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The perfect balance of bitter and sweet
You know the story: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl hate each other. Then something wonderful happens: Boy and girl start to see the true nature of the other and fall deeply in love. But Drop Dead isn’t your average enemies-to-lovers story. In her latest rom-com, Lily Chu blends the sharp edges of rivalry with the soft sweetness of romance for a uniquely entertaining romp that you won’t want to hit pause on. Sparked by a prematurely published obituary for a not-dead-yet local author, rival Toronto journalists reluctantly team up to uncover a long-buried, high-stakes scandal that challenges both their personal and professional ambitions. Chu’s longtime narrator Phillipa Soo is joined by actor John Cho, making Drop Dead Chu’s first dual-narrated novel, but hopefully not her last. In an interview with Audible Editor Patty K Rivera, Chu shares how her love of obituaries, mysteries and cats inspired her to take listeners on this rollercoaster ride full of intrigue, humour and unexpected romance. —Margaret H.
Sarah Pekkanen novels have been an auto-download for me since These Girls. Her latest drops listeners into the eerie story of Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney who reluctantly begins to observe the mysterious Barclay family. In the middle of the drama is young Rose Barclay, who has been left mute from the trauma of her parents’ bitter divorce and witnessing the death of her nanny. As Stella observes further, she begins to see that the Barclay family is cloaked in secrecy, raising questions about their true motives. Was the nanny’s death truly an accident? And why has the family removed all glass from their home? Performed by Laura Benanti (whose hilarious Audible Original, Nobody Cares, recently had me in stitches), House of Glass takes listeners on a rollercoaster of twists and turns that had me changing my whodunit guess every other chapter until its satisfying conclusion. —Patty R.
Feeling salty about beachfront displays of affection? As am I, along with Phoebe Stone, the spiralling protagonist of Alison Espach’s latest novel, who, newly single and depressed, plans to self-sabotage in style at an elegant resort in Newport, Rhode Island. However, upon her arrival, she unexpectedly befriends a cohort of, you guessed it, wedding people, who would rather count Phoebe as an extra head for the caterers than have her potentially ruin the ceremony by being left unattended while erratically heartbroken. It doesn’t take long for Phoebe and the bride to bond over their underlying anxieties, and narrator Helen Laser’s spot-on delivery of all the witty insights embedded in this novel certainly makes it easy to fall for the vibrant cast of characters. So, if you too are in need of a summer pick-me-up, take a page out of Phoebe’s book and vicariously masquerade as a posh, pearl-clad sophisticate while opening up to this cynical yet ultimately heartfelt listen. —Haley H.
Recently widowed, Grace Winters finds herself without much to look forward to in retirement. Her days and weeks are monotonous, until she’s unexpectedly contacted by a solicitor. A former coworker, to whom she once bestowed a kindness over the holidays, has died and left Grace her home in Ibiza. She books a one-way ticket to Spain and the magic unfolds from there. The novel is told via emails that Grace is writing to a former student who’s grappling with their own tragedy, and the wisdom (and later whimsy) she conveys flows through Joanna Lumley’s performance. The Life Impossible is both mystical and a deeply human story; a manifesto to not write the end of your own story too soon. I am still reveling in the beauty of the narrative. —Katie O.
Truth: I’m new to the Bob Mortimer game. As I’ve gotten more into UK comedy this year, it’s been nice discovering legendary talent with full catalogues of work to catch up on and get acquainted with. The comedian and author’s latest novel, The Hotel Avocado, is everything you want it to be – funny, smart, compelling. As a newly minted Mortimer fan, I found it was a great place to start digging into his prolific body of work. —Aaron S.
A tightly wound YA debut ready to spring
From the moment I started listening, I found The Girl with No Reflection hard to stop. It’s creepy and mysterious, with question upon question building up as we descend deeper into the world of this Imperial China-inspired fantasy. Ying is set to be betrothed to the crown prince of the royal family, but the royal family is hiding so many dark secrets, especially about the past brides that have married into the family, that she’s not all too excited about her marriage. And she was right to worry. Cindy Kay, our narrator, lulls the listener into a trance as we enter the mirror world with Ying. There’s plenty to terrify, but there’s love here too, and I found Keshe Chow’s debut novel to be a satisfyingly topsy-turvy portal fantasy. —Melissa B.
A new meant-to-be-heard psychological thriller from Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage is Audible royalty. Countless essential listens have been elevated by his smooth-as-silk voice and amazing performances. From classics to romance to thrillers – he’s done it all. And as his fans know, Armitage is a talented screen actor as well. But more recently, he’s also become a published author. Like his first novel, Geneva, The Cut is being introduced to the world as an Audible Original – meaning he wrote it especially to be listened to. And who better to do that? No one. In his own words, “The Cut is a story of misplaced adolescent obsession and the damaged roots that reach from the past into the present. It’s my new passion project.” This is enough to make it my next passion listen. Add to Library! —Tricia F.
Casey McQuiston has been an immediate add-to-Library for me since Red, White & Royal Blue came out in 2019, and I’ve been obsessively following the updates for The Pairing from the moment it was announced. Set on a three-week food and wine tour across France, Spain and Italy – with an enemies-to-lovers storyline between two estranged exes – this is McQuiston’s steamiest (and most hunger-inducing) rom-com yet. Plus, the fact that McQuiston is a huge audiobook nerd themselves means that we’re guaranteed another incredible experience in audio. From standout performances by narrators Emma Galvin and Max Meyers to some special appearances from the author, this one is an audio lover’s dream. —Michael C.
Social media influencer and “mum hacks” queen Emily Norris shares her favourite tips for keeping organised and calm in her listen Things I Wish I’d Known. When I first picked up this gem of an audiobook, I was hoping to take away a few strategies to tackle kitchen mess and plan a holiday – what I received was a comprehensive guide for navigating many of the day-to-day challenges that come with kids, everything from healthy meals for picky eaters to low-effort activities to keep little ones occupied for hours. Although I don’t have any children of my own – except my cats – I walked away with plenty of helpful how-tos for housekeeping. Plus, now I know exactly what to gift the parents in my life (and how to tie a tie). —Rachael X.
A new meaning to “leaping off the page”
The best horror stories surprise and subvert as they scare – and there’s only so much I can say about Chuck Tingle’s latest novel without giving the thrill of that experience away. I’ll say this: If you love campy stories that still have heart, have been in your glory in this age of whip-smart, socially conscious horror, or have ever yelled, “Just kiss already!” at a clearly queer-coded duo on your TV screen, this one is for you. I adored Tingle’s 2023 horror debut, Camp Damascus, but as a queer film & TV geek, Bury Your Gays, with its nods to pop culture and meta moments, spoke to my soul. Perfectly paced to induce that creeping dread we horror weirdos crave, it’s a little bit Jordan Peele, a little It Follows, a little X Files – and 100 percent Chuck. André Santana’s lively, earnest performance is reason enough to listen to this one, but there’s another special treat: cameos from Mara Wilson (Camp Damascus), Georgia Bird (many, many Tinglers), as well as a slew of SFF writers (Charlie Jane Anders, TJ Klune, Stephen Graham Jones, to name a few). —Sam D.
I devoured this deeply intimate, harrowing memoir over the course of three days, resenting any interruption that forced me to hit pause. With unfiltered detail and raw emotion, Tia Levings tells her story of growing up in a fundamentalist religion, how her upbringing ushered her into a high-control, patriarchal marriage, and her journey toward reclaiming her identity and voice. Throughout, Levings writes of her passion for art and writing (an inclination that women in her position must stifle) and how finding an outlet in the earliest days of parenting blogging and online forums both scratched that itch and broadened her world. That nurturing of her talent shows in the strength of her voice, both in her written words and in her wholehearted performance. It is not only gripping, but deeply introspective and observant – a daring call-to-action. —Sam D.
I’m what you might call alien agnostic. I’ve never worn a tinfoil hat. I’ve never watched The X Files. But I am a Jodie Foster fan, and as her character in Contact argues, the sheer vastness of the universe makes it a reasonable bet that there are other life-forms out there. But I never put much thought into it beyond that. Then, in 2017, The New York Times dropped its bombshell report that there was a secret Pentagon program investigating UFOs, and that US Navy pilots had witnessed flying objects that seemed to have inexplicable technological capabilities. The Pentagon has been tamping down the story ever since, saying there’s no evidence of “off-world technology.” But then again, the Pentagon isn’t known for being super forthright. All of this is to say, I am highly anticipating the release of Imminent, the ominously titled book from Luis Elizondo, a whistleblower and former director of the Pentagon program charged with investigating UFOs, now called “unidentified anomalous phenomenon.” So, hold on to your tinfoil hats, this listen may have a few bombshells of its own. —Phoebe N.
This is not a celebrity divorce exposé. It’s better.
Anna Marie Tendler’s memoir has been getting buzz since last spring, on account of her public split with a very famous ex as well as her own artistic renown. But guess what? The vibes have shifted, because early reviews confirm that a) the famous ex is but an unnamed blip in Tendler’s story, and b) the memoir is FANTASTIC. Men Have Called Her Crazy details the author’s stay at an inpatient psychiatric facility after her struggles with anxiety, depression and self-harm became impossible to manage. Her eye-opening honesty, humour and intelligent nuance in recounting both her experiences in recovery and the background that led her there – particularly her complicated history with men, which I suspect most women will find as powerfully relatable as I did – make for a captivating listen in Tendler’s own voice. Far more than tabloid fodder, it’s a deeply moving mental health memoir with staying power. —Kat J.
Essential listening for any Harry Potter fan
I am part of the generation that devoured the Harry Potter books when they were first released, and then consumed the audiobooks as an adult to revisit the magic and share it with my kids, who are now old enough to be avid Harry Potter fans themselves. Imagine my delight when I learned that From the Wizarding Archive would answer so many of my burning questions about the series. The articles included in the audiobook are not new, but this is the first time they are available in audio, and the fantastic narration (and foreword from Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood in the movies!) allows for repeat listening that brings you closer to these spellbinding stories. With family road trips on the horizon (and news of full-cast audiobooks of Harry Potter coming in late 2025), this is a production I’ll be devouring over and over again. —Esther B.
More listens we're looking forward to this month
