If you like audiobooks and have some long summer travel ahead of you, we’ve put together a recommendation list with the help of the folks at Libro.fm: SBTB’s Summer Travel Audiobook Recs!
We’ve got nonfiction, romance (of course) of many subgenres, plus science fiction, fantasy, YA, and mysteries.
I particularly liked Marple, the anthology of twelve new mysteries about Miss Marple, all narrated by different experts like Adjoa Andoh, Alex Kingston, and Alison Steadman. But whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got suggestions!
For example, if you want an entire series with outstanding narration: the Veronica Speedwell series, narrated by Angele Masters, starting with A Curious Beginning.
Another series I can re-listen to, an exception to many of my reading tendencies: the Peter Grant series, narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, starting with Midnight Riot aka Rivers of London.
And, of course, Murderbot.
Kiki: I definitely agree that a series is a fantastic way to go for a road trip! I’d recommend the Brides of Karadok series by Alice Coldbreath which takes place in a fictional medieval setting (p.s. more of these please! I love a historical that takes place in a fake place). The first one is Wed by Proxy.
Also I listened to a bunch of the MacKenzie series by Jennifer Ashley earlier this year and those are fantastic audiobooks, although maybe they are for when you are alone in the car.
In the nonfiction direction: all of Samantha Irby’s books! They’re essays so it’s easy to listen in small bursts.
Shana: I really liked the audiobooks for both Love Radio and Honey and Spice. I feel like the narrators were compulsively listenable and just hit the accents perfectly.
Tara: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid is amazing in audio.
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe is also an excellent nonfiction. It’s all about the family behind Purdue Pharma and the opioid crisis, so be prepared to get mad.
Susan: The narrator of the Ancillary Justice series, Adjoa Andoh, is amazing. The songs are an important part of One Esk’s narrative and she is great at them.
Sarah: OOPS. I forgot to add one book recommended by Tara (Sorry Tara!!): “It’s a little dry at points, but I often found Anderson Cooper’s book Vanderbilt fascinating, if you like non-fiction.”
Libro.fm’s SWITCH promotion has also been extended through June: if you use code SWITCH you’ll get two free audiobooks with a new monthly membership!
But if a membership isn’t for you, they also have a sale going on, which includes The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles, and The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen.
And Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. And Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.
And The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty. This sale looks dangerously tempting to me. Oh, dear.
Picking an audiobook for a long car ride can be a challenge, especially if there are a few people in the car with you.
I’d love to know which of the books in our Summer Travel Audiobook Recommendations you agree with, and what audiobooks you recommend for long layovers, long drives, or a long afternoon relaxing in the sun.
