The feeling of discovering that your favorite new listen is actually the start of a series is euphoric. That you can immediately hit play and re-enter a beloved new world, or love story, or era from history is a gift to the devoted listener. But how to pick just 100 of these unique and immersive listening journeys? We defined a series as having a minimum of three books, and—after some debate—we decided the titles had to be anchored in fiction. There are plenty of genres to explore—from YA to horror to historical fiction, from fresh voices to seminal tales, hours upon hours of discovery await.
Bill Hodges Trilogy
Will Patton is exceptional in King’s procedural trilogy following retired cop Bill Hodges as he unspools the truth behind an unthinkable crime with a far-reaching legacy.
Outlander
Narrator Davina Porter's flawless accent and nuanced delivery make Diana Gabaldon’s epic time-travel romance series fly by—all the better for revisiting it again, and again, and again.
Molly the Maid
There would be no Molly Gray without the narration of Lauren Ambrose. They become one in this charming mystery series that is undeniably love-at-first-listen.
An Ember in the Ashes
Told from the alternating perspectives of scholar Laia and soldier Elias, this electrifying series opens on an ancient Rome–inspired world where citizens are at the mercy of the Empire.
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games trilogy is a cultural phenomenon all on its own, but Tatiana Maslany's sensational performances elevate the experience to new heights.
You
Santino Fontana stole our hearts and made us lock our doors as antihero Joe Goldberg in this chilling, suspenseful fan-favorite series.
The Kiss Quotient Series
Clever, inclusive, and sex-positive, this romance series centers the neurodivergent experience, delivering on authenticity, steaminess, and plenty of warm fuzzies, too.
Legacy of Orïsha
Inspired by the legends of West Africa, Adeyemi’s debut gifted us Zélie Adebola, a heroine facing a tyrant who’s wiped out all magic-wielders in one night.
Garden Heights
Dion Graham and Bahni Turpin voice Angie Thomas’s searing Garden Heights series, their powerful performances bringing new depth to complex social issues.
Royal Spyness
Katherine Kellgren brings these quintessential cozies into the realm of “great feats of the human voice.” You’ll swear it’s a multicast, but it’s all Katherine, and it’s delightful.
Bobiverse
This stellar sci-fi romp really has it all—Ray Porter evokes geeky irony during a suspenseful battle scene, all while assigning unique voices and personalities to a pack of clones.
Joe Ledger
Captain Joe Ledger leads a top-secret initiative to contain a zombie virus outbreak in this action-packed, post-apocalyptic horror series performed by all-star Ray Porter.
The Dispatcher
Emmy nominee Zachary Quinto is as superb as ever in this genre-bending saga from sci-fi standout John Scalzi set in a world where murder offers another shot at life.
Three Pines
Louise Penny’s character-driven, atmospheric Three Pines series features the beloved Chief Inspector Gamache, an empathetic and principled Quebec detective.
Mystic Bayou
When we talk about perfect author-narrator pairings, Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi are permanently on the list. They make magic together with Jonathan Davis in the Mystic Bayou series.
The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien's work is indisputably a pillar of the fantasy genre. Hear his magnum opus as it was meant to be told—through the multifaceted, dynamic performance of LOTR film alum Andy Serkis.
Harry Potter
Dale once held a Guinness World Record for the 134 unique voices he created in Order of the Phoenix. His lauded performance of the whole series remains awe-inspiring.
Dune Saga
It’s an understatement to say Frank Herbert’s Dune Saga influenced the sci-fi genre: In many ways, this epic of politics, mysticism, and imperialism set on the desert planet Arrakis defined it.
Simonverse
Alive with all the joys and pitfalls of teen friendship and young love, the Simonverse is a heartfelt and hilarious ode to coming of age, coming out, and coming into one’s own.
Wishes and Wellingtons
Julie Berry’s delightful, alliteratively-titled kidlit trilogy is a feat of whimsy: a charming tale that trails feisty heroine Maeve on her magical journey after she unearths a djinni.
The Mistborn Saga
Enchanting as ever, the Mistborn Saga encompasses two series set in the same universe 300 hundred years apart: Each is a testament to Sanderson’s unparalleled world-building and magic systems.
Hercule Poirot Mysteries
It’s no mystery—Agatha Christie's inimitable, mustachioed Belgian sleuth, Hercule Poirot, is made all the more magnetic thanks to masterful performances from voices like Richard Armitage and Hugh Fraser.
Earthseed
Butler was a master of science fiction, and her Earthseed duology, a near-future work meditating on greed, conservation, and survival, may just be the best in her decorated body of work.
The MaddAddam Trilogy
Atwood's signature balance of adventure and commentary are at their finest here, as an ensemble of colorful characters must navigate a world ravaged by famine, war, and mutated beasts.
The Illuminae Files
Told through interviews, intercepted transmissions, and security footage, this stellar series about two teens surviving a planetary invasion will keep you glued to your headphones.
The Wheel of Time
Detailed world-building and exquisite narration combine to create one unforgettable story in this acclaimed saga that follows five strangers on a journey through the unknowable wilderness.
A Court of Thorn and Roses
Excellently narrated by Jennifer Ikeda, this retelling of Beauty and the Beast delivers action, drama, and faerie politics wrapped in the budding romance between Feyre and Tamlin.
Part of Your World
The highly talented voices of Julia Whelan, Zachary Webber, and Kyla Garcia deliver everything we expect from Abby Jimenez—wit, snark, sweetness, angst, and a HEA, too.
Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy
As much a gorgeous travelogue as it is a romp of a story about love, money, and social climbers, Kevin Kwan’s rom-com trilogy is pure delight.
Gray Man
Mark Greaney's fast-paced series—now a film starring Ryan Gosling—upended the military-thriller genre, thanks in part to Jay Snyder’s electrifying narration.
McClain Brothers Series
Jacobi Diem and Adenrele Ojo are the perfect pairing as they guide listeners through this steamy series about second-chance love stories and family dynamics.
Harry Bosch
The Black Echo introduced listeners to LAPD homicide detective and maverick Harry Bosch—and launched the career of beloved crime-fiction author Connelly.
Iron Druid Chronicles
Luke Daniels brings a cool swagger to Atticus O’Sullivan, Irish bookseller and the last of the Druids, while delivering impeccable character work on a number of ancient Celtic gods and spirits.
The Broken Earth
Robin Miles wields her incomparable voice to completely inhabit Jemisin’s characters and unyielding landscape, expertly rendering the story of a heroine with formidable abilities in search of justice.
Dublin Murder Squad
Each installment of this acclaimed procedural focuses on a different detective in the Dublin Murder Squad, diving deep on the department, the case at hand, and each character’s inner turmoil.
Inheritance Cycle
Performing a saga perfect for daydreamers and adventurers alike, Gerard Doyle artfully unspools this tale with all the wonder of a good bedtime story, sketching out a magic land, a boy, and his dragon.
All Souls
Narrator Jennifer Ikeda’s playful delivery brings to life the world of magic unlocked when academic (and descendant of witches) Diana Bishop comes across a long-lost, enchanted alchemical manuscript.
Jack Ryan
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan—a CIA analyst and the frequent target of his enemies—delivers plenty of action in this long-running series helmed by the inimitable Scott Brick.
Stage Dive
Following the love lives of rock band Stage Dive, every second of this listen is amped with sexual tension and emotional suspense thanks to the dulcet tones of Andi Arndt.
Easy Rawlins
Gritty and tense, Mosley’s signature detective series begins in the 1940s and progresses through the Civil Rights era, trailing Black private investigator and WWII veteran Easy Rawlins.
The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels
History has never been so sexy than at the hands of Philippa Gregory and performer Bianca Amato, as they weave us through tales of power and passion.
Nsibidi Scripts
Yetide Badaki and Nene Nwoko masterfully narrate the story of Sunny, an American girl with albinism who, after moving to her family homeland of Nigeria, discovers she possesses powerful magic.
Montague Siblings
Christian Coulson and Mackenzie Lee are exceptional in this 18th-century coming-of-age adventure that covers LGBTQIA+ identity, gender, light piracy, European history, medicine, and more.
Stephanie Plum
Alive with madcap antics and sharp dialogue, Janet Evanovich's wildly popular Stephanie Plum is a resourceful New Jersey bounty hunter with attitude, flair, and no shortage of tangled-up affairs.
Robert Langdon
Expertly paced and plotted, this smart series centers on symbologist Robert Langdon as he endeavors to unravel puzzles entwined in art, history, conspiracy, and theology.
Millennium Series
Victim turned avenger Lisbeth Salander, an antisocial tech whiz with a dragon tattoo, teams up with a crusading journalist to hack criminal masterminds in this suspense favorite.
The Chronicles of Narnia
With its vivid magical realms, timeless themes of good and evil, and core cast of four endearing, adventurous siblings, Lewis's beloved series endures, as charming as ever.
The Kingsbridge Novels
Ken Follett’s sweeping, epic series centers on the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England, with each novel set in a different century, and all masterfully performed by John Lee.
The Lunar Chronicles
Fairy tales ranging from Cinderella to Rapunzel get an enchanting techno sci-fi twist in the Lunar Chronicles, a saga that reimagines these classic stories through the lens of intergalactic war.
The Neapolitan Novels
This story begins with the news of a disappearance: Elena receives a phone call that her childhood friend is missing, setting into motion the events of this resonant quartet.
Six Tudor Queens
Historian Alison Weir leaned on her expertise to create a compelling and dramatic fictional series about the six wives of Henry VIII, beautifully performed by Rosalyn Landor.
Threshold Universe
If you love a good mystery and are even remotely interested in sci-fi or horror, this is the perfect escapist treat. Listener-favorite Ray Porter is at the top of his game in every performance.
Cradle
Travis Baldree narrates all 12 audiobooks in Wight’s mind-blowing series led by unforgettable underdog protagonist Lindon, a man born powerless in a world of magic.
Virgin River
Thérèse Plummer’s narration brings to life this sweet hit series and the quirky cast of supporting characters that make its titular small town so charming.
His Dark Materials
Pullman’s celebrated series transports listeners to a carefully crafted world where witch clans and armored bears rule and complex ethical themes resound.
Earthsea
Hear the tale of how legendary sorcerer Ged came into his own in this classic saga of his apprenticeship, training, and all the hijinks that ensued on his journey toward mastery.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood
Jim Frangione's velvety voice immediately sucks you in (pun intended) to J.R. Ward's tantalizing paranormal romance, a vampire series fueled by a passionate race against time.
Knockemout
A runaway bride starts over in a new town aided by the resident bad boy and his adorable basset hound in this sexy opposites-attract love story, performed by dreamy duo Lila Winters and Sebastian York.
One and Only Ivan
This Newbery Medal-winning series celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships in the tradition of Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little—you won’t be able to resist Ivan.
Chaos Seeds
In this essential listen for LitRPG fans and newcomers alike, narrator Nick Podehl’s lively performance shines amid a richly developed soundscape as gamer Richter fights his way through a perilous kingdom.
Red Rising
Set amid a dystopic future dominated by a color-coded class hierarchy, Brown's series brilliantly develops an unlikely hero in Darrow, a lowly Red Helldiver who embarks on a journey to upend the ruling Society altogether.
The Dresden Files
These genre-blending thrillers combine supernatural fantasy with crime fiction, following Harry Dresden (voiced by James Marsters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame), a part-time private investigator and full-time wizard.
The Raven Cycle
In Henrietta, magic permeates the everyday—especially for Blue Sargent, her family of psychics, and four curious students at Aglionby Academy. Luckily for listeners, Will Patton captures every enchanting, ghostly turn.
The Mortal Instruments Series
After a series of strange visions and supernatural encounters, 15-year-old Clary sets out to fulfill her destiny as a Shadowhunter, a being tasked with protecting humanity from demonic forces.
The Baby-Sitters Club
The Baby-Sitters Club series has been a go-to for tweens of the past three decades, with timeless themes of self-discovery, true friendship, and family dynamics as relatable as ever.
The Wedding Date
Jasmine Guillory crashed onto the rom-com scene with this captivating, cheeky, and super sweet feel-good series, brought to bold, bubbly life by narrator Janina Edwards.
Jack Reacher
Drifter Jack Reacher, formerly of the military police, can’t seem to avoid conflict no matter where he is. We’re just grateful to be along for the ride on each edge-of-your seat adventure.
Beautiful Bastard
The 10-book series catapulted the trend of romance stories about friend groups to new heights, with each new leading couple more beautiful and beloved than the last.
Beartown
Swedish author Fredrik Backman is a genius at creating characters you fall in love with, settings you want to travel to, and stories that pull you in completely.
In Death
Romance meets suspense in this futuristic, high-stakes mystery series, written by J.D. Robb—better known to listeners as women’s fiction icon Nora Roberts.
Written in the Stars
The stars align in Alexandria Bellefleur's enchanting rom-coms as Lauren Sweet, one of the very best voices in romance, delivers a stellar, pitch-perfect performance.
The Wolf Hall Trilogy
Multi-Booker Prize winner Mantel follows the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, the minister of King Henry VIII’s court, in this brilliant historical fiction trilogy.
Love Lines
Cara Bastone's laugh-out-loud rom-com begins with a romance that sparks from a customer service call, cleverly told through phone conversations, text messages, and online chats.
Slains
This series explores the lives of contemporary women with strong connections to the past so unbreakable that their ancestral memories threaten to upend their lives altogether.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Never has there been a more accurate interpretation of the pre-teen experience than this series, the firsthand account of Greg Heffley, an average middle-school boy just trying to survive puberty.
Red Queen
Though Mae Barrow’s blood is commoner Red, she wields a powerful gift only found in the elite Silver-blooded, an impossibility that, once revealed, harbors dangerous consequences.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
After his teacher shifts into a Fury and attacks him, tween Percy learns he is a demigod, fathered by the Greek god Poseidon. Soon follows a wholly unique coming-of-age adventure.
Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children
This macabre series opens on an abandoned orphanage haunted by the presence of supernatural children, a spooky setting that comes alive thanks to some scary good narration.
The Poppy War
Author R.F. Kuang invites listeners into a historical fantasy world influenced by the war and bloodshed of 20th-century China, tackling intersectional issues of race, gender, and poverty along the way.
Dungeon Crawler Carl
For fans of LitRPG with a darker, more intense edge, this series that combines reality television with global catastrophe is a stunner. With civilization in ruins, survival depends on who puts on the best show.
The Giver Quartet
Lois Lowry's staggering, classic YA series, a commentary on memory, emotion, and individualism, is set in a world curiously free of all pain and sorrow.
Pucked
Fun, flirty, and featuring sizzling narration so hot it just might melt the rink, Helena Hunting's series showcases a softer—and sexier—side of pro hockey.
Always Satisfied
Audio maven and bestselling author Lauren Blakely brings the heat—and an impressive cast of performers—to her Always Satisfied series of standalones.
The Folk of the Air
Orphaned Jude and her twin sister are mortals living among magic in the High Court of Faerie. If she wants to fit in, she’ll need to face the wicked prince.
Hell Divers
The planet has been poisoned by the battles of WWIII, forcing humanity to survive on lifeboats in the sky and rely on the salvation of divers descending from the clouds, in this dark, dystopian series.
Murderbot Diaries
This series explores the ethics of artificial intelligence by asking difficult questions and providing tight, intensely listenable prose surrounding a unique protagonist: a cyborg that has become self-aware.
The Royally Series
Emma Chase upends all storybook expectations in this spicy series (narrated by the always crush-worthy Shane East and Andi Arndt) that finds princes and princesses finding love in the most unexpected of places.
Grisha
The Grisha series opens on a world marred by a swath of darkness housing monstrous demons: Alina’s ability to summon light offers hope, but also brings forth foes who want such power for themselves.
The Vampire Chronicles
Beginning with the iconic Interview with the Vampire, this expansive and long-running series from horror maven Anne Rice is perfect for any listener craving a little bloodthirst.
Bridgertons
If you swoon for a period piece and can’t resist a good old-fashioned courtship, fall in love with Julia Quinn’s transporting Regency-era saga of rogues and debutantes.
The Riyria Revelations
A captivating, conspiracy-laden tale about two thieves framed for the death of the king launches this epic series and its spinoff, all expertly performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds.
Modern Love
You’ll swipe right and find your match with this refreshingly modern romance series about both the perils and potential of finding love in our social media-centric world.
Women Who Dare
The inimitable Beverly Jenkins delivers a powerful historical romance series set in the aftermath of the Civil War, beautifully performed by Kim Staunton.
Alex Cross
Patterson is at his thriller peak with Dr. Alex Cross, a tough guy with a PhD in psychology, who works to get inside the minds of elusive and twisted killers.
The Ravenels
From award-winning author Lisa Kleypas comes this seductive, totally enthralling Regency series about the Ravenels, a family of rakish men and ambitious women.
Cake Series
Sink your teeth into the irresistible lives of musician Jack McKallister, his family, and his bandmates in this rock-star romance that echoes with wit and heart.
Mercy Thompson
Narrator Lorelei King transports us into a world saturated with fae, vampires, witches—and lots of sarcasm and humor—in this essential urban fantasy series with romance crossover.
Magic 2.0
This lighthearted, fish-out-of-water take on the LitRPG genre tracks Martin, an everyman hacker capable of manipulating reality, as he attempts to evade legal ramifications with a quick trip to the Middle Ages.
Reluctant Royals
Alyssa Cole explores the happily-ever-afters and royal pains of regal romance in this contemporary series that blends your favorite rom-com meet-cutes with a dash of fairy tale wonder.
He Who Fights with Monsters
You haven't heard voice work until you've heard Heath Miller’s take on monsters, wizards, and more in this saga of a charming but unprepared everyman thrust into a fantasy world.
