New Reviews by Title: E-J

In this riveting audiobook listeners learn about a 1929 settlement on a deserted Galapagos island. This true-life account of couples seeking a new Eden illustrates why utopian dreams turn into nightmares. As one islander put it while describing their fruitful, lush, island, "It could be so beautiful on earth if humans weren't animals." Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell... Read More

Warm music welcomes young listeners who are preparing to light their menorahs--and any children curious about the meaning of Hanukkah. Emily Lawrence narrates this sweet children's audiobook with a bright and engaging voice. One story features a family gathering to share food and celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with their loved ones. Informative text explains Yiddish and... Read More

This collection of Hanukkah noir, edited by Tod Goldberg, offers 11 gritty crime-filled stories better suited for listeners who are noir enthusiasts than those seeking lighthearted holiday tales. Contributors include Ivy Pochoda, David L. Ulin, Lee Goldberg, Liska Jacobs, and Tod Goldberg. Each story is narrated by one of four masterful narrators who expertly flex their timbre,... Read More

Saskia Maarleveld brings life to this story of plague, death, misogyny, and a gifted young midwife in Provence in 1347. Leaving midwifery to fight the plague is hard enough, but when the terrified citizens start a literal witch hunt looking for a scapegoat, Elea must save herself and her twin, Margo. Maarleveld's narration is spirited, meaningful, and skilled. With inflection... Read More

Patricia Rodriguez wisely takes her time performing this biography of physicist and chemist Marie Curie. Curie's life was chock-full of scientific breakthroughs, tragedy, sexism, and dozens of female scientists who worked with her. It's a lot to keep straight. Most of Curie's life was spent in Paris, so Rodriguez's skill with French enhances this audiobook. Curie was the first... Read More

January LaVoy and Jesse Vilinsky narrate an absorbing fantasy about an annual hunt sponsored by a tyrannical government. Anyone the Allied Force considers an outsider is forced into a seven-day hunt, after which the family members of any participant killed are executed. Coa, who hopes to survive, holds a secret magical ability, rare among the dwindling population. She finds an... Read More

From the time of Louis XIV's Versailles through the 1930s, the world of fashion was dominated by the French. Gail Shalan narrates this fascinating account of the dramatic and permanent changes in the industry instigated by the Nazi invasion of Paris in 1940. Women were most influential in the birth of New York's Seventh Avenue as the heart of new fashion. Shalan describes the... Read More

Natasha Soudek performs this horror story from Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk. In 1913, a young Polish man suffering from tuberculosis arrives at a health resort in the Silesian mountains. There he meets other men with similar conditions, each of whom is sure the mountain air will cure him. But when they learn about all the men who have gone missing from the resort, their... Read More

Dion Graham thoughtfully performs this companion to HOW FASCISM WORKS, unpacking how authoritarians erase history by omission, frame it in terms that suit them, and effectively divide citizens into "us and them." His warm baritone sets the listener at ease so they can process the many ways our society is being programmed to accept autocracy through such actions as instituting... Read More

The musicality of Helen Day's voice combined with her British accent provides an enticing entry into Buckthorn Forest, where a squirrel named Evergreen is afraid of pretty much everything, and her mama makes soup magical enough to be a cure for the sick. Mama tells Evergreen she must take soup to sick Granny Oak. Her firm and comforting voice is a marked contrast to the quavery... Read More

Lee Osorio's skilled narration is perfectly matched to this genre-bending mystery. After the tragic death of his wife, private investigator Riv leaves his New York home and heads to Colombia, where he reconnects with family. There, he is drawn into finding a missing young woman who is feared to be in the clutches of the feared villain Exeter Mondragon. With his use of accents... Read More

Golden Voice Juliet Stevenson's wise, somewhat bemused voice has introduced dozens of British classics to a generation of listeners. Her approach is familiar, subdued, precise. She skillfully builds and shapes this unexpectedly compelling history of the world's most performed piece of music. How Handel's MESSIAH came to be is a story with many twists, but it provides a focus... Read More

An ensemble cast gives voice to Liv Constantine's audiobook original, which is part soap opera, part psychological thriller. Jennifer Jill Araya, as narrator, sets the scene with her gentle voice and unhurried pacing. Saskia Maarleveld portrays Julie, the scorned wife, with brisk, barely controlled anger focused on her cheating husband, Oliver, played with emotional intensity... Read More

Narrator Barton Welch returns with his perfect pacing and engaging Australian accent to deliver the third installment of the Ernest Cunningham mysteries. Fans will recognize the clever clue reveals, sarcastic humor, and moments when the narrator breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the listener. Author Stevenson crafts a plot that nods to the Golden Age of mysteries... Read More

Lindsey Dorcus narrates this historical mystery set in Washington, DC, in 1927. The story is told by Gertrude, a judge's daughter who attends a seminary for young women that prepares them for finding favorable marital matches. Prohibition is in full swing, but speakeasies abound, and Gertrude and her friends are not about to miss out. Everything changes when the headmistress is... Read More

An ensemble of six narrators narrates this twisty British thriller, which follows six art students who are enrolled in a nontraditional graduate program. Eager to impress the university, their instructor secures a year-long collaboration with a local tech company as part of the curriculum, but when a student disappears after an off-site excursion, the group struggles to work... Read More

Lakota/Mohawk narrator Charley Flyte returns to draw listeners into the brutal earthly and sad spiritual worlds of forensic photographer Rita Todacheene. Flyte masterfully meets the challenge of voicing Todacheene, conveying her torturous special gift to see and hear the spirits of those who have died by violence. Shifting seamlessly between Todacheene's perspective and the... Read More

Jane Collingwood keeps listeners in Hitchcockian suspense with this new thriller set in the world of antiaging, beauty, and murder most foul. Ghostwriter Maddy Wight understands the need to be discreet about her clients, but her latest one, Dr. Angela Reynolds, brings new meaning to the word "secrecy." Left alone to write at Reynolds's massive estate in the Scottish Highlands,... 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

Narrators Connor Crais and CJ Bloom complement each other as a fake betrothed couple who are determined to end a generations-long feud between their families who own warring fruitcake and gingerbread businesses. Dane (Crais) and Amanda (Bloom) are tired of the fighting and the pressure to inherit the family businesses. As some family members try to get along, letters begin... Read More

Narrator JD Jackson's enchanting gravelly voice is an inspired match for this roller-coaster ride of an audio. As a young medium in a family of magic workers, Theo Tatterly considers himself up to any ghostly challenge. But when a terrifying hag appears during a field trip and his aunt has a premonition of doom, Theo finds himself tested to his limits and fighting for his life.... Read More

Bahni Turpin's narration draws listeners into the fifth in Ibrahim's Yellow Crocus series. The audiobook opens with a birth and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. (Turpin gets five stars for realistic childbirth sounds.) Friends since childhood, next-door neighbors Kay Lynn and Japanese-American Kimiko face the challenges brought by WWII. Filled with fear of the unknown, they find... Read More

Ramón de Ocampo's narration quickly reveals the close relationship between 8-year-old Felix Powell and his dog, Mary Puppins. Instead of barks, Felix hears clearly the British accents of his canine best friend. De Ocampo builds Felix's quirky, questioning manner so that listeners are not surprised when he buys an old thrift store blanket that he's sure has magic, hides beneath... 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

The son of a film composer, Randy Newman used his lineage and extraordinary musical talent to write popular songs, as well as scores for movies and the theater. Occasionally controversial or snarky, his songs frequently called out injustices and moral hypocrisy in American life. In this rich biography, LOS ANGELES TIMES music critic Robert Hilburn makes sense of Newman's life... Read More

Creators Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris return to narrate the third volume in their First Cat in Space graphic novel series. Its heroes face a villain who is likely to appeal to older listeners. That villain is Checkmate, a software program designed to correct grammar that decides to end all life on earth instead. Upon discovering the futility of its task, it turns everyone into... Read More

Expect to do a certain amount of relistening to this packed audiobook history of the momentous Greek victory over Persia at Marathon in 490 BCE. Ancient history has its vast deserts and dense forests, its unbridgeable gaps and conflicting versions of events. All of those complicate this epic narrative, which devotes only its closing chapters to describing the famous battle.... Read More

With its full cast and unflinching depiction of intimate scenes, this audiobook is gripping from the beginning. To start, there's a content warning that should be taken seriously as the story takes listeners through action-packed sex and small-town politics. Abby Craden brings the main character to life as she moves in and out of intimacy with the titular five brothers,... Read More

Listeners will empathize with closeted trans teen Asher Sullivan's dismay at finding himself moved to a Catholic high school for his senior year. His only escape from the school's Women in Christ club is a circus he escapes into in his dreams, in which he feels at home for the first time. The Midnight Circus brings him new challenges when his nighttime rival, Apollo, appears in... Read More

Safiyya Ingar's passionate, energetic narration enhances this audiobook retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, reimagined as a girl's quest for revenge. After nearly a year in prison for a crime she didn't commit, Dania is determined to escape and hold her ex-lover, Mazin, responsible for his betrayal. Her partner in this venture is Noor, a fellow prisoner with the ability to... Read More

Golden Voice January LaVoy delivers an exceptional performance as Vida, who possesses a profound understanding of the mountains where she was raised. This knowledge is central to her existence. Her expertise becomes crucial when she suspects that the death of her beloved José Nochelobo was not an accident. LaVoy's precise and skillful portrayal of each character and moment adds... Read More

Narrator Keith Nobbs creates a passionate voice for sixth-grade student Josh, who tries to uncover his English teacher's past. Mr. N is a traditionalist who encourages his students to write with pen and paper, rather than their computers. However, when Josh discovers a pirated ebook version of one of his class texts, his entire class and Mr. N embrace technology and their... Read More

Julia Roberts narrates the late Lisa Marie Presley's writing, and Presley's daughter, the actor Riley Keough, shares her own memories of her mother. Clips of interviews with Presley are interspersed throughout this incredible listening experience. Elvis Presley's only child enlisted her daughter to help tell her story just one month before she died. Keough's voice is... Read More

After suffering several miscarriages, Irene Willard, now pregnant again in 1948, finds herself at a home/institution for expectant mothers who have had difficulties with pregnancy. Narrator Carlotta Brentan's slight, scratchy voice fits the fragile condition of the women. She provides lower pitched voices for the male characters when they do appear in this largely... Read More

Glory Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club, performs her eloquent new memoir with charm and enthusiasm. The memoir is structured around the books that have been significant in her life, particularly those written by Black authors: Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, and more. Growing up in Arlington, Virginia, the child of Nigerian... Read More

George Washington Carver was one of the greatest scientists of his era, a period that included Einstein, Curie, and Pasteur. This audiobook revives a biography that was first published in the year of Carver's death, 1943. While it feels dated in some ways, it introduces a new generation to the life of a man who did much to shape our world and its agriculture. Karl T. Wright's... Read More

In a tone equal parts naïve and urbane, Matt Bomer brings an authentic and absolutely American middle-class voice to James Baldwin's 1956 bestseller. The story, controversial at the time, is about a white New Yorker living in Paris who has a fiery and ultimately tragic love affair with a young, gay Italian bartender while his fiancée is on holiday in Spain. In his fine... Read More

Karen Chilton's and Kirby Heyborne's performances bring a distinctive energy to this unique story about two talent agents who are chasing soccer's next rising star. Mark is bored yet intrigued by his brother's mission to find the elusive star, Godwin. Heyborne as Mark, captures the man's internal conflicts and decisions in a reflective tone that fits the character's... Read More

Animal lovers are in for a moving listening experience as author and narrator Elaine Castillo takes them through her life-changing journey as a companion to Xena, her beloved German Shepherd rescue dog, and others she has fostered. Castillo's passion for responsible and thoughtful companionship leads into an examination of the indelible bond humans have formed with dogs over... Read More

In Mary Jones's debut short story collection, narrator Suzanne Freeman embraces her vocal task simply, her careful diction allowing each story to shine. Each brief work deals with the universal experiences of separation, departure, loss, or abandonment. The wide variety of stories varies in length--with some just a few minutes long, some many minutes more--and each is instantly... Read More

Joy Osmanski's uplifting narration conveys a teen's affection for her family and passion for ocean life in this heartwarming story about environmental awareness. Osmanski is delightful as Grace, a curious, enthusiastic girl with a love of snorkeling. Grace is thrilled when she convinces her parents to go to Honduras for their annual family trip, so she can sample a new reef.... Read More

Fans of Police Chief Bruno Courrèges will be delighted to hear that he is on the mend from his gunshot wound and is doggedly investigating a discovery in his village in southwest France. Re-creating his characteristic sonorous portrayal of Bruno, Robert Ian Mackenzie skillfully delivers the chief's ruminations as he investigates the unearthing of an unmarked WWII grave on a... Read More

While a dark mystery propels this narrative, the novella is really a character study of five insomniac night owls brought to life by five talented vocal artists. During their customary cemetery meetup, Edie, Hannah, Theo, Tuck, and Tamar find an unusual hole in the ground, which a gravedigger has filled with mutated rats. Curious--the group uses their specialties--Edie's... Read More

The old gag line "It ain't brain surgery" comes up a few times as brain surgeon Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz shares what brain surgery is in this audiobook. Sean Pratt is soothing and gentle as he narrates Schwartz's descriptions of procedures. Schwartz compares his work to that of a mechanic, which could be amusing. Pratt's voice conveys Schwartz's awe at the sight of the human... Read More

Leon Nixon uses his vocal talent and enthusiasm to bring listeners from the early days of racism in football to the glory of the talented Black football players who enjoy leadership in the sport today. Two men at the forefront of this fight were Doug Williams and Vince Evans, promising talents in the 1980s. They both came up through the ranks at their respective colleges,... Read More

Bianca Amato's warm, beautifully enunciated narration adds to the enjoyment of spending time again with Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi of Botswana in the 25th installment of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The South African actor understands that the series' gentle humor and wisdom about human frailties are as important as the detective cases. In this instance, a succession... Read More

An ensemble cast performs a story of love and loss. Dara and Austin are just weeks from their wedding when Austin is given life-changing news. Their wedding is called off, and Dara hesitates to tell her family what has caused this rift. She travels to California and South Carolina, hoping to find solace. Austin flies home to the fate that awaits him in London. Told from... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky gives this audiobook the respect it deserves as the author recounts the saga of the U.S. women's soccer team, whose players fought for an equal playing field through pay equity. Kaminsky clearly narrates with an interested tone, emotionally invested but never over the top. Every time she uses an accent in quoting someone, she does so with just the right... Read More

Avast, me hearties, what could be more fun for a seasoned narrator than to talk like a pirate for 12 hours? In this happy mash-up of Jules Verne, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Doctor Who, Colby Elliott gives distinctive voices to a number of landlubbers and the crew of the mighty, magical pirate ship THE ARK DE TRIOMPHE. After a close encounter with a Martian space fleet that... Read More

This cozy mystery set on the Canadian prairie will keep listeners guessing through its twists and turns. Dawn Harvey's narration perfectly matches the main character's idiosyncrasies and her well-meaning but abrasive personality. Recently widowed, Jeannie loves her farm, but she is being pressured to sell. Leading the charge is a persistent realtor named Monica, who represents... Read More

For those looking for a fun, at times even rollicking, cozy mystery full of delicious Filipino food and a bevy of delightful female characters, this installment of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mysteries series, narrated by Danice Cabanela, will fit the bill. Set in the fictional Midwest town of Shady Palms, the story features Lila Macapagal, owner of the Brew-Ha Café, who is... Read More

Melanie Crawley skillfully presents this unpredictable story, set in an English seaside village. Listeners meet a successful businesswoman, Nina, and her easygoing employee, Holly. Their genuine friendship is filled with both good and bad moments. However, Nina's tranquility vanishes after she has an intimate weekend with Gabriel, a relative stranger, who's later found... Read More

Amanda Troop narrates an intriguing nonlinear thriller about two estranged sisters who are searching for their mother, who abandoned them years earlier. Jane has settled into normalcy with a decent but dead-end job, a loving family, and an absent-minded father. Then she receives an email from her estranged twin sister, Lila, hinting that she knows the location of their mother.... Read More

Maggi-Meg Reed shines in this psychological thriller pitting an octogenarian against an 8-year-old boy. Listeners are in for dark humor, plot twists, and increasing suspense. Set during Covid at the Royal Karnak Hotel on the banks of the Nile, the story features 81-year-old Maggie Burkhardt, a meddler who gets involved in fixing people's lives--even when she shouldn't. After... Read More

Rob Sheffield, a rock journalist for ROLLING STONE, is a huge fan of Taylor Swift and doesn't mind who knows it. Sheffield is middle-aged and so tall that he has to scrunch down at Swift's concerts so as not to block the view of the girls behind him. As author and narrator, Sheffield comes off as both nerdy and cool, which is a charming and infectious combination. He sounds... Read More

Canadian producer and actress Panta Mosleh embraces these essays. She narrates in a strong voice and a clear tone, neatly adopting the author's sometimes interrogative style. Author bennett writes with unusual candor about their issues. These include being bipolar and estranged from their mother, their cooking trials while making gluten-free macarons, and their failures and... Read More

Esme Lonsdale, Vidish Athavale, and Rachel Petladwala bring palpable chemistry to the complex relationships in this epic fantasy. Something is afoot in the empire as three young people walk toward their destinies: Aiz communes with a holy spirit to get power to avenge her oppressed people, Prince Quil must soon step into a leadership role, and tracker Sirsha gets wrapped up... Read More

Celebrated Canadian poet and novelist Anne Michaels has written an exquisite novel (shortlisted for the Booker Prize) that looks at love, loss, and human connection. Michaels's intimate delivery and empathetic tone serve her bittersweet and elegiac text well. Starting in 1917 with a battlefield explosion, her exploration of characters during troubled times spans a century and... Read More

Narrators Austenne Grey and Arielle DeLisle deliver a sweet and hilarious performance in this sapphic holiday rom-com. When lawyer Tara Sloane Chadwich is invited to her ex-girlfriend's destination wedding, she's willing to attend--but not without a plus-one. Holly Delaney, an adventurous waitress whom Tara has been secretly crushing on for months, is happy to oblige. Their... Read More

This audiobook about American presidents clearly works better on audio than in print. Through taped discussions with historians, author David Rubenstein examines the lives and influences of prominent U.S. leaders. In print, these conversations are in an impersonal question-and-answer format. But on audio, they really are conversations. You hear the depth of respect and warmth... Read More

This quirky whodunit is seamlessly narrated by three award-winning narrators--Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan, and Helen Lloyd. Crouch voices Alfred Smettle, capturing his oddball sensibilities. It's been almost 15 years since Alfred has seen his college friends, so when he invites them to the first anniversary of his Hitchcock-themed hotel's opening, they accept. Some suspect it's... Read More

Karen Murray narrates this detailed exploration of how women in the United States are holding together families as systems of governmental aid become less available because of greed. During WWII the nation offered childcare to women working in factories to help the war effort, as well as other assistance to help growing families in times of crisis. This new audiobook explores... Read More

Narrator Eva Kaminsky provides great character differentiation in this second-chance romance, and her energetic delivery enhances the comedic aspect of the story. Post-divorce and looking for a place to stay, rental property agent Tilly plans to spend the holidays at what she thinks is a vacant Victorian mansion. She's dismayed when the new owner, George, shows up unexpectedly... Read More

Narrator Brittany Pressley delights listeners in this heartwarming holiday romance about two best friends who ultimately find love when they least expect it. Holly and Ivy are as close as they come. When Holly's fiancé bolts on the night before their wedding, leaving her with a nonrefundable honeymoon, she suggests that she and Ivy switch places. Ivy can enjoy Holly's Hawaiian... Read More

The director of a social neuroscience lab at Stanford narrates his positive audiobook about cynicism, trust, skepticism, and hope. Along with sounding personable and easy to understand, he performs with audible respect for his listeners and a desire to offer options for dealing with today's conflict-filled social climate. He's a great storyteller whose picturesque narratives... Read More

This audiobook delivers sci-fi horror at its best, and Brandon J. Peterson's narration adds a chilling layer to the experience. As the crew of the ODYSSEY searches for the legendary "horizon"--a phenomenon promising a return to one's happiest moment--they face a journey through the dark, empty Expanse, where unseen dangers lie in wait. Peterson's voice captures the tense,... Read More

The cavernous voice of narrator Allan Corduner is the listener's first clue that this enchanted story is more expansive than the tiny, spartan attic room where Marta and her mother live above The Hotel Balzaar. While Marta's mother toils as the hotel's maid, Marta's job is to be unseen and unheard. Corduner's booming voice initially seems incongruous with the contemplative... Read More

A cast of talented narrators lend their voices to the 30th installment of the Alex Cross series. Supreme Court candidates are being murdered as the president-elect plans her inauguration. Cross and his colleagues must figure out who is behind the killings and why. As he draws closer to the answer, his wife and best friend disappear, leaving him with two major cases to solve.... Read More

Imani Jade Powers performs a cozy fantasy about a grieving witch who finds solace at a magical home under the watchful eye of a mythical beast named Frank. Saika lost her magical powers in the same series of events that took her beloved sister. She journeys to put her sister to rest and arrives at the famous Ash Gardens, where she's quickly taken in by Frank and then discovers... Read More

Laura Benanti's narration enhances this engaging thriller. Stella is a lawyer with long buried memories, and Rose Barclay is a 9-year-old girl who has gone mute since witnessing her nanny's death. Listeners will be more and more intrigued by each twist of the plot as the lines between victim and perpetrator become increasingly blurred. The shifting dynamics between Stella and... Read More

Narrator Stephen Graybill maintains a clearheaded instructive style in this entertaining economic history lesson. The audiobook provides a fresh approach that mixes microeconomics, which explains how individuals make decisions, and macroeconomics, the study of the economy as a whole. The presentation is packed with plenty of anecdotes and FREAKONOMICS-style examples. Graybill... Read More

Employing a calm, straightforward delivery, English actor Christian Coulson nicely balances the author's fine ear for language and spirited descriptions with this novel's tangled plot and boisterous LGBTQ+ humor. In a 24-hour period, a lonely, clever 23-year-old who still lives with his mother sets out in search of a package he wants no one to see; meets a menagerie of... Read More

This audiobook is at once a hymn to and prayer for forests. Evan Sibley performs eloquently, expressing the author's empathy for his Vermont woodlands. He gets the tone and cadence of this first-person memoir, which celebrates the meaning and significance of forests. He also captures author Tapper's voice, which is spirited and spiritual. Tapper is a fine guide to the woods. A... Read More

Singer-songwriter Randy Preston gives voice to and plays music for the third book in this "how to" series. Opening with guitar music, Preston then provides a nuanced, emotional performance of the text. Speaking with energy and varied volume, pacing, and pitch, he encourages kids to listen to sounds all around them, feel the music inside them, and let it take control as it goes... Read More

Josie Charles narrates a not-quite-fairytale told from the perspective of an "evil" stepsister. After her stepsister Beatrice marries the prince and has her happily-ever-after, Lady Theodosia Balfour--Theo to her friends--is determined to secure a similar fate for herself. Sadly, it's a lot harder than it seems. Charles does not soften Theo's unlikable personality but does... Read More

Disability rights advocate Johanna Hedva performs their essay collection, 10 years in the making. Hedva's observations about society are sharp and insightful. Disability sits at the core of their writing, and they challenge listeners to see it as a social experience, in addition to a biological one. Their essays also tackle other topics, such as Asian American identity,... Read More

Performing this moving guide to dealing with cold weather and other life challenges, mindset expert Kari Leibowitz sounds like the curious and indomitable researcher she is. The energy in her voice conveys a faith in humanity that works well with her optimistic insights and thoughtful suggestions. She pursued her interest in how the mind influences the body by taking a... Read More

Alison Fensterstock and Ann Powers deliver an ambitious, sprawling, almost overwhelming project. That's by design. The history of music traditionally revolves around men and their recordings, with women as afterthoughts. This audiobook is not just about inclusion. It's a corrective recentering. The origin story of the song "Hound Dog" is a focal point. It's often attributed as... Read More

Author and narrator Huda Fahmy's graphic novel is adapted into a very funny audiobook with a full cast, music, and sound effects. Fahmy's rich timbre distinguishes Huda, a good-hearted teen, from her three sisters as they share a family trip, driving from Michigan to Disney World. Fahmy delivers comical sarcasm as Huda chafes at her parents' insistence that she bond with her... Read More

Gail Shalan's narration provides a lighthearted tone to Beth Kander's clever and insightful story, which will allow listeners to empathize with her protagonist and enjoy this take on the difficulties of grief. Eve is overwhelmed with her life, dealing with worries about potential layoffs at work; her upcoming 40th birthday, which will coincide with her younger sister's wedding;... Read More

Fiction writer Charles Bock turns to memoir as he tells the story of his adored wife's death and the task of raising their 3-year-old daughter, Lily, solo. Bock narrates with such rhythm that you almost visualize the text's line breaks. His delivery illuminates the beauty of his writing and the harsh reality of his struggles with grief, trying to maintain a career despite... Read More

This audiobook continues to follow the thrilling journey of pop star Winter Young and secret agent Sydney Cossette as they embark on a dangerous mission in Singapore. Becca Q. Co's versatile narration creates distinct voices for each character, making it easy for listeners to differentiate between them. Co portrays Sydney's emotional strength and vulnerability, giving depth to... Read More

Narrator Janina Edwards inhabits Ida B. Wells, giving the determined Black woman a hero's spirit, an incandescent sense of her own worth, and a warrior's pride in accomplishment. In the 1880s, Ida was a teacher, a writer of articles for Black-owned newspapers, and an outspoken advocate for civil rights. Edwards creates a flesh-and-blood woman with a flirtatious personality who... Read More

January LaVoy returns to narrate the 28th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. This one is a doozy. A shocked Scarpetta learns that her former lover, Sal Giordano, has been murdered and that she must perform his autopsy in front of several high-ranking DC officials, including her husband, Benton, an FBI profiler. LaVoy's crisp delivery of dialogue crackles throughout the... Read More

Angel Pean narrates the chapters of San Francisco-based tech writer Bee Tyler, and Karen Malina White portrays Ohio farmer Clover Mills. Together, the narrators present a Christmastime romance that revolves around a house swap. In a story reminiscent of the movie THE HOLIDAY, two Black women are burned out and need a break. Clover finds queer friends and romance with Bee's... Read More

Narrator Allison Grischow sinks into the misery of best-friend drama with gusto. Murphy and Kat plan to reunite on Thanksgiving Eve in their hometown of Geneva, Illinois. But when Kat shows up with her boyfriend in tow, Murphy's plans crumble. In a casual tone, Grischow makes Murphy realistic and endearing. Murphy's growing depression has her agreeing to be her high school... Read More

Youngmi Mayer is a Korean American woman who lived in Saipan and South Korea before moving to America. Here she narrates her memoir of growing up between cultures and encountering a rough start to life in the U.S. Mayer's sense of humor is self-deprecating, sometimes veering into self-abusive. She is alternately funny yet, at the same time, extremely critical to the point of... Read More

Narrators are expected to distinguish between men and women--and Shayna Small does it exceptionally well. Historical fiction comes alive with this account of the life of Effa Manley, who became a Negro League team owner with her husband Abe from 1935 to 1948. Effa faced racial stereotypes, as well misogyny from entering a male domain. The audiobook is entertaining from start to... Read More

Scott Brick is the voice of ex-military cop Jack Reacher in this 29th installment in the series. Here Reacher is suffering from memory loss following a car accident that killed the driver. He awakens strapped to a table by people who think he's the driver's accomplice. He then becomes embroiled with four thieves, each of whom is trying to outwit and double-cross the others.... Read More

Raffi and Britt are queer and extremely intelligent. Both are portrayed well by Natalie Naudus and Xe Sands. As a cosmologist, Raffi is searching for dark matter and longs to spend every free moment with Britt, a queer sculptor. Naudus and Sands provide strong performances in this speculative fiction, which explores parallel worlds; complex women who fracture into hordes of... Read More

A girl's innocence is threatened, along with her and her parents' lives, by a mysterious woman living in her closet. This story is brought to life in an unnerving performance by narrator Delanie Nicole Gill. Gill conjures young Bella's childish but unexpectedly confident and edgy tone. Her interpretations of Bella's parents are equally believable. The realism in Gill's delivery... Read More

Andrew Bates narrates a clever story about a young artist who is confronting destiny while breaking free of the shackles of the past. Evan skips senior year to attend an elite art program at New York University. There he crosses paths with the spitting image of a girl he painted from his imagination. Bates imbues Evan with youthful brightness; he's brimming with optimism tinged... Read More

Entomologist Barrett Klein describes the importance of insects to life on Earth, as well their influence on our culture and civilization. Narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins has a tone of curiosity and wonder as he takes the listener on a comprehensive tour of the insect world, covering topics such as insects' influence on developments in science and engineering, mind-altering... Read More

Narrator Emilia Clarke uses a soft voice and a crisp British accent interspersed with fluid Italian phrases for this story of music in early- eighteenth-century Venice. Venetian orphan Anna Maria della Pietà, daughter of a local prostitute, is a violin prodigy who studies under Antonio Vivaldi. Descriptions of the harsh life in the Pietà, an orphanage for the children of... Read More

Comic Trevor Noah is the author and narrator of this delightful fable in four parts. A boy decides to run away from home with his beloved bear, rather than submit to the unreasonable bed-making and personal hygiene demands of his mother. Noah creates unique, kind voices for the boy, the bear, and the friends they meet in the uncut grass--a garden gnome, two snails, and a pile... Read More

Clinical psychologist Robin Smith and actor Courtney Vance share their experiences and insights about how Black men can deal with the emotional effects of racism in America. They alternate narrating this important memoir/guide, Dr. Smith with empathy for the Black men and families she's treated and Vance with his rich voice and dramatic flair. Their performances are well suited... Read More

In this touching memoir, author Paul Weigel describes surviving an emotionally cold childhood by persevering with his schoolwork and entering athletic competitions. Later, as a dad, he describes the importance of his devotion to his daughter. Being a father is a source of peace and inspiration for the author, whose love for his daughter was essential to his overcoming cancer... Read More

Fiona Hardingham narrates this fictional memoir of orphaned noblewoman Marguerite de la Roque, ward of her cousin, the adventurer and speculator Jean François de la Roque de Roberval. Hardingham's unemotional tone varies subtly to capture Marguerite's and Roberval's aristocratic status. Telling her story as a flashback, Marguerite painstakingly recounts her life of loss,... Read More

Nobody else could narrate this memoir like its author, actor and transgender activist Nicole Maines. Raw and candid, she lets the listener hear her anger and joy, frustration and hope. Her authenticity when describing messy moments in her life is all the more compelling in her own voice. Her story may be familiar from the book BECOMING NICOLE, which is about her and her... Read More

Listeners join Jasmine Garza as she begins eighth grade, hoping for a fresh start. During the four years and several moves since Papi died, she and Mami have been followed by a ghost. Jasmine is surprised and pleased to find out that Bea and Jorge, members of her school's Gay Straight Alliance, are willing to help her obtain proof that she sees a ghost. In a smooth, precise... Read More

Bahni Turpin gives a winning performance of this historical novel set in the world of Black vaudeville in the early twentieth century. After Lucille's father gets involved in the aftermath of a bank robbery, Lucille and her parents leave town and start singing in churches as the "Traveling Loves." Lucille, "the little girl with the big voice," is taken under the tutelage of... Read More

Emily Lawrence and Andrew Eiden delight listeners in this heartfelt, hilarious romantic comedy. When Emily Edwards decides to fulfill her late father's bucket list by visiting a remote island, she hires a tour guide to help with her lack of outdoor experience. Ryder Fleet isn't a wilderness expert, but he needs some money to preserve his brother's memory and his adventure... Read More

Narrator Emily Lawrence aids listeners in picturing Yocheved (Yoyo) Gold, eldest daughter of an Orthodox rabbi. Lawrence captures the intelligence, wit, and leadership that have made her a respected, responsible family member and friend. Lawrence also depicts Yoyo's sense of irony and inner turmoil when her best friend is sent away to a boarding school after kissing a boy.... Read More

Connor Crais and Samantha Cook combine their talents to narrate the romance that sparks between Samantha Dare and Dex Sterling. Samantha is running away from her wedding after finding out her fiancé has been cheating on her. While running, Samantha is nearly hit by Dex Sterling's car. The two know each other, and Dex whisks her away. Dex has always had feelings for Samantha,... Read More

Narrators Sean Masters and Isabelle Turner combine forces to depict the romance between Brandy Bloom and Max Corbin. At an office Christmas party, Brandy kisses Max under the mistletoe, mistaking him for his twin brother. Sparks immediately fly between the two. Both Masters and Turner crank up the heat in their narrations. Masters gives Max a deep voice matching his passion for... Read More

Christine Lakin and Tim Paige deliver a fun, sexy, and relatable romance. Lakin voices Molly, a sassy and cynical rom-com screenwriter who reluctantly attends her fifteenth high school reunion. There, she unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend, Seth, voiced by Paige. Seth is in search of a fairy-tale romance. As they catch up, they make a playful bet on the outcomes of... Read More