Hello, Audiophiles! During this hot South Carolina summer, I often find myself sitting on my back porch and watching the small touches of wildlife around me. Lizards crawl across the porch screen and jump from plant to tree and back. Gwen loves to boop the lizards from her side of the screen, if she can sneak up on them that is. Dylan takes over the second chair and proudly views his kingdom. While I love audiobooks, I think unplugging and just listening to nature is a beautiful way to slow down and enjoy the world around me.
This week, we are changing up the audiobook newsletter format! And don’t worry; there will still be Corgi photos. 🙂
Bookish Goods
Totoro Airpod 1,2,3 PRO Case Cover by Quirky Cute STUDIOS
I have several different pairs of headphones I switch out throughout the day. To tell them apart, I get cute little cases. I love Studio Ghibli, so this case is just a little piece of perfection. $21
New Releases
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey | Narrated by Xe Sands
Xe Sands performs this story about one of the creepiest houses you’ve ever heard of. When Vera’s mom asked her to come home, she does. But she finds a strange artist living out back in the guest house. And why does she keep finding notes in her father’s handwriting all around the house?
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia | Narrated by Gisela Chípe
Gisela Chípe performs Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s latest novel, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. The novel’s protagonist, Carlota Moreau, lives with her father on the Yucatán peninsula. Her father’s estate is filled with his experiments, a collection of half-human, half-beast hybrids. But when a visitor arrives, he triggers a series of events that will change Carlota Moreau’s life forever.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Since it’s Disability Pride Month, I wanted to share a couple of my all-time favorite audiobooks. In particular, I wanted to recommend a couple upbeat titles to highlight different kinds of disabled joy and witty humor.
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby | Narrated by the Author
Samantha Irby’s essays convey humor and heart in her signature strong narrative voice. So it’s no surprise that her audiobook narration is equally as excellent. We Are Never Meeting in Real Life was my introduction to Irby’s work, and I think for that reason, it’s still my favorite. Irby has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which, as someone who also has a colon from the pits of hell, I deeply relate to. Irby is also very playful in her writing. Much to my delight, one essay is a fake The Bachelor application, (I have been watching that show for far too long). I will forever listen to whatever audiobook Irby wants to put out next.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert | Narrated by Adjoa Andoh
Before I was familiar with Adjoa Andoh’s work as an actress, I became familiar with her work as an audiobook narrator. Andoh has an incredible talent for capturing the hilariously awkward stories that follow Talia Hibbert’s romance series Brown Sisters. In the first book in the series, we meet Chloe Brown, the oldest of the sisters, who has fibromyalgia and other chronic conditions. Chloe wants to live life on her own, away from her affluent parents, and moves into an apartment in a building that happens to have an incredibly attractive apartment manager. I love this couple as they navigate very real complications to their relationship. The other two books in the series are also just as wonderful, so definitely check them out if you love this one.
Libro.fm Podcast – Episode 03: “Interview with Kendra Winchester” – I was on Libro.fm’s new podcast! If your looking for a new audiobooks podcast, look no further! Libro.fm is doing great things.
AudioFile Magazine 30th Anniversary – Narrator Trailer – AudioFile put together this excellent clip of different narrators in honor of their 30th Anniversary. Congrats on the big milestone, AudioFile!
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That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE audiobook content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Happy listening, bookish friends!
~ Kendra