8 Books We Think You Should Read At Least Once

There’s a reason some books are considered to be “classics.” They stood the test of time and deliver topics and themes that are still relevant today. And what about those buzzy books that you’ve heard everyone talk about, but just never got around to picking up? Well guess what?! Now is the time to jump into one of these books that we think you need to read at least once in your life. We’ve highlighted a few below, but you can browse the full booklist here.


1984 by George Orwell, narrated by Benjamin May 

George Orwell’s 1984 is one of the most definitive texts of modern literature. Set in Oceania, one of the three inter-continental superstate that divided the world among themselves after a global war, Orwell’s masterful critique of the political structures of the time, works itself out through the story of Winston Smith, a man caught in the webs of a dystopian future, and his clandestine love affair with Julia, a young woman he meets during the course of his work for the government.

As much as it is an entertaining read, 1984 is also a brilliant, and more importantly, a timeless satirical attack on the social and political structures of the world.

Read more and sample the audio →


Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Barbara Caruso

Little Women is one of the best loved books of all time. Lovely Meg, talented Jo, frail Beth, spoiled Amy: these are hard lessons of poverty and of growing up in New England during the Civil War. Through their dreams, plays, pranks, letters, illnesses, and courtships, women of all ages have become a part of this remarkable family and have felt the deep sadness when Meg leaves the circle of sisters to be married at the end of Part I.

Part II, chronicles Meg’s joys and mishaps as a young wife and mother, Jo’s struggle to become a writer, Beth’s tragedy, and Amy’s artistic pursuits and unexpected romance. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s childhood, this lively portrait of nineteenth-century family life possesses a lasting vitality that has endeared it to generations of readers.

Read more and sample the audio →


All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, narrated by Zach Appelman

Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another.

All The Light We Cannot See was the winner of both the 2015 Audie Award for Fiction as well as the 2015 Pulitzer Prize.

Read more and sample the audio →


Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, narrated by Peter Noble, Colin Salmon

Obsessed with the idea of creating life itself, Victor Frankenstein plunders graveyards for the material with which to fashion a new being, shocking his creation to life with electricity. But this botched creature, rejected by its creator and denied human companionship, sets out to destroy Frankenstein and all that he holds dear.

Mary Shelley’s chilling gothic tale was conceived when she was only eighteen, living with her lover Percy Shelley near Lord Byron’s villa on Lake Geneva. It would become the world’s most famous work of Gothic horror, and Frankenstein’s monster an instantly-recognisable symbol of the limits of human creativity.

Read more and sample the audio →


The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, narrated by Bahni Turpin

In Whitehead’s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor—engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Cora and Caesar’s first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city’s placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom.

The Underground Railroad is both a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner and is now an original Amazon Prime Video series directed by Barry Jenkins.

Read more and sample the audio →


Lord of the Flies by William Golding, narrated by William Golding

William Golding’s classic novel of primitive savagery and survival is one of the most vividly realized and riveting works in modern fiction. The tale begins after a plane wreck deposits a group of English school boys, aged six to twelve on an isolated tropical island. Their struggle to survive and impose order quickly evolves from a battle against nature into a battle against their own primitive instincts. Golding’s portrayal of the collapse of social order into chaos draws the fine line between innocence and savagery.

Read more and sample the audio →


The Giver by Lois Lowry, narrated by Ron Rifkin

Lois Lowry’s The Giver is the quintessential dystopian novel, followed by its remarkable companions, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back

Read more and sample the audio →


Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, narrated by Kirby Heyborne, Julia Whelan

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy (Nick) parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Amy’s husband, Nick, is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer? 

A #1 New York Times bestseller, Gone Girl was named the best book of the year and one of the most influential books of the decade.

Read more and sample the audio →


Looking for Book Recommendations?

• Here are the audiobooks our members have been loving, along with our staff picks that we’ve been championing.

• Looking to share your love of books? Our handy Book Clubbin’ questions make it super easy to start a book club. Or, Netflix n’ buddy-read with this year’s book-to-screen adaptations (just be prepared for the perennial debate: is the book better than the movie/show?).

• If you’re looking for something extra, we’ve got author and narrator interviews to give you a gleam inside their worlds.

• For the curious-minded, audiobooks can teach you a thing or two, from nature therapy to personal finance. It can even keep the little ones busy so you can steal some time back for yourself.


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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

Banned Books Week

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Banned Books Week

We love stories. That’s why we are in the business of storytelling. But what happens when certain stories are withheld from the public, access is denied in schools and libraries? This is no new concept, certain books still get banned. Censorship is still alive and well and continues to be implemented in school boards all over the world today.

This week, Sept 24th-Oct 1st has been declared Banned Books Week, a time when libraries, schools, and bookstores celebrate our First Amendment freedom to read. Whether it’s print or in the form of an audio book, stories are a precious resource that provide us not only with entertainment, but information, ideas, opinions that may otherwise not be heard.

Recently, there have been various books banned, books I recall reading way back in my high school English classes. Below are some commonly challenged books that you might be interested in. But as you review the list, ask yourself, where do you stand with the content questioned? Sure, there are various reasons why these books are banned, some due to sexual perversity or overall obscenity like Lolita, or because of political, religious, or racial grounds, but does that make it right to remove it from bookshelves?

Commonly Challenged Books:

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee –A classic work of literature that was banned two years ago from a high school in Brampton, Ontario due to the prejudice in the novel. A parent objected to the language used, like the vulgar “N” word used in reference to African-Americans.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut – Although this book came out 42 years ago, this summer a high school in Missouri banned Kurt Vonnegut’s counter-culture classic from its library and curriculum alleging the book promoted “values contrary to those found in the bible”.

Others include:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
1984 by George Orwell