Few things are better than settling down with a good book, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Between a long commute, making dinner, or just getting some fresh air, there are times when a traditional book (or even an e-reader) just won't cut it. For all those moments, there's no better place to turn than audiobooks.
But not all audiobooks are the same. Some have a narrator you just can't stand, a cast that's too energized, or a plot and structure that's too confusing to follow just by listening. All of these options make choosing your next audiobook a chore, but don't worry, we've got you covered.
Whether you're a seasoned audiobook listener looking for a hidden gem or a busy traveler looking to keep up with some modern classics, here are some of Polygon's favorite audiobooks gathered for your enjoyment.
Image: Scholastica
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews, Michael Crouch, Ramón de Ocampo, Emily Ellet, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Adam Verner
There are 62 books in the young adult science fiction series Animorphs, a surprisingly dark series about a group of children who gain the ability to turn into animals and must use their powers to fight an ongoing alien invasion. And since 2020, all the books in the series have been slowly appearing on audiobooks, until the 54th book in the series, titled The beginning. While I'm not sure when the entire series will be filmed, it's worth the trip and the wait until the final books are finished filming. Different actors read each book in the series, as each book is narrated by a different child from the group of superpowered friends; The same actors play the same kids throughout the series so far, and all of their performances are fantastic. —Maddy Myers
Image: HarperCollins
Narrated by: Quentin Tarantino and Edoardo Ballerini
Quentin Tarantino's collection of essays, loosely focused on 1970s genre cinema, slips between film criticism, criticism of film criticism, and self-criticism. One moment, Tarantino shares a detailed account of his childhood trips to cheap movie theaters with his mother's boyfriend, the next he chronicles the careers of the Los Angeles film criticism scene, and then, with his iconic fiery pace, prepare a five-course meal. of a largely forgotten neo-noir.
While it's good to learn more about Tarantino, he can't shake his career-long habit of self-mythologizing. The book's most memorable sections allow the director to rave about (or trash) the films that contributed tools to his cinematic kit. Tarantino himself provides narration for part of the book. While it would be nice to have had the writer/director/author narrate the entire essay collection, his voice partner is one of my favorite audiobook voices: two-time Audie Award winner Edoardo Ballerini. (Yes, audiobooks have prizes too!) –Chris Plant
Image: Bloomsbury Publishing
Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda and Stina Nielsen
Hearing fairy obscenities like this made me run, because I'd rather run another 100 meters than stop mid-chapter. Dramatized audiobooks for A court of roses and thorns are probably the most popular choice: they feature different voice actors for each character, and the audio-designed foley sounds help you imagine the scenes as they happen. Personally, I like the normal versions with a single narrator, especially A court of silver flamesnarrated by Stina Nielsen – her husky voice is perfect for Nesta's point of view. —Zoe Hannah
Image: Ace
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Simon Vance, Ilyana Kadushin, Byron Jennings, David R. Gordon, Jason Culp, Kent Broadhurst, Oliver Wyman, Patricia Kilgarriff, Scott Sowers
after reading Dune As a teenager, I wanted a different experience when I joined a book club in 2013 and agreed to reread Frank Herbert's mind-blowing science fiction tome. I chose an unabridged version of the audiobook that has not one, not two, but 12 readers who alternate between all of the story's main characters, adding gorgeous vocal color to its complexity with each of their performances. It's a fantastic way to experience a book that has many different people and perspectives. —MM
Narrated by: Simon Templeman, Anthony Heald, Stefan Rudnicki
There are three narrators in Mary Shelley's book. frankensteinand therefore three readers for this audiobook, each with a perfect voice for this spooky story. I heard the nervous, shaky tremor of Victor Frankenstein while shoveling my car during a snowstorm, and I'll always remember that perfectly lonely and haunting audiobook experience. It's a delightful listen even if you don't have the right setup, of course. —MM
Image: Turn off entire books
Hell is a world without you is the first novel by journalist Jason Kirk, my former boss and friend. That revelation might lead you to take my recommendation with a grain of salt, but I urge you not to. What Kirk has done here is a marvel, creating a bracing, funny and deeply felt coming-of-age story in post-9/11 America, told from the very specific perspective of a teenager raised in an evangelical home who breaks with the restrictive mold. His church wants to contain him.
The audiobook only adds to the experience. Kirk, also a podcaster, is the best possible choice for translating his unique sense of humor into audio form, and the addition of sound effects like AIM alert noises only enhances one of the best and funniest books of the year. Don't just take my word for it: the book has received rave reviews from Kirkus, Independent Book Review, and the Columbia Daily Tribune, among other publications. —Pete Volk
Image: Zando
Narrated by: Cindy Kay, Justis Bolding, Laura Knight Keating, Susan Bennett, Jasmin Walker
If you like reality shows, give it a like. the bachelor and you also like horror movies, which, like the bachelorit can also end with a final girl. Patricia wants to hug is the book for you, ideally in audiobook form with different readers for each of the contestants on a fictional reality dating show that goes horribly wrong. Since this book was written by a good friend of mine, I was hoping to hear her voice narrating the story, but instead, I'm happy to recommend the list of readers who bring her characters to life. —MM
Image: Bloomsbury Publishing
Narrated by: liyah summers
I had already read The Priory of the Orange Tree once when I picked up the audiobook, but listening to the sprawling fantasy epic read by Liyah Summers was a whole new experience. (And I don't just mean the correct pronunciations of names that were different from my pronunciations of those names.) The book is such a winding tale that it lends itself easily to being read aloud, so Summers' narration felt like a bedtime story. If you've already read this one, I recommend the audiobook as its standalone prequel. A day of fallen nightnarrated by the author, along with a few other voice actors to represent a variety of points of view. —Z.H.
Image: Penguin Random House
Narrated by: George Saunders, Phylicia Rashad, Nick Offerman, Glenn Close, Keith David, Rainn Wilson, BD Wong and Renee Elise Goldsberry
George Saunders is that master who opens up the universe and allows you to see its millions of interconnected gears. It doesn't explain how the universe works (I wouldn't pretend that's possible), but it points out the most beautiful, puzzling, and enlightening areas and asks warmly, “How does this make you feel?” AND because?”
I must speak at length about the power of Saunders' work because I fear that you will hear: “This is a collection of classic short stories by Russian authors accompanied by accompanying lectures” and respond: “I have a limited time in life and I have no plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Comp. Enlightened.” And yes, the book, drawn from Saunders's college courses, would lay the groundwork for a novelist or academic's budding career. metaphor, universal.
Saunders uses beautiful writing about the meaning of life to teach us how to write, read, and appreciate beautiful writing and how to live our most meaningful lives. Additionally, he invited a group of brilliant actors to read the stories, including Phylicia Rashad, Nick Offerman, BD Wong, Keith David and Rainn Wilson. Have I already sold you? —CP
Image: Knopf Publishing
Narrated by: Jennifer Kim, Julian Cihi
With only two readers, Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrowThe cast is not as comprehensive as some of the other audiobooks I have recommended for inclusion on this list. However, Jennifer Kim's soothing voice (and many more occasional chapters with Julian Cihi) is a big part of what made me love this novel about a group of friends who create a video game together and drift in and out of friendship and love. love. with each other along the way. Kim and Cihi have an extraordinary talent for conveying the emotional weight necessary for this tender story. —MM
Image: Penguin Random House
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò and Orlagh Cassidy
I hesitate to recommend Trustco-winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, on this particular list. The problem is not the quality or even the entertainment. The book is a literary masterpiece. and a surprisingly enjoyable beach read. But its structure seems (at least at first) ideal for the page, not the audiobook.
Trust It's about, at a macro level, the nature of extreme wealth. And at a micro level, about the solitary guardian of a fortune, its inescapable gravity and the individuals who become trapped in orbit. The author Hernán Díaz divided the book into four fictional texts: a novel, an autobiography, a memoir and a day. Some are complete and polished; others, works in progress. They are all from different points of view. Think of it like The Great Gatsby by way of Rashomon.
Díaz uses the format to capture a certain feeling for each text, and in theory, that's reason enough to get a physical copy. But! (Of course, there is a “but.”) The audiobook performs its variation of this magic trick by choosing four different narrators with four different styles. Told by exceptional actors, it is like listening to people defend the truth, as if you had organized a most eloquent interrogation.
Look, if you don't trust me, at least trust Dua Lipa! —CP