Audiobooks You Need To Make That Boring Road Trip Better! (Part One)
Have you ever read a book so damn good you couldn’t put it down? But now you have to drive a long distance and reading a physical book while driving is technically “illegal”, so you’re not sure what to do.
I’ve been there and you know what I turn to, audiobooks.
I used to be very against listening to books. It’s not a real book, some may say.
My way of thinking is books are books. Whether you listen to them or read them physically. Either way you’re transporting yourself into an entire new world. Thats what makes reading fun.
With all the chaotic-ness that is happening in the world as I write this, travel may not be on your mind. But when you do decided to travel again, whether it be close or overseas, here are some audiobooks that have made the journey for myself more enjoyable.
Where Do I Listen To Audiobooks?
The biggest conundrum of them all, where do you go to listen to audiobooks. There are a ton of options out there, I personally use audible.
The number one question I get is audible worth it? And how does it work?
Audible is a subscription (14.95$/month) through Amazon. Each month you receive one credit towards any audiobook you’re interested in. As a student, this was a great option for me because they offer a student discount. I always look forward to listening to a new book through audible on my commute to school.
As of right now, I’m listening to Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (I’ll go more into detail on this later)
If this price is out of your budget (totally understandable if you’re just getting into audiobooks) here are a handful of just as amazing options:
- Scribd (another subscription)
- Google Play Books (if you just want to buy one book at a time)
- Apple Books (also, if you just want to buy one book at a time)
The cheapest (and by far the coolest) way to save money and listen to audiobooks is through your local library. Did you know that just as you can get physical books from your library, you can also get audiobooks? Ask your local librarian how it works!
A book lovers dream, amirite?
Let’s jump right in,
#1 – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
At this point I may be a broken record about this book. This was the audiobook that completely changed my life. I listened to this book while traveling internationally and fell head over heels for it.
Genre: Scient Fiction/Fantasy
Author: Ernest Cline
IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
Why I Love It: There are many (MANY) reasons why I would consider this book to be my absolute favorite audiobooks. I found myself finishing this book within 3 days (It’s about a 16 hour audiobook) because of the constant action and adventure.
I also have a soft spot for books with a decade focus. Because the Oasis’s creator grew up in the 80’s the book has a lot of that decades nostalgia.
This is also one of the very few books that made a just as amazing movie in recent years. I watched (and bought) the film and still love it to this day. The CGI for Oasis in this film is out of this world good.
#2 – The Diviners by Libba Bray
The physical book, The Diviners, is a big one. Big enough to possibly overwhelm you, so my advice is to listen to the audiobooks.
I switched between the physical and audiobook of this novel. Check out my full review on the book here!
Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery
Author: Libba Bray
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.
Why I Loved It: Honestly the main reason I found this audiobook addicting is because of the narrator’s voice. The narrator, January LaVoy, has a captivating voice that draws you in immediately!
I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a thing for paranormal books.
#3 – Sadie by Courtney Summers
I had never listened to anything quite like this audiobook before. If you want to checkout my full review on the audiobook, I wrote a post on it here
It was an audiobook highly recommended by many bookish folk because of its type of narration, full cast. The audiobook is basically like watching movie in your head. It has a full cast narration, sound effects, music and more.
Genre: Mystery
Author: Courtney Summers
A missing girl on a journey of revenge. A Serial―like podcast following the clues she’s left behind. And an ending you won’t be able to stop talking about.
Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she’s been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.
But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister’s killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.
When West McCray―a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America―overhears Sadie’s story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie’s journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it’s too late.
Why I Loved It: Like I previously mentioned the full cast narration is unique to any audiobook I had ever listened to prior. If you’re someone who can’t get invested in audiobooks because of the narrator’s voice, this is 100% a book you should check out.
#4 – Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
I just started this audiobook after getting the physical book. I’ve heard so many recommendations from people to listen to the audiobook and read the physical book at the same time.
People. Are. RIGHT!
This book is similar to Sadie in that it involves a full cast narration. Not only that, but the book is different than any other you’ve probably read. It’s written in an interview format including graphics.
Genre: Science Fiction
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on.
As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents–including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more–Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
I can’t wait to come back with even more audiobooks you can dive into, for now I hope you enjoy these just as much as I did!
