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A music mockumentary for the ages
Music obsessives and comedy fanatics will both find something to love in The True Story of the Coward Brothers, a wholly original audio mockumentary written by new-wave legend Elvis Costello and starring Costello and fellow music icon T Bone Burnett as the titular brothers. A rocking, rollicking listen, The True Story of the Coward Brothers opens on a dispatch from Your Name Here, a radio show hosted by Sterling Lockhart (an exquisitely stoic Harry Shearer), as Henry and Howard Coward regale listeners with the inside story of how their merciless band manager swindled their fortune and ruined their shot at fame. Madcap storytelling and catchy, brilliantly produced mock-pop earworms abound. And the cherry on top? This gem is directed by Christopher Guest, the filmmaker hailed for mockumentaries such as Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap. —Alanna M.
A love letter to creation and creativity, 40 years in the making
There’s no arguing that Haruki Murakami is one of the most brilliant creative minds and writers of the 21st century. And for fans, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is not only long-awaited but also fits beautifully into his literary legacy—expanding on a 40-year-old short story of the same name, and acting as a companion to Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. While the motifs, moments, and world all feel familiar, The City and Its Uncertain Walls still stands wholly on its own. As always, it’s impossible not to get lost in Murakami’s creation or narrator Brian Nishii’s performance. It’s not just a love letter to magical realism, creativity, and writing, but also reflects the author’s own experience with his craft—as a labor of love that was 40 years in the making, and was most definitely worth the wait. —Michael C.
No cliffhanger, HUGE book hangover
There’s never been a sequel I’ve anticipated more than the follow-up to Krystal Marquis’s debut YA romance, The Davenports. It was an excruciating 21-month wait—how can you just leave us with that cliffhanger?—but thankfully, More Than This picks up right where we left off. Davenport daughters Olivia and Helen are discovering new love after the disastrous ends to their previous relationships, while their friends Ruby and Amy-Rose are learning to prioritize themselves over the men in their lives. Inspired by the family of real-life inventor Charles Patterson, the first African American automobile manufacturer, the Davenports duology is full of romance and heroines rebelling against social constructs, and is a thought-provoking exploration of what it meant to be a successful Black person navigating high society in the early 1900s. Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s narration perfectly captures the energy of the characters and vibe of the time with thoughtful cadences and endearing rasps. I was so delighted to see how the story wrapped up so perfectly (cliffhanger-free!), and now I’ve got my eyes peeled for the next amazing series starter from Ms. Marquis! —Margaret H.
Ken Cuperus has done it again!
‘Tis the season again at Fletcher’s Grove, and I couldn’t be more excited! Grace Barlow—now Emily Lane—has been instructed to maintain a low profile around her new town. Emily’s Christmas store, Under the Mistletoe, is thriving, and she’s even found a little romance with Sam, a handsome local police officer. Despite the instruction to maintain a low profile, Emily ends up on the front page of a newsletter for her heroism. When Obsidian Midnight picks up on signs of life from Emily, her safety is threatened—and she doesn’t even know it. The captivating narration from the cast, led by Cobie Smulders and Raymond Ablack, provides an internal cinema full of plot twists and a cliffhanger that left me ready for the next installment of this wonderful series. In the meantime, I’ll be watching the Hallmark adaptation that will be out on small screens October 31! —Disha M.
A Tribute of Fire is romance author Sariah Wilson’s debut into romantasy, and I seriously hope it’s not her last. Every year, Ilion sends two maidens to compete in a life-or-death ritual, with no maiden ever making it out alive. In an attempt to protect her kingdom, Princess Lia arranges to be selected for the race. When she and her untrained sister, Quynh, are forced into the deadly race, Lia insists that they will both survive. She must navigate a maze-like city while protecting her sister and resisting her undeniable attraction to Jason, a dangerously handsome enemy sailor. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, sizzling chemistry between Lia and Jason, nonstop action, and found-family dynamics, combined with Therese Plummer’s narration—and that cliffhanger (which I am still recovering from)—made A Tribute of Fire an incredible start to a series that I look forward to continuing. —Patty R.
Inside the mind of Oliver Sacks, for a change
Oliver Sacks was a brilliant philosophical physician who shed light on the inner workings of the human mind through keen observations of complex expression. In a subversive twist, his posthumously compiled anthology, Letters, offers listeners a rare view into Sacks’s own thoughts and emotions, through unedited personal notes to friends, colleagues, family, and loved ones. As a longtime admirer of Sacks’s work, I'm eager to gain a more intimate glimpse into the mind that brought us The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. The prospect of following his journey, from his early career struggles to his groundbreaking discoveries, is a privilege. I'm particularly looking forward to experiencing his passionate observations on neuroscience, his deep curiosity about the human condition, and his heartfelt interactions with fellow intellectuals. This audiobook promises to offer a unique, unfiltered perspective on Sacks's life and work, revealing the man behind the acclaimed writings and providing valuable insights into the evolution of modern neuroscience. —Rachael X.
Signs point to cozy, delightful listening
I’m fully on board with the low-stakes fantasy moment we’re having right now, and so hitting play on this debut was a no-brainer for me. Following Tao, a fortune-teller who specializes in foretelling the mundane, Julie Leong spins a yarn about identity and chosen family. Narrator Phyllis Ho is new to me, and she positively sparkled in this story; her voice is at once buoyant, exuberant, and gentle—so fitting for a cozy fantasy. I challenge you not to grin while listening. —Sam D.
Katherine Rundell demands astonishment
Of all my childhood obsessions, my fascination with animals is one that won’t fade away. Unfortunately, without our help, the species showcased in Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered Creatures may not face as everlasting a future. Enter Katherine Rundell, who continuously inspires a love of nature in listeners of all ages with her wise and whimsical writing. Impossible Creatures—her children’s tale about a fantastical world where every mythical beast ever imagined comes to life—earned her the accolade Author of the Year at the 2024 British Book Awards, making her the first children’s writer to receive the honor in six years. This nonfiction audiobook for adults now serves as a natural extension of the magic, reminding us why we must fight to protect the living gifts of our world for the astonishment of generations to come. —Haley H.
Peter Dinklage gives an amazing performance as Hercule Poirot
I have a confession: I am a huge Agatha Christie fan! The Mysterious Affair at Styles was my first introduction to what is now my favorite genre: mysteries and thrillers. So, when I heard there was a multi-cast adaptation, starring the phenomenal actor Peter Dinklage as the legendary Hercule Poirot, I was intrigued to hear how the story and characters would translate. The production did not disappoint. The cast created an experience that brought the classic mystery to life in a thrilling new way. The audio adaptation has an immersive and atmospheric quality that truly transported me to the world of Styles Court. This was a wonderful treat and homage to Christie’s original novel. For fans of classic mysteries and immersive storytelling, this adaptation is a must-listen. —Dawn G.
The Serviceberry could heal us. Will we listen?
Years ago, a friend very appropriately gave me a copy of Lewis Hyde’s classic The Gift. It was one of those thunderbolt-type books that divided my thinking into a before and after, forever changing my outlook on art, commerce, and reciprocity. So it feels like another gift of serendipity to find Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist and thunderbolt-caster herself (Braiding Sweetgrass), meditating on similar themes in her new release. Short but incredibly potent, The Serviceberry explores how shifting our perspective on what the market economy calls “natural resources” by more properly understanding them as gifts could transform our broken relationship to the Earth. Drawing on Indigenous practices and wisdom from other scholars and activists, Kimmerer reveals how gratitude and the mutual flow of love and care can move us into a sense of abundance, in turn restoring justice and sustainability to the natural world. This is a beautiful listen, narrated in Kimmerer’s own voice, that I’m abundantly grateful for. —Kat J.
I can probably count on one hand the number of romance listens that have brought me to tears, and I can honestly say that two of those titles were written by Sophie Cousens. Last year’s The Good Part triggered all the feels with its timely message of how important it is to not skip the hard, icky, challenging parts of life to get to the “good part.” Now, with Is She Really Going Out with Him?, Cousens has written a romance that hits so close to home, I have never felt more seen. Like me, Anne is a single mom, doing her best to hold it all together between work and home. When her job as a magazine writer is put in jeopardy, she comes up with the idea to pen a dating column where her kids choose her suitors. Anne’s ensuing dates are so cringe-worthy you can’t help but laugh to keep from crying, but the realization that the man of her dreams is closer than she thinks—and the truly endearing and hilarious way it all goes down—will really bring you to happy tears. —M.H.
