One of my top reads of 2025, this book was exceptional on audio. A retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective — yes, it’s every bit as sharp and compelling as that premise sounds.

A family story spanning two generations, gorgeously read by Lynette R. Freeman and Simone McIntyre. The portraits of love lost and found, family torn apart, and a mother’s endless devotion were vivid, and they still haven’t faded. (And yes, now I want to make a black cake. If I ever do, I’ll come back and report on that, too.)

This is the book that planted the seed for Words On Location, my whole “book + travel” obsession. After listening to this story, I knew I had to visit the island of Guernsey. The trip was derailed by the pandemic, but it’s still on my bucket list. In the meantime, a transportive multi-cast narration (by Paul Boehmer, Susan Duerden, Rosalyn Landor, John Lee, and Juliet Mills) gets me most of the way there.

Julia Whelan shows up again on one of my lists, and for good reason. The range of emotion her voice carries is iconic. If you are one of the handful of people who haven’t read this one yet, consider this one on audio. I promise you won’t regret it.

If The Women is on your or your book club’s radar, I’ve created a done-for-you book club kit that has everything you need, from discussion questions to activities to literary field trips (it’s pay-what-you-want, even free).

Possibly the best audiobook I’ve listened to this year. Julia Whelan (told you she’d be back) and Sean Patrick Hopkins are both excellent, but what really sets this one apart is the production. The audio effects are some of the best I’ve heard. An easy pick for my all-time list.

Can a book about the lives of midwives working in some of the poorest communities in London’s East End be captivating? Absolutely — as long as it’s written by Jennifer Worth and read by Nicola Barber! I listened to the entire first book in a single day while taking down Christmas decorations, and I was surprisingly sad when it ended. Good thing there are more in the series.

• Call the Midwife: Shadows of the Workhouse
• Call the Midwife: Farewell to the East End

This book is a five-star read on the page, but Marin Ireland (yes, her again, she’s that good) takes it up another level entirely. Anyone who can make an octopus feel like a fully realized character has serious skills.

A reimagining of the Cinderella story from the stepmother’s point of view, and I loved every minute of it, largely thanks to Bessie Carter. I’m the type of listener who speeds up nearly every audiobook I hit play on — except hers. Ms. Carter’s voice deserves every minute of any book she narrates.

Side Note: This book will give you much to discuss and would make a fantastic book club pick.

Written and read by Viola Davis in her own distinctive voice, this one is as much a treat for the ears as it is for the mind. A great narrator can shape both the setting and the feel of the story, and Ms. Davis does exactly that. Her pacing is slow and deliberate, so you can safely bump up the playback speed without losing a thing.

An Ann Patchett story narrated by Tom Hanks? Literary fiction doesn’t get much better than that pairing. I listened to this book years ago, and what I remember even more than the plot is how the listening experience itself made me feel.

The multicast narration is what makes this one sing. It was an astonishing story, but the different points of view voiced with such distinct personalities upped the emotional ante. Christina Moore, Johnny Heller, Roger Wayne, and Will Damron made this book an auditory hit.