Win big with our Ultimate Summer Listening giveaway!

We’re ending Audiobook Month on a high note with the chance to win over $3,000 in prizes! Enjoy a summer of active, hands-free listening with a Sonos Roam Speaker, a pair of Apple AirPods Pro, a Fitbit Sense, and of course, a gift subscription to Audiobooks.com. See below for entry!

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Contest closes June 30 at 11:59 pm ET. Entry open to residents of the USA and Canada, excluding Quebec. No purchase necessary. Full terms and conditions available here.

17 Most Anticipated Book to Screen Adaptations for 2020

Fret not, bookworms, 2020 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for book to screen adaptations. From beloved classics to contemporary bestsellers, there will be no shortage of movies and TV shows to bask in as our favorite characters and worlds are brought to life.

The Coffin Dancer by Jeffery Deaver, narrated by Jeff Harding

Release date: January 10

If you’ve devoured the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver, then you’ll definitely want to take note of the new television series based on the nine books in the series! This new series follows NYPD officer Amelia Sachs (Arielle Kebbel) as she joins forces with disabled forensic criminalist Lincoln Rhyme (Russell Hornsby) to solve cases surrounding infamous serial killer, the Bone Collector.

The first episode just premiered on NBC on January 10, so you can catch the next episode this Friday, January 17.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Outsider by Stephen King, narrated by Will Patton

Release date: January 12

Let’s be honest, Stephen King has a knack for penning tales that are just too good not to be adapted into movies and television shows. The Outsider is no exception there. HBO just released the first episode of this 10-episode miniseries with the same title, based on The Outsider, on January 12. Starring Ben Mendelsohn and Jason Bateman, The Outsider features a police investigation in a small town following the murder of a young boy. Detective Ralph Anderson is on the case, but his suspect is a beloved father, husband, and friend with an alibi. Anderson’s case seems ironclad, but as his investigation unfolds, new and terrifying secrets are unearthed.

Read more and sample the audio →

Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting, narrated by James Langton

Expected release date: January 17

Doctor Dolittle, a classic favorite, is getting a 2020 remake! The original novel by Hugh Lofting was released in 1920 and has since had countless adaptations to the big screen, television, and even on stage!

This star-studded version will feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Dolittle, the physician who discovers that he can talk to animals (and they talk back), Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen, and boasts a voice cast of Emma Thompson, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, and Selena Gomez. Get your popcorn ready, this flick hits theaters on January 17!

Read more and sample the audio →

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, narrated by Jefferson Mays, and Bianca Amato

Expected release date: January 24

Since Henry James’ novella, The Turn of the Screw, was released in 1898, it has inspired countless adaptations in film, television, literature, and theater productions. The staying power of this spooky tale is proven again in the 2020 remake titled The Turning. The story follows Kate who is hired as a nanny by a man who becomes the guardian of his niece and nephew after the deaths of their parents. As Kate’s employment progresses and she uncovers the dark secrets of both the house and the children, she realizes that things may not be what they seem. Starring Mackenzie Davis and Finn Wolfhard, this creepy film will make its debut on January 24.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Rhythm Section by Mark Burnell, narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden

Expected release date: January 31

The Rhythm Section has everything you could want in an action drama: tragedy, deceit, revenge, assassins. Not to mention the fact that the film adaptation is produced by EOS Productions, known for producing the James Bond movies. Blake Lively plays Stephanie Patrick, whose life takes a devastating turn after a plane crash kills her family. When the crash is revealed to be an act of terrorism and not an accident, Stephanie vows to stop at nothing until she can seek her revenge on the people to blame.

Read more and sample the audio →

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, narrated by Laura Knight Keating

Expected release date: February 12

The characters you adored in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before are back for a sequel in P.S. I Still Love You. The Netflix film will star Noah Centineo and Lana Condor (of course), alongside others. The story picks back up from where To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before left off with a new love interest added to the mix.

Can’t get enough of Lara Jean? Luckily this isn’t the end! You can follow Lara Jean through senior year in the third audiobook in the series, Always and Forever, Lara Jean.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Call of the Wild by Jack London, narrated by Frank Muller

Expected release date: February 21

The Call of the Wild was originally published in 1903 and has since had multiple film adaptations. This time around, the flick stars Karen Gillan, Harrison Ford, and Cara Gee. Although, the real star is Buck, the St. Bernard/Scotch Collie mix that makes CGI look real-life adorable. When Buck is taken from his home in California and sold into the Alaskan sled dog trade, Buck’s struggle to survive tells a story of resilience that has been cherished for over a century.

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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, narrated by Ariadne Meyers, and Jennifer Niven, and Kirby Heyborne

Expected release date: February 28

All the Bright Places premieres on Netflix on February 28. The film, starring Elle Fanning and Justice Smith, is based on Jennifer Niven’s best-selling book of the same name. Fanning and Smith play the pair Violet and Theodore, respectively, whose story of love and strength is a hit with romantic-drama fans and will surely have you sobbing into your popcorn.  

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Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, narrated by Jennifer Lim

Expected release date: March 18

Celeste Ng’s bestselling novel about an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend the lives of one picture-perfect family during their stay in Shaker Heights, Ohio, is finally making its small screen debut on Hulu. Reese Witherspoon, who bought the rights to Litte Fires Everywhere after selecting it as her book club pick in September 2017, is co-producing and co-starring alongside Kerry Washington as Elena Richardson and Mia Warren, respectively.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, narrated by Flo Gibson

Expected release date: April 17

Another beloved classic is getting a big-screen remake — this time it’s Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, which was last adapted into a movie in 1993. Starring Dixie Ederickx as Mary Lennox, The Secret Garden follows the spunky 10-year-old as she moves in with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven (Colin Firth), following her parents’ deaths and discovers a hidden magical garden on the grounds of her new home.

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Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, narrated by Nathaniel Parker

Expected release date: May 29

After languishing in development hell for the better part of two decades, Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series is finally seeing the light of day. The movie, which was slated for release on August 9, 2019, was pushed back to May 29, 2020. Based on the first two books in Colfer’s bestselling series, Artemis Fowl follows 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl (Ferdia Shaw) who uncovers an ancient underground world of fairies while searching for his missing father.

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Without Remorse by Tom Clancy, narrated by Michael Prichard

Expected release date: September 18

Tom Clancy fans certainly can’t complain about a lack of adaptations of the author’s works. Following the success of Amazon Prime’s Jack Ryan series, Paramount Pictures is adapting Clancy’s John Clark duology in a two-part film series starring Michael B. Jordan as the title character. The first movie, Without Remorse, will be the first time fans will see John Clark, who until now has only been a supporting character in various Jack Ryan adaptations, center stage in his own story.

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Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie, narrated by David Suchet

Expected release date: October 9

Fans of Hercule Poirot can rejoice, the famed detective is returning to the big screen after the success of 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express! With Kenneth Branagh back at the helm as director and once again starring as Hercule Poirot, Death on the Nile is bringing to life another one of Agatha Christie‘s famous mysteries, this time set aboard a luxury steamer cruising down the Nile River.

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Dune by Frank Herbert, narrated by Scott Brick, Simon Vance, Orlagh Cassidy, Ilyana Kadushin, and Euan Morton

Expected release date: December 18

Frank Herbert’s Dune is being resurrected for the big screen, although fans of the classic 1965 science fiction novel will have to wait a little bit longer to see it after Warner Bros. bumped its release date from November 20 to December 18. This new iteration will be helmed by Denis Villeneuve, who already has Arrival and Blade Runner 2048 under his belt. Villeneuve envisions Dune as a two-part film, and although no news has been confirmed about the potential second movie, fans already have lots to look forward to with the incredible cast assembled for Dune which stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, and Josh Brolin, just to name a few.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness, narrated by Nick Podehl

Expected release date: TBD

Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, and Nick Jonas are joining forces to bring to life Patrick Ness’ bestselling Young Adult series. Based on the first novel in the Chaos Walking trilogy, The Knife of Never Letting Go, the story will set in a dystopian town called Prentisstown where everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts. When the only boy in town, Todd (Holland), discovers an awful secret, he’s forced to run for his life.

Read more and sample the audio →

New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

Staff Pick: Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad

Post by Bora Pleasance

Title: Bangkok Wakes to Rain
Author: Pitchaya Sudbanthad
Narrator: Euan Morton

Through following the threads of different lives, Pitchaya Sudbanthad creates a tapestry of Bangkok — past, current, and potential future.

Although there is a narrative, it is secondary — an undulating foundation for the emotional and sensory story Sudbanthad was weaving of a city on which you can feel his complex yet complete love. The characters are a sample of diversity, both human and animal. Their only commonality is the city — whether they inhabit it, mourn it, choose it, or choose to keep it at a distance. Through them, you get to feel its pulse. You see its borders shift, its mentality divide. You see its history embed itself into reluctant inhabitants, you see it slip slowly into its next chapter. You feel the pain of loss, not of a person but of a place, because we all have a Bangkok somewhere.

The novel feels like looking at someone else’s photo album. You see snapshots of people you don’t know, of places you have never been, yet somehow it is familiar. This loose form allows Sudbandthad to cover a breadth of topics not normally found in one novel. It’s hard to put it into a genre. Science fiction, socio-political commentary, family drama, romance, poetry? It’s a bit of everything. Yet, somehow, it doesn’t read like a series of short stories. Whether it’s his consistent writing style or the varying connections between the characters or the constant theme of Bangkok, the audiobook feels very much like one (albeit incomplete) story.

One of the central pillars of the audiobook is a building — one that connects many of the characters and gives a visual metaphor for Bangkok that is easier to conceptualize than a sprawling metropolis. However, in order to fully appreciate the novel, you have to be willing to let go of the concrete and take the leaps Sudbandthad puts in your way. The further you get, the more you feel the historical energy of Bangkok itself, one of spirits and fevers and emotion over logic. Facts are exchanged for hints, answers for questions, and dangling threads are left as rags. There is no satisfying ending because cities rarely have endings. Instead, they are reinvented again and again by its inhabitants and its ghosts.

Euan Morton brings the flavor of Thai to his narration, seamlessly putting on an accent where needed without distracting the listener. His tone and depth capture the shifting moods and show respect for the characters and culture to which he is giving a voice. In Bangkok Wakes to Rain, we walk through this city, meeting people for brief moments and never seeing them again, we watch them impact each other in ways we will never know, we wonder about ghosts that might not exist. If that makes you uncomfortable, so will this audiobook. But if that makes you want to dive in and explore, you will have plenty to discover.


Publisher Summary:

A missionary doctor pines for his native New England even as he succumbs to the vibrant chaos of nineteenth-century Siam. A post-World War II society woman marries, mothers, and holds court, little suspecting her solitary fate. A jazz pianist in the age of rock, haunted by his own ghosts, is summoned to appease the house’s resident spirits. In the present, a young woman tries to outpace the long shadow of her political past. And in a New Krungthep yet to come, savvy teenagers row tourists past landmarks of the drowned old city they themselves do not remember.

Time collapses as these lives collide and converge, linked by the forces voraciously making and remaking the amphibious, ever-morphing capital itself. Bangkok Wakes to Rain is an elegy for what time erases and a love song to all that persists, yearning, into the unknowable future.

Read more and sample the audio →

New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

STAFF PICK: The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Post by Kaleisha

Title: The Water Dancer
Author: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Narrator: Joe Morton

Ever since it was announced that The Water Dancer was coming out, I could not wait to get my hands on it. I mostly read historical fiction, books on racial issues, and the occasional fantasy novel. This book checks off all three categories, not to mention it’s written by a man who is one of my idols.

The story takes place at a tobacco plantation in Virginia in the middle of the nineteenth century where we are introduced to our main character, Hiram Walker, a motherless young slave whose father is also his master. Hiram possesses a near-perfect memory and can remember almost every detail of his life, except his long lost mother who was sold away further south into “the coffin.” Without giving away too much, he is also gifted with a mysterious power that he calls “conduction” which he discovers after almost drowning in a river. After his brush with death, we see Hiram go from a member of the ‘Tasked’ to a captive runaway, and eventually an agent of the ‘Underground.’ Here he uses his knowledge to fight in the quiet war for freedom for himself and the ones he loves.

Even though this book is about slavery, Ta-Nehisi Coates never mentions the word “slave” in the entire book. Those who own land and slaves are called “Quality,” while whites who are not slave masters are called “Lows,” and slaves themselves are called “Tasked.”

The characters show real emotion and human flaws; their relationships are deep and complex. The story is meticulously accurate, while the element of magical realism makes it wildly imaginative. The story is filled with separation and pain but it is balanced with just enough love and hope. The plot flows at a steady, rhythmic pace. I do admit, it did take a little time to get through it due to the serious subject matter and the richness of Coates’ writing style. This is not a light and fluffy beach read but rather a beautiful piece of literature that I plan on reading more than once to soak it all in.

Joe Morton’s powerful voice matches that of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ writing. I hadn’t listened to any audiobooks narrated by him before this, but they could not have picked a better narrator. He captured Hiram’s nature perfectly. Morton did a wonderful job of voicing all of the other characters and their unique accents from the deep south of Alabama to the northern city of Philadelphia

I’ve been a longtime fan of Ta-Nehisi Coates. He was a journalist and editor for The Atlantic for over a decade, writing about racial, social, and political issues. He shook the world in 2015 with his memoir Between the World and Me, which was written as a letter to his teenage son about what it means to be a young black man in America. I highly recommend checking that out, too.

The majority of Coates’ works that I have experienced, however, is through graphic novels. He has been writing for Marvel since 2016. His run of Black Panther is so powerful and moving that it rekindled my childhood love of comics. Being a diverse author who can produce imaginative works for comic books, as well as rich and moving pieces of non-fiction, it was a matter of time before he released a novel. The Water Dancer lived up to and exceeded my expectations of what a novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates would be. It was everything I wanted, and then some.

Ta-Nehisi Coates truly deserves congratulations for his debut novel. It brought me to tears and is unlike any book on slavery or the Underground Railroad that I have ever listened to. I hope this is just the beginning of his work as a novelist and cannot wait to see what he has in store for us next.

Publisher Summary:

From the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me, a boldly conjured debut novel about a magical gift, a devastating loss, and an underground war for freedom.

Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her—but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known.

So begins an unexpected journey that takes Hiram from the corrupt grandeur of Virginia’s proud plantations to desperate guerrilla cells in the wilderness, from the coffin of the Deep South to dangerously idealistic movements in the North. Even as he’s enlisted in the underground war between slavers and the enslaved, Hiram’s resolve to rescue the family he left behind endures.

This is the dramatic story of an atrocity inflicted on generations of women, men, and children—the violent and capricious separation of families—and the war they waged to simply make lives with the people they loved. Written by one of today’s most exciting thinkers and writers, The Water Dancer is a propulsive, transcendent work that restores the humanity of those from whom everything was stolen.

Read more and sample the audio →

New to Audiobooks.com? Get your first book free, PLUS a bonus book from our VIP selection when you sign up for our one-month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking, and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobooks!

STAFF PICK: Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow

Post by Jennifer Joudrey

Title: Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow
Author: E.K. Johnston
Narrator: Catherine Taber

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…

Star Wars fans are familiar with the legendary story of Luke Skywalker and how he used to bullseye womp rats back on Tatooine, leading him to successfully bring down the Death Star, or how about the unforgettable tale of the Millenium Falcon? It’s the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. These stories are heavily embedded in Star Wars lore, but what about some of the unknown stories?

In Star Wars: Queen’s Shadow we are reunited with Padmé Naberrie, formerly the Queen of Naboo. Now leaving her nobility behind, she finds herself in the middle of the chaotic and dangerous Galactic Senate on the planet of Coruscant. As Queen, Padmé was always so certain of her actions, but as a Senator everything is new. Trying to maneuver her way through the volatile political climate proves challenging as she learns who she can trust and who she cannot.

The narrator Catherine Taber delivers the action-packed book in an energetic and exciting manner. Listeners familiar with the Star Wars saga will enjoy this movie-like audio experience. This book is full of characters that are well-known in the Star Wars universe, and she gives each character a dynamic presence in audio form. Through her tone, the listener can hear both the strength of Padmé as a character who successfully defended her home planet of Naboo from invasion, and her vulnerability as a new Senator attempting to navigate an ever changing political environment.

This is E.K. Johnston’s second Star Wars novel. Similar to her previous novel, Johnston was able to provide more background and history to a character that has such an important role in the fandom that Star Wars fans know and love. She has provided us with a detailed account of the struggles that Padmé faced entering the Galactic Senate because of factors such as her age, gender, and inexperience. There has been a lot of debate recently regarding the way that female characters are portrayed in the media, and Johnston’s portrayal of Padmé shows strength and determination in the face of adversity. Writing a book about such a pivotal character could be a daunting task, however, Johnston effectively bridges what we know about Padmé’s past and future in an exciting read.

Listening to a Star Wars audiobook will be a game-changer for any fan of the movies. I cannot recommend them enough. Other amazing titles to check out would be:
Star Wars Ahsoka, Phasma, and Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi Leia, Princess of Alderaan.

Publisher Summary:

Written by the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Star Wars Ahsoka!

When Padmé Naberrie, ‘Queen Amidala’ of Naboo, steps down from her position, she is asked by the newly-elected queen to become Naboo’s representative in the Galactic Senate. Padmé is unsure about taking on the new role, but cannot turn down the request to serve her people. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padmé must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen’s shadow.

Read more and sample the audio →

New to Audiobooks.com? Get a free audiobook when you sign up for our one month free trial. Digital audiobooks make audible stories come to life when you’re commuting, working out, cleaning, cooking and more! Listening is easy with our top-rated free audiobook apps for iOS and Android, which let you download & listen to bestselling audiobooks on the go, wherever you are. Click here to get your free audiobook!

STAFF PICK: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

Post by Graeme Rassenti

Title: Anansi Boys
Author: Neil Gaiman
Narrator: Lenny Henry

Have you ever imagined a version of yourself that was more suave, more talented, and cooler than you thought you could ever be? What if you met that person? Have you ever felt like nothing ever goes your way? What if you met the person for whom everything always works out? And what if that person was a brother you never knew you had?

Anansi Boys tells the story of Charles Nancy (Fat Charlie) who, upon learning that his embarrassing and estranged father has died on stage singing karaoke, finds his entire past opening its mysteries to him. Charlie learns of his father’s hidden identity as the African god Anansi, and of his long lost brother, Spider, of whom he has no memory. After an evening of drinking, Charles invites Spider into his life, only to find everything turned upside down. Spider has the powers of a God, and with a word can make people believe whatever he chooses. And Spider chooses a lot of things: including making Fat Charlie’s fiancée believe Spider is Fat Charlie, prompting her to fall in love with the much more dynamic and interesting version of her fiancé.

In this novel, Neil Gaiman explores the idea of stories and storytelling. Interspersed through the various characters’ stories are Anansi’s origins in African mythology. We learn how the trickster Anansi stole all of the stories and controls the flow of stories. We hear how he does bad things, but isn’t a bad person. We also hear of Tiger, a brutal killer, and how he is so often tricked by the clever Anansi. These stories are, like many stories of myth, simple in their presentation, but they serve to offer lessons that the heroes of the tale often need to learn in order to survive the strange circumstances that they find themselves in.

Charles Nancy’s journey is one of self-actualization that so many of us strive for ourselves. He has dreams and aspirations but puts them on hold because he’s afraid of being mocked for trying, and because he believes it’s a failure in itself to lack the very things he wants. It’s only as events with his brother unfold that he is forced to face his own potential, and to move out of his comfort zone.

The entire audio experience is expertly narrated by Lenny Henry, who brings to life the wide cast of characters very well. From Charles’s enigmatic boss to Charlie’s old next door neighbor Mrs. Higgler, Lenny Henry does a terrific job bringing this cast of characters to life.

Anansi Boys is an excellent listen for anyone who wants to believe in a world a little bigger than our own, and who would love to discover their own amazing place in it.

Publisher Summary:

God is dead. Meet the kids.

Fat Charlie Nancy’s normal life ended the moment his father dropped dead on a Florida karaoke stage. Charlie didn’t know his dad was a god. And he never knew he had a brother. 

Now brother Spider’s on his doorstep — about to make Fat Charlie’s life more interesting… and a lot more dangerous.

Read more and sample the audio →