Listen to These 36 Highly Popular Audiobooks

Posted by Sharon on February 27, 2020


A great audiobook can transport you to a different country (or planet), capture your imagination through a cast of voices, or keep you driving around the block just to find out what happens next.

We asked followers on our Twitter and Facebook accounts to name their all-time favorite audiobooks. And despite some hot debate on the topic—readers have very strong opinions about Jim Dale vs. Stephen Fry as Harry Potter narratorsit turns out that there were some titles all our respondents could agree on.

Goodreaders overwhelmingly enjoy audiobooks narrated by celebrities and by their own authors (and sometimes their celebrity authors), full cast recordings, anything written or read by Neil Gaiman, a brand new recording of The Martian narrated by Wil Wheaton, and good Irish accents.  

Here are the audiobooks your fellow members named again and again, ordered by category:
 


Read by Celebrities



Read by Their Authors



Full Cast Recordings



Listener Raves and Faves



What's your favorite audiobook? Let's talk our favorite books to listen to in the comments!

Check out more recent articles, including:
The Seven Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week
Anne Bogel's Tips for Stress Free Reading
24 New Mysteries Readers Are Loving

Comments Showing 1-50 of 55 (55 new)


message 1: by Eule (new)

Eule Luftschloss Can we have more colour-coordinated pictures at the beginnings of entries? <3


message 2: by Pocki (new)

Pocki I'm a big fan of audiobooks, and one genre I just won't read with my eyes at all anymore is autobiographies. Having the author tell you their story is just so much better.

I had been dragging my feet on Born to Run for a while, despite being a big Springsteen fan. It just seemed so heavy to get into for some reason. But last year I finally just got the audiobook instead and it was one of my favourite books read in 2019! So much easier having Bruce just tell you his own story, with his own voice.


message 3: by Desert_Flower (last edited Feb 27, 2020 07:17AM) (new)

Desert_Flower Pocki wrote: "I'm a big fan of audiobooks, and one genre I just won't read with my eyes at all anymore is autobiographies. Having the author tell you their story is just so much better."

Definitely agree!


message 4: by Czigle1 (last edited Feb 27, 2020 08:27AM) (new)

Czigle1 I'm a big fan of actual books, but with a long commute audio books have become part of my life. :)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night is probably my favorite audio book. I really struggled with the book and fell in love with the audio version.

I now find that I'm actually reading a book and listening to a different audio book.


message 5: by *Dawn (new)

*Dawn Pocki wrote: "I'm a big fan of audiobooks, and one genre I just won't read with my eyes at all anymore is autobiographies. Having the author tell you their story is just so much better.

I had been dragging my ..."


Trevor Noah's book wouldn't be the same without listening to his voice either.


message 6: by Emilee (new)

Emilee Can't Hurt Us by David Goggins is an amazing audiobook with podcast type discussion between each chapter and additional content included


message 7: by Pocki (new)

Pocki MorpheusZzz wrote: "Trevor Noah's book wouldn't be the same without listening to his voice either."

I completely agree! It's such a big part of the story really.


message 8: by Wouter (new)

Wouter How about The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by the wonderful and hilarious Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly.


message 10: by Shannon (new)

Shannon Pocki wrote: "I'm a big fan of audiobooks, and one genre I just won't read with my eyes at all anymore is autobiographies. Having the author tell you their story is just so much better.

I had been dragging my ..."


Agreed! I Loved Born a Crime even more because it was read by Trevor Noah himself.


message 11: by Autumn (new)

Autumn Nester The only genre that I REALLY struggle with as an audiobook is fantasy. For some reason I just can't keep up with them.


message 12: by Autumn (new)

Autumn Nester Also I listened to Sadie and absolutely hated the audiobook. The voicing of the characters just made me really not like it.


message 13: by Faria (new)

Faria Madhumita The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah


message 14: by Kate (new)

Kate I pretty much only have time for audiobooks now since I commute so much. I wish I had time for a physical book but I have come to love the listening experience especially if the reader is good. I loved The Ninth House in audiobook. Also, any book by Robin Sloan because he picks amazing voices for his books.


message 15: by Amy (new)

Amy Spour The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E Pearson are a great listen.


message 16: by Kathy (new)

Kathy Allard Anything read by the late, great Frank Muller! When I was first listening to audiobooks in the early 1990s b/c I had a long commute, I'd even listen to books I wasn't that interested in if Frank was the narrator. RIP.


message 17: by seo eun (new)

seo eun Lee six of crows is one of the best audio bools!!!


message 18: by Nevart (new)

Nevart Asadoorian The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger


message 19: by Vanessa (new)

Vanessa The Poet X read by author Elizabeth Acevedo is incredible! You can tell that she does not just write poetry but is also a performer. The poetry takes on added levels due to her inflections and performance that someone may not get simply by reading it themself.


Kelly &#x1f49c;☕️ “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is brilliantly narrated by Ruby Dee with her awesome
Southern accent. My book club friends said the book was tough to read with crazy misspellings... but I didn’t see them at all!


message 21: by *Dawn (new)

*Dawn Kelly 💜☕️ wrote: "“Their Eyes Were Watching God” is brilliantly narrated by Ruby Dee with her awesome
Southern accent. My book club friends said the book was tough to read with crazy misspellings... but I didn’t see..."


Agreed! I just listened to this within the last couple of weeks. Touching book and Ruby Dee was amazing. She altered her voice perfectly for the different characters.


message 22: by Pocki (last edited Feb 27, 2020 11:47PM) (new)

Pocki Autumn wrote: "The only genre that I REALLY struggle with as an audiobook is fantasy. For some reason I just can't keep up with them."

Fantasy can become a bit... dense and confusing when you don't see it I guess. But I was coming in here again because I remembered a piece of fiction I read that was amazing in audio and just had to recommend. And saw your comment... because yes. It's fantasy.

The Tales from Verania series by TJ Klune is hilarious, and even more so in audiobook form (I've done a bit of both but mostly stuck to audio) The narrator really brought the characters to life with all kinds of voices. And while I can't really remember the first few that well, I know that the last one had a bunch of sound effects too which always adds a little something.

Oh, and another splendid (albeit different) fantasy... The Memoirs of Lady Trent by Marie Brennan. They are written as memoirs after all, so having someone read it to you feels natural.


message 23: by Diana (new)

Diana Bustamante The Hate U Give, narrated by the amazing Bahni Turpin, Daisy Jones and the Six, Born a Crime


message 24: by Lindsay (new)

Lindsay It by Stephen King has an incredible narration. The narrator is amazing with multiple voices.


message 25: by Greenman (new)

Greenman "Lanny" by Max Porter is perfectly suited to the audiobook format and is really well narrated.
"True Grit" is brilliantly narrated by Donna Tartt and she contributes a very good essay at the end of the audiobook too.
I listen to a lot of audiobooks and these two were the standout books from last year for me.


message 26: by Kim (last edited Feb 29, 2020 01:34AM) (new)

Kim I loved Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston read by by Ben Miller.
Hilarious, a lot of fun!
Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston


message 27: by Kristine (new)

Kristine Lapierre I wish there was an option to add books to a "want to listen" shelf.


message 28: by Sean (new)

Sean O My favorite reader recently is Edward Herrmann. I listened to him read "The Bully Pulpit" and Roger Ebert's "Life Itself."

He was such a great reader.


message 29: by Eduardo (new)

Eduardo The guy who reads the Witcher books does a great job


message 30: by Debbie (new)

Debbie W. My top favourite audiobooks (with FANTASTIC narration) are:
-Lilac Girls
-The Giver of Stars
-Ms. Bixby's Last Day
-The Dome
-Everything Here is Beautiful
-Strangers at the Feast


message 31: by Devin (new)

Devin The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood is excellent on audio!


message 32: by Katsuro (new)

Katsuro Kristine wrote: "I wish there was an option to add books to a "want to listen" shelf."

You could create that shelf, friend! Be the change you want to see in the world!


message 33: by *Dawn (new)

*Dawn Kristine wrote: "I wish there was an option to add books to a "want to listen" shelf."

Great idea!


message 34: by Kelley (new)

Kelley The first audio book I ever "read" was The Help. It had 4 narrators, one for each main character and a third-person narrated chapter, and they did an EXCELLENT job with all the voices! I've tried other audio books since then, but I find it difficult to focus. I appreciate this article, especially the "full cast recordings" entry for that reason. I've wanted to find other books that might be similar in format to The Help. And, as suggested above, I'm going to make a "want to listen" shelf. :)


message 35: by Marie (new)

Marie I love audiobooks, but Graphic Audio are by far the best! Especially for Fantasy. It's basically a movie in your mind (it's even in their slogan :)) Not only do you have actors for each character, but they also incorporate background noises and music - it's a fantastic production. The Demon Cycle and Mistborn are my favorites.


message 36: by Sarah (new)

Sarah The Testaments Margaret Atwood. By far the best Audiobook I've heard. (And I've heard a lot!)


message 37: by *Dawn (new)

*Dawn Kelley wrote: "The first audio book I ever "read" was The Help. It had 4 narrators, one for each main character and a third-person narrated chapter, and they did an EXCELLENT job with all the voice..."

American Gods has an excellent full-cast narration.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman


message 38: by Monica (last edited Feb 29, 2020 04:33PM) (new)

Monica My favorite is A Brief History of Seven Killings with a cast narration. Brilliant!!

My favorite narrated by celebrity is Matterhorn narrated by Bronson Pinchot!! Yes, that Bronson Pinchot. If you haven't listened to this one, you are in for a treat. Pinchot is amazing!!

Also anything Bahni Turpin narrates is magic!!


message 39: by Jeanne (new)

Jeanne Pocki wrote: "I'm a big fan of audiobooks, and one genre I just won't read with my eyes at all anymore is autobiographies. Having the author tell you their story is just so much better.

I had been dragging my ..."


Agreed, when I had to start long-distance driving for work, audiobooks are the best. I also love autobiographies read by the author. It brings another layer of intimacy.


message 40: by exploraDora (new)

exploraDora My favorite audiobooks are The One and The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, as well as any book narrated by Neil Gaiman.


message 41: by Jacm (new)

Jacm The Kingmaker series by Toby Clements starting with Winter Pilgrims. Read by Jack Hawkins - brilliant! Hawkins keeps the pace just right during the nation packed battle scenes while still maintaining multiple character voices and the full spectrum of British accents.


message 42: by Random (new)

Random I'm also one of those with hideous commutes. A minimum of 3 hours a day behind the wheel, I think I'd go crazy without audiobooks.

Stephen Briggs reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is an example. He utterly disappears in the task and you don't hear him, you hear the characters themselves. Others read some of the earlier works, and they were good, but he was just excellent in my mind.

A Woman First: First Woman: A Memoir read by Selina Meyer.

For those who are not familiar with the TV show Veep, this is a false memoir of the main character in the show read by the actress who played that character. In character. With lots of additional stuff because the book was ghost written by one of her assistants and this is the first time she's seen the finished product. It just adds so much.

I also agree any book narrated by Neil Gaiman. I almost wish he were my dad (I'm too old for that sadly) so I could have had him tell me stories when I was little. :) Coraline is one that stands out in my mind.


message 43: by Dee (new)

Dee Between the World and Me, Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood and The Bees.
I didn't think audio books would be for me but once I tried it I've never looked back. I listen while shopping, at the gym, walking down the road, would definitely recommend to others to give it a try. I now have 2 books on the go all the time one audio and one physical.


message 44: by Julie (new)

Julie Steele May I make a recommendation- The Limpet Syndrome by Tony Moyle on audio. I read the ebook version - clever and extremely clever witty humour - many laugh out loud moments and other ‘think about it first’ then laugh out loud. His writing is in telly and well researched - healing my STP grief - but in his own style. The audio book reveals clever insights and situational humour I missed when reading the ebook. A must for any reading list.


message 45: by Michael (new)

Michael Haden May I suggest " A Deal with God- The power of One" written by Michael Haden and narrated by Dara Rosenberg.


message 46: by Angie (new)

Angie Duet My favorite audiobooks:

1. Harry Potter series- Jim Dale is great!
2. All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness- Jennifer Ikeda is incredible moving between different accents seamlessly.
3. The Rosie Project books by Graeme Simsion, Narrated by Dan O'Grady- simply hysterical!
4. The Girl With All the Gifts- great listen
5. All the Light We Cannot See
6. Where the Crawdads Sing
7. Pride and Prejudice- really brings out the humor
8. Lianne Moriarty books narrated by Caroline Lee- she is amazing at really capturing the mood of each scene
9. The Raven Cycle books by Maggie Steifvater- Will Paton is a wonderful narrator
10. Ruth Ware books narrated by Imogen Church- she is mesmerizing.


message 47: by Marykay (new)

Marykay Pogar Anything narrated by Simon Vance. Anything.


message 48: by K. (new)

K. East Kristine wrote: "I wish there was an option to add books to a "want to listen" shelf."

I agree, Kristine! Great idea! Anyone listening at GR???


message 49: by PebChi (new)

PebChi The Dutch House read by Tom Hanks - my absolute favorite audio book....an old friend telling a brilliantly written story...amazing


message 50: by Jaia (new)

Jaia I would listen to Neil Gaiman read the phone book, so listening to him read his own work is amazing. I especially loved Norse Mythology, though The View From the Cheap Seats is also wonderful.


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