The Best Audiobooks of May 2025

The author of the Lincoln Lawyer series is back with an action-packed thriller following an exiled detective who stumbles across a case that could change everything. We were already excited about a new character in the Connelly universe, but when you add in award-winning narrator Will Damron to bring him to life. . .well, we knew we’d be listening to this in one sitting.  

Tension, romance, and mystery boiled into a tumultuous read that sees one teenager up against a whirlwind of emotions and life changes. All she wanted to do was move forward, but is that even an option anymore? Sloan Harlow’s debut (Everything We Never Said) was one of our previous Monthly Picks. If you loved it, chances are that you’ll also love her latest (just like we did), since it’s as dark and twisty as her first novel. We were also happy to see Ferdelle Capistrano & Steven Molony return on this duet narration.  

Bestselling author Riley Sager perfectly sums up this latest from Freida McFadden: “A relentless mix of secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping shocks. The queen of twists has done it again!” And if that doesn’t make you want to listen, what if we tell you that Will Damron is narrating, alongside celebrity narrator Christine Lakin? 

Newbery Medal-winning authors (and real-life friends) Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft team up for this ridiculous and hilarious adventure featuring two creative fifth graders who will stop at nothing to one-up each other. This is one where we recommend pairing the audiobook with the hardcover so you can follow along and take in the fantastic artwork throughout.  Sure, you could just read the book, but it’s a real treat to hear the two popular authors narrate this one.  

Whether this is your first time reading Joan Didion (welcome!) or your hundredth, this is an essential exploration of the human condition from an irreplaceable voice. Deeply personal yet objectively universal, it’s as much a lens into Didion’s life as it is an invitation to turn the scope inward on our own lives. An unexpected and unprecedented work from the incomparable author, this is read by acclaimed actress and author Julianne Moore. 

Very early in this memoir, acclaimed actor Jeremy Renner makes it very clear that he did not want to write this book.  And who could blame him?  Who would want to revisit a near-fatal incident and the pain and difficult recovery that followed.  This is exactly the type of book that is perfect as an audiobook because you truly get to hear this gripping story right from the source (it also includes excerpts from the 911 call on the day of the accident). Renner held our attention from the moment we hit play as he recounted every detail. 

A man who spent nearly his entire professional life winning is here to tell you—and in his own voice—how to follow suit. Whether you’re preparing for a job interview or planning for a debate, no one knows how to get the job done like Bill Belichick. 

You become the best you can be by learning from others. That is how bowhunter and ultramarathoner Cameron Hanes approaches each day in his pursuit of greatness in this essential guide to finding success. In Endure, Hanes demonstrated how to push beyond your physical limits to improve yourself. In Undeniable, Hanes brings together outliers of today—men and women who are experts in their field—to share their unique and motivating perspectives on reaching the pinnacle of success and remaining there. 

When you travel through a new country, you need a guidebook. When you travel through love, heartbreak, joy, parenting, friendship, uncertainty, aging, grief, new beginnings—life—you need a guidebook, too. Bestselling authors and award-winning podcasters Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle created and narrate We Can Do Hard Things—the guidebook for being alive—to help fellow travelers find their way through life. 

Taking a nuanced look at how the 2024 election came to pass, this insightful lens into the monumental choice made by Biden and the aftermath that followed is exacting. No matter your political leanings, this is a fascinating assessment of the American sociopolitical landscape. Co-author and CNN broadcast journalist Jake Tapper narrates.