What Are We Listening To? Check Out Our Staff Picks for Audiobook Month

Read by the Author

Maureen says: “It turns out, me and Nick Offerman have a lot of similarities and, as a woodworker, listening to this audiobook inspired me to take on projects I didn’t think I was capable of. I’m pretty sure I immediately went on to build my dining room table (my biggest project to date) as soon as I finished. So, thanks, Nick, for giving my family a place to eat.”

A mix of amusing anecdotes, opinionated lessons and rants, sprinkled with offbeat gaiety from Parks and Recreation actor and Making It co-host Nick Offerman.

Read by Meryl Streep and a Full Cast

Jen R. says: “My original love for audiobooks started as a young reader, turning the page when I heard the chimes. This beautiful full cast recording of the classic Charlotte’s Web is led by Oscar winner, Meryl Streep, plus beloved narrators including January LaVoy and Kirby Heyborne. It is a comfort to reexperience the magic of great kid-lit read aloud.”

“A top-notch recording of a beloved book and a must for all audio collections.”—Booklist starred review

Read by Julia Whelan

Kate says: ““I think listening to My Year of Rest and Relaxation is the perfect way to experience the book – and i think the main character would agree!”

“Whelan’s characterizations are perfection. . . The woman’s pursuit of hibernation as a means of escape and healing is not without humor, which Whelan perfectly nails with an understated delivery.”—AudioFile Earphones Award

Read by a Full Cast

Jen C. says: “Found the perfect audiobook to get me through until my vacation in Martha’s Vineyard! An ideal summer listen, this audio transported me to the ferry docks, quaint towns, and beaches of The Vineyard with the added treat of a view into the island’s past.  Just right to tide me over until I actually arrive in ‘almost too-charming land’ later this summer!”

“A story of sisterhood, family, and community, showing the ways people band together for a common cause. Readers who enjoy Jennifer Ryan and Anita Abriel will be moved.”—Booklist

Read by Multiple Voices

Miriam says: “In print, this librarian-curated anthology is an essential reference source. In audio, LGBTQ+ history comes alive and we hear the voices of our brave, bold, and beautiful brothers and sisters.”

“A remarkable audio experience that emphasizes the revolutionary power of LGBTQ voices and provides an invaluable record of a community that refuses to be silenced.” –AudioFile Earphones Award

Read by a Full Cast including Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, & Pablo Schreiber

Sharnell says: “This audiobook had me questioning whether I was listening to a real documentary. The full cast’s performance was that good—I actually paused a few times to Google the band, just to make sure they weren’t real.”

“Affording listeners the ultimate backstage pass, the format of this ‘oral history’—snippets compiled from interviews recorded four decades after the heyday of Daisy Jones & the Six—sets the stage for an outstanding full-cast presentation featuring 21 talented narrators.”—Library Journal starred review

Read by Carolyn Kang

Rachel says: “I LOVED Ling Ling Huang’s debut Natural Beauty. Her sophomore novel has all the heart and haunts of her first, enhanced by Kang’s excellent narration. Highly recommend for a subtler summer scares listen!”

“Huang is a master of mixing the speculative with the contemporary, harnessing near-future possibilities to show us just how far humanity will go to achieve the impossible while ignoring very real consequences.”—Booklist starred review

Read by Saskia Maarleveld

Elizabeth says: “Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods is a slow-burn suspense beautifully written and populated by a cast of expertly crafted characters. I thrilled in listening to the audiobook, read by Saskia Maarleveld, as she brought to vivid life the Adirondack setting, the inner lives of Moore’s characters, and the perfectly paced mystery. Gripping!”

“Maarleveld immerses listeners in this mystery, which is being hailed as reminiscent of Donna Tartt’s SECRET HISTORY.”—AudioFile

Read by Julia Whelan

Kelly says: “I am listening to A Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, the perfect combo of romance, intrigue, and how our families mess with our heads! Really fun listen especially while sitting in beach traffic.”

“Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan delights listeners with this heartfelt contemporary romance.”—AudioFile Earphones Award