Reese Witherspoon narrates Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman

The natural Southern accent of Louisiana-born superstar Reese Witherspoon is the heart behind this audio adaptation of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman. Drafted three years before Lee set it aside to focus on To Kill a Mockingbird, this novel features characters and storylines that many listeners will be quite familiar with. The story is again told by Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, now 26 and living in New York City, who is jolted when she returns to her hometown. Like Mockingbird, the story is driven by a judicial case and Scout’s lawyer father’s handling of that case. But don’t expect to hear the message of inclusivity and equality Atticus Finch espouses in Lee's beloved classic. In Watchman, it seems he might have regressed in his thoughts about justice and racism since the trial that first made him a household name in Maycomb, Alabama.

Maggie Gyllenhaal narrates Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar

Sylvia Plath, who was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1982, is well known for her confessional poetry, but The Bell Jar, her only full-length novel, is often considered her masterwork. Inspired in part by Plath’s lifelong struggle with both mental illness and the limitations of womanhood in mid-century America, this listen offers a raw, sometimes painful, look at the inner workings of a mind affected with major depression. Maggie Gyllenhaal is brilliant as the narrator; her performance is at turns lively, dull, and anguished as she follows troubled protagonist Esther Greenwood's ebb-and-flow while navigating the world around her. Gyllenhaal also lends her accomplished voice to Leo Tolstoy's celebrated story of doomed love, Anna Karenina. Her performance was recognized as Audible's Best of 2016, Classic. As Gyllenhaal shared: "I feel like performing this novel is one of the major accomplishments of my work life—it was so challenging and so deep, a real pleasure."

Nicole Kidman narrates Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse

To the Lighthouse, written by one of the world’s most acclaimed modernist authors, Virginia Woolf, is the story of a family’s seemingly insignificant vacations to the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Spanning more than 10 years, the narrative is told from the perspective of multiple characters, making the mood and tone shift frequently. The plot relies almost entirely on dialogue between characters, putting the focus of the novel on introspection over action. In 2003, Nicole Kidman won an Oscar for her lead role as Virginia Woolf in Stephen Daldry’s film, The Hours. Her narration of To the Lighthouse is a testament to her understanding of Woolf’s skillful prose and unique manner of presenting the inner struggles of her character.

Tom Hanks narrates The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Given his talents as an Academy Award-winning actor and bestselling author, it’s no surprise that Tom Hanks excels as a narrator. His emotional range, from childlike wonder to grown-up resentment, complements Ann Patchett’s intricate, intimate, heart-wrenching novel about family and forgiveness. Spanning five decades, The Dutch House centers on Maeve and Danny Conroy, siblings bound by abandonment, loss, and a shared obsession with their childhood home—a stunning mansion in the suburbs outside Philadelphia, which their father snapped up, fully furnished, at an estate sale. Danny, who is several years younger and protected by his strong yet vulnerable sister, tells their story, and Hanks captures his voice in all its bemusement, bitterness, and tenderness. Troubled families are Patchett’s specialty—and Hanks brings the complicated, confounding Conroys to life unforgettably.

Emma Thompson narrates Henry James’s The Turn of the Screw

Henry James's enigmatic tale has been sparking speculation and debate since its debut in 1898. Centered on a young governess entrusted with the care of two children at an isolated country estate, The Turn of the Screw is a classic work of both Gothic and horror fiction. It's also a psychological thriller, blurring the line between forces supernatural and delusional. The immensely talented Emma Thompson, an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy winner, brings out the human emotion and passion in James's exploration of life, death, evil, madness, and the unknown. Her performance will keep you riveted and leave you haunted.

Thandiwe Newton narrates Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre

Thandiwe Newton’s narration of Jane Eyre is a stunning testament to the power of a magnificent story paired with the perfect performer. The plot follows its heroine all the way from childhood to marriage in the English countryside, all composed in Charlotte Brontë's sprawling complex prose. Newton breezes through the Victorian storytelling, making the language digestible and the characters all the more relatable. Her deft narration of the complicated, multifaceted Jane is gorgeous—but it’s no surprise when you look at her resume. With roles in critically acclaimed films such as The Pursuit of Happyness and an adaption of Toni Morrison’s Beloved directed by Jonathan Demme, Newton is a masterful performer with an enviable skillset. Oh, and she also narrates an Audible exclusive, unabridged edition of Leo Tolstoy's epic War and Peace—clocking in at just over 60 hours.

Meryl Streep narrates Nora Ephron's Heartburn

Nora Ephron, screenwriter of rom-com favorites like When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle, made her literary debut with Heartburn. The novel follows the complications that arise when Rachel Samstat, at seven months pregnant, finds out that her husband is in love with another woman. Throughout the story, Rachel teeters between wanting to win her husband back and hoping for his untimely death. The one constant that remains is Rachel’s love of food and her belief that a good recipe can solve any problem. Heartburn is a hilarious, laugh-out-loud audiobook, made even better by the endearing narration of living legend Meryl Streep. Streep, who holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor, performs with the perfect combination of heartbreak, agony, and self-deprecating comedy.

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo narrate Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Oscar Wao, an overweight Dominican teenager living in New Jersey, has always dreamed of being the next J. R. R. Tolkien, but a multi-generational curse that’s followed his family for centuries is making his dream seem out of reach. Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao tracks Oscar’s struggles and triumphs, from falling in love to getting beat up in the streets. The Tony Award-winning actor and playwright behind hits like Hamilton and In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda becomes Oscar Wao, giving the listener a window into his deepest desires and fears. Miranda is joined by Karen Olivo, another Tony winner, who rounds out the love story at the core of this tender, funny tale.

Anne Hathaway narrates The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is so universally treasured that it’s actually recorded in the Library of Congress as "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." The classic follows Dorothy, a small-town girl from Kansas, who is swept up into a tornado that leaves her stranded in a new and strangely wonderful universe: Oz. Anne Hathaway’s audiobook performance puts the tale’s original beauty on display with her enchanting, dreamy retelling of Dorothy’s journey. Hathaway has captured the hearts of moviegoers in roles including Mia in The Princess Diaries, Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada, and Fantine in Les Misérables, a performance that won her an Academy Award. This listen showcases her exceptional narrative chops—her performance earned her an Audie Award nomination for Best Female Solo Narration in 2013, and it’s easy to understand why.

Rachel McAdams narrates Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery is a coming-of-age classic that shows how a rebellious outsider can bring a stagnant community together. Anne, a free-spirited orphan, is sent off to beautiful Green Gables when she is adopted by brother and sister duo Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. The story follows her path towards accepting the idiosyncrasies that make her special and the town’s acceptance of the important life lessons she has to offer. Rachel McAdams, a native Canadian like Montgomery and the book’s title character, narrates Anne with a youthful and fast-paced, yet eloquent voice. She is the perfect performer for bringing to life a fresh, energetic young woman with the drive to be taken seriously.

Tim Curry and a Full Cast narrate The Bad Beginning, Book One in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

The first in Lemony Snicket's 13-novel series, The Bad Beginning follows the lives of the orphaned Baudelaire siblings—Violet, Klaus, and Sunny—who are adopted by the story’s villain, the odious Count Olaf. It starts with a devastating fire, and the plot only gets more traumatic (and darkly humorous) from there. A Series of Unfortunate Events has inspired adaptations into video games, films, and a critically acclaimed Netflix series. But nothing shines quite like this audiobook, which has earned nominations for several Audie and Grammy Awards. Its lead narrator, English icon Tim Curry (of Clue, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and It fame), lends a voice that is in turns disturbing and entrancing as he teams up with a full cast of performers for a grim Gothic romp sure to leave you utterly transfixed.

Nick Offerman narrates Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

A natural storyteller in his own right, Nick Offerman brings his distinctive baritone and comic versatility to narrating Mark Twain's enduring classic. More than simply reading a story, the famed actor, comic, and carpenter delights in the hijinks of Tom—whom he lovingly refers to as a "great scam artist" and "true American hero"—while conveying the tenderness and care Twain invested in his characters. "Being paid to perform such a gratifying activity as reading Mark Twain aloud felt powerfully akin to Tom Sawyer hoodwinking other boys into paying him for the privilege of whitewashing a fence," says Offerman of the experience. Listen with an open mind and prepare to get swept up in the fun and excitement of boyhood along the Mississippi.

Scarlett Johansson narrates Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Filled with whimsical characters—the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, Humpty Dumpty, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Queen of Hearts—whose behavior baffles a curious little girl, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland remains beloved by children. Over the nearly 160 years since its original publication, the story has inspired numerous films (both animated and live action), TV shows, comic books, and video games while continuing to be deconstructed, reinterpreted, and debated by serious grownups. In her performance of Lewis Carroll's classic, actress Scarlett Johansson imbues each madcap character with a distinct voice and personality. Oh, and she embodies Alice to a T. Audible listener Laura raves, "Scarlett Johansson brings such incredible depth and wonderment to this timeless tale that this just may be my new favorite interpretation."

Phillipa Soo narrates The Comeback by Lily Chu

On top of her acclaimed talent for musical theater, Phillipa Soo—the original Eliza in Broadway's Hamilton—has a gift for romantic comedies. That gift shines in her performance of Lily Chu's The Comeback. Soo perfectly captures the romantic tension and all the well-drawn characters but especially the smart, driven, and conflicted Ariadne Hui. Intent on making partner at Toronto's most prestigious law firm and making her father proud, Ari doesn't have time for distractions—even if he's as gorgeous as her roommate's cousin, Choi Jihoon. Freshly arrived from Seoul to mend a broken heart, Jihoon is genuinely kind ... and kind of a mess. But when Ari falls for this captivating stranger, she isn't prepared to be thrust in the spotlight as the mystery woman on the arm of South Korean's hottest star.

Rosamund Pike narrates Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

Sense and Sensibility is Jane Austen’s first published novel, a gem that set the stage for the rest of the author’s successful career. It is the story of two sisters as they navigate the difficulties of womanhood in Georgian England. They hope to fall in love and find marriages worthy of society’s expectations, but, as one of the sisters says (and many listeners may agree!): "The more I know of the world, the more am I convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love." The perfect narrator for this classic, Rosamund Pike is a British actress perhaps best known for her leading role in David Fincher’s Gone Girl. She also played Jane Bennett in the 2005 film adaptation of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and narrates that audiobook as well. A bona fide Austen aficionado, Pike delivers the author’s words in a thoughtful, understanding tone, crafting a heartful and wholly believable performance.

Samira Wiley narrates Alice Walker's The Color Purple

Winner of a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, Alice Walker's The Color Purple has inspired a film, directed by Steven Spielberg and nominated for 11 Oscars, and a Broadway musical. Set in rural Georgia between 1910 and 1940, the novel, told through a series of letters, follows the coming of age and awakening of Celie, a Black woman who has been demeaned, abused, and oppressed her whole life. Ultimately, guided by three strong women, she finds her own voice and realizes that she deserves to be loved. An actress known for her roles in Orange Is the New Black and The Handmaid's Tale, Samira Wiley brings Celie's wrenching and ultimately uplifting journey to life with genuine emotion and heart. Audible listener Shannon raves, "Samira Wiley's performance is beyond engaging ... it is breathtaking."

Wil Wheaton narrates Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

In his 2011 bestseller Ready Play One, Ernest Cline creates a futuristic dystopian paragon. In the year 2044, the universe is plagued by a grim, lifeless existence. The only way to escape the over-encompassing tedium is by entering a virtual world that allows people to experience life on other planets and fictional realms, fall in love ... and search for a life-changing puzzle hidden somewhere inside the virtual universe. But when young Wade Watts unlocks this mystery, his life—virtual and otherwise—becomes a nightmare. Wil Wheaton, perhaps best known for his turn as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, narrates this fun, fast-paced listen appropriately, with evident excitement and increasing anxiety.

Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and a Full Cast narrate Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

How do we go on living when we know that everything we love must end? That's the timeless question at the heart of George Saunders's bold, imaginative novel about familial love and loss. Starting with a historical fact—President Abraham Lincoln's profound grief over the death of his beloved 11-year-old son— Lincoln in the Bardo focuses on Willie Lincoln, who, after succumbing to an illness, finds himself in a strange purgatory, where an array of ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, and grapple over his young soul. That monumental struggle in the spirit realm is brilliantly rendered by a 166-person cast, featuring award-winning actors and musicians, as well as Saunders himself. Led by Nick Offerman and David Sedaris, the notable voices include Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Bradley Whitford, Megan Mullally, Rainn Wilson, Kat Dennings, and Jeff Tweedy. The result is "a metaphysical masterpiece ... a tour de force of audiobook production" (Booklist) that won the 2018 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. What's more, this astounding listen will leave you thinking.

Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, and a Full Cast narrate Bram Stoker's Dracula

Bram Stoker’s classic vampire tale, Dracula is riveting in its own right, but the audiobook brings together a cast of award-winning narrators to make the listening experience even more thrilling. The large cast is especially beneficial because the story is told through a series of letters written (and voiced) by its many characters. Alan Cumming and Tim Curry, both Emmy Award-winning actors, voice Dr. Seward and Van Helsing, leading a full cast in a production that won the 2013 Audie Award for Multi-voiced Performance. Tim Curry’s chilling, ominous tone and eloquent delivery fit perfectly into a vampire story, while Alan Cumming voices Seward with a very fitting doctoral polished, slightly posh cadence. The contrast of these two performances underscores each actor’s embodiment of his character, highlighting their singular, masterful talents.

Richard Armitage narrates Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Framed as a detective story, Robert Louis Stevenson's chilling novella has become famous for its exploration of the interplay of good and evil—in fact, the phrase "Jekyl and Hyde" is now commonly used to describe an individual with a dual nature. In this Audible Original rendition, acclaimed British actor Richard Armitage underscores the classic's deeper themes while capturing the transformation of a man who has lost his better self to his monstrous alter ego. Audible listeners unequivocally praise his performance as "brilliant," "fantastic," and "powerhouse." To quote listener Dave: "His narration is the most delightful kind of wickedness and a pure win." If you only know about The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde from pop culture and pop psych references, give Armitage's reading a listen. We promise: you won't regret or soon forget it.

Stephen Fry narrates Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by British author Douglas Adams became an instant sensation when it was first broadcast as a radio comedy on BBC 4 in 1978. The story’s protagonist, Arthur Dent is taken by surprise when his friend Ford Prefect declares that the world is about to end, so they must leave the planet immediately. From there, the two enter into an intergalactic search for the answers to life’s most enigmatic questions, such as "What is the answer to life, the universe, and everything?" and "Where have all the ball-point pens gone?" Stephen Fry, who is one of the world’s most well-known voice actors and audio performers, narrates with the perfect dry, droll English humor that his fans have come to expect. Though the story has been adapted into films and a television series, it was originally created for radio, so listeners can be confident that audio is the best way to experience it.

Dan Stevens narrates Ian Fleming's Casino Royale

It’s hard to think of a fictional character as illustrious as British Secret Service agent James Bond, code name 007. He is the beloved, roguish sport you can count on to beat the bad guys and win the girl—and always do so in style, with unmatched wit and charm. In Casino Royale, the first in the series of Bond novels, author Ian Fleming illustrates 007 in one of his most gripping adventures as he must neutralize the Russian operative, Le Chiffre. Dan Stevens of Downton Abbey narrates the story with a captivating and seductive voice, channeling the same suave energy that made household names of the film-star Bonds before him. Stevens’s cool, slick performance gives Fleming’s spy classic an edgy, modern feel, making it perfect for any listener with a taste for espionage.

Michael C. Hall narrates Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's

Though widely known for its much-adored film adaptation starring the iconic Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany made its debut in 1958 as novella by Truman Capote. It’s the account of an unnamed writer’s relationship with his downstairs neighbor, Holly Golightly. Holly, the archetype of the American beauty, struggles with internal strife as she balances upon the pedestal she’s been placed on. Michael C. Hall, an actor known for his titular role on Dexter, displays an impressive understanding of the story’s narrator and the woman Capote attempts to sketch. Hall’s nuanced performance offers listeners a far less idealized window into Holly’s character, instead highlighting a thoughtful and subtle appreciation of her true self.

Michael Sheen narrates Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust

The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage is Philip Pullman’s first expansion on his beloved His Dark Material trilogy. It follows a young spy named Malcolm Polstead, whose family owns an inn on the banks of the River Thames in Oxford. When Polstead finds a secret message at the inn describing a dangerous substance called Dust, he decides to enter into the mystery. While BAFTA-winning actor Michael Sheen is widely known for roles such as Tony Blair in The Queen, William Masters in The Masters of Sex, and Aziraphale in Good Omens, his audiobook credits are also impressive. He has narrated almost 20 full-length novels and plays, ranging from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot, and he is a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. He brings that expertise to Pullman’s vivid, vast world, filling each word with a sense of wonder and intrigue.

Jake Gyllenhaal narrates F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal steps into the shoes of narrator Nick Carraway, voicing the often too-dreamy-to-be-real world of the wealthy and well-connected in a lush 1920s landscape. Though the story is told from Carraway’s point of view, it centers on the enthralling life of Mr. Jay Gatsby, and Gyllenhaal’s subtle yet captivating performance highlights both the glimmering surface of Gatsby’s life and the heartache, despair, and eventual tragedy that lurks beneath. He illustrates the people, places, and parties of West Egg with a voice that oozes refinement and style—a perfect complement to the grandeur of Gatsby’s story—while never losing sight of the morals and critiques Fitzgerald layered throughout.

James Franco narrates Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five

Slaughterhouse-Five is one of celebrated American author Kurt Vonnegut’s many satiric masterpieces. It starts with the bombing of Dresden, Germany, but from there, all sense of realism and chronology disappears. The story’s main character, Billy Pilgrim has the unfortunate fate of experiencing historical events in no particular order. Sometimes, he’s an actor in these events and other times, simply a witness—but they always seem to make his life a bit more chaotic. James Franco is an actor well-known for his ability to switch from comedy to drama, a valuable trait to wield while narrating a story like Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut is a master of burying deep psychological and sociological commentary into his literary comedies, and Franco does a superb job of showcasing this balance in his performance.

Jonathan Pryce narrates Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist

Oliver Twist follows the misadventures of a young orphan in his desperate search for a sense of belonging and basic human kindness. Filled with memorable characters, including The Artful Dodger, a plucky young pickpocket, and the terrifying Bill Sikes, the novel is deeper, fuller, and much darker than the famed musical version. Exposing the cruel and inhumane treatment of orphans in 19th-century England, Oliver Twist cemented Charles Dickens's reputation as not only a talented author but also an influential social activist. Jonathan Pryce, an award-winning stage and screen actor known for roles ranging from High Sparrow in HBO's Game of Thrones to Pope Francis in The Pope, masterfully performs this classic and its diversity of complex characters with the nuance and realism Dickens intended.

Joanne Froggatt narrates The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton

A British actress best known for her Golden Globe-winning and three-time Emmy-nominated role as Anna Bates in Downtown Abbey, Joanne Froggatt is no stranger to historical narratives filled with tension and drama. She brings her command of different accents and personalities, both men and women, to Kate Morton's sweeping, richly layered story of art, beauty, love, and murder. The Clockmaker's Daughter spans 150 years and clocks in at 17 hours in audio. Froggatt's precise diction makes it easy to keep track of all the characters and their secrets, while her lively performance helps to build suspense as the pieces start to fit together.

Jesse Eisenberg, Kaitlyn Dever, Finn Wolfhard narrate When You Finish Saving the World by Jesse Eisenberg

Academy Award nominee, playwright, and author Jesse Eisenberg steps in as co-narrator of his When You Finish Saving the World, a stirring tale of family, future, and connection. This listen follows Nathan, Rachel, and Ziggy—a husband, wife, and son—at various stages of their life as they seek to better relate with and understand one another. Told in three parts marked by dramatic shifts in time and perspective, the story is intimate and universal in a way that’s effortlessly engaging and incredibly charming. Eisenberg’s cast is rounded out by two buzzy up-and-coming stars: Finn Wolfhard, of Stranger Things and It, and Kaitlyn Dever, star of Booksmart and Unbelievable. Together, the trio craft a genuinely affecting tale that will break your heart—and give you hope—over and over again.