I’ve recently started listening to audiobooks and realized it can be hard to know where to start. The narrator makes a big difference in my enjoyment of the book, and luckily, the Audie Awards bring together the best in book listening with their annual awards. With a variety of genres and categories, from mystery and romance to humor and middle grade, and the ultimate prize of Audiobook of the Year, the Audies are a great place to start for finding audio experiences that elevate the text. The 2025 finalists were just announced, so here’s a selection of some of the best.
My Name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand, read by Barbra Streisand
Memoirs are often an entry point for audio books, as it’s always fun to hear the author’s voice. And who could do it better than Babs herself, with her 48-hour masterpiece nominated for Audiobook of the Year?! The audio version is made even more special with musical interludes sung by Barbra, the legend, as she chronicles the story of her life and career. (Also a finalist for Autobiography/Memoir)
James by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman
I wasn’t surprised to see James as a finalist for Fiction this year, since it’s dominated year-end lists and has an incredible exploration of language. The retelling of Huckleberry Finn centers the enslaved Jim and slyly uses an extreme code-switching to expose the falsities of enslavement and white supremacy. The review from AudioFile agreed, saying, “With its subtlety and attention to detail, Hoffman’s narration reinforces Jim’s character and narrative arcs as Jim takes back his agency in life.”
The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc, Barbara Crampton, Angela Goethals, Andrew J. Robinson, Stephen Graham Jones, and Stephen King
Sometimes audiobooks are full performances, with ensemble casts bringing texture and personality to each of the voices of the text. The last book in the Indian Lake trilogy does this masterfully, with the author reading the last chapter and a brief cameo from Stephen King, anchored by the main character of Jade Daniels, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc. The Angel of Indian Lake is a finalist in the Judges Category this year, Horror, which shows how popular the genre is; that Stephen Graham Jones’ other book, I Was a Teenage Slasher, was also nominated in this category shows his influence in the genre.
Looking for more of the 2025 finalists? Check out this booklist with 10 of the featured categories! If you’re frustrated by the waits on many of these new audiobooks, also look at the Audies’ past winners and finalists, with nearly 30 years of excellent options to choose from.
~posted by Jane S.
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