The best audiobooks of 2019

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The Best Audiobooks of 2019

From riveting fiction to the best true stories out there, with sound advice and insightful guides along the way, it's been an incredible 12 months of listening. Join us as we celebrate a fabulous year for your ears!

Great Entertainers

All-star casts, grand adventures, belly laughs, and more than a hint of spice make for truly absorbing audio.

Daisy Jones and the Six

For many of us here at Audible, this is the year's best listen. And with Reese Witherspoon producing the TV adaptation, the excitement continues. Taylor Jenkins Reid's 'tell-all account' of the rise and fall of a 1970s rock band is so intricately drawn - and brilliantly performed by stars including Jennifer Beals, Benjamin Bratt and Judy Greer - you’ll have a hard time believing it's fiction. Like a good riff, you just have to hear it.

488 Rules For Life

In a rapidly changing world, it's hard to know the best way to behave in every situation - lucky for us, Kitty Flanagan is here with the rules. All of them. From the office (don't insert 'yay' into 'Friday') to language (don't use 'yummy' to describe non-food objects) and public transport (don't sit next to someone unless there is no alternative), you'll never put a foot wrong again. As one member so perfectly put it: 'Kitty never disappoints.'

It Burns

It was our first homegrown Audible Original, and it continues to shine - with accolades including a Rose D'Or Award nomination. Marc Fennell investigates the fiery subculture of competitive chilli breeding and eating, where friendships dissolve, scandals rage, and hospitals are visited. If you’re expecting Fennell to get through burn-free, think again.

Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered

In their signature hilarious and candid style, My Favorite Murder hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark take you on their journey from living room podcast to worldwide phenomenon. An absolute must-listen for murderinos everywhere.

Other Captivating 2019 Listens We've Loved

Narrated by: Carl Prekopp
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Blair Brown
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Tamala Shelton
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Marcus Samuelsson
2 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Kate McKinnon
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Dan O'Grady
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Andi Arndt
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Ali Wong
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Mark Humphries
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Allison Hiroto
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Ben Folds
4.5 out of 5 stars

Live Your Best Life

It was a bumper year for straight-talking, accessible self-improvement guides. Draw some inspo from these.

Everything Is F*cked

It's a title that's resonated with listeners all year - and many would argue that we live, as the ancient curse goes, 'in interesting times'. Mark Manson's follow-up to The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck takes an unsurprisingly sugar-free look at life, and emerges with a surprisingly optimistic view.

The Resilience Project

Melbourne teacher Hugh van Cuylenburg has created a practical guide to building an invaluable life skill: resilience. It's been used in education and industry - and in down-to-earth audio form, our members have called it 'simply life changing' and 'exceptionally effective'.

The Fast 800

Michael Mosley, the friendly TV doctor who made intermittent fasting a 'thing', is back with a snappy, accessible follow-up to The 5:2 Diet. If you're looking for a new approach to eating, this is one that our members have sworn by.

Take Control of Your Life

Pacy and pragmatic, Mel Robbins gives sound advice that's fun to listen to. Her mission? To help you silence the fear that holds you back. This one made us feel ready to take on the world. Whether it's personal or professional, fear be gone!

More Listens We Love in Health and Wellbeing

Narrated by: Will Damron
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Dr David A. Sinclair
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Ross Edgley
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Rachel Hollis
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Oprah Winfrey
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Denise Duffield-Thomas
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Daniel J. Siegel MD
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Russell Brand
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Zoë Foster Blake
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars

The Best of Real Life

There have been plenty of rich, beautifully told true stories to enjoy in 2019. Learn and grow with these listens.

Your Own Kind of Girl

In this courageously frank memoir, Aussie songstress Clare Bowditch shares her storytelling prowess and beautiful voice both in words and song. Like us, Bowditch’s fellow musos have been raving - Missy Higgins calls it 'a celebration of the human struggle', while Bernard Fanning says it’s 'brutal at times but funny as f**k'.

Talking to Strangers

Entertaining and informative as ever, Malcolm Gladwell is back with more insights on the human condition. Here he delves into what it means for us to truly understand each other - or, in so many cases, not. The audio version is enhanced with interview recordings and underscoring, making it an especially engaging experience.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Did you know...? Therapists are people too! Lori Gottlieb's audiobook, with incredibly engaging narration by Brittany Pressley, pulls back the curtain to show you what ran through her mind during her most challenging sessions. Part science, part self-help, part memoir, this story is told with compassion, honesty, and humour.

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?

Written and narrated with warmth by Caitlin Doughty - an actual funeral director - this is everything you wanted to know about death but were too afraid to even think about. And guess who's asked all the questions? Kids. From mummification to what your pets might do when you shuffle off, this weird and wonderful audiobook isn't afraid to go there.

Other Riveting True Stories from 2019

Narrated by: Dan Carlin
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Ben Lawrence
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Marie Forleo
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Simon Sinek
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Louis Theroux
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Will Damron
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jess Hill
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Louise Milligan
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jia Tolentino
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Professor Ben Garrod
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Elton John
5 out of 5 stars

Chills, Thrills... and Kills

Crime never takes a holiday and modern detectives have had their work cut out for them this year.

The Wife and the Widow

Christian White's taut psychological thriller is written with wit and flair... and diabolical plotting. On a chilly (fictional) island off the coast of Victoria, two characters tell a story of murder and deceit - their perspectives cleverly weaving together, excellently portrayed by narrator Caz Prescott.

The Guilty Ones

You're always in good hands with Joy Ellis, especially when paired with a resonant Richard Armitage performance. It's a killer combo. This is the fourth Jackman and Evans investigation, and it's compelling as ever. We didn’t want it to end, but it was over before we knew it, and left us desperate for more.

Blood Territory

Set against a sizzling Darwin backdrop, this is true crime 'Territory Style'. Brought to you by a Walkley Award-winning journo, the investigation has it all: murder, vigilantism, and allegations as wild as its landscape. Intriguing and edgy.

The Scholar

Relax – the sequel to Dervla McTiernan's hit debut, The Ruin, delivers the goods and then some. Except you can't actually relax because it's another enthralling, tense, twisty-turny tale. And this time, Cormac might be just a little too close to the case. The mellifluous narration by Aoife McMahon took us right back to Galway again.

More 2019 Picks for Killer Crime and Thrillers

4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jonathan Groff
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Dorje Swallow
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Narrated by: Aimee Horne
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Clare Corbett
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Kyf Brewer
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jay Snyder
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: David Pittu
4 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Weruche Opia
4 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jon Ronson
4.5 out of 5 stars

Swords, Spaceships, Speculation

Lean into the dystopian, harness your magic, or grab your rocket ride outta here with some of the best storytelling on offer.

Alien III

If there's such a thing as alternate sci-fi history, here's a piece of it: Cyberpunk pioneer William Gibson's unproduced screenplay for the third instalment of the iconic film series, resurrected in stunning audio drama form. Comes complete with thrilling sound design and a stellar voice cast - the legendary Lance Henriksen among them.

Zero Day Code

Every city on the planet is a week away from collapse. Cut off the food supply, and the city will die. In this near-future thriller, Australian author John Birmingham takes us on a thrilling ride through 'global mayhem and societal collapse', as one listener calls it - expertly narrated by member favourite Rupert Degas.

Holy Sister

This is the gripping conclusion to Mark Laurence's Book of the Ancestor trilogy – and what a world he's built along the way. It is so rich with magic and fantastical science and epic battle scenes… what a ride! We're especially big fans of the protagonist, Nona Grey, who is a total badass.

Tiamat's Wrath

Sci-fi listeners, readers, and viewers alike (and those of us who sit in the middle of that nerdy venn diagram) cannot get enough of The Expanse. And this, the eighth(-ish) instalment in the amazing adventures of the protomolecule and friends, is another cracking good story.

More Spec Fic We Loved This Year

Narrated by: Bryce Dallas Howard
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Santino Fontana
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Simon Vance
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Michael Sheen
4.5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Liyah Summers
4 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Sophie Aldred
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Tatiana Maslany
5 out of 5 stars
Narrated by: Yahtzee Croshaw
5 out of 5 stars

There are more ways to explore

Whether you're looking for a listen for the whole family, something educational or your next sci-fi wild ride, explore these audiobook recommendations.