12 Books That Are Even Better as Audiobooks: From Historical Fiction to Fantasy, Romance and More!
Woman’s World editors share their favorite audiobooks right now—sit back, relax and press play!
Whether you’re traveling on a long flight or road trip, getting in those 10,000 steps or just have a full day ahead of laundry and cleaning, audiobooks serve as the ideal hands-free entertainment. Many readers even prefer audiobooks because they offer a more immersive escape. Between talented narrators, beloved celebrity voices, well-done accents and perfect pacing, these performances can turn a good book into a great book. Here, Woman’s World editors gathered up 12 books—across many genres—that are even better in audio format. From memoirs to romance, historical fiction, fantasy and more, there’s something for everyone.
If you’re looking to transport yourself to sunny Hawaii for a trip filled with hilarious hijinks and steamy romance, press play on The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren. In the mood for a heartwarming story narrated in utterly charming British accents? Try Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy, which had one listener enthralled: “Christine Rendel’s skillful and sensitive narration is perfect. I was enthralled listening.”
Keep scrolling for the rest of our must-listen audiobook recommendations!
‘Cher: Part 1’ by Cher
Narrators: Cher and Stephanie J. Block
Lend an ear to the real-life story of superstar singer, actress and legend Cher in her 2024 memoir—narrated by the icon herself and Stephanie J. Block who played Cher on Broadway! In the first of two installments, the award-winning performer shares her earliest childhood memories, how she met Sonny Bono and their ascent into superstardom. She also opens up about their painful divorce, her relationship with Gregg Allman and her ongoing drive for independence amidst Hollywood fame.
What listeners are saying: “As an avid music lover, I knew Cher’s memoir would blow me away. Not only was the audiobook the perfect combination of honest and real, but it was also partially read by the singer herself, making it my favorite must-listen of the year. I simply cannot wait for part two to release later this year.”
‘Listen for the Lie’ by Amy Tintera
Narrators: January LaVoy and Will Damron
Heart-racing suspense and dark humor meld in this novel by Amy Tintera, which Stephen King crowned “a world-class whodunit.” After Lucy is found covered in her friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she’s a murderer. Once upon a time Lucy and Savvy were the “it” girls of their small Texas town. Savvy was a popular social butterfly and Lucy married her dream man and moved into her dream house. It’s been years since that horrific night—a night Lucy can’t remember anything about. Now, Lucy, who is currently living in LA, is forced to confront the past when a hit true crime podcast “Listen for the Lie”—and its handsome host Ben Owens—start investigating Savvy’s murder. Will the truth finally be revealed?
What listeners are saying: “This book woke something up in me, I absolutely loved it. The audiobook was out of this world with the narration. The plot was perfectly paced and engaging. The characters were either loveable or hateable. I loved Lucy, her sarcastic tone and her intrusive thoughts. This story would make a phenomenal movie adaptation, too. Definitely my fav book of 2025 so far, and one of my top 10 of all time for sure!”
‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ by Shelby Van Pelt
Narrator: Martin Ireland and Michael Urie
A story about rediscovering love after loss with the help of a giant octopus? Yes, please! Debut author Shelby Van Pelt serves up an inspiring novel about an older woman’s quest to solve a mystery from her past. And narrators Marin Ireland and Michael Urie deliver strikingly memorable performances. After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at a local aquarium — and she befriended a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. What follows is the unraveling of the mystery behind the disappearance of Tova’s son many years ago, with Marcellus serving as a part-time narrator. This creative, endearing novel examines loneliness and the transformative nature of connection.
What listeners are saying: “Excellent story. Excellent characters. Excellent narration. I double-checked the author shortly after starting this book because the writing had a Fredrick Backman feel to it. And I also recognized the narrator as the same one who narrates the Backman novels. I loved this as much as my favorite Backman novels. Downside: This has left me with a serious book hangover.”
‘The Honeymoon Crashers’ by Christina Lauren
Narrators: Jessica Marie Garcia, Harry Shum Jr., Lee Osorio, Cynthia Farrell, Deacon Lee, Adriana Sananes, Stephanie Németh-Parker, Inés del Castillo, Kimberly Woods, Tim Paige, Jennifer Aquino and Shaun Taylor-Corbett
Chemistry soars in this “audio-first” rom-com by bestselling author duo Christina Lauren. When asked why they wanted to release an audio-first book, Christina Lauren said: “When we were given the opportunity to create an audio-first novella, it was a no-brainer. Music, immersive sound effects and a full cast—what could be more exciting than seeing one of our stories truly come to life?” Set in Hawaii, this story brings readers back to the world of Lauren’s bestselling book, The Unhoneymooners. The story follows Ami, who is focusing on breaking the Torres family wedding curse. Her own wedding reception ended with a cheating husband and all the guests getting food poisoning. Now, Ami refuses to let her twin sister Olive and her fiance Ethan’s big day be anything but perfect. Her plan? Flying the entire Torres family out to surprise the couple during their private ceremony. When she meets Brody, Ethan’s best man who is living in Maui, he insists on helping with wedding prep. Ami is convinced his sunshine-y attitude is going to get in the way of her sister’s wedding, but then sparks fly between them. Could it derail all her meticulous plans?
What listeners are saying: “I adored this add-on to The Unhoneymooners world. I loved getting to see Amy find real happiness and love. Brody is her complete opposite in many ways and I loved how much that challenged Amy. I think Brody is the exact kind of man Amy needs. I loved all the wedding planning and shenanigans with the family too. I really enjoyed this listen!”
‘Throne of the Fallen’ by Kerri Maniscalco
Narrators: Marisa Calin and Shane East
From demon courts and magic to sinners and sizzling desire, Kerri Maniscalco’s Throne of the Fallen—flawlessly narrated by Marisa Calin and Shane East—features all the elements for a pitch-perfect romantasy. Camilla is an artist in the mortal realm, and Envy is a Prince of Hell. But when a deadly game begins in the underworld where Envy resides, he and Camilla get caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, danger and passion. Will they ultimately save Envy’s kingdom from peril or will they fall into the worst trap of all: love?
What listeners are saying: “This was incredible. Easily one of the best books I’ve read. The voice acting was top-notch and made the book 10x better. I almost feel sad for anyone who reads the physical copy because the voice actors really lift the story to a new level.”
‘Yellowface’ by R. F. Kuang
Narrator: Helen Laser
This New York Times best-selling book written by R.F. Kuang, and narrated by Helen Laser, hooks readers from the start—and doesn’t let go. Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to rise to fame together. But before long, Athena is a literary darling…and June is not. So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she does something unthinkable: She steals Athena’s just-finished manuscript — a novel about the contributions of Chinese laborers during WWI. She even comes up with a pen name, Juniper Song, complete with an ambiguous author photo — because June is not Asian American. As the success and fame pour in, June still can’t seem to escape Athena, and as evidence comes to light in Athena’s death, all her carefully constructed lies might be revealed. A sharp, original and chilling page-turner.
What listeners are saying: “Great performance! I thought the voice actor did a really great job at bringing the characters to life and I overall liked the sound of her voice. The story was also very interesting—the commentary is comparable to that of Kiley Reid’s Such A Fun Age.
‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ by Sarah. J Maas
Narrator: Jennifer Ikeda
Known for her stunning blend of fantasy and romance, Sarah J. Maas—often referred to as the reigning queen of Romantasy—kicked off her popularity with A Court of Thorns And Roses. This is the first novel in her bestselling series and millions of readers credit this story for their interest in the genre. The tale—narrated by Jennifer Ikeda—follows 19-year-old huntress Feyre. After she kills a wolf to feed her family, she is kidnapped and dragged to a magical, treacherous land she’s only heard about in legends. Her captor? Tamlin, one of the most powerful faeries. Tamlin is a beast-like immortal, yet over the course of her captivity, Feyre begins to see Tamlin as more than a monster. But still, something does not feel right in this enchanting place. A searing novel that hits every note of the Romantasy genre.
What listeners are saying: “This book was entertaining and engaging! The narrator was very good—her voice and cadence fit the story. I have not read any of Sarah’s books before this one and I just may have to pick up another at some point!”
‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator: Jennifer Ikeda, Benjamin Bratt, Judy Greer and Pablo Schreiber
Electric chemistry, juicy drama and soul-stirring nostalgia…this book—which was made into a hit streaming series on Amazon Prime—has it all. Written like a biography, this novel follows the rise to fame of Daisy Jones & the Six—one of the biggest bands of the ’70s led by the brooding Billy Dunne and the beautiful Daisy Jones. In interview-style chapters, readers are taken along on a gripping ride that chronicles the ups and downs of the world’s most famous rock band and the mysterious breakup at the height of their fame. A dazzlingly narrated story featuring a talented cast of people who embody the characters through and through.
What listeners are saying: “This story takes us back into the 1970s rock scene and feels entirely authentic. I can’t imagine the print version of this novel is as good as the audiobook. Daisy Jones & The Six is narrated by some of the best narrators in the business—a full cast. This format doesn’t work in some cases, but it certainly does here. The audio version reminds me of a documentary-type memoir told from various perspectives. Though it’s a fictional story of a 70s rock band, it feels real.”
‘The Girl With the Louding Voice’ by Abi Daré
Narrator: Adjoa Andoh
According to Jenna Bush Hager of The Today Show, this novel by Abi Dare will “break your heart and then put it back together again.” This inspiring story centers on Adunni, a teenage girl from a rural Nigerian village who dreams of getting an education to find her “louding voice” so she can speak up for herself and change her life. Despite overwhelming challenges, Adunni remains determined to escape poverty and help other girls like her. This story is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of fighting for your dreams.
What listeners are saying: “This is absolutely one the best books I’ve ever read. I’m so glad I listened to it because it simply made the story come alive. It truly took you right there and made you feel every single one of Addini’s emotions from chapter to chapter. Her resilience and bravery was remarkable! I have never read a book that made me cry—and sometimes chuckle—from beginning to end.”
‘Tom Lake’ by Ann Patchett
Narrator: Meryl Streep
This touching novel about family, love and growing up by bestselling author Ann Patchett is made even more special in audio form, thanks to Meryl Streep’s spectacular performance. Tom Lake is set during the pandemic when three grown daughters are forced to return to their family’s cherry farm in Michigan to help with the harvest. During those isolated days in the orchard, the daughters get their mother talking about her first love. It’s a wholesome book about the different directions a life can take, and children seeing their parents in a new light. It’s also about the comforting rhythms of nature that never change, even when life spins faster and faster.
What listeners are saying: “Patchett fans will love this book. What puts this over the top is Meryl Streep doing the reading. I loved this! Narrators make such a difference.”
‘The Flatshare’ by Beth O’Leary
Narrators: Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune
Fans of heart-fluttering rom-coms will flip for this joyful novel by Beth O’Leary. The story follows Tiffy Moore after she answers an ad for a roommate, posted by Leon, who works night shifts. He has the apartment to himself during the day and Tiffy has it on nights and weekends. Before long, Tiffy and Leon start leaving notes for each other—but they still haven’t yet met. As the simple notes turn sweet, sparks start to fly, but will it actually lead to true love?
What listeners are saying: “Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune were extraordinary narrators and embodied Tiff and Leon perfectly! I borrowed the audiobook from the library, but honestly, just as I bought a physical copy of the book, I’m thinking about also buying the audiobook for myself because I loved it so much! If you haven’t read this novel yet, please do yourself a favor and go read it right now!”
‘Sipsworth’ by Simon Van Booy
Narrator: Christine Rendel
Described by fans as beautiful and enchanting, this novel by Simon Van Booy has captured readers’—and listeners’—hearts since its release. After losing her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the English village of her childhood after living abroad for decades. Helen is set in her ways and ready to say goodbye to this world. She retreats into her home and relies on her routines to get her through the day — until she comes across an abandoned mouse outside her home. What follows is a unique and life-affirming journey of friendship, hope and second chances.
What listeners are saying: “I have been listening to more audiobooks lately and read a review of this book. It sounded intriguing, and I thought I would give it a go. I absolutely adored this story and the narration! It went by so quickly, and I found myself sitting outside in the evening on July 3, watching fireflies and listening to distant firecrackers, while finishing up the story. I had to know how it ended. It’s a rather simple premise, of an elderly woman waiting for her life to end, but it becomes so much more. In meeting the mouse she eventually names Sipsworth, she not only finds a renewed purpose, but meets a variety of people who become a part of her life. It’s a gentle story, with very likable characters. A five-star story for certain!”
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
