As much as we love physical book clubs, audiobook clubs make it easier to squeeze more reading into your busy day without having to find extra hours to sit down with a book.
You can listen while commuting, cooking dinner, walking your dog, or even working (shh, don’t tell your boss!). Before you know it, you’ve already finished the book and have plenty to talk about.
Why an audiobook club might be better than a traditional book club
There’s also something fun about sharing an audiobook reading experience with others. Whether it’s a solo narrator, dual narration, multicast production, or a fully dramatized adaptation with music and sound effects, the audiobook format adds an extra layer of the story that can spark even richer conversations—like how does the production shape our read, and does it change our interpretation?
How to start your audiobook club in five steps
Step 1: Choose your group
Start with friends, family members, or coworkers who already enjoy audiobooks. You can also reach out through online communities or social media. Even a small group of three to five people is enough to get started.
Step 2: Pick a platform
Libro.fm is an audiobook company that shares profits from your audiobook purchases with your chosen independent bookshop, giving you the power to keep money within your local economy.
To listen to your Libro.fm audiobooks, we recommend using our free iOS and Android apps. You’ll be able to adjust narration speed, create tags, add bookmarks, and more. We also have a web player for those who like to listen in their browser, as well as an app for Apple Watch.
Step 3: Set a listening schedule
Besides monthly picks, you can also split up the listening schedule by grouping tracks or chapters of an audiobook. Just bear in mind not to organize by time, since everyone listens at different speeds!
Step 4: Choose your first audiobook
For your first pick, it’s usually best to choose a crowd-pleaser that can get everyone excited to listen and discuss. Read on for more great audiobook recommendations from us!
Step 5: Plan your discussion
Choose the format that works best for your group and schedule. You can gather in person over audiobook walks, meet at a library or cafe, hop on a virtual call, or start a group chat on Discord.
Best audiobooks for your first club pick
Unlike a traditional book club, you’re not just choosing a story, but a listening experience. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out our playlists for inspiration:
Start with a bookseller favorite
Our indie bookshop partners offer fantastic recommendations to help point you towards your first pick across different categories.
Go for a full-cast production
A full-cast audiobook feels almost like a movie for your ears. It brings the characters to life and helps get everyone invested from the start.
Pick a beginner-friendly audiobook
If you’re new to audiobooks, choose an audiobook that’s easy to get hooked on and helps everyone ease into the format.
Support your indie bookshop: audiobooks and Libro.fm
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.
In fact, we partner with more than 4,000 indies across the globe, so you’re likely meeting near one! Have your group meet in person every now and then to browse your local indie and show them support.
Another feature that sets Libro.fm apart from other audiobook retailers is that we are Digital Rights Management (DRM) free—meaning you actually get the files to your audiobooks! So if you’d rather listen to the audiobooks outside our apps, you’re able to download the files and play them wherever you’d like.
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! That means three audiobooks to enjoy from the start—just what you need to kick off your new favorite book club.