Best Audiobooks of 2024

This book has garnered rave reviews from everywhere since its release, including being shortlisted for the 2024 National Book Award and Booker Prize. The audiobook edition amps up the accolades because it is an extraordinary listening experience. In this reimagining of the American classic, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, actor Dominic Hoffman sounds exactly like you think Huck’s companion, James (not Jim) should sound, even though you probably never thought about that before now. Hoffman doesn’t just read or even perform Percival Everett’s words—he becomes them. As this novel becomes a “classic” itself, which it surely will, so, too, should Hoffman’s narration. 

Al Pacino’s life is massive in scope—from Michael Corleone to Tony Montana. Narrated by the man himself, Pacino takes on the task of telling it all, from the origin of his inspiration to the man he is now. Before he gets into it, Pacino remarks, “I have written a memoir I thought I never would.” And kindly proclaims, “I hope you have a good time, and I thank you for your interest.” Oh yes, we had a good time, Mr. Pacino. 

This Earphones Award winner is audio theater at its mesmerizing best. Playwright and narrator Barrie Kreinik adapted this audiobook original from her stage play about the life of Eva Le Gallienne (1899-1991), a 20^th-century director, writer, producer, theater founder, and star of the stage, who fiercely embraced her identity as a lesbian. Recorded in a single live session, this sounds like a radio play, with five actors convincingly playing multiple roles and a 360-degree sound design that re-creates 1930s New York City.  

From Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe, Tress of the Emerald Sea is a cozy standalone, now adapted with a full cast of 20 and cinematic music to create a truly immersive listening experience. With a great sense of humor and lovable characters, a comparison to The Princess Bride is well-placed. 

This oral history of June 6, 1944, was made to be heard. The author and 20+ additional narrators give voice to over 700 D-Day participants, from those who planned the logistics or waded onto the Normandy beaches, to those who descended in parachutes or took care of the walking wounded, and many, many more. It notably includes good representation of long-overlooked women and Black soldiers, as well as actual recordings of Winston Churchill and Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Reagan. In an ocean of other academic, literary, and cinematic studies of D-Day, this audiobook stands out for its focus on the words and memories of a broad scope of those who were there. 

English actor Samuel West (winner of multiple Earphones Awards, including for this audiobook) perfectly brings Rundell’s new classic to life. Impossible Creatures weaves all your favorite mythical creatures into one deeply moving portal fantasy. It’s an unparalleled adventure through a magical world, where even a couple of kids can save the world and everyone they hold dear. Extra special: this audiobook edition includes a downloadable Bestiary PDF, as well as drawings for each beast. 

The truly one-of-a-kind life story of Cher, told by the superstar herself, traces Cherilyn Sarkasian from her humble origins to the remarkable heights she’s reached and everything in between. It’s honest, authentic, and incredible. Who better to narrate this intimate memoir than Cher herself? She is joined by Stephanie J. Block, the Tony Award-winning actress who portrayed Cher on the Broadway stage. This is just part one—we anticipate part two will earn a spot on one of our future “best” lists. 

This gripping family saga follows seven generations of a Native American family from the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 to the present day. It is part prequel and part sequel to Tommy Orange’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist There There, and both novels force a painful reckoning with America’s efforts to strip Native Americans of their land, culture, and identity. The richly layered committed performances of the large cast reinforce the sweeping nature of Orange’s powerful storytelling. 

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins gifts us a new collection of poems focused on the joys and mysteries of daily life. In a year and era when there seems to be nonstop “breaking” news every day, Collins slows down the pace and turns down the volume to focus on the common, the familiar, and even the mundane. He elevates the ordinary, showing delight, amusement, and discovery in everyday objects and happenings. The real reward of the audiobook version is Collins’s conversational and melodic narration, capable of being silly, profound, quizzical, and more in the space of a single poem. 

A playful and poignant rom-com centered on a breakup and the forced proximity that follows, The Pairing is fun and full of heart. Emma Galvin and Max Meyers narrate Theo and Kit with such compassion and earnestness that it’s easy to root for these flawed individuals to find their HEA. Bonus points to Casey McQuiston for making a vocal appearance at the start of each chapter. 

From horror maestro Paul Tremblay, Horror Movie is another shimmering story built on the precariousness of not knowing. Akin to “theater of the mind,” and narrated by a full cast with additional background sound effects that enhance the “cursed film” genre, it’s an unsettling spiral into true terror. 

Just when we thought we’d heard the extent of Dion Graham’s skills, he performs a middle grade novel as if it’s a one-man stage drama. The shifting points of view between 107-year-old Josey Kravitz and 12-year-old Alex are masterfully handled. Graham seamlessly blends this cast of characters from a wide range of ages and ethnicities with ease and authenticity—creating an ensemble experience all on his own. It’s a heartwarming tale, perfect for the whole family to enjoy together. 

This is a celebrity memoir but also so much more. After Lisa Marie Presley died unexpectedly in 2023 at the age of 54, her eldest daughter, actress Riley Keough, listened to recorded tapes her mother had made in preparation for an autobiography. Desperately wanting the public to understand Elvis’s only child as a “three-dimensional character,” Keough merged those recordings and her own memories of her mom into one manuscript, which is part Lisa Marie’s candid account of her fascinating life and part poignant mother-daughter duet. Keough’s reading is heartbreakingly beautiful in its raw sadness. Actress Julia Roberts takes on the parts Keough couldn’t—Lisa Marie’s own words, always grounding them in Presley’s intentions, and there are also several clips of Lisa Marie herself. This is a painful but enriching listen built on a mother and daughter’s grief and love.