Our 2024 Staff Picks

James

A Novel

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
Length: 7 hours 48 minutes

“My favorite audiobook for 2024 so far, Dominic Hoffman’s brilliant narration of James alternately shocked, awed, revealed and made me chuckle. This tale may be set in the world of Huckleberry Finn, but it takes the listener down some side streams along the way. An absolute must listen for literary fiction and adventure lovers. Read more

Parable of the Sower

Earthseed: Book #1

By: Octavia E. Butler
Narrated by: Lynne Thigpen
Length: 12 hours 2 minutes

“The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler is a powerful and thought-provoking tale of survival, resilience, and the search for hope in a world unraveling from climate disasters and social collapse. With unforgettable characters and profound insights, Butler’s vision of the future challenges readers to consider the importance of community,... Read more

This Could Be Us

Skyland

By: Kennedy Ryan
Narrated by: Ines del Castillo, Jakobi Diem & Kennedy Ryan
Length: 12 hours 20 minutes

“Kennedy Ryan does such a great job at creating characters you cannot help but fall in love with. I did not think it was possible for her to write a book that reached higher heights than Before I Let Go but she proved me wrong. This Could Be Us is the perfect combination of the catastrophe the wrong person can bring to your life, learning to love... Read more

How to Say Babylon

A Memoir

By: Safiya Sinclair
Narrated by: Safiya Sinclair
Length: 16 hours 46 minutes

“The author's own voice, a poets voice, illuminates this memoir by animating the members of her Rastafarian family and by amplifying the patriarchy and isolation she endured before persistence allowed her to express her art. Read more

The City and Its Uncertain Walls

A Novel

By: Haruki Murakami
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
Length: 17 hours 26 minutes

“As Murakami explains, with this book - he dusted off an older short story that had been sitting around since the start of his career. Murakami completists may recognize it. Initially, he only meant to do some slight tweaking of the story. Instead, he ended up significantly expanding it.As indicated by the book title, the story involves a... Read more

Wicked

The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked Years: Book #1

By: Gregory Maguire
Narrated by: John McDonough
Length: 19 hours 44 minutes

“Incredible story - read it before you see the movie!! The book is even better. Read more

Anita de Monte Laughs Last

Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)

By: Xochitl Gonzalez
Narrated by: Jessica Pimentel, Jonathan Gregg & Stacy Gonzalez
Length: 13 hours 36 minutes

“This was a super fun listen. Told from multiple characters' viewpoints and moving back and forth through time, the story comes together so well. I loved the late 90’s setting for the modern portion of the novel and the supernatural, haunting in the last third of the book. Great narration, too! Read more

The Message

By: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Narrated by: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Length: 5 hours 20 minutes

“I love listening to nonfiction narrated by the author! In these essays, Ta-Nehisi Coates demonstrates a concept we should all practice; that is, the ability to unlearn what we've always believed to be true when presented with new facts. He accomplishes this through the lens of storytelling and its power to change people. The most profound... Read more

Ruthless Vows

Letters of Enchantment: Book #2

By: Rebecca Ross
Narrated by: Alex Wingfield & Rebecca Norfolk
Length: 14 hours 6 minutes

"This captivating production will leave listeners wanting more" —AudioFile on Divine Rivals

The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals.

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the... Read more

Orbital

By: Samantha Harvey
Narrated by: Sarah Naudi
Length: 5 hours 6 minutes

“Gorgeous visual descriptions of beautiful, and complicated lives. Read more

Funny Story

By: Emily Henry
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
Length: 11 hours 22 minutes

“Emily Henry continues to shine in this delightful fake-dating, friends-to-lovers, slow-burn rom-com. Admittedly, I'll read whatever Emily Henry writes, but this one gets extra points for its Michigan setting and New Girl-esque main characters. The excellent narration is the icing on this particularly enjoyable cake! Read more

Survival Is a Promise

The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde

By: Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Narrated by: Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Length: 17 hours 41 minutes

“Learning more about Audrey Lorde by way of Alexis Pauline Gumbs is possibly the best combo of both. Read more

A Magical Girl Retires

A Novel

By: Park Seolyeon
Narrated by: Shannon Tyo
Length: 2 hours 55 minutes

“A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon covered a lot, from feeling lost in your 20s, financial insecurities, and the ever-looming threat of climate change. Magical girls receive their powers as a way for the universe to balance out injustice in the world. Instead of fighting monsters and villains, these magical girls deal with debt, climate... Read more

On Freedom

By: Timothy Snyder
Narrated by: Timothy Snyder
Length: 10 hours 48 minutes

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “visionary” (The Guardian) exploration of freedom—what it is, how it’s been misunderstood, and why it’s our only chance for survival—by the acclaimed Yale historian and author of On Tyranny

“[Snyder’s] deep political and philosophical examination of how to . . . create and sustain freedom provides a hopeful view for... Read more

Curvy Girl Summer

Curve: Book #1

By: Danielle Allen
Narrated by: Wesleigh Siobhan
Length: 12 hours 42 minutes

“AHMAD IS SUCH A HOT MMC OMFG!!! This book started off with a bang (literally) and had some of the funniest banter I’ve read between love interests. I listened to the audio book of this one and LOVED the narrator, she made this such a fun book to listen to! Aaliyah is determined to find a boyfriend before her 30th birthday, leading to a string of... Read more

Post-traumatic

By: Chantal V. Johnson
Narrated by: Tiffany Smith
Length: 8 hours 18 minutes

In this “deeply original” (Elif Batuman) and “violently funny” (Myriam Gurba) story, a young lawyer finally confronts her dark past so she can live in a more peaceful future. To the outside observer, Vivian is a success story—a dedicated lawyer who advocates for mentally ill patients at a New York City psychiatric hospital. Privately, Vivian... Read more

Every Memory Deserves Respect

EMDR, the Proven Trauma Therapy with the Power to Heal

By: Michael Baldwin & Deborah Korn
Narrated by: Xe Sands & Sean Pratt
Length: 5 hours 2 minutes

An introduction to EMDR, a proven trauma therapy with the power to heal, cowritten by a world-renowned therapist and a patient who experienced transformative relief through EMDR therapy.
 
Trauma is a part of life. 

You or someone you care about has probably experienced trauma, whether “big-T” trauma, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse... Read more

Before I Let Go

Skyland: Book #1

By: Kennedy Ryan
Narrated by: Wesleigh Siobhan & Jakobi Diem
Length: 13 hours 45 minutes

“Gorgeous writing, perfect narrator performance - go into this ready to feel EVERYTHING. Read more

Small Rain

A Novel

By: Garth Greenwell
Narrated by: Garth Greenwell
Length: 9 hours 55 minutes

“Such deeply touching narration by the author. I love this audiobook. I could relate to so many parts about what a person goes through after becoming ill and the recovery process. Highly recommend. Read more

Nightbitch

A Novel

By: Rachel Yoder
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
Length: 8 hours 52 minutes

“A sharp, funny satire on motherhood. I laughed in Part I, and howled in solidarity during Part II, but have to admit, Part III was a bit of a head-scratcher. No matter, it's been a great discussion book around the table and at the store. I highly recommend it. Read more