While with my girlfriends in Charlottesville last weekend, we were talking about Ann Patchett’s new book, Whistler, which seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue. I’m already loving it but am only 10% in. Inevitably, any conversation about Ann Patchett ends with effusive praise for the audiobook version of The Dutch House, which is narrated by Tom Hanks. The way he reads it is — as you might expect — absolutely perfect. Both comforting and authentic; he just lives in the character’s universe and his inflections are pitch-perfect. It’s hard to imagine anything enhancing a Patchett novel, but his narration does. It adds something to the text. It’s my top rec for an audiobook for a road trip whether you’re alone or with your spouse/significant other. If you’re foodies, Stanley Tucci’s memoir is fantastic car company, too. Light, effervescent, anecdotal. You will arrive at your destination hungry.
I was doing a little research for other audiobooks that might be a good fit for road trips and even air travel this summer, and I wound up picking my way across various Reddit threads on the topic. A couple of compelling titles that came up were Hail Mary by Andy Weir (I did see the movie and loved it; I know many people think the source text is even better) and Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, which I’d never heard of. It’s the true story of a World War II pilot who was shot down and taken as a prisoner of war. I don’t typically gravitate toward historical non-fiction but there were two really compelling details in the reviews I read on this Reddit thread: “One battle scene was so terrifying I thought I might drive off the road!” and “My wife hates roadtrips, but during Covid I put this on and drove from Southern California to Monterey and we listened to Unbroken. She asked for us to drive the Big Sur drive (3ish hours each way) TWICE just so she could keep listening to this book. I honestly think it’s the best biography every written.” Wow! Stirring reviews, aren’t they? I think both of these reads (generalizing wildly) will likely appeal to both men and women, too.
In turn, I wanted to come to the team: what are the best audiobooks you’ve listened to lately? And if I can be more specific, which would be best-suited to a summer road trip setting? For example, I love to listen to Alcott and Austen when I’m in the dentist’s chair (comfort listens) but might need something a bit more gripping while at the wheel.
Please share!
Post-Scripts.
+I need to update this list at some point, but my favorite audiobooks from years past are here. Candidly, I don’t listen to many audiobooks anymore. I simply can’t find a place for them in my current routines. When I’m looking for a listen, I tend to pull up Julia Louis Dreyfus’ podcast, Wiser Than Me, and that’s about it!
+I shared my top picks for buzzy reads for the summer here. If you’ve already torn through the list, two others that are picking up steam in terms of popularity: It Girl by Allison Pataki (“A sweeping, sensational novel of America’s first “It Girl,” whose dramatic journey to center stage echoes through the decades) and The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes (the first thriller I’ve felt pulled to read in several years).
+What are the best family vacation spots?
Shopping Break.
+Two insanely good new VB arrivals: this embroidered jacket and this gingham sundress. I find the tailoring on their dresses to be NEXT LEVEL good. They just make you look your best!
+The chicest beach chairs are 30% off. Buy now for your end of summer beach trip. Bundle with this amazing wicker cooler situation.
+Magpies are living in these under-$200 pants this summer.
+Favorite seasonal kitchen update: a runner (these stripes are also fantastic; use code JEN15 for 15% off) and new dish towels (<<these are the best; really low-profile so easy to store but very absorbent! Use code JEN for 15% off).
+This set is stunning. (Use code ASHA10).
+Last-minute gift ideas for father’s day: this striped hoodie, a terry polo, or a performance polo he can match with his son! (Landon owns all of these and loves them.)
+Love the boxy fit of this striped tee.
+For beachy summer hair. I also really like their root lift spray if you have fine hair and need a little volume — I use it at the crown of my hair.
+Summer work dress, under $80.
+Cute $25 blockprint pull-on shorts.
+Extremely cool crochet cover up.
+Marketed for teens but a really clever free-standing storage solution for makeup, accessories, etc!
+Obsessed with this shell mirror.
+Great addition to your play room.
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Going in a different direction here: I love summer for American history audiobooks, leaning into July 4. Edward Herrmann read a number of them- Richard Gilmore will read to you! – and then branch off into other biographies by the same authors. I made my way through (almost!) the whole David McCullough and John Meacham catalogs this way.
Love this rec – great idea! xx
Love this post because I listened to my first audio book this year. I went back and read your post from 2020 s well as all of the comments from today and put them into my phone notes. I have listened to and really enjoyed The Calamity Club by Katheine Stockett, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser, and The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick.
Amazing! Thanks for these! Calamity Club is getting a lot of press — thanks for that reminder!
xx
Another vote for Famesick. I am a big “Girls” fan and thought the first half of the book where she recounted the ideation, casting, and BTS of the show so fascinating. The second half was less compelling for me but worth a listen nonetheless!
Big big recommendation for Ina Gartens memoir. Endearing, entertaining, inspiring. I also loved Katie Courics. All 3 narrated by the authors!
Ooh, I’d forgotten about the Couric and Garten memoirs! SO charming to hear their stories in their own voices. OK, sounds like Dunham is back on the list for sure for me. Thanks for chiming in!
xx
In that vein, Bob Odenkirk’s and Fern Brady’s were both great!
I love Bob Odenkirk!! xx
I just started Vigil by George Saunders. I’m enjoying pairing it with the hardcopy novel when I have time. The impeccable Judy Greer narrates- can’t be beat.
Thanks, Isabel! That book is on my radar, too — great upvote 🙂
Of course I have to plug the Thursday Murder Club books on audio – especially the first few narrated by Leslie Manville. And Unbroken is ah-mazing! I read a hard copy and have given it as a gift to several people. Worth a read in any format! For something along similar lines, I listened to The Boys in the Boat on audio, and even though I knew the outcome of their Olympic race, I sat in the car (crying) to hear the end! The Flavia DeLuce series is great on audio, especially the first handful of books…she’s a little English girl post-WWII living in a decaying manor house with her dad and sisters and solving mysteries. While also being a budding chemist studying poisons. Jane Entwhistle is a great narrator (she also did Secrets at Sea which my girls really enjoyed).
Such a great list – thank you! Dogearing several of these titles!! xx
I am currently listening to the correspondent and loving it!!
Ooh, I’ve heard this was good on audio. Great add!
i’m raising all my hands in favor of Unbroken – i read it in hard copy and listened to the audiobook, both are superb user experiences because the story just defies understanding. i have been recently entranced by Michaeleen Doucleff’s latest book – Dopamine Kids – on audible. Her previous work, Hunt Gather Parent, changed my entire worldview on parenting. She reads the books herself and while she is an NPR science reporter, she also has a radio voice, so the science comes alive. For the kids, i think Carrie Hope Fletcher’s narration of Secret Garden is top notch (the yorkshire is amazing) and we’ve listened to the Ramona series on audiobook (narr by Stockard Channing who is PERFECT) and Wild Robot on audiobook more times than I can count.
OMG Ramona narrated by Stockard Channing?! IT’S TOO GOOD. We loved the Wild Robot movie — going to DL this for my kids now!!
xx
PS – thanks for the fervent upvote of Unbroken! Clearly a resume gap for me!
Oh my goodness, Unbroken is an absolutely gripping and incredible story. I couldn’t put it down. It’s been a long time since I read it, but the audiobook version will be a good excuse to get back into it.
I just got the hard copy of Hunt Gather Parent, and I’m intrigued by your description of the narration! (“science comes alive” — oooh!!!)
My personal favorite audiobooks for adults: Murderbot series by Martha Wells, Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, anything by Alexis Hall or KJ Charles, the saint of steel series by T Kingfisher, The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan
My kid picks: the Missy Piggle-Wiggle series, frog and toad as read by Arnold Lobel himself, the full cast recording of The Wind in the Willows, Howl’s Moving Castle, Artemis Fowl, anything by Bruce Coville for older kids
Ooo these are so good! I love the Frog and Toad — so soothing. Had totally forgotten about Miss Piggle Wiggle!! TYSM!
xx
Love Miss Piggle wiggle too, the original by Betty MacDonald ones, but the new Missy piggle wiggle series Ann M Martin wrote is great!
I hadn’t even heard of the distinction! TYSM!
These may not be appropriate for car rides with kids on board but I found the audiobook of “There are Rivers in the Sky” (Elif Shafak), “London Falling” (Patrick Radden Keefe), and “Dear Monica Lewinsky” (Julia Langbein) compelling recently. The Emma M. Lion novels are also quite lovely in audio.
I am in the painful process of stripping old paint off my staircase which might be on a similar level of drudgery as a long car drive and have therefore been consuming a lot of audiobooks. In full disclosure that has meant in addition to the above, quite a lot of spy novels specifically the entire Slough House series.
I love the idea of the Emma Lion series on tape! Thanks! Going to DL that for my flight to Norway!
What a great idea, to listen to audiobooks while stripping the paint! Now you’ll probably have a strong association between specific stairs and specific books 🙂
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I know that with kiddos onboard that some audiobooks may not be appropriate. But loved Famesick. Lena Dunham reads her memoir with incredible poignancy. Currently listening to David Sedaris’-The Land and its People. Highly recommend, as I feel like an audience member at one of his live shows. Also, Patrick Raddon Keefe’s Say Nothing is read by the most lovely Irish voiced man-captivating.
These are fantastic — actually, I’d been on the fence about reading the Dunham so this might push me in that direction. I love a memoir narrated by the author! Gives so much color and detail and intrigue…!
xx
I was recently reminded of some old favorite audiobooks–Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series, about a trailblazing woman archaeologist in Egypt. The books are a delight (the author WAS an Egyptologist, so every detail is right) and they are filled with mystery, murders, romance, and over-the-top adventure in a way many books try to do and very few get right. The narrator for this series is Barbara Rosenblat and she is PERFECT.
Ooo, this sounds fantastic! TYSM! xx