration, grew up in New Jersey. In this audiobook, she sets out to understand her place in the history of the migration that has defined Black America today. Her narration is clear and steady as... Read More

At a calm, deliberate pace that matches the slow unfolding of this story, narrator Kirby Heyborne depicts the nuanced emotions of 12-year-old Ben as his parents upend his life. When his father moves to London for a new job, Ben's mother decides not to accompany him, instead moving Ben from their apartment in New York City to Texas to be closer to her own mother. Ben's neutral... Read More

Lynnette R. Freeman narrates a soapy saga of life in Henry Adams, Kansas, where the only thing bigger than the drama is the hearts of the townsfolk. Freeman has a large cast of characters to work with, and standouts include her portrayals of Bernadine Brown, Reverend Paula, and Sheila Payne: Freeman reflects the confidence of Bernadine, who is coming into her own as the owner... Read More

Adjoa Andoh narrates a fantastical adventure in which four half sisters connect in a dreamworld and learn of their unusual shared fate. The sisters have wild adventures in the supernatural realm known as Everwhere until they're cut off on their 13th birthday. Upon turning 18, the four must fight to the death against inhuman monsters--to the delight of their demonic father.... Read More

Steve Edwards narrates this insightful guide for those wanting to understand our purpose--those asking why life is worth living. While the human ability to reflect and reason predisposes us to ponder the meaning of life, throughout this series of essays, Edwards reassures us that an existential crisis is not necessary. His easygoing narration lends itself to the audiobook's... Read More

Tavia Gilbert narrates the second installment of the Night Rebel series. Although she is a vampire Law Guardian, Veritas is traveling the world on her own secret and dangerous mission. Master vampire playboy Ian may have a case of amnesia, but he is certain of one thing: Veritas is his wife. Gilbert's spirited performance captures the heat between Veritas and Ian and further... Read More

NEW YORK TIMES contributor Blake Gopnik has written a precise, expansive biography of the man whom many consider the most influential artist of the twentieth century: Andy Warhol. Graham Halstead's highly skilled narration does much to support that assessment. Halstead adds a young exuberance to an enjoyable excursion through the vast expanse of Warhol's interconnected personal... Read More

Narrator Kyla Garcia creates a buoyant voice for Sarah, a 10-year-old Brooklyn girl of Mexican heritage. However, this memoir's many layers are challenging for both its narrator and young listeners. Sarah's story chronicles her youth group's production of a play based on DON QUIXOTE within the framework of her daily life in her immigrant community. Sarah plays "Kid Quixote."... Read More

Listeners find themselves in England during the late 1700s in this entertaining romance narrated by Rosalyn Landor. Nicholas Rokesby finds himself called home from medical school to marry friend and neighbor Georgiana Bridgerton, who has found her reputation ruined through no fault of her own. Landor's dry tones will have listeners chuckling over the antics of the two butlers... Read More

In this collection of personal essays, author/narrator Laura Lippman covers a range of relatable topics, such as motherhood, social media, body image, and aging, as well as circumstances particular to her own life, such as her path from journalist to award-winning genre novelist. Her soft, expressive delivery finds a comfortable place between performance and storytelling,... Read More

Narrator Fajer Al-Kaisi uses his deep baritone to create the surprising character Yunus Turab, who we quickly realize is not an average bus driver. Listeners are drawn into Yunus's everyday life through the lively pace set by Al-Kaisi. This makes ordinary descriptions of Tehran seem alive and engaging. The narration grows more somber as Yunus is imprisoned and tortured. Is he... Read More

Candice Moll transforms herself into 11-year-old Cassie Anderson, a peacock detective, in the way skilled narrators can do. Her delivery is rapid, the sentences pouring over listeners. Cassie is hired to help find missing peacocks in the neighborhood. Moll makes the most of both the mystery and the humor laced throughout the story. Listeners will appreciate the ironic... Read More

Summer Morton and Brian Pallino narrate a surprisingly sweet bodyguard romance. After unwittingly going viral, thanks to a clever hashtag, Katrina King needs to leave town. Bodyguard Jas Singh offers his family's peach farm as an escape. Both Katrina and Jas have experienced trauma in their pasts, and Morton and Pallino are adept at teasing out its aftereffects. Katrina has... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley delivers an A-plus performance of Kleypas's beloved Texas romance. Pressley introduces Haven Travis, daughter of an oil magnate, with a lilting drawl whose musical notes ring melodiously. Her declarative delivery packs an aural punch as Haven faces and later escapes a horrifically abusive husband. Hearing the menace that Haven's husband, Nick, exudes... Read More

Narrator Kyla Garcia's pacing is engaging, and her fluid pronunciation of the Spanish names and locations in this audiobook is commendable. Author Rae Carson returns to the world of her GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS trilogy with a riveting stand-alone audiobook. Listeners who loved the original trilogy will be thrilled to hear the follow-up story of Red, the young slave who was... Read More

Thornton Wilder's epistolary novel set in Rome in the months leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar adapts exceptionally well to an ensemble production, its narrative being a chorus of contemporary Roman voices. Wilder was successful both as novelist and playwright, and here, as in his better known BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, the narrative tracks a cast of characters... Read More

Cassandra Campbell gives a stellar performance of this audiobook, set mainly in 1940s Los Alamos, New Mexico. The story is loosely based on the life of 19-year-old mathematician Charlie Fisk, who played a crucial role in the design of the detonator for the atomic bomb. The point of view alternates between Charlie and his sympathetic wife, Brenda, a musician. The sensations of... Read More

What's really astonishing is Joel Froomkin's spectacular performance of this outstanding debut novel. During intermission, a Broadway leading lady gives birth, coolly deposits the newborn into a laundry basket, finishes her play, and never looks back. Aged laundress Eugenia Butler finds the baby and quenches his first thirst with champagne. Froomkin is attuned to Jackson's... Read More

Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar narrates her remarkable life experiences, beginning with her childhood in Mogadishu through her first year in Congress. The first Somali-American and one of two Muslim women elected to Congress, Omar recounts how her comfortable early life was turned upside down at the outbreak of the Somalian civil war. Omar shares her years in refugee... Read More

Narrator Karissa Vacker projects Claire's resignation when the Shanghai 11th grader, who is used to buckling under, is selected to become a "parachute," a wealthy teen sent to a private American school. Claire moves in with Dani, a scholarship student and star of the debate club, who cleans houses to help her mother. Narrator Cassie Simone registers Dani's resentment and... Read More

Greg Chun's performance is a moving portrayal of Yunjae, a boy who has alexithymia--the inability to identify or describe his own--or anyone else's--emotions. Despite the number of almonds that his mother has him eat daily, Yunjae's amygdala (which is shaped like an almond), doesn't grow, nor does his ability to process emotions. Yunjae's troubles are magnified when tragedy... Read More

Logan Rozos's emotional narration, combined with Callender's messy and painfully relatable characters, makes for an unforgettable listening experience. Felix is a Black, trans, queer teenager attending the summer arts program at his New York City high school. When someone posts old pictures of him--including his deadname--he hatches an elaborate plan to hurt the person he's... Read More

A wedding party on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland. All of the participants and hosts are potential victims and suspects. Each of the main characters is effectively voiced by one of the six talented narrators creating a theater-like experience. Chapters begin by identifying the character whose point of view is being presented. Everyone comes to the festivities with... Read More

Actress Hilarie Burton Morgan narrates her love letter to a town, a farm, and her man with a consistent twang that "One Tree Hill" fans caught only sporadically. Morgan laughs often as she recalls meeting her husband, actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan; their quick start to having a family; and moving to Rhinebeck, New York. Her descriptions are passionate, and she speaks through... Read More

Baseball, perhaps more than any other team sport, is mired in tradition and slow to embrace change. This audiobook tells the story of a group of maverick coaches who are transforming the game with radical ideas about how batters should swing for the fences. The gruff-voiced Joe Farinacci channels the energy and verve of a sportscaster into his narration, though occasionally he... Read More

Narrator Simon Prebble's skill makes this story ripped from today's headlines fascinating--and alarming. Yorkshire's Detective Superintendent Alan Banks is occupied with drug wars (locals against an Albanian mob), sex trafficking, and anti-Muslim activities. Listeners will be shocked when a harmless, old druggie, and a young Syrian boy are found murdered. Robinson's usual... Read More

Kate Rudd narrates this psychological thriller with a great setup. Amber recounts a dinner party during which she's one of six teens locked in a room. Escape may mean death for one, or all. Chapters in real-time alternate with Amber's flashbacks over a year as she struggles in relationships with the bullying popular girl and with her lifelong friend. Rudd keeps the tension taut... Read More

Narrator Jesse Vilinsky imbues this audiobook with heart. Raised by pigeons after being abandoned as a baby, 11-year-old Coo has never left the roof of her building or interacted with other humans. That changes when a kind widow named Tully discovers her starving during a blizzard and takes her home. Coo thrives under Tully's care, learning human language, trust, and love. But,... Read More

Courtney Patterson's lively delivery hits all the right tones of both humor and melancholy in this charming story of a 50-year-old woman who is trying to cope with too much change. Her marriage is failing, her teenage son is pulling away, and her best friend has cancer. She is floundering until she finds her long-discarded baby sling, and, on a whim, puts it on and places the... Read More

In this contemporary audiobook, narrator Erin Mallon portrays a 30-year-old who is ready to start living. Mallon projects Piper Manning's realistic outlook and lingering unspoken emotions. While caring for her siblings through significant and difficult situations over the past 15 years, she put her life on hold. Now Piper is about to move forward, but her sibs reappear, looking... Read More

Marisol Ramirez delivers a spellbinding narration of this genre-bending story. She expresses Diz's high-spirited and feisty personality to perfection, varying her tone to bring listeners a smart-alecky portrayal. In a futuristic world, Diz navigates a materialistic society in which the most important resource--magic--is unfairly regulated. Ramirez varies her pace and tone,... Read More

James Fouhey narrates this definitive biography of "Smokin' Joe" Frazier, one of boxing's greatest talents. Fouhey navigates the characters and events with emotion and deftly imitates those in Frazier's world. He brings gravitas to his performance with a tone that immediately conveys the seriousness of a conversation or a moment in the fighter's life--from excited action in the... Read More

Narrator Anthony Rey Perez's voice is full of heart and hope in this moving story of separation, love, and resilience. Efrén Nava is a 12-year-old in a close-knit family. Listeners share Efrén's pain and fear when he comes home from school to find that his mom has suddenly been deported to Mexico. He must now balance worries about his family, his school work, and caring for his... Read More

Narrators Fiona Hardingham, Alex Wyndham, and Billie Fulford-Brown deliver masterful performances of doomed romance and sacrifice. Listeners are in for a treat as Hardingham hauntingly depicts Ailesse's rite of passage, which involves killing the boy she loves to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers. Multiple narrators enliven each character and ease the transitions from... Read More

Listening to N. Scott Momaday's deep, rumbling voice is the perfect way to experience his beautiful, accessible poetry. Throughout, he reflects on his Kiowa heritage, humanity's relationship to nature, and the power of language, narrating in a resonant voice, both powerful and familiar. His diction is exacting, making every word shine, but his narration is never distant; he... Read More

Narrator Michael David Axtell brings energetic briskness to this exploration of how streaks are built across a range of industries from gambling to basketball. He is confident and interesting as he leads us through various case studies on how people come to recognize and maximize popular phenomena ahead of the curve. Axtell's style is well suited to this heavily researched... Read More

Part memoir, part how to succeed in life, and filled with honesty, humor, and heart, this is the ultimate personal growth audiobook. Narrators Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer selected 50 self-help books, read them, and tried to live by their rules. They alternate reporting on their findings, and many times use their own experiences to give listeners their opinions on... Read More

Narrator Amielynn Abellera provides a cartoonish bunch of characters for this diverse, scary story. Seventh grader Harper Raine isn't happy that her parents have moved her family from New York City to Washington, DC, and her discovery that their new house is haunted isn't helping. As Harper's 4-year-old brother's behavior becomes increasingly beastly, the dark history of the... Read More

Narrator Fred Sanders's understated performance is fitting for Roman Dial's memoir of searching for his son, Cody, in the dense Costa Rican jungle. Roman had always been adventurous. He climbed barely mapped Alaskan peaks in college, took 6-year-old Cody on a sixty-mile hike across a nearly uninhabited Aleutian island, and allowed his children to handle wild critters in Borneo... Read More

Justine Eyre's spirited reading is as lively as Kate Addison's theater company, which is stuck in her former lover Brandon Balfour's quirky British village. While Kate keeps Brandon's mooncalf nephew at arm's length, the village looks on as the couple reignites their romance. Eyre sets a brisk pace that keeps listeners' attention and is attentive to Maxwell's sense of the... Read More

Narrator Abby Craden's vocal gravitas works well with this sobering audiobook about preparing children for 21st-century adulthood. Beyond her intuitive connection with every phrase and sentence, Craden's performance expresses Madeline Levine's altruism as faithfully as her desire to wake up parents who have fallen into bad habits or are unsure about what good parenting is. A... Read More

In a smooth BBC accent, narrator Derek Perkins delivers this captivating story of Russian espionage. Focusing on the past four decades, the audiobook shows how Russian spying on the West went from the long game of planting illegals with fake identities, in the style of "The Americans" TV show, to the short game of recruiting Russian emigrés who used their real names, like the... Read More

Narrator Aunjanue Ellis takes the listener on a cultural journey as she delivers this collection of short stories by the iconic Harlem Renaissance writer and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Both her humorous and serious tones and her use of Southern dialect show the breadth and depth of Hurston's cultural insights. These stories speak of love and survival in the... Read More

For Madeleine Albright, her tenure as U.S. secretary of state was not the end of her career; it was just one stop in a life of continual service. This memoir covers her life after leaving government service in 2001. It's an intimate portrayal, made all the more so when delivered by the author herself. Her narration is polished and engaging. She nearly laughs out loud along with... Read More

Grace Gummer masterfully narrates this poignant, disturbing novel set in 2017 and 2001. When the novel opens, 15-year-old Vanessa begins an affair with a charming and manipulative 42-year-old teacher at her Maine boarding school. In 2017, a former student accuses this same teacher of abuse. Gummer becomes both the teenaged Vanessa and the adult Vanessa with a deepening of her... Read More

Narrator Moira Quirk delivers all the passion of 11-year old Pippa, an orphan who tends horses near Athens. When the gods of Mount Olympus choose their winged horses and riders to compete in the race that determines Zeus's next steed, Pippa is surprised to learn that she has been called up. The stakes are high, as the winning jockey will get to live on Mount Olympus with the... Read More

Narrator Rob Shapiro's calm manner is an effective complement to the harrowing world Justus Rosenberg describes in this compelling audiobook. Rosenberg, who waited until he was nearly 100 to write this memoir, escaped the Holocaust and then spent four years in the French Underground. During that time, his worldview was shaped by his encounters with Nazis as well as artists and... Read More

Narrator Mara Wilson reprises her role as the titular faceless old woman from the popular "Welcome to Night Vale" podcast. This audiobook examines the character's origins and delves into her motivations. The story alternates between short sections in present-day Night Vale and long historical sections recounting how she came to be said faceless old woman. Wilson deals... Read More

Actor, activist, and author Grace Byers brings her second picture book to life with a moving narration. Captivating her audience with a sweeping tone and notes of reassurance, Byers tells listeners that each of them is enough. With strength resonating in her words and joy floating through the pages, Byers offers youngsters the opportunity to see that they are as strong a... Read More

If you've listened to Pete Enns's podcast, "The Bible for Normal People," you'll be familiar with his informal tone and conversational cadence as he narrates his newest audiobook. Enns, a professor of biblical studies at Eastern University, in Pennsylvania, aims to refute claims to biblical inerrancy, asserting that the Bible is not a rule book or an instructional manual, but a... Read More

Jenny Bryce narrates the conclusion to the Khorasan Archives series, building on the conflict and danger of the first two volumes. As a group of warrior women resist a horrific foreign regime, Arian must travel to a new land to form allies and to find an artifact that will lead to the end of authoritarian rule in her homeland. Bryce's gravelly voice is the perfect complement to... Read More

Author Victoria James, the youngest sommelier in the U.S., comes across as an earnest and persuasive narrator who is authoritative without being pretentious. Her pleasant voice and narrative style propel her audiobook forward. She does struggle with the "nt" sounds in words like "important" and in contractions. But hers is a story that needs telling. She provides background on... Read More

With a gentle Southern accent and a youthful voice, narrator Cassandra Morris embodies the bereft Annie Lee after her father's unexpected death. Starting sixth grade alone after being ghosted by her former best friends, Annie Lee struggles to carve a new life for herself, first by making an unexpected friend in the tough skater girl, Mitch, at school and then by secretly... Read More

This audiobook is a thriller for those who enjoy fiction that merges with today's political realities. Adeptly narrated by Jonathan Davis, the story features a Trump-like president whose reelection is jeopardized by a rebellious member of the Electoral College and her politically connected lawyer, Jack Swyteck, the featured character in Grippando's series. The author adds... Read More

Here's an audiobook with all the darkness of a Grimm's fairy tale--and narrator Matt Addis uses his flexible baritone to scare listeners senseless. Marlene is married to Wegener, a master criminal and sociopath. Pregnant and fearful, Marlene steals a pouch of sapphires from his safe and runs for her life. Addis captures her terror as her car slips off a mountain road. He... Read More