Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

For a story built on first impressions, perceptions, and secrets, tonal variety is key. Narrator Soneela Nankani does a beautiful job with the nuances in this fresh take on the Jane Austen classic. Chef DJ Caine is hospitable but steely to Dr. Trisha Raje after their disastrous initial meeting. The two are thrown together constantly by a series of circumstances, and there’s an underlying heat to their relationship that neither can deny. Nankani seamlessly transitions from an Indian-American accent to a posh British tone and a breezy Californian inflection. She takes care to give a distinct voice to each member of the Raje family, a tactic that illuminates the patriarch’s stony demeanor in particular. Published by Harper Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Ramón de Ocampo brings out all the emotion in this tender, serious, funny, and warmly hopeful love story. Smart, snarky Alex Claremont-Diaz, first son of the United States, is about to graduate from Georgetown and is eager to work on his mother’s reelection campaign. Then he falls headlong into a whirlwind and very secret romance with England’s Prince Henry. De Ocampo beautifully conveys the depth of feeling in their late-night text and email exchanges and intimate physical encounters. Alex gets a hint of a Texas twang and Henry a wobbly but endearing British accent as de Ocampo differentiates among the large cast of supporting characters in orbit around them. Listeners will be swept up as Alex and Henry face questions of identity and coming out amid familial duties and political machinations. Published by Macmillan Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Elizabeth Acevedo sounds natural and authentic as Emoni, an immensely likable Philadelphia high school senior with a 2-year-old daughter and a gift for cooking. In both her writing and her narration, Acevedo warmly depicts the loving and supportive people in Emoni’s life—her Puerto Rican abuela, who helps take care of baby Emma; her best friend, Angelica; and Malachi, a new transfer student who is taking a culinary arts class with Emoni. In short chapters, listeners learn about Emoni’s magic in the kitchen—not only does she have an instinct for what will taste good, but her emotions are an essential ingredient that infuses her cooking. This delicious feel-good story will have listeners rooting for Emoni as she figures out the next steps on her life path. Published by Harper Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Woo Zeller narrates a deeply moving love story between two passionate and strong-willed individuals from its emotionally devastating lows to its profoundly satisfying conclusion. Khai Diep is convinced he is incapable of feeling, and, therefore, has no need of a wife. Esme Tran, despite numerous obstacles, jumps at the chance to meet a potential husband who is American. Zeller perfectly captures Esme’s journey from naïve country girl to determined young woman as she navigates a new country, a new living situation, and a complicated new relationship. Similarly, she skillfully portrays Khai’s slow and painful progress as he realizes that he does indeed possess very deep feelings. Zeller’s comfort with the occasional Vietnamese phrases adds another layer of realism to the story. Published by Dreamscape. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In deep tones that will be familiar to viewers of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” social worker and cultural commentator Karamo Brown narrates his debut audiobook. Blending memoir with inspirational lessons, he recounts the joys and challenges of his life, including his unorthodox routes to fame and fatherhood, his experiences with addiction and abuse, and his ambitious drive. He describes how each of these qualities and experiences shaped his worldview and empowered him to help others. Although Brown’s narration style doesn’t achieve the level of charisma listeners might expect based on his television work, his delivery is straightforward and accessible, with occasional bursts of warmth and humor. Overall, fans will be fascinated by this dive into Brown’s personal history, particularly the lengthy final chapter, which focuses on “Queer Eye.” Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator David Pittu’s smooth, soft delivery is the perfect contrast to the unnamed protagonist in this domestic thriller about a happily married couple whose hobby is killing innocent women. The story is told mostly through the voice of the husband, who describes his relationship with his wife and problems with his kids, as well as details of the couple’s secret life and growing concerns about getting caught. Pittu’s performance authentically mirrors the way people talk to themselves and matches tempo, volume, and tone to the husband’s varied personas, which range from loving family man to lady-killer (literally). Listeners may feel somewhat uncomfortable as they become invested in the husband’s story and could even start to root for him, lulled by Pittu’s spot-on portrayal. Published by Penguin Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brittany Pressley performs this audiobook at a fast pace that will be familiar to listeners who live in large, bustling cities. But she knows how to moderate her energy for the tender sections, and her overall performance sounds authentic, conversational, and true to the core intentions of the author’s story. Lori Gottlieb, a psychotherapist, describes her experiences trying to help a variety of clients and shares a few of her own issues—like how to help others when your own life has just been bombed by the unexpected ending of a romantic relationship. She’s a candid reporter, and the portraits she offers of her clients, her own therapy, and the practice of psychotherapy sound both authentic and inspiring. Portrayed by Pressley, she also sounds like someone you know, which makes her observations and insights all the more accessible. Published by Audible, Inc. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With remarkable vocal agility, narrator Michael Crouch takes a fascinating novel and makes it downright riveting. No matter what appears in the audiobook, Crouch is game. Ilya is an exchange student from Russia who is living in Louisiana. Fluent accents emerge without hesitation or exaggeration. The cast of characters expands, time shifts between past and present, and a mystery involving Ilya’s brother in Russia is introduced. Crouch's skill with diverse voices and dialogue delivered with exceptional timing come to the fore. His well-measured delivery is agreeable and shifts subtly with each new event or character. Before long, this audiobook is less a production one is hearing and more a revelation taking place in one's own mind. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. Published by Penguin Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this memorable audiobook, Connell and Marianne, both smart, odd, and socially at sea, are deeply connected to each other and too young to know how rare their bond is. Everyone at their village high school in Sligo knows that Connell’s mother cleans house for Marianne’s family, so they feign indifference. At university, everything changes, then reverses, then changes again. Aoife McMahon, a skillful actor with a gorgeous Irish accent, makes each personality idiosyncratic and believable, and perfectly captures their confusion at being young and emotionally innocent, and trying to be decent but with no idea how to manage it. Rooney’s subtle writing and engrossing plot work with McMahon’s nimble and witty performance to balance your sympathies on a knife edge between these unforgettable characters. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. Published by Random House Audio. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our culture values early success and achievement. Karlgaard’s message: It’s simply wrong to assume that success in life must begin early and that, past a certain age, we should not expect much of ourselves. This inviting audio will make listeners in their later years rethink how they want to spend their lives. Narrator Fred Sanders offers a steady narration that engages listeners. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of LATE BLOOMERS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harvard Professor and PBS regular Henry Louis Gates, Jr., explores how people of color navigated their lives, identity, and culture from the period of Reconstruction to the rise of segregation and the Harlem Renaissance. Dominic Hoffman gives a natural and compelling narration of Gates’s complex meditation on black identity in a racist America. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of STONY THE ROAD at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President John F. Kennedy made an astonishing announcement in May 1961. He announced his goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Douglas Brinkley’s history takes listeners to the 1960s to bring together the extraordinary political, cultural, and scientific factors that fueled the birth and development of NASA and the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo projects. Narrator Stephen Graybill’s assured performance captures the space race and its part in the social and political complexities of the Cold War era. Published by Harper Audio. Read the full review of AMERICAN MOONSHOT at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Count the works of David McCullough among the richest listening experiences. The acclaimed historian has read many of his own audiobooks, but this history of the settlement of America’s Northwest Territory is presented by narrator John Bedford Lloyd. Lloyd possesses many of McCullough’s familiar virtues, in particular, a deep-throated calm and a balanced tone, making this an Earphones-worthy listen. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of THE PIONEERS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bienville is not a sleepy Mississippi town. When journalist Marshall McEwan returns to care for his ailing father, he renews relationships with former lovers and others while also uncovering dark secrets about the Poker Club and others who control every aspect of the town. Narrator Scott Brick gets every nuance of accent and pacing, giving listeners an Earphones Award performance. Published by Harper Audio. Read the full review of CEMETERY ROAD at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food writer Goulding offers mouth-watering essays that go region by region around Italy. It’s not a cookbook, though it was a James Beard Award finalist, but it will make you want to book a trip to Italy to follow in his footsteps. Will Damron narrates with energy, poise, and precision. Published by Tantor Media. Read the full review of PASTA, PANE, VINO at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Founder and Editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Psychology professor and therapist Pipher invites listeners into her life with engaging observations and advice. Suzanne Toren’s mature pitch and thoughtful phrasing are perfect for this memoir-like study of the various ways women transition into their later years. Published by Audible, Inc. Read the full review of WOMEN ROWING NORTH at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Founder and Editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and playwright Lillian Hellman wrote this biting and darkly humorous story that never gets old. In this full-cast reading before a live audience, the narrators sport dead-on Southern accents. A piercing examination of the Old South that proves a woman can be just as devilish and greedy as any man. Published by L.A. Theatre Works. Read the full review of THE LITTLE FOXES at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Founder and Editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seasoned thriller master Harlan Coben and narrator Steven Weber know how to grab the listener and not let go. Simon and Ingrid Greene are searching for their daughter—a search that takes them to drug dens in the Bronx, adoption agencies, and more unexpected places. Great suspense with unexpected twists and a perfect performance. Published by Brilliance Audio. Read the full review of RUN AWAY at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Founder and Editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humorist and columnist Dave Barry treats us to good listening with his trademark humor and ruminations on old dogs and aging. Taking ideas from Lucy, his old dog and faithful friend, Barry shares chapters like “Make New Friends,” “Don’t Stop Having Fun,” and “Pay Attention to the People You Love.” Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of LESSONS FROM LUCY at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Founder and Editor Robin Whitten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one writes a teen love story quite like Nicola Yoon. Before being swept away by Natasha and Daniel on the big screen in THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, listen as Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee, and Dominic Hoffman narrate this story of a whirlwind one-day romance set in New York City. Natasha is desperate to keep her family from being deported back to Jamaica when she meets Daniel on his way for a college interview — one he has no interest in actually doing. Natasha and Daniel’s relationship builds as the hours tick closer and closer to deportation. You won’t be able to put this audiobook down. Published by Listening Library. Read the full review of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel from the Arctic to Antarctica and everywhere in between with Barry Lopez, author of ARCTIC DREAMS, as he takes listeners along on his autobiographical reflections. James Naughton narrates with the appropriate gravitas as Lopez brings listeners to the Galapagos and the Kenyan desert, often focusing his stories on his concerns for the health of the planet and humanity’s future. Explore the world with Lopez and Naughton as your guides. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of Horizon at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Queenie is 25, a Jamaican Brit, and absolutely hilarious. Listeners follow Queenie through group texts, disastrous relationships, and problems with family as she searches for meaning and acceptance. Narrator Shvorne Marks gives a powerful performance of Queenie and excels with the diverse accents from the UK, Jamaica, Pakistan, and Uganda. Squeamish situations are hilarious, and Queenie’s low points are touching. Ideal listening to queue up for summer. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of QUEENIE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sal has just moved to Miami and is going to a magnet middle school to study magic. Listeners soon find out that Sal not only excels at sleight-of-hand but can also tear holes into alternate universes and bring things (and people!) into his own universe. Narrator Anthony Rey Perez skillfully interprets this delightful mix of realistic and fantastical events and nimbly switches between English and Spanish. Listeners will love hearing Sal and Gabi’s banter and growing friendship, the loving support of their Cuban-American families, and their out-of-this-world escapades as they try to make things right. Published by Listening Library. Read the full review of SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nora’s father Driss Guerraoui is killed in a hit-and-run, and she’s determined to find out why. A cast of narrators gives voice to the perspectives of the people impacted by his death. Mozhan Marno stands out for her ability to capture daughter Nora’s raw emotion. There’s a mystery at the heart of this audiobook, but it’s also an examination of what it means to be an American and an immigrant in America. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of THE OTHER AMERICANS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a trip to the ’70s with this story of a fake rock band—sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. A star-studded cast—Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer, and Pablo Schreiber lead the ensemble of narrators as they recount the band’s meteoric rise to fame and mysterious fall from grace as an oral history. A tapestry of memorable characters with electric chemistry and authentic-sounding relationships creates a remarkable audiobook. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of DAISY JONES & THE SIX at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SYNC kicks off today—it’s an exciting free summer program that lasts 14 weeks. The program is focused on young adults, but anyone can participate. AudioFile offers 2 audiobook downloads a week, thematically paired. Every Thursday, two new titles are available. This season we have everything from Shakespeare’s OTHELLO to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s BECOMING KAREEM. We have classics, plays, nonfiction, and something for all tastes. Learn more about the summer teen audiobook program at audiobooksync.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Detective Amos Decker discovers that a mistake he made as a rookie may have led to deadly consequences in this latest Memory Man thriller. Earphones Award performances by Kyf Brewer and Orlagh Cassidy should push this audiobook to the top of every thriller fan’s must list. Published by Hachette Audio. Read the full review of REDEMPTION at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Formerly an observant Orthodox Jew, Larry refuses to say Kaddish, the mourner’s prayer, for his recently deceased father. Instead he uses an Internet-based alternative to avoid his obligation, and his life is profoundly changed. Poignant and yet funny writing and Rob Shapiro’s nuanced narration make this a must-listen. An Earphones Award winner. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of KADDISH.COM at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Onwauchi is in the running for the 2019 James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year. He narrates his own memoir that dishes on the restaurant industry as it weaves the tale of a his upbringing, his rise— including a stint on Top Chef—and the rapid fall of his restaurant Shaw Bijou. Now at New York’s Kith and Kin, Onwauchi delivers a compelling sense of emotion and passion with his performance. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of NOTES FROM A YOUNG BLACK CHEF at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Mark Synnott’s unique window on the ethos of climbing, his friend Alex Honnold’s astonishing “free solo” ascent of El Capitan’s 3,000 feet of sheer granite is the central act. Mark Deakins paints an authentic, wry portrait of climbing history and profiles Yosemite heroes and the international climbers who explore the limits of human potential. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of THE IMPOSSIBLE CLIMB at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Historian Wilson-Lee’s biography of Christopher Columbus’s son, Hernando Colón, offers a fresh perspective on the age of European exploration, the emergence of modern printing and libraries, and the concept of a global world. Richard Trinder narrates here with enormous grace, skill, and understanding. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of THE CATALOGUE OF SHIPWRECKED BOOKS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A detailed recollection of Bob Dylan’s groundbreaking “Blonde on Blonde.” Cue up the soundtrack and get the inside story on the musicians, engineers, and producers who had a role in the creation of Dylan's trailblazing album. Narrator Graham Halstead is a great guide for listeners. Published by Tantor Media. Read the full review of THAT THIN, WILD MERCURY SOUND at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This legal and psychological thriller involves a righteous female judge and the one personal misstep that puts her personal and professional life in jeopardy. Narrator January LaVoy demonstrates her masterful talents in portraying a confident female judge, her sullen teenage son, the criminals who pursue her, and many additional supporting characters. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of JUDGMENT at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What was life was like under the spell of the real-life cult-like figure Timothy Leary, who extolled the virtues of psychedelic drugs, free love, and the search for enlightenment? Boyle takes listeners back to the 1960s to explore the first scientific and recreational forays into LSD and its mind-altering possibilities—the effects of which have reverberated widely throughout our culture. Narrator Johnathan McClain delivers this story in a mellow tone that illuminates the days of drug experimentation and flower power. Published by Harper Audio Read the full review of OUTSIDE LOOKING IN at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A high-school yearbook from 1968 sets off a series of unlikely consequences. When Daphne decides to de-clutter, she pitches a yearbook inherited from her mother. It’s picked up by a neighbor who decodes its cryptic annotations, and as Daphne discovers unexpected details of her mother’s life, it begins to disrupt her own. Published by Dreamscape Audio. Read the full review of GOOD RIDDANCE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten, Editor & Founder of AudioFile Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This full-length biography of Mary Queen of Scots has similarities to an epic poem as opposed to a history of this tumultuous period of English and Scottish history. Covering her life in the middle of the 16th century—from her birth through her marriages, reigns in France and Scotland, and imprisonment in the Tower of London. Published by Tantor Media. Read the full review of MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten, Editor & Founder of AudioFile Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressman John Lewis draws on his experiences as a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement to offer his recollections and wisdom. Looking to the future, Lewis outlines his principles and his advocacy of nonviolent protest, and he crafts a call to action to engage in the voting process. Published by Hachette Audio. Read the full review of ACROSS THAT BRIDGE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten, Editor & Founder of AudioFile Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Renaissance of 16th-century Italy is the setting for this luscious tale of a famous chef. After Bartolomeo Scappi’s sudden death, more than the secrets of his recipes are left to his nephew and protégé. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of THE CHEF'S SECRET at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten, Editor & Founder of AudioFile Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kya Clark is a wild child who lives in isolation in the marshes off the Carolina coast. She lives and learns from the natural world around her. “The Marsh Girl” is almost a myth, but when a local boy is found murdered, Kya is suspected and pursued. The swamp reveals the secrets and prejudices of a southern small town in the 1960s. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Robin Whitten, Editor & Founder of AudioFile Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover a magical world where witches, vampires, and daemons exist. Diana Bishop is a witch who has always denied her power, until one day her alchemical research turns up a magical manuscript. Whether you already know and love this story of Diana and her romance with vampire Matthew or you’re just hearing about it for the first time, this audiobook makes for wonderful listening. There’s a new binge-worthy TV adaptation based on the series, and trust us, you’ll want to listen to Jennifer Ikeda’s Earphones Award-winning narration. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into a new African-inspired fantasy trilogy by Man Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James. Narrator Dion Graham makes this an immersive listen, and his deep voiced narration will have listeners feeling as if they’re walking in the protagonist’s shoes. Tracker’s journey in pursuit of a child he was hired to find is especially powerful on audio, with rich character voices and accents and even songs. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack and Kate are two Black teens who hit it off at a party after a very cute meet cute. They fall into a whirlwind romance… and then Kate dies. The story could end there, but Jack somehow jumps back in time to when he first met Kate, and he discovers a chance to do it all again. And when Kate dies again, it all starts over once more. Nile Bullock’s welcoming, youthful voice guides listeners through a story of second, third, and more chances to make things right. Listeners will hear Jack’s desperation to save Kate while still doing right by his family and best friends. Published by Harper Audio. Read the full review of OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maisie Dobbs and Orlagh Cassidy have taken listeners through the aftermath of WWI and into The Blitz. In her fifteenth mystery, Maisie is facing grueling nights driving ambulances and working to save those bombed across London and the countryside, while also working as a private investigator. When a young American newscaster is killed in her own apartment — and not by a bomb — Scotland Yard puts Maisie on the case. Cassidy helps listeners hear Maisie’s utter exhaustion and grim determination and enlivens all the many characters from the UK and America. Cheer Maisie on as she unravels this latest mystery. Published by Harper Audio. Read the full review of THE AMERICAN AGENT at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The subtitle says it all: “Bathtub Dining, Family Screams, and Other Hacks from the Parenting Trenches.” If you’re a parent and find yourself stuck in a rut, this audiobook is sure to get you out of it — and make you laugh out loud. Hillary Frank’s podcast “The Longest Shortest Time” has helped many parents get through the early years, and this book compiles some of the best and weirdest advice submitted from parents around the world. Frank reads introductions to chapters describing her own parenting experiences, and then a delightful cast of narrators reads all of the “weird parenting wins.” Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of WEIRD PARENTING WINS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Celebrated audiobook narrators Suzanne Toren and Tavia Gilbert join us for a bonus episode to share their experiences narrating a wide range of history written by and about women. From biographies and memoirs to audiobooks that focus on a pivotal moment in women’s history—like finally getting the right to vote—Suzanne and Tavia talk about the emotional journeys they have taken with these books and the skills needed to bring them to life. Celebrating Women’s History Month, our conversation covers Suzanne’s thoughts on narrating in the first person—as a person in history, and how that differs from a narration of history. Tavia discusses bringing truth and memory to her narration of memoirs, and her use of emotional channeling. Explore the AudioFile reviews of the audiobooks mentioned: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT by Eleanor Roosevelt, read by Tavia Gilbert THE WOMAN'S HOUR by Elaine Weiss, read by Tavia Gilbert RUTH BADER GINSBURG by Jane Sherron de Hart, read by Suzanne Toren ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: IN HER WORDS by Nancy Woloch [Ed.], read by Suzanne Toren "REMEMBER THE LADIES" by Angela P. Dodson, read by Suzanne Toren For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine. Support for AudioFile’s podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of THE GOOD NEIGHBOR: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, read by LeVar Burton and nominated for the 2019 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a haze of heartbreak, Ella buys a one-way ticket to Paris, embarking on a pilgrimage of cheese and wine . . . and love. Does she keep her bet to taste every type of French cheese in one year? There are 365. Deliciously entertaining listening. Published by Blackstone Audio. Read the full review of FROMAGE À TROIS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine. Support for AudioFile’s podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of THE GOOD NEIGHBOR: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, read by LeVar Burton and nominated for the 2019 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A memoir from fashion designer and television personality Mizrahi recounts the challenges of growing up gay in 1960s Brooklyn in a Syrian-Jewish Orthodox family. As Mizrahi winds his way through his story, which ranges from lack of confidence to career highs, the warmth in both his voice and his writing creates a singularly satisfying listening experience. Published by Macmillan Audio Read the full review of I.M. at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine Support for AudioFile's Podcast comes from Oasis Audio, home to bestselling classic titles for all ages — from Gertrude Chandler Warner’s The Boxcar Children to George MacDonald’s LILITH and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sinise draws on his experience as an actor and audiobook narrator to deliver his own intriguing story. He tells of his struggle to find his place in the acting world and how he was inspired to give back to the men and women who serve in the U.S. military and to first responders. Listen with a box of tissues, and enjoy the twists and turns that brought Sinise to war zones and, eventually, the White House. Published by Thomas Nelson. Read the full review of GRATEFUL AMERICAN at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine Support for AudioFile's Podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, read by LeVar Burton and nominated for the 2019 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The books that inspired the hit animated movies! Could you pass through a dragon initiation program to become a full member of the Hairy Hooligan Viking Tribe? This children’s title, the first in an epic series, is wild, silly fun for a whole family of listeners. David Tennant, perhaps best known for his role as the Doctor, brings a slew of Scottish accents to this high-spirited romp. This author-narrator duo also team up in THE WIZARDS OF ONCE and TWICE MAGIC, an Earphones-winning series for kids. Published by Hachette Audio Read the full review of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine Support for AudioFile's Podcast comes from Oasis Audio, home to bestselling classic titles for all ages — from Gertrude Chandler Warner’s The Boxcar Children to George MacDonald’s LILITH and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women divers from a small island off the coast of South Korea were the breadwinners in their families, going after valuable and dangerous catches. An evocative tale of two best friends whose bonds are both strengthened and tested over decades by forces beyond their control, See’s novel includes little-known incidents in Korean history from the 1930s into the 21st century. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio Read the full review of THE ISLAND OF SEA WOMEN at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb, Publisher of AudioFile Magazine Support for AudioFile's Podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers, read by LeVar Burton and nominated for the 2019 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices