I can already see them on the horizon: the reading purists. They bear pitchforks and their physical copies of books. They’re being summoned to smite our chants, “We enjoy Audiobooks! We enjoy Audiobooks!”
It’s true, we enjoy Audiobooks! When you find the right one, it’s a mesmerizing experience. They are also convenient and accessible to a wider audience, which adds to our appreciation of them. We asked members of the Bookstr team to tell us about their favorite Audiobooks, and here is what they have to say.
What Moves The Dead by T. KingFisher
My favorite audiobook of all time is What Moves The Dead by T. KingFisher. Normally, I’m not a huge horror fan when I read, but this was a book based on The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. Needless to say, I knew what I was getting into when I started it. I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, but the narrator’s pace, the music, even the tone of voice helped to create an ambience of chills that I assume every horror connoisseur wants. I haven’t been able to find that kind of immersion in any of the other audio books I’ve read.
Daleney Teske, Outreach and Marketing Coordinator
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
My favorite audiobook is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara because of the narrator’s pace. This book is HUGE and I kept picking the book up and putting it down — I just couldn’t finish it. Listening to the book made the reading process SO much easier. It was easier to digest the content, and I feel I actually appreciated what was written — something I did not do while trying to physically read the book.
Amber Alexander, Outreach Department
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
My favourite audiobook was The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. As this book is told through verse poetry, the story was elevated by being spoken. It felt like I was attending a poetry reading like the class Xiomara attends and inspires her. It really engaged me into the story and I ended up giving it a 5 star.
Olivia Ackers, Outreach and Marketing Coordinator, Editorial Intern
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne
I don’t listen to audiobooks very often, but my favorite is The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. Often when I’m listening to something like an audiobook or podcast, I tend to have it just for background noise, but this series has me locked in the zone, and I am actually engaged in the story and immersed in the world. The writing is incredibly witty, and the narrator I listened to, Luke Daniels, is phenomenally hilarious and versatile with his voices.
Vicky Nguyen, Video Team Intern
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
I have to admit that I am not as big of a reader as my Bookstr coworkers, but I am a big fan of podcasts, so when my favorite true crime podcast host wrote a book, I had to read it. All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers was amazing. I enjoyed how she brought her true crime storytelling to this work of fiction, keeping the reader (or listeners) hooked. She recently released her second book, and I am so excited to get my hands on it. Unfortunately, I am currently on the waiting list for the audiobook.
Michelle Krieger, Video and Social
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
My favorite audiobook ever is Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy writes like a man possessed, so raw and soul-stirring when describing the simple ways Judge Holden smiles or takes a bath. Listening to the audiobook makes you feel like you’ve accidentally crawled into a Zdzisław Beksiński painting — a surreal, hellish landscape that you can’t help but crawl through.
Hara Shahid, Editorial Intern
All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey
One of the first audiobooks I enjoyed was All the Impossible Things by Lindsay Lackey, narrated by Samantha Desz.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard it, but I remember thinking that Samantha’s voice was absolutely perfect! Her tone was a great fit for the pace of the book and dialogue between the characters, and the internal dialogue of the main character.Ashley Lewis, Social and Outreach
I usually have a hard time listening to audiobooks because I zone out and miss information or because the narrator’s voice is too “much,” but All the Impossible Things was the first audiobook that I didn’t have issues with!
The Tempris Series by Stephanie Fisher
I love audiobooks, especially for driving and cleaning the house. But one of the things that pulls me out is a narrator who doesn’t change their tone on emotions or reads a romance like it’s a mystery (yes, it’s happened and it was frightening, lol). I will listen to any Audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Evans. The Tempris series by Stephanie Fisher is a fantastic Romantasy where Evans shines as a narrator. Her ability to have complex, diverse vocals for each character is amazing. Without dialogue tags, I can tell exactly who’s talking when she reads.
Kristi Eskew, Executive Editor
The Lochlann Feuds Series by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison is another series I love to listen to rather than read. Olivia King narrates it, and her use of varied voice, dialects, and accents really tips the scales.
The History of Sound: Stories by Ben Shattuck
My favorite (current) audiobook is The History of Sound: Stories by Ben Shattuck; I can only listen to shorter books on tape before I get impatient, so this collection of stories was perfect for me, especially since they’re all narrated by different people.
I’m also a sucker for celebrity-narrated audiobooks, and this one features an all-star cast, including Paul Mescal, Jenny Slate and Nick Offerman, whose voices do a wonderful job bringing these gorgeous stories to life.Mika Ellison, Editorial Intern
They range in time across three hundred years, but the stories subtly connect to each other in ways that made me surprisingly emotional. It felt like hearing a collection of family stories, told to me by my favorite people.
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
My favorite audiobook right now is The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa narrated by Kevin Shen. It’s a wonderfully cozy book and I love how the cat is voiced. It was a great listen for commenting and I’m planning on rereading the book as well as reading the sequel soon!!
Alison Lee, Content Intern
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Right now, my favorite audiobook is Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins because it brings the world of The Hunger Games back to life in such a gripping and immersive way. Hearing the story unfold vocally adds a whole new layer of emotion and tension, making certain scenes even more emotionally. Collins’ storytelling is as sharp and impactful as ever, and the audiobook format makes every moment feel immediate and cinematic.
Rebecca Kennedy, Social Intern
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
My favorite audiobook as of right now has to be Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter, narrated by Kathleen Early. What makes it so easy to listen to is Early’s voice, which is engaging and serious without being distracting. With the power a narrator has to make or break a listening experience, I found that she aided Slaughter’s dark, compelling story with the tasteful amount of intensity.
Sammy Loree, Editorial Intern
The enjoyment of books transcends beyond what’s written on the page, and we encourage you to try out the audible experience!
To see some short story recommendations from the team, read this article.
Want more Bookstr Team Recommendations? Check out our Bookshop.
