11 Must-Listen Audiobooks That Will Keep You Hooked From Start To Finish
Do you love audiobooks but struggle to find the right ones? Unlike picking up a traditional book, listening to an audiobook involves experiencing the story through a performer's voice. To ensure the right narrator enhances your listening experience, I’ve compiled a list of must-listen audiobooks for both classic and contemporary fiction lovers.
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Grab your headphones because here are 11 audiobook recommendations for you.
Timeless Classic Fiction Audiobook Recommendations
Classics can be challenging to listen to as audiobooks because of outdated diction or narrators who struggle to embody the language. However, I’ve found a handful of audiobooks that are worth your time, especially if you’re hesitant about reading classic literature. Start with this list:
1. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
2. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
3. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
4. My Antonia by Willa Cather
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Summary: An aging brother and sister seek extra help on their farm and turn to an orphanage for assistance. Although they requested a boy, Anne arrives and transforms their lives by teaching them the true meaning of love.
Review: Anne of Green Gables is a timeless tale about an orphan girl who finds her place among the flowers and follows the guidance of her heart. Anne quickly became one of my favorite characters, teaching us about stillness, individuality, and love. It's the perfect book to cozy up with during spring!
Narration: There are many versions available since it's a classic, but I recommend the one narrated by Rachael McAdams. She delivers an outstanding performance, showcasing her talent as an on-screen actress while capturing the characters' emotions within the pages, especially Anne. Rachael embodies Anne’s spirit with grace and vulnerability.
“Anne sat long at her window that night, accompanied by a glad content. The wind purred sorely in the cherry boughs, and the mint breaths came up to her.” — Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Summary: Mary Lennox is a sickly and spoiled child whose entire life turns upside down when she becomes an orphan. After she moves in with her uncle, Mary discovers multiple new allies and a garden that reveals more to her than she could have ever dreamed.
Review: Truthfully, The Secret Garden is another favorite that infused quite the impression on me the first time I listened to it. This story is a treasure trove of complex human emotions that will keep you scouring for more. But it's not just heavy in theme; this novel is playful and uplifting. The Secret Garden is about restoring faith, health, and happiness. Every breath heals and is perfect to read in the spring.
Narration: Carrie Hope Fletcher narrates this version and embodies the world and characters within this Secret Garden.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” —The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Summary: Billy is determined to buy himself some hunting dogs and finds no better companions than a couple of hounds— Old Dan and Little Anne. This endearing trio embarks on the adventures of their lives. Where the Red Fern Grows is a book about loyalty, grit, love, and loss.
Review: Where the Red Fern Grows hooked me from the moment I met Billy. His values and persistence make him a compelling character to follow, so when he can finally purchase the dogs he's been asking for, their loyalty makes this story that much more moving.
Narration: Anthony Heald's performance is heartfelt, with a love and reverie of this classic tale.
“On my way home I didn't walk on the ground. I was way up in the clouds just skipping along.”
—Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Summary: This novel unfolds through Jim's perspective; he is captivated by Antonia’s vibrant and untamed spirit, which we perceive through his narration. My Antonia is a story about multi-cultural pioneers taming the great plains and enduring the human condition.
Review: The atmosphere and tone gripped me in My Antonia. This book is set in late 19th century Nebraska and can be read as a series called The Great Plains Trilogy. I only listened to the final installment at the time because I didn't realize it was a series. However, you can read each book individually because they're about different characters. I would love to explore the other books.
Let us know in the comments below if you've read this trilogy and what's the best order to read them.
Narration: Jeff Cummings narrates this novel and gives an endearing performance as a man in love.
“That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.”
—My Antonia, Willa Cather
Contemporary fiction audiobook recommendations for book lovers
This recommendation list embodies books that have made me emote and explores themes of self-discovery and romance.
5. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
6. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
7. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
8. The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
9. Beach Read by Emily Henry
10. One Last Gift by Emily Stone
11. 100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Summary: We follow Eleanor. She lives a mundane life and never strays from her routines—until she meets the new IT guy. Their story collides when they aid an elderly man who fell in the street. Then, their three lives weave together in such realistic and meaningful ways. The impact they imbue on each other's growth is why I love this story. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is a beautiful story and breathtaking must-listen audiobook that you won't be able to put down. I will read anything by this author!
Review: This novel became one of my new favorite books because Honeyman wrote a true hero's journey. I fell in love with the protagonist because of her awkward social etiquette and fulfilled character arc. This book made me laugh and cry. This story fully embodies a human experience, and even though there is childhood trauma, Honeyman grounded the subject with grace and dignity.
Narration: Cathleen McCarron narrates this novel and truly brings Eleanor to life. She does a phenomenal job with all the characters and gives a colorful performance worth listening to. Although this audiobook is written and narrated with an English accent, don’t let that stop you from missing out on this gem.
“I simply didn't know how to make things better. I could not solve the puzzle of me.” —Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
Summary: Through a series of interviews, multiple characters explain their experience and connection with the protagonist. We uncover pieces of who she was through different perspectives. But did anyone really know her? Throughout her life, Athena felt a constant void that continuously nagged at her soul. The biggest question she consistently pursued an answer to was this: who am I?
Review: Oh, Paulo. One of my favorite authors pulls me into this mystical yet realistic world about a woman navigating motherhood and her soul. Paulo Coelho sends the reader on a journey of self-reflection and revelation with his main character Athena (also known as Sherine Khalil and Hagia Sophia). When Paulo writes, his themes are always universal, you can’t help but resonate with these stories.
Narration: Rita Wolf breathes life into Athena and the multiple transformations she undertakes. Her groundbreaking performance will shake you to the core.
"Don't be like those people who believe in "positive thinking" and tell themselves that they're loved and strong and capable. You don't need to do that because you know it already. And when you doubt it —which happens, I think, quite often at this stage of evolution — do as I suggested. Instead of trying to prove that you're better than you think, just laugh. Laugh at your worries and insecurities. View your anxieties with humor. It will be difficult at first, but you'll gradually get used to it. Now go back and meet all those people who think you know everything. Convince yourself that they're right, because we all know everything, it's merely a question of believing."
—The Witch of Portobello, Paulo Coelho
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Summary: Ove is a temperamental 59-year-old man. His life has structure and order; anything outside of his norm tends to piss him off, like other people parking in prohibited areas and driving in residential areas. He lost his job and wife - the only stable elements that brought his life meaning. Ove feels lost - he has no purpose, so he decides to kill himself. Suicide grows difficult when his new neighbors smash into his mailbox at the outset of moving in. With this new family around, every attempt falls short. What truly pulls him from death is that maybe he doesn't actually want to die. Ove must quell the pain of losing the only person in the world who loved him and learn to open his heart to life again.
Review: I love the themes in this book about aging, time, and love. My only issue is that Ove’s temperament is a bit overdone. His persistent anger and hostility burden the story, yet they stem from his experiences. Despite its emotional weight, it's a beautifully crafted narrative, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Narration: Narrated by J.K. Simmons, he perfectly embodies the cranky old man and leaves an audio impression you won’t forget.
"People said Ove saw the world in black and white. But she was color. All the color he had." —A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Summary: Mitch Albom takes us on a spiritual experience with ten passengers adrift at sea. While they float, they await and pray for aid from man or God to save them. After three days of drifting, a man floats to their raft and claims to be The Lord. He says he will save them all if the drifters believe in him; some do, but others couldn’t feel further from God. The Stranger in the Lifeboat makes us question our beliefs while taking us on a suspenseful journey of survival and mystery.
Review: The biggest issue I have with this story is the ending. It seemed like there was a huge build-up for an underwhelming ending. I won't spoil anything! Outside of that, this book is intriguing and worth the dive— even just for the experience. What would you say or do if The Lord was sitting in your lifeboat?
Narration: Albom narrates the novel and gives the intention he planned through his performance.
“It has always been a mystery to me, Annabelle, how beauty and anguish can share the same moment.”
—The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Mitch Albom
Beach Read by Emily Henry
Summary: Henry leads us through an entertaining yet heartfelt story about two polar opposite writers living next door to each other for three months. As they try to overcome writer's block, they plunge into the deal of their lives: they must write a new novel in the opposing genre. These two discover more about themselves and their craft through the process.
Review: I might be biased since I'm a writer, but I love this book. It's wildly entertaining and endearing. Witnessing two authors struggle with their creativity is relatable and resonated with me as I have dealt with deadlines, writer’s block, and questioning my pursuit.
Narration: Julia Whelan narrates this tale and radiates the individuality of both character’s voices.
“I’ve never met someone who is so perfectly my favorite person.”
—Beach Read, Emily Henry
One Last Gift by Emily Stone
Summary: Cassie and Tom have been close since they lost their parents. They even have the same friend Sam. You can always find this trio together–until Tom passes in an accident. Alone. Sam is nowhere to be found. In fact, if he had been with Tom, it wouldn’t have happened— or so Cassie claims. Torn apart by the loss, Cassie can’t see how to let it go. Suddenly, an envelope from Tom appears, containing one final spectacular scavenger hunt. But Cassie can’t solve it alone and discovers she needs more help than she realized—she needs Sam's help.
Review: This is a cozy winter book that I couldn’t stop listening to. One Last Gift is about love, loss, and finding your way back. It's the perfect story to read around the holidays and reminds us how to move through grief.
Narration: Heather Long pours her soul into these characters, and we feel every heartbeat.
“She was learning that grief was circular, never really going away, coming around and around again. But each time, she was getting more and more able to deal with it.” —One Last Gift, Emily Stone
100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons
Summary: Tessa is involved in a car accident that renders her blind for 100 days. Afraid and angry that she may never recover or write for her poetry blog again, her grandparents send out an advertisement looking for someone to help her—Weston is eager. But there is one condition: no one can tell Tessa he lost his legs. Because of this hidden fact, Tessa treats him like a normal person, not like someone with a disability—something he hasn’t felt in a long time. But he can’t keep it a secret forever. Tessa and Weston learn to love, hope, and persevere through adversity.
Review: This book is a ray of sunshine. Abbie Emmons is one of my favorite modern authors because she writes simplistic plots and turns them into resonating tales through her dynamic characters.
Narration: Abbie Emmons narrates this novel and gives the performance of her life.
“The hard thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same.” —100 Days of Sunlight, Abbie Emmons
That’s it—my list of must-listen audiobooks, featuring both contemporary and classic fiction. I hope these books provide you with the same sense of catharsis that they have given me. Please share your thoughts in the comments below if you've listened to any of these titles, we’d love to hear from you!
Happy reading!
