Shake up your podcast feed with an audiobook! Fiction, nonfiction, self-help, memoir, and more all make great listening for podcast fans.
—Heather Booth, Booklist Audio Editor
If you like “Pop Culture Happy Hour,” listen to…
“Back After This”
By Linda Holmes. Read by the author. 2025. Books on Tape.
Podcast-host Holmes’ third contemporary romance showcases her great writing chops, her insight into the world of podcasting, and her own voice! In order for Cecily to have a crack at finally creating the podcast she dreams of—well-researched portraits of the mothers of famous people—her boss insists that she first produces one with a relationship influencer who puts Cecily’s lackluster dating life in her crosshairs.
If you like “Podcrushed,” listen to . . .
“Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age”
By Penn Badgley and others. Read by the authors. 2025. Simon & Schuster Audio.
The trio behind the popular podcast “Podcrushed” has penned a compelling and introspective collection of essays. All are authored and narrated by the familiar voices of Penn Badgley, Sophie Ansari, and Nava Kavelin. Humor, empathy, and reflection come through the narration as the three explore themes such as identity, vulnerability, and personal growth, all framed through the lens of adolescence and early adulthood. Ideal for listeners of memoirs and The Moth Radio Hour.
If you like “This American Life,” listen to . . .
“The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience”
By Plestia Alaqad. Read by the author. 2025. Hachette Audio.
After earning her media and journalism degree abroad, Alaqad returned to her homeland “to show the world Gaza through my eyes.” As war raged, she turned her social media into an intimate diary of life trapped in the brutality of wartime. Just as important, Alaqad unyieldingly celebrates life: “Only in Gaza; / Despite the pain, / People remain. / Not just survivors, / But warriors.” Alaqad’s youthful, rhythmic voice is a beacon of resilience and will appeal to TAL’s thoughtful listenership.
If you like “A Way With Words,” listen to . . .
“Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland”
By Martha Barnette. Read by the author. 2025. Dreamscape.
Word aficionados will find this an interesting approach to the evolution of language over time. Barnette shares her journey into linguistics and explores the etymology of popular speech. Written in the style of a memoir and presented in the format of a podcast with humor and pleasant vocal intonations, this is a compelling listen for word lovers.
If you like “Beth’s Dead,” listen to . . .
“This Story Might Save Your Life”
By Tiffany Crum. Read by Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins. 2026. Macmillan Audio.
An ideal audiobook for fans of twisty thrillers and truecrime podcasts. Joy and Benny are inseparable best friends and cohosts of a wildly popular podcast (its title is the same as the book’s title). When Joy and her husband, Xander, suddenly disappear, Pandora’s box bursts open, and secrets begin to gush out. Performances and production sound like an actual podcast, complete with authentic samples woven into the narrative.
If you like “The Slowdown,” listen to . . .
“A Suit or a Suitcase”
By Maggie Smith. Read by the author. 2025. Simon & Schuster Audio.
Smith’s viral poem, “Good Bones,” gave many of us a moment to pause and recognize the goodness in the small things in life. Similarly, her podcast, which is cosponsored by American Public Media and The Poetry Foundation, gives listeners a brief moment of poetry and reflection each day. Her new collection of poems offers listeners the same sort of experience as it delves into personal moments.
This article was originally published in Booklist Reader, the magazine for library patrons, from the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book review publication, Booklist.
Every month, Booklist Reader features must-read lists, author interviews, and top reading recommendations for adults, youth, and audiobook lovers.
Libraries can order print copies and share digital issues with a Booklist subscription. Ask at your library if they carry Booklist Reader in print. ALA members and Supporters of the American Library Association receive a free subscription as a benefit.
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Image: Detail from the cover of “A Suit or a Suitcase”
