Mid-Year Favorite Audiobooks

Plus my personal list of favorite audiobook narrators

Of the 66 books I’ve finished so far this year (at least as I sit down to type this newsletter), 38 of them have been audiobooks. That’s over half! I was an avid reader before I discovered audiobooks, but as a busy mom who works full time outside the home, I find myself being able to read even more books because I can read while doing something else (e.g., walking, cooking, folding laundry, or dissociating). I’d guess that anyone who is reading 75+ books a year is also utilizing audiobooks to accomplish that goal. Habit-stacking for the win!

I’m a fairly fast reader, but still can’t manage to read more than maybe 1.5 physical books in a week, reading at my normal pace. I typically listen to audiobooks at 1.2-1.5x speed. Much more and I struggle to keep up with the details. Audiobooks quiet my busy mind and help me focus on certain work tasks, which continues to surprise me as a visual learner! I also like listening to audiobooks when I want to re-read a story. I’ve listened to the audiobook for a few series right before a new release, and it’s been a great way to jog my memory.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the narrator can make or break a book. I tend to prefer the delivery to be straightforward, without over-the-top accents or performances. I’ve tried graphic audiobooks before, and they’re not my favorite. Keep scrolling for a list of my favorite audiobook narrators!

I think there’s a bit of a learning curve in general when it comes to audiobooks. They can be an adjustment, and it helps if you can sample the audio before borrowing or purchasing a title. If you like podcasts, I think you’ll find the transition easier. That was a main selling point in trying to convince my husband to listen to his first audiobook on runs.

Have I convinced you to listen to audiobooks yet?

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month. If you sign up for a Libro.fm monthly membership using this referral link, I’ll get a free audiobook! With Libro.fm, your audiobook purchases support local bookstores.

My friend Hannah texted me one morning this week asking for 5 books I’ve enjoyed so far this year, with bonus points if they were good on audio. I immediately consulted my Notion reading log. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that all the books I recommended are romances!

I’ve linked book titles to Libro.fm when available below.

1. Is She Really Going Out with Him by Sophie Cousens, 11 hours 42 minutes, narrated by Kerry Gilbert - an age-gap romance about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker. You can read my review here.

2. First Time Caller by B.K. Borrison, 11 hours 53 minutes, dual narration by E.J. Bingham & Hathaway Lee - A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy adaptation of Sleepless in Seattle. You can read my review here.

3. Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto, 9 hours 47 minutes, dual narration by Savannah Peachwood & Oliver Clarke - Two string musicians fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance. You can read my review here.

4. Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage, 8 hours 46 minutes, dual narration by Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor - A small-town cowboy romance in which enemies turn to lovers when they’re forced to work together during one hot summer. You can read my review here.

5. Swept Away by Beth O’Leary, 9 hours 52 minutes, dual narration by Connor Swindells & Rebekah Hinds - What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand? You can read my review here.

Bonus pick: Under Your Spell by Laura Wood, 10 hours 40 minutes, narrated by Ellie Heydon (currently on sale through the end of June 2025) - The daughter of an aging rock star finds herself working for the hottest musician on the planet and is shocked when sparks start to fly—especially since she swore she’d never, ever date a celebrity. You can read my review here.

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My Favorite Audiobook Narrators:

• Paul Woodson

• Julia Whelan*

• Caroline Hewitt

• Lisa Flanagan

• Callie Dalton

• Andrew Eiden

• Rupert Hawthorne

• Saskia Maarleveld

• Brittany Pressley

• Jason Clarke

• JF Harding

• Ellie Heydon

• Joshua Jackson

• Teddy Hamilton*

• Alex Finke

• Natalie Naudus

*I will drop everything to listen to a book they narrate.

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Audiobooks on my Library Holds List:

• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen

• When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (re-read)

• One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (re-read)

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Audiobooks on my immediate TBR List:

• Slow Burn Summer by Elsie Silver

• Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

• Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt

• Caught Up by Navessa Allen

• Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie

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That’s all from me today. Do you listen to audiobooks? Share an audiobook you listened to recently in the comments for others to check out!

Happy listening,

Elsewhere on the Internet: Goodreads / Storygraph / Pinterest

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