What Makes for a Good Road Trip Audiobook?

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

By Benjamin Stevenson, narrated by Barton Welch

“A perfect blend of classic and modern writing, humor and wit, mystery and character development. Narrator Barton Welch is supreme and having read this book in print and audio, I highly recommend the audio version. The author makes the proper modifications for audio and Welch’s execution is flawless. Plenty of twists and I did not see the end coming, despite the author’s guidance and recaps.”

— Kara, Tia Book Cellar

Fairy Tale

By Stephen King, narrated by Seth Numrich & Stephen King

“This book is for anyone who grew up reading Tolkien (or Stephen King, for that matter) under the covers with a flashlight, for anyone who has longed to turn back time, and, most importantly, for anyone who has ever loved a dog. Fairy Tale has my whole heart. Seth Numrich’s earnest narration and King’s guest appearance makes this a must-listen.”

— Felix, Kingfisher Bookstore

Horror Movie

By Paul Tremblay, narrated by full cast

“This was an amazing listening experience. The writing flows like a long awaited tell-all memoir, and the twist at the end was so eerily foreshadowed that suspense ran through every minute. Every actor played their role to perfection, and the added sound effects and music made Horror Movie‘s in-book scenes feel all too real. This is one thriller that will keep your attention from start to finish.”

— Amanda Scroggins, Watermark Books

I Was A Teenage Slasher

By Stephen Graham Jones, narrated by Michael Crouch & Stephen Graham Jones

“SGJ is the master of the slasher novel. Tolly Driver tells his story of the summer of 1989 in west Texas, where he became much more than a slightly outcast, bullied, and introverted seventeen-year-old. Who could have predicted that a teen party and a peanut allergy would lead to Tolly’s transformation into a teenage slasher and the deaths of more than a dozen people in his hometown? Tolly takes his time with the story, but once the slashing starts, buckle up! It’s a crazy ride! “

— Suzanne, Underground Books

Mexican Gothic

By Silvia Moreno-Garcia, narrated by Frankie Corzo

“Delightfully creepy. Dread builds steadily throughout the book. As a listener, you know that something is wrong but it’s hard to put your finger on it. Like the main character, you will doubt everything: the characters, their motivations and even your own deductive abilities. This book keeps you on your toes, flitting from one theory to the next. Mexican Gothic takes all the best of traditions of gothic house horror and infuses it with something new: the evils of colonialism. Listen carefully and consider keeping the lights on!”

— Samantha, Rediscovered Books

The House in the Cerulean Sea

By TJ Klune, narrated by Daniel Henning

“There aren’t many books that can leave you wishing you were a parentless magical child feared by the rest of the society. But with characters like the ones in The House in the Cerulean Sea, you can’t help but wish you belonged to such a wonderful, magical family. And the dialogue! You will not be able to drive while listening to it because you’ll be laughing way too hard!”

— Chris, Belmont Books

Babel

By R. F. Kuang, narrated by Chris Lew Kum Hoi & Billie Fulford-Brown

“Babel is one of the best fantasies I’ve read in years – it weaves together a rich alternate history and a heart-pounding plot, and rips into the imperial machine and the whiteness of academia with glee, all while exploring the nuance of language and translation and collective power with incredible skill. It’s ambitious, it’s vicious, it’s heartbreaking, and it is absolutely worth a read. R.F. Kuang never misses. “

— Rebecca, Quail Ridge Books

This Is How You Lose The Time War

By Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone, narrated by Cynthia Farrell & Emily Woo Zeller

“Winning Best Novella in 2020, This Is How You Lose The Time War is one of those books that uses the science-y elements of time travel and other worlds to tell a very familiar story about human nature and the unpredictable and identity-shaping effects of falling in love. This is a book I recommend listening to especially, because the two readers help you to hear the nature of the two characters shift, as they hunt each other in a cosmic battle across eons, while also seeing the brilliance in the other. Their plight is alluring, dangerous, and romantic. The writing is cutting and fierce.”

— Kim, Lark & Owl

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

By Heather Fawcett, narrated by Ell Potter & Michael Dodds

“A charming blend of fantastical faerie lore and seemingly mismatched academics set against a shadowy, snowy wonderland. Meticulous lore (it is an Encyclopaedia after all!) with brilliant world-building, loveable characters, magical mischief, romance, and page-turning action – this series has it all!”

— Chelsea, Bromley’s Books

Becoming

By Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama’s self-narrated memoir offers a deeply personal and inspiring account of her journey from Chicago’s South Side to the White House. With honesty and wit, she reflects on her role as First Lady, advocating for women, balancing the demands of motherhood and work, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments.

A Walk in the Park

By Kevin Fedarko, narrated by Kevin Fedarko

“Wow, buckle up for a wild adventure in the Grand Canyon! Chapter one grabs you right away, and your throat will feel parched through the entire audiobook. From hours spent capturing water with a syringe to the enthralling history of the Indigenous People, A Walk in the Park will keep your interest …. and emotions at high alert the entire time. “

— Sara, Roundabout Books

Four Hundred Souls

By Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha N. Blain, narrated by Various

“An absolutely stunning history of African America for people who do not normally read history. Compiled of short stories, essays, and poems, it is perfect for someone who is intimidated by lists of names and dates. Each individual voice stands on its own but together they truly make a ‘choir that flows together beautifully. This is a one-of-a-kind history that is essential reading for everyone.”

— Tia, Quail Ridge Books

Surrender

By Bono, narrated by Bono

“Perhaps this was a case of the right book at the right time, but few memoirs have moved me the way Bono’s did. Told mostly chronologically, though 40 of U2’s songs, Bono reflects on his life, his activism, his music, and his faith in ways that I absolutely connected to. It was a complete listening experience – with music and sound effects! – and I found myself completely engrossed as I listened to Bono tell me the tale of his life. (Reading it in print is just as engrossing, too!). This will absolutely be one of my favorite memoirs of the past few years.”

— Melissa, Watermark Books

Mythos

By Stephen Fry, narrated by Stephen Fry

“I’m really enjoying listening to Stephen Fry’s narration of his book Mythos. Told with a wink and a nod, he brings the classical mythologies alive with great zest. Weaving the many personalities and stories into a whole tapestry of delight. Wonderful fun for making that walk longer.”

— Liesel, Boulder Book Store

Raw Dog

By Jamie Loftus, narrated by Jamie Loftus

“Raw Dog by Jamie Loftus, covers all the basics you’d expect from a writer embarking on a road trip to taste test all the hottest pork tubes in America – a crumbling relationship due to a distaste for mustard, xenophobia and sexism in the competitive hot-dog eating circuit, and the horrible conditions for both humans and animals in the meat industry. With a deft touch for comedic lines in between all the facts that made me thankful to be a vegetarian, this audiobook will arrive just in time for your next summer beach party by the grill!”

— Sarah, Third Place Books

Leslie F*cking Jones

By Leslie Jones, narrated by Leslie Jones & Chris Rock

“The best thing about the book Leslie F*king Jones is that it is read by…Leslie F*cking Jones. Her bluntness, humor, and authenticity shine through in this moving memoir that is both witty and poignant. Existing fans and new followers will be carried away by Jones* informal and raucous style, telling stories both heartfelt and hilarious that chronicle her childhood, career, and rise to the top in the field of comedy. Listening to this audiobook feels like catching up with an old friend, and Jones’ conversational style gives the memoir a transparent and familiar feel that will make readers laugh, cry, and recommend to anyone who wants to be inspired by the incomparable Leslie F*cking Jones. “

— Sarah, Lioness Books

Quietly Hostile

By Samantha Irby, narrated by Samantha Irby

“I’m obsessed with Samantha Irby (in a cute way, not a dangerous way). Her books are hilarious, endearing, and a little gross. Walking around the neighborhood listening to this audiobook got me a lot of weird looks as I gasped, gagged, talked back to her (she narrates all of her audiobooks!), and laughed with wild abandon. “

— LeeAnna, Blue Cypress Books