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The Winners and Finalists of the 2020 Audie Awards

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Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Audie Awards!

The Audie Awards recognize outstanding achievements by the authors, narrators, and producers of the most talked-about audiobooks in the industry. See below for this year’s winners and finalists.



Audiobook of the Year

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 by Garrett M. Graff, narrated by a full 45-person cast

At once a powerful tribute to the courage of everyday Americans and an essential addition to the literature of 9/11, The Only Plane in the Sky weaves together the unforgettable personal experiences of the men and women who found themselves caught at the center of an unprecedented human drama. The result is a unique, profound, and searing exploration of humanity on a day that changed the course of history, and all of our lives.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner, narrated by Bobby Cannavale, Nathan Lane, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Susan Brown, James Mcardle, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Beth Malone, Lee Pace, and Edie Falco

★ Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

★ Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, narrated by Meryl Streep, Robin Miles, Kirby Heyborne, Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly Farr, Lincoln Hoppe, Mark Deakins, Tavia Gilbert, Danny Campbell, Emily Rankin, January Lavoy, and Macleod Andrews

★ The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, narrated by Tom Hanks

★ The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, narrated by Margaret Atwood, Derek Jacobi, Tantoo Cardinal, Mae Whitman, Ann Dowd, and Bryce Dallas Howard



Autobiography / Memoir

Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

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.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke, narrated by Tembi Locke

★ Me: Elton John Official Autobiography by Elton John, narrated by Taron Egerton and Elton John

★ MotherStruck! by Staceyann Chin, narrated by Staceyann Chin

★ Too Much Is Not Enough: A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood by Andrew Rannells, narrated by Andrew Rannells



Best Female Narrator

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, narrated by Marin Ireland

Lillian and Madison were inseparable friends at their elite boarding school—until Lillian had to leave unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal. Years later, Lillian gets a letter from Madison asking her to be the caretaker of her stepkids, who are moving in with her family. The catch? The twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose. Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian begins to learn that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ All the Lost Things by Michelle Sacks, narrated by Cassandra Morris

★ The Boy by Tami Hoag, narrated by Hillary Huber

★ Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante, narrated by Rachel Atkins

★ The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, narrated by January Lavoy



Best Male Narrator

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst

When a peculiar letter arrives inviting Armand Gamache to an abandoned farmhouse, the former head of the Sûreté du Québec discovers that a complete stranger has named him one of the executors of her will. Still on suspension, and frankly curious, Gamache accepts and soon learns that the other two executors are Myrna Landers, the bookseller from Three Pines, and a young builder, neither of whom had met the elderly woman.

When a body is found, the terms of the bizarre suddenly seem less peculiar and far more menacing.

Meanwhile, Gamache is attempting to rectify the events that led to his suspension. As his measures become increasingly audacious and desperate, Armand Gamache begins to see his own blind spots. And the terrible things hiding there.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, narrated by Tom Hanks

★ Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, narrated by Robert Petkoff

★ The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, narrated by JD Jackson and Colson Whitehead

★ Watership Down by Richard Adams, narrated by Peter Capaldi



Multi-Voiced Narration

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of September 11, 2001 by Garrett M. Graff, narrated by a full 45-person cast

At once a powerful tribute to the courage of everyday Americans and an essential addition to the literature of 9/11, The Only Plane in the Sky weaves together the unforgettable personal experiences of the men and women who found themselves caught at the center of an unprecedented human drama. The result is a unique, profound, and searing exploration of humanity on a day that changed the course of history, and all of our lives.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ 200 Women: Who Will Change The Way You See The World by Geoff Blackwell, Ruth Hobday, Kieran Scott, narrated by a full cast

★ Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, Pablo Schreiber, and a full cast

★ Dooku: Jedi Lost (Star Wars) by Cavan Scott, narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, Marc Thompson, Pete Bradbury, Jonathan Davis, Neil Hellegers, Sean Kenin, January LaVoy, Saskia Maarleveld, Carol Monda, Robert Petkoff, and Rebecca Soler

★ Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, narrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jeanne Birdsall, Richard Ferrone, Jenna Lamia, and a full cast



Narration by the Author or Authors

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo, narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo

Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.

Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

★ Inside Out by Demi Moore, narrated by Demi Moore

★ Madame Badobedah by Sophie Dahl, narrated by Sophie Dahl

★ Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future by Pete Buttigieg, narrated by Pete Buttigieg

★ Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For by Susan Rice, narrated by Susan Rice



Fiction

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert, narrated by Blair Brown

In 1940, nineteen-year-old Vivian Morris has just been kicked out of Vassar College, owing to her lackluster freshman-year performance. Her affluent parents send her to Manhattan to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns a flamboyant, crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse. There Vivian is introduced to an entire cosmos of unconventional and charismatic characters, from the fun-chasing showgirls to a sexy male actor, a grand-dame actress, a lady-killer writer, and no-nonsense stage manager. But when Vivian makes a personal mistake that results in professional scandal, it turns her new world upside down in ways that it will take her years to fully understand.

Now eighty-nine years old and telling her story at last, Vivian recalls how the events of those years altered the course of her life—and the gusto and autonomy with which she approached it.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer, narrated by Therese Plummer

★ Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris, narrated by Louise Brealey

★ Colombiano by Rusty Young, narrated by Rusty Young and Brian J. Ramos

★ The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Karina Fernandez



Non-Fiction

Grace Will Lead Us Home: The Charleston Church Massacre and the Hard, Inspiring Journey to Forgiveness by Jennifer Berry Hawes, narrated by Karen Chilton, Jennifer Berry Hawes

On June 17, 2015, twelve members of the historically black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina welcomed a young white man to their evening Bible study. He arrived with a pistol, 88 bullets, and hopes of starting a race war. Dylann Roof’s massacre of nine innocents during their closing prayer horrified the nation. Two days later, some relatives of the dead stood at Roof’s hearing and said, “I forgive you.” That grace offered the country a hopeful ending to an awful story. But for the survivors and victims’ families, the journey had just begun.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves by Frans de Waal, narrated by L.J. Ganser

★ The Perfect Predator: A Scientist’s Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug: A Memoir by Steffanie Strathdee and Thomas Patterson, narrated by Christine Lakin and Dan Woren

★ Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell, narrated by Malcolm Gladwell

★ We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer, narrated by Jonathan Safran Foer



Thriller / Suspense

The Institute by Stephen King, narrated by Santino Fontana

In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, “like the roach motel,” Kalisha says. “You check in, but you don’t check out.”

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Blood in the Water by Jack Flynn, narrated by Dion Graham

★ Freefall by Jessica Barry, narrated by Hillary Huber, Karissa Vacker, and MacLeod Andrews

★ Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman, narrated by Susan Bennett

★ Winter Dark by Alex Callister, narrated by Ell Potter



Mystery

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup, narrated by Peter Noble

A psychopath is terrorizing Copenhagen. His calling card is a “chestnut man”—a handmade doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts—which he leaves at each bloody crime scene. To save innocent lives, a pair of detectives must put aside their differences to piece together the Chestnut Man’s gruesome clues. Because it’s clear that the madman is on a mission that is far from over. And no one is safe.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Along Came a Spider (25 anniversary edition) by James Patterson, narrated by Taye Diggs

★ The Boy by Tami Hoag, narrated by Hillary Huber

★ The Lost Man by Jane Harper, narrated by Stephen Shanahan

★ The New Iberia Blues by James Lee Burke, narrated by Will Patton



Fantasy

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, narrated by January Lavoy

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure, and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell, narrated by Tim Campbell and Alana Kerr Collins

★ Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James, narrated by Dion Graham

★ Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, narrated by Michael David Axtell and Lauren Fortgang

★ Time’s Children by D.B. Jackson, narrated by Helen Keeley



Business / Personal Development

So You Want to Start a Podcast: Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story, and Building a Community that Will Listen by Kristen Meinzer, narrated by Kristen Meinzer

A comprehensive step-by-step guide to creating a hit show, So You Want to Start a Podcast covers everything from hosting and guest booking to editing and marketing—while offering plenty of encouragement and insider stories along the way. With this motivational how-to guide—the only one on the subject available—you’ll find the direction you need to produce an entertaining and informative podcast and promote it to the right audience. So You Want to Start a Podcast gives you the tools you need to start a podcast—and the insight to keep it thriving.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ The Barefoot Spirit by Michael Houlihan, Bonnie Harvey, Rick Kushman, narrated by Ed Asner, Alamada Karatihy, Gigi Perreau

★ Calm the F*ck Down by Sarah Knight, narrated by Sarah Knight

★ Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World by Ashley Goodall and Marcus Buckingham, narrated by Ashley Goodall and Marcus Buckingham

★ Wolfpack by Abby Wambach, narrated by Abby Wambach



History / Biography

American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race by Douglas Brinkley, narrated by Stephen Graybill

On May 25, 1961, JFK made an astonishing announcement: his goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. In this engrossing, fast-paced epic, Douglas Brinkley returns to the 1960s to recreate one of the most exciting and ambitious achievements in the history of humankind. American Moonshot brings together the extraordinary political, cultural, and scientific factors that fueled the birth and development of NASA and the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo projects, which shot the United States to victory in the space race against the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War.

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Finalists

★ The First Conspiracy by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch, narrated by Scott Brick

★ Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep, narrated by Hillary Huber

★ The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth by Josh Levin, narrated by January Lavoy

★ Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense: The Courtroom Battles to Save His Legacy by Dan Abrams and David Fisher, narrated by Roger Wayne and Dan Abrams



Romance

Devil’s Daughter by Lisa Kleypas, narrated by Mary Jane Wells

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he’s a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband’s life a misery, and she’ll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself…as none other than West Ravenel.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ The Bride Test by Helen Hoang, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller

★ The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez, narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Erin Mallon

★ Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper, narrated by Amanda Ronconi

★ Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, narrated by Ramon de Ocampo



Literary Fiction & Classics

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates, narrated by Joe Morton

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.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Milkman by Anna Burns, narrated by Brid Brennan

★ Mythos by Stephen Fry, narrated by Stephen Fry

★ The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo, narrated by Yangsze Choo

★ Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, narrated by Jacqueline Woodson, with Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Peter Francis James, Shayna Small, and Bahni Turpin



Faith-Based Fiction & Non-Fiction

How the Light Gets In by Jolina Petersheim, narrated by Tavia Gilbert

When Ruth Neufeld’s husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece together next steps. Ruth finds solace in the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and a budding new love with her husband’s cousin, Elam.

But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage, Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn’t dead after all.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Breathe Again by Niki Hardy, narrated by Niki Hardy

★ Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris, narrated by Annaka Harris

★ Dare to See: Discovering God in the Everyday by Katie Brown, narrated by Katie Brown

★ Jezebel: The Prequel by Jacquelin Thomas, narrated by Janina Edwards



Middle Grade

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White, narrated by Meryl Streep, Robin Miles, Kirby Heyborne, Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly Farr, Lincoln Hoppe, Mark Deakins, Tavia Gilbert, Danny Campbell, Emily Rankin, January Lavoy, and Macleod Andrews

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte’s Web, high up in Zuckerman’s barn. Charlotte’s spider web tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur’s life when he was born the runt of his litter.

E. B. White’s Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ New Kid by Jerry Craft, narrated by Jesus Del Orden, Nile Bullock, Robin Miles, Guy Lockard, Peyton Lusk, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, Phoebe Strole, Marc Thompson, Miles Harvey, and Ron Butler

★ Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange, narrated by Lucy Strange

★ Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, narrated by Almarie Guerra and a full cast

★ The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, narrated by Khristine Hvam



Short Stories / Collections

Full Throttle by Joe Hill, narrated by Stephen Lang, George Guidall, Neil Gaiman, Kate Mulgrew, Joe Hill, Zachary Quinto, Wil Wheaton, Nate Corddry, Ashleigh Cummings, Laysla De Oliveira, Connor Jessup

In this masterful collection of short fiction, Joe Hill dissects timeless human struggles in 13 relentless tales of supernatural suspense, including “In The Tall Grass”, one of two stories cowritten with Stephen King. Featuring two previously unpublished stories and a brace of shocking chillers, Full Throttle is a darkly imagined odyssey through the complexities of the human psyche. Hypnotic and disquieting, it mines our tormented secrets, hidden vulnerabilities, and basest fears and demonstrates this exceptional talent at his very best.

Read more and sample the audio →


Finalists

★ Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid, narrated by Julia Whelan, George Newbern, James Daniels, and Dara Rosenberg

★ Forward by Veronica Roth, Blake Crouch, N.K. Jemisin, Amor Towles, Paul Tremblay, and Andy Weir, narrated by Evan Rachel Wood, Rosa Salazar, Jason Isaacs, David Harbour, Steven Strait, and Janina Gavankar

★ I’m Telling the Truth But I’m Lying by Bassey Ikpi, narrated by Bassey Ikpi

★ Kabu Kabu by Nnedi Okorafor and Whoopi Goldberg (foreword), narrated by Yetide Badaki



Audio Drama

Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner, narrated by Bobby Cannavale, Nathan Lane, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Susan Brown, James Mcardle, Andrew Garfield, Denise Gough, Beth Malone, Lee Pace, and Edie Falco

In this production, adapted especially for the listening experience, Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane, and the entire cast recreate their acclaimed performances from the 2018 Tony Award-winning National Theatre revival of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. With narration by Bobby Cannavale and Edie Falco, and a musical score by Adrian Sutton, this audiobook is a compelling and immersive theatrical listening experience.

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Finalists

★ The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lecesne, narrated by James Lecesne

★ Birthday Suit by Lauren Blakely, narrated by Andi Arndt, Sebastian York, January LaVoy, Julia Whelan, R.C. Bray, Shane East, Joe Arden, Erin Mallon, Dion Graham, Savannah Peachwood, Jason Clarke, and Robin Miles

★ Have a Nice Day by Billy Crystal and Quinton Peeples, narrated by by Justin Bartha, Annette Bening, Dick Cavett, Auli’l Cravalho, Billy Crystal, Rachel Dratch, Darrell Hammond, Christopher Jackson, Kevin Kline, Robin Thede

★ Puss in Boots by Neil Fishman, Harvey Edelman, and Khristine Hvam, performed by Jim Dale, Mark Aldrich, Barret Leddy, Nick Sullivan, Brian Holden, Al Fallick, Lisa Livesay, Meredith Inglesby, Lynn Norris, John E. Brady, and Johnny Heller



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9 Audiobooks to Get Cozy with in January

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January can be a stressful time. The pajamas you lived in over the holidays have been swapped for real-life clothes. You’re thrown back into the normal work routine, but with the added pressure of trying to eat healthier or spend less money or go to the gym more. Never mind the annoyance of writing the wrong date on everything for the first few weeks. Welcome to 2019 2020!

A great way to balance out the stress: stay home and cozy up with a warm cup of tea and a good audiobook. Here are nine suggestions to get you started:

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, narrated by Nicole Lewis

Kiley Reid’s debut novel is so hilarious and full of heart that you’ll forget it’s talking about some serious topics.

When Emira Tucker, a young babysitter for the powerful Chamberlain family, is asked to take their toddler out to the grocery store, she is just excited to earn some extra cash. The evening takes a devastating turn when the grocery store security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping, simply because she is a black woman with a white child. After a video of the altercation is released, Mrs. Chamberlain promises to make it right for Emira. Instead, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick, narrated by James Langton

You won’t be able to resist falling for Arthur Pepper, an adorably quirky sixty-nine-year-old man. His story of loss, healing, and self-discovery is just about as uplifting as you can get. And his story is in line with the plot that we all fell in love with through the movie Up.

When he lost his wife Miriam, Arthur did everything he could to hold onto the life they shared. But the one-year anniversary of Miriam’s death brings an opportunity to learn more about her. The surprising and unforgettable adventure that unfolds takes Arthur all over the world in search of hope and healing.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary, narrated by Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune

The Flatshare is as cheery and lighthearted as they come! Beth O’Leary‘s rom-com lets you be a fly on the wall in the apartment of two strangers, who might also be soulmates. Tiffy and Leon live together without ever having met. Leon works through the night, Tiffy during the day. Their paths never cross. Instead, they communicate solely through short notes left around the apartment. Adorable… But it is a good idea to fall in love with someone you don’t know? 

You’ll love this feel-good audiobook about finding love in the most unexpected of ways.

Read more and sample the audio →

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanna Fluke, narrated by Suzanne Toren

Craving a quirky mystery? Look no further than this start to the Hannah Swensen mystery series.

The owner of a small bakeshop called The Cookie Jar is thrust into an investigation when she finds her delivery man has been murdered. When a second person connected to the shop is killed, things get serious. Does Hannah have the right ingredients to solve the case?

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Reasons to be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe, narrated by Gemma Whelan

This painfully funny account of life as a hapless teenager in the 1970s follows Lizzie Vogel, a 19-year old who lives a rather uneventful life (for now).

When Lizzie takes on a new job working for an eccentric dental surgeon, she quickly takes a liking to Andy, a patient who she calls her boyfriend despite never actually speaking to him. But Andy doesn’t turn out to be quite who he seems…

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Layoverland by Gabby Noone, narrated by Sophie Amoss

Perfect for those who love the show The Good Place, Layoverland is a darkly hilarious look at the afterlife.

When Beatrice Fox dies suddenly, she finds herself in purgatory – stuck between two possible fates. Tasked with a challenge that, if fulfilled, will bring her to the pearly gates, Bea works towards her second chance. But what she didn’t expect was to find love and friendship along the way.

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How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell, narrated by Rebecca Gibel

In an age where we’re constantly digesting information through technology, Jenny Odell argues for the importance of taking time to purposely do nothing at all. And we’re here for it! How to do Nothing is a reminder to take a break from the modern world and evaluate your relationship with your devices. That is not to say that the book pushes the luddite lifestyle. Instead, it praises balancing tech time with the simple things in life, too.

Provocative, timely, and utterly persuasive, this is the perfect next listen to frame the rest of your year!

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The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, narrated by Therese Plummer.

When young, childless couple Jack and Mabel arrive at their new home in the Alaskan wilderness, they struggle with the level of work needed to keep their home running. Taking a break one afternoon, they decide to build a child out of snow. To their surprise, the snow child has disappeared by the next morning, though they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

Equally magical and twisted, The Snow Child is a must-listen.

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My Not So Perfect Life: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella, narrated by Fiona Hardingham

Have you ever felt like everyone around you has a picture-perfect life, except you? As a symptom of the social media age, being privy to everyone else’s lives can sometimes make you feel like you just don’t measure up. At least that’s how Katie Brenner feels after she is fired from her job and forced to move home to live with her parents. When her problems seem to follow her everywhere she goes, Katie finds solace in at least making her life seem exciting online.

My Not So Perfect Life shares the timely story of a girl who learns to find her worth outside of the unrealistic world that is social media.

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!

17 Most Anticipated Book to Screen Adaptations for 2020

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Audiobooks.com Interview with Dani Shapiro, Author of Inheritance

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Have you ever uncovered a secret about your family that changed the way you look at both your life and your family in general? This happened to Dani Shapiro, author of the bestselling memoirs Hourglass, Slow Motion, Devotion, and her latest, Inheritance.

We were lucky enough to interview Shapiro and pick her brain on the topics of audiobooks, memoirs, and her podcast Family Secrets.


Audiobooks.com: How do you prepare before narrating your own memoirs? 

Dani Shapiro: I try to put myself all the way into the book so I can be living, breathing, the book during the hours I’m narrating. It’s such an intimate experience to narrate my own memoirs, and I want to impart that same sense of immediacy and intimacy to the reader.


Audiobooks.com: What do readers gain from listening to Inheritance or your other memoirs that they might miss out on by reading the print versions?

Dani Shapiro: That intimacy I’m talking about – I think that’s very particular to great audiobooks. After all, we listen alone – often with ear buds in place, or alone in a car. We’re receiving the voice of the narrator in an unmediated way. What emotion is being conveyed through the voice? We talk a lot about “voice” when it comes to literature, but when we’re talking about an audiobook, we’re literally talking about a voice and all it can contain.


Audiobooks.com: How has uncovering the truth about your paternity shaped how you tell your own story?

Dani Shapiro: Oh, my goodness. How has it not? One of the most interesting aspects of uncovering the truth about my paternity is how, in a way, it was always hiding in plain sight in my creative process. My themes, as a novelist, always revolved around family secrets. As I write in Inheritance, I always knew there was a secret. What I didn’t know: the secret was me. And so I’ve always, always supplied narratives to my own story in an attempt to piece it together, to understand. But it wasn’t until I discovered that something as fundamental as my identity has been kept from me that I was able to hold it all, see it all, understand it all.


Audiobooks.com: Your podcast, Family Secrets, gives listeners the platform to share their personal stories about secrets they’ve kept and those that have, in turn, been kept from them. Why were you compelled to create this podcast, and how have other people’s stories influenced how you think about your own experiences with your family?

Dani Shapiro: The podcast grew organically out of having written Inheritance. After I finished the final draft of the book, I was on the phone one afternoon with a friend, an early reader – the great Buddhist mindfulness teacher Sylvia Boorstein – and reading Inheritance prompted Sylvia to tell me a riveting story of her own family secret. She’s a great storyteller, and as she was talking, I found myself wishing I was recording her. And then I had the thought: hey, what about a podcast? I had no idea what I was doing, at first. I had a lot of help. But what I quickly learned is that storytelling is storytelling. I absolutely love the form of Family Secrets. I love sitting down with my guests and guiding them through their stories – “holding” their stories is the way I think of it, by writing scripts that allow their stories to be their most coherent and powerful.


Audiobooks.com: How does recording a podcast differ from recording an audiobook? Did your experiences with narrating your own memoirs help with the process of creating your podcast?

Dani Shapiro: Recording the podcast is quite different from recording an audiobook, in that it’s a conversation. A highly-produced conversation, but nonetheless, it’s a dialogue. The one similarity is that I’m using my speaking voice – an instrument I had never really paid much attention to before. It turns out I have a good voice for this sort of thing – not something I’d ever considered.


Audiobooks.com: Since creating the podcast, have you enjoyed taking a step back from your writing or are you itching to get behind the keyboard again?

Dani Shapiro: Between touring for Inheritance and the podcast, I haven’t had much time for my own writing, and for right now, that’s okay. I’ll know when it no longer feels right. These have been huge changes in my creative life, and as I always tell my students, when you’re a writer, you are your own instrument. We have to be respectful of that instrument, and the way it changes over time.


Audiobooks.com: What can we expect from season 3 of Family Secrets?

Dani Shapiro: I’m almost finished recording season 3 which will launch in early February! We have some absolutely amazing guests this coming season. I feel like the stories keep deepening, evolving, and becoming more nuanced. Finding great guests is shockingly easy. ∎


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!

December’s Top 10 Audiobooks.com Member Downloads

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

Fiction:

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, narrated by Tom Hanks

Publisher Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Commonwealth and State of Wonder, comes Ann Patchett’s most powerful novel to date: a richly moving story that explores the indelible bond between two siblings, the house of their childhood, and a past that will not let them go. The Dutch House is the story of a paradise lost, a tour de force that digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love and forgiveness, of how we want to see ourselves and of who we really are.

At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakeable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested.

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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, narrated by Cassandra Campbell

Publisher Summary:

For years, rumors of the ‘Marsh Girl’ have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life—until the unthinkable happens.

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The Guardians by John Grisham, narrated by Michael Beck

Publisher Summary:

In the small Florida town of Seabrook, a young lawyer named Keith Russo was shot dead at his desk as he worked late one night. The killer left no clues. There were no witnesses, no one with a motive. But the police soon came to suspect Quincy Miller, a young black man who was once a client of Russo’s.

Quincy was tried, convicted, and sent to prison for life. For twenty-two years he languished in prison, maintaining his innocence. But no one was listening. He had no lawyer, no advocate on the outside. In desperation, he writes a letter to Guardian Ministries, a small nonprofit run by Cullen Post, a lawyer who is also an Episcopal minister.

Guardian accepts only a few innocence cases at a time. Cullen Post travels the country fighting wrongful convictions and taking on clients forgotten by the system. With Quincy Miller, though, he gets far more than he bargained for. Powerful, ruthless people murdered Keith Russo, and they do not want Quincy Miller exonerated.

They killed one lawyer twenty-two years ago, and they will kill another without a second thought.

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A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci, narrated by Kyf Brewer and Brittany Pressley

Publisher Summary:

FBI Agent Atlee Pine returns to her Georgia hometown to investigate her twin sister’s abduction, only to encounter a serial killer in this page-turning thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

FBI Agent Atlee Pine’s life was never the same after her twin sister Mercy was kidnapped–and likely killed–thirty years ago. After a lifetime of torturous uncertainty, Atlee’s unresolved anger finally gets the better of her on the job, and she finds she has to deal with the demons of her past if she wants to remain with the FBI.

Atlee and her assistant Carol Blum head back to Atlee’s rural hometown in Georgia to see what they can uncover about the traumatic night Mercy was taken and Pine was almost killed. But soon after Atlee begins her investigation, a local woman is found ritualistically murdered, her face covered with a wedding veil–and the first killing is quickly followed by a second bizarre murder.

Atlee is determined to continue her search for answers, but now she must also set her sights on finding a potential serial killer before another victim is claimed. But in a small town full of secrets–some of which could answer the questions that have plagued Atlee her entire life–digging deeper into the past could be more dangerous than she realizes.

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The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, narrated by Jack Hawkins, Louise Brealey

Publisher Summary:

Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations-a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.

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Non-Fiction:

Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by Michelle Obama

Publisher Summary:

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States. 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.

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Educated by Tara Westover, narrated by Julia Whelan

Publisher Summary:

An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a Ph.D. from Cambridge University.

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

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Atomic Habits by James Clear, narrated by James Clear

Publisher Summary:

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving–every day. James Clear, one of the world’s leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you’re having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn’t you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you’ll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
• make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
• overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;
• design your environment to make success easier;
• get back on track when you fall off course;
…and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits–whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

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Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell, narrated by Malcolm Gladwell

Publisher Summary:

Malcolm Gladwell, host of the podcast Revisionist History and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Outliers, offers a powerful examination of our interactions with strangers—and why they often go wrong.

How did Fidel Castro fool the CIA for a generation? Why did Neville Chamberlain think he could trust Adolf Hitler? Why are campus sexual assaults on the rise? Do television sitcoms teach us something about the way we relate to each other that isn’t true?

Talking to Strangers is a classically Gladwellian intellectual adventure, a challenging and controversial excursion through history, psychology, and scandals taken straight from the news. He revisits the deceptions of Bernie Madoff, the trial of Amanda Knox, the suicide of Sylvia Plath, the Jerry Sandusky pedophilia scandal at Penn State University, and the death of Sandra Bland throwing our understanding of these and other stories into doubt. Something is very wrong, Gladwell argues, with the tools and strategies we use to make sense of people we don’t know. And because we don’t know how to talk to strangers, we are inviting conflict and misunderstanding in ways that have a profound effect on our lives and our world.

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The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson, narrated by Roger Wayne

Publisher Summary:

In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be ‘positive’ all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.

For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. ‘F**k positivity,’ Mark Manson says. ‘Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.’ In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ckis his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—’not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.’ Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.

There are only so many things we can give a f**k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.

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 Sophie Kinsella, Author of The Shopaholic Series

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Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic debuted in 2003 and since then has snowballed into an extremely popular and successful series that not only boasts 10 books in its line-up, but also has a movie adaptation of the first book starring Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusak, and John Lithgow – to name a few.

Now, Kinsella has released the 10th book in the series, Christmas Shopaholic, where Becky is faced with the daunting task of hosting the big family holiday celebration at her place. With every step she takes to make everything perfect she worries if she can really pull this off.

We were able to catch up with Kinsella recently to ask her a few questions about her latest release and what she sees on the horizon for both Becky and the Shopaholic series.

Audiobooks.com: What do you look for in an ideal audiobook narrator?

Sophie Kinsella: I love to hear characterful voices. When I write, my books are all first person and so the voice is very clearly in my head. I love it when an audiobook narrator taps into the narrative voice I have had in my head when writing.

Audiobooks.com: What do readers gain from listening to the audiobook that they miss out on if they just read the print version?

Sophie Kinsella: When I read books that I like, I often whip through them very quickly, and think afterwards that I’ve missed some of the subtlety and wit of the writing. With audiobooks you have the opportunity to luxuriate in the writing.

Audiobooks.com: In Christmas Shopaholic, Becky’s family has long-standing holiday traditions. Does your family have any similar, fun traditions that you’ve kept up over the years?

Sophie Kinsella: We play a brilliant game where you have to put on hats and gloves and scarves and eat a chocolate bar with a knife and fork. We also read ‘Twas the night before Christmas every Christmas Eve before we put out mince pies and sherry by the fire for Father Christmas to find.

Audiobooks.com: Becky is tasked with hosting the holiday festivities and chaos ensues. Did you draw on your own personal experiences with hosting family over the holidays? And if chaos ensues, how do you deal with it?

Sophie Kinsella: I don’t know what you mean – there is never any chaos when I host Christmas… Seriously, I think it’s easy to panic over Christmas arrangements but I’m lucky that we as a family are all quite forgiving of each other – and a box of candy and a small glass of sherry will always smooth things over!

Audiobooks.com: In this installment of the Shopaholic series, in typical Becky-fashion, she strives to host the perfect holiday get-together and get everyone the perfect gifts. What do you think it is about Becky that causes your readers to have such a soft spot for her?

Sophie Kinsella: It absolutely thrills me that Becky has such an enduring appeal. I think she feels real to a lot of my readers – she certainly feels real to me! She has grown and matured over the years, even though she is the same Becky and still gets into trouble. And although she has flaws, she also has many qualities which are inspiring – her optimism, her good-heartedness, her ingenious solutions to problems, and her relationships with her family and friends. She always tries her best, even if her best usually backfires.

Audiobooks.com: And more personally from your own perspective, what is it about Becky and her story that makes you want to keep returning to it again and again?

Sophie Kinsella: I love Becky like no other character! She’s the only heroine I’ve created that I keep returning to. I just love writing in her voice and seeing the world through her eyes. She’s so optimistic and can-do and has her own special logic.

Audiobooks.com: Where do you see Becky and her family in 10 years?

Sophie Kinsella: I’m sure Becky will have given up shopping and she and Luke will be a sensible ordinary couple… or not!∎


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!