Must Listen Audiobooks!

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Must Listen Audiobooks!"

Podcast: I'll Read What She's Reading
Hosts: Kennedy, Mikayla, Reggie
Date: May 13, 2026

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Overview

In this lively and candid episode of "I'll Read What She's Reading," hosts Kennedy, Mikayla, and Reggie dive into their latest (and all-time favorite) audiobook recommendations. If your TBR pile is getting intimidating, or you’re hunting for the perfect listen to accompany your daily chores, this is your go-to guide for current and classic must-listen audiobooks. The conversation also explores tips for making audiobooks affordable, hacks for maximizing your listening time, and reflections on how audiobooks transform the reading experience.

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How the Hosts Listen to Audiobooks

00:14–06:46

• Audiobooks as a Lifestyle:
  • Reggie: “I use audiobooks 95% of the time.” (00:42)
  • Mikayla: “Every day, all day.” (00:45)
  • Kennedy: Admits audiobooks are part of almost every book she ‘reads,’ except rare ARCs without audiobooks.
• Where & When They Listen:
  • Constantly—while driving, cleaning, at the gym, grocery shopping, and even in the sauna.
  • Kennedy shares her “mug in the shower” hack for amplifying sound when listening to audiobooks while showering. (02:27)
  • The team discusses feeling “weird” when they’re not listening to anything, highlighting how audiobooks have become integral to their routine (03:22, 03:39).
• Reflecting on Reading Goals:
  • Majority of their consumed books are audiobooks—“60% out of like a hundred.” (04:31)
• Favorite Apps & Money-Saving Tips:
  • Hoopla and Libby for free library rentals.
  • Audible credits and Amazon Music (Reggie’s kids even accidentally bought a membership via Alexa, but it turned out useful).
  • Commentary on Spotify’s 15-hour audiobook limit—frustrating for fantasy readers, but new page-tracking feature appreciated. (06:10–06:46)
  • Noted they “game the system” by using multiple apps with staggered credits.

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Key Audiobook Recommendations

06:46–37:00

1. Fantasy & Sci-Fi Picks

• Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas (Narrated by Elizabeth Evans)
  Reggie (07:18): “There is just something so nostalgic and so special about the Throne of Glass audiobooks. Elizabeth Evans, the narrator…just can’t be beat.”
• The group reminisces meeting Elizabeth Evans and her work narrating “Acotar” and “Crescent City” (07:30).
• Brandon Sanderson Standalones (Graphic Audio Editions):
  • Mikayla/Kennedy (09:52–11:02): Giant fans of “Tress of the Emerald Sea” and “Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.”
    • Mikayla (10:23): “Hoid ... just adds this comedic relief.”
    • Kennedy (10:52): “I don’t think I would have rated it as high if I’d physically read it.”
• Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
  • Kennedy (12:27): “They’re very short ... following a sentient murderbot whose job is to murder ... so fun. Not a graphic audio, but has some sound effects and fun things added into the story.”

2. Documentary-Style and Multi-Narrator Audiobooks

• Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Reggie (14:02): “It’s just like you’re listening to a documentary ... different from just the same narrator the whole time.”
  • Kennedy (16:37): “Listening to it would be quite the experience.”
• The Favorites by Lane Fargo
  • Notable for mixing standard narration with “reporting live” soundbites—immersive storytelling. (15:44)
• Emma Lyons Series (Mikayla’s pick, 16:57): English accents, added character depth, quick reads, and fun narration. “She just brings the characters to life where maybe I wouldn’t have pictured them that way…” (17:35)

3. Thrillers and Experimental Formats

• This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crumb
  Kennedy (18:45): “There are podcast clips into it, there are calls from their listeners ... it was a good audiobook listen. I think I would have rated it lower if I would have read it, so would highly recommend that on audio.”
  • Podcast-style elements add realism and drive the thriller plot (20:15).

4. Immersive Historical & Women’s Fiction

• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Reggie (21:35): “It didn’t have any bells and whistles ... the narrator just did a fantastic job ... instantly like sweating and getting nervous and high stakes.”
• Discussed potential for adaptation and the cinematic vibes of the audiobook. (22:09–23:40)

5. Legal and Procedural Dramas

• Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh
  • Mikayla (23:40): “He has a very distinct voice ... It’s rare for me to read a book where it’s not [the narrator as] the love interest. Eddie Flynn is just ... fun, a little outlandish, but really enjoyable.”
  • Reggie: “That audiobook narrator is Eddie Flynn.” (25:00)

6. Celebrity Memoirs

• My Last Breath by Jeremy Renner
  • Kennedy (26:19): “Included the actual 911 call from when he was run over ... a little graphic at times ... but it was so unique and just a really cool story and inspiring a little bit.”
• Unique for incorporating real-life audio clips, raising the stakes of the experience.

7. Magical Realism

• The Other Side of Now by Paige Torrison
  • Reggie (29:18): “It’s narrated by the author, which is just such a treat. Paige is hilarious, has such a talent for narration ... just couldn’t have been a better audiobook.”
  • Magical realism meets women’s fiction and rom com, but with notable depth. “Like if Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry had a baby.” (32:10)

8. Cozy Romances with Broadcast Elements

• BK Borison books: First Time Caller & Now Back to You
  • Mikayla (32:22): “There’s a news radio element ... the narrators do a fantastic job ... I’ve listened to every single one and they’re just fantastic.”
  • Strong recommendation for winter reading (“stuck in a snowstorm” trope), dual narration (Kennedy, 33:54).

9. Dramatic YA/NA

• Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh
  • Kennedy (34:34): “I never would have gotten through them physically reading them ... But Ireland, so their accents are pretty heavy. Could not listen at two times speed ... a great story.”
  • Traumatic, heavy elements, and a coming-of-age vibe compared to Degrassi (Kennedy, 36:12).
  • Adaptation news discussed (37:00).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Reggie on Elizabeth Evans’ narration: “There is just something about her voice telling the story of Throne of Glass that is just. Just can’t be beat.” (07:30)
• Mikayla on graphic audio Sanderson books: “He just adds, like, this comedy, like comedic relief ... the graphic audios are just top tier.” (10:23)
• Kennedy on audiobook hacks: “I get a big mug, and I stick my phone in the mug in the shower, and then it kind of amplifies.” (02:27)
• Reggie on the power of author-narrated titles: “Paige is hilarious, has such a talent for narration, and she understands the character, obviously, more than anybody … couldn't have been a better audiobook, honestly.” (29:24)
• Kennedy on celebrity memoirs: “It is so fun. ... the fact that they included the actual 911 call...it was so unique and just a really cool story and inspiring a little bit.” (26:19)

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Tips, Hacks, and Listening Habits

Sprinkled throughout the episode

• Leverage library apps (Hoopla, Libby) for free access.
• “Stagger” different audiobook app subscriptions/credits to maximize options.
• Use unique hacks like sticking your phone in a mug to amplify sound in the shower (02:27).
• Embrace dual narration for romance/rom coms for more immersive experiences (33:54).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:14–06:46: Audiobook listening habits, apps, and hacks
• 07:18: Fantasy/SFF picks begin (Throne of Glass)
• 09:52: Brandon Sanderson graphic audios
• 12:27: Murderbot Diaries chat
• 14:02: Daisy Jones, documentary audiobook formats
• 16:57: Emma Lyons series and voice acting
• 18:45: Podcast/thriller hybrid rec (“This Story Might Save Your Life”)
• 21:35: Historical fiction immersion (“Atmosphere” by Taylor Jenkins Reid)
• 23:40: Legal thrillers (Eddie Flynn)
• 26:19: Celebrity memoir highlight (Jeremy Renner)
• 29:18: Author-narrated magic (Other Side of Now by Paige Torrison)
• 32:22: Cozy romance with radio format (BK Borison)
• 34:34: YA/NA drama and accents (Boys of Tommen)

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Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re after an immersive fantasy, a gripping true-life thriller, a laugh-out-loud rom-com, or something experimental, the hosts have delivered a broad and diverse list of recommendations—most with a unique twist that makes them especially suited for audio format. The hosts’ banter and candor make this episode a goldmine for both seasoned audiobook listeners and curious newcomers. If you need more recommendations, they’re only a DM away.

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Transcript

[Kennedy]

Foreign. Hello, guys. Welcome back to Alrito Cheese Reading. I'm Kennedy. I'm Michaela.

[Reggie]

And I'm Reggie.

[Kennedy]

And today we're going to be giving you guys all of the audiobook recommendations. It's been a while since we've done an episode like this, but before we give you guys all the recommendations, we

[Michaela]

wanted to talk about how we go

[Kennedy]

about listening to audiobooks. How often, what apps we use, Maybe some hacks to save some money on audiobooks because they can be kind of expensive. Who wants to start? I mean, maybe.

[Reggie]

Maybe.

[Kennedy]

Let's chat about how often we use

[Reggie]

audiobooks 95% of the time.

[Michaela]

Every day, all day. Every day, all day.

[Kennedy]

No, I can't remember the last time I've read a book. That's a lie. I read the Burning side cover to cover. Just book. Cause it was an arc. There was no audiobook.

[Michaela]

No audiobook out.

[Kennedy]

But usually I would say I at least listen to maybe 20% of every book I read.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because there's ways you can listen for cheap.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But, yeah, constantly listening to audiobooks in my car while I'm cleaning, walking at the gym, in the sauna, grocery shop.

[Reggie]

AirPods are basically glued to my ear. My mom came over the other day and was like. Was it my mom? She's like, do you just, like, always have an audiobook in your ears? And I was like, oh. Like, I didn't even realize I had my AirPods, which is probably not good for me. I've been seeing a lot of things about how Bluetooth is so bad for you, but, yeah, it's just like my. If I can't just do anything in silence, I mean, my house is always pretty noisy because I have children running around, but if they're, like, occupied, I'm like, okay. Hopping into my other world. I'm reading about.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I can't just, like, listen to music or, like, a podcast. It has to be an audiobook.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

On rare occasions, I'll listen to something different, but very rare. Very rare for me.

[Michaela]

New albums come out. That's when you take a pause on the.

[Kennedy]

The audio.

[Reggie]

I need to turn on Smile Jackson for a second.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

If you listen to a sad book like, that was me yesterday.

[Kennedy]

Have you guys ever tried listening to an audiobook in the shower? Yeah, sometimes I honestly want to get a waterproof speaker.

[Michaela]

But what I do right now, this is so ghetto.

[Kennedy]

I get a big mug, and I stick my phone in the mug in the shower, and then it kind of amplifies. Yeah. The audio.

[Michaela]

Smart. Smart thinking.

[Kennedy]

Because I can't hear it all the

[Michaela]

way with the shower running.

[Kennedy]

But when you're in a good book, you know, or when you're trying to finish the book club book and you gotta listen to it 247 throughout your day, you know?

[Michaela]

Yeah. I feel like when I'm in the shower, I have to slow it down for some reason. Like, I don't, I don't know what the psychology is behind it or what my brain's doing. Maybe it's the water sound, but I

[Kennedy]

have to slow down.

[Michaela]

My audiobook when I'm listening in the

[Kennedy]

shower gets it muffled.

[Reggie]

It's a little too overstimulated.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah.

[Kennedy]

The shower. I have noticed that sometimes I have to not have an audiobook because I do get overstimulated.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

When I have auditory input in my ears 24 7. I gotta chill out just a little bit.

[Reggie]

Well, this morning was weird because I finished an audiobook yesterday and then I wasn't sure what I was gonna start next. And like, as I was getting ready this morning, if I don't have like a Marco Polo to listen from these two or an audiobook on my ears, I'm like, what do I do with myself?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Like, it was just so weird. I'm like putting my makeup on. I'm like, in silence.

[Michaela]

It was so strange.

[Reggie]

This does not feel normal for me.

[Michaela]

The other day I was driving home from something and I probably had like a 25 minute drive. I drove in silence. Not intentionally, but then I got home, I was like, I just drove home in silence. Didn't even. I. That like, never happens for me.

[Kennedy]

You could have listened to an hour and a. Of an audiobook. What were you doing?

[Michaela]

I don't know. I didn't even realize until I like, parked in my, my garage and I was like, I just.

[Kennedy]

Silence.

[Reggie]

Yeah, maybe I need that.

[Michaela]

I don't.

[Kennedy]

I just did.

[Michaela]

I, I. It wasn't intentional. I guess I had a lot of thoughts in my brain, but I don't know. It was weird.

[Kennedy]

I. I felt weird. How many books would you guys say out of your reading goal are strictly audiobooks, not both? 60. I would agree.

[Michaela]

Out of like a hundred.

[Kennedy]

Like 60%?

[Michaela]

Yeah, 60%. You know, I feel like I've also been trying not to buy as many books, you know, save a little money. I've also had a bad habit of, like, buying books I haven't read yet, and then I don't love them. And I'm like, I have this book.

[Reggie]

Just depends on the book. Like, where I can get the book. So sometimes I feel like I'm using hoopla a lot because I'm like, oh, a lot of books I want to listen to are on hoopla. Or I'm like using all my ever end credits. Or I get a note, an email from Audible that's like, you have four credits available. I'm like, oh, she go use Audible. I also use Amazon Music every month. Sometimes I don't even get to all of them because I don't have time. But like, you can use listen through Audible on Amazon Music. So if you have an Amazon Music membership. My kids accidentally bought one from our Alexa. So But I was like, this is actually kind of nice because then we weren't getting like anyways, it's just easy. For one, my kids want to like, listen to music. It entertains them to just say, like, play Disney music. But then I can like have it, like pick up. I'll just like resume my Audible book and I'll resume whatever I'm borrowing that month on Amazon Music. I don't know how much the membership is, but I want to say it's. It's less than Spotify. See, then I also use Spotify. Yeah, it's like a game.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

I wish that all my like. Well, maybe I don't. I was gonna say I wish I all my credits, like renewed for each app at the same time. But maybe it's nice that they don't.

[Kennedy]

Makes you stagger.

[Reggie]

But I will say that, like, I know a lot of people like Spotify because you can get 15 hours of an audiobook every month. But I think it's kind of stupid

[Kennedy]

and you see just one book a month. Like you get through half a fantasy book.

[Reggie]

That's why I like Apple Music.

[Kennedy]

Or even if you listen on two times speed. Yeah, it doesn't matter. But have you guys seen the new feature that Spotify rolled out with their audiobooks? No, I haven't used it yet, but I got a notification when I opened up my Spotify. It will actually tell you the page number in the book that you're on when you're listening to it. Which I think is really cool. Cause if you're in the middle of a chapter, it'll tell you a page button.

[Reggie]

Well, should we get into some audiobook recs? It's been a while since we've done one of these episodes.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because as you have heard, we've listened to a lot of audiobooks. We're going to try to share with you guys, like our best picks, like our Favorite audiobooks we've listened to. I think we've done one other episode of this, but it's been a long time, so we might repeat ourselves on a few. But we've read a lot of audiobooks or listened to a lot of audiobooks since the last time we've done this. So who wants to kick us off?

[Kennedy]

You go ahead, kick us off.

[Reggie]

I recently listened to all of these this past year. If you've already read these books physically and you want to do a reread, highly recommend listening to them. Throw in a Glass. I just think there is just something so nostalgic and so special about the Throne of Glass audiobooks. And Elizabeth Evans, the narrator, has since re. Like recorded audio all of Acotar narrating that. And she narrates Crescent City. Yeah, she. We had her as a guest on the podcast last year and she's amazing, but there is just something about her voice telling the story of Throne of Glass that is just. Just can't be beat. So I know that, like, if you're a longtime listener of the podcast, you've probably read Throne of Glass. But if you're wanting to reread, try the audiobooks. If you haven't, or if you haven't read Throne A Class. I mean, I would recommend physically reading them for your first go around, but if you're someone who doesn't have a lot of time to sit down and physically read like the. You will love the audiobooks. They're really, really great. And it's a completed series, which is great too. So you're not having to wait for anything. You can just binge them all.

[Kennedy]

So, so good. That's a great recommendation.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Her voice is Selena. Yeah, Just. That is her.

[Michaela]

I'm still waiting for the graphic audio. It was supposed to come out months ago.

[Reggie]

Yeah. Like this last summer.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

The original release date.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I think they had to redo something, right?

[Michaela]

Really? I don't know.

[Kennedy]

I don't know.

[Michaela]

I just know that. That it hasn't come out and they keep like pushing it back.

[Kennedy]

So sometimes I have a love hate relationship with the graphic audios, but I do think the Throne of Glass one would be pretty good.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Because there's not a lot of growling or, you know, I don't know. There's just something.

[Reggie]

Not a lot of sex.

[Kennedy]

I mean, it's not as bad as Quinn. I haven't ever listened to Quinn, but I've heard stories.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Reggie]

Yeah, it's sponsored by Quinn.

[Kennedy]

Anyways, no. Hate to Quinn. You're Great.

[Michaela]

I haven't listened to anything from Quinn, but mostly because they're not like books, are they?

[Kennedy]

I don't think they're physical books. Stories. They're stories.

[Reggie]

Right.

[Kennedy]

So, Michaela.

[Michaela]

Okay, going off the graphic audio talk, I can't think of words.

[Kennedy]

Okay.

[Michaela]

I. Okay. The graphic audios for Brandon Sanderson standalone books are top tier.

[Kennedy]

I had Trust of the Emerald Te on my list, so.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I love them. Something about. In both Trust of the MLC and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, they have a narrator that kind of like, narrates the book.

[Kennedy]

Isn't it Hoid?

[Michaela]

I'm pretty sure it's Hoid.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it's Hoid.

[Michaela]

And his voice is just like. I don't know, something about it. He just adds, like, this comedy, like, comedic relief. And I just really. The graphic audios are just top tier for the Brandon Sanderson standalone. I've only read those two, but I really have enjoyed them. It just adds, like, a magical element.

[Kennedy]

Whimsical.

[Michaela]

Yeah, they're very whimsical. So highly recommend those, I honestly think,

[Kennedy]

which, if you ever want to read Tress of the Emerald Sea. Highly recommend on graphic audio. I don't think I would have rated it as high as I did if I actually physically read it.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I think so too. I actually even liked Yumi better.

[Reggie]

Better.

[Kennedy]

Ooh. Okay.

[Reggie]

Yeah, I wanna. I'm thinking, because I've been saying so long that I need to start reading Mistborn, and I just haven't. I think I'm. It's because I've been a little intimidated. I think I want to start with listening to one of those to just kind of get me.

[Michaela]

They're not anything close to Mistborn, but.

[Kennedy]

Does Mistborn have a graphic audio?

[Michaela]

I don't think so.

[Reggie]

I don't think it does.

[Kennedy]

My recommendation would be to re. Start reading Mistborn, but have the audiobook in your back pocket to read, to listen to. Because I feel like the world building for Mistborn is kind of not hard. But the push and the pull and all the medals and what each medal does, I feel like, is really confusing.

[Michaela]

Yeah, it is.

[Kennedy]

But if you don't want to start at Mistborn, try Yumi who and then Nightmare Painter.

[Michaela]

Truss or Truss.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, I think they're great starting points for him. Yeah. Standalone, easy, whimsical, fun. I don't.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah. They're just like. I don't know, so, like, unserious and so. I don't know. They're just fun. There's fun books. Yeah. I Would love to see them movies.

[Kennedy]

Hey, Apple tv, baby. Hopefully they got the rights.

[Michaela]

I can't believe they have the rights.

[Kennedy]

They have the rights to all of his stuff.

[Michaela]

Yeah. That's crazy.

[Kennedy]

That is crazy. That is crazy. I'm gonna keep it on like the fantasy sci fi train, and I'm going to recommend the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. They're very short, so if you need to catch up on your reading goal. I think the first one's maybe three hours. I actually haven't finished the series because I kind of got bored. Repetitive. Yeah. Take that with a grain of salt. You're following a sentient murderbot whose job is to murder, basically. I don't know how to describe it. It's. It's really fun. It's got. It's not a graphic audio, but I do feel like it has some sound effects and fun things added into the story. Once again, they're really short. And you just come to love Murderbot for some reason, he's just kind of this. I don't know how you. How would you describe him?

[Michaela]

Well, he's not supposed to think for himself.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. He's not supposed to be sent. He's supposed to, like, just do as he's commanded.

[Michaela]

Yeah. But he has.

[Kennedy]

He hacks his module.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

And so it's just kind of fun to see him, like, progress as a character, find his way, his friends. And if you read or listen to the books, you can then watch the Apple TV show.

[Reggie]

Have you guys watched it?

[Michaela]

No, I haven't.

[Kennedy]

I did watch it. It was. It was good. Kyle enjoyed it. The episodes are just really short. It's just kind of hard to get into because they're long, like 20 minutes long. But stars of Scars are Brother, so you know it's going to be decent. But yeah, they're fun, they're quick. And if you like sci fi, chances are you would really like it. I do think there's like 13 books in the series, though. I think I made it.

[Michaela]

There's a lot.

[Kennedy]

I think I made it to number four, but they're fun.

[Reggie]

Sweet.

[Michaela]

All right.

[Reggie]

I'm going to say two because I'm recommending them for similar reasons. First one is the Favorites by Lane Fargo, and the second one is Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. And these two books, they're totally different stories, but they're told in a similar way. I originally read, physically read, Daisy Jones and the Six, but I've heard lots of clips of the audiobook, and it's really cool. So I'll start with the favorite or well, we'll start with Daisy Jones and the Six. So the reason these are kind of fall in the same category for me is because there's a documentary that's going on while you're reading this book. So Daisy Jones and the Six. It was such a weird thing for me to open up the physical book because I've never seen anything quite like it. Instead of it just being like your normal chapters and paragraphs, it's literally just spoken dialogue for a documentary. So that was kind of hard for me at first, but then I ignored it. But I can see how the audiobook would be so amazing. And from what I've seen of it, it's really, really cool because you're just hearing this. It's just like you're listening to a documentary, which is really fun. And that's how they do the TV show. So if you go and watch the TV show, you'll kind of. It's cool to see how they go hand in hand, mirror each other. And then you also have the favorites, which isn't fully a documentary. But when you go from. Because I dual like read and listen to this. And it was really cool when I like went to put my headphones in to start listening. Just listening to a regular chapter. And then all of a sudden you have this. We're reporting live from whatever and you can hear. I'm trying to remember. They. I think they even have like a few sound effect things. Anyways, it's a really fascinating listen because it jumps from, you know, the story told. I don't. Is it. I don't remember who. It's third person, first person.

[Kennedy]

I don't remember.

[Reggie]

Dual point of view. I don't remember. But it's really fun to go from that to the ongoing documentary of the story. So different voice actors for both those books and yeah, kind of not a graphic audio, but different from just, you know, the same narrator the whole time and just a cool concept with yeah. A documentary in your mind.

[Kennedy]

Like, listen, I kind of wish I would have listened to Daisy Jones and the Six. I read that. That was one of my first books I read. Getting back into reading. Loved reading it. But listening to it would be quite the experience. Sorry, what was I going to say?

[Michaela]

I was going to say I like the documentary Esque style.

[Kennedy]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

Especially audiobook wise. You know, I'm not gonna stop yapping about these. Emma Lion. I know there's been a lot of discourse on people not liking the audiobooks, but I listened to all of them and I loved them very much. I think the narrator adds the depth to some of the characters.

[Kennedy]

Like she.

[Michaela]

What's his name?

[Kennedy]

Cousin.

[Michaela]

His what?

[Reggie]

What?

[Kennedy]

What? What? Isn't it? I think it's her cousin. Yeah.

[Michaela]

I don't know.

[Kennedy]

But she.

[Michaela]

Yeah, it's an Archibald. Like she just brings the characters to life where maybe I wouldn't have pictured them that way, but now that I've listened to them, I pictured them a very specific way or having like an inflection in their voice and stuff. I just think they're really fun. They're also very short. They progressively get a little longer as the series. I just think they're so fun and easy to catch up on your reading goal.

[Kennedy]

So I eat up anything that's narrated in an English accent. Yeah, they're fun. Just so posh. Yeah, she's a really great narrator. I've listened to all of them too and really enjoyed it. Did you finish them? No, I have one left.

[Michaela]

Oh, you know how when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately? Hatch made that a thing.

[Reggie]

It's called Ophelia, an original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will not be quiet about it.

[Kennedy]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia. Stay until the end of the episode for the full trailer of Ophelia. Ophelia by Hatch. Okay, I'm going to talk about a book that I recently read. JK Listen to Sorry. This Story Might Save youe Life by Tiffany Crumb. Now, I didn't rate it very high. I rated it three stars. Okay. I think I'm just a thriller hater. Not really. I think I just have weird expectations for thrillers after I read this. Someone said it's the book is a mashup between Emily Henry and what thriller author? I'm gonna say Frida McFadden. Just because that's the only one that comes to my mind would not make that comparison myself. But the reason why this makes it fun is there are podcast clips into it. There are calls from their listeners that you hear, there's studio recordings. There's just a lot of kind of fun elements that are added into this book, I'm sure. Well Maybe not. It's all. It was all over Booktok for a

[Reggie]

while, but the premise is that there's

[Kennedy]

these two best friends that have a survival podcast and one of them goes missing and then it's the story of where are they? What happened to them? That kind of thing. It was. It was. It was fine. It was a good audiobook. Listen, I think I would have rated it lower if I would have read it, so would highly recommend that on audio.

[Michaela]

I love when they add like the podcast and I think it just like so fun.

[Kennedy]

But it's cool because I. It's also integral to the story. Like the. The podcast clips are purposeful. They help with the mystery aspect. Okay. There's some books, not that they add in elements to just make the audiobook sound cool, but it actually makes sense in the context of the story, you know?

[Michaela]

Yeah. So that's awesome.

[Kennedy]

Love it.

[Reggie]

Love. All right, I'm gonna say another Taylor Jenkins read one. Okay. Because there was just something very peak about this audiobook listening experience. And it wasn't. It didn't have any bells and whistles. To was just strictly the audiobook narrator. She just did a fantastic job. And I think it was just also hand in hand with the way that Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote this story. It's just very gripping. But Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I loved the audiobook. I'm sure I would have loved the book just as much or even more maybe if I physically read it. There's just. If you've read the book, you understand the first like chapter just starts off with a bang and you're just instantly like sweating and getting nervous and high stakes and the narrator just really makes you feel like you are in this spaceship with these astronauts. So I really. Yeah, I just really enjoyed it and I don't know, I. I do think the audiobook narrator was great, but I also just think it's just a fantastic book. So definitely recommend if you. Especially if you like, were like me. And we're really invested in the Artemis stuff. It's also just the vibes of it are just so great. The romance is great. I truly just loved everything about it. But yeah, there was just some. Something a little special about the specific audiobook. I don't know what it was.

[Kennedy]

Has it been picked up for adaptation?

[Reggie]

No, but it would be such a good. It would be really show movie because it's set in the 80s.

[Kennedy]

I'm really surprised that cast based off

[Reggie]

of actors in like the 80s and

[Kennedy]

like

[Michaela]

seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo that has been released yet. That is picked up.

[Reggie]

It's been picked up, but they haven't done anything with it. I think Netflix has the rights to.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, Netflix does. I'm surprised her books haven't been.

[Michaela]

Didn't Malibu Rising get picked up?

[Reggie]

Yes. I don't know if there's anything else of hers that has. I would love to see. Well, duh. Daisy Jones and the Six.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

Oh, hello.

[Reggie]

Which was really great on Amazon, but I would love to see this as a movie. It would be. I need. What's it called to do it?

[Michaela]

A Apple TV. A. A24.

[Reggie]

A24.

[Michaela]

Okay.

[Kennedy]

They might make it freaking weird, though.

[Reggie]

I know they do some weird things, but I just feel like the. The vibes and the way that they shoot their movies, they're always so vibey.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, that's true. They're very visually beautiful.

[Reggie]

Could visually make this look like it was shot in the 80s. You know what I mean? I can't. I. That's one of those books that I just can't wait to read again. So. Yeah, great audiobook. Great book overall. Honestly, I think I've listened to most of Taylor Jenkins Reid's audiobooks, and they've all been pretty good. So. Yeah,

[Michaela]

okay. Maybe I'm just recommending these because they're fresh in my brain. It's the Eddie Flynn books. I think they're just, like, really fun, and I feel like this is kind of not the first time, but he has a very distinct voice, but it's not, like a sexy voice. You know, I feel like it's. It's rare for me to not read a book where it's, like, not deep and gravelly because they're not like. Because they're the love interest. You know what I'm saying? But Eddie Flynn is just, like. It's about a lawyer in New York, Manhattan, and they're just. They're a little outlandish, but they're really fun. They're just like. To go along with it. I've also been watching Suits.

[Kennedy]

Is this the first time watching Suits?

[Michaela]

Yeah. I've never watched Suits before, and so it gives off very similar vibes.

[Kennedy]

So you're just pitching Harvey the whole time.

[Michaela]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Kennedy]

But they're.

[Michaela]

Yeah, they're really fun audiobooks, and, yeah, I really enjoyed them. I feel like the narrator, whoever does them, he does his voice perfectly.

[Reggie]

Huh. It really stands on its own.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

Because, you know, you listen to a lot of, like, romance books, and sometimes narrators can kind of blend together.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

But that audiobook narrator is Eddie Flynn.

[Michaela]

Yes. Yes.

[Reggie]

Like how it looks. I wonder what he looks. Selena Sardauthian.

[Michaela]

Like, yeah, he's Eddie.

[Reggie]

Yeah, he's Eddie Flynn.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I. Yeah, I really like those. I mean, I've only. I'm only. I've only listened to the first book. I'm a little into the second book, but they're just like.

[Reggie]

Are you listening to the second one?

[Michaela]

Libby?

[Reggie]

Guys, my Libby. I can't get. Get it, like, offloaded on my phone and I cannot get logged in. And I called the library and they're like, we. They're having a hard time finding my.

[Michaela]

Your account.

[Reggie]

My library card number. I'm like, I have an account. Anyways, I have to go in to the physical library today. Oh. But, yeah. Cause I was, like, looking on. Hoopla. Looking on. Anyways, but so I just had to ask. Yeah, yeah, they're great.

[Kennedy]

They're fun.

[Michaela]

They're fun. I. They're very different from, like, maybe what you typically hear us talk about on the podcast. So if you're wanting something that's, like, maybe a little different, a little bit out of your comfort zone just to kind of like, do a switch up of genres or things. Yeah, I think it's. It's really a really fun time.

[Kennedy]

Courtroom drama meets mystery.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I wish I was as smart as him. The way he finagles himself out of situations. I'm just like, yeah. Huh? It's really fun, but at the same time, it is a little outlandish, but also it makes sense.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

You know?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

All right. I'm gonna give kind of a general wreck, but then get a little specific. I love celebrity memoirs narrated by the celebrities. I think it is so fun. It's also really interesting just to learn about someone in pop culture's life, because I feel like most of the celebrity memoirs I have listened to just provides a depth to this person that seems so untouchable, if that makes sense. Like, they have hardships, they have trials as well. Some of them are a little bit more surface level than others that I've listened to, but nonetheless, they're always really interesting. One that I really loved because I am such a big Marvel fan is My Last Breath by Jeremy Renner, if you guys didn't know. A few years ago he almost died because he was ran over by a snowplow. I think it was a snowplow, and the story is just really interesting. Some parts I didn't really love. He gets a little preachy at times. But what I found really interesting was the fact that they included the actual 9.

[Michaela]

1.

[Kennedy]

One phone call from when he was run over. It was a little graphic at times because you can hear him, like, struggling to breathe and just kind of what actually happened in the moment. But it was so unique and just a really cool story and inspiring a little bit. Once again, he gets a little preachy, but the implementation of the 911 call really threw me for a loop when it played and it plays, like, throughout different chapters. It's crazy. It's crazy that that man survived what he survived. The whole story is just wild. So if you like Jeremy Renner, if you've watched the mayor of Kingstown or if you're a fan of Marvel, what else is he in? I don't know what else he's in. Try it. Probably wouldn't recommend it if you're not a fan of him or seen anything that he's in, but an absolute wild tale of survival.

[Michaela]

Did he make the 911 call or did someone else?

[Kennedy]

So what happened was the snowplow was going towards his nephew in a truck, and so he basically saved his nephew's life, but in doing so, got ran over by the snowplow. So I'm trying to remember. His nephew ran to go get a neighbor, and then I think the neighbor might have called 911. Either the nephew or the neighbor called 911, but there was a lot of crazy things to happen in the circumstance. Like, they were snowed in. It's crazy. It's crazy. The neighbor happened to be a nurse or something, so without that, he also would have died. It's crazy. It's crazy that he lived. Like. It's wild.

[Michaela]

So that would be very interesting especially to, like, listen to it, because can you imagine reading, like, reading it and

[Kennedy]

when I've been a book.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

You know, and I mean, he talks about, like, how he was able to, like, breathe and survive. It's just. It's just crazy.

[Michaela]

Try it out. The recovery for that would be brutal, I'm sure. Oh, my gosh.

[Kennedy]

I can't even remember all what happened to him, but man's lucky to be

[Michaela]

alive, so he looks great too. Ooh.

[Reggie]

I'm gonna go with one more, and I think I'm gonna go with the Other side of now by Pei Torpison.

[Kennedy]

That was on my list.

[Reggie]

I think we. We've talked about this book a lot, but it's just not one that I feel I see a lot of other people talking about, and so I feel like that's why we like to bring it up a lot. But it's narrated by the author, which is just such a treat. Paige is hilarious, has such a talent for narration, and she understands the character, obviously, more than anybody. And so for her to get to narrate her own book had to have been such a fun time for her. Yeah, it's a story about a girl. I remember starting this book thinking it was like a rom com, but it was so much more than that, honestly. The romance in it feels pretty. Like there's romance, but it's pretty subtle. But I would say it's more magical.

[Kennedy]

Women's fiction.

[Reggie]

Yeah, women's fiction. Magical realism. Basically. Your female main character flies to Ireland to go take a trip and somehow is in a different world. She wakes up and she is. Everyone knows who she is. Her best friend who had passed several years back is alive and she's in the story, and it's her trying to navigate this life that she now has in Ireland, but also wanting to go back to her other life at the same time. Yeah, an emotional read, but also a fun read at the same time. And just the heart that Paige puts into this story, but also in her narration is just something that you just. It couldn't have been a better audiobook, honestly. So highly recommend. You'll laugh. You'll probably cry. Maybe I should tell people. They'll cry. You'll laugh. You might cry. There's just some really touching things in the story, but it's also really hilarious. And just the. Her wittiness.

[Kennedy]

She, like, perfectly intertwines pop culture, but not too much. Like, I don't know how to describe it, but I agree this book needs

[Reggie]

to be talked about.

[Kennedy]

I think just Paige as an author in general needs to be talked about more because I think she's very talented.

[Reggie]

Yes. And she also does all the accents just so well. Round of applause for Paige. I just think she's awesome. So a great standalone book for any of you maybe looking for something.

[Kennedy]

The.

[Reggie]

The feeling you get from, like, a good rom com, but, like, with maybe a little more depth and I don't know, it really stands on its own. Yeah, that's for sure.

[Michaela]

It's really hard to explain. Like, I feel like it's not in one single category when it comes to books.

[Kennedy]

Yeah, it's like kind of like if Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry had a baby.

[Reggie]

Or like Ashley Poston.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Kennedy]

Take all those three, mesh it into one, you get Paige.

[Michaela]

Yeah, yeah. Okay. This is just based on my experience with BK Borison's books. More specifically. First time caller and now back to you because there's a news radio element to them that I think is really fun and I think the narrators do a fantastic job with the characters and I just truly have enjoyed. I have not read a single book of hers. I think I've listened to every single one and they're just fantastic. And it's really funny because when we interviewed her, she doesn't really like listen to them. Right?

[Kennedy]

She. Yeah, she doesn't really have.

[Reggie]

She doesn't.

[Kennedy]

She's not super involved. Involved with it.

[Reggie]

Yeah.

[Michaela]

And so whoever's on her team that is making those things happen with her audiobooks. Killing it.

[Kennedy]

Good job. Killing it.

[Michaela]

So, yeah, highly, highly recommend first time caller. I mean that was really popular two years ago. Yeah, a few years ago. And then her new book and Now Back to you just came out. I would highly recommend and now and now back to you as a winter read.

[Kennedy]

Oh, for sure. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. They're stuck in a snowstorm.

[Michaela]

Yeah. So yeah, winter read. But they're very good books.

[Kennedy]

So they're dual narrated too, right?

[Michaela]

Yes.

[Kennedy]

I love a rom com romance book when it's dual narrated, even if it's only one point of view. When the guy's dialogue is by a guy. Love that. Yeah, love that so much. I'm recommending this book because these books because I never would have ever gotten through them physically reading them. Boys of Tommen comes as a shock to everybody because I am. I'm not a hater. I'm not. I promise. Okay. I just don't love reading about high school kids. I honestly enjoyed the other books in the series after the first one anyways. They're so long. But I think having the audiobook in your back pocket if you're going to physically read just to, you know, dual read it is very helpful. Also, there's accents. We did have a follower DM us and tell. Tell us that the accents are horrible. I should go back and listen to it because maybe they are. But Ireland. Are they in Ireland? So their accents are pretty heavy. Could not listen to this at two times speed because their accents are heavy. But I think it's, it's a great story and a lot of people really love them and I think the audiobooks are a great way.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

To consume them. Yeah, that's how I quote, read them.

[Michaela]

So yeah, I think they're the audiobooks. I, I don't even have the physical books. I haven't even touched a page in the books. But I have listened to them.

[Reggie]

Do you both listen to all of them.

[Kennedy]

I haven't listened to the last one.

[Michaela]

I've listened to all of them.

[Kennedy]

I'm a little scared.

[Michaela]

I forget. What's the last one?

[Kennedy]

The really traumatic one. They're all dramatic, but it's Lizzie. Is it Lizzie's story?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

So maybe look up the trigger warnings, because the books are pretty sad.

[Michaela]

They're pretty heavy.

[Kennedy]

They're pretty sad, pretty traumatic. But I know everybody loves them, and I'm going to recommend it to your reader. You're following a group of teenagers slash very young adults throughout their traumatic lives.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

If you liked. I'm trying to think of, like, a TV show.

[Reggie]

Euphoria.

[Kennedy]

No, it's not quite as crazy as Euphoria, but it kind of gives, like, maybe a little bit more mature version of Degrassi.

[Michaela]

I've never. What's Degrassi?

[Kennedy]

This is the age gap here.

[Michaela]

That's how Drake got famous.

[Reggie]

Drake?

[Kennedy]

Drake. He played a kid in a wheelchair on Degrassi.

[Michaela]

What?

[Kennedy]

Yes. It's like a Canadian. I did not.

[Michaela]

I did not.

[Kennedy]

Drama.

[Reggie]

Drama.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. That might be a horrible comparison, but it actually is a horrible comparison. I'm not gonna lie. But just really traumatic. Really sad. There's some romance in there. I'm pretty sure.

[Reggie]

If you're.

[Kennedy]

You've heard of the Boys of Tommen books, but highly recommend them on audio.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I think the audios are good.

[Kennedy]

The.

[Michaela]

The narrators are. I don't. The thing is, I don't know any differently. Like, I don't know what.

[Kennedy]

I don't know what the accent's supposed to sound like.

[Michaela]

Yeah, I don't.

[Reggie]

I don't know.

[Michaela]

Yeah, well, it's supposed to sound like. So it is what it is.

[Kennedy]

It's being adapted, isn't it?

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Kennedy]

I think they cast someone for Joey. No, his last name's Malloy.

[Michaela]

Shut up.

[Kennedy]

I saw it on TikTok and they said. Or maybe they said this person would be perfect because his last name is Malloy. I don't know.

[Michaela]

I. I'm looking immediately.

[Kennedy]

Yeah. Let me. Hold on. No, I don't think so. I don't know who this Malloy person is. That they said would be great, but

[Michaela]

they just have to be good.

[Kennedy]

I'm just a little scared to watch that. I think it might be too old, but we'll see.

[Michaela]

I know. Are you guys gonna watch?

[Kennedy]

No. Maybe if I get bored. The hockey one? Yeah, if I get bored. Maybe I didn't read the books off campus.

[Michaela]

Off campus?

[Reggie]

It comes out, like, very soon.

[Michaela]

Yeah.

[Reggie]

May I know A lot of people

[Kennedy]

are really excited for it.

[Michaela]

Yeah, a lot of people are.

[Kennedy]

And you know what? If that means that more books get adapted, by all means, as long as they're adapted. Also, how about the funny thing that we recorded that freaking podcast a whole month before, and then the day that our last podcast episode gets live is the same day that Liz Tom, 40, tells everybody there's a Windy City adaptation.

[Reggie]

Yeah, can't mess that up.

[Michaela]

No.

[Kennedy]

Yay. Well, guys, there are some audiobook recommendations for you. If you ever need a good audiobook recommendation, you can always just DM us. Let us know your tastes, what you like, what you don't like, and we can recommend a good audiobook for you. Also, if you're not aware, we did drop some new merch. Reggie. Reggie and Michaela actually have it on right now. We've got our cute cropped raw edge denim reader tee. We also dropped a new Kindle case, which, not to toot our own horns, might be my favorite Kindle case we've launched. And then we also launched a tote. It has been since our first merch

[Michaela]

drop, since we've done a tote.

[Kennedy]

Since we've done a tote. So we love her. She's cute. If you like what they're wearing or if you're curious about what the other items look, go ahead and go to our Instagram. Or you can shop it all at I'll read what she's reading dot com. You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at what she's reading Pod. And we also have a Patreon where we do fun on live book club chats. We also play games with our Inner Circle tier. And then we also do a solo vlog every month. So if you're dying for more content from us, you can head over to Patreon and subscribe there. Thanks so much for listening. We will see you guys next week. Bye.

[Ophelia Narrator]

Welcome to Ophelia, a Shakespeare After Dark series from Hatch. Inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet. This romantasy reimagining gives Ophelia the story and the fate she never had. Ophelia's story will be told over three books, with each chapter fitting within 20 cozy minutes. Ophelia has always been expected to be small, but on the eve of her 21st birthday, something ancient awakens inside her. As she reconnects with the charming Prince Hamlet and his brilliant, guarded friend, Horatio, Ophelia finds herself caught between love, loyalty, and a power she cannot ignore. So warm yourself by the hearth and enjoy the tale of Ophelia.