The 10 best audiobooks for your next road trip
Megan McKeough
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (3 hours)
Short and powerful, Coates' moving memoir explores American history and racial reckoning through a powerful lens, written as a letter to his son. Seamlessly weaving from personal narrative to history to current reporting, Between the World and Me has been hailed by many as required reading. Fable reader Lisa: “It’s thought-provoking, it’s engaging, and you finish it feeling like there’s so much work to be done but also there’s so many things that you can start doing to help.”Judge Stone by James Patterson (11 hours)
For legal thriller fans, acclaimed author James Patterson, and award-winning actress, Viola Davis (who narrates), join forces for a riveting courtroom drama that will have you hanging on every word. Just don’t miss your exit. Fable user Lyrical: “Overall, I do think this is worth reading. Not just because of who wrote it, but because of what it is trying to say. It is the kind of story that sparks conversation, and honestly, we need more of that.”Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (8 hours)
Alderton’s coming-of-age memoir navigates the triumphs and trials of being a woman in her twenties, detailing her wild dating experiences, career moves, and grappling with her identity. Ultimately, it’s an ode to her girlfriends, and their consistent love at a time when everything else was changing. When my best friend decided to move across the country, I jumped at the chance to join her in the car. We picked this audiobook because it seemed fun and flirty. By the last chapter, we were sobbing happy tears, recalling all of the silly and wonderful moments that made our friendship so special.Strangers by Belle Burden (7 hours)
If you want a shocking new memoir to converse about with your carmates, Burden’s gripping examination of her marriage is a worthy (albeit sad) companion. Reckoning with her husband’s sudden departure after twenty years of a seemingly safe and secure relationship, Burden reexamines her past and paves a new path forward amid heartbreak.Fable reader Amanda: “A moving, graceful account of a woman finding her voice and strength while navigating life through a traumatic divorce. This one drew me in and felt empowering despite the devastation.”11/22/63 by Stephen King (30 hours)
If you’re in for an epic road trip and looking for a lengthy story to get you through, King’s thrilling historical fiction will make the hours melt away. Veering from his signature horror, 11/22/63 follows a high school English teacher who travels back in time and attempts to stop the Kennedy assassination. The novel brilliantly captures the history and culture of the 1960s, weaving in adventure, romance, and thrills.Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (18 hours)
If you want to get lost (figuratively) behind the wheel, Americanah is the perfect immersive love story. Praised by readers for its poignant examination of racial and cultural relationships, Adichie’s rich fiction follows Ifemelu, who emigrates from Nigeria to the United States to pursue opportunity and education, leaving her family and boyfriend behind. Adichie explores the true meaning of home while you venture away from (or towards) your own.Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (17 hours)
If you want another entertaining exploration of place and identity—Chen’s star-crossed, sixty-year romance reminds us that home can be found in the company you keep. Maybe even your roadtrip buddy. Homeseeking follows two childhood friends, torn apart by war, and eventually reunited across the globe in Los Angeles, drawn together by the home they hold deep within.The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (5 hours)
If you’re looking for a short and silly romp through space voiced by a warm and witty narrator, this one’s for you. Adams’ absurd sci-fi comedy follows the adventures of Arthur Dent, who journeys through the universe with a gang of unreliable aliens after the Earth is demolished. Fable reader Noah says: “I honestly never thought a book could make me laugh out loud, but this one did.”The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (2 hours)
Family road-trippers—this 2 hour coming-of-age classic is a lovely read for teens and adults alike. Following Esperanza Cordero as she grows up in a vibrant Chicago neighborhood, Cisneros’ rich collection of vignettes celebrates the places that shape us. (Trigger warning: the book deals with some darker themes such as sexual abuse, violence, and poverty).Fable reader Lizette: “This book always gets me in my feelings 🥹 I first read it in 7th grade, feels like a lifetime ago. Reading it now as an adult hits completely different."Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (9 hours)
If you’re looking for a fun, cinematic experience, this multi-cast audiobook lyrically follows a 1970’s hit rock band (loosely based on Fleetwood Mac) from their peak of fame to their dissolution. Filled with drugs, sex, and rock n’ roll, Reid is sure to liven up any car ride. Fable user Charlie says: “A phenomenal audiobook. I loved that it had multiple people cast as each character...made it feel like I was listening to a movie.”Want to read these titles? Sign up for a free 30-day trial to Everand, a digital subscription that gives you instant access to millions of bestselling ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more. Start reading on the web, iOS, Android, and even offline.
Megan McKeough