Crank it up

After a friend recently asked me what my favorite music concert was so far this year, it sent me into a tailspin, since I realized I haven’t been to any live music events yet. In fact, I’d meant to get to Audible’s Minetta Lane in New York City to catch mandolin-virtuoso Chris Thile and Punch Brothers with their quirky variety show, since I wanted to experience Shawn Mendes, Meshell Ndegeocello, Tune-Yards, and the rest of the incredible lineup up close. I knew it wouldn't disappoint after listening to the first season of The Energy Curfew Music Hour, which included music vets like James Taylor, Norah Jones, Kacey Musgraves, and Jon Batiste. But, you know, life stuff got in the way. Luckily, the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Season 2 is here to quench my thirst for incredible musicianship. While it can't replace the vibe of being in a club or amphitheater with other fans, with my headphones on, I feel immersed in the next best thing.

Discretion is strongly advised

When I first learned that Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben were collaborating on a novel, I practically jumped out of my chair. As someone who’s devoured Coben's thrillers—as well as being a part of Reese's book club—this partnership was immediately one of my most-anticipated listens of the year. The medical thriller introduces listeners to Maggie McCabe, a former surgeon with extraordinary skills. Maggie is exclusively chosen to perform a discreet, unconventional medical procedure, and then finds herself thrust into a treacherous world in which her principles and survival instincts are put to the test. As if the author duo wasn’t enough, Reese also narrates along with an all-star cast featuring Chris Pine, Saskia Maarleveld, and James Fouhey (just to name a few). Gone Before Goodbye is a suspenseful listen that doesn’t disappoint.

Well worth the antici…pation

In the introduction of Vagabond, Tim Curry muses that penning his memoir offered an opportunity to “malign my own reputation.” Delightful self-deprecation aside, the Tony-nominated icon of stage and screen does anything but, instead he crafts a charming collection of personal stories, all narrated in his inimitable voice. In this reflective journey alight with humor and honesty, Curry recalls his childhood, creative journey, and career, while meditating on how lived experiences informed his craft. Of course, he also looks back at memorable roles, ranging from Dr. Frank-n-Furter to Sir Nigel Thornberry to King Arthur in the musical Spamalot. Along the way, he shares plenty of behind-the-scenes anecdotes fans will no doubt enjoy, whether enduring hours of daily prosthetics application on the set of Legend, working alongside Carol Burnett and the Muppets, embodying the demonic Pennywise (despite his own distaste for clowns), or celebrating the unique joys and possibilities of voice work.

A magical listen for Halloween season

Stephanie Garber architects a dazzling adult debut that juxtaposes folklore against the glittering LA skyline. Holland St. James has always believed in magic, which is why she was the top student—and now teaching assistant—for a legendary class called Folklore 517. When she unlocks one of the class’s myths and meets the Watch Man, she’s overflowing with excitement—until the Watch Man tells her that she’s going to die at 11:59 p.m. on Halloween (which is tomorrow night) unless she finds the Alchemical Heart. The ticking clock device fuels the narrative with urgency—and Holland’s actions with a frenetic energy—that underscores the stakes and makes it difficult to discern who to trust. Actress Sutton Foster infuses the story with a bit of her own magic, delivering on the glamour of Old Hollywood that Garber has woven into her myths. Alchemy of Secrets absolutely glitters, and it already has me wanting to trade a few of my own secrets for an early look at Book 2.

Perfection has never felt so dangerous

Set in a glittering, glass-towered future where bloodlines are controlled and love is never free, Conform had me hooked from the very first chapter. Emeline has spent her life alone until she’s chosen to compete for a procreation contract with one of the most powerful men in the world. What follows is a twisted, high-stakes love triangle set against a backdrop of secrets, surveillance, and rebellion. The fast pace, paired with Amanda Leigh Cobb’s stellar performance, made this an immersive listening experience that I am still not over. And that end... Let’s just say: I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.

A quirky new caper

Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his work, The Long Shoe is an incredible evolution in Bob Mortimer’s style and storytelling—and sure to become his next big hit. A caper full of oddball characters, unbelievable circumstances, and a mystery that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, Mortimer has managed to craft another tale that perfectly encapsulates his distinctive comedic style. Featuring an incredible cast of characters (and accents!), a talking cat, and a literal long shoe, Mortimer delivers another listen that’s as riveting as it is funny. With a performance led by Mortimer—alongside comedians Diane Morgan and Arabella Weir—it’s simply perfect in audio.

A spooky-sweet romantic mystery

In this supernatural love story set in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Nicholas Sparks ventures outside of North Carolina and beyond the realm of romance in collaboration with filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan (the pride of Philadelphia). It’s a creative combo I never expected but eagerly listened to, if only to see what they would come up with. And it works! The romance is swoon-worthy and oh-so-sweet. Plus, the eerie, paranormal edge totally creeped me out (in a good way). Narrators Ari Fliakos and Julia Whelan are perfectly cast as Tate and Wren—another brilliant pairing you’ll absolutely fall in love with. Listen now, and watch the movie next year!

Check-in to your next listening obsession

Wendy Walker has done it again! She’s given us not one, not two, but three fantastic unreliable narrators—my favorite kind—in this twisty thriller that grabbed me from the first chapter and never let go. Set in a small US coastal town, The Room Next Door starts with a bang. A couple having an affair in a hotel overhear a possible crime occur in the room next door. The investigation into what happens next cleverly ties into the unsolved disappearance of a young woman years before. Julia Whelan, Elizabeth Evans, and Bebe Wood lead a full cast of performers, giving voice to three best friends who once shared everything, until one of them went missing. Now, 15 years later, shocking new evidence surfaces that calls everything into question. Clear your calendar, because I guarantee you'll devour this in one sitting just like I did.

How to relate to others after trauma

Anna Runkle (a.k.a. the “Crappy Childhood Fairy”) offers adults with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) insights into why they struggle to form relationships and how to build new ones with confidence in her new audiobook, Connectability. With her signature soothing voice and empathetic storytelling, Runkle unpacks the challenges that survivors of repeated trauma face in interpersonal situations—such as loneliness, emotional dysregulation, and anxiety—and offers a path toward healthier bonding. In this how-to, listeners can expect to learn how to navigate conversations, identify red flags, and set boundaries. Connectability is a lifeline for anyone who, after surviving childhood trauma, has ever felt like they had trouble fitting in.

There oughta be a law

To start listening to John Grisham’s latest incredible legal thriller, I had to put a whole lot of things on hold. Like my weekend to-do list and my Sunday call to my mother (she was busy anyway). Yeah, it’s that good. Nothing like the trials and tribulations of a Southern US lawyer whose life seems to be going further south. It has all the “fixins”: plenty of money, dubious relatives, biscuits, bourbon, and a marriage also on the rocks. Narrator Michael Beck does an excellent job insinuating himself into every character, male and female. I admit to chuckling more than a couple of times. I wanted the story to go on and on, but I had to go back to my daily life—which isn’t all that bad, but this audiobook is all that good and then some

A walk down memory lane? Tidy.

I kept accidentally triggering the pause function while listening to this book because my earbuds thought I was speaking to someone. I wasn’t. I was gasping, laughing, crying. For any Gavin & Stacey fan who's seen the Fond Farewell documentary, you might think this is more of the same, but I can assure you, you're in for a treat. Though this is the audio version of the same book by Ruth Jones and James Corden, I honestly can't imagine reading it, since it's 100 percent conversational: peppered with clips from the show, readings from emails with friends and producers, and plenty of in-character impersonations. You get to tag along for their writing process and learn how they each faced the pressures of new-found fame. But above all else, this is an ode to friendship. The love between these two is just so palpable (Nessa would say “immense”), I feel grateful and privileged to be invited to listen in.

Climbing the ladder never looked so messy

I’ve always had a soft spot for ambitious-yet-flawed heroines, and Workhorse introduces us to one I'm sure I'll never forget. Clo is a fashion magazine assistant in early 2000s New York City, and she's trying to claw her way up in a world built for legacy hires with unspoken rules. She borrows; she schemes; and she becomes someone she barely recognizes in her quest to get ahead. I was hooked the whole way. When I saw Helen Laser’s name on this project, I actually clapped. No one performs complicated women like she does, and this character and story feels tailor-made for her. You’ll root for Clo, then regret it—but you won’t stop listening.