Best Audiobooks for Road Trips

Are you looking for the best road trip audiobooks? We pulled together 30 great audiobooks for a solo long drive, a couples road trip, or even a mix of adults and older teens. If you prefer a specific genre, you can use the table of contents to jump straight to fiction, mystery/thriller, historical fiction, magical realism, or non-fiction/memoir.

It’s important to note that not every book on the list is family-friendly. If you’re traveling with children, we recommend switching to our list of the best audiobooks for family road trips! If you found your way to this list in search of books about road trips, we have a separate list of excellent titles that you’ll want to check out.

Tips for Downloading Audiobooks

If you’re new to audiobooks, two good options – all of which offer subscription services – are Audible and Libro. You can read all about the pros and cons of an Amazon Audible subscription here. If you prefer to support independent bookstores, check out Libro.fm.

Of course, libraries are also an excellent resource for free audiobooks, and most libraries use the Libby app. If you’re not familiar with downloading audiobooks from the library, the librarian at your local branch can walk you through it!

If you are planning to use the library to borrow an audiobook for your road trip, it’s best to plan ahead. Search the availability a couple of weeks in advance in case there is a waitlist.

Audiobook Length Versus Speed

To help you select the perfect length book for your drive, we’ve listed the recorded length of each book right below the name of the narrator(s). These times are accurate if the book is played at 1x speed.

However, when starting each book, try different listening speeds to find the right balance for everyone. Often, books sound more natural and conversational when played at a higher speed (typically around 1.25), which reduces listening time. Angela and her husband typically prefer to listen to audiobooks at 1.5 speed. We recommend that you test out a few options to find what is best for everyone in your car.

The Best Roadtrip Audiobooks

In narrowing down and selecting our recommendations, we’ve focused not just on great books, but specifically on books that are excellent in the audio format.

Of course, not everyone enjoys the same narrators, so we always recommend listening to a sample before purchasing an audio book. Samples are available for every book on both Amazon Audible and Libro.fm.

To help you pick out a great book to listen to on the road, we broke down our book recommendations into a few different segments. Whether you love listening to mysteries, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, memoirs, or a touch of fantasy, you’ll find the best audio book for your road trip below.

You’ll notice that some of the books on the list below also include ratings from our readers. When books are included in one of our annual reading challenges, our readers have an opportunity to complete a book log sharing their ratings and reviews of those books. We’ve included those ratings to help you choose.

Excellent Fiction Audiobooks for Roadtrips

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Born with ocular albinism, Sam Hill’s red eyes cause him problems from the moment that he enrolled at Our Lady of Mercy. Labeled “Hell Boy,” he is bullied by not only his classmates but also by the nun who is the principal of the elementary school. Eventually, Sam finds the friend he desperately needs in Ernie Cantwell, the only African American boy in his class, and eventually also in a fiercely individual girl named Mickie.

Decades later, Sam is a respected ophthalmologist still moving through life with Ernie and Mickie by his side, but his world is about to be upturned when he’s unexpectedly reunited with the biggest school yard bully from his past.

The Book Girls Say…

This is one of our all-time favorite reads! The writing feels effortless, but the complex character development will pull you in and stick with you long past the last page. Although Sam’s mother’s faith plays an important role in this story, we wouldn’t describe this book as religious.

We highly recommend the audiobook, which is narrated by the author himself! The audio is included with the Kindle Unlimited.

You may also enjoy The World Played Chess, also written and narrated by Robert Dugoni (along with Todd Haberkorn). It’s heavily related to the Vietnam War and its lasting impact on one soldier.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 07/26/2023
Family Family book cover

Book Summary

India Allwood always wanted to be an actress and her dreams came true with success on Broadway and on TV. Now she’s making a movie about adoption, but she’s disheartened that the storyline doesn’t sit right with her.

India is an adoptive mom herself to twin 10-year-olds, and she’s tired of only seeing adoption stories in movies that are filled with pain and regret. So when she’s asked by a journalist, she tells the truth – she thinks the movie she’s making is a bad one. Soon, she’s caught in the middle of a media storm.

When her twins turn to family for help, things just get messier. One thing is for certain – no matter how families are formed, they are always complicated.

The Book Girls Say…

Author Laurie Frankel writes this book from experience as an adoptive parent herself. She is a master at compassionate family storytelling (we also loved This is How It Always Is), and this book is sure to spark excellent conversation.

This is one of Angela’s top reads of the year, and she especially loved the narration by Patti Murin. Be sure to listen to the fascinating interview after the book in which Laurie Frankel and Patti Murin discuss the process of audiobook narration.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Best Book Club Books for 2024

James book cover

Book Summary

This thought-provoking novel transports you back to 1840s Missouri, the land of Huckleberry Finn. However, in James, you’ll find the story reimaged from the point of view of the enslaved man, Jim, who prefers to be called James.

James overhears that he’s about to be sold to a man in New Orleans. If this happens, he’ll never see his wife and daughter again. That thought is too much for him to bear, so he decides to hide on Jackson Island until he comes up with a long-term plan. The island is also the temporary home of Huck Finn, who is running from his abusive father.

Together, the unlikely duo is determined to make it down the Mississippi River to the elusive Free States. Along the way, they encounter the same trials Mark Twain included, but they feel different through the eyes of James.

The Book Girls Say…

There is no need to re-read Huck Finn before picking up this brilliant retelling. It’s a short novel that flies by, making it perfect to listen to on a road trip, and it will make for a fascinating discussion afterward.

This book includes details of life in slavery, including rape, and includes the use of the N-word, which the author deems historically accurate. Dialect plays an important role in this story, which makes the audio version of the book especially powerful.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Best Book Club Books for 2024

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

97% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

In this charming debut novel, Widower Tova works at the Sowell Bay Aquarium to occupy her mind and time. She takes pride in cleaning perfectly every night, even though she doesn’t need the money. She loves all the aquarium life but forms a special bond with the intelligent (and curmudgeonly) octopus named Marcellus.

He’s just as surprised to feel friendly toward this human who visits him nightly. Soon, he connects the sadness he sees in her with something he saw in the ocean long ago. Can he help her solve the mystery of her son’s disappearance 30 years ago?

The Book Girls Say…

Neither of us expected to have a book partially narrated by a giant Pacific octopus on our best books of 2022 list, but Marcellus stole our hearts. Beyond that, we loved each of the human characters and their struggles in different phases of life. Young or older, so many people deal with loneliness and loss. Watching characters process and evolve through that was a heartwarming treat.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Guide with Discussion Questions
Uplifting Books for Book Clubs
Best Book Club Books for 2023
Intergenerational Novels: Books that Connect Generations

PS: We also have a printable Remarkably Bright Creatures book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, themed games, a Marcellus bookmark, and more!

Tom Lake book cover

Book Summary

Set during the summer of 2020, Lara’s three adult daughters have returned home to quarantine at the family’s northern Michigan cherry orchard. As they pick cherries and go about running the family business in isolation, the sisters beg their mother to tell them the story of her long-ago romance with celebrity Peter Duke. When Lara was in her early 20s, she and Peter shared the stage during a Michigan summer stock theater run of the play Our Town.

Lara begins the story with her very first experience on stage in high school and works her way forward through her brief but eventful theater career. As the girls learn more about their mother’s life, they are forced to reconsider everything they thought they knew about her and their father.

The Book Girls Say…

This beautiful novel captures the ways in which our past shapes who we become, how certain moments and experiences stay with us forever, and how certain relationships – no matter how brief – leave lasting imprints on our souls.

Listening to this book could be a great jumping off point for sharing some of your own stories throughout the course of your road trip.

Ann Patchett has had some amazing narrators for her audiobooks over the years (Tom Hanks reading The Dutch House, for example), and this book is no exception. Meryl Streep’s narration is phenomenal and definitely adds to the experience of reading the book.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

91% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Bernadette lives with her husband and her teenage daughter in Seattle – a city where she’s never felt she fits in. She was once a renowned architect, but now spends most of her time in the house hiding from the other moms of her daughter’s elite prep school.

Unlike her Microsoft employee husband, Elgie, who has fully embraced the granola-eating, public transport-using, bike-riding culture of 2010s Seattle, Bernadette spends her days in the house relying on a virtual assistant in India for many of her daily tasks. This becomes a real problem when her daughter’s stellar report card earns her a family cruise to Antarctica, and Bernadette becomes overwhelmed by the planning and preparations.

When Bernadette disappears before the trip, her daughter Bee is determined to track her down, unraveling a web of secrets.

Much of this book is told in epistolary form, including notes from Bee’s school, email exchanges between Bernadette and her virtual assistant, and catty moms communicating about Bernadette’s eccentricities.

The Book Girls Say…

If you’re drawn to quirky and eccentric characters, you might love Bernadette as much as we do! This satirical novel was a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for “Best Humor” when it was released in 2012, and it’s one of our favorite laugh-out-loud reads. But it’s more than just that… Maria Semple managed to create an enjoyable, witty, smart, and emotional novel!

Angela and her husband both enjoyed the audio version of this book, and this is one of the rare instances where we felt like the movie was almost as good as the book!

Mystery & Thriller Audiobooks

Book Summary

Shelby Tebow went missing first. Then, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanished just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen. This strikes fear into a once-peaceful community.But are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. And no one is prepared for the answers.

The Book Girls Say…

This book won the 2022 Audie Award for best thriller/suspense audiobook recording.

Boys from Biloxi book cover

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

88% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

While many associate Biloxi with beach resorts and seafood, it has a darker past of mobsters running prostitution, illegal gambling, and bootleg alcohol. In this legal thriller, childhood friends Keith and Hugh grew up in Biloxi in the 1960s. The former Little League stars then drifted apart as teenagers.

Keith’s father was a prosecutor on a mission to “clean up the coast.” Meanwhile, Hugh’s father was high-ranking in the underground criminal world. Both boys followed their father’s footsteps, with Keith becoming a lawyer and Hugh running his father’s nightclubs. Eventually, their divergent paths will circle back together in the courtroom.

The Book Girls Say…

This book was nominated for a 2023 Audie Award for best narration of a mystery/thriller. Our readers report that this book is different from John Grisham’s usually style, with a story that builds a bit more slowly. Some of our readers also say that it reads a bit more like narrative non-fiction.

Book Summary

When Travis is hired to find the missing author of dark children’s books, he stumbles into a reclusive community. Pastoral was believed to be a local legend, not a real group and place. However, when he reaches the commune, he disappears. It’s the same thing that happened to Maggie, the author he is looking for.

Years later, Theo, who has always lived within Pastoral, finds a truck at the border of his community. No one is allowed in or out, so the truck’s discovery brings up questions and long-buried secrets about their world. Theo, his wife, and her sister begin uncovering shocking and sinister truths.

The Book Girls Say…

This novel is described as both atmospheric and immersive, so your time on the road will fly by as you listen to the talented cast of 5 narrators.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

83% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

A small town in Oregon was shocked in 1977 when two seemingly random men were murdered with the same gun. The killer left strange notes, leading the town to believe that the killer was a rich, eccentric 23-year-old woman, Beth. After being acquitted of the murders, she became reclusive, tucked away in the isolation of her mansion.

Forty years later, receptionist Shea runs a true-crime website at night. When she has a chance encounter with now 63-year-old Beth, she’s thrilled when Beth agrees to an interview. The duo begin meeting regularly at Beth’s mansion, which is not a comforting place. Shea swears items move on their own, and other strange things also happen. Although Beth is highly charming, Shea can’t help but wonder if she’s befriending a murderer.

The Book Girls Say…

If you prefer single timelines or dual chronological timelines, skip this one. The storyline alternates between the present and Beth’s life in the 70s, leading up to and including her arrest and trial. However, her past isn’t always revealed to the reader in order.

Book Summary

Anxious People is about a failed bank robber that stumbles into an apartment open house and inadvertently holds a group of strangers hostage. The eclectic group of captives may just be the worst hostages in the world, and none of them are quite who they appear to be.

Throughout the ordeal, they divulge secrets, form allegiances, and set into motion a chain of events so unexpected that, when questioned by the police, they can hardly explain what happens next.

The Book Girls Say…

We debated on how to classify the genre of this book. It is part locked-room mystery, and part classic humorous examination of humanity. We ultimately decided to group it here with the other mystery books because it stands out in our mind as being different from what you might expect if you’ve read other Backman books. However, it still has all the characteristics we love in other Fredrik Backman books, including quirky characters, witty prose, and writing that is entertaining while also getting right to the heart of the matter!

We also love Backman’s Beartown trilogy about a rural Swedish town where life revolves around hockey. The books are about human nature and the ramifications of putting the team and star players first, no matter what. However, be warned that Beartownt is heavier and deals with sexual assault and other heavy topics. These books are must-reads, but hold on to them for another occasion if you’re looking for a lighter listen on your vacation.

Historical Fiction Audiobooks

From the Great Depression and WWII to the 1970s, our historical fiction audiobook recommendations work well for both avid and reluctant readers. This makes them perfect for road trips when one of the passengers is hesitant to listen on the go. Because they quickly transport you to a different place and time, they often draw in new readers/listeners. 

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Through the true story of a racehorse named Lexington, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks manages to weave a tale of spirit and injustice over 150 years of American history.

The book has three timelines. In 1850, you’ll meet an enslaved horse groomer, Jarrett, in Kentucky, who has a special bond with Lexington. There is also a young artist who paints images of the horse. When the Civil War erupts, the artist fights for the union and runs into the young groom and stallion again far from the track.

In 1954, a gallery owner on Martha’s Vineyard takes a special interest in a 19th-century equestrian old painting, even though the artist and provenance are unknown.

In 2019, a Smithsonian scientist from Australia and a Nigerian-American art historian unexpectedly connect through a common interest in the painting as they look for clues to the origin.

The Book Girls Say…

This story goes well beyond horse racing and art. The page-turning storytelling has detailed descriptions and depth that will stick with you long after you finish the book. It’s one of the best audiobooks Angela has listened to this year!

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Horse by Geraldine Brooks Book Club Questions & Guide
Books Set in Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Nebraska
25 Books Like Where the Crawdads Sing
Books Set in the 1930s
Readers’ Favorite Books: 2021 Edition

PS: We also have a printable Horse book club guide available on Etsy, including discussion questions, themed games, a Marcellus bookmark, and more!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Set in 1932 during the Great Depression, This Tender Land follows four orphans who have escaped the abusive Lincoln Indian Training School. The kids set off down the river, and have to survive the environment while being pursued by the school.

They have to decide whether to trust each stranger they encounter and discover themselves along the way. Equal parts adventure and heart, this book is often described as a modern classic and compared to Huckleberry Finn.

The Book Girls Say…

If you’ve already read This Tender Land, check out Ordinary Grace by the same author.

This Tender Land is included free with an Audible Membership as of 7/26/23.

The Women book cover

Book Summary

Frances “Frankie” McGrath is a 21-year-old nursing student who has been raised by her conservative parents to always do “the right thing.” But when her brother ships out for Vietnam in 1965, she begins to change her views of right and wrong. Frankie impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows her brother to Vietnam. As she tends to the green and inexperienced young men who have been sent to fight the war, she is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction. Returning home to a changed America doesn’t prove to be any easier.

While The Women is the story of Frankie going to war, it also shines a light on the story of all women who risk everything to help others. The publisher describes this book as “a novel of searing insight and lyrical beauty” that is “profoundly emotional” and “richly drawn.”

Through the story of Frankie’s family, we see the devastation of those who lost their sons, brothers, and other loved ones in Vietnam. But we also get a glimpse of what it was like on the ground in a war that was very complicated and blurred lines. We see how the country treated these soldiers and nurses differently, even though they were doing their sworn duty for the country, just like those before them.

The Book Girls Say…

While we expected great things from The Women after Kristin Hannah’s other highly-rated historical fiction, she still managed to exceed our expectations. Like her other recent works, The Women humanizes a tragedy that we all need to know about – both to honor those who experienced it and to help prevent history from recurring.

The Women was a five-star read for both Angela & Melissa, and our favorite audiobook narrator, Julia Whelan, did an especially great job with the narration. After listening to the book, you’ll definitely want to switch over to our Spotify Playlist with all the music mentioned in the book!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

95% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Mary Jane tells the story of two very different family lifestyles and a 14-year-old girl trying to decide who she really is. Mary Jane is a quiet, book-loving girl from a traditional, conservative family in 1970s Baltimore. When she is offered a job as a nanny for a local doctor, her mom assumes their home is equally tidy and respectable.

However, the house is a huge mess and it’s about to get crazier. The doctor has welcomed a rock star and his wife to stay at the house while he tries to get sober. Mary Jane has a lot to teach them about tidiness and schedules, and all the while they are opening her eyes to the world outside her bubble. By the end of the summer, she’ll have a much better understanding of who she wants to be.

The Book Girls Say…

This was one of our favorite books of the last few years, and one that really stuck with both of us! Angela really enjoyed listening to the audiobook because it incorporates music.

Although the main character is a teenager, this is an adult novel, not a YA title. It makes an excellent read because of the perspective that comes from looking back at the years between innocence and maturity. It could prompt a great road trip discussion about your own teen years.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 07/26/2023

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

West With Giraffes is a charming tale of adventure that takes you on the ride of a lifetime from the east coast of the US to the west, alongside a rowdy 17-year-old, a grumpy older man, and two giraffes. The year is 1938, and no American zoo has successfully housed giraffes before. The female zoo director of the San Diego Zoo believes she can do it. The giraffes have just survived a hurricane en route to the east coast, and Riley Jones, the zoo’s curmudgeonly head keeper, is responsible for safely transporting the giraffes from New York City to San Diego.

America is still in the throes of the Great Depression, and the Dust Bowl conditions continue to ravage the drought-stricken Southern Plains states. A coast-to-coast trek with giant animals is no easy feat. Jones begrudgingly teams up with a starving teenager named Woody to help him make the journey. The adventures along the way include run-ins with circus con artists, being tailed by a female photographer looking for a big scoop, an emotional visit to Woody’s hometown, and so much more.

At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story. Now, at the age of 105, Woody recounts his 12-day cross-country trip with Jones and the giraffes and how it shaped his life.

The Book Girls Say…

After we both gave this book 5 stars, we’ve recommended it to others in a variety of age ranges. Everyone else has love it too! In fact, Angela’s husband recently listened to the audiobook, and her 10 and 11-year-old sons begged to listen with him. It’s now a family favorite!

From the insights it gives to life across America in the late 1930s to the growing relationships between characters, including the humans and the giraffes, we can’t recommend this book highly enough!

The audio is included with the Kindle Unlimited.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 07/26/2023

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

West with Giraffes Book Club Questions & Guide
Books About Traveling Across America
Intergenerational Novels: Books that Connect Generations
Unforgettable Dust Bowl Books

PS: We have a printable West with Giraffes book club guide available on Esty that includes discussion questions, bonus giraffe content, a custom bookmark, and more!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

96% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This novel chronicles the meteoric rise of a fictional, iconic 1970s rock band – The Six – and their beautiful lead singer, Daisy Jones. The story is told through a series of “behind the music” style interviews that will make you feel like you are right there with them in the hard-partying 70s music scene.

As you hear from each band member, the story of these complex characters unfolds, ultimately revealing the mystery behind the band’s infamous breakup.

The Book Girls Say…

This book was meant to be HEARD. Each member of the band is read by a different narrator, which fits perfectly with the rockumentary, interview style of the novel. And there’s even an original song at the end of the recording.

Magical Realism, Light Fantasy & Science Fiction Audiobooks

Sometimes it’s fun to escape reality a bit. While the Harry Potter Series is perfect for a trip with the entire family, the books in this section are geared toward adults or older teens. While readers generally love or hate the Sci-Fi and Magical Realism genres, these books are great for anyone willing to temporarily suspend their disbelief in order to enjoy a phenomenal story.

Book Summary

If you could find out exactly how many years you have left to live, would you want to know?

On the same day, all around the world, every person over the age of 22 receives an identical box. Inside each is a string. At first, no one knows what the strings mean, but it soon becomes apparent that a long string means long life, and a short string foretells a life cut short.

As society responds to the revelation of the boxes, each person must make a choice – do you want to know how long you will live? If so, what will you do with that knowledge? And what if your choice is different from those you care about most?

These are the dilemmas facing the eight protagonists in The Measure, whose fates become interwoven as their individual stories unfold.

The Book Girls Say…

This is a book that really makes you think, and one that will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page. We think it’s a perfect book to listen to on a road trip because it offers up abundant topics for a discussion with no right or wrong answers.

While there are multiple main characters, each is well-developed, and it’s not hard to keep track of each storyline.

The Book of Doors book cover

Book Summary

Cassie is a NYC bookseller who receives an unusual book as a gift from one of her favorite customers. Filled with strange writing and mysterious drawings, the book even includes a handwritten message to Cassie in the front. It states that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door.

Cassie will soon discover that the Book of Doors can transport her anywhere in the world that she can imagine. She also learns that there are other books in the world with magical powers – some wondrous and others dreadful, especially in the hands of dangerous individuals.

When Cassie and her best friend, Izzy, are confronted by violence and danger, they need help. It appears that the only person who can help them is Drummond Fox, who possesses his own secret library of magical books. His books are hidden for protection, but someone is hunting them all.

The Book Girls Say…

This book straddles the line between magical realism and fantasy, with elements of time travel and epic battles between good and evil. This book has a large cast of characters, but early reviews say that all are well developed.

The audiobook has a 5-star rating on Audible for the narration performance by Miranda Raison.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Best Book Club Books for 2024

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

English teacher Jake Epping is recruited by his friend Al, the local diner owner, to help with the most unlikely of requests. Al discovered a portal in the diner’s storeroom that transports him back in time to the era of Ike and Elvis. He becomes obsessed with using the portal to go back in time and stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But when he realizes he won’t be able to complete the mission, he enlists Jake for the job. Jake reluctantly agrees to go back to 1958 and live the early years of the 1960s in the small town of Jodie, Texas while devising a plan to stop JFK from dying on 11/22/63.

The Book Girls Say…

This book is NOT what you’d expect from Stephen King. Instead of horror, you’ll find suspenseful historical fiction crossed with science fiction (and even a twist of romance) that addresses the most compelling aspect of time travel. How do actions taken in the past affect the same future you started in?

This is the longest audiobook on our list, so if you’re on an epic cross-country drive, we highly recommend it! Angela and her husband both loved it.

Book Summary

This debut novel written by Ruth Emmie Lang is magical, both in story and language. Weylyn Grey was raised by wolves after being orphaned. After surviving on his own in nature, he has developed some supernatural abilities. He first realizes his powers when he single-handedly stops a tornado.

His powers, amazing as they may be, tend to manifest at inopportune times and places. In Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, Weylyn’s story is told by those who have encountered him throughout many years.

The Book Girls Say…

Even if magical realism and fantasy aren’t your usual genres, you won’t want to stop listening to this one! Melissa hasn’t been able to stop recommending Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances.

Book Summary

While this book is technically a YA Fantasy, it receives high ratings across the board, even from those who don’t typically choose YA or Fantasy novels.

Linus is a 40-year-old caseworker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, and spends his days overseeing children in orphanages and his nights in a tiny house with his devious cat.

When Linus is called to a classified assignment to visit 6 children deemed dangerous, he also meets their caretaker, Arthur Parnassus, who is dedicated to the children’s safety. However, as Linus and Arthur connect, secrets are exposed. Linus must choose between destroying the home of the children or risking them destroying the world.

The Book Girls Say…

The book’s central theme is kindness, and our readers describe it as a book that’s great for your heart and soul.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

This story follows Wade Watts, a young gamer who becomes caught up in a high-stakes treasure hunt. 

The OASIS, a virtual universe, is the arena for fast-paced competition against rival gamers and the corporation trying to gain control over the OASIS. All along the way, the story features 1980s nostalgia.

The Book Girls Say…

Although it is set in the future, this sci-fi / dystopian book was a hit on our 1980s book list because it’s heavy on 1980s pop culture and video game nostalgia.

The publisher chose an amazing narrator! Wil Wheaton is famous for the 1980s classic movie Stand By Me and a role on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Your family will also recognize his voice from his work in The Big Bang Theory, Teen Titans Go!, and a variety of video game character voices.

If you have teens in the car, this might be the type of listen that gets them to put down their Nintendo Switch and put on their listening ears to soak up some of the video game nostalgia.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Set in the 1980s

Book Summary

The newest book from the author of The Martian has received praise from both fans of Sci-Fi and those who normally avoid Sci-Fi, so it could be a great pick for couples with different genre preferences! Astronaut Ryland has just woken up millions of miles from home, a very long time after his mission. His crewmates are dead, and his memories are fuzzy. Slowly, he begins piecing together that he must single-handedly save Earth from an event that could cause total extinction. With themes of both mystery and adventure, this highly-rated book won the 2022 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. Readers consistently call it a must-listen and say the narration makes the story come to life.

The Book Girls Say…

For more Sci-fi audiobooks, consider works by Neil Gaiman, such as American Gods.

Audiobook Memoirs & Non-Fiction

From Amy Poehler and Tina Fey to Michelle Obama, memoirs read by the author are consistently great in the audio version. We outline some of our favorites below, along with some other stand-out nonfiction books that will make a long car ride fly by. We also have more audiobook memoir suggestions here.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

While this book takes place on September 11, 2001 and the following days, it’s not the devastating story you would expect. Instead, this heartwarming book recounts the experiences of countless passengers from some of the 38 planes that were unexpectedly diverted to Newfoundland – an island in Canada’s easternmost province – when US airspace was closed on 9/11. On that day, the small town of Gander, with a population of just 10,000, received more than 6,600 passengers from 92 countries. Ganderites, along with residents of the surrounding towns, opened the doors to the local churches, schools, and even their own homes.

Throughout this book, you’ll not only learn the personal stories of the passengers, but you’ll also learn a lot about life on this tiny, remote island and about the unexpecting hosts who welcomed strangers from around the world with open arms and generous hearts.

The Book Girls Say…

We’ve both seen and loved the musical Come From Away, so we already knew some of the story, but we learned so much more from this book. The selflessness of the residents of Gander and the surrounding towns will warm your heart page after page. It is one of the most uplifting, faith-in-humanity-restoring books we’ve ever read. You won’t regret downloading it before your drive!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Born a Crime is the true story of Daily Show host Trevor Noah’s childhood and early adulthood. His rise to success was unlikely based on his beginning. Trevor was born in South Africa in 1984 to a white father and a Black mother. His parents could have been imprisoned for five years – or worse – for conceiving him. He spent his early years largely hidden from life outside because his mother feared (with good reason) that he could be removed from her custody because of the apartheid rules of segregation.

When the era of white rule officially ended in the early 1990s, the family’s troubles evolved with the times. From attempted kidnappings and domestic violence to high school dating, you’ll find a mixture of relatable and shocking stories that keep you engaged with every page.

The Book Girls Say…

In true Trevor Noah fashion, you’ll be entertained while also receiving an education on life in apartheid South Africa. You will laugh and cry as you listen to him narrate his own poignant and honest stories.

We highly recommend listening to the audiobook, which Trevor narrates himself. Trevor speaks eight languages and draws upon each of them throughout the book to explain how languages can divide people, but can also be used to build bridges. We found it much more impactful to hear him speak each language with the correct sounds and pronunciations, rather than attempting our own phonetic reading.

There is also a young reader edition of Born a Crime, however, it’s not available in audio format!

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

90% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Bill Bryson is famous for his humorous travel writing, but in this nostalgic and hilarious memoir, he reflects on growing up in middle America in the 1950s in the middle of the baby boomer generation. Using his childhood imaginary superhero persona to tell his story, he tells his story of growing up in Des Moines, bringing his loving but eccentric family to life.

The Book Girls Say…

If you’ve never read a Bill Bryson book before, then we’ll just warn you that you’ll get both a great book and an ab workout from laughing so hard, especially when listening to Bryson’s deadpan narration.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

98% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

In this memoir, Clint Hill reflects on his seventeen years on the White House Secret Service detail under Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford, shedding light on the personalities of five of the most powerful men in the world, and giving a unique insider perspective on many historical events of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Clint Hill also wrote another memoir – Ms. Kennedy and Me – about his time as Jackie Kennedy’s personal secret service agent throughout her years as First Lady. Both of Hill’s memoirs are vivid and insightful without feeling gossipy, and he provides an in-depth look at the politics of the day without feeling political.

The Book Girls Say…

While Clint Hill does not narrate his own memoirs, the audio versions are very well done and make you feel as if you’ve been transported back in time to witness all of the events firsthand. Both Angela and her husband really enjoyed the history in this book.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books that Span Multiple Decades
Must-Listen Memoirs

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

95% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

In this non-fiction book that reads like fiction, we are introduced to Louis Zamperini in his childhood. He’s considered a bit of a delinquent before channeling his angst into running. And he was great. His talent for running took him all the way to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. But when the second World War begins, Louis goes from athlete to airman.

In May 1943, Louis’ bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean. His unlikely survival aboard a tiny raft surrounded by sharks, and on the verge of starvation, lands him in an even more perilous trial as he is driven to the limits of endurance and ingenuity.

The Book Girls Say…

Prior to this book, most of Angela’s knowledge of WWII centered around the wrongs of the Third Reich and the devastating impacts of the atomic bomb dropped on Japan. But outside of Pearl Harbor, she didn’t know much about Japan’s role in the war. Before reading this book, she also didn’t think she had much interest in WWII non-fiction – Unbroken changed all that!

If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you may have noticed the name of the narrator sounded familiar. Edward Herrmann is the actor who played Richard Gilmore, Lorelai’s tough, yet endearing father.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books Set in the 1940s

Book Summary

If you grew up watching Happy Days or Andy Griffith, this joint memoir from brothers Ron and Clint Howard could be your perfect road trip listen. The brothers answer the question they’re asked all the time – “What was it like to grow up on TV?” by sharing both good and bad stories of their experiences.

Along with their parents, the Howard brothers moved from the Midwest to Hollywood, where Rance and Jean expected to find careers in show business. Instead, their young sons began capturing the hearts of casting agents and finding steady employment. Instead of being jealous, Rance and Jean set out to protect their boys from the dangers of Hollywood, while balancing helping them build their successful careers.

The Book Girls Say…

While there are some harrowing moments, the book is filled with happy stories of a family who remained functional against the odds.

Kindle Unlimited as of: 07/27/2023

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

In this memoir, Dave Grohl tells the stories of a lifetime. It begins with his childhood in Springfield, Virginia, teaching himself to drum and dreaming of being a musician someday. Then he tells of his early adult years on the West Coast, where he was rocketed from a starving artist to a member of the biggest band in the world, Nirvana.

Having achieved all his wildest dreams by age 25, but also witnessing firsthand the price of fame, Dave then spent his next 25 years carefully crafting his life exactly as he wanted it – with equal measures of music, family, and friends. He shares some really epic stories starring some of the biggest names of our time, and he tells some really touching stories starring his mom, his wife, and his children.

The Book Girls Say…

You don’t have to be a fan of Nirvana or the Foo Fighters to enjoy this memoir! Dave Grohl tells stories about the phases of life and how they change you. Throughout this memoir, we see Dave first strive to become a musician, and then strive to be so much more, including a father who puts his kids ahead of his career.

Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book

100% Would Recommend to a Friend

Book Summary

Written by the long-time director and producer of Anthony Bourdain’s travel food show, In the Weeds takes you on an adventure around the world. They filmed in dangerous locations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, and Iran.

The book covers what it was like to be on this journey, and how they managed to film in areas so hard for Westerners to visit. There’s a focus on what it was like traveling with Bourdain, on and off-camera.

The Book Girls Say…

Skip this one if you’re sensitive to the topic of suicide. Vitale shares some morbid comments Bourdain made over the years on the subject of death, prior to taking his own life. There’s also plenty of adult content and language. For a look a Bourdain’s life from his own point of view, try Kitchen Confidential or World Travel: An Irreverent Guide.

Also Featured on These Book Lists:

Books that Span Multiple Continents
Must-Listen Memoirs

More Audiobook Recommendations

If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, use it as a resource for free audiobooks on your next road trip. We have a list of the best Kindle Unlimited Audiobooks here! And if you’re wondering about the pros and cons of Audible subscriptions, we can help with that too. For totally free audiobooks, don’t forget to talk to your local library!

We hope you enjoyed our list of the best road trip audiobooks. Don’t forget to check out our list of audiobooks for the whole family!

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Our free self-paced reading challenge will keep you reading engaging books all summer long. To make it easy and fun, we include highly-rated book recommendations for each of the six summer reading prompts.

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