2025 has taken us to space, back to the reaping, and even made us contemplate leaning out. Our editors have enthusiastically debated the best listens of the year (so far!), and now, with the help of your ratings and reviews, we’re thrilled to share our top 25 picks. While you’ll see a range of genres, one thing these titles all have in common is brilliant performances that moved us, changed us and made it impossible to press pause. We can’t wait to hear what the rest of 2025 will bring!
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Few writers can pull off morally grey anti-heros that you can’t help but love like Joe Abercrombie can, and The Devils may be his best yet. A fast-paced, gloriously bloody fantasy adventure tinged with Abercrombie’s signature dark humour, it takes place in an alternate version of our world, ripe with monsters and mayhem. Listeners already familiar with the author’s First Law series have rejoiced to hear Steven Pacey’s performance, and it’s hard to imagine any other voice for this motley crew of characters. Thank the devils this is only the first in the series. —Sam D., Audible Editor
Released in time for Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday and showcasing the broadcaster’s iconic voice alongside Colin Butfield’s equally engaging narration, this listen shines as a significant addition to the repertoire of a true audio legend. Ocean spans the seven seas—plus a century’s worth of personal insights—to examine the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems. Ultimately, it immerses listeners in the nostalgic comfort of a nature documentary, with a splash of optimism for future conservation efforts, making it a perfect vessel for exploring urgent global issues without spiralling into an eddy of anxiety. —Haley H., Audible Editor
In My Friends, Fredrik Backman crafts a touching dual-timeline story about four teenagers—Joar, Ted, Ali and "the artist"—who find solace together on a forgotten pier. Their summer days become immortalized in a painting that changes a young woman’s life decades later. Narrator Marin Ireland beautifully renders these intertwined stories of friendship and transformation. Backman's signature style shines as he explores how art connects us across time, while depicting the beautiful mess of human relationships. This novel broke my heart and mended it simultaneously, leaving me changed for the better by the journey. —Tricia F., Audible Editor
If you’re looking for your next favourite podcast, look no further than The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcolm Gladwell. Featuring unfiltered conversations with trailblazing business leaders, sports legends and creative powerhouses at the top of their game, each episode goes far beyond the surface-level stories of success we’re all used to hearing. With award-winning producer Kenya Barris and bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell at the helm, listeners get unparalleled access to the insights and success stories of their guests, resulting in nine conversations that feel like master classes in ambition, creativity and perseverance. —Michael C., Audible Editor
We, as a culture, seem to have only just realized that there’s no reason to speak about menopause in hushed tones. We still have a long way to go before it gets the research and attention it deserves, but recent progress is very welcome—especially when it comes in the form of a one-woman show from Emmy-winning comedian Samantha Bee. The howls of laughter at her live Audible Theater performance are the very opposite of hushed. The jokes never let up (“Your boobs are now a bosom”), the warnings are fair (“I’m sorry to inform you that you are going to be thinking about your genitals at all times”) and the advice is solid (“Beware the grift … menopause is the new goldrush”). Maybe laughter really is the best hormone replacement therapy. —Phoebe N., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Samantha Bee.
This is a real “once you see it, you can’t unsee it” type of listen, with both the deprogramming power of a recovery memoir and the storytelling verve of the best narrative non-fiction. Renowned Dutch historian and Davos troublemaker Rutger Bregman is here to convince you—through a tour of pivotal historical moments when humans radically changed society for good—that the world also needs your talents, and it needs them now. His message is delivered with brutal honesty, a huge dose of optimism and perhaps just a dash of needed shaming (narrated by the aptly cast Dutch American voice actor Boris Hiestand). Bregman warns at the start of his book that you might actually regret listening, because "once you put it down, you might just have to change your life." If that’s not a dare, I don’t know what is. —Emily C., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Rutger Bregman.
As politically sharp and utterly heartbreaking as the rest of the Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping reaffirms Suzanne Collins’s gift for dystopian world-building and complex character development. This prequel follows a teenaged Haymitch Abernathy as he is selected to participate in the second Quarter Quell, setting in motion his lifelong role in the rebellion. Actor Jefferson White (Yellowstone) brings the fan-favourite character to life with a warm, masterful narration that balances the longing and optimism of youth with a wry edge, his performance laying bare not only the deadly stakes of the Games but the undying promise of hope and love in spite of it all. —Alanna M., Audible Editor
Grammar is magic in this fairy tale—but not the grammar you’re thinking of, the stuffy subject of our elementary school days. In this story, grammar is the beauty and power of the way words meld together, play off one another and construe meaning. What makes it extra special in audio (especially as this is, first, a story about sisters) is original music performed by Amal El-Mohtar and her own sister, Dounya, with gorgeous vocals from narrator Gem Carmella. —Sam D., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Amal El-Mohtar.
Two women with missing sisters join forces to find their respective siblings. There are no bodies. Have they been kidnapped and living in hell? Ashley Flowers sure knows her way around a twisty plot and family drama. Leads go nowhere fast. Every now and then she throws something promising the listeners’ way, but don’t be fooled by her clever storytelling. Uber-talented narrator Saskia Maarleveld doesn’t disappoint with her stellar skills. What is very touching about this story is the power of sisterhood and its unbreakable bond. —Yvonne D., Audible Editor
Carley Fortune has a flair for creating brilliant, atmospheric settings that make me feel like I’m truly living in the world she’s built. In One Golden Summer, we went to a beautiful lake where good things happen. Looking for the spark that she can only recall having after taking a photo one summer during her teens, Alice returns to Barry’s Bay with her recovering grandmother, hoping for a peaceful summer. Everything shifts when Charlie, the boy from the photo, comes roaring back into her life. AJ Bridel, who has performed all of Fortune’s titles, brings warmth to every deliciously slow-burning moment. As Alice and Charlie connected, I didn’t just root for their love, I felt like I was right there on the dock beside them. —Patty R., Audible Editor
Isola is the kind of historical novel that feels surprisingly modern, because at its core, it’s about being young, in love and totally unprepared for what life throws at you. What starts out as a punishment turns into a test of survival, strength and serious soul-searching. It’s not just about survival, though. It’s about figuring out who you are when the world stops telling you. Goodman’s prose is elegant but sly—like a Jane Austen novel wandered into Survivor. If you like historical fiction with emotional depth, strong women and a story that sticks with you, Isola delivers. It’s raw, beautiful and a reminder that even in the loneliest places, we can find ourselves. —Dawn G., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Allegra Goodman.
Stephen Graham Jones is in a class of his own—he’s so damn good, it’s scary. (He’s also so scary, it’s scary.) But even at his level, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a towering achievement. Were you thirsting for a new vampire? Meet Good Stab, a code-switching, blood-sucking Blackfeet man seeking revenge for a historical horror, based on the 1870 Marias Massacre, which left 217 of his people dead. The nested narration is flawless—Marin Ireland plays Etsy Beaucarne, who discovers the diary of her Lutheran pastor grandfather, performed by Owen Teale, who in turn recounts the disturbing confessions of Shane Ghostkeeper’s Good Stab. Haunting, ingenious, dense and merciless, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter brings an indelible Indigenous voice to classic vampire tropes (hello, epistolary novel!) as well as an iconic new character and high-water mark from a horror legend. —Kat J., Audible Editor
John Green is an author who likely needs no introduction. An icon in the young adult space with a talent for nuanced, empathetic storytelling, Green is known for centering his work around the shared human experience. His latest venture into nonfiction, Everything Is Tuberculosis, is certainly no different. In this thoroughly researched listen, Green unravels the storied history and modern impact of TB, exploring how systems of inequity and injustice have perpetuated the infectious disease’s devastating toll. His narration, like his writing, is a gift—as impassioned as it is measured. His earnest delivery is at once authoritative and deeply sensitive, a call to action rooted in compassion, humanity and hope. —Alanna M., Audible Editor
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s talent is awe-inducing: both her ability to tell deeply human stories, and the research and detail that she pours into them. Atmosphere is no exception. Reid takes us to Houston in the 1980s amid the first wave of women scientists and pilots for NASA’s space exploration program. We watch our heroine Joan ascend from candidate to astronaut, fall in love and fight to keep that love when a mission goes south. This story had a vise grip on me, particularly the moving performances of Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio (I’ve developed an obsession with their delivery in the last 10 minutes of the book). Atmosphere won’t let you go once you’ve entered its orbit. —Katie O., Audible Editor
Tina Knowles’s aptly titled memoir, Matriarch, is a deeply personal portrait of the head of one of the world’s most high-profile families. Starting with her childhood in 1950s Galveston, Texas, Ms. Tina shares how she overcame the constraints of poverty and racism to pursue her dreams far beyond the borders of her segregated hometown. I was riveted not only by her revelatory journey but also by the raw emotion heard in her voice as she narrates the intimate details of her life story. She doesn’t hold anything back, divulging the ups and downs of her marriages, the challenges of motherhood and the tumultuous road to her family’s success. You’re left with an awe-inspiring message of how the legacy of the mothers who came before her fueled her ability to nurture her own daughters into the incredible women and mothers they are today. —Margaret H., Audible Editor
The title of culture writer Scaachi Koul’s latest memoir is a particularly fitting one—Sucker Punch comes out swinging with heart and humour, wielding searing wit and unbarred vulnerability in equal measure. In this collection of essays, Koul reflects on a period of her life marred by unexpected pain, loss and upheaval, excavating trauma and hurt with resolute honesty and a voice that’s wholly her own. Smart, sharp and endlessly listenable, this moving memoir shines in audio. Whether musing on divorce, body image, family or the internet, Koul remains unwaveringly genuine, her skilled narration lending candour and ensuring every recollection lands. —Alanna M., Audible Editor
This pitch-perfect book arrived in my library as if by divine force. Not my usual genre, I barely recall downloading it. All I know is that from the first words—“The farmer is dead”—and an unforgettable incident involving a small boy, his dog and some sheep, Broken Country held me spellbound (and sobbing). Clare Leslie Hall spins a story that’s part circle, due to the brilliant cyclical nature of its alternating timelines, and part triangle: the love kind. Beth is torn between a formative old flame and her adoring husband, while two children and twin tragedies complicate matters enormously. Like the plot, Hattie Morahan’s narration is flawless, from explosive start to gut-punching finish—and just like that, I’m crying again. —Kat J., Audible Editor
Jack Bergin is back in his latest big hit, The Big Fix. This follow-up to the all-star multicast listen The Big Lie follows FBI Special Agent Jack Bergin as an old fling leads him down the rabbit hole of a violent murder case. As a fan of the more immersive audio experiences, I felt ensnared in the sounds of mid-century Los Angeles and the story’s distinct characters. Jon Hamm gives a thrilling performance alongside huge names like Alia Shawkat, Omar Epps and Jeanne Tripplehorn, to name a few. Delivering suspense, drama and comedy, The Big Fix feels reminiscent of everything I’ve loved about old, gritty police movies. With the no-nonsense agent that is Jack Bergin and the unique cast of characters helping him crack the case, the only thing you can do is sit back and enjoy! —Nicole R., Audible Editor
The genius of Wild Dark Shore is how it takes a Gothic premise and places it in a compelling 21st-century setting. The Salt family are the only remaining human inhabitants on a remote, weather-beaten island that’s sinking into the rising seas of climate change when a mysterious woman washes ashore looking for her missing husband. Every character has a secret, and the plot’s possibilities teeter between violence and reconciliation, making for a tense and atmospheric story, punctuated by moments of dazzling sweetness from youngest son Orly. In the expert hands of narrators Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld and Steve West, the characters’ regrets and hopes are as palpable as the fog in this haunting, elegiac story of a family trying to hold on to their home, and each other. —Phoebe N., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Charlotte McConaghy.
In the much-anticipated follow-up to Detransition, Baby, Torrey Peters delivers a collection of stories that interrogates everything we think we know about gender, queerness and binaries. The result is an audio experience that plays with form as much as content, combining stories of different lengths and styles with four unique performances from Lee Osorio, Briggon Snow, Eileen Noonan and Pyrrha Nicole. But Stag Dance is also a reminder that there’s more to us than just good or bad, forcing us to sit with the uncomfortable truths that come alongside living authentically—for better or for worse. —Michael C., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Torrey Peters.
In My Next Breath, Academy Award-nominated actor Jeremy Renner details his recovery from a harrowing snowcat accident, which almost took his life on New Year’s Day 2023. Listening to this memoir is a visceral experience. Renner’s emotions are palpable, and he decided to include the entirety of the stunning 911 call from the accident, in which you can hear him fighting for his next breath on the ice. Throughout the book you forget that you’re listening to an actor who literally plays a superhero, and instead are left in awe of Renner’s own superhuman strength and deep love for his family, which motivates his remarkable recovery. —Katie O., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Jeremy Renner.
As a longtime follower of Mel Robbins, I can confidently say The Let Them Theory is her best listen yet. The audiobook's zen quality suggests Mel has reached a new level of personal growth. Her signature blend of relatable anecdotes and actionable advice is enhanced by a newfound depth and tranquility. Her fresh perspective on letting go is both enlightening and liberating, guiding listeners to tap into their internal approval systems. Mel's authentic narration and potentially transformative insights make this a timely tool for navigating life's complexities. It's no wonder it has resonated with millions. —Rachael X., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Mel Robbins.
The conclusion to Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy, Scythe & Sparrow, took me to the circus and put on one hell of a show. Dr. Fionn Kane is trying to outrun the chaos of his family in quiet Nebraska, but peace is hard to come by when circus performer (and occasional killer) Rose crashes into his life. I adored the chaos-meets-calm dynamic between Rose and Dr. Kane. Their connection is instant, electric and HOT! There’s also Barbara—if you know, you know 🦝. Eric Nolan and Samantha Brentmoor’s duet performance brings every stabby, sharp turn and tender moment to life. This story, this series—no notes! I loved every chaotic and unhinged minute of it. —Patty R., Audible Editor
Check out our interview with Brynne Weaver.
Careless People is my hill to die on for this year's list. Sarah Wynn-Williams's riveting account of her time as Facebook's director of global public policy offers a rare glimpse into Silicon Valley's immature decision-making. This listen resonated deeply with me, exploring the unmet promises of the World Wide Web, the limits of good intentions and the grim side of "lean in" culture. Through compelling narration and honesty, Wynn-Williams crafts a book that is part corporate tell-all, part cautionary tale about unchecked ambition. Its timeliness, depth and personal impact solidify its position as one of the year's best, offering a unique perspective on tech's societal influence. —Rachael X., Audible Editor
OH, MY—what a ride! Even before pressing play on one of my most anticipated romantasies of the year, I knew Onyx Storm would be intense, but I wasn’t ready for everything it delivered. The story picks up right where Iron Flame left off. Determined to protect their cause even as everything around them unravels, Violet, Xaden and their closest allies embark on a mission to the Isle Kingdoms outside of Navarre. Officially, they’re there to gather support for Navarre’s fight; secretly, they have their own plan. Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton deliver exceptional performances that not only made this an unpauseable listen but upped the emotional stakes. And those last few moments of the story? Ms. Yarros, ma’am, the group chat and I, we are not okay. —Patty R., Audible Editor
