mtw staff picks

The Emperor of Gladness: Oprah's Book Club

A Novel

By: Ocean Vuong
Narrated by: James Aaron Oh
Length: 14 hours 5 minutes

“Do not miss this book! It's a remarkable story crafted in beautiful prose by a gifted, highly original author. You'll care deeply about his unique characters and their journey of life. The plot is full of surprises, warmth, pathos and some humor. "Emperor" is one of my very top picks of 2025 and likely to win top awards. Read more

Away

Alone

By: Megan E. Freeman
Narrated by: Andre Bellido, Michael Crouch, Angel Pean, Alejandra Reynoso & Eunice Wong
Length: 4 hours 9 minutes

“I've always been displeased with the ending of Alone. I've taught the book in my 6th grade English classes when we talk about novels in verse and I always let students know that I think the ending leaves something to be desired, but now!! Away is here and gives me all the answers I craved and helps close up the gaps Alone left. The physical book... Read more

I Cheerfully Refuse

By: Leif Enger
Narrated by: David Aaron Baker
Length: 11 hours 54 minutes

“Excellent narration adds to the storytelling of this story set in a post climate breakdown world on Lake Superior. I Cheerfully Refuse is an adventure story set amongst grief, loss, and a love of all things books. Read more

Big Fan

An 831 Stories Romance

The Big Fan Series: Book #1

By: Alexandra Romanoff
Narrated by: Heidi Rew
Length: 4 hours 55 minutes

“This one is for the poli sci majors who were/are One Direction girlies!! Thank me later!! Read more

Diavola

By: Jennifer Thorne
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
Length: 10 hours 9 minutes

“If you think this is a story about a dysfunctional family finding common ground and mutual respect after encountering a murderous spirit in their gorgeous Italian Airbnb, then you better think again. This horror novel, led by the black sheep of the infuriating Pace family, will enrage you, scare you, make you laugh, and make you lust for blood. Read more

Careless People

A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

By: Sarah Wynn-Williams
Narrated by: Sarah Wynn-Williams
Length: 13 hours 15 minutes

“The proof of this book is in the current injunction won against the author to prevent her from promoting it. If I were the Facebook higher ups (Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandburg & Joel Kaplan) I ALSO would do everything in my power to prevent this book from being read. My strong recommendation is to read it anyway. Read more

Tilt

A Novel

By: Emma Pattee
Narrated by: Ariel Blake
Length: 6 hours 53 minutes

“Pattee takes us inside the mind of soon-to-be mother Annie in her attempt to reunite with her husband after a huge earthquake. Tilt poses imperative questions about our nature as individuals and collectively in the face of societal collapse. Read more

Carrie Soto Is Back

A Novel

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by: Stacy Gonzalez, Mary Carillo, Patrick Mcenroe, Rob Simmelkjaer, Brendan Wayne, Max Meyers, Reynaldo Piniella, Vidish Athavale, Tom Bromhead, Heath Miller, Julia Whelan & Sara Arrington
Length: 10 hours 29 minutes

“A tennis pro comes out of retirement to try to reclaim her record, while being coached by her dad. This multi-cast audiobook is fabulous! Read more

The Thrashers

A Novel

By: Julie Soto
Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky & Jesse Vilinsky
Length: 10 hours 53 minutes

“Thrashers was my first major foray into YA Thriller/Mystery, and wow, did it not disappoint! Everything you love and hate about high school is in this book , with much speculation, jaw-dropping moments, and a secret diary. This was so fun and easy to listen to! Read more

Summer Romance

By: Annabel Monaghan
Narrated by: Kristen DiMercurio
Length: 8 hours 27 minutes

“Ali is a professional organizer but her personal life is anything but. She's divorced, tackling single parenthood, feeling lost, and unable to bring herself to wear anything her friend would call 'hard pants'. After a chance encounter at the dog park, Ali meets Ethan, a lovely man with great potential for a summer fling. Because the last thing... Read more

My Best Friend's Honeymoon

By: Meryl Wilsner
Narrated by: Blair Baker & Emily Shaw
Length: 7 hours 42 minutes

“Meryl Wilsner is easily a favorite author of mine. Though hard to beat Cleat Cute, this one is definitely duking it out to be my favorite of theirs. The only downside to me is that the narrators voices sound a little too similar and having both MC names ending in an "ee" sound muddles them up in my brain sometimes. Don't let that deter... Read more

Olivetti

By: Allie Millington
Narrated by: Christopher Gebauer & Simon Vance
Length: 4 hours 33 minutes

“Olivetti is an antique typewriter with a quick wit and a heart of gold. His family is going through a hard time, but can the secrets only he knows help unlock a hopeful future? Twelve year old Ernest is determined to find out. This charming, big-hearted debut novel from Atlanta author Allie Millington is a moving tale of family, friendship,... Read more

Summer in the City

A Novel

By: Alex Aster
Narrated by: Diane Guerrero
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes

“Kicking my feet & screaming for Summer in the City. Quippy & steamy collide for the romcom we need going in to 2025. Read more

Audition

A Novel

By: Katie Kitamura
Narrated by: Traci Kato-Kiriyama
Length: 4 hours 45 minutes

“Audition, Katie Kitamura’s latest novel, explores through two narratives the roles we play every day. Reality and fiction are intertwined as we get deep into the mind and thoughts of an actress as she learns and plays a new part in a play. The relationships between the characters and their attitude towards one another are very well depicted, and... Read more

The Bletchley Riddle

By: Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
Narrated by: Louis Hill, Georgina Jane, Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
Length: 9 hours 29 minutes

“Wow! Just wow! Well-written, informative historical fiction with YA characters and a compelling storyline. Nothing felt dumbed down for the YA audience. As a fully-grown adult, I learned so much about Bletchley Park and the realities of WWII through the eyes of a Londoner. Read more

First-Time Caller

Heartstrings: Book #1

By: B.K. Borison
Narrated by: E.J. Bingham & Hathaway Lee
Length: 11 hours 53 minutes

“Such a cute and fun book. This was my first B.K. Borison novel but it won’t be my last. A little bit of spice, lots of laughs and sweet moments. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry. Read more

The Serviceberry

By: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Narrated by: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Length: 1 hour 56 minutes

“Perfect for fans of Kimmerer’s previous work and those looking to dip their toes in for the first time, this is a short book with a lasting impact! From a single plant the concepts of abundance, gratitude, and reciprocity in a world built on scarcity burst forth: framed as limitless vessels for change, alongside community as a source of strength.... Read more

I Who Have Never Known Men

By: Jacqueline Harpman
Narrated by: Nikki Massoud
Length: 6 hours 10 minutes

“39 women and one girl imprisoned underground. None of them knows why or how they got there. This is the story of the girl, who has no memories of before, now trapped in this dystopia. It is about the relentless pursuit of answers in a world that makes no sense. This short novel left me sitting in silence after I finished it. Read more

Saltwater

A Novel

By: Katy Hays
Narrated by: Allyson Ryan, Cassandra Campbell & Carlotta Brentan
Length: 11 hours 49 minutes

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters comes a slow-burn psychological drama about an opulent family that unravels when a decades-old crime resurfaces.

“Full of chills and darkness.”—Oprah Daily

“Fans of family dramas and thrillers will devour this tense, suspenseful novel.”—Woman’s World

In 1992, Sarah Lingate is found dead... Read more

Everything Is Tuberculosis

The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection

By: John Green
Narrated by: John Green
Length: 5 hours 35 minutes

“The sort of focused take on a specific subject that gives you a firm grasp of the basic subject while also making you want to go look at the works cited and go learn more about specific aspects. If you're the sort of person to get lost on Wikipedia for hours after reading an article and following all the links out from it, you'll love this... Read more