This article was originally published in 2020. It has been updated with the 15 audiobooks I recommend the very most.
I used to avoid listening to audiobooks. Now, I listen to several every month!
Up until 2019, if someone suggested an alternative to reading a paper copy of a book, I laughed in their face. Miss out on that book scent, the feeling of thumbing through the pages, and the relaxing feeling of curling up with a good story? No thanks. But, then I discovered how helpful audiobooks could be. I signed up for a trial of Audible, and thought, “eh, I’ll listen to a book or two and never think about this again.” It’s been several years now, and I’m so glad I invested in an annual subscription!
Whenever I’m asked about how I finish so many books each month, my answer begins with how I utilize audiobooks. I listen while I’m driving, showering and getting ready in the mornings, cleaning the house, and doing mindless tasks. There have been times when I’ve listened to an entire book in one day. They keep me company!
Since I’ve listened to so many of them, I have a pretty good idea of the ones that stand out above the rest. Trust me, I have listened to some terrible audiobooks (including the one pictured above – oops). There’s nothing like being disappointed by a bad narrator, so I’ve learned my lesson, and I always listen to a sample of the book before downloading it. However, there are also some books that are just better when they’re in audiobook form. Those are the ones I want to share with you!
15 Audiobooks to Download Right Away
The collage below is shoppable. Click on any book to be led directly to the retailer’s page. Happy reading!
Out of the fifteen audiobooks I listed here, I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that my favorites are Daisy Jones & The Six, The Starless Sea, Lovely War, and Talking As Fast As I Can. All of these books are worth reading, but I highly suggest giving the audiobooks a try! It’s a great way to read when you don’t feel like you ever have time to dedicate to sitting down with a paper copy.
Also, if you’re not ready to invest in Audible, there are plenty of other audiobook resources. Check your local library for their audiobook apps, and look into Libro.fm and Scribd!
For more book suggestions, follow me on The StoryGraph and bookstagram!
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Do you enjoy listening to audiobooks as much as I do?
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I have the lauren graham one on my library wish list already. I will check out the rest. Thank you!
She’s probably my favorite human ever, so reading her book was so much fun! I think it’s extra special because she does the narration, so it feels like you’re just sitting and having a chat with her about her life – but in extreme detail. I loved every second of it!
Great recommendations! I just joined Audible and I can totally relate to a bad narrator ruining the entire experience! That happened to me on the second book that I listened to and I nearly stopped listening to audiobooks after that. Talking as fast as I can has been on my list for a while, I think I’ll listen to that next!
Oh goodness, a bad narrator can ruin an entire book! I’ve had SO many go poorly because of that. Now I swear by the sample before I make the decision to download. If I don’t enjoy the narrator (or narrators), I tend to choose another format for the book. But I tell you what, when you get a GOOD narrator it can be the BEST thing to ever happen to the book!
HAHAHA! I never listen to audio books. But maybe I need to swing that way and actually try a couple! Thanks for the reviews!!!
I never had before last year. I’m a hardcore physical book babe, but I have found so many ways to enjoy audiobooks now. I highly recommend them – especially since you do a lot of DIYs and they’re great for keeping you company while you work π
I have a 24 hour drive from MD to TX, so I’ll be checking a few of these out!
Oh that’s quite the journey! You definitely should. I think you’d probably enjoy a lot of these!
I actually have never listened to any type of audio book before, but I’m huge on Podcasts! I absolutely LOVE Lauren Graham, hello Gilmore Girls! So I bet I would love love love her book! I’m going to try an audio book out soon!
Well, if you enjoy podcasts, you’d love Talking as Fast as I Can, since it’s like she’s just chatting with friends about her life π I typically like audiobooks for their wild storytelling, but that’s a good alternative if you’re not one for fantasy/romcom fiction.
I am with you on audiobooks. I love them for non-fiction and memoirs. Also great to have as company while walks and drives and doing chores.
β₯ tanvii.com
Haha! I mean, I only included one non-fiction, but I can understand why a lot of people prefer them for that. They make that style of book a little more interesting, for sure.
Okay this is more up my alley! I love reading physical books but I find that I don’t have as much time as I used to. I do, however, listen to podcasts and music while I work. This would be great, especially when I’m editing photos!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
This is an excellent alternative to podcasts or music, if you want to indulge in a good story π And it’s PERFECT during photo-editing (I listen to them a lot while I do that)!
I’m not a huge reader but audio books are RIGHT up my alley! Definitely need to listen to To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before!
I couldn’t believe I didn’t know those were books before the first movie came out. I watched the movie, loved it, and then was like – these are books?! And devoured the entire trilogy (in audiobook form) in about a week haha!
I haven’t tried audiobooks yet but I’m considering it! I figured it would be a great way to ‘read’ two books at once since I have so many books on my TBR list!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
YES! That’s what I do! I always have one audiobook and one physical book at the same time. Now I’m doing two of each (which maybe is a little much? Oops haha) but it’s fun to have all the stories at my fingertips!
I have yet to listen to an audio book but I love podcasts so I feel like I need to! Thank you for sharing!
They’re great if you like podcasts. That was what made the transition a little bit easier for me. A good story, but one that I can listen to! They’re excellent when you’re running short on time to just sit down and indulge in a book.
so many good audiobook options! I have read a few of these but I have a few others downloaded to listen to!
Let me know if there are any that you really love after listening to them! I’m such a huge fan of audiobooks now, and any that stand out are musts for my TBR π
I agree. I love the smell and feel of reading a bound book but, audiobooks are a great way to be able to enjoy more! I also love to read a book before I watch the movie/series. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh ME TOO. I got a new book the other day and the first thing I did was sniff it. My husband looked at me like I was nuts haha! But yes, audiobooks are an awesome alternative for lots of great reasons π
I haven’t listened to The Poet X yet–I read it physically–but I really want to because Elizabeth Acevedo narrates it. She’s an amazing spoken word poet, so I can imagine listening to her read her words is a great way to experience the book!
She did a phenomenal job. That’s why I loved it so much. There was such power in the way she shared the story through poetry and emotion. I cried multiple times!
I still have to watch Big Little Lies! I had no idea there was a book for it too! I will definitely have to check that out. Thanks for sharing xxx
I would never ever watch the show (due to triggering topics), but I thoroughly enjoyed the book! The narrator was excellent and I got totally sucked into the story because of it. I think it would’ve been a little slow in physical format.
Okay, I am totally going to have to give these a listen! I love Audible, but haven’t really listened to books since my baby girl was born. I’m hoping to change that because I miss books, reading and listening to them! I’m adding these to my wish list now!! Thanks for the recommendations π
I definitely recommend listening whenever you can. I mean – earbuds while you’re nursing, set your phone by the kitchen sink while doing dishes, enjoy time indulging in a great story when you’re driving somewhere. Audiobooks are the best for the busy π
So many great recommendations! I really want to read Big Little Lies before I watch the show. I have heard great things about it.
I absolutely adored the book. I know I wouldn’t be able to watch the show because of some seriously triggering topics that are heavy throughout the plot, but I was able to dive into the written word and enjoy it thoroughly while skimming over the things that made me uncomfortable.
We spend ALOT of time on the road and audiobooks are PERFECT! These recommendations are just what we need. Thanks!
YES! That’s what my husband and I did when we listened to Ready Player One. We listened to almost the entire book because we played it while driving all the way to our destination and all the way back. It made the trip feel so much quicker, and gave us something to really enjoy together and talk about later on!
I love listening to audio books because you can do it anywhere and it makes mundane things seem easier! I love listening to audio books while I’m doing the dishes or on road trips especially!
Kileen
cute & little
Exactly!! I was just doing dishes and listening to my current audiobook. It’s the best way to make those tasks more enjoyable! π
I’ve never actually listened to an audiobook as I love physically reading a book so much but I would like to try one as it’d definitely help me get through more books! There’s a few on this list I really want to read as well. Thank you for sharing!
Oh my gosh ME TOO. A physical book is where.it’s.at. like… 99.9% of the time π Now I’ve found that I really enjoy audiobooks because they serve a purpose. Not only can I double the amount I read in a month since I listen to one and read one physical at the same time, but they also make all the daily tasks I need to do WAY more pleasant! Plus – they make some books far more interesting!
Admittedly I don’t read nearly as much as I should. I haven’t given audio books a try but since I ALWAYS have music playing this might be the way to go to get some “reads” in! xoxo, Sarah
That’s how I always was. Music 24/7. But now, unless I have on a light instrumental track, I’m usually listening to an audiobook. I prefer being able to escape into a story!
What a fantastic idea, I have to admit I tend to read physical books but audio books would be so handy for when I am on the go so that I have more space in my bag for other things. It would certainly make train journeys a lot more interesting too.
Nothing wrong with that! I was 100% against audiobooks for ages because I felt like nothing could be better than a physical book. But now I really love how audiobooks make me feel less lonely while I’m working, and they make my daily chores and road trips way more enjoyable!
yessss i just invested in Audible and have been wanting to add some books to my queue! thanks for sharing these steph!
xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com/blog
That’s fantastic! I hope you’re able to find some fantastic reads that way. I highly recommend all of these if you’re looking for a great story to get into π
The Poet X would be such an incredible book to listen to, I loved reading it. And The Starless Sea would be amazing to fall asleep to!
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
YES! It was phenomenal. Elizabeth Acevedo narrated it brilliantly and with so much emotion. It made me cry so many times, I’ll admit. And also YES to The Starless Sea. To this day, that and Talking as Fast as I Can are my favorite audiobooks. The Starless Sea had a full cast and it was so excellent!
I’ve been on a huge audiobook kick lately! Out of these I listened to The Poet X and Ready Player One (both were great but I love Wil Wheaton!). I’ve also read Scythe which I really enjoyed. Libro.fm is my jam right now because they have a super program for librarians where each month there are a few titles we can have for free. So I’ve been listening to lots that way!
Ready Player One was done so well! Wil Wheaton did a great job narrating it, and I really hope he voices Ready Player Two when it comes out this fall! I read Scythe in paper format, and I’m listening to the sequel, Thunderhead, in audiobook form. I love it so much I’m going to download The Toll as well! It’s a great performance!
I’ve been wanting to join Audible, or something with audiobooks, I feel like I’d “read” more books that way. Since I can listen to them while cleaning, etc. I’ll have to look into it.
Exactly. You can listen while you do just about anything. It has almost entirely replaced music for me, but I don’t mind because it helps me relax so much more. Audible is a great option because it has the largest selection, but the other ones I mentioned are awesome as well because they support libraries! π
Great recommendations! Many of these seem to be popular as they have been adapted to movies. I love “To All the Boys I Loved Before!”
I’ll admit, the only one that I listened to after watching the movie was To All The Boys… I didn’t realize it was a book, or I definitely would have read it first haha. But most of the others I either haven’t even seen the movie/show version or just didn’t even prefer it over the book π
This post came at the perfect time! I’ve been wanting to try out audiobooks and will definitely be checking out your suggestions. The Lauren Graham book has been on my list so that might be the perfect one to start with.
Talking as Fast as I Can was absolutely phenomenal! You will LOVE it. Lauren is such fun to listen to. She also narrates her fiction novel Someday, Someday, Maybe – which I listened to immediately following her autobiography because I can never get enough of her haha!
I need to get better about listening to audio books while working and cleaning rather than just music. Thanks for the recommendations!
I’ve always been a music over anything else kinda gal. Even when podcasts started getting more popular, I couldn’t get into them as much. BUT audiobooks have my heart now. Unless I’m listening to light jazz or lofi or something instrumental while I’m hardcore focused on work, you’ll find me listening to an audiobook. They keep me company π
You have some great Young Adult books featured here…you just can’t go wrong with them!
I primarily read young adult fantasy and adult contemporary romance. I like lighthearted fiction π
I never listen to audiobooks but it’s something I want to get into, and I’ve read the paperback versions of a few of the books you’ve mentioned – To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Five Feet Apart and The Night Circus!
Serena / http://www.ramblingsofanotherunigraduate.com
I’m sure those are all great as physical copies! I had a hard time enjoying Morgenstern’s writing in paper form, but I loved the audiobooks. Sometimes a change of pace can be really refreshing π
I have to believe that Lauren Graham’s book is AWESOME as an audiobook because then it probably feels like you’re having a catch-up session with a Gilmore Girl!
Haha, that’s a good way to look at it! Since it’s her autobiography, it felt like she was just sitting and chatting with me about her life. It made me respect her and love her even more – which I didn’t think would be possible!
Yes I love audiobooks! I probably listen to them more than reading physical book nowadays. Thanks for recs! I own a few of these out will check out the audio
Tonyalee @ https://www.vivaciousbibliophile.com
I used to listen to audiobooks a lot more when my kids were babies but now I listen to a lot of podcasts! I definitely agree that there are some terrible narrators out there, they can make or break a story! One day I do plan on getting back on the audiobook train π
I tried getting into audiobooks this year, but sadly, I’ve realised that they are not for me. I process the written word better than spoken words, so somehow it’s harder for me to stay hooked to the story when I am just listening to it! π
I am also a horrible multi-tasker. I know people are able to listen to audiobooks while doing other things, but it just does not work for me. I am totally weird like that! π
So many great audiobooks! I really enjoyed Five Feet Apart. Talk about a tearjerker!
I had no idea that Talking As Fast As I Can was narrated by Lauren herself! I would love to hear that; I adored her as Lorelai Gilmore so much. I’ve re-watched that show SO many times. I’ve been wanting to read The Night Circus for a while too, so knowing that it’s even better as an audiobook is a good thing to keep in mind!
Oh my gosh I LOVED Five Feet Apart! Such a good one! Definitely need to listen to more books – I never think to do that. Thank you for the reminder to do so!
xo Laura Leigh
https://louellareese.com/
I have often thought about audiobooks. I work in the garden, from my desk, on a tractor, around the house and listening to an audio book would be awesome! I will have to check this out soon.
Audiobooks are my jam! I listen to them all the time when I’m working and it always feels like I’m killing two birds with one stone! These are all great recommendations! My favorite audiobook was Daisy Jones and the Six – they had a full cast of different narrators for each part and they were some big names in Hollywood (Like Pablo Schrieber and Judy Greer!)
I just found out that my fiancΓ© has subscribed us to Audiobooks, so I think I’ll go through this list and try to find a book I want to listen to. Do you find it’s hard to focus on other things when listening? I feel like the way books are written is different from a conversational podcast so sometimes I have trouble multi-tasking!
I loved reading Lauren Graham’s book! I’ll have to check out the rest of your suggestions!
great recommendation! It’s really difficult to find time for reading now a days so I am getting into audio books. would love check these out.
Do you know that I’ve never listened to an audio book? I think I need to start with some of these!