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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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