Written by Jessica Rinaudo, Brand & Communications Manager, and Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
Audiobooks continue to rise in popularity. In 2024 alone, over 165,000 Cincinnati & Hamilton Public Library (CHPL) customers borrowed more than 6.4 million eBooks and eAudiobooks.
There’s a reason for that. Being “on-the-go,” diverse learning styles, performance, and even specific narrators are all reasons listeners cite turning to audiobooks. And we’ve got a list of some of our favorite listening experiences for all ages that you can check out in the Libby app with your Library card!
Audiobooks for Kids & Teens
For Kids
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell – Narrated by David Tennant (of Doctor Who fame), this now-famous series follows Hiccup as he attempts to catch and train a dragon to pass the initiation test of his Viking clan. And, after listening, you can also check out the movie version from our collection!
When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller – When shy Lily and her family move in with her ill grandmother, she meets a magical tiger from Korean folklore. The tiger offers a deal to save her grandmother’s life—but is it a trick?
Who Could That Be at This Hour by Lemony Snicket – In this first book in the prequel series to A Series of Unfortunate Events, Lemony Snicket begins his apprenticeship for a secret organization. This mystery, complete with dramatic music, is fun for young readers!
Who Could That Be at This Hour?
For Teens
The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff – This YA sci-fi trilogy is written in a multimedia format that incorporates images and redacted files. Never fear, the listening experience is up to the task. With a full cast and sound effects, paired with a plot that will have your heart racing, these audiobooks should be at the top of any teen or adult’s list!
Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson – Written in verse, this coming-of-age novel about a young Black girl discovering self-worth, experiencing first love, and indulging in the joy of roller skating unfolds as the future of a community falls into jeopardy.
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace – Orphaned as a baby, Signa must form an alliance with Death himself to uncover a family secret.
Audiobooks for Adults
For Fantasy Fans
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros in Graphic Audio – The romantasy phenomenon comes to life in what can only be described as a movie for your ears. With a full cast and sound effects, this audiobook is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisen – Want to check out something you’ve never read anything like before? Enter Jemisen’s Hugo Award- winning fantasy novel, the first in a trilogy that bridges together climate change, people who can manipulate rocks and gems, post-apocalyptic society, and super beings. It’s unforgettable and the entire trilogy is available on Libby!
Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay – If you’re looking for a fantasy novel with ties to history, look no further than Kay’s books. Tigana is a standalone, and narrated by Simon Vance, who brings the perfect gravitas to any story he narrates.
For Romance Readers
All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata – Zapata is the queen of the slow burn romance, and this story of a divorcee hiker renting an apartment from grumpy Rhodes, smolders. Read in duet (all male lines are read by a male voice actor and all female lines are read by a female voice actor), this book will have you deep in your feels.
Slipstream by Madge Maril – The Library hosted a launch event for Maril’s debut Formula 1 racing romance and it’s a winner. With a dynamic narrator, a slow burn that would make Mr. Darcy proud, and F1 races that will make your heart skip, Slipstream will have you listening into the wee hours of the morning.
Set On You by Amy Lea – This romance book’s dedication sets the tone for the perfectly crafted story within its pages and narration: “To everyone who rarely sees themselves represented in books and movies, to everyone who doesn’t conform to mainstream beauty standards, you are worthy of an epic love story. We all are.” This funny romance about a curvy fitness influencer and her gym instructor is a delightful and insightful listen.
For Nonfiction Nerds
There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib – A mix of memoir, basketball, and poetic voice, Hanif narrates his own book and infuses it with emotion, culture, and insight into growing up in Columbus, Ohio.
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell – This one’s for the word nerds. Cultish not only examines how language is wielded in cults to coerce, but how we come across manipulative tactics on a day-to-day basis.
An Immense World by Ed Yong – This long listen clocks in at over 14 hours, but you’ll walk away brimming with knowledge about the animals we share our planet with, and it’s narrated by the author!
For Literary Fiction Lovers
The Favorites by Layne Fargo – This new title is a runaway audiobook standout. Written (and narrated) in documentary style, this story about competitive ice skating will make you feel like you’ve been engrossed in a Netflix documentary. (And yes, Netflix, we’re still watching).
How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris – Politics, journalism, and family relationships collide in this story that follows three people as they navigate their personal ethics and romantic relationships amid the turmoil of modern-day politics.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders – This audiobook’s long cast list is as legendary as the book itself! It follows the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son and those who haunt the graveyard where he’s buried. With the narrative voice changing constantly, this audiobook is a unique experience.
For Horror Devourers
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones – Imagine one bad decision haunting you the rest of your life… and the consequences manifesting as a stag from the Reservation. A group of Native men try and fail to outrun fate in this haunting book.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova – This Frankenstein-esque book follows a grieving mother who tries to regrow her deceased son through a piece of his lung. Set in Mexico City, it’s both weird and philosophical, much like Mary Shelly’s classic.
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare – For readers seeking a campy horror novel in the vein of Stephen King, look no further than this novel where the town mascot, Frendo the Clown, goes after the trouble-causing kids.
What are you listening to this month? Let us know in the comments!
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