#SummerAtoZ kicks off in June which is also Audiobook Appreciation Month. If you’ve been reading the blog long enough, you know that we are big time listeners. Last year we shared 4 Books for (A)udiobook Appreciation Month and …. let’s make it a thing! Here’s 4 more audiobooks that we insist you try – because we’re pushy like that and we loved them hard!
The Rose Code, Kate Quinn | Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld
Length: 15hrs 40mins. “1940. As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.”
Can we all just accept that Kate Quinn is a BRILLIANT historical fiction writer?! I was completely immersed … more like submerged, and I only came up for food and water. This book came everywhere with me as I couldn’t leave behind the World of Bletchley Park and the 3 women recruited to work as female code breakers. Osla – the wealthy debutante; Mab – with the weight of her family on her shoulders; and Beth, whose mother is overbearing and makes her think she is dumb and worthless. Life before, during and after WWII is very different for each of these ladies and we get treated to the intimate details of their lives – their personal lives as well as what it’s like working for the wartime effort in secrecy.
The audiobook narrator was phenomenal at making each character distinct and brought out the characters and personalities. And there was so many, but between the writing and the narration, it was so easy to distinguish who was who.
Anxious People, Fredrik Backman | Narrated by: Marin Ireland
Length: 9 hrs 53 mins: “Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage.”
I’m resisting putting all my favorite audiobooks from last year on this list. And while they all absolutely should be listened to, I’m doing a special shout-out for Anxious People. It’ all about quirky characters and the thin line that can send us over the edge into bad decision making, complicated relationships and … well, it’s about messiness. Life is messy, people are messy, circumstances get messy and Backman delivers with a book that is well written, almost completely character driven (he’s so good at this), with humor and just have us rooting for giving someone a second chance. The audiobook narrator, Marin Ireland, gives each of the unique characters their own voice and impossibly made us feel their very essence.
The Hypnotist’s Love Story, Liane Moriarty | Narrated by Tamara Lovatt Smith
Length: 13hrs 5 mins. “Patrick’s ex-girlfriend is stalking him. His girlfriend, Ellen, a hypnotherapist, thinks … actually, that’s kind of interesting. She’s dating someone worth stalking. She’s intrigued by the woman’s motives. In fact, she’d even love to meet her. Ellen doesn’t know it, but she already has.”
In my opinion, listening to the audiobook of The Hypnotist’s Love Story, is better than reading the book. That contributed to why I love this book so much. This is another character driven novel – and I fell hard for all of them. They are all sort of syrupy sweet – so be warned … but I loved them all! This is the sort of easy, feel good read that’s perfect for a day when you just want to get lost in a book with a quirky main character that you’ll love.
Three Wishes, Liane Moriarty | Narrated by Heather Wilds
Length: 11 hrs 30 mins. “Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Whenever they’re together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow.”
The family dynamic in Three Wishes is quirky, weird and interesting to read. Nobody does characters like Moriarty and you’re guaranteed to wish you had met these 3 sisters in real life when you’re finished reading.
Have you read or listened to any of these books? Which audiobooks would you recommend we listen to this month?
// Comments //
Anne@HeadFullofBooks
I agree with you about Anxious People and the audiobook being so good.