Six More Audiobook Recommendations

Last October, I wrote a blog post with six audiobook recommendations. But I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and I have discovered so many new, great audiobooks since I made that post. Thus, I wanted to take some time to circle back around to the topic. If you are new to audiobooks, these are all great books to get you started! (If you’re new to audiobooks, you can also check out my where to listen to audiobooks post to get you started.) On the flip side, if you are a seasoned audiobook lover, I have no doubt that you will also love the ones on this list. Originally this was going to be a list of five books, but I just couldn’t choose so I ended up with six! These are all audiobooks that I listened to and rated either four or five stars, and for which I thought the audiobook experience was really well done.

I haven’t been listening to a lot of YA audiobooks recently, so you will find that these are all adult books. However, I did include a mix of fiction and nonfiction, so hopefully you will be able to find something you are interested in! I also want to note that nearly all of the content warnings are from my memory, they are not necessarily an exhaustive list, but I also couldn’t find a lot of other sources for them.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams, narrated by Mela Lee

Genre: Adult fiction

Eva Mercy is a single mom and author of a bestselling vampire romance series. All she wants to do is write her dream book, but the realities of life keep getting in the way. When she unexpectedly reunites with Shane Hall, a literary writer who also happens to be her ex, her life is flipped upside down. I absolutely loved listening to this story unfold, and Lee’s amazing narration only enhances how wonderful a novel this is. I’m not quite sure if I would classify it as a romance, but it is quite heavy on the romance, while also focusing on many other topics, including mother/daughter relationships, artistry, and chronic illness.

Content warnings: drug use and abuse

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, narrated by Marin Ireland

Genre: adult fiction

Pitched as a story about hostages in a bank robbery gone wrong, Anxious People is incredibly hilarious and heartfelt. It features some of the most annoying characters I have ever read, all of whom I grew fond of by the end of the story. I know I definitely didn’t know what to expect going in, and I’m not sure I can prepare you for what the reading experience will be like either. It continuously subverts your expectations, and Ireland’s narration is so good, with some perfectly timed comedy.

Content warnings: attempted suicide and suicidal thoughts (suicide is a large theme of the book), police, death of loved ones, homophobia, hostage situation, guns, blood, dementia

Cultish: the Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell, narrated by Ann Marie Gideon

Genre: adult nonfiction

Ever since I read it, I have been recommending this audiobook left and right. I devoured the audiobook in two days, it was just so good. As the title suggests, it’s an investigation into the language that cults use to draw people into their circle and keep them there. I really enjoyed Montell’s writing style, and Gideon did a great job bringing that voice to life. In addition to being horribly interesting, leads to great conversations with your friends like: how likely do you think you would be to join a cult?

Content warnings: cults, death, mass suicide

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Genre: adult fiction

When sixteen-year-old Lydia Lee goes missing, her family members all have different reactions—and different theories about what happened. But one thing is true: her disappearance will change their lives forever. While every member of her family has to wrestle with what it means for their family, Ng reveals the deeper story behind the Lee family, and what lead to the current moment. The mystery of the book drew me in, but it was the characterization and Ng’s masterful writing that truly made this book a must-read.

Content warnings: death, bullying, racism, microaggressions, cheating, body horror, drowning, professor/student relationship, suicide, hospital scene, pregnancy

How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith, narrated by the author

Genre: adult nonfiction

A history of American slavery, rooted in the places it permeated. Told from a deeply unique and creative perspective, Clint Smith takes the reader to seven historic sites where slavery shaped the landscape. All I can say is that there is a reason this book is so acclaimed. I think everyone in the U.S. should have to read this. And with the author narrating, the audiobook is definitely a great way to consume it.

Content warnings: slavery, death, violence, racism

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, narrated by Lynette Freeman and Simone Mcintire

Genre: adult fiction

There is nothing I love more than a sweeping, multi-generational family story that ultimately centers love and hope, and boy does Black Cake deliver on that. And of course what would any good novel be without a little mystery, multiple great love stories, and food. Eleanor Bennet has recently died, and in her will she stipulated that her two children, Byron and Benny, who have been estranged for years, must sit down together and listen to the multi-hours long audio recording she made for them, that will reveal new truths about their mother and themselves they never knew. This story is literally so good, and I think the audio transcript as part of the narrative perfectly lends itself to the audiobook format.

Content warnings: death, murder, car crash, gambling, parental abuse, gangs, homophobia, biphobia, racism

That’s all for today! Have you listened to any of the audiobooks on this list? Do any of them sound interesting to you? Perhaps most importantly, do you have any audiobook recs for me? Let me know in the comments!