Though the approach of year's end brings with it a great many joys, from holiday festivities to cozy nights in, there's also a palpable sense of stress permeating the increasingly crisp, chilly air. Be it catalogs and commercials urging us to gift bigger, better, and sooner; the dooming early-evening darkness of Earth's wintery tilt; or the year-end crunch of work and school deadlines, the arrival of the 'ber months can deviate quickly from all things merry and bright. This year in particular, the added anxieties of a presidential election and a breakneck news cycle can make finding peace feel like an impossibility.
As we transition into this season of joy, uncertainty, celebration, and introspection, it's easy to feel an overwhelm of emotions—which means it's more important than ever to take some time just for yourself, to unwind and get in touch with the cozy wonder of simply existing. Sometimes, all it takes is the right story to put you on the path toward feeling a little more at ease. And though self-care is an individual exercise that takes many different forms, we have a feeling you'll find a soothing balm to the hustle-and-bustle among our personal favorites. Cozy up, listen well, and take care. We'll see you on the other side.
If you find solace in fiction...
In a time when it’s a lot easier to be cynical and even nihilistic about the world, George Saunders is here to show us, once again, how to find empathy in the most hopeless-seeming places, all while managing to fit in some humor—because even at its most challenging, life is kind of funny. With performances by the author as well as Tina Fey, Michael McKean, Edi Patterson, Jenny Slate, Jack McBrayer, Melora Hardin, and Stephen Root, experiencing these stories in audio brings them to a whole other level. As always with his work, I walked away from this listen feeling a little more hopeful that we’re all going to be okay. —Aaron S.
If you're looking to revisit a childhood favorite...
One of my childhood favorites, Arnold Lobel’s delightful tale of two anthropomorphic amphibians dressed in tweed fully brings a cozy, nostalgic ambiance. While a number of Lobel’s iconic kidlit classics feature outrageously adorable wildlife (from pigs to owls to elephants), there’s just something about the adventures of boundlessly enthusiastic Frog and his more meditative companion, Toad, that encourages a brighter, more whimsical worldview. Whether they’re searching the woods for a lost button or getting into hijinks down by the stream, you’ll be charmed for every moment of this cheery and enchanting short listen. —Alanna M.
If your white noise machine just isn't cutting it anymore...
This listen is proof that sound can change lives. Talented music producer and cancer survivor Maejor (né Brandon Michael Green) explores the positive relationship between sound and wellness in his 11-part podcast, Maejor Frequency. I was blown away by the scientific insights, meditative music design, surprising guest stars, and compelling travel narrative spanning five countries that shape this one-of-a-kind listen. Follow Maejor’s journey from researching Nikola Tesla’s sonic resonance theories, to taking an ayahuasca trip with celebrity spirit guide Shaman Durek on Mount Shasta, to connecting with galactic vibrations at the Great Pyramid of Giza. Each episode explores a different healing frequency to create a healing audio experience like no other. Listen with headphones on for full effect. —Rachael X.
If you enjoy the escape of sci-fi...
Hugo Award winner Becky Chambers has been our go-to for cozy science fiction since The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet became a staple of the genre, and her delightful Monk & Robot series is no exception. It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how... —Sam D.
If a good mystery keeps you grounded...
Brilliantly portrayed by narrator Lauren Ambrose, Molly Gray wins the best character in a mystery award from me. She is everything—humble, caring, and sensitive. She is also on the spectrum, and while independent, this hotel housekeeper is still learning to get on without the support of her late, dedicated grandmother. Despite her savings being wiped out by a guy who feigns affection for Molly (each time I heard it, their code name for their nest egg made me smile), all’s going well. That’s until a wealthy hotel guest is found dead one morning. What ensues is a roller coaster of plot twists and turns. —Yvonne D.
If you're looking for some light nonfiction...
At its core, The Disaster Artist is a memoir of a spectacular blunder. The subject of this book, The Room, is widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made, and its status as such has made it a household name, seen frequently on indie theater marquees to this day. While most behind-the-scenes media seeks to supplement the legacy of or add crucial details to important cultural touchstones, author Greg Sestero’s laugh-out-loud personal account demystifies one of the strangest films of all time. The long-lasting success of an objectively terrible film and the book that followed fill me with so much joy. It is strangely empowering to know that a single person can fight against the current like Wiseau did and somehow land on his feet. —Seth H.
If you prefer to escape into nature...
Wow, did I love my ant farm as a kid! I could watch those busy little guys for hours on end. But I hadn’t really thought much about them as an adult until a pre-publication portion of Anthill was published in The New Yorker in 2010 when I was newly pregnant with my first child. I read the piece—so intricate and beautiful in its description of the minute, determined, and cooperative movements of the small creatures—and I felt a wave of nausea take over me. And it didn’t leave me for three months. I had to wait with the rest of the world to finish the book, and it was obviously for the best given my morning sickness, but I’ve never forgotten how enthralling I found E.O. Wilson’s prose. It completely captured my imagination and now I'm thinking it might be time to bring home an ant farm for my kids. —Emily C.
If a funny, farcical romp is just what you need...
I once read about a PG Wodehouse fan who had two complete sets of the author’s work, one for each floor of his house, so he was never more than a moment away from plucking the volume of his choice off the shelf. Maybe that seems extreme? I suppose it might if you’ve yet to be charmed by the funniest, cleverest, most joy-inducing writer in the English language. But I hope that dedicated fan has since discovered audiobooks, which make queuing up one’s favorite Wodehouse (mine’s The Code of the Woosters, narrated by the sublime Jonathan Cecil) even breezier. And then—what ho! There’s this epic 45-hour-plus Blandings collection, performed by none other than Stephen Fry. Uncle Fred in the Springtime alone is worth the price of admission, but it also includes two more novels and two short story collections, with Fry bringing each of the Blandings denizens to distinct, uproarious life. For a jolt of good cheer, it's Wodehouse—and Fry—to the rescue, every time. —Kat J.
If a heartfelt rom-com is more up your alley...
Abby Jimenez is not only the founder of the award-winning cupcake shop Nadia Cakes, she's also authored several stories that transcend typical rom-coms. Jimenez's novels take you on emotional journeys that tug at your heart strings long after the listen is done. Part of Your World finds a workaholic ER doctor’s path crossing with a small-town mayor when her car gets stuck in a ditch. While Alexis and Daniel come from completely different worlds, Alexis ends up fitting seamlessly into Daniel's, but it's a little more complicated for Daniel to fit into hers. Listener favorites Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber make this an irresistible, unpausable listen. —Patty K.R.
If unwinding with the latest match is your idea of a perfect day...
Former tennis champion Carrie Soto is pushing 40 when she decides to come out of retirement and attempt to reclaim her Grand Slam record. Set in the '90s, Carrie’s journey echoes the path of a certain other GOAT we all know. Listening to this audiobook is such an elevated experience. It's a spectacular full cast helmed by Stacy Gonzalez, but you've also got newspaper clippings, press releases, and sports shows peppered into the audio production, including performances from Mary Carillo and Patrick McEnroe as sportscasters. As a tennis fan and audiobook enthusiast, I found it magical. —Katie O.
If you always feel better after a good workout...
I thought I knew a lot about Tunde Oyeneyin. I mean, we work out together five days a week. I knew she suffered the loss of a younger brother and both parents. I knew that she struggled with her weight as a child and that she used to be a celebrity makeup artist in LA. But listening to Speak has given me a new appreciation for my favorite Peloton instructor. Despite the grief, setbacks, and disappointments she endures, Oyeneyin’s infectious, joyful spirit never skips a beat as she talks through every step of her SPEAK acronym—surrender, power, empathy, authenticity, and knowledge. Whether you’re a Peloton rider or not, Speak will motivate and inspire you to want better and do better for yourself. In fact, I’m going to jump on my Peloton bike right now. —Margaret H.
If you need a reminder of all the beauty in the world...
Both deeply insightful and optimistically buoyant, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel feels as warm to listen to as being hugged by more than eight arms at once. From distant mothers to lost sons, Remarkably Bright Creatures revolves around absence, as its humans (all performed with charm by Marin Ireland) take solace in the routines that keep the Sowell Bay Aquarium afloat. But it’s Marcellus (voiced by Michael Urie, who makes his triumphant return to narrating an octopus’s perspective) who connects the dots in their stories with his tentacled limbs and advanced intelligence to unravel a profound lesson about the ways love so often hides in plain sight. —Haley H.
If you yearn to return to a familiar fantasy realm...
I never remove The Scorpio Races from my device because I just love Puck Connolly, Sean Kendrick, and the island of Thisby too much. I named my Animal Crossing island after Thisby, hoping to recapture the feeling of being on a mythical, wistful Irish island. At this point it's my safe space, listening to Steve West and Fiona Hardingham before I go to sleep or in the background when I want to invoke a sense of home. Every time I listen to it, the nostalgia is powerful; I'm reminded of who I was and who I am. —Melissa B.
If your packed schedule only allows for a story a day...
Simon Rich was not on my radar until I recently caught an interview he did with Conan O’Brien. I delighted in their conversation, so when I saw Rich had a new book of humorous short stories coming out—narrated by one of my favorite stand-up comics, John Mulaney, no less!—I jumped on it. Rich and Mulaney were frequent collaborators when they both wrote for Saturday Night Live, and those sketch-writing roots are apparent in how much fun Rich has with point of view and character in Glory Days. He takes on the voice of an aging Super Mario in one story, a tooth fairy arguing for unionization in another. But the silly setups are more than funny bits; they’re vehicles for some real poignancy about aging, parenthood, and the slings and arrows of the Digital Age. After listening to this, I’ll be diving into Rich’s other titles for sure. —Phoebe N.
If you're an armchair historian who loves intimate storytelling...
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is always an immediate add-to-Library, and An Unfinished Love Story is by far her most personal work to date. Simultaneously a reflection of the final years spent with her late husband, Richard, and a look back at the history of the 1960s, Goodwin’s latest offers an intimate take on the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Based on more than 300 boxes of personal documents and memorabilia, it’s also incredible in audio—with a performance led by Goodwin herself, intertwined with passages from actor Bryan Cranston and archival audio excerpts. It’s the perfect blend of history, biography, and memoir, and offers a totally new side to Goodwin that I am so grateful she’s chosen to share with her listeners. —Michael C.
If you could use some support shedding anxiety...
Just under two hours long, and narrated by the woman who herself pioneered research in cognitive therapy, this is one of the most useful audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. Her calming Aussie voice combined with her obviously well-researched and firsthand knowledge reassured me and truly helped me to learn and hold onto ideas that have been hugely beneficial ever since. Like so many people (maybe now more than ever), I have struggled with anxiety and being a very sensitive, highly emotional person. Dr. Weekes talks the listener through nonjudgmental, no-nonsense, direct, and to-the-point lessons on how to cope with a variety of anxiety-related issues and demystifies the symptoms many people experience. Don’t get me wrong—Pass Through the Panic isn’t a catchall anxiety cure, but it’s a wonderful jumping-off point for understanding what you’re dealing with, and figuring out first steps to begin to help yourself navigate life’s rough patches. —Madeline A.
If nothing calms you down quite like a familiar voice...
Since you can read all about the plot in the description, let me just gush for a moment. For me, a new Ann Patchett novel narrated by Meryl Streep required little to no internal deliberation on whether to give it a try. It’s a must-listen in my book, and it does not disappoint. In fact, I love it more than I thought I would, and it’s the kind of listen that just gets better and better as the story moves along. Neither Patchett nor Streep rest on their laurels here. So, if you’re looking for a truly great American novel read by a national treasure, this one’s for you! —Tricia F.
