The New York Times’ Best Audiobooks of 2024

I’m frequently asked for good audiobook recommendations, so I thought it would be fun to look at this list of the best audiobooks of 2024 (according to The New York Times). Expand for more information. 👇

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Titles Mentioned 📚

Other Titles Mentioned 📕

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[ethang]

Rejection and Brooklyn are calling to me! I think starting the year off with The Bee Sting, which completely blew me away, altered the entire rest of my listening library for the year and I never quite got over how much I loved that book. I’m excited for a fresh start in 2025!

My favorite audio released in 2024 was Good Material by Dolly Alderton (narrated by Arthur Davill and then another surprise narrator that I don’t want to spoil). That’s a book that feels very love-it or hate-it, and I’d be skeptical if you care much for it (so much of the novel is just about a privileged man moping about a breakup), but Alderton’s character work for both the protagonist and the supporting characters was thoughtful enough that it was definitely less annoying than many other books with similar concepts.

[Elizabeth-Reads]

I read Rejection through both audio and print, and the audio was fantastic. But I’d read the print alongside, the writing is rich and sometimes so funny, and there were so many lines/paragraphs I ended up stopping the audio and reading 2-3 times.

Listening to Morrison’s narrations have been my favorite reading experiences, even when the story is upsetting her voice is so soothing. What a wonder she was.

[MsPixieD]

Ever since cars stopped having CD players, which is how I used to listen to books, I haven't cared for audiobooks because I didn't like being stuck in front of my TV or having to lug around my tablet. That is, until this year of focusing on reading, keeping a log and doing BookTube challenges. Now I know that certain narrators can really enhance a work, so I've started checking to see if Libby has a book I'm interested in audio and play the sample to decide how I'll "read" it. I also love recommendations for good audio versions in BookTube comments.
Yesterday I finished Fingersmith narrated by Juanita McMahon, and she did a marvelous job performing all the voices. Next up, Whale Fall, already checked out so happy to hear it's a good one 😀

P.S. Love that you're filming in front of Treeyoncé 🎄

[MJ-in-Canada]

Funny you mention audiobooks because I’m currently listening to the best audiobook I’ve read all year although it’s from 2021. “The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle” by Matt Cain is brilliantly narrated by Layton Williams who makes it such a fun listen. And thanks to YOU for recommending this book to us because I’m loving it!😃

[shannongeier]

From Here to the Great Unknown is fascinating and so powerful. Clearly a father who dies young is going to have an inflated, perfect image in the eyes of his adoring daughter, but man! Priscilla Presley comes across as a monster, according to her daughter and the fact that it's half Lisa (read by Julia Roberts) and half Riley and then you get to hear Lisa briefly at the end was so amazing. Recommend to infinity with infinite thumbs up!

[sandeesandwich]

I just listened to Sandwich by Catherine Newman and read by Nan McNamara. The audio is excellent, because the first person main character will say things like "I love that about I hate that about him." There's a lot of ambivalence, humor and sadness which the narrator carries so well. The main character is somewhat unlikeable but also loveable, and McNamara is able to convey that complexity.

[LouiseReader]

Fascinating list, I hadn't seen it and probably listen more than read these days. I will probably try most of these. I already listened to James. I didn't know that there was a new audio of Brooklyn, I'll look for that, and am more open to Lisa Marie's book now. I hadn't heard of Health and Safety but will add it to my TBR Mountain.

[MJ-in-Canada]

Any chance we’ll be seeing any of Joel’s holiday baking? We’d love to see his iced buns.😁

[NicoleACottageWitch]

I love listening to Toni Morrison reading her books. Her literary voice is so powerful and her spoken voice is so gentle—the contrast is mesmerising. I ask just finished the audiobook of This is Happiness by Niall Williams today and his writing is gorgeous. It was the perfect way to close out the year.

[tidyhippie]

Whale Fall is my favorite book of the year, and I read it on audio! It includes singing and recordings of folktales. I look forward to hearing what you think of it!

[catedee]

I am enjoying James on audio. I think it brought it to life for me in a way that reading it wouldn’t have. I think I would like to listen to Brooklyn and Whale Fall, possibly Lisa Marie’s memoir.

[debbystragier]

Have you listened to Crime Of Passion on Audible? I listened to it today and I loved it so much!

[erinh]

I'm always looking for a good audio! Amusingly, the one I think I've come away with prioritizing is the one you mentioned that's not on the list - History of Sound. And maybe Whale Fall - I kind of wanted to get to it but not that much of a priority, but if it has a great audio, it can move up on that list, which always seems to have more room on it... Put them both on the very very long Libby hold list; I'll just wait and be pleasantly surprised when they come in... ☺

[booksandbags]

Count me among the people who are baffled at all the the acoades for All Fours. I couldn’t DNF it fast enough, and I hate being reminded about it by these end-of-year lists.

[teneshaanderson]

From here to the great unknown is a great audiobook

[chadjacobson]

I enjoyed All Fours, but I tried to supplement it with the audiobook. After a few minutes of listening to July’s monotone delivery (that blurb you read got it right!) I quickly gave in. She was going for something but it just made it droll and boring.

[ridingwilding]

I am surprised how obscure this list is.

[mradcaqbdb]

All Fours again. Ugh. Nope. Not for me, but I really wish it would go away and not come back. 🤷‍♀️