Books-I-Loved-Listening-To Reads

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

After a bit of a spring break in March, an unexpected sick break in early April, and then a general life-is-messy break, I’m finally back with recommendations for six of my favourite audiobooks. Think of this as a double feature to make up for all the breaks…

I’m going to close my eyes to the chaos in the world right now—tariffs, a feminist(?) spaceflight, a Canadian election where so very, very much hangs in the balance—and just focus on books. Because no matter how engaged we are with the world and the news, no one can be het up every hour of every day, we all need a break sometimes. 

I used to prefer listening to audiobooks only after I’d already read the physical book because my mind tends to wander when I listen to a book, and it’s easier if I’m already au courant with the plot.  But sometimes, when I’m feeling daring I’ll try a previously unread book. 

I find listening to books is a great way to make chores more fun, and also it encourages me to go for more walks, especially if I’m at an exciting part and my family won’t leave me alone at home. Listening is a different experience for me in that I can’t flip forward a few pages or flip back to remind myself who so and so is, so sometimes I just have to resign myself to not remembering who a character is and hoping I’ll figure it out later. Or having to wait tantalizingly for the next chapter to unfold instead of speed-reading before bed to figure out what’s going to happen. It’s probably a good lesson in patience for impatient me. 

And I think anyone who’s listened to a book read by a narrator whose voice grates on them, agrees that the narrator can make or break a book. Which is why I’m a sucker for almost anything narrated by Rosamund Pike or Dan Stevens. 

Because I can’t bring myself to link to these audiobooks on Audible, I’m linking to the author or publisher pages so you can find the audiobooks via your desired platform.

Before we start, if it's your jam I’d love for you to follow ATKReads on Instagram. Or, if you know someone who’d enjoy this newsletter, please forward it along. And feel free to share your favourite audiobooks, your favourite narrator, or your favourite books in general via the commenting functionality on the site!

Already-Read-It Listens

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
If you’ve ever dreamed of giving up your big city life and moving to the wilds of Scotland (though not in a Hallmark movie way)  and you love reads that feel like a gentle hug that relaxes your nervous system, then Jenny Colgan might just be the author you’ve been looking for. Many of Colgan’s books are about bookstores and bakeries – two of my favourite things, so really, what’s not to love? Her books also make great listens, as they don’t have vast casts of characters, and you can fall into the rhythm of happily waiting for the inevitable, satisfying romantic ending. In TBoTC, When her library closes and she’s laid off, it takes all of her courage for librarian Nina to up sticks to the Scottish Highlands and refurbish a van into a bookshop bus. It’s one of my favourite Colgan books, and like most of them, it’s narrated by Eilidh Beaton, who does a lovely job.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo  by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Evelyn Hugo is my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid book to date, and I enjoyed listening to it even more than I enjoyed reading it. Partly because I read quite quickly, and listening to audiobooks forces me to slow down and let the plot unfold. And partly because this book feels very cinematic – there’s definitely a whiff of Elizabeth Taylor about Evelyn Hugo –  so it works well as a listen (in fact, it’s very slowly being made into a Netflix movie). The story of Evelyn’s seven husbands and her true love, who is not one of her husbands, as told to the biographer she chooses, feels very Dominic Dunne, very old Hollywood, and very glamorous.  The secondary plot of why she chose who she chose to write her biography, is a mystery that unfolds alongside the story of Evelyn’s life. One of the book’s two narrators is also Emily Henry’s narrator, Julia Whelan, and she’s always solid.

The Verifiers by Jane Pek 
I recently read the second book in Pek’s Claudia Lin series - The Rivals – and I wanted to share it with you right away, but it doesn’t fit into any upcoming themes, so I’m going to try and get you hooked on this series by recommending The Verifiers. As I wrote when I shared it on my IG back in 2022 “it’s hard to define, but it’s very funny, it’s a mystery, it makes you think twice about the info we share about ourselves online (and AI and algorithms)”. It’s a mystery wrapped in an immigrant family story, plus a smart commentary on the digital world we live in. I was glad to listen to it after reading—it was so good, I practically sped-read it the first time. If you like(d) Nancy Drew, Veronica Mars, or Harriet the Spy, I think you’ll like Claudia Lin! The narrator, Eunice Wong, is a perfect match for the story.

Daring Listens: Tried Without Reading First

The Huntress & The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
I went on a bit of a Kate Quinn listening binge this spring (okay, two books).  I love the female-power energy of her books and how they’re grounded in history. Her protagonists are plucky and sometimes dangerous women who persevere - which is the kind of “nevertheless-she-persisted” energy we need right now. May we all tap into our inner dangerous woman as needed. Quinn often jumps backward and forward in time and tells her stories from multiple viewpoints, which rounds out her novels and gives depth to the storytelling. If you liked The Rose Code and The Alice Network, you’ll enjoy her other books, too. They’re narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, who is great and who also narrates The Lifecycle of the Common Octopus, which I’m currently reading (in book form).

Funny Story by Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s books are almost always satisfying, although I didn’t like Happy Place, and Julia Whelan (see Seven Husbands above) does a great job narrating them. Protagonist Daphne is a very organized children’s librarian (I’m always a sucker for a librarian, see The Bookshop on the Corner above), and Miles, her new bartender roommate, is her polar opposite. The two are thrown together when Daphne’s fiance decamps with Miles’ girlfriend. One reason I enjoy Henry’s books is because the characters have depth, develop, and are relatable; you may even want to hang out with them. Plus, who doesn’t love a good book about starting over and new beginnings, especially when everything works out in the end? And no, I don’t think that’s a spoiler. Here’s a gift link to a recent New York Times article about Emily Henry’s books as her latest novel comes out next week. 

My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes
I haven’t read anything by Marian Keyes for ages, but when I listened to an excerpt of her book, which Keyes herself narrates I had to get it. After the pandemic, Anna Walsh (yes, one of those Walsh sisters) leaves a lovely but slightly-too-earnest partner, a high-flying job, and her apartment in New York to head back to Ireland. Like Funny Story, My Favourite Mistake is about starting over - this time in middle age. In need of a job, any job, Anna ends up in the small town of Maumtully, helping old friends manage the PR for the launch of a luxury hotel and spa. The only catch? There appears to be a campaign against the hotel – a campaign involving buildings being set alight and vandalism, and Anna has to figure out who’s behind it and bring them around. Hijinks ensue, and the whole book is worth listening to if only to hear how Keyes says HRT in her Irish accent. 

A little something extra? 

I’m looking forward to warmer weather and cooler drinks! If you, like me and many others I know, are drinking less alcohol but are still want to drink interesting drinks, may I recommend my newest fave - Barbet? Their drinks come in fun, stripy cans and three delicious flavours – Light Wave, a cucumber, pineapple and lavender mix, Love Bite which pairs pink grapefruit with ginger with juniper, and Deep Dive, a combo of white peach, yuzu, and mint. They’re Canadian, plant-based, low on sugar, and super refreshing! You can order them from their site or find where to buy them locally.

Thanks for your patience during this break in regular programming—your next ATKReads should arrive in early May!