Most Anticipated Audiobooks of 2020

Long Bright River

“At the heart of this sleek police noir is a family decayed and ravaged by drug addiction. And make no mistake, LONG BRIGHT RIVER does have a heart. Although it is full of twists and turns and has a who-done-it element that will blow your mind at every second, it is also an examination of family, motherhood, and inherited trauma that is both bone- chillingly accurate and almost heartwarming in its cautious optimism. We follow a police officer in Philadelphia named Mickey who is desperate to find her drug addicted sister, Kacey, after she disappears off the streets and a string of addicted women turn up murdered. Will Mickey get to her sister before it's too late? It's clear Moore had her finger to the pulse of this country at the time of writing it; it's eerie to see the foreshadows to today that crept their way into the narrative that I'd wager are both conscious and subconscious on Moore's part. This book begins as you'd expect but concludes in ways impossible to see coming. Perfect for cold, rainy nights and red wine, LONG BRIGHT RIVER is a listen I guarantee will stay with you days if not weeks after you finish.”

Conner, BookBar

Discover the "must-listen for every smart, capable woman who wants to succeed"-a guide on how to communicate with maximum impact in the workplace that's the new book in the New York Times bestselling Nice Girls Don't series (Anne Fisher, Fortune.com).

How many times have you asked yourself why you didn't speak up in a meeting? Or pushed for the... Read more »

Consider This

“After listening to the audiobook recording of Consider This, I felt invigorated enough that I almost thought, "Should I write a book?" I'm not a writer, but Palahniuk's tapestry of stories and advice for the craft feels so vibrant and useful that it makes the reader (or listener, in my case) feel prepared to venture into the world of writing, and it reminds us that the most powerful stories are the ones that bring out more stories in the people interacting with it. Palahniuk's words (read with exquisite energy by Edoardo Ballerini in the audiobook) combine his own experiences and advice with stories collected from readers, booksellers, agents, and other authors he's encountered over the years. Whether or not you're a writer, Consider This will engage, titillate, and at times frighten you.”

Lelia, One More Page

For the first time in the US, this timeless cat-and-mouse classic from the Edgar Award-winning "genius" examines political tensions in an era of espionage (Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series).

In Europe, the Americans are pulling out their troops in a tide of isolationism. Britain, torn between loyalties to America and the... Read more »

This program is read by the author.

The ultimate guide on leadership from the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Extreme Ownership.

In the military, a field manual provides instructions in simple, clear, step-by-step language to help soldiers complete their mission. In the civilian sector, books offer information on everything from fixing... Read more »

Kingdomtide

“Original, fresh, and vulnerable. As soon as I finished Kingdomtide, I wanted to read it all over again. The shared plotline of the main characters felt like a heartbeat, speeding up and slowing down as they dealt with what life handed them. This story felt so real, not just in the sense that it could truly happen, but the feelings and emotions and conflicts the characters struggled through, with themselves, others, and society as a whole. A must-read for 2020, it really blew me away. I can’t wait for Curtis’ next novel.”

Jen Morrow, Bards Alley

American Dirt (Oprah's Book Club)

“Riveting, powerful, compelling. This was more than an audiobook. This was an experience. I still hear the roar of the trains, feel the heat of the desert, and my heart aches with the traumas these people endured. American Dirt may not be every immigrant's story, but the story told is an important one and makes me want to know more about the real lives of people experiencing these living nightmares. Jeanette Cummings's writing was beautiful, the characters were vibrant, the subject was difficult, and I hope this isn't the last book she writes.”

Jenny, Bookshop Santa Cruz

From an "astonishing" writer (Toni Morrison), the savagely funny story of a couple who unexpectedly come into some money in a wealth-obsessed America deranged by Mammon. A bag of money drops out of the sky, literally, into the path of a cash-starved citizen named Graveyard. He carries it home to his wife, Ambience, and they embark on the... Read more »

The Third Rainbow Girl

“The facts are that in the summer of 1980, two young women were hitchhiking in Pocahontas County, West Virginia en route to the annual Rainbow Festival. Their murdered bodies were found in a remote clearing on a remote road. Over the years, multiple people confessed to the murders. Was it a local as many thought? Or an itinerant mass murderer traveling the country, raging against blacks and others? Eisenberg dives deeply into the case after spending time there years later as a Vista volunteer. This engaging book tells the story of the people of this rural county, the history of the area, and the officials who would not let the case die. It is also Emma's story: her time with these people, her loves, and her discontent. It is a stirring addition to the Appalachian story.”

Valerie, Blue Willow Bookshop

From the beloved film star and best-selling author of Then Again--a heartfelt memoir about Diane Keaton's relationship with her younger brother, and a poignant exploration of the divergent paths siblings' lives can take.

When they were children in the suburbs of Los Angeles in the 1950s, Diane Keaton and her younger brother, Randy, were best... Read more »

Saint X

““....some truths will never be enough...” Unbelievable debut author. The twists and turns lead you to a place you never would have guessed.”

Mollie, HearthFire Books and Treats

The eighth book of the bestselling Rivers of London urban fantasy series returns to the adventures of Peter Grant, detective and apprentice wizard, as he solves magical crimes in the city of London.

Peter Grant is facing fatherhood, and an uncertain future, with equal amounts of panic and enthusiasm. Rather than sit around, he takes a job with... Read more »

You Are Not Alone

“Yup... They did it again. The dynamic duo of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkhan have another fabulous hit thriller on their hands. I hope these two fabulous writers never stop writing. Poor Shay - her life is not what she wants it to be. She would be so much happier is she had a challenging, fun job to go to every morning. She also is secretly/subconsciously in love with her roomie. One problem though - roomie is in love with someone else and she is always at their pad. Shay is tired of being the third wheel. Shay witnesses a woman who jumps to her death in the Subway. She begins an exhaustive search to find out as much as she can about the dead woman. She meets the woman's friends at the memorial service and all of a sudden, Shay's life changes in the blink of an eye. In a matter of days, Shay falls in with the popular girls. Before she knows it, she is living in a gorgeous apartment. How did that happen, you ask? You will have to buy the book. That's as far as I can go with this review without releasing some juicy spoilers. I will tell you, however, that there are plenty of twists and turns and I never saw the ending coming. Hats off to the fabulous narrator.”

Melinda, Buttonwood Books and Toys

Separation Anxiety

“Told with humor, wit, and wisdom, Laura Zigman’s novel explores the unexpected trials of middle age. We follow Judy Vogel, who is rebounding from the recent deaths of her parents, struggling with writer’s block, juggling financial issues, coping with a failing marriage, and raising an adolescent son. When she comes across her son’s old baby sling, she starts to wear the family dog as a unique form of support. This thought-provoking novel is full of heart, hope, and the strength to move forward.”

Maxwell Gregory, Lake Forest Book Store

A Good Neighborhood

“The Good Neighborhood proves that nothing should be black and white, but unfortunately, too much of the world still can be. Part of me feels like calling book a modern, suburban version of Romeo & Juliet over-simplifies and even cheapens this story, but that's my immediate reaction to it. This is a tragedy, let's get that clear, at least. Class, race, pride, love, family dynamics, and more are at play in A Good Neighborhood, and it only gets more and more intense as one reads. While I do think this started off a bit slowly, every moment, however useless it might seem at first, fits into place in the end. This is a masterful book that asks many of the questions being asked about race and class issues in the United States today, but in a new and surprising way. Furthermore, despite my comparison to Romeo & Juliet, while there are similarities between Shakespeare's story and Fowler's, there are plenty of surprises. Almost nothing went the way I thought it would, which is usually something I love about the books I deem best.You will want to scream and cry and shout at these characters. This is a painful read, mostly because it could very well happen tomorrow. Don't let it: Listen. To. This. Book. The Good Neighborhood will stay with you.”

Jackie, Anderson's Bookshop

Untamed

“I read this book non-stop for a week, underlining, reading passages to my friends & recommending it to anyone with a pulse. There are many great stories inside, but their charm & power, really, is all Glennon. She is a spiritual seeker & leader who loves reality tv, a formidable activist on the global scale who gets anxiety sweats when the doorbell rings. Equal parts poetic & conversational, memoir & manifesto. Her love story will make you swoon. Her shamelessness & relentless self-interrogation will make you feel deeply exposed. This is not a "you can do it, girl!" book. It's more like a spiritual marathon that invites you to jump the guardrail & take off.”

Elon, Apotheosis Comics

The idea that you could be more but got in your own way should wake you up in the middle of the night. Dave Hollis used to think that “personal growth” was just for broken people, then he woke up.When a looming career funk, a growing drinking problem, and a challenging trek through therapy battered Dave Hollis, a Disney executive and father of... Read more »

My Dark Vanessa

“In this gripping debut novel, a teenage girl falls into an affair with her English teacher, who is 30 years her senior. The voice of Vanessa, the narrator, is unparalleled in its honesty, and her emotions are fiercely conveyed with unrelenting realness. This novel is a timely and important read, sometimes difficult, but ultimately an unforgettable experience. You will be left astonished and transformed. Vanessa is formidable and so is her story; you won’t be able to put down this powerhouse of a novel.”

Luisa Barbano, Oblong Books & Music

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

“The history of Black Americans from two people who get it. But this isn't just a history book: it's a recount of why America is the way that it is today, why we have people who think they way they do, and why we have a racist in the White House. Jason Reynolds melodic voice comes through in audio and on the pages. You are guaranteed to learn something new (no matter how learned or woke you are), and it's a good one.”

Lauren, M. Judson Booksellers

Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick

“Zora Neale Hurston’s (Their Eyes Were Watching God, Barracoon) body of work continues to grow and impress. In Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick, 21 short stories, including several “lost” pieces depicting the Great Migration to northern cities and Harlem’s educated New Negro middle class, offer an updated perspective of Hurston’s Harlem Renaissance-era cultural commentary. These stories, written in the 1920s and 30s, explore toxic masculinity and women’s agency, urban vs. rural class representations, colorism/shadeism, identity politics, and the intersectionality of race, class, age, and gender in a way that remains relevant today. And, by using humor, folklore, and her unique combination of delicate prose and vernacular speech, Hurston also has written thoroughly engaging slices-of-life, always centering Black characters, from a very specific time period. To fully appreciate Hurston’s stories, Tayari Jones (An American Marriage) recommends in her foreword, “reading this work aloud, enjoying the feel of the words in your mouth, and the sound of English tightened and strummed like the strings of a banjo.””

BrocheAroe, River Dog Book Co.