It’s day five of Audiobook Bloggers Week! Miss Pippi at Adolescent Audio Adventures put this event together, and all week we will be celebrating all things audiobooks! Visit Miss Pippi to get the #AudiobookBloggersWeek schedule of events and find new audiobook bloggers to follow.
Today’s prompt: Favorite Listens
#ThrowbackThursday – Share your most popular post or your favorite audiobook that you heard.
Favorite listens (so far this year)
Here are some of my favorite audiobooks I’ve listened to this year! I’m a little behind in reviews, so I’m happy to give these a shout-out now:
YA
American Girls by Alison Umminger, read by Jennifer Grace – There have been a few Manson girl-inspired books out this year. In American Girls, 15-year-old Anna leaves home to visit her sister in Los Angeles. Once there she spends time on film sets while she researches the Manson Girls, finding similarities between them and her own life. Fascinating read, expertly narrated.
Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings, read by the author – You may know Jazz from her show I Am Jazz which documented her life as a transgender teen. This activist and media personality talks about the challenges and successes in her life, and Jazz’s bright personality shines through in this informative audiobook.
The Memory Book by Lara Avery, read by Casey Holloway – Sammie is a high-achieving student with big dreams. She finds out she has a rare disorder that will take away her memories and her health and so she keeps a journal of notes to her future self. Have tissues at the ready for this one! So good though, and Casey Holloway does a good job sinking her teeth into this story.
Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, read by Jorjeana Marie – Jessie is grieving her mother’s death and moves to a new city with her dad and his new wife. An anonymous classmate emails her and offers to show her the ropes at her new school. A witty and emotional read, and the narration complements the story perfectly.
With Malice by Eileen Cook, read by Whitney Dykhouse – This was such a good thriller! Jill wakes up in the hospital with no recollection of how she got there. She was on a class trip to Italy, and now her best friend is dead. What happened? I couldn’t put down this chilling listen.
Adult
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda, read by Rebekkah Ross – This twisty mystery is one that I wanted to listen to again as soon as I finished it. The story is told backward from day 15 to day 1, counting back from the time a young woman goes missing. It’s unsettling and a little confusing but Rebekkah Ross confidently guides the listener through the journey.
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood, read by Jorjeana Marie – This forbidden love story is terrific. The story is complicated with multiple timelines and POV’s, but Jorjeana Marie is up to the task and delivers an outstanding performance.
A Man Called Ove (read by George Newbern) and Britt-Marie Was Here (read by Joan Walker) by Fredrik Backman – I listened to My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry and fell for the eccentric characters and meaningful family drama. This year I finally caught up with A Man Called Ove (now a movie!) and Britt-Marie Was Here (Britt-Marie is a character from My Grandmother Asked Me…). Both are great listens, and I can’t recommend this author enough.
Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West, read by the author – I wasn’t really familiar with this author before listening, but I’m a fan now. In Shrill, Lindy West talks about body image, pop culture, feminism and more. A funny, thought-provoking audiobook read with a lot of personality.
What Alice Forgot (read by Tamara Lovatt-Smith) and Truly Madly Guilty (read by Caroline Lee) by Liane Moriarty – I’m slowly catching up on Liane Moriarty’s back catalog and finally listened to What Alice Forgot. What a treat! Alice hits her head and forgets the last ten years of her life, getting the chance for a do-over. This narrator was new-to-me, and I think she captured the essence of the characters well. In Moriarty’s latest book Truly Madly Guilty, Moriarty is paired with her frequent narrator Caroline Lee. This book follows the familiar Moriarty formula and is about marriage, family, and friendship. There is a great author-narrator interview at the end of the book.
What are your favorite listens this year?
I almost used my Audible credit on All the Ugly and Wonderful Things yesterday and now I’m kicking myself because I didn’t. Maybe next month.
I’m eager to hear what you think of All the Ugly and Wonderful Things when you get the chance to listen! It’s so hard to decide what book to spend a credit on.
I think All the Ugly and Wonderful Things sounds amazing too!
Hope you enjoy it if you get the chance to listen!