Sponsored by the audiobook of MICKEY7 by Edward Ashton.
From Edward Ashton comes a new sci-fi thriller, read by John Pirhalla and Katharine Chin. Mickey7 is a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one Mickey iteration dies, a new body is regenerated. During a mission, Mickey7 goes missing so Mickey8 reports for duty. When Mickey7 returns he must keep his double a secret. Meanwhile, the native species on Niflheim are curious about the humans. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will fall to Mickey7. Soon to be adapted into a major motion picture from Oscar-winner Bong Joon Ho starring Robert Pattinson.
Hello Audiophiles!
As someone with a VERY high energy little gremlin of a Corgi, I spend a lot of time at the dog park. Gwen plays with her friends, running around, digging up tree roots, and chasing sticks. But Dylan possesses more of an independent nature, ignoring the yapping scrum of dogs to chase his favorite pink ball.
When the Corgis’ friends aren’t at the dog park, I usually listen to one of my audiobooks as I throw Dylan’s ball and try to keep Gwen from eating anything she shouldn’t. In the new year, I’ve tried to slow down and practice mindfulness throughout the day. I often feel like I am always running from thing to thing, but our daily walks around the neighborhood help remind me to slow down and enjoy the everyday.
In the last several months, I discovered Audm (I’ll share more about that soon), and I recently listened to an article from The Atlantic about pursuing satisfaction and enjoyment. The author discussed his own pull back from his career to pursue the things that make him happiest, even if that new life doesn’t give him as much notoriety.
Today I walked to the dog park and since no one was there, I began my usual routine of unleashing the Corgi and throwing Dylan’s ball. But I paused, took my earbuds out of my ears. The quiet sounds of nature enveloped me, only broken by the conversations of squirrels and birds overhead. Okay, I thought. I’m listening.
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Recent Listens
A Girl Like Her by Talia Hibbert
In the last several years, I’ve realized I really like romance novels. Imagine, all of that misogynistic nonsense that was I told actually isn’t true and these books are truly incredible?! I know, I know, I was very behind the curve for so long, and my romance loving friends very patiently just kept handing me books, knowing exactly what was happening. (Thank you, my wonderful friends!)
Talia Hibbert, one of my favorite romance writers, hurtled into my life with Get a Life, Chloe Brown, which is about a chronically ill Black woman who finds love. Each successive book in the series features another Brown sister finding her HEA (happily ever after).
I love each and every one of those books, so, naturally, I went to investigate Hibbert’s backlist and—behold!—there were so many more, AND they’re available on audio. The Ravenswood series begins with A Girl Like Her where we meet Ruth Kabbah, an autistic Black British woman living in her small town. For the most part, Ruth stays in her apartment working on her webcomic. But when a VERY attractive man moves in next door, her plans for a pleasant life in her hobbit hole are turned upside down.
As a book nerd, I love seeing authors’ beginnings: those debuts that didn’t get immediate buzz, but are still pretty great. For me, the Ravenswood series shows all of my favorite parts of Hibbert’s romances—witty banter, delightful characters, steamy scenes—but written by a less experienced Hibbert just coming into her full powers.
Rupert Channing performs the three audiobooks in the trilogy. While I wasn’t sure how I felt about a guy narrating a romance novel, after the first hour, I became completely convinced that this man could do no wrong. He captures the quaint, English charm of these novels so perfectly.
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
Recent Releases
Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala
Mystery fans will be all over Mia P. Manansala’s sequel to Arsenic and Adobo. Lila Macapagal thought her brushes with death were over. But once again she finds herself thrown into yet another sticky situation. And of course, there’s another dead body, and she’s the one that needs to figure out how it got that way.
Narrated by Danice Cabanela
When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill
As a huge O’Neill fan, I will read whatever she writes, and I’ve been counting down the days until her next novel hits my earbuds. When We Lost Our Heads features Marie Antoine, the daughter of the richest man in Montreal. She’s incredibly lonely, but when a new girl moves into the neighborhood, she might finally have found the best friend she’s always wanted.
Narrated by Jeanna Phillips
Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler
Right before she and her husband Tony are going to adopt a boy from China, Tam receives the news that her husband and his cousin Mia are killed in an accident. Tam finds herself now the guardian of Mia’s young daughter. Will she go through with the adoption? How is she supposed to parent two children on her own?
Narrated by Natalie Naudus
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
Sarah J. Maas is back with the sequel to The House of Earth and Blood, the first book in the The Crescent City series. In the first book we follow a half-fae, half human protagonist as she seeks revenge. I don’t want to give away spoilers, so let’s just say, if you love fantasy novels, this is for you!
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans
Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James
The much anticipated sequel to Black Leopard, Red Wolf has finally arrived! Marlon James is back with Sogolon the Moon Witch telling her version of events when she tries to beat the Tracker to find a missing boy.
Narrated by Bahni Turpin
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Jess, a woman looking for a fresh start, convinces her brother to let her stay with him in his Paris apartment. But when she arrives, her brother is nowhere to be found. As she looks into his disappearance, she begins to suspect things aren’t quite as they appear.
Narrated by Clare Corbett, Daphne Kouma, Julia Winwood, Sope Dirisu, Sofia Zervudachi, and Charlie Anson
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
New Merch!
Don’t forget to check out our new line of bookish, Wordle-inspired merch! There are mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, and more. The campaign is temporary, so order yours now!
Over on Book Riot
“Get to Know Six Amazing YA Audiobook Performers”
“8 Audiobooks Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White“
Around the Web
“Five Benefits Of Making Your Self-Published Book An Audiobook” (Forbes)
“Our 12 Most Anticipated Audiobooks of Spring 2022” (Libro.fm)
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE audiobook content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy listening, bookish friends!
~ Kendra