New Reviews: Fiction

Fans of Adjoa Andoh's television acting will be delighted by this performance of a complex story of intergenerational conflict in Nigeria. When Tia uncovers her mother's long-hidden secret while protecting a runaway girl, Adunni, she sets in motion a series of events that threaten to unravel the very fabric of all their lives. Andoh adds depth and resonance to this emotional... Read More

For those curious about Capote's final publication, listening to Kirby Heyborne's audiobook performance is recommended. Capote's last work was published posthumously in the 1980s after a long delay. The audiobook is a loosely threaded "nonfiction novel" about an aspiring writer who encounters famous figures in the literary establishment while he is trying to survive. The result... Read More

Nancy Wu's inviting narration brings listeners into the world of the first four families who move into a twelve-unit government housing complex outside of Seoul, South Korea. The story shifts among the perspectives of the four mothers, with primary focus on the newest resident, Yogin, and her neighbor, Hyonae. Wu portrays Yogin's efficient persona and contemplative nature as... Read More

Roveena Gnanabakthan's narration magnifies the poignant and multifaceted stories of BIPOC women who are navigating the tensions of identity, community, and family. Her performance lends authenticity to each character, capturing the nuances of their struggles and triumphs. Whether voicing the wife who adapts her identity to fit societal expectations, the mother whose labor... Read More

Author/narrator Linda Holmes capitalizes on her media experience in this snappy comic novel. Cecily Foster has agreed to host a new podcast--even if it means she'll also have to be the star, follow the advice of a popular relationship influencer, and have it called "20 Dates." A deal with her boss is the only way she'd ever consider a show revolving around her own first dates,... Read More

T'áncháy Redvers gives a subdued but engaging performance of these strange fabulist stories. The characters, settings, and situations are creative and surreal and, at times, distinctly unsettling. An elephant decomposes in a couple's bed. A girl wonders about the lives of the trolls who work in her father's pumpkin patch. Houses are rarely what they seem. Redvers's narration is... Read More

Kevin Shen's narration brings warmth and emotional depth to an ensemble of characters. Through his performance, the interconnected stories of a café's visitors unfold with clarity and resonance. Shen's delivery captures the quiet urgency of each character's desire to revisit their past--while adhering to the café's unique rules. The individual struggles range from a father's... Read More

Loss haunts this powerful story of politics, corruption, and loyalty. Narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett continues his fine work with Indigenous authors. He performs this debut novel with just the right tone, style, and tempo. He voices the angsty Mitch Caddo with a sure sense of his conflicted life as a "fixer" for the fictional Passage Rouge Nation. An outsider with an Ivy League... Read More

This strange yet relatable story of identity and desire is narrated by Eunice Wong. Taiwanese American Vi is struggling with dropping out of college, a breakup, and working as a hotel receptionist when she finds a mysterious slime blob. Wong captures Vi's apathy and loneliness in her low voice. Smoothly switching between characters, Wong adds a tone of humor to her narration.... Read More

Grief is a looming presence in this audiobook. The three Blue sisters try to move on after the death of Nikki, their vivacious and beloved fourth sibling. Kit Griffiths narrates the sisters' parallel stories with a measured cadence, adopting a stiff, halting pace that might echo the survivors' internal and external struggles as they wrestle with the past and try to salvage... Read More

Narrator Shannon McManus infuses this gothic tale with sinister tension and a creepy atmosphere. The five Haddesley siblings have always been told that their family has a pact with the bog that surrounds their mansion in West Virginia. Every oldest son marries a wife provided by the bog. But when no wife appears for oldest son Charlie, the siblings are forced to reassess what... Read More

Blair Baker's narration effectively frames the story of a privileged young man who is struggling to see the world beyond himself--even if he's not aware of his own limitations. Listeners observe the development of George, an inauspicious male in his 20s who continues the unfulfilled promises of his youth and lacks critical awareness of the people close to him. He survives on a... Read More

In this third and final installment in Alice Hoffman's Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories, series narrator Jennifer Jill Araya continues her top-notch narration of a heartfelt story of family, love, and independence. Five years after the Gibson sisters stopped speaking to one another, they're back on Brinkley's Island, Maine, once again running the family bookstore. When... Read More

Narrator Eddie Lopez uses his impressive vocal talents to explore the emotional, often tense, relationship between Ramón and his father. Beginning in 1977, the novel follows Ramón as he grows up, often clashing with his demanding, quixotic dad. Living in Brownsville, Texas, the family straddles the physical and cultural border of the U.S. and Mexico. Ramón, wanting more, moves... Read More

Hanako Footman's authentic accent and nuanced delivery provide an immersive portrayal of Rika Machida, a Japanese journalist. Rika is investigating the case of Manako Kajii, a gourmet cook who is imprisoned for seducing older men with her culinary skills before allegedly killing them. Footman's measured pace and light intonation add intrigue as Rika becomes increasingly... Read More

This audiobook features an Indian girl named Aisha who is growing up near Kashmir, where she learns traditional healing from her mother until her dreams of an education are replaced by marriage. Soneela Nankani's narration brings warmth and depth to Aisha's story. Nankani captures the emotional weight of Aisha's choices as she navigates family duty and her desire for personal... Read More

This centennial collection of NEW YORKER stories will undoubtedly lead this year's lists of prestigious audiobooks--and deservedly so. With a roster of enduring authors and stories and a cast expertly matched to the voice and character of each story, this is an unparalleled listening experience, and a hallmark of good casting and production values. Twenty narrators are... Read More

Narrating duo Cassandra Campbell and Jackie Sanders team up for this charming dual-timeline story of strong women with a love of champagne. In soft French-accented tones, Jackie Sanders becomes Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, widow of the creator of Veuve Clicquot champagne. She recounts her difficult life as a vintner during the Napoleonic Era through letters to her granddaughter. In... Read More

This audiobook defies easy labels, and narrator Brian Nishii is well suited to this type of material. His soft voice assumes an earnest, intense air as he follows the unnamed narrator through an alternate world. The plot is ethereal and fantastical, and the dreamy tone Nishii adopts seems appropriate as the narrator's thoughts meander. Lost love, exiled shadows, dream... Read More

This novel is worth listening to as an early fictional treatment of the Korean immigrant experience in America. First published in 1986, it covers the period ranging from before World War I to just after the end of World War II, when much of Korean identity was built around opposition to Japanese colonialism. The novel is told in sections, one for each member of the Chun... Read More

Sarah Agha's narration maximizes this exploration of a woman who is grappling with identity, memory, and belonging in New York City. Agha balances these themes while playing up the undercurrent of humor. A Palestinian woman who is acclimating to life in America takes listeners on a journey of displacement, privilege, and personal unraveling. With clarity and depth, Agha... Read More

Hanako Footman's narration is as warm and delicious as the meals at the Chibineko Kitchen. Four intertwined stories revolve around Kotoko, a young woman, and Kai, the thoughtful chef who works at the small restaurant with its resident cat, located in a remote Japanese seaside village. Chibineko Kitchen serves remembrance meals rumored to have a mystical ability to summon... Read More

Music enthusiasts will enjoy this debut audiobook, invitingly narrated by Jayme Mattler. The story is part slow-burn romance and part new adult fiction. In the early 2000s, Berkeley students Percy and Joe meet at a campus bar. Joe is fascinated by Percy's strong opinions on music and asks her to help him with his songwriting. After their collaboration, Joe's indie music career... Read More

Like master chefs, these sublime narrators deliver this delightfully quirky story of laughter and sorrow to perfection. Listeners meet appealing yet formidable Max--introduced by Michael Tomlin--who is in cancer's final stage and is traveling to Hawaii for his last days. His friend, Houston playboy Billy Bob, portrayed by Adam Gold, joins him there. Upon their arrival, the... Read More

In a duet performance, Brittany Pressley and Xe Sands bring listeners the story of three actresses and the cost of fame. Ivy, portrayed by Sands, is the star of Dollhouse Academy, a prestigious acting school that closely controls its actors. When strange events occur, Ivy journals about her experiences as a warning to others. Sands's portrayal of Ivy's terror that will leave... Read More

The ensemble cast of Kim Durham, Clare Corbett, and Natalie Nightingale captures the heart of this poignant story. Ninety-year-old Eddie is looking to have his first kiss with the matchmaking assistance of his 20-something co-worker. Durham gives Eddie a warm voice that embodies his romantic optimism. Corbett and Nightingale convey matchmaker Bella's emotional depth with... Read More

Narrated by the excellent Brittany Pressley, this debut follows Posey Jarvis; her husband, Vern; and their 19-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, who live in 1960s Tennessee. Posey and Vern are in a loveless marriage, and Posey is still pining for a lover who abandoned her years earlier. Callie Jane is unhappily engaged to her childhood friend and dreams of moving to California... Read More

Cassandra Campbell offers a compelling saga that spans 25 years and eventually reveals carefully kept secrets. In the summer of 1932, on Cumberland Island, Georgia, an annual party is held at the Carnegie mansion. Present are families of the Gilded Age, including spoiled socialite Joanna Burton; her fiancé, Ellis Piedmont; and budding artist Cleo Woodbine. The three form an... Read More

Sneha Mathan's narration immerses listeners in a story of forbidden connection and social upheaval. Vijaya is the daughter of aristocrats, and Krishna is the son of one the family's servants. Their bond is forged across entrenched divides of class and privilege. Mathan's delivery evokes the contrasting worlds of the two families, with each character brought to life through a... Read More

Jennifer Sun Bell narrates this early novel by PACHINKO author Min Jin Lee. It's the story of Casey, a young Korean American woman who is striving to make her mark in New York City's wealthy financial sector. Bell does a proficient job narrating Casey's coming-of-age story; however, while she captures Casey's youthful spirit, her voice lacks the gravitas needed to animate the... Read More

Narrators Délé Ogundiran and Ore Apampa-Araba take turns contributing a feminine, Nigerian-accented narration to this collection of 12 short stories by Nigerian American author Pemi Aguda. Spanning various swaths of life across Lagos, the befittingly accented voicings set the scene for new mothers and fathers, a nanny, children, teenagers, and adults alike. With themes of... Read More

In French author Giebel's homage to John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN, narrator Max Meyers portrays the loving brothers Léonard and Jorge with deep empathy and the increasing tension of inevitable tragedy. Léo, who was a foundling, is continually victimized because of his size and reduced intellect. In addition to extraordinary abuse, he suffers from the delusion that his... Read More

This audiobook tells the story of 30-something Téo, who becomes the guardian of a toddler named Joel after the suicide of the boy's mother. Téo is joined in this new endeavor by three others: Ben, his best mate; Sybil, a progressive female rabbi; and Vic, his elderly disabled father. Jot Davies narrates this family story. While some voices, like that of Joel, prove a bit... Read More

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy brings empathy and believable characterizations to this multigenerational saga by the author of the bestselling novel BLACK CAKE. Years ago, Ebby Freeman's brother was killed and a family heirloom shattered in a still unsolved crime. In the present, Ebby, who's from an affluent Black family, has been jilted by her white fiancé. After bolting... Read More

Nila tells no one who she is in this coming-of-age story of a 19-year-old Afghan girl who lives in Germany, where she tries to find her way to adulthood. Narrator Mozhan Navabi ably portrays Nila in a breathy voice. Her life is full of anger and pain from the recent loss of her mother. She becomes romantically involved with an older American man named Marlowe, a writer whose... Read More

Soneela Nankani's narration adds depth and charm to this unique take on a woman's divorce forcing her into discovering her resilience. When dutiful Jyoti, at her husband's request, quits her job and then fails to have their baby, he divorces her, and she finds herself truly at rock bottom. Through Nankani's skilled performance, Jyoti's journey from conformity to empowerment... Read More

Top-notch narrations from Ony Uhiara and Sam Stafford make Jay's unflinching look at systemic racism sound and feel truthful. After numerous rejections from white London publishers and agents, determined playwright Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, aka "Eddie," hits upon a daring scheme to get her play performed on the London stage. Uhiara's range of voices is impressive. She... Read More

Bernhard Schlink's new novel is an exceptional audiobook. The nuanced portrayals of the characters come through remarkably well for listeners. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit's escape from East Germany 40 years... Read More

Narrator Robin Miles doesn't miss a nuance in this passionate fictionalization of Jessie Redmon Fauset's life (18821961). W.E.B. Du Bois, founder and editor of the NAACP's magazine THE CRISIS, hired Fauset as literary editor, a prestigious appointment unheard of for a woman, particularly a Black woman, in her time. Fauset's unprecedented work finding and first publishing... Read More

This audiobook, translated from the Korean, follows Jungmin, a young woman who quits her job and isolates herself in her apartment. When she goes for a walk and stumbles into a pottery workshop, it opens up her world again. Jennifer Kim narrates with a scene-setting Korean accent and effortlessly pronounces the Korean names and words. While her delivery can be somewhat choppy,... Read More

In a warm, comforting voice, award-winning narrator Kimberly Farr brings this epic love story to life, giving full attention and spirit to each character. Farr's voices are easily distinguishable, and each one is perfectly suited to the person portrayed. Abe and Ruth Winter met on a blind date in college in the 1950s and moved through the ups and downs of marriage, children,... Read More

Narrators Katharine Chin and Kenneth Lee captivate with this 60-year saga. Childhood sweethearts Haiwen and Suchi grow up in the same Shanghai neighborhood before being torn apart by war and time. Suchi's perspective, narrated by Chin, moves forward in time, while Haiwen's, narrated by Lee, moves backward. Chin's voice is warm and emotive, capturing Suchi's personality as she... Read More

Smoothly shifting between tones of self-indulgence, sincerity, sarcasm, and abject fear, Vikas Adam narrates this comedy of errors in which the protagonist may end up either in jail or on the NEW YORK TIMES Best-Seller List, or both. It all starts when a down-in-the-dumps, down-on-his-luck gay writer uses a dating app to connect with a handsome stranger, has a wonderful night... Read More

Erin Moon regales listeners with this close-up look at the inner workings of a family that is faced with coinciding personal and global crises. Canadians Marlen and Hilda must process a terminal diagnosis, along with news of an oncoming cosmic disaster. Moon capably balances portrayals of the extended family members who gather on the family farm at Christmastime and the... Read More

Narrator Alexander Skarsgard provides the ideal voice for this audiobook. Just as one settles in with what seems like a typical Western, something occurs that reveals there's nothing typical about it. Hakan, a reserved Swede of intimidating size, must navigate a strange country where dangers abound. Skarsgard's gentle tone suggests an innocence glowing halo-like over Hakan. At... Read More

Shaan Dasani's engaging performance captures all the tumultuous emotions Darby experiences upon returning to his Illinois hometown for the first time since he transitioned and came out. Adrift and unmoored, he discovers a portal in the bookstore he used to work at that allows him to talk to his teenage self. Dasani's voice moves between exasperation, confusion, pent-up anger,... Read More

Narrator JD Jackson delivers a stirring performance of this cathartic companion to Daniel Black's DON'T CRY FOR ME. Isaac, a young, queer Black man, undertakes therapy for help processing his emotions following the death of his father. His therapist encourages him to write down his life story to help him unpack its difficult circumstances. Jackson moves listeners with his raw... Read More

Set on an island off the coast of Maine, this compelling coming-of-age novel captures the listener's attention. Evan Sibley performs this audiobook with narrative drive, a convincing tone, and a sure sense of the unfolding drama. The setting is a posh but remote club on fictional Whaleback Island--just the place to retrain young misfits to work hard on land and sea to please... Read More

Novelist Richard Price has as fine an ear for American speech as anyone writing today, and his panoramic novels have tested the skill of a string of fine audiobook narrators. His latest, revolving around the collapse of an apartment building in East Harlem in 1982, moves from one character to another--a photographer, a policewoman, an undertaker, and the Lazarus Man of the... Read More

Three accomplished narrators create a unique listening experience. The Liberty scarf is a motif weaving its way through three novellas by three authors. It's WWI, and three women are making their way in a male-dominated world. In Runyan's story, Ann Marie Gideon voices Iris with determination as she tries to get her designs noticed at London's venerable Liberty company (of... Read More

Sally Phillips's heartfelt performance of this novel has perfect pacing and inflection. From Little Alien's first attempt at language, listeners sense something extraordinary about her. The story's narrator, an analytical linguist, breaks down Little Alien's sentences with empathy, while Phillips's detached tone and well-timed pauses emphasize the complexities of English and... Read More

Narrator Becca Q. Co excels in this coming-of-age story about identity, culture, and family. Seventeen-year-old Queenie moves from the Philippines to Brooklyn with her younger brother and elderly Chinese father. There they unite with her Filipino mother, who moved there five years earlier to work as a nurse. When they arrive, it's nothing like Queenie expected. The family lives... Read More

Deepa Samual narrates a family saga that spans continents and generations of secrets. In 2015, Lila De works for a boutique publishing firm in New York. When she unexpectedly receives word that her grandfather has died and left her the crumbling family home in Kolkata, Lila travels there to deal with it. Samuel gives Lila a believable mix of professional confidence and social... Read More

Catherine Ho's narration explores the aftermath of the death of Vivian, a famous, reclusive Chinese actress. Vivian's daughters stake their claim on their inheritance against lesser-known family members as shocking last-minute changes to the will are revealed. Eerie events unfold in the mansion everyone is fighting over, and Ho's tone builds suspense, mirroring a growing sense... Read More

Sofia Jin's gentle, calming voice perfectly suits this cozy audiobook about a woman who washes away painful experiences from people's hearts. Jieun has spent many reincarnated lives searching for her missing family until she finally settles into a laundromat. Five people with wounded souls come through, including a disheartened filmmaker and an overburdened social media... Read More

The popularity of audiobooks that reinvent classical characters has led novelists to literary figures who were previously ignored. Novelist Bear, author of MEDUSA'S SISTERS, now turns to the mother of Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus, who, legend claims, were suckled by a she-wolf. Here that improbable origin story is treated realistically. In pre-Rome Latium two young women,... Read More

Andrew Gibson and Janet Metzger both give resonant, emotionally compelling performances in this devastating but deeply human novel about secrets, silence, familial legacies, and what it means to live a good life. Gibson voices Peter, a 40-something immigration lawyer in New York City who's spent his adult life using other people's stories of suffering to avoid facing his own... Read More

Corinne Davies performs this story of scientific discovery with aplomb. The setting is New South Wales, and Davies gives broad Australian accents to naturalist Charles Winton and his teenage daughter, Rose. In 1808, they are studying the mysterious platypus, or mallangong. Subsequently, Rose, whom Davies voices as young but determined, travels to London to report their findings... Read More

Maria McCann's Spanish-accented narration sets the tone for this sweeping novel about an outbreak of a plague causing amnesia in an unnamed Latin American country. McCann employs a dramatic tone to tell the story of Angustias and her husband, who lose their infant sons while fleeing for a better life. As they search for a place to bury them, they meet larger-than-life... Read More

Narrator Amelia Leith convincingly presents this coming-of-age story set in 1990s Scotland. Listeners meet 14-year-old Cora, whose wheelchair-bound mother invites a one-eyed petty criminal named Gunner to live with them. Leith's endearing, independent Cora struggles in school and is protective of her mother. Varying descriptions of the changeable Scottish weather and the... Read More

The collected voices featured here have an emotional power that's funny, shocking, and heartbreaking as they provide an absorbing look at contemporary Namibian life. Loosely threaded together into "A" and "B" sides, like a mixtape, the material has a natural rhythm. Anthony Oseyemi portrays the brash writer-on-the-make voice of the "A-side," which recounts how his dreams of... Read More

When executed as beautifully as this one, multigenerational novels are all consuming in the best way. Sandra Oh's performance of this audiobook makes the experience even more immersive. When young Sunja is saved from ruin and moves from Korea to Japan, a family tale begins and proceeds through four generations in the early 20th century. Oh is an outstanding narrator. Her pace... Read More

Hannah van der Westhuysen gives a quiet, melancholic performance of this contemplative, grief-filled reimagining of KING LEAR. Set in a vague future of half-drowned cities and constant rain, the story revolves around three queer sisters after the death of their famous father, an architect. Estranged from him and each other, the three women navigate their romantic relationships,... Read More

Andrew Shaver's narration enhances this novel about a Canadian family that is adjusting to unexpected challenges over the course of a summer. Shaver's ability to shift tone brings out the layered relationships and evolving dynamics among the various members. His voice gives dimension to father Bobby's unemployment, wife Mimi's thriving business, son Abbie's rise to fame, and... Read More

Suh! This talented cast of narrators cops an attitude, takes a "so what" tone, and gives "holy cow" deliveries of this satirical take on modern love. Big yikes. In "Pics," narrator Allyson Ryan depicts a delulu young woman whose one-night stand becomes an obsession amped up by social media. Oh, my. The seven interconnected stories depict besties with rizz who pop up in... Read More

Jen Zhao delivers an insightful performance of this novel, which is structured around several family vacations. College sweethearts Keru and Nate have never fit in with their families and have made their own family with their sheepdog, Mantou. Cultural differences between Keru's cautious immigrant parents and Nate's boisterous American parents have created an additional... Read More

Ekua Ekumah and Sara Novak's narration brings layered voices to this story of rediscovery and healing. Whitney Appiah is a masseuse with a special skill--she can sense where her clients are hurting and heal them. The twist comes when she realizes she has roots in a traumatic past. Ekumah's and Novak's deliveries highlight the shifts between Kumasi, Ghana, in the 1990s and... Read More

Hanako Footman performs this feel-good novel about Chef Negare and his daughter, Kioshi, who run the Kamogawa Diner in Kyoto. Together, they are the Kamogawa Food Detectives, who track down lost recipes from their clients' pasts. In each chapter, they handle a new case in which a client comes to them looking for a unique dish made with exact ingredients. Footman's narration... Read More

Janet Metzger's narration brings measured depth to an otherwise typical coming-of-age story. Teenage Charlotte, the daughter of an American missionary who is being raised in Iraq, runs away in a literal search for identity and self-discovery. Metzger conveys the vibrant landscape of early-twentieth-century Basra. The winding river at the center of Charlotte's quest comes alive,... Read More

Set in Canada and Europe during WWII, this moving debut novel tells the story of Josiah Chang, a Canadian logger/riveter of Chinese ancestry. With precision and a clear tone, Feodor Chin recounts Chang's challenges, in particular his love for Poppy, his co-worker at a Vancouver shipyard. Chin is an accomplished narrator who convincingly voices Englishmen and Southern Americans.... Read More

With her graceful voice, narrator Meera Simhan shares this short story of self-discovery and secrets. Bonita, a young lady from India who studies Spanish in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has her world turned upside down when an elderly woman approaches her, claiming to have known her mother. To Bonita's recollection, her mother never traveled to Mexico, let alone studied art,... Read More

With its prelude of wondrous music, this collection of 12 short stories is capably narrated by Adam Ewer and Blair Baker. Both narrators use dramatic effect--well-considered pauses and distinctive vocal characterizations--to complement the stories in the audio format. Ewer's narration is relatable, approachable, and well paced, while Baker's, in turn, is temperate but with... Read More

Christine Lakin performs this atmospheric mystery set in a small town in Northern California. When James receives a call that her twin brother, Johnny, has unexpectedly died, she travels from San Francisco to her tiny hometown to take care of his affairs. Upon arrival, she begins to suspect that Johnny's death may not have been an accident. Lakin's soothing voice captures the... Read More

In the sequel to Korn's YOURS FOR THE TAKING, narrator Gail Shalan captures the desperation of two women as each works to survive in a world changed by politics and climate. Listeners learn why Kelly deserted her daughter, Orchid, seven years earlier and is making the dangerous trip home in 2041 to reunite with her. Woven into this story is Orchid's quest in 2078 to find her... Read More

Louise Williams gives just the right snarky delivery of a woman's attempt to find her place in the world. Gemma gave up the baby she had when she was 16. Now an adult teaching history at a college, she never stops thinking of "Baby"--the only name she gave her daughter. Her students are about the same age as Baby would be, and Williams brings truth to Gemma's longing,... Read More

Jay Myers and Alex Sarrigeorgiou keep listeners hooked throughout this haunting novel. Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Byrd is faced with a perplexing case. His newest patient, Jane O., normally can recall every detail from the events of her life. However, she cannot remember what happened in the previous 25 hours, after having blacked out. The mysterious story unfolds through Dr.... Read More

The rich, evocative voice of Justin Price conjures the members of three North Carolina families who live on a tobacco farm during the '50s and '60s. One family is the Talmadge family, landowners and wannabe local gentry. Two sharecropper families, one Black and one white, also capture the interest of listeners. This enthralling family saga includes episodes of racism, cruelty,... Read More

Narrator Caroline Hewitt immerses listeners in the colorful life of the quirky, vibrant, and slowly dying Italian village of Lazzarini Boscarino. Hewitt brings warmth and wit to the contrasting moods of the villagers, who range from the disgruntled Mayor Delizia Miccuci to the stubborn locals at Bar Celebrità. Her expressive voice adapts to the plot, particularly as a powerful... Read More

Malachy Tallack delivers a mesmerizing performance of this poignant meditation on life and the choices we make. Sixty-something Jack Paton is satisfied with his existence in the Shetlands. Life is uncomplicated--until he discovers a kitten on his doorstep. Tallack's deeply emotive narration is both calm and soul stirring as it brings out the beauty and isolation of Jack's... Read More

Weruche Opia and Florence Howard's narration offers a vivid portrayal of Funke's journey between Nigeria and England. Opia brings authenticity to Funke's voice, capturing her initial contentment, her eventual grief, and her resilience as she navigates cultural dislocation and family estrangement. Howard complements this with a nuanced portrayal of Liv, whose warmth and... Read More

Excellent casting of an audiobook is a necessity for a great listening experience, and this multilayered performance offers it in spades. Each narrator brings a distinctive voice and personality to the characters, providing variety and deeper meaning to the complex mystery as it unfolds. Duy, Phong, Minh, and Edmond start to follow a path that was foretold years before amid the... Read More

Anyone who has been a member of a wedding party will be captivated by Anne Tyler's latest audiobook, appealingly narrated by J. Smith-Cameron. She captures the intonation and Mid-Atlantic accent of 61-year-old Gail, the bride's mother, whose job as an assistant principal is suddenly at risk on the eve of her daughter Debbie's wedding. Gail's ex-husband, Max, shows up... Read More

A full cast of narrators brings to life the fictional memoir of a bestselling author who's been on the run from the law for years, along with all the people she's pretended to be throughout her life. Following the success of a movie franchise based on her popular book trilogy, Cate Kay is ready to finally come clean about who she really is, and it's not pretty. As she reflects... Read More

Amir Abdullah captures the vivid and tumultuous world of late-'90s Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) as Mobutu's regime falters and lives intertwine across continents. Abdullah's performance brings depth to Sanza, a resilient street kid, and Molakisi, a diamond hunter who is entangled in the chaos. Abdullah's nuanced delivery highlights the contrasting lives of these... Read More

Five narrators take on this story of young Indio women who are swept up in the violence of an El Salvadoran dictator. When Graciela is taken from her friends and family to become an oracle for a horrifying dictator, she meets her older sister, Consuelo, who was stolen when she was a young child. After a violent uprising, the sisters escape from El Salvador to the rich world of... Read More

Megan Tooley and Ussani Taylor deliver moving performances of Amanda Peters's short stories, which explore the Indigenous experience throughout American history. Peters, author of THE BERRY PICKERS, writes about such disparate people as a girl who is witnessing the arrival of the first white settlers and a boy who is struggling in a Christian boarding school. Tooley performs... Read More

Greta Jung performs Nobel Prize winner Han Kang's latest novel, a haunting story focused on the friendship of two women. Kyungha receives an urgent request from her friend, Inseon, to come see her at a hospital in Seoul. Inseon asks Kyungha to care for her bird, Ama, at her home on Jeju Island, and Kyungha arrives just as a snowstorm consumes the island. Jung's wistful... Read More

In a clear and expressive voice, Marisol Ramirez narrates this fascinating audiobook about 60-year-old Tere Sánchez, who begins to levitate like her relative St. Teresa of vila. Grieving the death of her husband, Tere feels lost. One day, while tending his garden, she levitates. Terrified, Tere travels to vila, Spain, seeking answers about levitation. While in vila, she... Read More

Stephanie Németh-Parker and William DeMeritt work together beautifully to narrate this exquisitely crafted and stirring family story. Forty-ish auto mechanic Kyle returns home to small-town New York to care for his father, Danny, who has had a stroke. He quickly runs into his ex-wife, Casey, who lives across the street. Casey has been helping Danny since Kyle left town after he... Read More

Narrator Imani Jade Powers's nuanced portrayals of a friend group's reflections on aging, in contrast to their adolescent expectations, result in a hilarious, heartbreaking, and relatable audiobook. Clare, "the grown-up one," feels her life is beginning to unravel. The group of six nearly 30-year-olds love to recall shared memories, and this vacation is no exception. Clare... Read More

Listeners follow Nicky Hennigan, a young waitress in the small town of Ballina, Ireland, who discovers that her boyfriend, Doll English, has disappeared. Over a single weekend, Nicky comes to find out that Doll has been kidnapped by the Ferdia Brothers. Damian Gildea captures the wit of this story in every line and voice. Gildea reflects the pale existence of the Irish... Read More

Raquel Beattie's rich narration takes listeners on this multigenerational journey of self-discovery. Martha, a lawyer who is trying to juggle marriage, career, and two kids, suddenly has to care for her elderly Grandaunt Nena. Spending time with Nena, Martha finally acknowledges the magic pulsing inside her. Nena reveals that in her youth, witches took her to an... Read More

Winson Ting's narration invites listeners into the urban oasis of Yeonnam-Dong's Smiley Laundromat. Ting speaks in a clear, soothing tone that is well suited to a story about a place where ordinary people find unexpected solace through anonymous entries in a random notebook. His measured pace reflects the gradual unfolding of the customers' shared experiences. As the notebook... Read More