Listen Up! These Are Some of the Best Audiobooks Around
Whether you’re looking for an alternative way to read the books on your TBR list or dipping your toes into the world of narration for the first time, welcome! We’re happy to have you. Get a look at some of the highest reviewed and commonly recommended audiobooks today.
What Makes an Audiobook One of the Best?
As far as best audiobooks go, avid listeners agree that the majority tick the same boxes. If the book is written in a compelling way, read by an engaging, well-paced narrator capable of bringing the characters to life, and is produced in a distraction-free, high-quality studio, it might very well qualify as a “best” audiobook. But we’ll let you be the judge of that!
Look Into Some of the Most Recommended Audiobooks Around
It doesn’t matter what genre you prefer—there’s a title for everyone on your favorite audiobook service! Start your journey off right and try tuning into the best audiobooks recommended by passionate readers like yourself.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Ryland Grace is the only survivor on a last-chance mission to save humanity and Earth itself, but there’s one small problem—right now, he doesn’t know that. Millions of miles away from home with nothing but two dead crewmates to keep him company and memories slowly returning, he has to get to the bottom of an impossible scientific problem, alone. Or does he? Dive into Project Hail Mary, narrated by award-winning voice actor Ray Porter, to find out.
When Did the Project Hail Mary Movie Come Out?
Loved the audiobook? Can’t wait to see the film adaptation? Then you’re in luck! Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, was released on March 20th, 2026. Read it in book club and bring your posse to the theaters!
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
What’s the only thing worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck in a sadistic intergalactic game show with her prize-winning show cat, Princess Donut, obviously! Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his furry companion as they attempt to get to the next level of this trap-filled reality television set in the first of the RPG-style series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, famously read aloud by Jeff Hays.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
If you’re looking for a way to dive deeper into the mind of one of the most iconic women of our era, the best audiobook to choose is Becoming by Michelle Obama. As the first African American to serve as the First Lady of the United States, Mrs. Obama established herself as a powerful female advocate, a believer in healthy living, a fashion icon, and an inspiring figure to many. Read by Michelle herself, this title invites readers to learn more about the experiences that made her who she is today, from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to balancing motherhood and White House demands and more.
Grab These Other Top-Recommended Memoirs Read by Their Authors:
- Greenlights written and read by Matthew McConaughey
- I’m Glad My Mom Died written and read by Jennette McCurdy
- Cher: The Memoir: Part One written and read by Cher
- Pageboy written and read by Elliot Page
- Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Brought to life by voice actor Charlie Thurston, the modern twist on the classic Charles Dickens tale, Demon Copperhead, is considered one of the best audiobooks around. Set in the southern Appalachia mountains, Demon braves being the child of a single teenage mom, foster care, child labor, derelict schools, addiction, athletic success, disastrous loves, and crushing losses, all while reckoning with the fact that even the superheroes he idolizes would probably choose saving the people in cities rather than impoverished rural folk like him.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
The dual-narrated audiobook version of Remarkably Bright Creatures stars Marin Ireland as Tova, the night shift janitor at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and Michael Urie as a giant, flighty Pacific octopus named Marcellus. What started as a job to cope with the disappearance of her 18-year-old son, Erik, vanishing on a boat in the Puget Sound, becomes something much more as the two form a remarkable friendship. Using the power of deduction, Marcellus has figured out what happened the night her son disappeared—and he’s determined to reveal the truth to her, before it’s too late!
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
Read by the former Daily Show host himself, Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is touted as one of the best audiobooks in the memoir and biography genre. Listen up to this collection of stories to gain a deeper perspective on how a little boy growing up in apartheid South Africa made his way to the desk of one of the highest-ranking talk shows in history—with his fearless, unconditionally loving mother by his side.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
The latest Hunger Games book is the best audiobook for those itching to learn more about the dystopian Panem and its twisted games. Read by actor Jefferson White, Sunrise on the Reaping draws us into the Quarter Quell, and this time, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. All Haymitch Abernathy cares about is making it through the day in District 12 and being with the girl he loves. But when his name is called, and he’s shuttled off to the Capitol with a young girl, compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town, he’ll have to find it in him to fight—or else.
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
In terms of the best audiobooks about female friendship, it’s hard to beat Kristin Hannah’s Firefly Lane, read by acclaimed actor Susan Ericksen. Exploring the lives of Kate, who yearns for an ordinary life with a man she loves by her side, and Tully, who longs to be loved unconditionally and strives for fame and fortune, over the span of 30 years, this tearjerker book is more than a coming-of-age novel—it’s about having that one person who really, truly knows you.
Other Recommended Kristin Hannah Audiobooks:
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Rachel takes the same train into the city every morning and night. So frequently that the cozy suburban homes and their inhabitants, like the couple deemed “Jess” and “Jason” who breakfast on their deck each morning, have begun to feel like real friends. When she sees something shocking from the tracks, she takes it upon herself to go to the police—but she may end up doing more harm than good. Lose yourself in the psychological thriller that is The Girl on the Train, read by Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, and India Fisher.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
You may not think of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace when imagining what the best audiobooks could be, but thanks to Thandiwe Newton’s brilliant work, you should! The classic centers around Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812, following Pierre Bezukhov, the illegitimate son of a count fighting for his inheritance, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who leaves his family to fight against the authoritarian leader, and Natasha Rostov, the young daughter of a nobleman, who catches the attention of both men. The struggles of love, loss, and class blend together in this powerful historical fiction tale of how war impacts society and the human condition.
Did any of the novels on this best audiobook list spark your interest? If you want to support small businesses and feel good about where your money is going, avoid Audible – start a subscription of your own on these alternative apps instead. We can’t wait to hear what you think of these incredible titles!