May’s Top 10 Audiobooks.com Member Downloads

Listen to last month’s most popular fiction and non-fiction titles downloaded by Audiobooks.com members.


Fiction

Camino Winds by John Grisham, narrated by Michael Beck 

Publisher Summary:

Just as Bruce Cable’s Bay Books is preparing for the return of bestselling author Mercer Mann, Hurricane Leo veers from its predicted course and heads straight for the island. Florida’s governor orders a mandatory evacuation, and most residents board up their houses and flee to the mainland, but Bruce decides to stay and ride out the storm.

The hurricane is devastating: homes and condos are leveled, hotels and storefronts ruined, streets flooded, and a dozen people lose their lives. One of the apparent victims is Nelson Kerr, a friend of Bruce’s and an author of thrillers. But the nature of Nelson’s injuries suggests that the storm wasn’t the cause of his death: He has suffered several suspicious blows to the head.

Who would want Nelson dead? The local police are overwhelmed in the aftermath of the storm and ill-equipped to handle the case. Bruce begins to wonder if the shady characters in Nelson’s novels might be more real than fictional. And somewhere on Nelson’s computer is the manuscript of his new novel. Could the key to the case be right there—in black and white? As Bruce starts to investigate, what he discovers between the lines is more shocking than any of Nelson’s plot twists—and far more dangerous. 

Read more and sample the audio →


The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, narrated by Santino Fontana

Publisher Summary:

It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.

The odds are against him. He’s been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined—every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favor or failure, triumph or ruin. Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute . . . and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.

Read more and sample the audio →


If It Bleeds by Stephen King, narrated by Will PattonSteven WeberDanny Burstein

Publisher Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, legendary storyteller, and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new and compelling novellas—”Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” “The Life of Chuck, Rat,” and the title story “If It Bleeds”—each pulling you into intriguing and frightening places.

The novella is a form King has returned to over and over again in the course of his amazing career, and many have been made into iconic films, including “The Body” (Stand By Me) and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” (Shawshank Redemption). Like Four Past Midnight, Different Seasons, and most recently Full Dark, No Stars, If It Bleeds is a uniquely satisfying collection of longer short fiction by an incomparably gifted writer.

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Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, narrated by Danielle Macdonald

Publisher Summary:

Six years after the fight that ended their friendship, Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh walks back into her life, looking as lovely and successful as ever, with a massive favor to ask. Daphne hasn’t spoken one word to Drue in all this time—she doesn’t even hate-follow her ex-best friend on social media—so when Drue asks if she will be her maid-of-honor at the society wedding of the summer, Daphne is rightfully speechless.

Drue was always the one who had everything—except the ability to hold onto friends. Meanwhile, Daphne’s no longer the same self-effacing sidekick she was back in high school. She’s built a life that she loves, including a growing career as a plus-size Instagram influencer. Letting glamorous, seductive Drue back into her life is risky, but it comes with an invitation to spend a weekend in a waterfront Cape Cod mansion. When Drue begs and pleads and dangles the prospect of cute single guys, Daphne finds herself powerless as ever to resist her friend’s siren song.

A sparkling novel about the complexities of female relationships, the pitfalls of living out loud and online, and the resilience of the human heart, Big Summer is a witty, moving story about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.

Read more and sample the audio →


Normal People by Sally Rooney, narrated by Aoife McMahon

Publisher Summary:

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.

Read more and sample the audio →



Non-Fiction

Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, narrated by Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson

Publisher Summary:

For the first time, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson opens up about his amazing comeback—from tragic personal loss to thriving businessman and cable’s highest-paid executive—in this unique self-help guide, his first since his blockbuster New York Times bestseller The 50th Law.

In his early twenties Curtis Jackson, known as 50 Cent rose to the heights of fame and power in the cutthroat music business. A decade ago the multi-platinum selling rap artist decided to pivot. His ability to adapt to change was demonstrated when he became the executive producer and star of Power, a high-octane, gripping crime drama centered around a drug kingpin’s family. The series quickly became “appointment” television, leading to Jackson inking a four-year, $150 million contract with the Starz network—the most lucrative deal in premium cable history.

Now, in his most personal book, Jackson shakes up the self-help category with his unique, cutting-edge lessons and hard-earned advice on embracing change. Where The 50th Law tells readers “fear nothing and you shall succeed,” Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter builds on this message, combining it with Jackson’s street smarts and hard-learned corporate savvy to help readers successfully achieve their own comeback—and to learn to flow with the changes that disrupt their own lives.

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Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

Publisher Summary:

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
 
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

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White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, narrated by Amy Landon

Publisher Summary:

The New York Times best-selling book exploring the counterproductive reactions white people have when their assumptions about race are challenged, and how these reactions maintain racial inequality.

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

Read more and sample the audio →


Relationship Goals: How to Win at Dating, Marriage, and Sex by Michael Todd, narrated by Ameen Gaines

Publisher Summary:

Realer than the most real conversation you’ve ever heard on the topic, Michael Todd’s honest, heartfelt, and powerful teaching on relationships has already impacted millions of people in all seasons of life around the world. Now, in Relationship Goals, Michael tells his own story of heartache and healing, unpacks explosive truths from God’s Word, and tells it to you straight to help you win at relationships in every part of your life.

Where did the idea for relationships come from in the first place? Does God really care who I hang out with? Is it even possible to avoid relational train wrecks? From his plan for intentional dating to handling break-ups well to doing family instead of just being in a family, Michael tackles the questions we all have about relational success.

As he candidly examines our most common pitfalls in relationships and the start-today ways to get past them, Michael helps you align your longings with God’s awesome desires for your life. Now, that’s a good relationship goal.

Read more and sample the audio →


Untamed by Glennon Doyle, narrated by Glennon Doyle

Publisher Summary:

This is how you find yourself.

There is a voice of longing inside each woman. We strive so mightily to be good: good partners, daughters, mothers, employees, and friends. We hope all this striving will make us feel alive. Instead, it leaves us feeling weary, stuck, overwhelmed, and underwhelmed. We look at our lives and wonder: Wasn’t it all supposed to be more beautiful than this? We quickly silence that question, telling ourselves to be grateful, hiding our discontent—even from ourselves.

For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her own discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. But she soon realized they had come to her from within. This was her own voice—the one she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions, cultural conditioning, and institutional allegiances. This was the voice of the girl she had been before the world told her who to be. Glennon decided to quit abandoning herself and to instead abandon the world’s expectations of her. She quit being good so she could be free. She quit pleasing and started living.

Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.

Untamed shows us how to be brave. As Glennon insists: The braver we are, the luckier we get.

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!

June is Audiobook Month!

June is Audiobook Month and this year we’re celebrating with a month of unbelievable giveaways! Whether you’re new to audiobooks or a devoted listener, you’re not going to want to miss the jam-packed schedule of prizes we have planned.

Check out an overview of what we have planned below, and make sure to follow us on social so that you don’t miss out on any prize announcements!

Why celebrate Audiobook Month?

Audiobooks are both an accessible literacy tool and a great form of entertainment. Every year, an industry-wide celebration takes place from June 1 – 30 with the goal of increasing awareness of and engagement with this growing format. 

Here at Audiobooks.com, we’re committed to spreading the audiobooks love, so we’re celebrating by giving away loads of fun prizes that will get everyone listening!

GRAND PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Win a pair of Beats by Dre Solo³ + a FREE 3-month subscription to Audiobooks.com, or one of two FREE 1-year subscriptions to Audiobooks.com!

How to enter:

1) Like the Audiobooks.com Facebook page

2) Visit this Facebook post to tag 3 friends + comment your favorite audiobook genre!

Giveaway closes Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 11:59pm (EST). 3 winners will be randomly selected and notified by Wednesday, July 1, 2020. Giveaway open to U.S. and Canadian residents, excluding Quebec. For full terms and conditions, please see here.

Throughout the whole month we’ll be giving away audiobook-related prizes that you won’t want to miss.

Our prizes are all top secret until they are announced. But check back on the below dates to find out what you could win!

DatePrizeHow to Enter
Wednesday, June 3500 FREE copies of copies of Death in the Off-Season by Francine Mathews! Giveaway completed
Monday, June 8Win 1 of 15 FREE Credits to download any audiobook you want! Giveaway completed
Thursday, June 11 Win 1 of 15 FREE Credits to download any audiobook you want!Giveaway completed
Wednesday, June 17Win 1 of 5 FREE 3-month subscriptions to Audiobooks.com!Giveaway completed
Monday, June 22 Win 1 of 15 FREE Credits to download any audiobook you want!Giveaway completed
Wednesday, June 24500 Free Copies of Will Tanner: U.S. Deputy MarshalGiveaway completed
Monday, June 29 GRAND PRIZES:
A pair of Beats by Dre Solo³ + a FREE 3-month subscription
– one of two FREE 1-year subscriptions
Giveaway completed

For all terms and conditions, please see here.

  • Sign up for a free trial: Get two free audiobooks with a free trial from Audiobooks.com, no strings attached.
  • Listen to some free content: With over 8,000 free audiobooks, there’s no shortage of listening content!
  • Start an audiobook club: Get some friends and/or family members to listen to the same audiobook before setting up a virtual meeting to discuss. Need some help with questions? Check out our choices here.

Good luck and happy listening!

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!

Which Audiobook You Should Listen to Based on the TV Show You’re Binging

Maybe you’ve eaten one too many bags of chips. And maybe you haven’t gotten off the couch in seven hours . . . or days. And maybe you’ve binge-watched so many shows that you can’t even see straight anymore. Well, we don’t blame you. After all, quarantine is the perfect time for us to push our couch-potatoness to the limits, because, hey, that’s what everyone else is doing (I know because I’ve seen it on their Instagram stories).

But if you’re itching for a change and want to avoid a major dressing down from your eye doctor (when that becomes a thing again), then we’ve got you covered with the other best thing that you can binge when you have too much time on your hands: audiobooks! Read on for a couple of our favorite audiobook + TV show pairings to satisfy your cravings when those credits inevitably roll on the last episode of the season.


If you binged . . . Never Have I Ever

If you’re like me and you binged Mindy Kaling’s new show Never Have I Ever way too quickly and are now suffering for some more heartwarming teen comedy, look no further than Syed M. Masood’s More Than Just a Pretty Face. The story follows Danyal Kilani, a confident, handsome 19-year-old who gets thrown into a school-wide academic championship. From navigating familial expectations to chasing unrequited love when your answer to happiness may be standing right in front of you, More Than Just a Pretty Face is just the perfect literary companion to Never Have I Ever.

Don’t worry, if you haven’t recovered from the emotional rollercoaster of season one yet, Masood’s debut doesn’t publish until August 4 so there’s plenty of time to prepare yourself. So, mark your calendars, and be ready to fall head over heels all over again with this charming cast of characters.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Tiger King

While nothing can beat the shock and craziness of Netflix’s Tiger King, The Falcon Thief by Joshua Hammer is as close to a literary companion as you can get. The Falcon Thief exposes the bizarre and often insane career of smuggler Jeffrey Lendrum, whom the New York Times calls the “Pablo Escobar of the falcon egg trade.”

*Long pause.* Yeah.

Be it big cats or peregrine falcon eggs, Joe Exotic and Jeffrey Lendrum have both tapped into the insanely profitable trade in exotic animals. It is a market that’s devastating and all-consuming, birthing obsessions that drive people to go to great and dangerous lengths to profit off of wildlife. The Falcon Thief peels back the veil on one of the most ludicrous figures in the wildlife black market, and just like Tiger King, it is a story you’ll simply have to experience to believe.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Westworld

Well, talk about two things that gave me emotional whiplash: Westworld and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Whether you’ve been a long-time fan of the show or if you just binged all three seasons in one go, you know Westworld is the type of show that really keeps you on your toes.

Never Let Me Go is Westworld‘s quieter, more pensive cousin. Penned by Booker Prize-winner Kazuo Ishiguro and performed by Rosalyn Landor, the novel follows three students who grow close at a secluded boarding school in the English countryside. They make art and do crafts and grow older, all the while there is a lethargic creepiness that pervades the novel as it meanders through the years. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but you know something is deeply, deeply wrong.

Much like Westworld, Ishiguro grapples with how we determine if a life is worth living.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Love is Blind

Drama, romance, weddings . . . The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren truly has it all, and it’s exactly what you’ll need to fill the void that Love is Blind left behind. It may be sans pods and ridiculous social experiments, but it’s all about two people who come to love in an unconventional way which—when it comes down to it—is what the show was after anyway.

It all starts when an entire wedding party gets food poisoning except for Olive, the twin sister of the bride, and her sworn enemy Ethan, the best man. With an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii now up for grabs, Olive and Ethan have no choice but to put their mutual hate aside for the sake of a free vacation. If you want the heart-fluttering romance of Cameron and Lauren, this has it. If you want steamy moments in a tropical paradise, this has it. If you want drama a la Jessica—guess what—this has it!

And best of all? No dogs or wine were harmed in the making of this audiobook.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Upload

If you’re simply dying for something to tide you over until season two of Upload comes out, then you’ll want to reach for Layoverland by Gabby Noone.

In Layoverland, Beatrice Fox wakes up from a fatal car crash to find herself in purgatory. Sound familiar? To atone for her sins, Bea must help 5,000 souls say goodbye to their lives on earth and move on to heaven. The problem is, her first assigned soul is Caleb, the boy who caused her accident, and he’s the last person she would ever want to send to the pearly gates.

Just like Upload, Layoverland wraps up deeper topics in a witty and playful story. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and there’s just enough romance to restart your heart.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . The Last Dance

It’s been a tough year for basketball fans. From Kobe Bryant’s untimely death to the NBA suspending the season, there hasn’t been much to look forward to. There has been a light in the dark, though, and it came in the form of the phenomenal docu-series, The Last Dance, which chronicles the rise of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s led by Michael Jordan.

Even though the gripping series just wrapped up on May 17, there’s still plenty of Michael Jordan content to dive into—21 hours 10 minutes of content, to be exact. Journalist Roland Lazenby spent nearly 30 years covering Michael Jordan’s career in college and the pros. In his book, Michael Jordan: The Life, Lazenby draws on countless interviews with Jordan’s coaches, friends, teammates, family members, and Jordan himself to paint an all-encompassing picture of the legendary player on and off the court.

So, if you’re looking for something to tide you over until the NBA season resumes, there’s no better place to start than with Michael Jordan: The Life.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Outer Banks

The cover of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars alone evokes major Outer Banks vibes. It’s summery, it’s beachy, it’s mysterious, and those peeps in the water look like they’re pretty easy on the eyes even though you can’t see their faces. And really, if you’re looking for your next teen summer mystery obsession, We Were Liars is simply perfect.

Every summer, the wealthy Sinclair family gathers on their private island. It’s a time for Cadence Sinclair Eastman, the eldest grandchild, to catch up with her cousins Mirren and Johnny, and their friend Gat. During the summer of her fifteenth birthday, Cadence spends countless languid days with Gat, and they fall in love as teenagers do. But at the end of summer, Cadence suffers a terrible accident, and all she knows is she was found on the shore in her underwear, the waves washing over her.

Just like Outer Banks, once you start listening to We Were Liars, you won’t be able to stop until you tumble to its shocking, riveting end.

Read more and sample the audio →


If you binged . . . Dead to Me

We know you’re probably way too invested in Dead to Me (we are too), and honestly who wouldn’t be after that killer second season? If you’re looking for more murder and drama to keep your spine tingling, then you’ll definitely want to check out My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. This debut has been hailed as Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which, by those accolades alone, should make it the perfect literary companion to Dead to Me.

Fifteen years into their picture-perfect marriage, one seemingly normal couple decides to make their marriage more interesting. They’re just like your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, only they also happen to get away with murder. But then they begin to keep secrets from each other, and if there’s one thing we learned from Dead to Me about keeping secrets, it’s that it never leads anywhere good.

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!

8 Wine and Audiobook Pairings You’ll “Pour” Over

Are you a lover of wine? Is wine o’ clock your favorite time of day? Are you a no wine left behind kind of person? That’s what we’re chatting about today, wine!

National Wine Day is on May 25th, so we thought the best way to celebrate would be to ensure that you maximize your wine time with the perfect audiobook. We’ve paired eight of the most popular wines with audiobooks that we think will go perfectly with whatever you’re sipping. And if wine isn’t your thing, I’m sorry, but you can’t sip with us!

Keep reading for some grape recommendations, oh, and don’t forget your vino!


Name Drop by Ross Mathews, narrated by Ross Mathews
Pairs with: Champagne

Lively, light, and bubbly. All words that describe the celebratory glass of champagne. But, they also work when describing Ross Mathews. If you’re in the mood to pop some champagne, sit back, and listen to a friend’s exciting tales — from horrifying to hilarious — then you’ll want to check out Name Drop from Ross Mathews. From judging on Ru Paul’s Drag Race to his Christmas with the Kardashians, Mathews’ stories make the perfect pair with a glass of bubbly.

Read more and sample the audio →


When We Were Vikings by Andrew David Macdonald, narrated by Phoebe Strole
Pairs with: Chardonnay

Nothing like a nice glass of chardonnay after a long day. If this crisp and light libation is your wine of choice, we recommend pairing it with an equally crisp and light listen. Why not check out an inspiring up-lit audiobook like When We Were Vikings. This listen follows Zelda on her quest to become legendary, which tests her heroism, her love for her brother, and her Viking strength. This story will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels.

Read more and sample the audio →


In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, narrated by Megan Hilty
Pairs with: Riesling

Does your sweet tooth have you reaching for something sweet to sip on, like a nice glass of riesling wine? Then, you’ll need a sweet and moving story to go along with it, won’t you? We recommend In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. In Five Years follows Dannie, a lawyer who always plays by the rules, but then one night she has a vision of her future that could change her life forever. This will be the perfect love story to accompany your riesling, but it’s not the love story you’d expect.

Read more and sample the audio →


Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, narrated by Marin Ireland
Pairs with: Pinot Grigio

Not to be biased, but pinot grigio is my personal favorite wine and therefore the best choice. So, what kind of audiobook would go well with a light and refreshing glass of the good stuff? Check out Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson. This audiobook tells the story of Lillian who agrees to be the caretaker to two children. The catch? Both children spontaneously combust when they get agitated.

Read more and sample the audio →


Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, narrated by Danielle Macdonald
Pairs with: Rosé

Rosé all day, baby!! This wine is pink, it’s fun, it’s summer in a glass. So, what better audiobook to listen to while sippin’ on some sunshine than Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner. Pop on some sunnies and soak up the sun while you listen to this deliciously funny and totally unpausable audiobook about family, friendship, and figuring out what matters most.

Read more and sample the audio →


Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, narrated by Cassandra Campbell
Pairs with: Cabernet Sauvingon

Ah, you’re drinking cabernet sauvingon. This automatically means you’re someone with great sophistication, I don’t make the rules. This wine is rich and robust, so you’ll want to listen to something deep and moving, like a literary fiction listen. We recommend, Everything I Never Told You — a family drama that centers on the death of the Lee family’s middle child, Lydia. A family portrait is painted as you uncover the struggles that each family member faces as they deal with this tragedy, while also trying to understand one another.

Read more and sample the audio →


1984 by George Orwell, narrated by Simon Prebble
Pairs with: Pinot Noir

Did you know that pinot noir is made from some of the oldest grapes in the world? If you’re go-to wine is pinot noir, then you’re probably looking for something classic to listen to next. Our recommendation would be 1984 by George Orwell. Maybe you never got around to reading this classic dystopian novel (even though it was assigned in English class, oops) or maybe you’re revisiting it after reading it so long ago. Either way, this will go great with your smooth glass of pinot.

Read more and sample the audio →


The Business of Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey, narrated by Dominic Hoffman, Amir Adbullah
Pairs with: Merlot

Merlot is described as being smooth, spicy, lush, and sensual. So, if that’s the vibe that’s filling your cup today, then the best audiobook to dive into is something sexy to accompany you while it you’re sipping on your red wine. The Business of Lovers, a book about the family you have, the families you create, and all the sexy moments in between, shows us that love—and lust—has a way of twisting the best-laid plans. 

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!

Audiobooks.com Interview with Ainissa Ramirez, Author of ‘The Alchemy of Us’

Have you always been interested in inventions, technology, and engineering, but could never get into any books on the topic because they were too dense or didn’t dig into the topic enough for you? Well, Ainissa Ramirez’ latest release, The Alchemy of Us, is the perfect next listen for you. It features several important inventions and how they shaped our culture. Plus, she touches on some inventors who had a huge impact who you might not know.

We got the chance to pick Ramirez’ brain about her most recent audiobook. Keep reading to find out what was her favorite invention to research, what she thinks of future of inventions, and more.

Audiobooks.com: What can readers gain from listening to the audiobook version of The Alchemy of Us that they might not necessarily get from reading the print version?

Ainissa Ramirez: The Alchemy of Us is a great book, but the audiobook version is a great experience. The audiobook provides an adventure that is richer than just words on a page.

The narrator, Allyson Johnson, doesn’t just speak the words, she performs them and brings them to life. With her artistic phrasing, energy, and personality, her narration will magically transport a reader to a world that existed not long ago. By listening in, readers will be entertained with the audiobook; and with her warm and kind voice, they will feel like they are spending time with an old friend.

Audiobooks.com: How involved are you in the narrator casting process and what do you look for in an audiobook narrator?

Ainissa Ramirez: I was very fortunate to work with such a supportive audiobook publisher like Gildan Media, because they took the lead in selecting a suitable narrator for my book, which was one of MIT Press’s big titles for the year. When they narrowed down their choices to one name, they sent samples of her work to me. As soon as I heard her voice, I was instantly enchanted. After listening to just a few minutes of her work, I asked, “How quickly can we hire her?”

I wanted a voice that mirrored my book. The Alchemy of Us is a warm invitation into the world of science. As such, I wanted a narrator who could be both smart and inviting simultaneously. The mission of my book is to explain science in an engaging way and make a reader feel included. I got all of that and more with the book’s narrator. The narrator possesses a voice that is cozy like a blanket. And with her artistry and narration, she makes a world where not only does a listener feel included, but she also creates a world a listener doesn’t want to leave.

Audiobooks.com: Did you find it hard to present the full story and facts for each invention while also keeping the material accessible to readers of all levels?

Ainissa Ramirez: Actually, this balancing act of keeping the material accessible to all readers while also presenting the full story is a challenge I enjoy. At my core, I am a teacher. As such, I am an advocate for my readers, desiring to make them all feel included in this unfamiliar world of science and invention.

When writing The Alchemy of Us, I made sure that the science was understandable and that a reader got just enough information so that they could move with ease in this new world. I honed this skill not only from teaching undergraduates for many years, but from explaining science to my grandmother when I was young. My grandmother was always interested in what I learned in school. While my science lessons might have been beyond what she might have known, I wanted her to feel included. To do so, I would describe science using things she knew.

In The Alchemy of Us, I make science understandable with a similar approach and zeal, often by using analogies and by telling stories, so that readers can feel included, too.

Audiobooks.com: Which invention was your favorite one to research and write about in The Alchemy of Us?

Ainissa Ramirez: If I had to pick one, it would be the discovery that took the most effort to research, which was the story of the work done by scientist J. J. Thomson. J. J. Thomson was a little man who made a huge impact on the world. He discovered the electron and did so by watching how a cathode ray (like the rays in old televisions) moved in a strange-looking glass bulb.
In order to get materials to write about J. J. Thomson, I had to venture to England and visit old libraries to uncover his story. It was important that I travel to these archives so that I could learn about Thomson’s work as well as learn about his personality. From early on, I knew he was a genius. But, from his old letters, I was able to find that Thomson was very accident prone. His wife would not let him use a hammer in the house! I loved learning how this Nobel Prize winner moved in the world and when I found interesting facts, such as these, I also found a way to make this great man of science relatable. These details were hard to get, but made Thomson seem more human. It is for these reasons that I am fond of J. J. Thomson and his entry in The Alchemy of Us.

Audiobooks.com: After analyzing these inventions through history and their impact on society, what do you think this lends to our future innovations?

Ainissa Ramirez: To be honest, I wrote about past inventions as a way to prepare us all for the future. The gadgets I highlight are simple ones, like the telegraph, the clock, and the light bulb, to name a few. But in The Alchemy of Us, I show readers the surprising outcomes that came from these inventions, particularly how they modified language, our sleeping patterns, and even our health. At this present time, it is hard to predict how future innovations will change us, but what is certain is that they will. That is why it is my hope that readers of The Alchemy of Us will feel empowered to ask questions to make sure that future innovations will fashion us in the most beneficial way. The Alchemy of Us encourages readers to put all inventions under the microscope so that, ultimately, we can all create a better future.∎


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Audiobooks for Every Mom This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day will be a bit different this year, with many people not being able to celebrate in person. But you can still connect with Mom on this special day through audiobooks. Listen together, start a virtual book club, or gift Mom her next favorite listen. Either way, we’ve got you covered. 

Since every mom is totally unique, we’ve put together the ultimate list of top audiobooks for everyone’s tastes. From spooky mysteries to warm and fuzzy memoirs, we’ve got the perfect audiobook for every mom to enjoy this Mother’s Day. 

Want to let Mom pick her own audiobooks? When purchasing a prepaid subscription for Audiobooks.com, you give Mom the gift of listening for 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. And this year, all Mother’s Day subscription purchases will be entered to win a bonus 2 free audiobooks, one for you and one for Mom! Learn more here.

Fiction

Afterlife by Julia Alvarez, narrated by Alma Cuervo

The author of In the Time of the Butterflies, with more than one million copies in print, is back with a tour de force.

Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has had the rug pulled out from under her. She has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts: her bighearted but unstable sister disappears, and Antonia returns home one evening to find a pregnant, undocumented teenager on her doorstep. 

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It’s Not All Downhill from Here: A Novel by Terry Mcmillan, narrated by Terry Mcmillan

Loretha Curry’s life is full. A little crowded sometimes, but full indeed. On the eve of her sixty-eighth birthday, she has a booming beauty-supply empire, a gaggle of lifelong friends, and a husband whose moves still surprise. True, she’s carrying a few more pounds than she should be, but Loretha is not one of those women who think her best days are behind her—and she’s determined to prove wrong her mother, her twin sister, and everyone else with that outdated view of aging wrong. It’s not all downhill from here.

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The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel, narrated by Todd Mclaren

In Danielle Steel‘s epic new novel, the lives of four generations of women in one family span fortune and loss, motherhood, tragedy, and victories. From the glamorous San Francisco social scene of the 1920s, through war and the cultural changes of the 60s, to the rise of Silicon Valley today, this extraordinary novel takes us on a family odyssey that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as each generation faces the challenges of their day.

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Truths I Never Told You: A Novel by Kelly Rimmer, narrated by Sarah Mollo-ChristensenPiper GoodeveJean Ann Douglass

From the bestselling author of The Things We Cannot Say comes a poignant post-WWII novel that explores the expectations society places on women set within an engrossing family mystery that may unravel everything once believed to be true.

With her father recently moved to a care facility, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it…

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Mystery & Thriller

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica, narrated by Jeremy ArthurPiper Goodeve

Propulsive and addictive, and perfect for fans of  You, The Other Mrs. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl.

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.

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The Wives by Tarryn Fisher, narrated by Lauren Fortgang

Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.

But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married. What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read.

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If It Bleeds by Stephen King, narrated by Will PattonSteven WeberDanny Burstein

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, legendary storyteller, and master of short fiction Stephen King comes an extraordinary collection of four new and compelling novellas.

The novella is a form King has returned to over and over again in the course of his amazing career, and many have been made into iconic films. If It Bleeds is a uniquely satisfying collection of longer short fiction by an incomparably gifted writer.

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Something She’s Not Telling Us: A Novel by Darcey Bell, narrated by Pete SimonelliCarly RobinsNancy PetersonVivienne Leheny

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Simple Favor comes an electrifying domestic thriller of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when her brother brings his new girlfriend to visit—and no one is telling the truth about who they really are.

From its very first page, Something She’s Not Telling Us takes hold of readers’ imagination in a harrowing, unforgettable thriller that dives deep into the domestic psyche and asks the question: Is anyone ever really who they say they are?

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Biography & Memoirs

More Myself: A Journey by Alicia Keys, narrated by Oprah WinfreyMichelle ObamaClive DavisAlicia KeysAmerica FerreraBonoSwizz BeatsTerri AugeloCraig CookDj WaltonJay-Z Krucial Leigh Blake

An intimate, revealing look at one artist’s journey from self-censorship to full expression.

As one of the most celebrated musicians in the world, Alicia Keys has enraptured the globe with her heartfelt lyrics, extraordinary vocal range, and soul-stirring piano compositions. Yet away from the spotlight, Alicia has grappled with private heartache—over the challenging and complex relationship with her father, the people-pleasing nature that characterized her early career, the loss of privacy surrounding her romantic relationships, and the oppressive expectations of female perfection.

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Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by  Ali Wong, narrated by Ali Wong

Ali Wong’s heartfelt and hilarious letters to her daughters (the two she put to work while they were still in utero) cover everything they need to know in life, like the unpleasant details of dating, how to be a working mom in a male-dominated profession, and how she trapped their dad.

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Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown by Anne Glenconner, narrated by Anne Glenconner

An extraordinary memoir of drama, tragedy, and royal secrets by Anne Glenconner—a close member of the royal circle and lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret.

A unique witness to landmark moments in royal history, Maid of Honor at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret until her death in 2002, Anne‘s life has encompassed extraordinary drama and tragedy. In Lady in Waiting, she will share many intimate royal stories from her time as Princess Margaret’s closest confidante.

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Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman, narrated by Rachel Botchan

Now a Netflix original series! Unorthodox is the bestselling memoir of a young Jewish woman’s escape from a religious sect, in the tradition of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel and Carolyn Jessop’s Escape, featuring a new epilogue by the author.

Remarkable and fascinating, this tense and unforgettable coming-of-age story is one you won’t be able to put down.

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Uplifting Listens

Untamed by Glennon Doyle, narrated by Glennon Doyle

For many years, Glennon Doyle denied her own discontent. Then, while speaking at a conference, she looked at a woman across the room and fell instantly in love. Three words flooded her mind: There She Is. At first, Glennon assumed these words came to her from on high. But she soon realized they had come to her from within. This was her own voice—the one she had buried beneath decades of numbing addictions, cultural conditioning, and institutional allegiances.

Soulful and uproarious, forceful, and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. 

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Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life by Carrie Underwood, narrated by Cara ClarkCarrie UnderwoodEve Overland

Carrie Underwood believes that fitness is a lifelong journey. She wasn’t born with the toned arms and strong legs that fans know her for. Like all of us, she has to work hard every day to look the way that she does! In Find Your Path she shares her secrets with readers, with the ultimate goal of being the strongest version of themselves, and looking as good as they feel. 

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You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero, narrated by Jen Sincero

Bestselling author, speaker, and world-traveling success coach Jen Sincero cuts through the din of the self-help genre with her own verbal meat cleaver in You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. In this refreshingly blunt how-to guide, Sincero serves up twenty-seven bite-sized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, life-changing insights, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word.

By the end of You Are a Badass, you will understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to start living the kind of life you used to be jealous of.

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Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness, narrated by Jonathan Van Ness

Over the Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw, and rambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the Queer Eye.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll come away knowing that no matter how broken or lost you may be, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’re strong, and you’ve got this.

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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!