Author: Kendra Winchester

Every time I start a new poetry collection on audio narrated by the author, I find myself holding my breath. I know I’m about to start something truly special. And Ocean Vuong is one of the best. I often see folks on the corners of the internet bemoaning the fact that you can’t see the use of form and white space on audio editions of poetry. While this can be an issue, you can use the text along with the audio, if that’s something you have access to. But to me, the greater tragedy is missing out on listening to poets read their poetry.

Ocean Vuong’s narration is full of emotional depth, using pauses, adjustment in volume, and rhythm to communicate his work to the listener. He portrays angst, longing, and grief, sometimes all in a single sentence. His poems are tight: not a word out of place. Time after time, he gives listeners concrete images to go with his ideas, making each poem feel fully rounded, complete.

Time Is a Mother was written after the passing of Vuong’s mother, a woman his readers will recognize from his previous work. This loss informs these poems, as each piece is rife with emotional loss. Conversely, this collection is full of hopefulness, particularly when Vuong writes about his longtime partner, Peter. Full of bittersweet stanzas and impeccable use of language, Time Is a Mother is an audiobook you won’t want to miss.

For the last several years, I’ve looked forward to spring when the latest Aru Shah book will come out and I can savor each new adventure. Aru is a reincarnation of one of the Pandava brothers from Hindu mythology. As she goes on her different adventures, she meets the reincarnations of the other four Pandava brothers, but this time around, they are all girls. Aru and her soul sisters are tasked with defeating The Sleeper, a malicious enemy determined to find the Nectar of Immortality, and end/rule the world.

I don’t want to spoil the fifth book for you, but let’s just say the book’s ending is incredibly satisfying. There’s something special about listening to this series with the same narrator all the way through, which is how I prefer to listen to my series. Keeping the same narrator with the same series (particularly a series from the same character’s perspective) helps the books sound cohesive and the characters’ voices remain the same, like you are returning to visit old friends. In this case, Soneela Nankani is with you every step of the way. The first Aru book, Aru Shah and the End of Time, was the first time that I remember truly falling in love with Nankani’s narration. She has this way of capturing the protagonist’s narrative voice that really grabs my attention.

For the longest time, I wasn’t sure I’d be ready to say goodbye to Aru and her sisters. I loved everything about Aru, her nerdy references and truly clumsy moments. With every book, I watched her learn and grow older. It was almost like I was a silent 6th sister in her adventures. From what I’ve seen online, middle graders felt the same. To me, that is the most important: kids in the target audience should be able to connect and relate to the story.

Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Visit from the Goon Squad received much acclaim when it came out several years ago. Now Jennifer Egan is back with a companion novel, which you can read on its own or as a follow up to Goon Squad. BUT The Candy House received the royal treatment, audiobook wise, and is narrated by a full cast. Ah! Can’t wait!

Narrated by a Full Cast

I just finished listening to Ocean Vuong narrate his latest poetry collection on audio. Ugh, it’s so incredibly beautiful, and there’s nothing like listening to a poet narrate his work. Time Is a Mother was written after Vuong’s mother passed away, and it’s full of longing for the person he loved most.

Narrated by Ocean Vuong (On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong)

I ADORED The Astonishing Color of After, so I’ve been waiting SO LONG to listen to this one. An Arrow to the Moon is Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology, which is 100% in my wheelhouse.

Narrated by Natalie Naudus, Shawn K. Jain, and David Shih (Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum, Golden Boys by Phil Stamper, and No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai)

This heartrending memoir follows Delia Ephron after the death of both her sister and her husband. She meets a new romantic interest, but is shortly thereafter diagnosed with cancer. Full of heart from someone facing the complex reality of life, Left on Tenth is a beautiful memoir.

Narrated by Delia Ephron

I loved Annie Hartnett’s debut novel, Rabbit Cake, so I’ve been waiting on Unlikely Animals for years. But it’s well worth it! Emma Starling is a med student who’s faced with caring for her father while he’s experiencing a deteriorating brain disease.

Narrated by Mark Bramhall and Kirby Heyborne (Nine Lives by Peter Swanson and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn)

This novel follows Ayosa, a wandering spirit who feels incredibly alone. But when she meets someone new, she finds herself caught between the world of the living and her own. Full of the complex contradictions that is life, Things They Lost is sure to tug on your heartstrings.

Narrated by Christel Mutombo

June lives with her family in a homeless shelter called Huey House. But she’s not allowed to bring her beloved viola. Determined to change things for other kids like her, June pushes back, trying to make a better place for her and the other residents of Huey House.

Narrated by Sura Siu and Preston Butler III

In one of my favorite middle grade series, Roshani Chokshi has told us the story of Aru Shah and her sisters as they try to save the world from the Sleeper. Now the final book is here, and my heart is not ready.

Narrated by Soneela Nankani

The author of the smash hit sensation Station Eleven is back with another novel. Like many of her other novels, Sea of Tranquility is told over the course of several different sections that take place over the course of a long period of time. I love this episodic type of novel and can’t wait to listen to it!

Narrated by John Lee, Dylan Moore, Arthur Morey, and Kirsten Potter

I’ve had this audiobook pre-ordered for months. I love listening to Jason as he moves through this world of monsters in a video game-like environment. This is Vol 5 of the bind up of the serial story, so not exactly a novel. But definitely still lots of fun.

Narrated by Heath Miller

Memphis follows three generations of Southern Black women. Joan is an artist, and finds comfort in painting portraits of people from her community in the city. As we meet more of her family members, we begin to understand the past Joan is trying to forget and the future that she’s trying to make.

Narrated by Karen Murray, Adenrele Ojo, and Tara Stringfellow

The moment this audiobook landed in my audiobook app, I dropped everything I was doing to listen. Like many Americans, I discovered Hannah Gadsby via her comedy special Nanette. The moment I finished watching Nanette, I started frantically googling, hoping to find out more about this incredible comic. When her memoir was announced, I immediately wrote it down with all of the underlines, arrows, and bolded print. I needed this book.

As an audiobook lover, I knew this was a must-listen memoir. Gadsby narrates her memoir, describing her childhood in Tasmania. Growing up as a queer, neurodivergent child made navigating the world incredibly complicated for her. At the time, she and her family didn’t know that she has Autism Spectrum Disorder, they just knew she was different.

In her late 20s, Gadsby discovered that she had a knack for stand up comedy, and slowly the world unfurled before her, giving her opportunities that she never imagined. After a decade in comedy, Gadsby began crafting the show Nanette.

There’s nothing like listening to an author narrate their memoir. Of course, her comedic timing is perfect. And as a neurodivergent person, I appreciated hearing about Gadsby’s story of trying to find a diagnosis later in life. When your brain views the world differently, you can often feel adrift, too different to matter. Gadsby captures those feelings so beautifully in Ten Steps to Nanette.

Performed by the Author

Alex Welch-Peters has put everything on the line for his scientific research. He believes that his super-algae can reverse the effects of climate change. When a tech company offers to fund his research he agrees, but there’s a catch: his new lab is going to be in space.

Narrated by Xe Sands

The Aunties from Dial A for Aunties are back. Meddy Chan’s day has finally arrived! After attending countless weddings, it’s finally time for her to have her own. But when the mafia plan to use her wedding as a cover for some sketchy deals, Meddy’s aunties swoop in to help keep Meddy’s special day drama free.

Narrated by Risa Mei

From the creator of the podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me comes a book about having difficult conversations. It’s part guide and part personal story, giving listeners a range of ideas for having more hard conversations with the people in their lives.

Narrated by Dylan Marron

Annie Mason has no desire for any sort of magic in her life. After magic ruined her life, she never wants it in her life again. But on the island she now calls home, magic lies in wait, biding its time until it can make its appearance—again.

Narrated by Marisa Calin, Gemma Dawson, and Ralph Lister

When I read Peng Shepherd’s first novel, The Book of M, I found myself swept into a world where people’s shadows disappear and then they lose their memories. The novel felt gloriously messy and all engrossing. So when I heard Shepherd’s second book was coming out in 2022, I immediately marked it as one of my most anticipated novels of the year.

The Cartographers begins when Nell’s father, a prestigious cartographer at the New York Public Library, dies, leaving behind a disheveled office, which makes Nell believe there was foul play. As she looks around at his papers, she finds a secret compartment in his desk holding what seems to be a worthless map with a mysterious symbol on it. From there, Nell is thrown into a part of her father’s life that she never knew existed. There are secret societies, missing towns, and a mysterious figure haunting Nell’s every step.

All-star narrator Emily Woo Zeller performs the audiobook when we’re in Nell’s perspective. She captures the emotions of the protagonist with precision. Whenever we enter the perspective of a new character, a different narrator performs that chapter, giving each perspective a unique feel. Each narrator fits their character perfectly.

As I listened to this adventure story, I loved following clues to discover the truth that’s always lingering at the edges of Nell’s life. While the book’s vibe is incredibly different from The Book of M, The Cartographers reminds me of a story that’s made for television, fast paced and intriguing with all of its twists and turns.

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, and Brittany Pressley

In a town with few trans people, Aaron and Oliver, two young trans men, have always had each other. But when Aaron moves away, they both feel so much more alone. They find solace in looking into American history, trying to find more people like them in America’s past.

Ingrid Yang is an exhausted PhD student trying to finish her dissertation on poet Xiao-Wen. And after it’s done, she never wants to think about Xiao-Wen again. But as her time as a grad student comes to an end, Ingrid begins to wonder if it’s been worth it.

With library budgets shrinking, libraries are in danger of becoming an endangered institution. Amanda Oliver discusses the history of libraries in America, and the many services they provide. Using her own experience as a librarian, Oliver gives listeners an incredible portrait of one of America’s most beloved institutions.

A master forger, said to be a woman, becomes notorious in Buenos Aires for her forgeries of the work by painter Mariette Lydis. Lydis is known for her portraits  of well to do Argentinians. When an art critic becomes determined to find the forger and to learn more about what drives her to imitate the art of others, the chase is on.

Savvy Sheldon is obsessed with house renovation shows, so when she finally realizes that her life is a hot mess, she decides to renovate her life. Savvy starts by renovating her kitchen and her body, determined to become a healthier version of herself. But then she keeps running into a handsome stranger. Will he fit into her new plans for her life?

As someone with a disabling chronic illness, I spend my days managing my health. So I wasn’t sure I wanted to listen to a book about it. But while books about chronic illness can bring back some of my least favorite memories, I still desperately want to feel that I’m not alone. And Meghan O’Rourke books feel like she’s taking my hand and saying, “I see you.”

Meghan O’Rourke begins her book with her story of living with chronic illness, describing her deterioration over the years. From there, she shares her experience visiting different doctors searching for a diagnosis. Interspersed with the memoir portions of the book, O’Rourke includes research on different aspects of chronic illness. She weaves these two parts together, showing both the medical and the personal parts of living with a chronic illness.

As we share similar stories, I expected to be overwhelmed by The Invisible Kingdom. But while I could deeply relate to her story, I felt encouraged. I wasn’t the only person experiencing the never-ending parade before doctors, hoping that this will finally be THE ONE who will be able to help. Millions of people are going through this just like me.

That’s why books like this are incredibly important. They don’t just educate people about the lives of the chronically ill. They also help sick people, like me, to be seen.

Narrated by the author

Amani, a divorced poet, is looking forward to returning to Jordan with her father for the King’s birthday. To celebrate his special day, the king has ordered a fencing tournament and wants Amani’s father to participate. Amani begins to learn more about her father’s mysterious past as new secrets come to light.

Narrated by Rasha Zamamiri

With this poetry collection, Harold Green III celebrates Black women, highlighting the creators and innovators of our time. Green reflects on Black women’s achievements and how they’ve influenced contemporary society. He also reads the collection, and there’s nothing like a poet reading his own collection.

Narrated by the author

Naomi is struggling to write her novel. In the meantime, she works as a bookseller to pay the bills. But when her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, Rosemary, enters her life, she wonders what they might have in common. What begins as some casual stalking on social media quickly turns into something more nefarious as Naomi begins a friendship with Rosemary based on false pretenses.

Narrated by Kristen Sieh

In this multigenerational family saga, we follow a family across the decades. Beginning in 1938, Meilein flees across China with her son to escape the Japanese invasion. Her son, Henry, settles in America and avoids talking about his past with his family. But his daughter, Lily, is desperate to learn about her family’s past.

Narrated by Eugenia Low

Peng Shepherd, the author of the much-beloved The Book of M is back with her second novel, The Cartographers. Nell Young inherited her love of maps from her father. When he’s found dead in his office, she finds an old map in his desk that at first she thinks is worthless–just another one of her dad’s papers. But with a little digging, she discovers that it’s actually a very rare map. In fact, it’s so rare, people would kill to have it.

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, Brittany Pressley

With its unique blend of fantasy and myth, Vagabonds! follow characters living at the edges of Nigerian society. Their lives intersect and intertwine, weaving together a complex story until their fates all converge into a single event that changes them all forever.

Narrated by Arit Okpo, Atta Otigba, Eloghosa Osunde, Ifeyinwa Unachukwu, Obongjayar, Sheila Chukwulozie

From the first hour of the audiobook, I knew I was listening to a new favorite book. The Sentence begins when Tookie is sent to prison. When she gets out, she marries the love of her life and starts working at a bookstore in the twin cities. One of Tookie’s most annoying customers has to be Flora, a white woman who claims Indigenous ancestry. In her role as a Native American wannabe, Flora constantly inserts herself into the lives of the Native folks around her. So when Flora dies, Tookie isn’t surprised that Flora’s spirit refuses to leave the bookstore.

The majority of The Sentence covers an entire year of Tookie’s life. From late 2019 to late 2020, Tookie and her friends at the bookstore come face to face with the challenges of the pandemic as Flora’s ghost continues to cause havoc in the store.

Louise Erdrich creates an intimate setting that draws you into her story from the first few pages. As a book lover, I’m a sucker for any novel set in a bookstore or library. Add in a sinister spirit looming in the background and you have an excellent atmosphere for Erdrich’s story.

But Erdrich doesn’t stop at a simple ghost story. She examines what it was like for an Indigenous-owned business to survive the pandemic, discusses contemporary issues around colonialism, and examines who gets to tell their own stories.

I adored this novel so much—I finished the entire audiobook in one day! Erdrich performs the audiobook, voicing her characters as she heard them in her head. Erdrich is an incredible narrator, and I love that she reads most of her audiobooks.

The author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, the Man Booker Finalist, is back with her latest novel, Booth, which follows the life of John Wilkes Booth. From his parent’s early days living outside of Baltimore to that fateful night at the theater, listeners follow the life of the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

Narrated by January LaVoy

Bestselling fiction author Amy Bloom has a different story to tell this time: her own. When her husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Bloom’s world is upside down. Examining her experience as a caregiver, Bloom asks difficult questions about caring for a disabled spouse. As her husband’s disease deteriorates, Bloom and her husband begin to discuss his options and what dying with dignity means to him.

Narrated by the Author

From the much acclaimed author of The Rib King, The Last Suspicious Holdout features twelve short stories. These interweaving tales tell the stories of a Black community in Southern suburbia. Ladee Hubbard is a gem, ensuring that this collection will be one of the best of the year—you won’t want to miss this audiobook!

Narrated by Adenrele Ojo and JD Jackson

In this much-needed look at the environmentalist movement, Leah Thomas discusses the need for more activists to approach their work in environmentalism through an intersectional lens. She illustrates that Black, Indigenous, and other people of color bear the brunt of environmental injustice.

Narrated by Leah Thomas, Hayden Bishop, and Erin Walker

In this incredible anthology of Chinese science fiction and fantasy, nonbinary and female authors tell stories across the spectrum of some of my favorite genres. Translated from Chinese by Regina Kanyu Wang, The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories is a rich exploration of the fantastical and wondrous.

Narrated by Katharine Chin

When Delilah Green returns to her hometown to photograph her stepsister’s wedding, she runs into Claire Sutherland, who becomes a welcome distraction. But what starts out as a fling during all of the wedding hoopla might turn into something more.

Narrated by Kristen DiMercurio

Kian Andrews gets a call from his ex-boyfriend, Hudson Rivers, so he agrees to meet up and chat. But instead of wanting to get back together, Hudson wants to pretend to be together for his parents. Kian agrees, though reluctantly. Of course, this being a romance novel, what starts as pretend might rekindle the love they thought they had lost.

Narrated by Timothy Bell Reese

Each year, Mina’s community throws a maiden into the ocean to appease the Sea God. With so many storms and floods, the ritual has never been more important to the community. To save the girl her brother loves, Mina throws herself into the water to become the bride of the Sea God herself.

Narrated by Rosa Escoda

Claudia Lin’s parents think she has a traditional career. But in reality, Claudia works as an investigator for clients wanting to check their love interests’ identities on an exclusive dating app. But when a client goes missing, Claudia must solve the mystery to save her career, all while keeping her real life secret from her parents.

Narrated by Eunice Wong

The author of We Ride Upon Sticks is back with latest novel When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East, which follows Chuluun, a young monk tasked with finding the reincarnation of a great lama. Along with his twin Mun, Chuluun must traverse the vast Mongolian landscape while working out his strained relationship with his brother.

Narrated by David Lee Huynh

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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