If you’re new to audiobooks, you might get the advice to “Just start listening!” But, honestly, I don’t think that’s very helpful. The real question isn’t whether you should try audiobooks, but which audiobook is right for you. The experience can be completely different depending on the genre, narrator, general production, and even how you listen.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get into audiobooks, we’ve put together a guide to make that first pick a little easier. Read on to discover some of the best audiobooks by genre—from mystery to romance, sci-fi to nonfiction—all recommended by our bookselling partners.
Why some genres are better in audio than in print
Genre choice really matters when it comes to audiobooks. A great narration can bring certain genres to life that you simply don’t get from print books. A memoir read by the author feels deeply intimate, a thriller becomes more intense through pacing, and a romance gains chemistry with dual narration. Finding the right audiobook genres for you lets you experience what audiobooks do best.
Already hooked on true crime podcasts? You’ll love these
If you’re already into podcasts, the best mystery audiobooks are a natural next step. Think of them as binge-worthy podcasts with storytelling, world-building, and characters. A well-timed pause, a shift in tone, or even suspenseful sound effects let you dive much deeper into the case. Chilling stories come alive in your ears through audiobooks!
London Falling
“Radden Keefe takes a single incident and provides depth and context. Come for the intrigue, stay for the fascinating history lesson. Encompassing Imperialism, the Holocaust, the Ugandan South Asian purge, Scotland Yard, tax haven upon tax haven, and the shady characters of various London criminals, the breadth of this dynamic work of narrative nonfiction is remarkable. Utterly addictive, Radden Keefe is a fantastic narrator and you’ll feel like you’re binging your favorite podcast.”
— Heidi, Split Rock Books
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The Art Thief
“The Art Thief tells the true story of the world’s most prolific art thief, Stéphane Breitwieser. In this gripping portrait of obsession, love, and crime, you will read all about Stéphane’s heists and how he amassed a collection of art in his mother’s attic, worth an estimated two billion dollars. And no, that was not a mistype – an estimated two billion dollars worth of stolen art. This was a stunning listen elicited several, audible gasps.”
— Maxwell, Paragraphs Bookstore
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The Yahoo Boys
“The author’s approach to this book was very unexpected. Because his mother was a victim of one of these scammers, I expected him to be very detached from the perpetrator, but instead, his examination of the culture and desperation surrounding Yahoo was incredibly thoughtful and empathetic. He handles both victim and perpetrator with equal care and deep examination. I enjoyed this far more than I expected.”
— Bethany, The Little Book
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Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
“This book is a cozy mystery about the soul-healing power of a found family. What hooked me was Vera’s indomitable personality—and her cooking. The descriptions of meals had my mouth watering. Jesse Sutanto weaves humor and lightness into a story about loneliness and finding yourself again after years of manipulation. With such likeable characters, I forgot I was reading a murder mystery!”
— Courtney, Greene Books
View the audiobookFor the hopeless romantics: When two voices are better than one
It takes two to fall in love–and the best romance audiobooks often do, too! Dual narration lets you hear both sides of the love story, making every spark and slow burn feel even more real, as if you’re right there with both characters as they fall in love.
Lights Out
“Lights Out has all you could ask for in an audiobook. With hilarious chemistry between the two main characters, a MCC (main cat character) who steals the show, all the spice, and a specific kink you didn’t know you needed in your life, this book delivers to the unhinged readers society. The narrators were chefs kiss perfection and paired with the use of duet narration, they took this book even higher, if that’s even possible.”
— Katee & Olivia, BAGG Books
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A Curse of Shadows and Ice
“A unique, spicy Beauty and the Beast retelling with an arranged marriage, a curse on the land, and a prophecy. The audiobook is a duet narration and done so well!”
— Jodi, The Book Shelf
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When the Tides Held the Moon
“An absolutely beautiful love story that takes place in the early 1900s in New York City. This gave me The Song of Achilles vibes but with a merman and a whole cast of found family. The narrators are fantastic and I will definitely seek out books that they narrate going forward. This is also a great summer read with the oceans and sweltering heat and carnival rides.”
— Krystal, The Bookies Bookstore
View the audiobookWorld-builders and stargazers: Fantasy & sci-fi even better on audio
Full-cast productions transport you straight into another world, while series pull you into immersive universes. The best fantasy and sci-fi audiobooks often feel the most cinematic. If you’re just starting out, shorter standalones are a great entry point before committing to a long series.
All Systems Red
“Not everyone’s a series reader, but 6 out of the 7 are novellas–and they are just so good […] The audiobooks with Kevin R. Free are superb–one of my most favorite audiobook narrators […] Murderbot is just like us (except for the killing machine part–a sarcastic, lovable, anxiety-ridden being who cocoons themself in media for comfort.”
— Melissa, Dungeon’s Gate
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Operation Bounce House
“Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman is an absolutely bananas ride. It’s Ender’s Game if it grew up on the wrong side of town and the roles were reversed. It’s darkly funny and irreverent. It deals with tough real-world issues without feeling too heavy. I never had any idea what was coming next, but I needed to know.”
— Anna, Katy Budget Books
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You Weren’t Meant To Be Human
“This book is incredible, one of the best full-on horrors I’ve read. The fact that it’s full of wriggling worms is just too perfect because it’s burrowed its way into my brain and will absolutely stick with me for a long while. This book is also the closest I will ever (hopefully) be to getting slapped in the brain with a hunk of raw chicken, and I’m still recommending it, so well done, Andrew Joseph White. There are BRUTALLY disturbing scenes, which fit the story amazingly/are necessary, and to avoid any spoilers, I’ll just recommend that anyone who’s interested look up this book’s trigger warnings before diving in. Major props to the narrator and the added sound effects for really making this book come alive; it’s an excellently crafted listen. ”
— Liam, Tsunami Books
View the audiobookThe documentary lover’s gateway: Nonfiction that reads like a story
The best nonfiction audiobooks feel like listening to a great podcast, as if someone is telling you a fascinating story. And when authors narrate their own work, the story is less like a lecture and more like a conversation.
The Serviceberry
“Fans of Braiding Sweetgrass, rejoice! Robin Wall Kimmerer has blessed us with a compulsively shareable contemplation of nature’s exquisite gift economy and how it can inspire us to imagine and act toward a saner, more sustainable, equitable, and joyful biophilic economy. As I was reading, I kept feeling that a new classic had arrived in the nick of time, one I imagine becoming an annual tradition to read, revisit, and grow from each time.”
— Megan, Underground Books
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How Queer Bookshops Changed the World
“A.J. West provides a necessary and inspiring overview of queer bookshop histories. I cannot overstate how much I loved this book and A.J.’s narration.. West captures the tangible impact of queer bookshops on the publishing industry, as well as on the lives of countless individuals. This book does what the best nonfiction should: it pushes readers to dig deeper into the stories of those who fought tirelessly to put queer literature into the public’s hands. A perfect read/listen for anyone interested in queer history, bookstores, and the power of community.”
— Hailey, Three Avenues Bookshop
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Against Breaking
“Ada Limón’s meditation shows us that poetry is more accessible than many readers may think. We turn to poetry during catastrophe, stress, grief; poetry is powerful, and it will help us gain compassion and connection with the world around us. I hope others will read Limón’s words and think, “Poetry is magic, it matters, and perhaps we should all give it a chance.”
— Vern, Quail Ridge Books
View the audiobookStraight from their lips: Memoirs you need to hear, not read
We always recommend memoirs on audio—there’s just something special about hearing someone’s life story in their own voice. Hearing the laughs, pauses, and emotions makes it feel so much more personal. Also, there’s no better way to get to know your favorite celebrities than listening to the best self-narrated memoirs on audio.
Mother Mary Comes to Me
“Sometimes memoirs are fascinating due solely to the life lived by their subject; sometimes the lyricism of the prose is what propels you through. But then, you get a book like this and are just slammed by the unbelievable writing, galvanized by the force of life. This memoir, grounded in Roy’s relationship with her difficult mother, is a fascinating look into an activist writer’s life unlike any you have read. Intimate and uncompromising.”
— Michelle, Cavalier House Books
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Strangers
“Belle Burden tells her story of an abrupt divorce (and its aftermath) after a twenty year marriage involving children. This book heavily considers the question of whether you ever truly know someone the way you think you do. Belle’s courage ultimately makes this book one about female empowerment, too. I just absolutely loved it!”
— Katie, Lemuria Books
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Crying in H Mart
“Michelle Zauner goes into detail about her mothers cancer, the nights she spent next to her bed, the secrets she learned about her later on, the small yet wonderful moments she remembers with clarity, and of course the raw emotion that goes with losing a mother […] Michelle Zauner does a phenomenal job at reading her book, her voice rhythmic yet steady.”
— Makayla, Tattered Cover
View the audiobookThe literary warm blanket: Cozy listens for when you need a hug
Comforting audiobooks are a great place to start if you’re not sure where to begin. They’re immersive without demanding all of your attention, and easy to pick back up whenever you have a few minutes.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store
“The Dallergut Dream Department Store is the perfect cozy listen. Shannon Tyo brings a great level of curiosity and compassion into each chapter she narrates. Miye Lee brought together a wholesome story about an original world that shows what dreams can mean to people. Truly loved this, a great start for first time audiobook listeners! ”
— Kat, Bookish Modesto
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Moss’d in Space
“Rebecca Thorne has done it again! This cozy sci-fi is perfect for fans of Doctor Who. There’s rich and diverse characters, incredible alien species, and so much humor you will be laughing constantly. Thorne is an expert at quippy, witty lines that show humanity at their best and at their worst. The vast universe she’s created is one I’d like to live in forever (specifically on a ship run by sentient moss, thank you very much).”
— Summer, Under the Umbrella
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The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
“This book is a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. From the quirky cast of characters to the less than traditional love story, this book will bloom in you and make you feel whole. Plus, the audiobook narrator is truly excellent!”
— Leah, Scrawl Books
View the audiobookGot a weekend? These audiobooks fit in under six hours
Starting with a short audiobook is a great way to try the format—easy to finish, low commitment, and a fun way to discover the joy of listening. You might just find the best first audiobook for you!
How to Defend Books and Why
“Great info shared through relatable anecdotes and stories, Danny Caine reminds us why access to books is necessary and that the fight to keep them available to EVERYONE, including children, teens, adults and incarcerated people is within our grasp. If the minority of folks can be loud enough to enact bans, the majority can be loud enough to remove them. Inspirational and informative — an empowering read!”
— Bailey, Birdie Books
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Cat Love
“Poet Tomás Q. Morín’s quirky debut is uncategorizable. Is charming philosophical dystopia a thing? Narrating this elegiac novel about love, memory, and intention is a cat, one who enjoys life with her cohabitant (née owner) Mustache, until she is kidnapped and placed in a literal Schrödinger’s box. What becomes of her, her beloved Mustache, and a society that allows for such experiments to happen, is for us to discover. I’m not even a cat person and I’m all in for this emotional journey.”
— Melinda, Bookshop Santa Cruz
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My Sister, the Serial Killer
“This was such a wild, fast-paced thriller, and I never had any clue what was going to happen next! I love the depictions of sisters and parents and how frustrating it can be dealing with other people who are experiencing the same tumultuous reality. The author craftfully depicts how easy it is to lose yourself in someone you love’s mess without allowing room or space for yourself, and how one action can cause a series of other actions.”
— Tori T.M., The Bottom Knox
View the audiobookFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best audiobook for someone who has never listened before?
If you’re just getting with audiobooks, explore our list of audiobooks for beginners to help!
Are audiobooks better than reading?
Neither is better—think of audiobooks as another format, not a substitute for print or ebooks. Plus, audiobooks are reading. The best choice is the one that helps you enjoy more books!
What genre of audiobook should I start with?
Start with a genre you already love, or areas that interest you in other facets of life, like television, movies, or podcasts.
How long should my first audiobook be?
Don’t worry about length too much—time flies if the story really pulls you in! Though a shorter listen is an easy, low-pressure way to see if audiobooks are right for you.
Can I listen to audiobooks for free?
Absolutely! Explore our free listens playlist or sample audiobook excerpts to try before you commit.
Support your indie bookshop: Audiobooks and Libro.fm
It’s a great reminder that discovering audiobooks doesn’t have to happen only on a screen. All it takes is a creative display and an interactive experience.
With Libro.fm, your audiobooks always support the independent bookshop of your choice, no matter if you’re buying them via membership, credit bundles, or à la carte purchases.
We partner with more than 4,000 indies across the globe. If you’ve spotted a fun audiobook display at your local bookshop, they might just be one of our amazing bookselling partners!
Want to get started?
Start a new Libro.fm one-credit per month membership using code SWITCH and you’ll get three audiobooks for the price of one!