Rom-com author Lily Chu wanted people like her to be heard and seen. So she wrote her hilarious debut novel The Stand-In with a widely diverse cast of relatable and everyday characters that many people would be able to identify with. What results is an impressive debut from one of the most promising authors in the genre. But when she isn't down-to-earth rom-coms, she's listening to some of her favorite audiobooks. Here are some of those listens.
In this delicious Toronto rom-com, Reena and Nadim come together through baking (and eating) as they navigate family gossip, a fake engagement, and a very real attraction.
I was intrigued about how such a richly visual story would translate to audio. Answer: extremely well. The narration is accompanied by immersive background music and sound effects.
Chiang’s sci-fi stories are witty, smart, brilliantly crafted in every way, and changed my understanding of what it could mean to be a writer.
I’d only heard about Marie Antoinette from the (false) let them eat cake story, so this was a fascinating look at the woman and the period. Fraser puts events in context and gives women in history the sympathy and agency usually only afforded to men.
This was the last—and my favorite—of the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. It’s life set to 11, with more extravagance, drama, and glorious snobbishness.
This collection introduces the wonderful Harriet Vane in Strong Poison, whose evolving relationship with Lord Peter Wimsey is one of the many pleasures of the series. Listen while pretending you’re huddled over the wireless.
