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Nearly half of current audiobook consumers had borrowed a digital audiobook from their library in the last year, according to the survey. “The BookTok/Bookstagram space has changed discoverability,” says Jolene Barto, marketing director of Dreamscape Media. “And with Spotify entering as a retailer this year, we’re seeing new opportunities.
PREMIUM
The Dredge
A promising debut paired with a deft narrator make this an enjoyable and satisfying listening experience for suspense fans.
PREMIUM
Safe and Sound
McHugh’s atmospheric latest traces the story of a teenage girl who tries to leave her suffocating small town but vanishes without a trace. The many suspects and twists and turns will keep listeners spellbound.
Despite some unevenness in the quality of the essays, the narration is good, and this collection addresses important issues with fresh insights. Recommended for listeners seeking a blend of humor and thoughtful commentary on race, culture, and relationships.
PREMIUM
The Prophet and the Idiot
Jonasson’s absurdist novel will appeal to those seeking a grimly witty story of misadventures and unlikely friendships. Share with fans of Marianne Cronin’s The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.
PREMIUM
The Road Trip Rewind
A humorous and nostalgic rom-com for fans of Ashley Poston’s The Seven Year Slip.
PREMIUM
Real Americans
Khong’s (Goodbye, Vitamin) narrative sheds new light on being the caretaker of one’s own complex origin story. Listeners will find the Chens’ journey a testament to the complexities of what it means to be a “real” American.
Whodunit buffs will enjoy this witty romp and marvel at how the author has woven plausible outcomes, eras later, for the heroines Austen carefully crafted. Gray doesn’t miss a beat to complicate matters for her sleuthing, would-be lovers and leaves listeners eager for more.
PREMIUM
Under Your Spell
Wood’s novel is the perfect summer romance, with the push and pull of will-they-won’t-they and a sweetly satisfying ending.
PREMIUM
The Guncle Abroad
Rowley’s outstanding follow-up to The Guncle evokes the magic of the first book and will be an auditory treat for Rowley’s many fans.
PREMIUM
The Ragpicker
Dane’s expressive latest should strike an emotional chord for fans of stories about survival and humanity after the end.
PREMIUM
Rebel Rising
A funny, poignant, and relatable celebrity memoir that will surely garner Wilson more fans.
Listeners may want to have tissues handy as they learn how the couple grows stronger, supports their fostered children, and eventually meets the three children who would become their own. A must-listen for those seeking an insider’s take on the child welfare system.
A horrific and galvanizing look into the hidden side of immigrant incarceration, highly recommended for listeners interested in social activism, politics, and immigration policy.
While the print version of Fauci’s debut memoir may be an excellent purchase, the audio disappoints because of Fauci’s narratorial shortcomings. Best for die-hard fans and those who appreciated Peter Piot’s No Time To Lose.
Libraries may wish to buy the print copy for bibliotherapy collections centered on substance-use disorder and AA, but the audiobook is strictly optional purchase.
PREMIUM
The Marriage Sabbatical
Recommended for readers of relationship fiction and authors like Jennifer Weiner and Elin Hilderbrand.
PREMIUM
One of Our Kind
A gripping book for those seeking a suspenseful novel that grapples with race, identity, and privilege. Listeners who enjoyed Jordan Peele’s Get Out will want to check out this provocative slow-burn thriller, sure to terrify and spark intense conversation in equal measure.
Upholt’s thought-provoking natural history considers the past and the possible future of the Mississippi River. An excellent recommendation for those interested in the intersection of history, the environment, and public works.
PREMIUM
The Murder Inn
The suspense and the body count mount in Patterson and Fox’s exciting thriller, a follow-up to their bestselling The Inn. Fans of this popular writing duo will be satisfied.
A terrifying tale for fans of Christopher Golden’s The House of Last Resort. Listeners will be hooked from the beginning and may find themselves unable to hit pause.
PREMIUM
The Father She Went To Find
Wilson’s (The Dead Husband) propulsive psychological thriller boasts an intriguing premise and plenty of narrow escapes. It’s occasionally over the top, but riveting.
PREMIUM
The Hunter’s Daughter
A riveting story, combining elements of a psychological thriller and supernatural horror with discussions of mental health.
PREMIUM
The Same Bright Stars
Sensitive, character-driven literary fiction, satisfying and quietly nostalgic. Recommended for those who enjoyed Jennifer Close’s Marrying the Ketchups.
PREMIUM
Road to Ruin
Lee creates a literary cocktail that will dance upon the tastebuds of fans of Mad Max, the popular video game Borderlands, and Dungeons & Dragons.
An exceptional collection of essays evoking the clickety-clack of the tracks and the thinking space afforded by train travel.
Sepúlveda’s (The Shadow of What We Were) tale and Guerra’s impeccable narration offer a profound exploration of human resilience and people’s enduring connection to nature. Highly recommended for all literary fiction collections.
A highly recommended, refreshing, and hilarious counterpoint to the often-negative stereotypes associated with aging. Pair with Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck or Steven Petrow’s Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old.
PREMIUM
Wilderness Reform
Supernatural horror and summer camp folklore make for a thrilling and entertaining ride. Recommended for fans of Nick Cutter’s The Troop or Chuck Tingle’s Camp Damascus.
Listeners seeking classically told horror with the bite of visceral splatterpunk need look no further. A mesmerizing and unputdownable collection that shocks, provokes, and appalls.
PREMIUM
When We Were Silent
The audiobook, while filled with upsetting moments of grooming and abuse, will cause listeners to speed to the end to find out if Lou receives justice. Recommend to readers of noir mysteries and psychological suspense.
PREMIUM
When Among Crows
A great recommendation for listeners seeking an action-packed fantasy without the romance. Recommend to fans of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods or Cassandra Clare’s “The Shadowhunter Chronicles” series.
PREMIUM
When I Was Alice
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a historical Hollywood mystery with a time-travel twist. Recommended for fans of Renee Patrick and Kelley Armstrong.
PREMIUM
The Return of Ellie Black
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intricate, intensifying suspense about kidnapping and control. Recommended for fans of Stacy Willingham, Karin Slaughter, and Amy Tintera.
PREMIUM
The Library of Borrowed Hearts
Gilmore’s (The Lonely Hearts Book Club) romantic tale is recommended for fans of bookish listens with a twist.
PREMIUM
The Sleepwalkers
A bleakly amusing he said/she said that makes excellent use of the audio format.
This nuanced work on the history of museums addresses debates about cultural appropriation and offers solutions to help museum workers become more adept at addressing colonial legacies. A good pairing with Bénédicte Savoy’s Africa’s Struggle for Its Art, which describes African nations’ attempts to repatriate looted artworks.
PREMIUM
The Main Character
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking compelling contemporary suspense with nods to Agatha Christie classics. Recommended for fans of Laura Dave, Alice Feeney, and Paula Hawkins.
PREMIUM
One Last Word
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a techy together-again romantic comedy that is upbeat and amusing. Recommended for fans of Ali Hazelwood, Lynn Painter, and Alisha Rai.
PREMIUM
This Summer Will Be Different
A fun romantic romp with a lovable cast of characters as warm as the summer sun.
A must-listen, providing insight into the imprisonment of Japanese American people and suggesting connections to current sociopolitical battle lines. Those interested in furthering their knowledge will want to check out Only What We Could Carry, edited by Lawson Fusao Inada, or Abe’s We Hereby Refuse, coauthored with Tamiko Nimura.
PREMIUM
Tell Me Who You Are
For fans of intense psychological thrillers in the vein of Stacy Willingham’s A Flicker in the Dark.
PREMIUM
Pay Dirt
The disappearance of a young athlete and the unearthing of a property’s seamy secrets makes for compelling listening. Paretsky’s many fans will clamor for this.
PREMIUM
The Limits
This coming-of-age story, simmering with tension and insight, should have broad appeal.
PREMIUM
Welcome Home, Caroline Kline
Recommended for libraries seeking new titles for book groups and for fans of Linda Holmes and Marian Keyes.
Graff’s mighty work is a timely update to Russell Miller’s Nothing Less Than Victory and should appeal to fans of the movie Saving Private Ryan or the Band of Brothers miniseries. Essential for all WWII collections.
PREMIUM
The Bump
Karger’s sophomore novel (after Best Men) takes listeners on an epic road trip across the United States with a loving but still growing couple. Their bumpy but uplifting babymoon will have listeners rooting for the charming fathers-to-be.
PREMIUM
The Summer of Love and Death
Fans of this series and those who enjoy murder mysteries should enjoy this deft and surprising police procedural.
PREMIUM
Swamp Kings: The Story of the Murdaugh Family of South Carolina & a Century of Backwoods Power
A solid recommendation for true crime buffs and those who enjoyed Mandy Matney’s Blood on Their Hands.
PREMIUM
The Lady He Lost
Delacour’s debut romance is sure to delight those seeking historical romance with echoes of Persuasion and the TV show Poldark.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking cinematic science biography. Recommended for fans of Markel’s previous medical histories, such as The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek.
PREMIUM
Twilight Territory
Romance, war, and the politics of colonialism come together in a tragic, intricately described historical fiction.
Enhanced by strong narration, this timely debut sensitively addresses a crucial and divisive topic. Pair with Kathleen M. Crowther’s Policing Pregnant Bodies or Felicia Kornbluh’s A Woman’s Life Is a Human Life.
PREMIUM
Tree Pose
An entertaining, superbly narrated audio mystery for those seeking action, intrigue, and romance.
This will have listeners believing in a new, inclusive resurgence of the urban fantasy subgenre. Recommended for fans of Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter” series.
PREMIUM
Truly, Madly, Deeply
Lambda Literary Award winner Bellefleur (The Fiancée Farce) is a genius when it comes to contemporary queer romances. Her newest novel, full of delicious thrills and steamy intimacy, is a delight.
PREMIUM
The Familiar
Bardugo’s venture into the Spanish Golden Age translates well into audio, emphasizing a deeply seductive and lushly detailed atmosphere that intrigues and delights. Suggest to listeners of romantasy and those who enjoy fantastical elements in historical settings.
PREMIUM
The Lost Story
Shaffer’s (The Wishing Game) second novel presents a marvelous fairy-tale world, channeling the nostalgic wonder of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. Despite some similarities in the characters’ voices, this enchanting portal story is highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Old Flames and New Fortunes
A warm start to a small-town, magic-laced romance series. Recommended for fans of witchy romances in the vein of Ann Aguirre’s Witch Please.
PREMIUM
Summer After Summer
A modern take on a classic novel, recommended for fans of other Austen retellings such as Taylor Hahn’s The Lifestyle or Vanessa King’s A Certain Appeal.
PREMIUM
The Gathering
Tudor’s latest, an atmospheric blend of horror, fantasy, and police procedural, is both riveting and highly recommended.
Listeners who enjoyed Madia’s first memoir will be thrilled to hear more about her life, her struggles and successes, and her amazing dogs.
PREMIUM
One of Us Knows
A twisty, atmospheric thriller with a creepy gothic setting and a cast of unforgettable characters. For fans of Maria Dong’s Liar, Dreamer, Thief.
PREMIUM
Reboot
Zany and full of surprises, this inventive novel will keep listeners engaged and amazed.
PREMIUM
Not in Love
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a steamy, sex-positive contemporary romance about biotech and betrayal. Recommended for fans of Chloe Liese, Abby Jimenez, and Elena Armas.
PREMIUM
Pearce Oysters
This tale of heartache and destruction is both moving and compelling. Share with listeners seeking layered, issue-oriented fiction.
PREMIUM
You Know What You Did
A layered psychological thriller examining the complexities of mental illness and healing. For fans of Lisa Jewell or Gillian Flynn.
PREMIUM
The Material
Thoughtful and profound, but less funny than one might expect, this examination of the lives of comedy students may appeal to fans of Julius Taranto’s How I Won a Nobel Prize.
This is a powerful work with beautiful prose, heartbreaking dialogue, and emotional heft. The superb narration enhances the book, making it a valuable addition to any audio fiction collection.
PREMIUM
A Grave Robbery
A sparkling production and highly recommended purchase for any audio mystery collection. Recommend to fans of Elizabeth Peters’s Amelia Peabody series.
A satisfying mystery, enhanced by excellent narration and an intriguing introduction to Saffron’s Moriarty.
PREMIUM
A Flame in the North
Saintcrow opens her new “Black Land’s Bane” series with the greatest hits of high fantasy in a narrative paralleling the works of Tolkien to a degree that’s impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, Solveig and Arneoir’s introduction to the battle against the Enemy, not so defeated as they once supposed, will have listeners anxious for the next series installment.
PREMIUM
A Shore Thing
A touching and poignant queer romance, recommended for fans of Alexis Hall’s Something Spectacular.
A haunting story, interlacing exciting tales of adventure with philosophical musings on the human condition.
PREMIUM
American Daughters
A winning portrait of a complicated friendship, linking the popular Alice Roosevelt to the lesser-known Portia Marshall Washington Pittman. Recommended for fans of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray’s First Ladies or Stephanie Marie Thorton’s American Princess.
PREMIUM
All’s Fair in Love and War
A sweet Regency romance with enjoyable characters and sensually described tension that will keep listeners enchanted until the end. Recommended for fans of Martha Waters’s To Have and To Hoax.
PREMIUM
Blue Ruin
A moving examination of art, friendship, and desire, perfect for those who enjoyed Chelsea Martin’s Tell Me I’m an Artist.
This literary prequel warns against current tall tales masquerading as truth and will appeal to fans of Gregory Maguire’s and Ann Claycomb’s repurposed classics.
This audio will appeal to those seeking a moving memoir about accepting mortality with grace. Recommended for fans of inspiring autobiographies about end-of-life care, such as Amy Wright Glenn’s Holding Space or Barbara Becker’s Heartwood.
PREMIUM
Blessings
Ibeh’s sobering tale sensitively traces a young gay man’s journey, shielded by his mother’s prayers and bolstered by his own convictions and the knowledge that healing is possible even in the face of adversity.
PREMIUM
Being Reflected Upon
Heartfelt and affecting, Notley’s poetry leaps from the page and straight into the imagination. Essential listening for fans of Notley’s work. Those unfamiliar with her poetry will want to dive into her earlier collections.
PREMIUM
An Inconvenient Wife
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a contemporary cozy-ish mystery with a Tudor twist. Recommended for fans of Jilly Gagnon, Richard Osman, and Angie Kim.
PREMIUM
Bless Your Heart
This campy and creepy debut full of Southern charm includes a cast of distinctive characters enhanced by the audio experience. Ryan hits the sweet spot of combining horror and mystery with humor that will attract a wide variety of listeners, including ones who may not think they enjoy horror.
PREMIUM
Cobra Pose
Listeners hoping for a little armchair travel, complete with a fun mystery and endearing characters, need look no further.
An excellent reading of a pivotal naval encounter that changed the tide of the war. Recommended for those who enjoyed Stephen Budiansky’s Perilous Fight, James P. Delgado’s War at Sea, or Garrett M. Graff’s When the Sea Came Alive.
PREMIUM
Cold to the Touch
A taut, well-executed mystery/thriller for fans of Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak or Liam Campbell series.
PREMIUM
Cinema Love
A standout debut that is both a queer love story and an immigrant tale. Tang is a writer to watch.
Crisp scholarly dryness pairs perfectly with barely contained drama and a potent smidge of urban legend horror.
PREMIUM
Cirque du Slay
With its intriguing circus setting and fascinating glimpses into the main characters’ dating columns, this mystery satisfies. Suggest to fans of Mark Waddell’s The Body in the Back Garden or Ellen Hart’s “Jane Lawless” mystery series.
A compelling thriller based on the work of actual 19th-century doctors, serving as a chilling reminder that women have long been deprived of bodily autonomy.
Huston’s (Skinner) newest is an excellent listen for those seeking a reality-bending fantasy with a quirky protagonist. Libraries hoping to offer tales that are off the beaten path will want to check this out.
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