Here at Libro.fm, we don’t rely on impersonal algorithms to help you find your next favorite audiobook.
Instead, we offer recommendations from real people: the dedicated indie booksellers working in our 3,000+ partner bookshops around the globe! Independent booksellers champion their favorite audiobooks—whether they’re bestsellers or hidden gems in nonfiction, sci-fi, historical fiction, you name it—and help get them into the hands (and ears!) of readers who will love them.
Below, check out the best audiobooks in our catalog of 500,000+ titles that have drawn the most frequent recommendations from indie booksellers at our partner bookshops.
Tom Lake
“Not only is this a phenomenal book of generational storytelling, but MERYL STREEP IS NARRATING! She brings the characters to life. From her laugh to her tone; her character as Lara is spot on. She is engaging and motherly but keeps secrets to herself. This book transform you to the essence of Traverse City, Michigan with the breeziness and humility of a true Northerner. ”
— Amy, Plumfield Books
View the audiobookListen to our interview with Ann Patchett
We talk to Ann Patchett, the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of seven novels, as well as the owner of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
“I was seized and thoroughly absorbed by this amazing book, beautifully narrated in audiobook form. Sam and Sadie are two brilliant video gamers and creative designers whose lives revolve around games. The book follows their friendship and professional collaboration from early teen to young adult – through love and grief and disappointment and success.”
— Bob, Zenith Bookstore
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I’m Glad My Mom Died
“McCurdy’s writing ‘voice’ and actual one give dry humor and an low folksy charm while describing truly harrowing abuses from her mother. She doesn’t hold anything back whether it’s her time on set on iCarly to her first sexual experience to the description of her vomit after a binge and purge. If you wanted a fun celebrity tell-all…this ain’t it. This is a survivor’s story.”
— Lissa, Book Club Bar
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James
“This brilliant retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s point of view comes to life with narrator Dominic Hoffman. Relive Huck’s mischievous adventures through the eyes of Jim as both characters come to some profound realizations about humanity, slavery, and racism.”
— Sharon, Book Bound Bookstore
View the audiobookListen to our interview with Percival Everett
we chat with acclaimed author, poet, and painter Percival Everett to discuss his award-winning novel James—the 2024 National Book Award winner and Libro.fm’s Audiobook of the Year.
A Deadly Education
“I loved this so much that I listened to the audiobook twice, back-to-back, the second time to share it with my mother so that we could talk about it. This is the magic school, hella-powered main character, high stakes series we all deserve and I am anxiously awaiting the next book to answer my many questions and give me all new ones!!!”
— Jane, Avid Bookshop
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I Have Some Questions for You
“Rebecca Makkai is an expert story weaver. From minute 1, I was hyper-engrossed in her newest novel and it consumed every free moment I had for 48 hours. From its quaint, cozy, and problematic boarding school campus to the world of podcasting, to an ever unraveling murder mystery, I Have Some Questions For You defies all expectations and keeps you on the edge of your seat!”
— Kimi, Buttonwood Books and Toys
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Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
“I was blown away by this book. I listened to the audio and Jason Reynold’s narration is engaging, funny, and moving all rolled into one. I found myself interested in history in ways I have not been in the past. As white women I found myself grieving for the crimes my race has committed. For hatred that continued to take root and spread. Yet I also found hope. This book does a great job of engaging the topic of race, why racism persists and gives hope that things can change. I wish I could make everyone read this book.”
— Kristin, Fables Books
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Now Is Not the Time to Panic
“Ginnifer Goodwin’s narration is wonderful and Kevin Wilson’s writing is just phenomenal. It perfectly depicts how special, memorable, and sometimes confusing, adolescent friendships can be, and has a lot to say about the role of art. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end which made this excellent book even more special. Definitely a highlight in my reading year and one I expect to come back to. Highly recommended! ”
— Tracey, Turning the Tide Bookstore
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Happy Place
“Emily Henry does it again! This story spills over with so many incredible moments between friends and lovers. You will not be able to escape the charm and warmth of this circle of friends, who upon finding out that their summer home will be sold, desperately cling to their memories of all the times spent there. While they are navigating these last moments they ultimately discover so many things about each other and themselves. Julia Whelan’s audio narration is captivating and you will not want this story to end.”
— Karen, Thunder Road Books
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Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone
“Smartly written by Benjamin Stevenson and enjoyably narrated by Barton Welch. I found my eyes darting left and right with eagerness to know what would happen next, guessing right and guessing wrong, even chuckling at times. Such a fun ‘whodunit’ listen!”
— Kira, Maria’s Bookshop
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Chain Gang All Stars
“Wow! This emotionally gripping novel about an imagined entertainment system built on a terrible for-profit incarceration system, is an amazing book. Both scathing and tender, serious and satirical, dark and hopeful, it’s a love story between two convicted women as well as an indictment of our prison system. Intense. A must-listen.”
— Anne, Newtonville Books
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Lessons in Chemistry
“I loved Elizabeth Zott! She’s a quirky, dynamic, headstrong heroine who is, above all else, a brilliant chemist. She struggles to be taken seriously but refuses to bow to the expectations and societal norms for women in the sixties. The story is funny, profound, entertaining, brazenly feminist, and Elizabeth has the BEST dog ever, Six-Thirty! You don’t want to miss this wonderful debut novel!”
— Polly, The Hickory Stick Bookshop
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Thank You For Listening
“Julia Whelan hooked me from page one with this rom-com filled with lovable characters. […] Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply personal by turns Whelan penned a story than leaned into many a romance trope without getting too campy. Plus, the audiobook experience was so meta I had to pause on more than one occasion just to laugh at the sheer absurdity and hilarity of the events transpiring.”
— Karen, Thunder Road Books
View the audiobookListen to our interview with Julia Whelan
On today’s episode we chat with author and narrator Julia Whelan. She is an Audie award winning narrator who has narrated over 500 books and also authored multiple books of her own.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
“Reminiscent of Author’s like James Baldwin and John Steinbeck, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is a wonderful novel that focuses of racial division, poverty in America, and the importance of community. This was my first time reading McBride, but I will definitely be continuing on to his past works. If you’re a character driven reader, I highly recommend checking this one out. Also, Dominic Hoffman is one of my favorite narrators and his voice was the perfect choice for this novel, almost giving it a timeless quality.”
— Brittany, Ruby’s Books
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The Fox Wife
*Yangsze Choo grew up exposed to Chinese, Japanese and Korean folk tales, all of which she weaves expertly into this mystery with romantic touches and a smidgen of magical realism. The heroes of those ancient tales were always men, but not in The Fox Wife. It’s such an engaging reading experience, so hard to put down, that you could call it a binge read. If you’re into audiobooks, the author reads this novel herself and does it as well as any professional reader could. *
— Bob, Changing Hands
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How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water
“Told in a series of 12 sessions between a career counselor and our narrator, Cara Romero, this is the equally heartwarming, heartbreaking, and laugh-out-loud funny story of Cara’s life as a Dominican immigrant in New York. Cara’s vivacity and unabashed confidence are infectious, and her growth as she faces her flaws is unexpectedly touching. Narrator Rossmery Almonte brought so much life to the text.”
— Sarah, Parnassus Books
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Mexican Gothic
“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
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The House in the Cerulean Sea
“The House in the Cerulean Sea is a heart-swelling wave of sweetness and hope. Mild-mannered government caseworker Linus Baker is sent on a secret assignment to an island orphanage he’s never even heard of. The astonishing inhabitants he gets to know there will change his life and make him reassess everything he thought he knew. This book will leave you believing in the good in everyone – even those society has given up on — and contemplating how huge changes have to start somewhere.”
— Harley Stocking, Phinney Books
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Good Night, Irene
“Luis Alberto Urrea set out to write a nonfiction history of the American Red Cross donut dollies of World War Il but as it turns out the building with all of the records had burned down. He pivoted and wrote this fictionalized account based in truth about his mother and and her friend as they drive a truck through the front lines in Europe serving coffee, donuts, and companionship to the military men. I loved the friendship, the story, the history, and the heartache. Urrea does a brilliant job of describing the horrors of war the simple, sweet things–like a donut– that keep us human in the most inhumane times.”
— Julie Buckles, Honest Dog Books
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Clap When You Land
“Put this book at the top of you listening list! Clap When You Land is a beautifully written and compellingly narrated story of two half-sisters who are unaware of each other’s existence until their father dies in a plane crash. Elizabeth Acevedo not only writes with an exquisite voice, but she and Melania-Luisa Marte alternate narrating with voices that carry into the readers’ heart and soul. One of the best audiobooks I have listened to in a very long time.”
— Mary, Anderson’s Bookshop
View the audiobookPlaylist: Top 20 Bookseller-Recommended Audiobooks of All Time
Did your favorite make the cut? Looking forward to a new favorite?
Let us know in the comments below!
It seems extraordinary to me that Jim Dale’s audio recording of the Harry Potter books didn’t make it into the recommended audio books of all time.
Hi, Adrienne. The audiobooks in the list above have been recommended by booksellers at our partner bookstores the most frequently. Glad you enjoyed Jim Dale’s narration!
Barbara Kingsolver’s “Prodigal Summer” should be somewhere in here. The book is so rich and layered, it took me a good three listens at first. And then at least two listens every year thereafter.
Glad you enjoyed Prodigal Summer, Mimi!
Great blog and great recommendations. I look forward to getting several of them: Mexican Gothic; Daisy Jones; Educated; One two three; Red at the bone; and Legendborn in particular.
Hope you enjoy the audiobooks, Joy!
Tank you
Thank you for introducing me to ‘Nothing to See Here’!