The 35 Best Audiobooks Worth Listening To

Audiobooks offer the best of both worlds: They invite you into a compelling storyline while allowing you to do other things at the same time, like fold the laundry, do the dishes or drive your car. They don’t demand the same mental focus as reading a book, but they do bring you the same satisfaction and excitement. The best audiobooks transport you into a different world, where you can learn, get caught up in a whirlwind romance or journey to planets far away from our own. You can find audiobooks from a range of sources, many of them free. This list of 35 top audiobooks contains classics, nonfiction, lots of new works by authors with incredible imaginations and more.

Top Audiobooks

Listening to an audiobook is a different experience than reading, but it produces the same results. Studies have shown there is no difference in comprehension between reading and listening to a book. The best way to listen to audiobooks is by using apps or services on your phone.

You might listen to a book instead of reading one if you want to do something else at the same time, like household chores or exercise. Other reasons to listen to an audiobook rather than read include hearing the author’s inflections of their own words if they are the narrator and listening to full-cast recordings. The top audiobooks on this list include ones with single and multiple narrators.

35. Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (2023)

Canadian author Naomi Klein was tired of getting confused with the controversial writer Naomi Wolf. Her book takes a deep dive into the world of misinformation, blending cultural criticism with a deeper look at how we gain our beliefs.

This audiobook is best for culture junkies and those who need a break from social media. Naomi Klein’s Doppelganger audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Naomi Klein

Length: 14 hours, 47 minutes

34. Solito by Javier Zamora (2022)

Javier Zamora left El Salvador as a child to reunite with his parents by traveling to the U.S. border. His harrowing journey among a group of strangers who become more like family is a gripping, astonishing read. Zamora’s narration adds urgency to the written words.

This audiobook is best for those who want more than just pundits’ opinions about the border. Javier Zamora’s Solito audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Javier Zamora

Length: 17 hours, 8 minutes

33. How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee (2018)

Alexander Chee’s essay collection tackles questions of identity as they play out in private and public life, including art. The audiobook format lends greater emotional heft to his smooth, insightful writing.

This audiobook is best for fans of Roxane Gay and other whip-smart essayists. Alexander Chee’s How to Write an Autobiographical Novel audiobook is available from publisher HarperCollins.

Narrated by Daniel K. Isaac

Length: 8 hours, 28 minutes

32. The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016)

An accidental teen pregnancy sparks secrets that can’t be undone — and continue to impact people’s lives long after. Narrator Adenrele Ojo does a fantastic job of making you care about, yet sometimes question the characters.

This audiobook is best for those who enjoy juicy dramas that raise serious questions. Brit Bennett’s The Mothers audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Adenrele Ojo

Length: 9 hours, 55 minutes

31. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2022)

In this sci-fi novel, astronaut Ryland awakens with no memory of his mission and a cabin of dead crewmates. Narrator Ray Porter ratchets up the tension as Ryland tries to figure out his next move — and the fate of the human race may depend on it.

This audiobook is best for those who love adventure and/or Weir’s The Martian. Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary audiobook is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

Narrated by Ray Porter

Length: 16 hours, 10 minutes

30. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (2012)

Cyborg Cinder, a stand-in for Cinderella, is reviled by her stepfamily amid a plague slowly killing off the population. When Cinder connects with the Prince, their forbidden love takes second place to saving the world. Soler’s narration brings emotion to the fantasy and romance plotlines.

This audiobook is best for young adult readers who love clever spins on classic stories. Marissa Meyer’s Cinder audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Length: 10 hours, 2 minutes

29. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo (2019)

One of the best historical fiction audiobooks, YA novel The Night Tiger weaves a fantastical story about a boy in 1930s Malaysia who must rescue his erstwhile master’s severed finger within 49 days to quiet his soul, and the dancehall girl who assists him.

This audiobook is best for fans of historical fiction and stories set abroad. Yangsze Choo’s The Night Tiger audiobook is available from Macmillan.

Narrated by Yangsze Choo

Length: 14 hours, 8 minutes

28. City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong (2016)

Tough-as-nails detective Casey Duncan must suddenly move to the town of Rockton, a low-tech place in the Yukon where people go to disappear. Narrated by one of the premier talents in the industry, Thérèse Plummer, City of the Lost is an immersive look at what living off the grid might look like in modern times.

This audiobook is best for mystery fans who want something really different with a hint of fantasy. Kelley Armstrong’s City of the Lost audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Thérèse Plummer

Length: 13 hours, 42 minutes

27. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (2022)

After their mother dies, Byron and Benny must puzzle together her legacy with their odd inheritance — a black cake. The dual narrators reveal family secrets and follow the siblings as they try to figure out their mother’s aim and repair their own relationship.

This audiobook is best for fans of family sagas. Charmaine Wilkerson’s Black Cake audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Lynnette R. Freeman and Simone Mcintyre

Length: 12 hours, 2 minutes

26. Violeta by Isabel Allende (2023)

Spanning from one pandemic (the Spanish flu) to the next (COVID-19), this sweeping look at one woman’s life, told in an epic letter, touches on family and world events, conveying a life of dizzying highs and lows. Narrator Yareli Arizmendi gives Violeta a voice that elevates the recording.

This audiobook is best for fans of sweeping historical sagas and the author’s earlier work. Isabel Allende’s Violeta audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Yareli Arizmendi

Length: 11 hours, 59 minutes

25. Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (2016)

As comedian Trevor Noah notes, the union that produced him between a Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother was outlawed in Apartheid-era South Africa, and his mother kept him hidden to avoid punishment. Noah narrates his memoir with the wry, candid delivery that has made him so successful.

This audiobook is best for fans of The Daily Show-style humor. Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Trevor Noah

Length: 8 hours, 44 minutes

24. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (2020)

Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer narrates her own book, which advises readers on how to listen to the voices of nature and animals to learn from and preserve them. It is a book about how to live in the world and not damage it, but instead honor it.

This audiobook is best for lovers of nature and animals. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass audiobook is available from publisher Milkweed.

Narrated by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Length: 16 hours, 44 minutes

23. Know My Name by Chanel Miller (2019)

Chanel Miller is the “Jane Doe” who accused Stanford swimmer Brock Turner of sexual assault — and who, along with millions of others, was horrified when he was convicted but sentenced to just six months in jail. She expands on her powerful victim impact statement and overcomes her shame and isolation after the trial.

This audiobook is best for anyone who’s been filled with rage over injustice. Chanel Miller’s Know My Name audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Chanel Miller

Length: 15 hours, 24 minutes

22. Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond (2023)

Why does the world’s most developed nation also have the most poverty? Dion Graham beautifully narrates the answer, which looks back on history and draws on original reporting to explain why so many Americans are made to remain poor. It’s very digestible in the audio format.

This audiobook is best for anyone curious about social inequities. Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Dion Graham

Length: 5 hours, 40 minutes

21. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)

The epic novel, one of the best fantasy audiobooks, follows the Fellowship of the Ring as they begin their journey in Book 1 of Lord of the Rings, set in the same world as The Hobbit. Narrator Rob Inglis does a fantastic job building suspense as the fellowship tries to thwart Lord Sauron.

This audiobook is best for those looking for a long read, and those who enjoy fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring audiobook is available from publisher HarperCollins.

Narrated by Rob Inglis

Length: 19 hours, 7 minutes

20. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019)

The format of this book — the oral history of a legendary band — makes it the perfect format for an audiobook read by a talented foursome voice cast. It tells the story of how Daisy joined The Six, who flourished and then floundered in an era of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

This audiobook is best for gossip hounds and music fans. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber

Length: 9 hours, 3 minutes

19. Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (2000)

David Sedaris has a slew of outstanding essay collections, and none better than this one, which combines explorations of his family, his sexuality and his mental health. The author’s intonations as narrator elevate this book.

This audiobook is best for anyone who enjoys Sedaris’ NPR essays or McSweeney’s humor. David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day audiobook is available from publisher Hachette Group.

Narrated by David Sedaris

Length: 5 hours, 51 minutes

18. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015)

This Pulitzer Prize-winning book tells the story of a captain in the South Vietnamese army with a complicated past who spies on his former military brethren for the Viet Cong. The audiobook highlights a well-observed history that plays a huge role in the plot.

This audiobook is best for people who appreciate precise language and beautiful prose. Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer audiobook is available from publisher Grove Atlantic.

Narrated by Francois Chau

Length: 13 hours, 53 minutes

17. Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke (2018)

Black Texas Ranger Darren Mathews must solve a case with serious racial undertones that threaten to undo a small town in the Lone Star State. J.D. Jackson’s narration perfectly sets the tone for this noir novel.

This audiobook is best for mystery fans who like some thematic heft to their books. Attica Locke’s Bluebird, Bluebird audiobook is available from publisher Hachette Group.

Narrated by J.D. Jackson

Length: 9 hours, 25 minutes

16. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (2023)

Child star Jennette McCurdy proves herself an observant narrator with a gift for words as she details the abuse she suffered at her mother’s hands while growing up. Some of the stories are difficult to listen to, but McCurdy’s honesty and vulnerability make this an important and ultimately hopeful story.

This audiobook is best for anyone who watched iCarly or appreciates great writing. Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died audiobook is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

Narrated by Jennette McCurdy

Length: 6 hours, 26 minutes

15. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018)

What happens when a false accusation tears apart a young Black couple’s otherwise good marriage? This book examines love from all angles, and it also puts an unflinching eye on the shortcomings of the justice system. The dual narrators capture the couple’s dueling points of view perfectly.

This audiobook is best for those who love relationship-focused books. Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage audiobook is available from publisher Hachette Group.

Narrated by Sean Crisden, Eisa Davis

Length: 8 hours, 59 minutes

14.Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez (2021)

The personal becomes the political and vice versa when the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico collides with a family’s volatile reunion. The three narrators give voice to three very different yet well-drawn characters, making you empathize with each even when you don’t want to — with humor, too.

This audiobook is best for Xochitl Gonzalez’s Olga Dies Dreaming audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Almarie Guerra, Inés del Castillo, Armando Riesco

Length: 11 hours, 42 minutes

13. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023)

During the early days of pandemic lockdown, a mother tells her grown daughters the story of her whirlwind romance with a famous actor before she settled down with their father. Meryl Streep’s unmatched voice helps bring order to a time (early COVID) when so little made sense.

This audiobook is best for those ready to reflect on the pandemic’s meaning. Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake audiobook is available from publisher HarperCollins.

Narrated by Meryl Streep

Length: 11 hours, 22 minutes

12. The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta (2022)

This book draws inspiration from ancient Mesoamerica to imagine a world where the long-revered tradition of seers is threatened by a new regime. The dual narration eventually brings two stories together for an incredible finish.

This audiobook is best for high fantasy fans and those who enjoy mythological themes. Lizz Huerta’s The Lost Dreamer audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Elisa Melendez, Inés del Castillo

Length: 10 hours, 52 minutes

11. The Overnights by Ian K. Smith (2023)

Ian K. Smith’s Ashe Cayne series is good in print but even better on audio thanks to the impeccable work of Amir Abdullah, who perfectly captures Cayne’s wiseass tone. In this third and best Cayne book, the private eye is hired to protect an anchorwoman investigating a blockbuster story about a police shooting.

This audiobook is best for those looking for a fast-paced and fun mystery. Ian K. Smith’s The Overnights is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Amir Abdullah

Length: 9 hours, 14 minutes

10. 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011)

Could changing one small thing in history make everything better in the future? That question drives this propulsive novel about a man who tries to go back in time to stop JFK’s assassination. The fast pace makes it ideal for audio.

This audiobook is best for history buffs. Stephen King’s 11/22/63 audiobook is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

Narrated by Carlos Manuel Vesga

Length: 32 hours, 42 minutes

9. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2015)

Four longtime friends experience life’s highs and lows yet remain devoted to each other no matter what. At their center is the deeply damaged Jude, who can’t escape his past. Oliver Wyman’s narration elevates this gorgeously written saga.

This audiobook is best for those who treasure good writing and storytelling. Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Oliver Wyman

Length: 32 hours, 51 minutes

8. Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz (2020)

Poems are extremely accessible as audiobooks, and author Natalie Diaz does a fantastic job reading her poems in Postcolonial Love Poem. The collection explores the damage of colonialism, the frustrations of invisibility, the tenderness of love and more.

This audiobook is best for those who haven’t read much poetry and want to get their feet wet. Natalie Diaz’s Postcolonial Love Poem audiobook is available from publisher Graywolf Press.

Narrated by Natalie Diaz

Length: 1 hour, 59 minutes

7. In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado (2022)

Silvia Vasquez-Lavado was outwardly successful but inwardly in deep pain when she decided to not only climb Mount Everest but do it with a group of young survivors who were novice climbers. Her taut narration makes you experience every rock along the ascent.

This audiobook is best for those who love inspiring and improbable athletic feats. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado’s In the Shadow of the Mountain audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

Length: 15 hours, 32 minutes

6. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (2019)

Have you ever wished for a do-over? In this novel, four people get to travel back in time to a moment of their choosing, but they can only stay until the coffee they were drinking at a Tokyo café gets cold. Arina Ii’s narration will inspire questions in your own life.

This audiobook is best for time travel buffs and people feeling reflective. Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold audiobook is available from publisher Macmillan.

Narrated by Arina Ii

Length: 6 hours, 52 minutes

5. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020)

This is also a book about the roads not taken. The Midnight Library contains books that say what would have happened to you if you went in another direction in life. These alternative histories may be better, worse or just different — so what to choose? Carey Mulligan’s rich narration perfectly outlines the dilemma.

This audiobook is best for those who like to wonder, “What if?” Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Carey Mulligan

Length: 8 hours, 50 minutes

4. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears (2023)

All the praise you’ve heard about Michelle Williams’ narration of pop star Britney Spears’ memoir is true. Spears’ mistreatment at the hands of the media is not surprising, of course, but the way her family did her wrong is equally infuriating, and Williams brings dignity to her narrative.

This audiobook is best for Spears fans and those who wonder why she made such an impact on pop culture. Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me audiobook is available from publisher Simon & Schuster.

Narrated by Michelle Williams

Length: 5 hours, 31 minutes

3. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (2003)

The Da Vinci Code was an exciting movie, so it makes sense that the page-turner, about a puzzle-driven conspiracy inside the Vatican, makes an equally appealing audiobook. Paul Michael’s narration keeps everything moving quickly.

This audiobook is best for anyone looking for a fun adventure. Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Paul Michael

Length: 16 hours, 59 minutes

2. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling is one of the funniest people on the planet. She and her famous friends perfectly narrate her collection of essays about everything from her relationship with her parents to appearing as Ben Affleck in an Off-Broadway play (really).

This audiobook is best for anyone who loved The Office or just wants to laugh out loud. Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Mindy Kaling, Michael Schur, B. J. Novak

Length: 4 hours, 37 minutes

1. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1978)

Escape is a great reason to listen to audiobooks, and this funny, fast, frightfully imaginative sci-fi novel provides a great escape. It follows poor Arthur Dent as he discovers his best friend is an alien, his house is getting knocked down, and Earth is going, too. Stephen Fry’s narration is exceptional.

This audiobook is best for those who love wordplay and wit. Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy audiobook is available from publisher Penguin Random House.

Narrated by Stephen Fry