by Ann Patchett
Narrated by Meryl Streep
Ann Patchett’s latest novel is clearly inspired by a deep love of the theatre and Thornton Wilder’s play, Our Town, in particular. Thus, getting Meryl Streep to narrate the audiobook would have been a good idea anyway, but there’s a thematic link that enhances the joyous, and a bit wistful, experience of the book.
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by Michael Cunningham
Narrated by Julianne Moore
Another dream team of writer and narrator! The elegant omniscience of Michael Cunningham’s prose is expertly matched by Julianne Moore’s exceptional narration. This combination of talents, like this book, is absolutely perfect.
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by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green
Narrated by Christine Baranski and Jesse Green
The “alarmingly outspoken” memoirs of the multi-talented Mary Rodgers came out late last year, but the audiobook followed later — and let me tell you, it was worth the wait! Christine Baranski is a perfect match for Rodgers and co-author (and New York Times theatre critic) Jesse Green’s narration of his footnotes is so wonderfully droll that he threatens to steal the scene every time he pops in. This was the most fun I had listening to a book this year, by far.
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by Britney Spears
Narrated by Michelle Williams
Did you think we’d leave an audiobook that went viral off the list? That’d be malpractice! The great Michelle Williams was given the intimidating task of channeling Britney imitating Justin at some of his worst moments. And she delivered.
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by Samantha Irby
Narrated by Samantha Irby
Finally, an audiobook not narrated by a star of stage and screen. Samantha Irby does write for the screen however, and the tale of the failed attempt to create a sitcom based on her life is one of the best essays in yet another hilarious collection. And Irby’s delivery makes every sentence funnier. This is why audiobooks were invented.
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by Naoise Dolan
Narrated by Ayoola Smart and Bert Seymour
This ensemble comedy about the impending, and very possibly ill-advised, nuptials of the title couple is a lot of fun, and it’s only made moreso by narrator Ayoola Smart, with well-timed additions from Bert Seymour. It’s smart and funny and all with a proper Irish dialect.
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by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Narrated by Shayna Small, Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch, and Lee Osorio
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s novel of dystopic gladiatorial combat among the incarcerated is asking a lot of its narrator: satire, thrills, and emotional grounding. Shayna Small — with skilled contributions from Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch, and Lee Osorio — more than delivers. This audiobook is impressive, to say the least.
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by McKay Coppins
Narrated by Jonathan Davis and McKay Coppins
I spent years as a nonfiction buyer, so I have, perhaps, a larger appetite for biographies of contemporary political figures than some, but this book has broader appeal than most entries in this genre. McKay Coppins’s extraordinary access to Romney allowed for a book that is filled with harsh judgements of other politicians, and of Romney himself. Veteran narrator Jonathan Davis is impressively skilled at finding the delicate balance needed to deliver an informative and entertaining narration of a nonfiction book.
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by Travis Baldree
Narrated by Travis Baldree
Like Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust is written (and read) by Travis Baldree, a professional audiobook narrator — and it shows. Both books and both performances are pure delights. Both are staff favorites, and Bookshops & Bonedust is proudly fulfilling its destiny to be on this list. I’m so delighted that I’m not even sweating the implications about my lack of free will.
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by Sigrid Nunez
Narrated by Hillary Huber
Speaking of dream teams, here’s my favorite audiobook narrator, Hilary Huber (seriously, check out her reading of Ferrante’s Neopolitan Quartet!), again paired with National Book Award–winning Nunez. This is their third collaboration, and although not a series, Nunez’s brilliant novels are linked thematically and Huber is an ideal choice to give them voice.
And in book form...