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Longing, vengeance, and so much more
As evidenced by the perennial success of Wuthering Heights (we can only assume the newest film adaptation will not be the last), and our endless fascination with Heathcliff, yearning and revenge are more than enough to fill up a character. But Emily Brontë left a mysterious three-year gap in Heathcliff’s history that the original text doesn’t account for. Where did he go and what did he do? All we know is that he came back rich and ruthless. In this breathtaking multi-cast dramatisation featuring Daryl McCormack as the titular hero, author Gracie Oddie-James rounds out this era of Heathcliff's journey, imagining how a mixed-race man would have navigated 18th-century London. Perhaps he found love (Rhoda is voiced by Oddie-James), acceptance, even a glimmer of peace, though, as all Brontë fans know, he continued to be haunted by the ever-present apparition of Catherine. Just as Wide Sargasso Sea added a new dimension to Jane Eyre, this immersive listen shows us Heathcliff in an entirely new light.
You’re about to be very conscious of consciousness
I’ve listened to quite a few books about consciousness—my taste leans trippy, yes, but also there are increasingly more of them. Now, consciousness hits the big time as bestselling author Michael Pollan weighs in. A logical and lively follow-up to How to Change Your Mind, A World Appears explains to a lay audience what makes the “hard problem” of consciousness so hard, and so fascinating. In conversations with neuroscientists, biologists, a Zen priest, the author of a renowned stream-of-consciousness novel, and more, Pollan journeys into one of the universe’s greatest mysteries with energy and eloquence. His expert narration makes this a must-listen: To expand your mind, just open your ears.
A legend reclaimed
Bestselling author Saara El-Arifi is widely celebrated for her world-building in epic fantasy and romantasy series. The daughter of a Ghanaian/British mother and a Sudanese/Arab father, she now draws further on her background and expertise in African studies to reclaim Cleopatra, oft-maligned as a seductress and exotic witch, and infamous for a romance with Mark Antony that shook Rome and ended in her suicide. Told as a memoir in the first person, the last acting Egyptian pharaoh’s legend is voiced by award-winning narrator Adjoa Andoh (known to many as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton), who brings a regal authority to this sensuous historic retelling.
How many unreliable narrators does it take to find the truth?
This brilliantly structured debut tells the story of the Sharaf family, Afghan immigrants who have achieved the American dream in suburban Virginia. This is not a traditional narrative; rather, the story unwinds through statements from community members, journalists, teachers, and attorneys, all looking back at events that led to a shocking occurrence. The inciting incident isn’t revealed until halfway through, but you're completely hooked trying to piece together the truth from the beginning. Main characters only exist through others' observations, making them constantly shift in your mind—a puzzle made all the more immersive by the 15-narrator cast. Good People is a haunting exploration of family, perspective, and how truth depends entirely on who's telling the story.
Wendy Walker writes her most personal work yet
Wendy Walker takes us into the brutal world of elite figure skating, where young athletes are pushed to their limits, far from home and family. Ana Robbins gave up her Olympic dreams at 16 after tragedy struck, and now, years later, she's back at "The Palace" as a lawyer defending a young skater accused of murdering their coach. The whole setup gave me chills—a blizzard trapping everyone inside, secrets buried in ice, and Ana forced to confront the trauma she left behind. Walker was a competitive skater and attorney herself, and you can feel that authenticity throughout the story. Blade is her most personal work yet, and it's a must-listen.
How to have a meaningful life
Bestselling author Daniel Coyle has written two books on why businesses thrive, The Talent Code and The Culture Code. In Flourish, Coyle zeroes in on a different measure of success: personal fulfilment. And more specifically, how can communities foster it? By looking at specific successful examples, such as how tight-knit neighbourhoods form and what makes members of triumphant sports teams thrive, Coyle illustrates the connections, conditions, and communication woven into these meaningful collaborations. If you’re looking for more than metrics to determine if you’ve “made it,” this one is for you.
A romantically thrilling ride
It Happened One Heist is the kind of adventure I can’t get enough of. Museum curator Amara Grant has big plans to return artifacts to Haiti, so when she discovers the priceless bracelets on display are fake and gets fired for it, her entire life changes overnight. What follows is a globe-trotting treasure hunt packed with riddles, secret societies, and black-market antiquities, with stops in Los Angeles, London, Scotland, and Paris. The chemistry between Amara and her bodyguard, Dante, is immediate, and their close-proximity adventure only intensifies their connection. Aside from the romance, I adored the theme of reclaiming what belongs back home. Performed by a full cast led by Amber Riley and Anthony Rey Perez, this book occupied my thoughts every moment, and left me ready for more adventures with Amara and Dante.
The bonds that make us Kin
I can't believe it's been eight years since the release of An American Marriage, which remains one of my favourite listening experiences. It's a powerful novel about a young marriage undone by injustice when the husband is wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. I know Tayari Jones’s new novel will also pack an emotional punch. In Kin, Jones explores female friendship, chosen family, and Black Southern womanhood through the lives of two motherless daughters whose paths diverge dramatically from their Louisiana roots. One finds sisterhood at Spelman; the other embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery. Told in alternating perspectives by narrators Angel Pean and Ashley J. Hobbs, this promises to be a listen worth clearing my calendar for.
Age ain't nothin' but a number, big or small!
Kenya Barris proves once again he makes comedies for all ages, including “big ages.” His latest listen, following retired couple Dot and Butch's new life at their Florida retirement home, tickled me from start to finish. As someone who grew up watching the legendary comedic talents of both Cedric the Entertainer (Butch) and Jenifer Lewis (Dot), I jumped on this listen. Safe to say, I wasn't let down in the least, especially with the razzle-dazzle Niecy Nash-Betts adds to the cast. The combination of such iconic voices and Barris's undeniable ability to make hilarious comedies in any format hooked me from the beginning. The hijinks, like catastrophic meetings with neighbours and new types of party invitations (hint: you put your key in the bowl), will keep your stomach hurting.
A devilishly good debut
It feels like we’re in the midst of a queer horror renaissance, and He’s the Devil is the perfect addition to that canon. Blending camp, gore, lust, and a flat-sharing scenario that’s straight out of hell, it’s queer horror at its finest. Beautifully brought to life in audio by English actor Omari Douglas (best known as Roscoe on It’s a Sin), He's the Devil is propulsive, funny, and genuinely touching beneath its gore. As a debut from Tobi Coventry, a literary scout for book-to-screen adaptations, we’re left with a cinematic tale from a bold new voice.
And now, back to this series...
B.K. Borison bringing us back into the Heartstrings world is already a gift, but the setup of And Now, Back to You makes it shoot straight to the top of my most-anticipated list. Two meteorologists who cannot be in the same room together without something going sideways are forced to team up—and what ensues is perfect chaos. Jackson with his careful, structured calm; Delilah with her bright, irresistible energy—and a snowstorm big enough to push them past their long-running stalemate. I loved this story on the page. The tension, the banter, the warmth of it all is exactly why I cannot wait to hear how it comes together in audio.
Sadeqa Johnson delivers another historical fiction masterpiece
Within the first five minutes of listening to Keeper of Lost Children, I knew it was going to destroy me (in the best way). Sadeqa Johnson, author of Yellow Wife and The House of Eve, is known for her remarkable historical fiction, and she's at it again with this hopeful story featuring three interconnected characters across multiple timelines. Ethel is living in post-WWII Germany when she stumbles across an orphanage housing mixed-race children. As her story unfolds, we meet Ozzie, a Black American soldier who falls in love with a German woman, and Sophia, an American teenager searching for her true identity. The way these three characters connect is magical, and they're brilliantly voiced by narrators Karen Chilton, Adam Lazarre-White, and Ariel Blake.
Maria Morillo delivers a standout debut novel set in Venezuela that reads like a romantic comedy with full telenovela-level drama. Marianto, whose life was perfectly planned, is forced into a messy reset, and decides to turn the fallout into a high-stakes dating experiment meant to win her ex back. Enter Simón Arreaza, lead singer of her favourite indie band, new boss, and unexpected co-conspirator who pushes her plan (and her heart) in a completely new direction. As Marianto falls for Simón, she starts choosing herself, and that shift ripples through everything else. Sofia Palmero’s performance was perfection, leaving me ready to hear more from Morillo.
The price to pay isn't pretty...
Nowhere is somewhere for Riley and Oliver, the protagonists of Catriona Ward's Nowhere Burning, an intense retelling of two of my favourite classic tales as a child, Peter Pan and Lord of the Flies. Big sister Riley and young Oliver, on the run from their abusive uncle and seeking sanctuary with a self-governing group of fellow runaways, are about to learn that the cost of safety may put them in more danger than ever before. Ward's knack for crafting stories that delve into chilling themes has had my attention since I read The Last House on Needless Street. Combined with the dual narrative performance by Christopher Ragland and Katherine Fenton, the story leaves a lasting impression about the dangers that lurk even when we think we're safe.
More listens we're looking forward to
