A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Picoult has earned a stellar reputation in the world of contemporary fiction. Her novels explore topical issues through compelling and deeply affecting stories driven by complex, relatable characters. Yet with 29 novels to her credit, it can be difficult to choose which audiobook to listen to first, especially for someone who is new to Jodi Picoult’s work.
Speaking as audiobook experts and avid Jodi Picoult fans, here are our picks for the 14 best Jodi Picoult novels (plus one short story) in audio—the ones that should go on your listening list straight away.
Small Great Things
If you're looking to expand your understanding of one of the most important contemporary issues—something Jodi Picoult's novels are always great for—then this should be where you start. Small Great Things examines racism and privilege in America today. Ruth is a labor and delivery nurse with 20 years of experience. She is well-respected at her Connecticut hospital, so she's taken aback when a white supremacist couple requests a new nurse and refuses to let Ruth touch their child. But when Ruth finds herself alone in the nursery with the couple's baby, she's forced to make a choice. The baby goes into cardiac arrest, and Ruth hesitates before performing CPR. As a result, the parents sue her for her actions. As the case goes to trial, questions of race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion all come to the forefront. And there are no easy answers. Audra McDonald, Cassandra Campbell, and Ari Fliakos narrate, each bringing the passion and thoughtfulness this novel deserves.
My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult’s best known book, and the one that introduced many fans to her work, My Sister’s Keeper explores an impossibly difficult family situation. After Kate is diagnosed with leukemia, her parents decide to have a second child, specifically to be a bone marrow match for their firstborn daughter. From a young age, Anna’s life is defined by transfusions, surgeries, and sundry medical procedures, all with the purpose of keeping her sister Kate alive. At age 13, Anna decides enough is enough, and she sues her parents for rights to her own body. This heart-wrenching novel is powerfully performed by a cast of talented narrators: Richard Poe, Julia Gibson, Barbara McCulloh, Tom Stechschulte, Carol Monda, Jennifer Ikeda, and Andy Paris.
My Sister's Keeper
By Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Richard Poe, Julia Gibson, Barbara McCulloh, Tom Stechschulte, Carol Monda, Jennifer Ikeda, Andy Paris
Nineteen Minutes
In this novel, Jodi Picoult tackles an issue that feels incredibly relevant and, for too many, a source of unbearable tragedy and outrage: school shootings. Sterling is just another small town in New Hampshire until a school shooting rocks the close-knit community. As the trial following this shattering act of violence progresses, Nineteen Minutes explores the nuances of high school dynamics, bullying, trauma, and the divide between children and adults. Audie Award winner Carol Monda brings emotional depth to her performance of his deeply affecting story and controversial work. Nineteen Minutes was recently deemed the most banned book in the US by PEN America.
Mad Honey
Is violence an inherited trait? Mad Honey explores this question through the story of two teens with troubled pasts: Lily and her boyfriend, Asher. Both fleeing from abusive fathers, Lily and Asher each moved to Adams, New Hampshire, with their mother. Seeking a fresh start, they found one another. When Lily’s life is cut short, Asher is devastated. Then, he is charged with her murder. While convinced of her son’s innocence, Olivia can’t shake the similarities between Asher and her ex-husband. Jodi Picoult cowrote this searing novel with trans icon and activist Jennifer Finney Boylan, and Mad Honey delves into themes of identity as well as domestic abuse. The gripping story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Lily and Olivia, expertly voiced by narrators Carrie Coon and Key Taw. Read our interview with Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.
Mad Honey
By Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan
Narrated by Carrie Coon, Key Taw, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finn
A Spark of Light
How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? Though released before Roe v. Wade was overturned, A Spark of Light focuses on an issue that continues to divide our country: a woman’s right to choose. This novel is told in reverse order, exploring the events that lead to a gunman bursting into a women’s reproductive health services clinic and taking everyone—including a nurse, a doctor, a pro-life protestor disguised as a patient, and the 15-year-old daughter of a police officer—hostage. Bahni Turpin narrates, and as always, her performance perfectly captures the tension and the complex human sides of the story.
Choice
What if gender roles were reversed, and men faced the dilemma of dealing with an unexpected pregnancy? Jodi Picoult explores this scenario—and a related dystopian crisis—in Choice. James, an ambitious lawyer, is shocked to find himself among the unfortunate victims of a baffling epidemic targeting mostly careless teenage boys. How could he be pregnant? When his condition becomes obvious to the higher-ups at his law firm, James is denied a hard-earned promotion. Desperate to find a solution to his problem, he turns to a social worker for help. Released shortly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, this Audible Original runs less than 40 minutes but will leave you reeling and thinking long after.
Mercy
Mercy takes on another extremely difficult topic with no easy answers: assisted suicide. When forced to arrest his cousin Jamie, police chief Cameron McDonald is faced with a moral dilemma. Jamie has admitted to Cameron that he killed his wife, who had terminal cancer and was suffering severe pain. When the case goes to trial, Cameron and his wife, Allie, find themselves on different sides of the debate. Allie admires Jamie for loving his wife enough to end her life when she needed him to do so, while Cameron cannot understand that reasoning. Meanwhile, a strange woman arrives in town, adding further tension to Cameron's marriage. Actress Alyssa Bresnahan (27 Dresses) narrates.
Wish You Were Here
Published in 2021, this novel unfolds against the COVID lockdown. On the cusp of 30, Diana has her future mapped out. She is right on target for a promotion. And she plans to be engaged right before her birthday—during a romantic getaway to the Galápagos with her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident. By 35, she’ll be done having kids and established as a force in the art auction world. But suddenly, everything goes awry. On the eve of their dream vacation, a virus grips New York City, and Finn is needed at the hospital. Reluctantly, Diana flies off alone. When she lands, their luxury hotel is shut down and the whole island is under quarantine. Forced into isolation far from home, Diana has time to think about her goals, her choices, and what really matters. Narrated by the remarkable Marin Ireland, Wish You Were Here captures the mood of self-reflection during the pandemic, making it one of Jodi Picoult’s most contemplative works.
The Book of Two Ways
Another thoughtful and thought-provoking Jodi Picoult novel, The Book of Two Ways centers on a woman as she enters middle age and asks big questions. Back in Boston, Dawn has a good marriage, a wonderful daughter, and fulfilling work as a death doula, devoted to easing the transition for clients with terminal illness. Yet when her plane is about to crash, the only thoughts that flash through her mind are of Wyatt—a man she last saw 15 years ago. After surviving, miraculously, Dawn seizes on a second chance to live the life she once wanted. Is she meant to be in Egypt with Wyatt, working together as archeologists unearthing ancient burial sites? Or was she destined to marry Brian? Patti Murin narrates this soul-searching story about what defines a meaningful life and who you would be if you had chosen a different path from the one that made you who you are right now.
The Storyteller
In The Storyteller, Jodi Picoult focuses on complicated moral dilemmas. A baker, Sage Singer keeps to herself, until she forges a friendship with a beloved member of their community, 90-year-old Josef Weber, a Little League coach and retired teacher. Their relationship takes a startling turn when Josef comes to Sage with a bizarre request: to kill him. You see, Sage’s grandmother is a Holocaust survivor, and Josef used to be a Nazi. Is it possible for someone who’s committed truly heinous acts to atone through doing good? Narrators Mozhan Marno, Jennifer Ikeda, Edoardo Ballerini, Suzanne Toren, and Fred Berman lend their voices to a story that raises questions about evil, redemption, and forgiveness.
The Storyteller
By Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Mozhan Marno, Jennifer Ikeda, Edoardo Ballerini, Suzanne Toren, Fred Berman
Salem Falls
In this multilayered novel, Jodi Picoult explores the topic of rape from an unexpected perspective. Jack arrives in the sleepy New England town of Salem Falls, hoping to leave his past behind. His career as a teacher was destroyed when a prep school student’s crush turned into an ugly accusation. Jack slips into his new routine washing dishes for Addie Peabody at the Do-or-Diner, and Addie soon has a soft spot for this gentle man. Yet, four teenagers in town have a dark secret, and they've set their sights on Jack. Is Jack the victim of malicious girls once again? Or maybe he's not as innocent as he professes. Narrator Julia Gibson keeps listeners guessing about the truth and who to trust until the end.
House Rules
In this novel, Jodi Picoult explores the misunderstanding and biases surrounding neurodiversity. House Rules tells the story of Jacob, an 18-year-old living with autism who is accused of murder. Jacob is obsessed with forensic analysis and often shows up at crime scenes. So when Jacob's tutor is murdered, people suspect he is involved. After all, Jacob exhibits suspicious behaviors. But are these behaviors necessarily signs of guilt? This is another riveting Picoult novel that's brought to life by a cast of accomplished narrators: Mark Turetsky, Rich Orlow, Nicole Poole, Christopher Evan Welch, and Andy Paris.
House Rules
By Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Mark Turetsky, Rich Orlow, Nicole Poole, Christopher Evan Welch, Andy Paris
Handle with Care
When Willow is born with severe osteogenesis imperfecta, Charlotte and Sean know this will mean a lifetime of broken bones and pain, and they are devastated for their daughter. The diagnosis also forces the couple to ask themselves difficult questions: What if Charlotte had known earlier of Willow's illness? Would they have terminated the pregnancy? And what would their lives be like if Willow had never been born? Deeply affecting and multifaceted, Handle with Care is performed by multiple narrators—Cassandra Morris, Charlotte Perry, Alma Cuervo, Celeste Ciulla, Jessica Almasy, and Jim Colby—who make the individual characters come alive.
Handle with Care
By Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Cassandra Morris, Charlotte Perry, Alma Cuervo, Celeste Ciulla, Jessica Almasy, Jim Colby
The Pact
If you enjoy mystery novels, then this might well be your favorite of Jodi Picoult's books. Narrated by Audie Award winner George Guidall, The Pact tells the story of two teenagers, Emily and Chris, who grew up next door to one another and became close friends—and then more than friends. When Emily is found dead from a gunshot to the head, Chris claims they had a suicide pact—and the remaining bullet in his father’s gun was meant for him. Soon, Chris is on trial, and the community is eager to find out what happened to Emily. The novel alternates between a present-day timeline and past events that give context to Emily and Chris's relationship. In the end, both timelines bring us to a stunning conclusion.
By Any Other Name
Were (at least some of) Shakespeare’s plays written by a woman? That’s the intriguing question at the heart of By Any Other Name. This work of historical fiction explores issues, from sexism to domestic violence, that continue to plague women today. In alternating chapters, Picoult tells the stories of the real-life poet Emilia Bassano (from age 12 in 1581 to her death in 1645) and her distant relative, Melina Green (from 2013 to 2027). It’s hard not to feel deeply for Emilia, who was exploited, betrayed, and battered by the men in her life, on top of being forced to hide her literary gifts, and root for Melina, who resorts to subterfuge and manipulation to get her play about Emilia produced. A stellar cast of narrators, led by Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, and Jayne Entwistle, captures all the drama and plot twists. Be sure to listen to the Author’s Note at the end: Picoult’s rigorously researched case against Shakespeare being the sole author of his 37 plays is definitely worth pondering.
By Any Other Name
By Jodi Picoult
Narrated by Billie Fulford-Brown, Laura Benanti, Jodi Picoult, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaize, Joe Jameson, John Lee, Nicholas Guy Smith, Simon Vance, Steve West
Emily Martin earned her PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi. She works as a contributor for Book Riot and as a blogger/podcaster at Book Squad Goals.
