I listen to a lot of audiobooks – usually about 3 or 4 a month, depending on their length. Oddly enough, I don’t really review or rate the audiobook element in my book reviews. I focus on the same things (plot, characters, pacing, etc.) and only mention the narration if it was BAD. I love when people share more information about the audiobooks specifically, so I’m not sure why I don’t.
Hence the reason for today’s post! I want to share some of my favorite audiobooks and audio narrators that I’ve read since I started listening to audiobooks a couple of years ago.
Tried-and-True Favorites
Julia Whelan
I’ve listened to the most audiobooks by Julia Whelan – with good reason! She’s done a great job with Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, in my opinion. I’ve listened to half of One True Loves and all of After I Do as audiobooks. She also narrated Tease and Of Beast and Beauty, which I generally enjoyed too. The only thing I don’t really like about her is her “male voice” impression. It sounds weirdly breathy or something.
Tim Curry
THE BEST. Second to only another guy on this list. I looooved his narration for the Series of Unfortunate Events. I did my whole reread of this series via audio. Some of the books were narrated by “Lemony Snicket” and most were done by Tim Curry. He was absolutely amazing and I loved every millisecond. Even Carmalita Spats.
Will Patton
I tried really hard to read this series but kept going back to the audiobooks. Will Patton has such an odd voice but it completely matches the story that Stiefvater tells. I would read the book IN his voice in my head so often that I determined I really just needed to listen to the whole series. I picked up my physical copies a few times but not often. Highly recommend the audio for this series, especially if you’re planning a reread!
Jim Dale
Is there a better person on earth? Certainly there’s not a better narrator. He did such an unreal job with the Harry Potter books. I recommend these to anyone with ears because they’re so so perfect. Even if you don’t like audiobooks, I would bet on my life you’d enjoy his narration. Just amazing. I need to listen to The Magicians next because he also narrates that!
One-Timers I Need More From
Nancy Wu
There was something really nice about her voice with this audio! This was one of the first audiobooks I listened to and it made me (1) fall in love with audio, period, and (2) get started on the Hundred Oaks series. I didn’t realize it was included in that companion series so I ended up reading it before the rest, but it was still so good. I loved the little southern accent so much.
R.C. Bray
I decided to listen to the audio for this one even though I had a copy of the book to read. I just knew that all the sciencey stuff might go over my head and bore me while reading. This was a great book to listen to in the shower and while getting ready for the day. I was picturing the main character as Matt Damon, since the movie trailer had come out already, but I definitely enjoyed Bray’s narration for this story. It was spot-on for the character.
Rebecca Gibel
I don’t remember if I read this before Breathe, Annie, Breathe, but I know that it was around that same time. I read one and needed another one because of the southern accents and setting. I haven’t even READ this book yet – I’ve only listened to the audio. I want to reread sometime soon and I am tempted to do the same thing again. I just really enjoyed her voice. It brought the book to life.
Caroline Lee
I’m so happy that Caroline Lee narrates all of Liane Moriarty’s books! I’ve only listened to this one but I preordered her new release in audiobook form too. She has a nice accent and tone of voice; it matches Moriarty’s stories really well, in my opinion! It’s good to know that I can reread other books by audio and enjoy them too.
Meredith Mitchell
This was the third or fourth audiobook I listened to and it’s when audiobooks clicked for me. The two previous audiobooks I listened to were so terrible that I was afraid I couldn’t keep up with this part of reading. Luckily, this book saved it. I’ll admit that her attempt at doing a few accents (British and Mexican, if I remember correctly) was TERRIBLE, but the rest of the narration was sooooo good.
I TRULY wish I could get into audiobooks, but I have tried multiple times now and failed to like listening to them. I think my problem is that I can’t focus on the book when it’s audio because I tune out, so I get lost pretty fast. Do you listen to them in the car? maybe that’s my problem, because I’m trying to drive and I’m distracted!
Yeah I have that issue sometimes still! It has to be really engaging and have a very good narrator for me to pay attention. I do it while driving, showering, and getting ready for work 🙂
I’ll have to take note of these people! I’m not much into audiobooks because it’s more time consuming and expensive in my opinion, but I really love listening to them once in a while. My favorite one so far is the one who voiced for A Different Blue by Amy Harmon. I forgot her name though. Great post! 🙂
Meet Your (Contemporary) Match!
Yeah, I only buy them when they’re on sale or get them from the library. Scribd has $9/month plans where you get one audiobook which is around the price of a paperback or ebook. I like listening while I get ready for work so the time consuming part doesn’t bother me!
Julia Whelan is one of my favorite narrators too! She is terrific at narrating. I’m also in love with Jorjeana Marie’s voice. She captures character emotions so well with her narration. She’s done quite a few audios too but my favorite from her is Salt to the Sea.
For guy narrators, I like Sebastian York but only for adult novels. He sounds too manly to do YA or NA. I need to get HP on audio! I’ve heard such good things about the narration.
Oh awesome, I need to check out Jorjeana Marie!
I am going to listen to the HP series this fall (hopefully)!! Everyone raves about them. I loved The Martian audio so much. Rebecca Soler did the Lunar Chronicles audio and loved her. Great post!!
Yess I listened to one audiobook in the Lunar Chronicles series by her! That’s right.
The HARRY POTTER SERIES IS AMAZING
Great post! I am working on an audiobook blog post myself right now! I love many of the ones you mentioned, particularly Julia Whelan. One of my absolute favorites is Rebecca Lowman (Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, etc.) and Cassandra Campbell (Everything I Never Told You–Celeste Ng) and my absolute favorite author-narrator is Neil Gaiman. So good! 🙂
Thank you! I definitely appreciate the recs. I’ve listened to STARDUST by Neil Gaiman and it was great.
I am such a sucker for a good audiobook! I agree that they can either make or break the reading experience though. I try to listen to one while I’m reading when I’m able.
Although I hated all the strong language in The Martian, I loved the narrator; he really captured all the humor.
Good Audiobooks Make Everything Better
What a great post. As I listen to more and more audiobooks I find myself running into the same narrators again and again, and it’s kind of like hanging out with an old friend!
I used to listen to 3-4 audiobooks a WEEK when my kids were in school, but now that they are home, I’m lucky if I listen to one. I love, love love Julia Whelan so much. She’s amazing and she does such a great job with her male voices. She’s definitely one of my favorites!
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[…] radar at all, but because he narrated it, she listened. I’ve done the same thing before too. (Check out my list of favorite audiobook narrators!) I loved listening to books by Julie Whalen, Katherine Kellgren, Jim Dale (be still my heart), Tim […]