Page to Screen in Summer 2019

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Kylie Conner

Summer days drifting away to (oh, oh) the summer nights! What a PERFECT time to check out a blockbuster in theaters or binge-watch a new TV series. Why not give a listen to the books these were based on before checking out the film and TV adaptations?

Alone on the Wall (Film adaptation: Free Solo) by Alex Honnold, narrated by Andrew Eiden, Will Damron
Released: August 2018

From page to screen to page again! Alone on the Wall originally debuted in 2015 and in it Honnold shared the stories from several of his notable climbing achievements. Now, Alone on the Wall has been re-released with two bonus chapters on Honnold‘s 2017 free solo ascent of the 3,000 ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. In the summer of 2018 a movie titled Free Solo was released telling Honnold‘s amazing story. This film adaptation eventually ended up winning an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Read more and sample the audio →

June

The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, narrated by Susan Duerden
Released: June 30

From a novel of the same name springs a new series titled, The Rook, starring Emma Greenwell, Joely Richardson, and Olivia Munn. This new series, which premiered on June 30th, follows Myfanwy Thomas after she wakes up in a park surrounded by dead bodies and no memory. By following orders that have been left behind for her she discovers that she is a “Rook” in a secret agency and her job is to protect the world from supernatural threats.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Loudest Voice in the Room by Gabriel Sherman, narrated by Erik Singer
Released: June 30

The Loudest Voice in the Room takes you on a journey into the life of Roger Ailes, founder of Fox News, and how he came to be one of the most influential figures in conservative America. A seven part limited series of the same name starring Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, and Seth McFarlane premiered on June 30th on Showtime.

Read more and sample the audio →

July

Stranger Things: Runaway Max by Brenna Yovanoff, narrated by Sophie Amoss
Released: July 4

Before jumping into the highly anticipated season three of Stranger Things, you’ll want to check out Stranger Things: Runaway Max. This audiobook delves into the backstory of one of the characters we met in season 2, “Mad” Max Mayfield. While Runaway Max may not be a direct adaptation for season three of the Netflix series, you’ll still get a good base knowledge should the show touch on Max’s story line before coming to Hawkins, Indiana.

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America’s Reluctant Prince (Film adaptation: Biography: JFK Jr. — The Final Year) by Steven M. Gillon, narrated by Tim Andrés Pabon
Expected release date: July 16

Although this new biography was just released it has already inspired a two-hour documentary on A&E, set to be released on July 16th. This release date also coincides with the 20th anniversary of John F. Kennedy Jr.’s untimely death, so give this audiobook a listen to get the full background before diving into the documentary.

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Hamlet (Film adaptation: The Lion King) by William Shakespeare, narrated by Various Readers
Expected release date: July 19

Did you know that The Lion King was originally based on Hamlet, by William Shakespeare? It’s true! Okay, this one’s kind of a stretch, but thanks to Hamlet, we have this classic Disney flick, so let’s just go with it.

After it was announced that a remake of The Lion King was being made pretty much everyone’s nostalgia went into overdrive. This ultra-anticipated remake premiers on July 19th, which just happens to be the 25th anniversary of when the original film was released. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

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Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life. by Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, narrated by Karamo Brown, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France
Expected release date: July 19

Get your guacamole ready, the Fab Five are coming back to Netflix for Queer Eye season four! The new season will be set in Kansas City and will deliver us the stories of eight heroes, which are sure to be as heart-warming as ever. In the meantime, get your Fab Five fix by listening to their audiobook, Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life.

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August

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, narrated by Nathaniel Parker
Expected release date: August 9

This long-awaited film adaptation has been in the works since Artemis Fowl was first published in 2001 and finally it’s hitting theaters this August! Often described as, “Die Hard with fairies,” Artemis Fowl follows the story of a 12-year old boy who is not only a millionaire and a genius, but also a criminal mastermind.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, narrated by Christopher Evan Welch
Expected release date: August 9

If you’re a sucker for movies with cute dogs, this one is right up your alley. Told from the perspective of Enzo, the dog, The Art of Racing in the Rain captures what it means to be human in only the way a dog could. The film adaptation of the same name starring Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfriend, and Kevin Costner is due to hit theaters August 9th.

Read more and sample the audio →

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite
Expected release date: August 16

Are you looking for a mystery, drama, and comedy all wrapped into one? Look no further! Where’d You Go, Bernadette, starring Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, and Kristen Wiig, is hitting the big screen this August. The original book of the same name spent a year on the New York Times bestseller list, so it only makes sense that it was adapted for film.

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Mindhunter by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, narrated by Richard M. Davidson
Expected release date: August 2019

Netflix and the show creators have been very tight-lipped about what’s to come in season two of Mindhunter. What we do know is that this detective drama series is scheduled for an August release. Mindhunter gives a behind-the-scenes look at John E. Douglas’ 25-year career in the FBI Investigative Support Unit and how, through psychological profiling, he was able to see what goes on inside the minds of the most notorious serial killers.

Read more and sample the audio →

New to Audiobooks.com? Get 2 free audiobooks 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!

Page to Screen in June 2019

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Caitlin

Thinking of going to see a movie in June? Get the best experience by listening to the books they were based on before seeing the film & TV adaptations.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, narrated by Kate Mulgrew
Expected Release Date: June 2

Charles Talent Manx (Zachary Quinto) likes to take children for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the vanity plate NOS4A2. In the Wraith, he and his innocent guests can slip out of the everyday world and onto hidden roads that lead to an astonishing playground of amusements he calls Christmasland. The journey across the highway of Charlie’s twisted imagination transforms his precious passengers, leaving them as terrifying and unstoppable as their benefactor. Only one has escaped Charlie’s evil: her name is Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings), she is grown up and craving revenge. Who will win this life-and-death battle, Vic or Charlie? This thrilling mystery debuts this June on Amazon.

Read more and sample the audio →

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, narrated by Caroline Lee
Expected Release Date: June 9

The first season was so suspenseful that it left us wanting more. What will happen next with this group of ladies who have become friends? Another murder, tragic accident, even more lies? Listen to the audiobook before watching the much anticipated second season of Big Little Lies which is back on HBO this month.

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Leila by Prayaag Akbar, narrated by Tania Rodrigues
Expected Release Date: June 16

This novel is a wonderful blend between The Girl in the Red Coat and Slumdog Millionaire—and will be available on Netflix this month starring Huma Qureshi, Siddharth, and Rahul Khanna. Leila disappears on her 3rd birthday. Every year her mother, Shalini, kneels by a specific wall and buries 2 candles for herself and her husband. If Leila is found, she plans on going back and digging every single candle out of the ground. But will Leila ever return?

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Instinct by Howard Roughan & James Patterson, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini
Expected Release Date: June 16

A copy of Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Allan Cumming) novel about criminal behavior shows up at the scene of a gruesome murder, and it is found with a note from the killer himself. Will Detective Liz Needham (Bojana Novakovic) and Dr. Reinhart find the serial killer responsible for these murders? Instinct, based on James Patterson’s Murder Games, is returning for season two this month on CBS.

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Hamlet (Film Adaptation: Ophelia) by William Shakespeare, narrated by Frank Muller
Expected Release Date: June 28

Ophelia is an adaptation of Hamlet, told from (you guessed it!) Ophelia’s perspective. With Daisy Ridley in the titular role, This film adaptation is hitting theaters at the end of the month. If you’ve never listened to Shakespeare’s classic play or just need a refresher, Frank Muller’s performance of Hamlet is an excellent place to start.

Read more and sample the audio →

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

Page to Screen in May 2019

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Caitlin

Looking forward to seeing some new movies and shows this May? Take a look below and listen to the audiobook before seeing the film & TV adaptations!

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory, Narrated by Karina Fernandez
Expected Release Date: May 5

True power is knowing exactly what you want and not allowing anything to get in the way of your dreams. Watch as Catherine of Aragon sets her eyes on the throne in the new Starz mini-series, Spanish Princess. The show is based on The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse by Philippa Gregory and stars Charlotte Hope, Stephanie Levi-John, and Laura Carmichael.

Read more and sample the audio →

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, Narrated by Dominic Hoffman, Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee
Expected Release Date: May 17

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Yara Shahidi as Natasha and Charles Melton as Daniel! Their love story is anything but simple, and you will be rooting the whole way through for this couple. This will remind you that the smallest gestures are actually the biggest and how the smallest actions can change the course of your life.

Read more and sample the audio →

A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron, Narrated by William Dufris
Expected Release Date: May 17

Based on the much-loved bestselling book by W. Bruce Cameron, A Dog’s Purpose is heading to the big screen this month! This audiobook shares the heartwarming story about the unbreakable bond between man and dog, told from the perspective of Bailey, a rambunctious golden haired puppy. This film stars Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, and KJ Apa.

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CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller, Narrated by Jay O. Sanders
Expected Release Date: May 17

George Clooney, executive produces, directs, and stars in Hulu’s upcoming series based on Joseph Heller’s acclaimed classic. Set on the island of Pianosa in the Mediterranean Seas, Catch-22 follows Captain John Yossarian, a U.S. Army Air Forces B-25 bombardier, and a group of airmen as they try to stay sane while completing their missions so they can return home.

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Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Narrated by Martin Jarvis
Expected Release Date: May 31

According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, The Rapture is coming, and the world is going to end on Saturday. Soon to be an original Amazon Prime series starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant, the adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s collaborative novel is sure to be of apocalyptic proportions. The army’s of Good and Evil are joining together but an angel and a devil are not accepting their fate. Listen to the book to find out what happens!

Read more and sample the audio →

Page to Screen in April 2019

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Caitlin

Thinking of going to see a movie this April? Get the best experience by listening to the books they were based on before seeing the film & TV adaptations.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King, narrated by Michael C. Hall
Expected Release Date: April 5

When Dr. Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) takes a new job and moves his family to Ludlow, Maine, this new beginning seems too good to be true. There’s an undercurrent of danger that lingers…like the graveyard in the woods near the Creed’s home, where generations of children have buried their beloved pets. Behind the “pet sematary,” there is another burial ground, one that lures people to it with seductive promises and temptations. A blood-chilling truth is hidden there—proving to the Creeds that sometimes, dead is better. After you listen the novel you’ll be yearning to see the film on the big screen.

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The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, narrated by Keith Sellon-Wright
Expected Release Date: April 5

Rich with details about the rhythms of daily life in the mid-twentieth-century South, The Best of Enemies (released on Amazon this April) offers a vivid portrait of a relationship that defied all odds. By placing this very personal story into a broader context, Osha Gray Davidson demonstrates race is intimately tied to issues of class and that cooperation is possible—even in the most divisive situations— when people begin to listen to one another.

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Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolito, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Expected Release Date: April 5

Crime drama Quicksand is coming to Netflix on April 5th, and is based on the 2016 novel of the same name. A mass shooting has taken place at a prep school in Stockholm’s wealthiest suburb. Maja Norberg (Hanna Ardehn) has just spent nine horrible months in jail and is now on trial for her involvement in the massacre where her boyfriend and best friend were killed. The time has come for her to enter the courtroom.

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Native Son by Richard Wright, narrated by Peter Francis James
Expected Release Date: April 6

Right from the start, Bigger Thomas (Ashton Sanders) had been headed for jail. It could have been for assault or petty larceny; by chance, it was for murder and rape. Native Son tells the story of this young black man caught in a downward spiral after he kills a young white woman in a brief moment of panic. Wright’s powerful novel—set in the 1930s—is an unsparing reflection on the poverty and feelings of hopelessness experienced by people in inner cities across the country. The film adaptation is set to debut on HBO Films on April 6.

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After by Anna Todd, narrated by Elizabeth Louise & Hero Fiennes Tiffin
Expected Release Date: April 12

Could this be love for Tessa (Josephine Langford) and Hardin (Hero Fiennes-Tiffin)? Soon to be a major motion picture, Anna Todd‘s sensational novel is now available with a bonus chapter read by Hero Fiennes Tiffin and a letter to listeners read by the author.

Tessa is the good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. Hardin is the bad boy with tattoos and a bad attitude. Hardin is the polar opposite of her sweet boyfriend back home. He is mean and rude, but as soon as they kiss, it ignites a passion within her she’s never known until now. Each time he pushes her away, she only feels pulled in deeper by her desire to find the real Hardin beneath his lies.

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I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves by Ryan O’Connell, narrated by Ryan O’Connell
Expected Release Date: April 12

From the beloved blogger turned voice of an online generation comes an unforgettable and hilarious memoir-meets-manifesto exploring what it means to be a millennial gay man living with cerebral palsy. Ryan shares his story of how, through extensive trial and error, he figures out how to take his life from bleak to chic.

The TV adaptation called Special will be released on Netflix April 12 and there will be eight episodes in total for Season 1.

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The Breakthrough: The Miraculous True Story of a Mother’s Faith and Her Child’s Resurrection by Joyce Smith, narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers
Expected Release Date: April 17

Coming to a theater near you on April 17, Breakthrough is the impossible true story about the powerful impact of prayer starring Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace, Dennis Haysbert, and Josh Lucas.

When Joyce Smith’s fourteen-year-old son, John, fell through an icy lake, he lay lifeless at the hospital for more than sixty minutes. But Joyce was not ready to give up on her son. She gathered all her faith and strength and cried out to God to save him. This is an extraordinary story of the death and resurrection of the Smith’s son.

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Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, narrated by Roy Dotrice
Expected Release Date: April 18

Winter is coming. Who will win the battle, fire or ice? The long anticipated wait is almost over for season eight of Game of Thrones. While you wait for the show to return to HBO, you can make the wait more enjoyable by listening to Games of Thrones: A Song of Ice and Fire (Book One) to set the mood for what is about to come.

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Selection Day by Aravind Adiga, narrated by Sartaj Garewala
Expected Release Date: April 22

Did you see the Original Netflix series Selection Day last year? If you did, we have good news for you: part 2 of the show is finally arriving this month! It’s a brilliant novel about two brothers in a Mumbai slum who are raised by their obsessive father to become cricket stars, and whose coming of age threatens their relationship, future, and sense of themselves. Many fans can’t wait to see how the story of the Kumar brothers concludes.

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12 Most Anticipated Book to Screen Adaptations in 2019

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Lena Yang

Listeners and bibliophiles all around, rejoice! 2019 is going to be one for the books! From long-awaited adaptations to reboots of classics, avid bookworms will see a host of fantastic books hitting both the big and small screens. Whether you like tearjerkers or award-winners, small screen production or big screen spectacles, there will be something to dive into for everyone. So, brush up on your listening, because this year is sure to be a treat for the eyes and the ears.

A Dog’s Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron, narrated by Ann Marie Lee
Expected release date: January 11

90 minutes of watching an adorable dog do adorable things? Sign me up! A Dog’s Way Home, based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron who also wrote A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey, stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Ashley Judd and tells the story of one resilient dog who travels more than 400 miles to make its way back to its owner. Are you feeling the puppy love yet?

Read more and sample the audio.

The Passage by Justin Cronin, narrated by Scott Brick
Expected release date: January 14

The Passage, the first in Justin Cronin’s epic three-part series, is finally coming to the small screen after initially being optioned for a big screen production. A gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage tells the story of orphan Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney) who is pursued by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. When Special Agent Brad Wolgast (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is sent to track her down, he becomes disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her.
Read more and sample the audio.

The Knife of Never Letting Go (Film Adaptation: Chaos Walking) by Patrick Ness, narrated by Nick Podehl
Expected release date: March 1

Daisy Ridley, Tom Holland, and Nick Jonas are joining forces to bring to life Patrick Ness’s bestselling Young Adult series. Based on the first novel in the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Knife of Never Letting Go, the story is 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.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, narrated by Kathleen Wilhoite
Expected release date: March 22

Maria Semple’s bestselling dramedy begins when notorious and opinionated Bernadette Fox, played by Cate Blanchett, disappears out of the blue. In an effort to track down her mother, Bernadette’s 15-year-old daughter, Bee, combs through email messages, official documents, and secret correspondences to piece together the story of her mother’s troubled past.

Read more and sample the audio.

Pet Sematary by Stephen King, narrated by Michael C. Hall
Expected release date: April 5

After the massive success of It, horror fans will be eager for another flick adapted from Stephen King’s vast body of work. Pet Sematary, first adapted in 1989, returns to the big screen starring Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow. The story centers on a doctor who, after learning about a mysterious pet cemetery that sits on an ancient burial ground, makes the doomed decision to bury his deceased son there in hopes of resurrecting him.

Read more and sample the audio.

The Best of Enemies: Race and Redemption in the New South by Osha Gray Davidson, narrated by Keith Sellon-Wright
Expected release date: April 5

Based on a true story, the movie, starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell, will be adapted from Osha Gray Davidson’s book of the same name that tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken Civil Rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a Ku Klux Klan leader.

Read more and sample the audio.

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, narrated by Dominic Hoffman, Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee
Expected release date: May 17

Nicole Yoon fans rejoice! The second novel by the bestselling author of Everything, Everything is being adapted for the big screen and is set to be released on May 19. The story begins with Natasha, a pragmatic teenage girl who meets and falls in love with a boy named Daniel hours before her family is going to be deported back to Jamaica.

Read more and sample the audio.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, narrated by David Pittu
Expected release date: October 11

Based on Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this adaptation starring Nicole Kidman, Ansel Elgort, Sarah Paulson, and Jeffrey Wright tells the story of a teenage boy named Theo Decker (Elgort) whose life is changed after surviving a bombing that killed his mother at a museum. Following the shock of the attack, Theo makes a split-second decision to steal a painting which then leads his life down wild and unexpected paths.

Read more and sample the audio.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, narrated by Barbara Caruso
Expected release date: December 25

Christmas just got a whole lot better with the upcoming adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel about four sisters growing up in New England during the Civil War. Greta Gerwig, the writer and director of 2017’s acclaimed coming-of-age movie Lady Bird, is taking on the latest adaptation of the classic novel with a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, and Laura Dern. (Is it Christmas yet?!)

Read more and sample the audio.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, narrated by Martin Jarvis
Expected release date: first half of 2019

It’s an apocalyptic year for the small screen. Scheduled for release sometime in 2019, Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s collaborative novel, Good Omens, has an all-star cast featuring David Tennant, Michael Sheen, John Hamm, and Nick Offerman just to name a few. The six-part miniseries begins with a prophesied doomsday, which then sees an angel named Aziraphale (Sheen) and a demon named Crowley (Tennant) teaming up to prevent the coming apocalypse.

Read more and sample the audio.

The Golden Compass (Film Adaptation: His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman, narrated by Philip Pullman
Expected release date: 2019

Although there’s no release date set for BBC’s adaptation of His Dark Materials, production has wrapped for the eight-part series, and fans will soon see the first book in the trilogy, The Golden Compass, come to life on the small screen. Dafne Keen, best known for her role as Wolverine’s daughter in the movie Logan will play the hero, Lyra Belacqua. The series also stars James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Ruth Wilson and will follow Lyra through parallel universes as she meets a host of fantastical creatures.

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All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, narrated by Ariadne Meyers, Jennifer Niven, and Kirby Heyborne
Expected release date: 2019

Netflix is adapting Jennifer Niven’s heart-wrenching YA bestseller about two teenagers, Violet Markey (Elle Fanning) and Theodore Finch (Justice Smith), who find each other at difficult points in their lives. Together, they set out to discover the wonders of the world around them. Grab your tissues, this is going to be a tearjerker!

Read more and sample the audio.

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

A Sneak Peek at the Set of A Discovery of Witches

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Lena Yang

When I attended Oxford University for a month-long publishing program, I didn’t expect to go to school with witches and vampires.

It was a chilly September day when my train arrived from London. The cobblestone streets and sea of spires didn’t look familiar, even though I had visited the city less than ten years ago. I’d always wanted to live in a castle—a desire stemming from my Harry Potter obsession that was finally being realized—but I also knew that come morning, my boyfriend would be off on a bus to Heathrow Airport while I’d be meeting 70 strangers who would, for better or worse, be my only company for the next month.

As the days passed and I settled into my new home at Exeter College, I savored the thrilling feeling of exclusivity as I strutted past hordes of weekend tourists to my always-too-cold dorm room (I was told by the porter that heating wouldn’t be provided until the fall term began). Every night when I sat in my room overlooking Broad Street and Trinity College, I felt as if I had been transported back in time to land squarely in a gothic romance.

That’s what Oxford does: it makes you feel special and not quite yourself.

When the end of my time at Oxford was looming near and I had been feeling particularly gloomy, an unusual email from my professor popped up in my inbox. “Filming in College,” it read. As it turns out, A Discovery of Witches was going to be filmed in the very college I was staying in. A thrill went through my spine—I bought the book just two months ago and had been dying to read it.

“This will not disrupt our schedule,” my professor insisted—only it did, in a minuscule, exciting way that only happened to bystanders who wished to take part in an important event. Daily journeys to the dining hall became riddled with thrills and suspense: ducking behind posts when the director yelled “action,” holding our breaths as the actors walked past, and dashing madly through the film set toward our coveted meal before filming started once more.

The film crew setting up in the Front Quad in front of the Dining Hall.

On the last day of filming—coincidentally my last day in Oxford—the weather was relaxing and sunny, a departure from its usual overcast gloominess. My friend Abby and I pressed our noses up to her window to watch the film crew below, who waved at us when they discovered our hiding spot.

Teresa Palmer, who plays the lead character Diana Bishop—a witch—stood by in a heavy black coat, while Matthew Goode, who portrays her vampire boyfriend Matthew Clairmont, walked past in a matching black jacket. When Abby and I ventured out for our shopping trip, we tried to be discreet and nonchalant, although I suspect we failed miserably at both.

When afternoon came and my class gathered in Fellows’ Garden for one last sherry hour, Teresa strolled past wearing a new athletic outfit and peeked at the crowd. “I want to be a part of their party,” I heard her say.

But who would believe I partied with a witch?

A Discovery of Witches premieres in the UK on Sky One on September 14 and in the US and Canada on Sundance Now and Shudder at a yet to be announced date.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, narrated by Jennifer Ikeda

Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Read more and sample the audio.

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