Author: Kendra Winchester

As soon as this audiobook hit my audiobook app, I dropped everything to listen to it. From the moment I saw Viola Davis on screen, I was mesmerized by her performance. She quickly became one of my favorite actors. She possesses an incredible ability to get under the skin of her characters, understanding everything that makes them who they are.

Finding Me begins with Davis’s childhood in Rhode Island. She and her family lived in a run down apartment. Economical disadvantage, combined with her father’s violent outbursts and alcoholism, created a very unstable home life for her. She describes the child she was and the determination she had to make something of herself.

When she found acting as a child, she began to blossom. She worked hard to get to college, eventually attending Juilliard. But as a dark-skinned Black woman, Davis chafed against the very white-centered classical training she received. She pushes back against the racist idea that the “proper” way to do things was to focus on white characters and experiences.

When she entered the professional acting world, Davis had an uphill battle pushing back against colorism and feedback that she wasn’t “the right kind of pretty.” But then she gets some hard-earned lucky breaks and ends up on broadway.

Davis is one of the best actors I’ve ever had the privilege to watch, and her performance reflects that. As she describes her early childhood, you can hear the raw emotions in her voice as she tells her story. I hung on every moment.

If you want a preview of what Finding Me is like, Davis sat down with Oprah for a special on Netflix. There, Davis describes some highlights from the book.

Nora has an incredible career as a literary agent, living her best life in New York City. When Libby, her sister who is seven months pregnant, asks her to go on a vacation to small-town North Carolina, Nora reluctantly agrees. But her entire vacation plans are thrown off kilter when she runs into Charlie, her New York nemesis.

I’m a sucker for books about the book industry. But even more, I love grumpy characters in romance novels, and Book Lovers follows two very grumpy people falling in love. Nora constantly resists the trope of the big city girl who falls in love with the small town guy. She just wants to get through this vacation and go home to the city. But Charlie ends up working with her on a book, meaning she has to spend time with one of the men she likes the least. And when she learns he’s actually from this tiny town in North Carolina, well, that’s just perfect isn’t it?

As the listener experiencing every single moment of this novel, yes, it is wonderful. I love watching two city people fall in love in my neck of the woods. The contrast is perfection. And while I’ve listened to a lot of witty banter in romance novels, Julia Whelan performs the dialogue perfectly. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire book. I guess that’s just the magic of a great novel finding the perfect narrator.

Narrated by Julia Whelan

A month before her graduation Chloe kisses Shara Wheeler. When Shara vanishes after they kiss, Chloe decides to try to find Shara. But as she investigates, she realizes that she isn’t the only one to kiss Shara. As the mystery unfolds, Chloe finds herself chasing clues into unusual places.

Narrated by Natalie Naudus

It’s the 1920s, and Benjamin and Helen Rask are at the top of their game. He’s a Wall Street tycoon and she’s got the well-known family name. Together, they are taking New York by storm. But a question starts circulating: how did they make their fortune? As rumors start circulating, the Rasks must navigate a high-stakes game of the New York elite.

Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Jonathan Davis, Mozhan Marnò, and Orlagh Cassidy

Charlie Hall lives in an alternative world where people can manipulate their shadows, creating a sinister underworld. Charlie wants nothing to do with her old life stealing things for the criminal elite, but when she finds herself backed into a corner, Charlie decides to do one last job before she retires for good.

Narrated by Sara Amini

Only Ali Smith could write a quartet with five books, but I’m here for it. While this novel stands apart from the quartet, it still possesses the timely nature of the other four books. Smith’s prose, per usual, is incredible. I love the way her writing just flows in this beautiful way.

Narrated by Natalie Simpson

Look, I will read anything that Jasmine Guillory writes. This time around she’s writing a standalone novel about Isabelle, a Black woman working in publishing determined to make her mark in the industry. So when she hears that one of her boss’s clients is about to miss his manuscript deadline, she decides to go to his house and collect. 

Narrated by Sarah Hollis

Rick Riordan presents Daniel José Older’s latest fantasy novel. It focuses on Mateo Matisse, whose island homeland disappeared. Now he and the other members of his community move to Brooklyn, creating their own neighborhood. Mateo becomes determined to find out why  he had to flee his island, and to take down whoever caused such a horrible disaster in his community.

Narrated by Lee Osorio

The moment I heard Pamela Paul interview Dr. Imani Perry on the New York Times Book Review Podcast, I knew I needed to listen to South to America. This book meanders its way through the South, touching on different locations around the region. Each chapter focuses on a different location, usually a city or general area, and Perry shares some of its history with her readers.

Perry asks her audience to approach the South from a more nuanced point of view, to investigate our preconceived notions, and to examine the things non-Southerners typically assume to be true in American history. Perry’s love for the South comes through in every chapter. She centers and celebrates Black Southern culture while also making the point that for the South to make positive change, white Southerners need to be prepared to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

As a Black woman with Southern roots, Perry’s journey through the South is deeply personal to her and she brings her readers along for the ride. Perry is an excellent tour guide, unafraid to confront the South’s obvious racist history as well as the more complex American narratives that proclaim the South as the root of all of the country’s ills.

As a long-time South Carolina resident, I recognized the ebb and flow of Perry’s audiobook narration. Her sentences and paragraphs blend together to create rhythm reminiscent of many Southern accents, and her approach to different topics feels more like an even paced meander through her subjects, not a precise rush to get to her points. You can hear the dialect in her voice, the way she says place names, and turns of phrases she uses. It all drips with the South in the most wonderful way.

Narrated by the Author

Viola Davis is one of my favorite actors, so when I heard she had a memoir and that she narrates the audiobook, I immediately put it on my “drop everything and listen” TBR. This memoir covers Davis’s childhood in Rhode Island and her introduction to acting. If you want a long trailer of sorts, be sure to check out the special on Netflix where Oprah interviews Viola Davis about the memoir.

Narrated by the Author

From the moment I heard about it, I knew I had to read Anjali Enjeti’s essay collection Southbound. But while the print edition came out in 2021,  it wasn’t released as an audiobook until April of this year. In Southbound, Enjeti shares her experience growing up in the deep south as a South Asian girl during the 80s and 90s. She performs the audiobook herself.

Narrated by the Author

In Kaikeyi, Vaishnavi Patel retells the queen’s story from the Indian epic the Ramayana. Kaikeyi grows up as a princess, but she feels stifled. She searches for new ways to gain her independence, and she finds it in magic. In her Instagram stories, Roshani Chokshi says that this was the book she was always looking for as a kid. Now it’s here!

Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Merit feels that her entire existence is focused around her husband and her two kids. While she loves them, she wants to carve a space out for herself. So she goes back to work at an architecture firm and meets Jane. The two women immediately hit it off, and Merit begins to feel her love life quickly becoming… complicated.

Narrated by Marin Ireland

Zia finds a magical dictionary. After her world seems to be changing way too fast, Zia decides to start erasing words out of the dictionary. But the results aren’t exactly what she was looking for. Full of the complex feelings that come when a tween’s world seems out of their control, Zia Erases the World is a heartwarming story of kids learning how to change and how to adjust to the changes around you.

Narrated by Cassandra Morris

Every time I start a new poetry collection on audio narrated by the author, I find myself holding my breath. I know I’m about to start something truly special. And Ocean Vuong is one of the best. I often see folks on the corners of the internet bemoaning the fact that you can’t see the use of form and white space on audio editions of poetry. While this can be an issue, you can use the text along with the audio, if that’s something you have access to. But to me, the greater tragedy is missing out on listening to poets read their poetry.

Ocean Vuong’s narration is full of emotional depth, using pauses, adjustment in volume, and rhythm to communicate his work to the listener. He portrays angst, longing, and grief, sometimes all in a single sentence. His poems are tight: not a word out of place. Time after time, he gives listeners concrete images to go with his ideas, making each poem feel fully rounded, complete.

Time Is a Mother was written after the passing of Vuong’s mother, a woman his readers will recognize from his previous work. This loss informs these poems, as each piece is rife with emotional loss. Conversely, this collection is full of hopefulness, particularly when Vuong writes about his longtime partner, Peter. Full of bittersweet stanzas and impeccable use of language, Time Is a Mother is an audiobook you won’t want to miss.

For the last several years, I’ve looked forward to spring when the latest Aru Shah book will come out and I can savor each new adventure. Aru is a reincarnation of one of the Pandava brothers from Hindu mythology. As she goes on her different adventures, she meets the reincarnations of the other four Pandava brothers, but this time around, they are all girls. Aru and her soul sisters are tasked with defeating The Sleeper, a malicious enemy determined to find the Nectar of Immortality, and end/rule the world.

I don’t want to spoil the fifth book for you, but let’s just say the book’s ending is incredibly satisfying. There’s something special about listening to this series with the same narrator all the way through, which is how I prefer to listen to my series. Keeping the same narrator with the same series (particularly a series from the same character’s perspective) helps the books sound cohesive and the characters’ voices remain the same, like you are returning to visit old friends. In this case, Soneela Nankani is with you every step of the way. The first Aru book, Aru Shah and the End of Time, was the first time that I remember truly falling in love with Nankani’s narration. She has this way of capturing the protagonist’s narrative voice that really grabs my attention.

For the longest time, I wasn’t sure I’d be ready to say goodbye to Aru and her sisters. I loved everything about Aru, her nerdy references and truly clumsy moments. With every book, I watched her learn and grow older. It was almost like I was a silent 6th sister in her adventures. From what I’ve seen online, middle graders felt the same. To me, that is the most important: kids in the target audience should be able to connect and relate to the story.

Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Visit from the Goon Squad received much acclaim when it came out several years ago. Now Jennifer Egan is back with a companion novel, which you can read on its own or as a follow up to Goon Squad. BUT The Candy House received the royal treatment, audiobook wise, and is narrated by a full cast. Ah! Can’t wait!

Narrated by a Full Cast

I just finished listening to Ocean Vuong narrate his latest poetry collection on audio. Ugh, it’s so incredibly beautiful, and there’s nothing like listening to a poet narrate his work. Time Is a Mother was written after Vuong’s mother passed away, and it’s full of longing for the person he loved most.

Narrated by Ocean Vuong (On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong)

I ADORED The Astonishing Color of After, so I’ve been waiting SO LONG to listen to this one. An Arrow to the Moon is Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology, which is 100% in my wheelhouse.

Narrated by Natalie Naudus, Shawn K. Jain, and David Shih (Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum, Golden Boys by Phil Stamper, and No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai)

This heartrending memoir follows Delia Ephron after the death of both her sister and her husband. She meets a new romantic interest, but is shortly thereafter diagnosed with cancer. Full of heart from someone facing the complex reality of life, Left on Tenth is a beautiful memoir.

Narrated by Delia Ephron

I loved Annie Hartnett’s debut novel, Rabbit Cake, so I’ve been waiting on Unlikely Animals for years. But it’s well worth it! Emma Starling is a med student who’s faced with caring for her father while he’s experiencing a deteriorating brain disease.

Narrated by Mark Bramhall and Kirby Heyborne (Nine Lives by Peter Swanson and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn)

This novel follows Ayosa, a wandering spirit who feels incredibly alone. But when she meets someone new, she finds herself caught between the world of the living and her own. Full of the complex contradictions that is life, Things They Lost is sure to tug on your heartstrings.

Narrated by Christel Mutombo

June lives with her family in a homeless shelter called Huey House. But she’s not allowed to bring her beloved viola. Determined to change things for other kids like her, June pushes back, trying to make a better place for her and the other residents of Huey House.

Narrated by Sura Siu and Preston Butler III

In one of my favorite middle grade series, Roshani Chokshi has told us the story of Aru Shah and her sisters as they try to save the world from the Sleeper. Now the final book is here, and my heart is not ready.

Narrated by Soneela Nankani

The author of the smash hit sensation Station Eleven is back with another novel. Like many of her other novels, Sea of Tranquility is told over the course of several different sections that take place over the course of a long period of time. I love this episodic type of novel and can’t wait to listen to it!

Narrated by John Lee, Dylan Moore, Arthur Morey, and Kirsten Potter

I’ve had this audiobook pre-ordered for months. I love listening to Jason as he moves through this world of monsters in a video game-like environment. This is Vol 5 of the bind up of the serial story, so not exactly a novel. But definitely still lots of fun.

Narrated by Heath Miller

Memphis follows three generations of Southern Black women. Joan is an artist, and finds comfort in painting portraits of people from her community in the city. As we meet more of her family members, we begin to understand the past Joan is trying to forget and the future that she’s trying to make.

Narrated by Karen Murray, Adenrele Ojo, and Tara Stringfellow

The moment this audiobook landed in my audiobook app, I dropped everything I was doing to listen. Like many Americans, I discovered Hannah Gadsby via her comedy special Nanette. The moment I finished watching Nanette, I started frantically googling, hoping to find out more about this incredible comic. When her memoir was announced, I immediately wrote it down with all of the underlines, arrows, and bolded print. I needed this book.

As an audiobook lover, I knew this was a must-listen memoir. Gadsby narrates her memoir, describing her childhood in Tasmania. Growing up as a queer, neurodivergent child made navigating the world incredibly complicated for her. At the time, she and her family didn’t know that she has Autism Spectrum Disorder, they just knew she was different.

In her late 20s, Gadsby discovered that she had a knack for stand up comedy, and slowly the world unfurled before her, giving her opportunities that she never imagined. After a decade in comedy, Gadsby began crafting the show Nanette.

There’s nothing like listening to an author narrate their memoir. Of course, her comedic timing is perfect. And as a neurodivergent person, I appreciated hearing about Gadsby’s story of trying to find a diagnosis later in life. When your brain views the world differently, you can often feel adrift, too different to matter. Gadsby captures those feelings so beautifully in Ten Steps to Nanette.

Performed by the Author

Alex Welch-Peters has put everything on the line for his scientific research. He believes that his super-algae can reverse the effects of climate change. When a tech company offers to fund his research he agrees, but there’s a catch: his new lab is going to be in space.

Narrated by Xe Sands

The Aunties from Dial A for Aunties are back. Meddy Chan’s day has finally arrived! After attending countless weddings, it’s finally time for her to have her own. But when the mafia plan to use her wedding as a cover for some sketchy deals, Meddy’s aunties swoop in to help keep Meddy’s special day drama free.

Narrated by Risa Mei

From the creator of the podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me comes a book about having difficult conversations. It’s part guide and part personal story, giving listeners a range of ideas for having more hard conversations with the people in their lives.

Narrated by Dylan Marron

Annie Mason has no desire for any sort of magic in her life. After magic ruined her life, she never wants it in her life again. But on the island she now calls home, magic lies in wait, biding its time until it can make its appearance—again.

Narrated by Marisa Calin, Gemma Dawson, and Ralph Lister

When I read Peng Shepherd’s first novel, The Book of M, I found myself swept into a world where people’s shadows disappear and then they lose their memories. The novel felt gloriously messy and all engrossing. So when I heard Shepherd’s second book was coming out in 2022, I immediately marked it as one of my most anticipated novels of the year.

The Cartographers begins when Nell’s father, a prestigious cartographer at the New York Public Library, dies, leaving behind a disheveled office, which makes Nell believe there was foul play. As she looks around at his papers, she finds a secret compartment in his desk holding what seems to be a worthless map with a mysterious symbol on it. From there, Nell is thrown into a part of her father’s life that she never knew existed. There are secret societies, missing towns, and a mysterious figure haunting Nell’s every step.

All-star narrator Emily Woo Zeller performs the audiobook when we’re in Nell’s perspective. She captures the emotions of the protagonist with precision. Whenever we enter the perspective of a new character, a different narrator performs that chapter, giving each perspective a unique feel. Each narrator fits their character perfectly.

As I listened to this adventure story, I loved following clues to discover the truth that’s always lingering at the edges of Nell’s life. While the book’s vibe is incredibly different from The Book of M, The Cartographers reminds me of a story that’s made for television, fast paced and intriguing with all of its twists and turns.

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, and Brittany Pressley

In a town with few trans people, Aaron and Oliver, two young trans men, have always had each other. But when Aaron moves away, they both feel so much more alone. They find solace in looking into American history, trying to find more people like them in America’s past.

Ingrid Yang is an exhausted PhD student trying to finish her dissertation on poet Xiao-Wen. And after it’s done, she never wants to think about Xiao-Wen again. But as her time as a grad student comes to an end, Ingrid begins to wonder if it’s been worth it.

With library budgets shrinking, libraries are in danger of becoming an endangered institution. Amanda Oliver discusses the history of libraries in America, and the many services they provide. Using her own experience as a librarian, Oliver gives listeners an incredible portrait of one of America’s most beloved institutions.

A master forger, said to be a woman, becomes notorious in Buenos Aires for her forgeries of the work by painter Mariette Lydis. Lydis is known for her portraits  of well to do Argentinians. When an art critic becomes determined to find the forger and to learn more about what drives her to imitate the art of others, the chase is on.

Savvy Sheldon is obsessed with house renovation shows, so when she finally realizes that her life is a hot mess, she decides to renovate her life. Savvy starts by renovating her kitchen and her body, determined to become a healthier version of herself. But then she keeps running into a handsome stranger. Will he fit into her new plans for her life?

As someone with a disabling chronic illness, I spend my days managing my health. So I wasn’t sure I wanted to listen to a book about it. But while books about chronic illness can bring back some of my least favorite memories, I still desperately want to feel that I’m not alone. And Meghan O’Rourke books feel like she’s taking my hand and saying, “I see you.”

Meghan O’Rourke begins her book with her story of living with chronic illness, describing her deterioration over the years. From there, she shares her experience visiting different doctors searching for a diagnosis. Interspersed with the memoir portions of the book, O’Rourke includes research on different aspects of chronic illness. She weaves these two parts together, showing both the medical and the personal parts of living with a chronic illness.

As we share similar stories, I expected to be overwhelmed by The Invisible Kingdom. But while I could deeply relate to her story, I felt encouraged. I wasn’t the only person experiencing the never-ending parade before doctors, hoping that this will finally be THE ONE who will be able to help. Millions of people are going through this just like me.

That’s why books like this are incredibly important. They don’t just educate people about the lives of the chronically ill. They also help sick people, like me, to be seen.

Narrated by the author

Amani, a divorced poet, is looking forward to returning to Jordan with her father for the King’s birthday. To celebrate his special day, the king has ordered a fencing tournament and wants Amani’s father to participate. Amani begins to learn more about her father’s mysterious past as new secrets come to light.

Narrated by Rasha Zamamiri

With this poetry collection, Harold Green III celebrates Black women, highlighting the creators and innovators of our time. Green reflects on Black women’s achievements and how they’ve influenced contemporary society. He also reads the collection, and there’s nothing like a poet reading his own collection.

Narrated by the author

Naomi is struggling to write her novel. In the meantime, she works as a bookseller to pay the bills. But when her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend, Rosemary, enters her life, she wonders what they might have in common. What begins as some casual stalking on social media quickly turns into something more nefarious as Naomi begins a friendship with Rosemary based on false pretenses.

Narrated by Kristen Sieh

In this multigenerational family saga, we follow a family across the decades. Beginning in 1938, Meilein flees across China with her son to escape the Japanese invasion. Her son, Henry, settles in America and avoids talking about his past with his family. But his daughter, Lily, is desperate to learn about her family’s past.

Narrated by Eugenia Low

Peng Shepherd, the author of the much-beloved The Book of M is back with her second novel, The Cartographers. Nell Young inherited her love of maps from her father. When he’s found dead in his office, she finds an old map in his desk that at first she thinks is worthless–just another one of her dad’s papers. But with a little digging, she discovers that it’s actually a very rare map. In fact, it’s so rare, people would kill to have it.

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, Brittany Pressley

With its unique blend of fantasy and myth, Vagabonds! follow characters living at the edges of Nigerian society. Their lives intersect and intertwine, weaving together a complex story until their fates all converge into a single event that changes them all forever.

Narrated by Arit Okpo, Atta Otigba, Eloghosa Osunde, Ifeyinwa Unachukwu, Obongjayar, Sheila Chukwulozie

From the first hour of the audiobook, I knew I was listening to a new favorite book. The Sentence begins when Tookie is sent to prison. When she gets out, she marries the love of her life and starts working at a bookstore in the twin cities. One of Tookie’s most annoying customers has to be Flora, a white woman who claims Indigenous ancestry. In her role as a Native American wannabe, Flora constantly inserts herself into the lives of the Native folks around her. So when Flora dies, Tookie isn’t surprised that Flora’s spirit refuses to leave the bookstore.

The majority of The Sentence covers an entire year of Tookie’s life. From late 2019 to late 2020, Tookie and her friends at the bookstore come face to face with the challenges of the pandemic as Flora’s ghost continues to cause havoc in the store.

Louise Erdrich creates an intimate setting that draws you into her story from the first few pages. As a book lover, I’m a sucker for any novel set in a bookstore or library. Add in a sinister spirit looming in the background and you have an excellent atmosphere for Erdrich’s story.

But Erdrich doesn’t stop at a simple ghost story. She examines what it was like for an Indigenous-owned business to survive the pandemic, discusses contemporary issues around colonialism, and examines who gets to tell their own stories.

I adored this novel so much—I finished the entire audiobook in one day! Erdrich performs the audiobook, voicing her characters as she heard them in her head. Erdrich is an incredible narrator, and I love that she reads most of her audiobooks.

The author of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, the Man Booker Finalist, is back with her latest novel, Booth, which follows the life of John Wilkes Booth. From his parent’s early days living outside of Baltimore to that fateful night at the theater, listeners follow the life of the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

Narrated by January LaVoy

Bestselling fiction author Amy Bloom has a different story to tell this time: her own. When her husband is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Bloom’s world is upside down. Examining her experience as a caregiver, Bloom asks difficult questions about caring for a disabled spouse. As her husband’s disease deteriorates, Bloom and her husband begin to discuss his options and what dying with dignity means to him.

Narrated by the Author

From the much acclaimed author of The Rib King, The Last Suspicious Holdout features twelve short stories. These interweaving tales tell the stories of a Black community in Southern suburbia. Ladee Hubbard is a gem, ensuring that this collection will be one of the best of the year—you won’t want to miss this audiobook!

Narrated by Adenrele Ojo and JD Jackson

In this much-needed look at the environmentalist movement, Leah Thomas discusses the need for more activists to approach their work in environmentalism through an intersectional lens. She illustrates that Black, Indigenous, and other people of color bear the brunt of environmental injustice.

Narrated by Leah Thomas, Hayden Bishop, and Erin Walker

In this incredible anthology of Chinese science fiction and fantasy, nonbinary and female authors tell stories across the spectrum of some of my favorite genres. Translated from Chinese by Regina Kanyu Wang, The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories is a rich exploration of the fantastical and wondrous.

Narrated by Katharine Chin