While we love settling in with a good book, lugging one around all day can be a bit of a hassle. And you know what's not a hassle? Audiobooks. (Yes, it still counts as reading.)
With audiobooks, you can "read" while driving a car, doing chores, even exercising. And thanks to a new crop of theatrical, thrilling audiobooks, you'll be even more entertained than ever. From memoirs and science fiction to essays and poetry, we've rounded up the best audiobooks ever recorded. Get your earbuds ready—you're going to want to download these ASAP.
Sadie by Courtney Summers, read by a full cast
If you love podcasts, you need to listen to this best-selling book. Sadie is told from two points of view: The first is a reporter who is following the trail of a missing girl, Sadie, who has disappeared on a mission to avenge her murdered sister. The second is Sadie herself. It's a gripping tale every Serial-lover is bound to enjoy. But the best part of the book by far is the recording, which boasts an entire cast of actors who make the story come to life.
$12, buy now at amazon.com
Becoming by Michelle Obama, narrated by the author
We all need more Michelle Obama in our lives. The former first lady's new best-selling memoir, Becoming, details her life from her childhood in South Chicago to her time in the White House. Plus, with Obama narrating it herself, it feels like she's right there by your side.
$18, buy now on amazon.com
Everything's Trash, But It's Okay by Phoebe Robinson, read by the author
Comedy-lovers, ready your earbuds for this hilarious book, written and read by comedian, writer, and 2 Dope Queens-host Phoebe Robinson. Everything's Trash, But It's Okay is a collection of essays about gender, race, dating, and the tiny little fact that the world is a total garbage fire right now. If you love comedy that doesn't hold back, Phoebe Robinson is your girl.
$17, buy now on amazon.com
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, narrated by Patricia Rodriguez
If you love sci-fi, you need to get your hands on this sparkling, feel-good read. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet follows Rosemary Harper as she joins the crew of a spaceship called the Wayfarer. Fans of Firefly will especially love getting to spend time with the Wayfarer's motley crew as they embark on the job of a lifetime (which is, obviously, extremely dangerous). Plus, this audiobook is extra special because it has a soundtrack beneath it to fully immerse you in the story.
$10, buy now on amazon.com
Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers, by Nick Offerman, read by the author
Did you ever wish that Ron Swanson could teach your history class? In Gumption, Nick Offerman (the actor who plays Swanson in Parks and Rec) tells you all about the heroic and gutsy people throughout American history, from George Washington to Willie Nelson. With his signature rugged style, Offerman will spark your curiosity, make you laugh, and inspire you all at once.
$14, buy now on amazon.com
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin, narrated by Robin Miles
If you're biting your nails for the next season of Game of Thrones, you need to get this award-winning fantasy series in your life stat. The Fifth Season is set in a world in which apocalypse-level events occur so frequently that civilization has rebuilt itself around them. In this world, people called orogenes have the ability to harness magic that draws on the earth's geology. The story takes off when an orogene living in secret, Essun, comes home to find that her husband has murdered her son and kidnapped her daughter. Robin Miles' performance will give you goosebumps.
$12, buy now on amazon.com
Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You by Lin-Manuel Miranda, read by the author
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda brings a little bit of light to everything he touches. In his new book, Gmorning, Gnight!, Miranda delivers advice, sayings, and poetry to lift your spirits and inspire you to take on the world. Plus, he narrates it himself, so you definitely won't be able to listen to this without a big, goofy grin spreading across your face. It's a quick read, but Miranda's charm makes it one of the best audiobooks out there.
$13, buy now on amazon.com
Pet Sematary by Stephen King, narrated by Michael C. Hall
Pet Sematary is widely regarded as one of Stephen King's best and most terrifying books, but it reaches a whole new level when narrated by Michael C. Hall (who you probably know from Dexter and Six Feet Under). When a family moves into a house in rural Maine, their life seems absolutely perfect ... until they discover the blood-chilling secrets of the woods next door.
$18, buy now on amazon.com
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, read by Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, Carrie Brownstein, Miranda July, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Bill Hader, Keegan-Michael Key, Rainn Wilson, and more
This 166-person cast list is not a drill. Some of your favorite actors and writers read in this stellar audiobook, written by one of fiction's most beloved authors. Lincoln in the Bardo follows Abraham Lincoln in February of 1862, as he mourns his son while the Civil War is in full swing. It's an emotional and beautifully-written story that makes for an incredible listen.
$11, buy now on amazon.com
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, narrated by the author
After you finish watching Daily Show-host Trevor Noah's most recent Netflix special, you're going to want to pop Born a Crime into your listening queue immediately. In his memoir, Noah recounts what it was like growing up in South Africa as the son of a black woman and a white man (a circumstance that was, for the first years of Noah's life, illegal in that country). Not only does this book shine with Noah's signature candor and remarkable storytelling, but it's also a beautiful ode to his mother and her strong, determined spirit.
$11, buy now on amazon.com
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, narrated by Claire Danes
Not only has The Handmaid's Tale been making waves recently with its incredible Hulu adaptation, but Margaret Atwood just announced that there's a sequel coming out next year. Set in a chilling world in which woman have lost all their rights, this book follows one woman whose life is centered around procreation. If you're itching to give this classic a re-read before the sequel hits shelves, there's no better way than with this killer audiobook, narrated by award-winning actress Claire Danes.
$12, buy now on amazon.com
Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell, read by John Slattery, Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, Bobby Cannavale, John Hodgman, Stephanie March, Alexis Denisof, and Patton Oswalt
Whether you're a history buff or you just loved Daveed Diggs' portrayal of the Marquis de Lafayette in Hamilton, you're going to want to pick up this audiobook about one of America's lesser-known founders, read by a star-studded cast. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States takes you to the days of the American Revolution, telling the story of the renowned Frenchman who became a key player in the birth of our country. Sarah Vowell has a knack for writing about history in a way that makes you turn the pages (or in this case, glue yourself to your headphones).
$10, buy now on amazon.com
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, narrated by Nigel Planer
Terry Pratchett's satirical novels are simply a delight to listen to, and this book is an especially great pick for the holiday season. Set in the always rambunctious Discworld, Hogfather is all about what happens when a Santa-like figure mysteriously disappears and Death has to take over for him. Filled with magic, wit, chaos, and a whole lot of gusto, this audiobook will have you giggle-snorting the whole way through.
$17, buy now on amazon.com
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by the author
In audiobook form, this award-winning young-adult book is a stunning, 3.5 hour-long slam poetry performance that will leave you absolutely breathless. The Poet X is about a young girl, Xiomara Batista, living in Harlem who constantly feels shut down and unheard. But everything changes when she joins her school's slam poetry team and discovers how to use her voice.
$14, buy now on amazon.com
Warcross by Marie Lu, narrated by Nancy Wu
If you love tech, adventure, and video games, you can't miss Warcross. Set in a world that has been completely changed by virtual reality, this book follows a bounty hunter named Emika Chen. After Emika accidentally hacks into the championship for Warcross, a virtual reality game that the entire world is obsessed with, she is unexpectedly recruited to pose as a Warcross player in order to find the truth about a mysterious threat.
$9, buy now on amazon.com
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, read by the author
Legendary chef, world traveler, and television host Anthony Bourdain narrates this memoir about his time coming up in the gritty, fast-paced restaurant scene. Kitchen Confidential takes you into Bourdain's world of drugs, sex, and cuisine without holding back. Listening to him read his memoir is the perfect way to mourn the still-raw loss of Bourdain.
$16, buy now on amazon.com
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, read by the author
Jason Reynolds will absolutely floor you with this powerful book about a 15-year-old boy who has 60 seconds to decide if he's going to murder his brother's killer. Long Way Down uses electric verse to expose a world of teenage gun violence that is all too real. Pay attention to this one.
$13, buy now on amazon.com
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, read by the author
Internationally beloved author Neil Gaiman is known for creating rich, magical worlds that draw you in completely, and there's nothing quite like hearing Gaiman read his own work. Neverwhere catapults readers into the magical underworld of London, in which a businessman has found himself in the midst of a bizarre adventure.
$10, buy now on amazon.com
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini, read by the author
If you've ever wondered what it's really like to be part of the Church of Scientology, buckle your seatbelt for this incredible memoir. In Troublemaker, actress Leah Remini (who you probably know from King of Queens and The Talk) opens up about how when she was a child her family got involved with Scientology, the outlandish events she witnessed as an adult member, and the story of how she eventually got out. Listening to this book feels like you're sitting across from Remini at a bar and she's dishing out one astonishing detail after another.
$12, buy now on amazon.com
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, read by the author
You haven't lived until you've heard David Sedaris read a story. Endlessly hilarious, Me Talk Pretty One Day is one of Sedaris' most classic essay collections, recounting true tales from Sedaris' life. Filled with snark, profound observations, and a characteristic flair for calling the world like it is, this book will have you in stitches.
$10, buy now on amazon.com
What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe, read by Wil Wheaton
Endlessly curious about the world? Well, you definitely need What If? in your headphones. This book thinks through the science to hypothetical questions you didn't even realize you were wondering about, like "If we hooked turbines to people exercising in gyms, how much power could we produce?" and "What if everyone only had one soulmate?" Written by the creator of XKCD and narrated by Star Trek's Wil Wheaton, this book is the ultimate listen for tinkerers, day-dreamers, and (let's admit it) nerds everywhere.
$13, buy now on amazon.com
